It had been almost an hour—an entire hour—of my mother changing her mind repeatedly, trying to figure out which outfit would make me look like a little prince.
She had finally decided on a simple yet elegant outfit, a delicate white tunic with gold accents and velvety pants that looked softer than clouds. My little shoes were also embellished with gold embroidery, because apparently, my tiny feet needed to have the same level of luxury as everything else in this household.
Once dressed, my mother looked down at me with satisfaction. "Perfect! You look absolutely adorable,darling."
I, on the other hand, was silently contemplating how much longer I'd have to endure being a fashion doll for her.
[ (¬‿¬) So, how do you feel? All dolled up? ]
("I feel like I'm being paraded like a trophy.")
[ (◉‿◉) You look like one, too! ]
Just as I was mentally preparing myself for more maternal fussing, Dad appeared, freshly dressed and ready to go.
Zephyrus stepped into the room, looking dashing as always, his dark hair neatly combed, his regal attire making him look like a man who should be attending a royal gala rather than just a simple family banquet.
As soon as he saw me, he chuckled, taking one look at me and shaking his head. "You're a handful already, huh?"
Before I could even blink, Dad was scooping me up into his arms and tossing me lightly in the air with a playful grin on his face. He was having way too much fun with this.
"Ah, you know," he continued with a wink. "I could get used to this."
"Zephyrus!" Mother called from the bathroom, sounding slightly frustrated. "Could you please stop throwing adrian in the air like ball?Can't you act like a responsible parent for 5 minutes while I'm still getting ready!"
But dad ignored her words. He only laughed, his deep, rich voice echoing through the room.
[ (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) Oh, your dad is having too much fun, but I feel he is going to be sleeping on the couch later if he doesn't stop . ]
("For once I hundred percent agree with you.") I replied to him
Father chuckled, clearly satisfied with his playful torment of me, and carefully sat down on the sofa with me in his arms, adjusting me so that I was comfortably nestled against him. "Alright, little one," he whispered, his voice full of warmth, "we've got a banquet to get to. You ready?"
I gave him an innocent smile, my tiny hands reaching up to tug at the collar of my fancy outfit.
["I'm sure I'll manage."]
[ (◉‿◉) Oh, you look cute host. I guess its time for another Rizzing Spree!, I bet the readers are waiting to see you rizz up some ladies again ]
(Author: Breaks the fourth wall, Are you ?)
"Let's get this show on the road, then!" Dad added as Mother called out, " Wait!! I'm almost done!"
Chapter: A New Bond
The Emperor of the Dwarf Empire, Sebastian had just arrived at the palace, and Father wasted no time in greeting his best buddy with a bear hug that shook the walls of the entrance hall. The two of them were like old friends, chatting and laughing like nothing had changed in years. Even though they had high-ranking titles, their playful behavior made it clear that they were just a couple of pals enjoying each other's company.
As Father and Sebastian caught up, I was left next to the Sebastian's son, a little baby boy who had just been set down beside me on the couch. I remembered him well from the novel.
He was about six months older than me, and though he was adorable, I wasn't the least bit concerned about his cuteness in comparison. He definitely didn't have my charm. His round face and big eyes were endearing, but nothing compared to the perfection of my own baby features.
His name was Thorin.
In the novel, he had been an unfortunate villain—but not because he was a bad person. Thorin had been a genuinely kind guy, a great friend and someone who cared deeply about his people. He had only opposed the protagonist because of the protagonist's self-righteousness, which was threatening the safety of the five empires. In the end, Thorin's warnings went unheard, and the protagonist had killed him.
But according to the novel, Thorin was a loyal friend and someone who would give his life for his best friend. His sacrifice was the stuff of legend. The tragic part was, his best friend—who had remained unnamed in the story—was never fully realized as a character.
Now, with all of that weighing on my mind, I knew what I had to do.
I couldn't let Thorin meet the same fate as he had in the novel cause brk was genuinely a kind guy.This time, I would make sure he was my best friend, maybe prevent him from getting killed unnecessarily..
With that in mind, I turned toward him, trying to keep my innocent baby expression as I slowly crawled over to him, eager to make a new friend. I gently patted his little head, feeling his soft hair under my chubby fingers, and babbled in the sweetest baby language I could muster.
"Ga ga ga!" I giggled, reaching for his tiny hand, trying to communicate my intent without using words. "Be fri, friend! Play!"
Thorin blinked a few times, staring at me with his big eyes. I could see the confusion in his face—what was I trying to say?
Then, something changed.
Thorin's eyes lit up, and he smiled the brightest smile I'd ever seen from a baby. He giggled in response to my attempt at baby talk, and suddenly, without a moment's hesitation, he reached out, holding my hand.
"Gaa Ga Ga !" he cooed, clearly agreeing.
I beamed at him, my heart swelling with happiness. My first friend in two lives.
The next few moments were a blur of laughter and joy as we began to play. He was crawling around, his little hands gripping the floor, while I attempted to climb on his back, giggling as I balanced myself on top of him. He seemed to enjoy it just as much as I did, and together, we played like true best friends. The fact that we couldn't talk didn't stop us at all; in fact, it only made our bond stronger.
"I know it is all childish but it feels so good"
It wasn't long before the adults started to notice.
Father and Sebastian had been in the middle of their conversation when they looked over and saw me riding on Thorin's back, both of us laughing uncontrollably.
Father raised an eyebrow at the sight, his mouth curling into a knowing smile. He didn't say a word, but I could tell he was happy. After all, he'd never expected his little boy to bond so quickly with his best friend's son, let alone ride him like some sort of tiny steed.
Father chuckled under his breath, turning back to Sebastian. "Looks like they're already best friends. Just like us back in the day, huh?"
Sebastian grinned, clearly amused by the sight. "Seems like the little guys are already getting along like we did in the old days."
I couldn't help but feel giddy inside. I was making progress, even though I was still just a baby. The future I envisioned was starting to come together, and this time, I would be more than just a passive observer of the plot—I was going to reshape everything and this change started with Thorin.
I would make sure things turned out differently this time.
(Author's Note: I just wanted to write something like this although it's a bit repetitive because of the fond memories of my childhood and also make sure to share memories your childhood in the comments)