"Bye-bye, Osric! Good luck with your training!" I called out, skipping backward dramatically like a stage actress taking her final bow.
Osric chuckled and waved. "Visit often, Lavi!"
"Sure~" I sang back, grinning before twirling around and dashing toward the dining hall. Lunch with Papa was waiting, and I'd already missed snack time twice this week. Tragedy.
As I skipped down the corridor, humming a tune only I knew, I slowed to a halt. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted someone leaning casually against a pillar.
"…Grand Duke Regis?"
He wasn't doing anything—just standing there with that infuriating smirk, arms folded, eyes lazily watching our direction like he was bored and done with swinging his sword at the same time.
I felt a chill crawl down my back.
"...Oooh~~," I shivered involuntarily.
Ravick, who had trailed behind me like a dutiful shadow, leaned down slightly. "Is something the matter, Princess?"
