Questions filled Sir Rylan's gaze, and Savier merely gave a small smile and shook his head. He withdrew his hand and took a step down, casually asking.
"How are you feeling? Do you need hangover medicine?" The way he talked now seemed more carefree, at least in Rylan's ears, raising doubts but not allowing him to ponder further.
Truthfully, Savier felt more at ease now, and so the reason was probably that he could talk more comfortably with the person he had only admired from afar.
He fully accepted himself now, but that did not mean he would act on it recklessly.
"I already did, Your Highness." He heard Sir Rylan... or Rylan answered him.
Savier wanted to get used to talking casually and calling the alpha by his name if he wanted the distance from them to grow closer. He did not have many expectations, and being a friend was the extent of his greed... for now.
"Hm," Savier strode leisurely to the dining room, followed by Rylan who sensed something different but also felt it was how Savier acted normally.
Savier turned to Rylan once they were inside the dining room.
"Mind eating with me again?"
Rylan paused, eyes swept past the other royal attendants still present inside, and looked somewhat uncomfortable. Savier sighed inside and then thought about it.
It seemed he could only do this slowly. While he managed to luck out last time, Rylan was still an alpha who had rigid discipline and so would definitely mind his etiquette, especially around other people.
"Let's go eat outside."
Was it a whim, or was his courage high today? Savier did not let the other alpha refuse or ask a question, and he immediately gave instructions.
Rylan only found himself driving once more while the prince he served was sitting in the passenger seat instead of the usual. He bit his lower lip, questions flooding his mind.
He did not know what was going on, but he could not ask directly, afraid that he would cross the line. Although, they did have a talk last night and decided to be more comfortable with each other, Rylan could not adapt to it in merely a day.
"You can ask me anything." While trying to focus on driving, he heard the prince speak. Fortunately, his training was already engraved in all his being that even when startled, his driving remained steady.
Rylan glanced at his side and immediately met the prince's sharp gaze. He already sensed that the other was watching him the entire time. This made something within him feel a little odd.
He instinctively swallowed his saliva and then shook his head, returning his attention to the road.
Then, he heard a chuckle beside him. "Your confusion is basically written on your face right now."
Rylan only thought that this conversation was a bit strange. However, if here to asked here, he could not say where exactly this was strange. Or maybe, the whole thing about comfortably talking with a superior was the root of it.
"Then can I ask you a question?" The prince's tone was different than usual. It was still careful but carried a type of casualness into it.
"What is it, Your Highness?" Rylan nodded, then asked while giving a second glance to his position before shifting back to the road once more.
"Do you have someone you like?"
Rylan almost choked as he heard this question; fortunately, he did not. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He suddenly gave an awkward laugh.
"Why... are you asking, Your Highness?" He tried hard not to look in Savier's direction.
"It's just..." the prince trailed off. It was as if even he was quite surprised by the question he asked. "I'm curious. Let's say, maybe... someone wants to pursue you..."
At this, Rylan could not suppress the awkwardness, and he choked on his saliva. He had to slow down because of this and heard the prince's concerned voice before an apology.
"No, uh..." Rylan scratches the back of his neck. He was never asked like this before; what was more, it was the crown prince increasing the discomfort he was feeling.
He also wondered why the crown prince was asking him questions like this. Was this also part of how they could be comfortable with each other as master and loyal guard?
Rylan heard the prince clear his throat.
"If you don't want to answer... It's fine. Sorry for probing into your private life."
"You don't have to apologize. It's uh... I'm a little surprised that's all." Rylan bit his lips, then decided to answer honestly. "I don't have someone I like, Your Highness."
He was someone who swore to dedicate his life to his savior. Rylan could not see himself finding an omega and marrying him to create a family. It was not... the future he envisioned.
"Really? You're not seeing anyone?" The crown prince asked, a bit louder than usual. For some reason, it was etched by excitement.
Rylan did not know why not seeing anyone could excite the prince, though. He nodded innocently, not knowing how Savier was almost grinning from ear to ear and sighing to himself.
It was not like Rylan not dating anyone would increase his chances of being with him, but still not having a rival was already something to be happy for Savier, who already started at almost negative chances. Being he was an alpha and not an omega.
"How about... let's say, someone is interested in you."
Rylan smiled at this, feeling amused.
"Who would be interested in me?"
"A lot. What made you think no one would?" For some reason, it sounded defensive and scolding. This somehow made Rylan feel bad, and he could only agree.
In his observation, the crown prince always sounded like this when Rylan said something that displeased him.
"Then, continue what you're saying, Your Highness." Rylan stopped arguing about it and just let Savier continue.
Somehow, he did not even realize how he was actively responding in this conversation in a way that the past him would never do.
"What will you do if someone pursues you?"
There was still anticipation in the crown prince's voice but Rylan also noticed that it held hesitation.
More often than not, he always noticed this. The way the crown prince interacted with him always had a lingering hesitation. Although the other thought he hid it thoroughly but Rylan was more perceptive than anyone.
He was, after all, born to be that way.
Rylan only found it interesting. Maybe the crown prince was like that. He was interested in the lives of his royal guards.
Poor Savier, now reduced to being a busybody in the mind of someone he liked.