.

Sebastian closed his eyes as he was greeted with a light, fluffy pancake and sweet maple that danced on his tongue. The cream added a duller touch of the vanilla he had added to it, and the berries were fresh with bursts of flavor. Almost comparable to that of the head chef's pancakes, and definitely not bad for his first try. 

"How did you do this, My prince?" Jylan asked curiously, with a cream mustache. Sebastian pointed to his own lips, and Jylan wiped it off, embarrassed. 

"All members of royalty have to undergo intense education. I'm supposed to be good at everything." Sebastian said, taking another bite and chewing thoughtfully. Of course, although Sebastian did go through all those years of learning – cooking and baking were not included. 

With a sudden pang in his heart of his youth, Sebastian swallowed. Jylan looked at him for a minute, reading the room, and then said, skeptically, "Are you?"

Good at everything? "Of course not," Sebastian muttered. If word ever got out to the commoners that the prince was imperfect, his parents would likely come back from the grave to grab his throat.

However, for some odd and unspeakable reason, he felt that Jylan would never give up his secrets. It was comfortable, and for a minute, before Sebastian caught himself, he wished for the moment to last forever. 

"It must have been hard. Sorry," Jylan wheeled sympathetically. "Impossible, really. It's impossible for anyone to be perfect. All that really matters is… well… uh… we're trying, I guess." 

Sebastian's fork froze halfway to his mouth. 

The words he had been waiting to hear his whole life had just come from a quite unexpected source. A butler whom he'd only known for a day. How wonderful life can be, so peculiar and surprising.

"Thank you."