Sherry walks up to you and your mouth is half-open already, ready to make a biting remark when the words get caught on their way out of your throat and you're almost choking but you don't care because something looks wrong. She looks wrong. The six year-old looks hesitant and uneasy and this can't be the girl who lectures you in confidence and chases you under the sun. She asks something but it sounds more like she's mumbling to herself than asking you. "Do I really not deserve anything I have?"
The initial shock that he first felt is quickly replaced with a feeling of anger, but it's not the boy's usual anger. No, anger, indignation, and hatred are emotions that Zeno is both familiar with and almost fond of. What he feels right now makes the boy feel sick and leaves a cold, acidic taste in his mouth and it has been oh so long since the young prince has felt such a cold, biting anger. Whoever did this to Sherry was worse than filth and he so badly wanted to see them suffer for their crimes. Zeno was all ready to tell Sherry just that and go off on one of his usual tirades when he caught the look in her eyes and stopped himself.
The young boy bit his lip and cautiously looked over his shoulder to make sure that no one was listening before leaning forward, his voice a harsh whisper. "Don't you ever say that again. You deserve everything you have and more and anyone who tells you that you don't can go rot in hell. You're strong enough to reach out and grab whatever you want in life and no one is stupid enough to stand in your way." The boy chuckled, "Well, maybe me, but I'm not stupid."