Rhen’s anxious restlessness manifested through a series of barks accompanied by fervent scratching at the floor. Sensing the puppy’s discomfort, Arl swiftly scooped him up into his arms.
"Are you in need of a potty break, Rhen?" Arl inquired.
In response, the puppy let out another bark, seemingly answering his question.
"I suppose you are. Let’s go outside," the teenager replied, understanding the pup’s ssage.
With careful preparation, Arl retrieved a leash he had recently purchased upon his arrival in Gantz. Recognising the potential trouble that could arise from allowing Rhen to roam freely within the palace, he made sure to be proactive this ti. The previous incident involving the derians had entangled him in Kiev’s dispute with Kyren, a situation he vowed not to repeat.
Once the leash was securely fastened to Rhen’s collar, Arl swiftly guided the puppy out from the confines of the palace building to a distant and secluded yard. As Rhen completed his business, Arl proceeded to dig a small hole nearby.
Using a stick, he carefully nudged the stool into the hole, shielding it from unintentional contact. He then concealed the spot with a layer of dirt and leaves, ensuring that others would not inadvertently step on it.
The teenager retrieved a small rug and dampened it with water from the bottle hanging on his waist. With gentle care, he wiped the puppy’s backside, ensuring cleanliness to prevent Rhen from falling ill or contracting any infections. Once finished, he buried the used rug to maintain hygiene and promptly washed his hands.
"You’re fortunate that I take good care of you, Rhen. So, please behave and avoid being naughty, all right? This is the palace, and there are many off-limits areas. If you wander off and enter those places, I might not be able to find you. Do you understand?" Arl warned the puppy, kneeling near him.
Rhen whined, seemingly comprehending the cautionary words. Arl chuckled and affectionately rubbed the puppy’s head.
"Don’t be sad. I’m not angry. I’m just reminding you since we’re on our own here. We need to be cautious," he reassured. "I love you, Rhen, and I’ll always take care of you."
He planted a gentle kiss on the puppy’s head and patted him fondly.
"Let’s head back inside before they start searching for us," he suggested, referring to the derian siblings.
Arl walked alongside Rhen, holding the leash, as they made their way back to the residence where Kiev and Callis resided.
Along the way, they passed a sprawling, breathtaking garden. The morning sun had risen, casting a golden hue upon the earthy tones of the landscape.
Suddenly, a faint voice called out to Arl from a distance, "Wait! Wait!"
The teenager turned around, surprised to see two young girls rushing towards him. One was five years old, and the other was four. The sparkle in their eyes was evident as they laid their gaze upon Rhen.
Curious, Arl asked, "Yes, what can I do for you?"
"It’s a puppy! I told you it’s a puppy!" exclaid Lilith, overflowing with excitent as she turned to her sister.
Laura, kneeling, extended her hand towards Rhen and exclaid, "He is! Oh, he’s so cute!"
Lilith had spotted the little puppy passing through the vast garden field with the teenager while she and her sister were walking on the cloister with their governess and servants. Seizing the opportunity, the two princesses cunningly escaped from their attendants to pursue the puppy that had captivated their interest.
The playful Rhen, who seed to have a natural affinity for girls, joyfully reciprocated Laura’s affection. Observing the puppy’s friendly nature, Lilith couldn’t resist joining in and gently rubbing the puppy’s back.
"He’s friendly! I like him!" Laura declared. Turning to Arl, she inquired, "Is he yours?"
"Yes, he is," the teenager replied with a smile.
"He’s white. In Ro’an, white is... umm..." Lilith paused montarily, her eyes searching for the word she had learned from Anna.
"Ah, it’s Rhen!" she exclaid, recalling the colour’s na.
"Woof!"
The puppy barked with excitent and wagged his tail when he heard his na being called.
"That’s exactly his na! How did you know?" Arl asked, surprised by the children’s knowledge.
"His na is Rhen?" Laura inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Lilith whispered to her sister, "Aunt Anna said her puppy’s na is Rhen, too."
"Sa na!" Laura exclaid, giggling with delight.
The puppy’s presence had clearly brought imnse joy to the two siblings.
"May I know who you are?" the teenager inquired, curious about the identities of the two princesses.
