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It was in the shade of the steps of the Imperial Palace that he first met Alexei.
He had been taken to the Imperial Palace to play with His Highness the Prince, but his father, who encountered someone he knew, had instead told him to go to His Highness all alone by himself and left him there and then.
He knew all he had to do was ask someone for directions. Still, he was sad because it made him realize how insignificant he was to his father. At that time, he thought that it was his fault that he was born in a state that was not in accordance with his father’s will, and he felt as if he had been abandoned. So he hid behind the stairs and cried.
[Flashback]
“What’s wrong?”
Someone called out to him, and he was scared he’d been found out. However, he was slightly relieved upon hearing that it was a child’s voice.
It was an older boy with light blue hair, light blue eyes and a beautiful face. Vladimir was surprised by the brightness of his light blue eyes. He had never seen such striking eyes before.
“I’m Alexei Yurinova. You are
?”
“I am
 Vladimir Yurimagna”
“If you’re Vladimir, Magna’s son, you’ve come to the Imperial City to visit Mikhael-sama. What are you doing here instead?”
He said it in a strong tone, which made it difficult for him to reply. Vladimir knew it would embarrass his father if he said that his father had left him to fend for himself, leaving him alone in such a vast palace.
“
I’ve never been here before.” (Vladimir)
When he said that, Alexei was convinced that he was lost.
“
Mikhael-sama is over there.” (Alexei)
Alexei tried to walk away. But the tearful Vladimir hesitated, not wanting to step out from behind the stairs.
Just then, Alexei turned around and looked at Vladimir closely.
“Are you afraid of me?” (Alexei)
“Eh?” (Vladimir)
“Sometimes people say I’m scary or harsh. They say I have a bad eye color. If you don’t like me, I’ll get someone else to accompany you instead.” (Alexei)
Later, Vladimir would know exactly who said those words.
This time, however, he stared mesmerized at the color of Alexei’s eyes, and suddenly blurted out a poem from his memory.
“At the lake on the mountain that reflects only the blue of the sky
The temple has sunk.
The pale blue of the lake is clear and brilliant,
The water’s surface gleams in the sun like a vine.”
As expected, Alexei’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What? That is
”
“It’s a poem from the Astra Empire. Torres, a traveling poet, found it in the Mountains of the Gods. It is a poem about an ancient temple.
The color of your eyes, they’re pale blue like sparkling swords. I think the color of your eyes is beautiful. They’re so beautiful, a poet would write a poem about them.”
With such a passionate remark, Alexei smiled quite embarrassedly.
“I don’t want to be compared to a poem. But thank you. It’s amazing how easily you can say something like that. If you don’t mind, I’ll take you to Mikhael-sama.”
Then he reached out and took Vladimir’s hand.
Vladimir opened his eyes wide. It was the first time he had been touched by a stranger.
In fact, he should have shaken it off. That’s what he’d been taught to do.
But at that moment, Vladimir reluctantly grasped the hand of the boy who had a soft smile in his glittering sword-like eyes.
As he stepped out of the shadows of the stairs, he inevitably felt afraid again, and tears began to fall.
“You’re such a crybaby.”
Alexei said teasingly, but his voice was gentle.
[End of Flashback]