"Cookie?"

Completely absorbed into perfecting the strokes on his canvas, the Prince's painter suddenly snapped back to reality, back into that vast, gorgeous courtyard where he suddenly found a butter cookie in front of his face.

...and he glanced up to find that, despite the immense size of the entire estate, and his inability to commit to one painting spot, his rather restless, highness had still once again found him. 

He'd made quite a habit of it. Ever since Kirino first arrived to their manor,the Prince often took the time to attend to him... always asking if he was OK, if he needed anything, trying to inconspicuously sneak peeks at his canvas. Though this time, he came with a snack, and a calm smile.

It was a bit nerve-wracking, him being the Prince and all, but he couldn't say he didn't appreciate the only friendly face around.

...

Kirino didn't know how to reply for a moment, maybe he still hadn't gotten used to being so close with royalty.

"It's OK for you to have one, you don't have to just stare at them with that sad look on your face."

Oh... had he been staring at that dessert display? But just so Shindou wouldn't be kept waiting any longer, he accepted the treat.

Kirino didn't grow up very wealthy, so he rarely could spend money on sweets without feeling guilty, but this still was better than anything he'd ever tast--

"Have you ever thought about painting... me?"

...

As curious as Kirino found such a question, he remembered his manners, to finish eating before he spoke.

"But, I have painted you, your highness." Kirino mentioned, taking mental notes of rather embarrassing strokes on the canvas he would be sure to cover as soon as possible. Shindou was staring at his unfinished work a more than he would have preferred.

"But that was just family portrait," Shindou scoffed at it, referring to the very first painting Kirino had made for the King, only about a week ago. "And my likeness can't be properly captured when I'm forced to instead pose to fulfill my father's fool-headed ideas for what passes as refined culture." 

Kirino was challenged to come up with new creative techniques to properly convey such a melodramatic concept. 

"I mean a real portrait, of just me." His highness had a calming smile, but also, if Kirino wasn't overthinking the way he would subtly inch closer, a rather coy demeanor. 

"Of course... that's what I was hired to do?" He'd thought that was pretty clear, but honestly all the royalty talk went over his head sometimes...

"Don't say hired," Shindou grinned, waving his hand at the apparently silly word. "You're a part of my family now, remember?"

Well, Kirino would have a hard time forgetting swearing loyalty to... royalty...

...

"It is an honor to finally meet you, your-- your Royal Highness. My name is Ranmaru Kirino." Kirino repeated for the third time in a row, knelled in front of the next member of the family, being watched not only by the King and Queen, but several members of the royal guard. He hated himself a bit for being so nervous, but he was too busy wondering how a simple hobby of painting lead him to this.

"Raise your head." Before he Kirino could even react, the Prince pulled him up by his hand and suddenly he was met with Shindou's smile. 

Compared to the stern faces of his father and mother, the Prince's smile did release a bit of weight from his shoulders.

"You don't have to be so stiff," Shindou spoke kindly, it was a voice very different than the one he would use when giving speeches to the public. "You're a member of my family now, you can relax." 

Even if he could, for some reason Kirino found it hard to do so.

"Ahem." The King's interruption almost made Kirino jump out of his skin, he prayed he hadn't blinked in an offensive way.

After a subtle eye-roll, Shindou's warm hand released his own, the smile faded away, "My name is Takuto Shindou," and after a elegant bow Kirino honestly felt undeserving of, began reciting his many titles. Though he made sure to end with:

"Welcome to my familia."

...

He remembered it very well, probably for the rest of his life... but he also didn't forget that it was, as his official title put it, a chamber servant.

"The King has told me, he wanted designs for a new family crest..." As well as designs for flags, architecture, ball decor, and several more rather eccentric portraits in queue...

"Hmm..." Shindou glanced at his canvas with a curious expression. Kirino turned away, he probably wouldn't think much of such a mess of paint. "Personally, I don't see the urgency, given that our current family crest has been sufficient for the past 80 years," he glanced down at his tie, which bore the design. "But I wouldn't mind wearing yours too."

Kirino looked over at him, he wondered if that meant he liked it. He wondered at what point did Shindou settle himself into the same seat next to him.

"But I think it can wait one more day, paint me." Shindou jumped up from the seat and stood behind the canvas, seemingly thinking of what pose to preform.

"...But I already have--"

"A real one, Ranmaru."

Shindou used his name so casually, as if daring Kirino to let his guard down and do the same.

"...no I mean... I already have." Kirino placed his brush down and reached to pick up the large briefcase at his side, the one he arrived with on his first day.

