The pond water rippled as two figures popped up, gasping for air.
Haoran's hair was dripping, his princely robe clinging tightly to him. Beside him, Xiaoxi surfaced with a dramatic "pwaaahhh!!", flailing her arms like a drowning duck.
"Help, I'm melting! I'm melting!" she wailed.
Haoran glared. "You're not melting. You're just… loud."
But instead of climbing out, Xiaoxi puffed her cheeks and splashed water at him.
"Take this, Frog Prince! This is what you get for chasing me!"
Haoran shielded his face, sputtering. "STOP! This is outrageous! You dare splash me?! Me? The Crown Prince of Auroria?!"
"Correction," Xiaoxi grinned wickedly, "the Soaked Frog Prince of Auroria."
Haoran's forehead vein popped. "You… brainless puffer fish!"
He retaliated, scooping a huge wave of water and dumping it right on her head.
Xiaoxi shrieked. "Aaaah! You ruined my hairstyle!"
She grabbed onto his sleeve for revenge, but ended up pulling him down with her again.
SPLASH!
By now, the noise had drawn half the palace. The empress, grandmother, sister, and the three brothers all arrived at the pond.
The scene they saw?
Their usually composed, untouchable Prince Haoran rolling in the water, wrestling like a child with a little girl who looked far too happy about it.
The sister coughed loudly. "Ahem! Ahem!!"
But the two inside the pond didn't even hear her.
Grandmother frowned. "My grandson… reduced to THIS?"
The empress pinched her forehead. "That's… definitely not the prince I raised…"
The three brothers, however, were whispering in awe.
"Wow…"
"He's actually playing."
"Does this mean we won't get scolded anymore?"
Finally, the sister put her hands on her hips and shouted,
"Oi! Frog Prince! Brainless Puffer Fish! The entire palace is watching your water-fight show!"
Haoran froze. Xiaoxi froze.
They looked around. Yep. Everyone. Was. Watching.
Slowly, Xiaoxi loosened her grip on Haoran's robe and giggled nervously.
"Eheh… surprise?"
Haoran's face turned crimson. He leapt out of the pond, trying to look regal, but his robe was so heavy it made a squish squish sound with every step.
"You—" he jabbed a trembling finger at Xiaoxi,
"—are a walking disaster in human form!"
Xiaoxi tilted her head. "Eh? Didn't you just call me a cute puffer fish in your head?"
Haoran choked. "I— I DIDN'T!!"
The entire courtyard erupted in laughter.
Xiaoxi then proudly climbed out… except her wet slippers slipped on the stone floor.
THUMP! She fell right on her butt.
Everyone: "..."
Xiaoxi raised her hand weakly. "I'm fineeee…!"
But instead of leaving quietly, she tip-toed dramatically behind Haoran, dripping water the whole way, whispering:
"Quack, quack, quack~ your little duckling is following the Frog Princeee~"
Haoran stopped dead in his tracks, fists clenched, ears red.
The sister burst out laughing. The grandmother sighed. The empress nearly choked on her tea.