"Prince Drayce! Prince Arlan! Where are your lanterns?"
"We are yet to start," Drayce replied as he tried to move around them.
"Your Highness, wait! Wait! Won't you see our lanterns? Is Your Highness still angry with us?"
Drayce was not the kind to fall for their tricks, so he decided to ignore them, but one kid came to Arlan. "Prince Arlan, won't you see our lanterns?"
"You guys also finished yours?" Arlan asked.
Since Arlan stopped to entertain them, Drayce didn't leave him alone and chose to stand by his side.
"Yes! Well, not all. We have many wishes so we are making many lanterns," the kid replied and shared a vague smile with his friends.
Drayce noticed it and he felt worried that they were trying to pull a prank on Arlan. He was a royal guest of this kingdom, and it might cause trouble for his father if Griven makes a big deal out of this.
The three boys led them to their table and showed finished lanterns that resembled various animals. But rather than the lanterns, they picked up their sheets and showed them off to Arlan.
"What is that?" Arlan asked, looking at one sheet with narrowed eyes.
The grandson of Viscount Rulf replied with a grin, "Prince Arlan, can't you see it's a red-eyed monster? See these scary eyes. I have even drawn horns and claws and these scary teeth."
He was 'coincidentally' standing beside Drayce, and the way he was holding the paper, it was as if he was comparing it to the little prince. Arlan eyed Drayce, feeling uncomfortable with the situation. Young as he was, as someone born within the royal family, Arlan was raised to be sensitive to the intention of the people around him. He understood what these older kids were trying to do, but Drayce was as calm as still water, as if the boy's words did not affect him.
"Why would you make such a drawing?" Arlan asked, feeling displeased about it.
"On the last day of the festival, we will light up this lantern. It will fly up in the sky and we will pray for this scary monster to disappear from here."
"You guys are really bad," Arlan said and turned to leave with Drayce, but the kids continued to block their path.
From a distance, Lady Saira was watching their interaction, but since it looked like the kids were talking to Arlan, she remained seated though she was vigilant. She knew those young nobles wouldn't dare mess with the prince of another kingdom. However, when she saw their way being blocked repeatedly, she felt like she should intervene and moved to approach them.
The kids had their backs on Drayce's nanny so they don't know this. They continue to harass the two younger boys. "Why are you in such a hurry, Your Highness? We haven't shown all our drawings yet. I am sure you will like them even more."
The other kids brought another sheet. "Guess what this is?"
Drayce frowned and looked the other way while Arlan replied, "I don't know."
"This is a witch, one that eats children at night. Along with that monster, we will pray for this witch to go away as well."
"You—"
These kids didn't dare mention names but Drayce was smart enough to know who these kids were implying to be a witch. His mother was the Queen of this kingdom, but these stupid kids dared insult her. Moreover, as a good son, he would never allow them to badmouth his mother.
The rage rose inside him as he clenched his fists. Though he could ignore them for that red-eyed monster drawing, it was unforgivable for them to include his mother in their antics.
However, the kids continued with their harassment, "I have an idea. We should burn this lantern the same way witches are burned in the books. Those vile creatures bring bad things with them, don't they?"
"Your Highness, are you mad? Are you going to cry?"
"Heh, look at him shaking—"
Whoosh!
Their laughter turned into screams when all the sheets of papers in their hands caught fire. It scared the hell out of those kids, and they threw those sheets from their hands in panic.
"Monster!"
"Ahh! The monster got angry! He wants to kill us!"
"Fire! There's a fire here!"
"Put out the fire!"
"Your Highness!" One could hear Lady Saira's panic in her voice.
However, the angry Drayce was not able to control his emotions. The sheets on the table, the finished lanterns, even the wooden trays of paint and the cushions on the chairs—everything that could be burned burst into flames.
"Your Highness, stay away from the fire!"
Drayce came back to his senses when Lady Saira put a hand on his shoulder, moving to carry him in her arms so they could run away. Only then did he realize what he had caused.
Frigidly, he moved his head and saw Arlan, the one who wanted to be his friend, staring at him in horror…like he was truly a monster. He didn't think twice and slapped his nanny's hand away, running as fast as he could with tears welling up in his eyes.
The servants were running around in panic, some trying to douse the fire with water, while the others called for help, and thus Lady Saira found herself blocked by their bodies when she tried to run after her prince. Amidst the chaos, no one realized that while they were trying to extinguish the fire, the Second Prince of Megaris and the First Prince of Griven were missing.
As soon as he saw him run away, Arlan followed Drayce. Since he was an energetic kid, it was easy for him to keep up with the little boy in front of him.
Moments later, Lady Saira informed the other servants that Drayce had run off. However, she only knew the general direction where he ran but didn't know exactly where he went since his tiny body was blocked by the trees and bushes when he ran.
This was followed by another scream because Arlan's nanny realized she could not see where her prince had run off as well. As the most important people within the group of children were missing, Lady Clarisa as the host of the event had a grim look. The female knights guarding the Vermillion Palace were mobilized to help with the search.
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