It clicked open and Kirino pulled out an average sized canvas, and after a moment's hesitation, turned it towards Shindou.

It was an expertly painted portrait of him, looking positively bored, wearing that same expression he normally does when delivering speeches. He'd gotten every detail as close as he could remember, even down to the fibers of his clothes...

"I know now it's not accurate, I haven't seen you very much before, especially up close but..."

Shindou took the canvas into his hands... and after a moment, he let out a tiny chuckle. "Is this how you see me?" 

Kirino frowned, not even the cool breeze could help his red face. It was difficult, painting someone purely from memory but... he thought... it looked at least a bit like him.

"It looks just like me." Shindou grinned, feeling the paint under his fingertips. "Really... every last detail..." He looked up at Kirino, who hoped he wouldn't notice how flustered he was. "You must really like painting, I can tell a lot of passion went into this."

"Thank you," Kirino blurted out, before he could forget his manners in front of a prince.

"Thank you!" Shindou gave back instantly, "No one's ever painted me before..." He gave such a genuine smile, one fitting of a boy his age not burdened with such high responsibilities...

Kirino briefly wondered if he should have brought his other 33 portraits too...

...

"I know I've been bothering you..." 

"Not at all, your highness!" Kirino offered immediately, but Shindou raised a hand, stopping what he probably assumed was just courtesy. 

...

"It wasn't just about the painting..." Shindou didn't look up from the canvas while he spoke... Kirino on the other hand didn't look away.

"Tomorrow, my father and I will be traveling to a neighboring county, just to discuss taxes, trade, new policies... boring stuff," he smiled. "But... I was hoping I'd get to sit with you for at least one painting before then."

Kirino didn't reply, he just stared at the other curiously. He wondered why a portrait was so important to Shindou, and if it was, why hadn't he gotten one sooner?

"But this is more than enough." He held it close to himself. "You really have a talent, Ranmaru, it was a perfect choice hiring you." 

Kirino had always used to wonder what Shindou would say if he ever had the chance to see one of his several portraits of him, but now that he was actually hearing it, for some reason it was difficult to take in... difficult to respond...

"I'll have my steward frame it and display it in in the grand hall immediately."

"Um! Really?" It... it wasn't that special, just a bit of practice for a few boring days. It wasn't something to be... worshiped.

Shindou turned back to him, tilting his head at the protest. "Hm?"

"I mean..." He looked away, honestly regretting having fussed. "I can make better things than that... if you're going to display it..."

...

"That's what I like to hear." Shindou chuckled. " How about this: Exactly a fortnight from now, you'll paint a new portrait of me."

...He must have noticed the way Kirino tensed up a bit: "Don't make that face, it doesn't have to be your magnum opus. It'd just be a nice way to spend an afternoon, don't you think. Though... it might take a lot longer than a afternoon, huh? But don't worry, I'll have the butler bring snacks... And that way, I could finally get to know you."

...that would be... his first real assignment from the Prince.

...

The fact that by some miracle he was even able to acquire the position, the honor of court artist... hand picked by the King himself. Trusted with depicting their glory, their rule, accurately onto canvas, immortalizing it for decades... centuries to come. He wasn't just painting pictures, the King had made that very clear. Kirino understood that.

But even then... that the Prince, the same one he'd only even seen from a distance, delivering speeches he'd barely understood a word of, and despite that, somehow left such an impression on Kirino that he felt compelled to at least attempt to capture his appeal on canvas... 

Was now standing in front of him, personally asking for his talent, and his alone. 

He'd been there for a little over a week already, he'd already tried his hand at a family portrait and a few other works... but only now, for some reason, did this new found realization, this... passion finally begin washing over him... stronger than the breeze of the courtyard. 

Kirino got to his feet, figuring that was the most appropriate way to accept it. "I promise I won't disappoint you, your highness." He bowed, as perfectly as he practiced. "You will receive no less than the greatest of my abilities."

...

"My father's exaggerations have really gone to your head, haven't they?" With a gentle hand, Shindou lifted Kirino's head up high, so they were back to speaking eye to eye.

Kirino made a mental note to add in shining flecks of gold the next time he painted his highness's eyes.

"I'm not coming to you commissioning 'The Fall of the Damned'. I won't cast you off for the texture of a single brush stroke." 

Shindou relaxed himself, and the air of royalty disappeared for a moment... leaving the image of a common, but charming boy. 

But Kirino held his breath all the same.

"I just want you to talk to me."