"My na is Laura, and this is my sister, Lilith," Laura introduced herself with a polite smile.
Arl carefully observed the young girls, noting their refined appearance and exquisite attire. It beca evident to him that they belonged to the noble class.
"Can my sister and I play with him?" Lilith suddenly asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.
The teenager’s expression turned apologetic as he replied, "Oh, I’m sorry. But we need to return inside. My lord might be looking for ."
Disappointnt washed over Lilith’s face, her excitent fading. Sensing her sister’s sombre mood, Laura made another plea.
"It won’t be for long. Please!" she implored, hoping to sway Arl’s decision.
"Forgive , young ladies. But I really need to be going now. Perhaps we can play another ti," the teenager said firmly, reiterating his decision to leave.
"But I like him," Lilith expressed her affection, clinging tightly to the puppy in her arms.
Rhen seed content, snuggling into the warmth of the child’s embrace.
"I’m sorry again, but would you please return Rhen to ?" Arl politely requested.
"Co on, Lilith. Give him back. We can’t play with him today," Laura chid in, also disappointed by the turn of events.
Lilith remained rooted in place, refusing to let go of Rhen. The puppy licked her cheek, further endearing himself to the little girl. Suddenly, Lilith made an unexpected decision.
"I don’t want to! I want this puppy!" she proclaid stubbornly.
"Lilith... you can’t take soone else’s puppy," Laura scolded her sister, attempting to reason with her.
"I don’t care! I want him! I want him! I want him!" Lilith began throwing a tantrum, her frustration escalating.
"Whoa, calm down, little lady! Your sister is right. You can’t take a puppy that belongs to soone else. It’s wrong," Arl intervened, trying to diffuse the situation.
"I don’t care! I want him!" Lilith shouted, her voice filled with defiance.
Suddenly, she turned and started running away, attempting to escape with Rhen in her arms.
"Hey, wait!" the teenager called out, alard by Lilith’s actions. Laura, too, was taken aback by her sister’s unexpected behaviour and quickly followed in pursuit.
Arl hurriedly pursued the determined little princess, intent on retrieving his puppy. However, Lilith’s agility and quick thinking allowed her to evade capture as she skillfully navigated through bushes, took shortcuts, and darted along narrow paths ideally suited to her small size. Laura, equally determined, followed closely behind.
The chase continued through the winding garden paths, with Lilith using every advantage she could find to maintain her lead. The rustling of leaves and the sound of running footsteps echoed through the air as Arl and Laura tried to keep up.
Despite Lilith’s evasive manoeuvres, Arl’s determination and agility matched her own. He calculated her moves, anticipating her path and cutting her off at crucial points, slowly narrowing the gap between them.
Realising that her sister’s escape attempt was futile, Laura called out to her sister.
"Lilith, please stop!" she pleaded.
However, Lilith remained defiant, refusing to heed her sister’s words. She continued to sprint ahead, her determination unwavering. However, despite the princess’s efforts to outrun Arl, she couldn’t match his long strides. Eventually, the teenager caught up to her.
"Got you!" Arl managed to grasp Lilith’s shoulder and waist, preventing her from escaping.
In the process, both of them tumbled to the ground, but the teenager managed to shield the princess from falling into the dirt. Lilith let out a scream, causing Rhen to jump free from her grip and bark in fear.
Releasing Lilith from his grip, the teenager sat on the ground to catch his breath as he panted from his running. The little princess started crying profusely.
In a short mont, a group of guards, along with the princess’s governess and servants who had been looking for the two siblings, arrived on the scene, having noticed Arl going after the princess from a distance.
As the teenager attempted to stand up, his movents were abruptly halted by the sharp points of spears directed towards him. The governess quickly reacted, wrapping her arms protectively around the crying princess while the servants gathered around them, their expressions filled with concern and anger.
"How dare you hurt the princess! Arrest him!" the governess shouted, her voice laced with anger and protectiveness.
"I didn’t do anything wrong! Please, let explain!" Arl pleaded, fear evident in his voice.
Disregarding his plea, the guards grabbed him forcefully, paying no heed to his words. They were about to strike him when a loud shout resonated from the nearby bushes.
"Wait! Don’t hurt him!"
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