Imperial Erotomania

Poppies

It was another day for the team, where everyone had surprisingly woken up quite early— even Jay and Cole, who were both on night duty the previous evening though slumped groggily off to breakfast the next morning. Kai was currently helping himself to some noodles, piling liberal amounts into his bowl while reaching out for the tongs for the dumplings and made his way back to his seat. He was relieved they had the rest of the day off, which was confirmed true when Master Wu informed them earlier this morning until Pixal found a new lead for he vengestone business.

He slurped on his noodles, enjoying the little bit of tanged spice to it and hardly noticed Zane who seated next to him. There was a familiar look in the nindroid's eye that Kai knew too well— a look of fathom. "What is is Zane." He said through chewed noodles, not looking at him. Zane shifted in his seat, "I happen to have noticed your little interactions with the prince yesterday's afternoon." Kai almost choked at the words, letting out large coughs and earning looks from the others. He quickly dismissed them, turning to Zane with a flush creeping up on him:"Zane, you better not tell anybody!" He angrily whispered, yanking the nindroid's front gi close to him, startling the other. Zane, whose expression remained unchanged, grabbed the hand firmly and set it down looked at him. "You just openly admitted to your conscience— however, not to worry Kai, I unlike the rest will keep your secret." He gave a shit-eating grin that Kai wanted to rip of his smug face until the doors barged open, making everyone jump.

.

"I don't want to Hutchins!" Lloyd yelled, he was in his chambers getting ready by himself— he always hated the fact of maids helping him get dressed. The Master-at-Arms stood near the doors, clearly irritated about something. "My liege, please. You must accept the invite from the Jades, it will only cost you an afternoon." He basically begged the annoyed prince, watching him angrily put on his robes.

"I won't do it! You promised me last time it'd be the last one." He huffed, now fixing his complexion in the mirror, not wanting to face him. Hutchins gave a huge sigh— "My liege I know it can be a burden but do it for your family— Ninjago—" Lloyd couldn't bear to hear it anymore, and shut the dividers before plopping down onto his ottoman and tried to at least fix some composure over himself. He had wanted to spend the rest of his day trying to get to know the ninja as Hutchins had told him he didn't have plans that following morning— that liar! Instead, he had to go on another 'date' with the Jade Princess of the Jade Kingdom which he really didn't want to.

The princess was alright though, she wasn't like the others who showed off their wealth and riches, flouncing around in gold expecting him to accept their proposals. Thankfully, his father thought better and agreed to his choice of the Jade Princess— Harumi, to then accompany him from then on. He got along with her pretty well— they'd known each other since he was probably fourteen, and her thirteen and they've kept in touch since then.

Except for the fact that they were both just really good friends, their parents had a different arrangement set for the two which always made Lloyd sadden at the thought— he was most likely going to get engaged with her later on and he despised the fact. He didn't like to think about it and when they both had found out he remembers her horrified face, mirroring his own when they were called into the throne room. Hands clenched he finally tied his robes up and pushed the dividers open to still see Hutchins.

.

Just as the doors to the buffet barged open he saw everyone's startled expressions divert to him and they quickly bowed to him. That only fuelled to his rage inside of him when Hutchins suddenly spoke from his side— he had pestered him all the way from his room done the stairs. "Your highness— please do not make things hard for me!" But the prince didn't want to hear another word out of him and held up a hand to silence him, knowing he had no choice but to obey.