Young Usher didn’t answer. It was impossible for young Vione to get expired bread. The palace had always ensured that the food and drink for all residents-Alpha family and workers-met health standards. Moreover, there had never been any reports of food poisoning.
Still, young Usher wouldn’t forget to check. If the puppy had indeed been poisoned by eating young Vione’s breakfast bread, then the palace had been grossly negligent.
“There are many possibilities,” Alma said a moment later, offering a logical opinion. “Especially since he’s a puppy. He could have eaten something without your knowledge.”
Young Vione considered Alma’s words, then nodded slowly. She realized that there were more important things for her to focus on right now than finding the source of the poisoning. “So how is he? Is he going to be okay?”
“Fortunately, yes. He’ll be fine. After a few days of rest, he’ll be fine. You can relax now.”
Relief flooded young Vione’s chest. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a long breath. Then she thanked Alma several times.
After Alma and her assistant left, the room fell silent. Now there was only young Usher and young Vione in the old pavilion of the Palace-the building that served as a resting place for young Vione when she was tired from work and also as a home for the puppy. Both remained silent, watching only as the puppy slept, the IV fluid constantly flowing into his body.
“So…” Young Usher’s voice sounded a few minutes later. He turned and looked at Vione, who hadn’t taken her eyes off the puppy. “… what’s his name?”
Young Vione blinked. She answered Young Usher’s question quietly. “I haven’t named him yet.”
“Not yet?”
Young Vione nodded.
“I thought you had given him a name,” Young Usher said, taking a deep breath. Then he paused for a moment before asking again, “So you haven’t thought about giving him a name?”
“I don’t know. Besides, I’ve never had a pet before. So, I have no idea at all.” This time young Vione shook her head. Then she turned and looked at young Usher. “Do you have any good names for him?”
Young Usher blinked. “M-Me?” He seemed slightly flustered, obviously not expecting young Vione to ask for his opinion. So, he racked his brain and luckily a name came to mind. “Uh. How about Buddy?”
Young Usher didn’t expect young Vione to like that name. So, he thought of a few other names that came to mind. There were a few he considered, like Coco or Milo. Both names sounded cute and seemed to be preferred by a girl.
“Buddy is a good name.”
Coco and Milo immediately disappeared from young Usher’s mind. “Good?”
“Yes. I like it and he’ll probably like it too.”
A glimmer of a smile appeared on young Usher’s face. He stood up and walked over to Vione. Together they sat near Buddy.
Young Usher reached out his hand. He gently stroked Buddy’s head. “I hope you get better soon, Buddy.”
Buddy showed a significant rate of recovery, just as Alma had said. After resting for a few days, he became more active and cheerful, and it wasn’t long before both young Vione and Buddy were back to their usual playful selves.
On the sixth day, young Usher found young Vione and Buddy happily playing in one of the palace gardens. He had just finished a discussion with Beta Graham Forsythe. They were discussing the selection of young warriors and guards, which would open for enrollment a month later, exactly two weeks after the annual Coming of Age Ceremony.
“So, I’m going to see Alpha now. If Alpha approves, I’ll contact you immediately, Usher,” Graham said, stopping his steps when he noticed that young Usher had stopped walking. He looked at young Usher and waited, but there was no answer. “Usher?”
Young Usher started and cleared his throat. “Oh, yes, Beta Graham. I’ll wait to hear from you.”
Graham nodded, then left. Young Usher was left alone, seemingly content to stay there for a while. He could see that young Usher’s focus was on young Vione.
Young Usher smiled slightly as he watched young Vione and Buddy’s joy. He wanted to join in the fun. He stood up to approach, but the presence of Lewis stopped his steps abruptly.
The young usher’s expression changed. The small smile on his face faded as he saw young Vione and Lewis laughing. The uneasy feeling returned. Something was stirring in his chest, making him feel suffocated, almost unable to breathe.
Young Usher turned his body. The uncomfortable heartbeat made him want to leave as quickly as possible. But once again, his steps were halted. This time it was an illogical urge that made him act impulsively.
“Vione!”
Young Usher’s cry interrupted the laughter of young Vione and Lewis. They turned around, and at that moment Young Usher closed his mouth tightly, realizing what he had just done.
Young Usher cursed himself. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just walk away without saying anything when young Vione asked him.
“What is it, Usher?”
Young Usher cleared his throat, his face felt hot. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Oh,” young Vione whispered, furrowing his brow in confusion. “Now?”
The young Usher nodded. He decided to end all the excitement right now. “Yes, now.”
That was all Young Usher said before he abruptly left. Young Vione became more and more confused and wondered in her heart. What’s wrong with Usher?
“Lewis,” young Vione whispered, turning to Lewis. “I think I have to go. See you later.”
Immediately, young Vione hurried away, not waiting for Lewis to answer. Her steps were quick, almost like running. Young Usher followed, heading for the old pavilion of the palace.
When she arrived, young Vione found young Usher standing with his back to her. So, she slowed her pace. She slowly approached the young Usher, calling his name. “Usher.”
There was no answer. Young Usher remained silent, leaving young Vione to wonder. Could she have made a mistake? Could she have done something…
“Can you not be too close to Lewis?”
All questions vanished from young Vione’s mind. She was stunned. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in natural surprise.
It took the young Vione some time to process the situation. She blinked, then tried to speak, albeit with a stuttering voice. She asked the young Usher, “What do you mean, Usher?”
“What I mean is…” Young Usher turned his body. He looked at young Vione with an intense and unwavering gaze. “… I don’t like to see you with him.”
*