Given that people tended to be so overprotective of him Nicolas had never been outside the kingdom of Illyria, the kingdom that his family held reign over, so the prospect of going somewhere else was something that captivated him. Which was what he was thinking was being offered when Bryce said that he would take him on a trip so he was of course understandably disappointed when he learned that his mentor was just planning on taking him to the neighboring village. Even though he wasn't trying to the little guy ended up showing his disappointment as he said that he'd thought Bryce might like to go somewhere fun, the boy's gray eyes focusing on his mentor when Bryce once again spoke and promised that he would enjoy himself.

"Might enjoy myself more if we went farther away," Nicolas hinted, not so subtly, but of course small children were not known for their subtlety and he was no exception to that fact.

His interest was once again piqued when Bryce said that if he behaved the entire time they were in the neighboring villages he might take him on an adventure to El'dar. That was enough to get a wide eyed and hopeful look out of the prince, Nicolas looking at his mentor as he asked, "You promise?"

That was almost enough in and of itself to get him to agree to behave himself but of course just because he agreed didn't mean that he'd be able to do it because he was just a little boy after all and they were prone to mischief. Nicolas was willing to try however, the child having regained his excitement and completely oblivious to the potential dangers that such a journey would entail. He maintained that enthusiasm until Bryce told him that he was still going to have to apologize to the tutor and that was enough to get a frown out of the child as he asked if Bryce was going to make him.

As soon as he was placed on his own two feet Nicolas reached back to rub his bottom with his hands since he was quite sore after the spanking that he'd gotten. When he was told that he was an interesting little boy he frowned, not sure what Bryce meant by that, but it was forgotten when he was asked if he was ready to apologize or did he want to wait. Truthfully he didn't want to apologize but he was smart enough to know that Bryce wasn't going to let him out of it so he just gave something of a resigned sigh.

"Not gonna be any more sorrier later..." he said in a soft edged voice before he added, "May as well do it now if you're gonna make me." He was acting more his age now as he stood there rubbing his stinging bottom, his speech having changed to what was typical for a child his age rather than the more mature manner of speaking that the little guy tried to use most of the time. It was a sigh that he was comfortable around Bryce, even if he didn't realize that was the case.

Bryce could easily understand the prince's thirst for venture, and often wondered if others in the palace tried to understand Nicolas' want for thrill. They couldn't constantly bore the boy with lectures of how he shouldn't leave the palace, that was simply not fair. Despite the fact Bryce was guilty of sometimes hypocritically lecturing the young prince himself, he was sympathetic nonetheless, even if Nicolas didn't want sympathy. Bryce was no prince, and had a pretty rough and tumble childhood filled with his own fun-filled adventures. It was his traveling as a child that kept him enthralled with journeying.

"Yes, Nicolas, I promise. I'm a man of promises, and I keep them I assure you." Bryce laughed lightly, running a tired finger through his shaggy, chocolate locks. His tire from earlier was quickly catching up to him. Oh well, there were jobs to be done, and he couldn't just shirk his own duties…especially after explaining to the prince that wasn't something to be done.

Bryce watched as the boy frowned, causing the older male to attempt in concealing a smile. Nicolas was forced to grow older than he was, and for that, he often tried to act mature. He wanted the prince to act his age for once, enjoying his childhood so that when he was king, he could look back and smile.

After all, being king wasn't exactly the most fun position.

"You know, if you keep frowning like that, your face just might get stuck." He teased, nodding his head at the boy's words, easily noting how much more childish and compliant he were being. It was good to know he were somehow getting through to him! Last thing he wanted was for his lessons to be in vain. "You're right. Well, let's be off then." Bryce stood, stretching with an over-dramatic grunt of exertion before gently guiding the prince out of his quarters. "Apologizing for doing something wrong is one of the most important steps into becoming a fine young man. In fact, it shows you have feelings beneath all of that brawn, and as a king, your subjects will respect you for it." The pair made a short walk towards the tutor's study, in which Bryce knocked once before hearing a soft,

"Enter, please."

The brown haired male opened the door for the prince, smiling in greetings to the tutor. "Hello, Sir Casewell. The prince has something he would like to say."

There were a few instances where Nicolas had managed to escape his tutors for more than a few hours and those had been great fun, even if the aftermath was something that the child tried really hard not to dwell on since his father had been less than pleased with his antics on those occasions. So of course the offer to be able to leave the palace on a trip that was actually sanctions was definitely one that Nicolas was all for, the young prince asking Bryce if he promised and smiling slightly when the man confirmed that he did in fact promise.

"Okay, I'm holding you to that," Nicolas said softly, looking at his mentor for a moment as though trying to gauge if the man was really being truthful with him. After all he'd had a few people promise him things only to gain compliance, with no intentions of actually carrying through on them and he didn't want this to be one of those instances.

He didn't really find any dishonesty in the man's expression however so after a brief nod he just accepted what Bryce was telling him.

Which lead them to the next bit of unpleasant business, Nicolas not happy with the fact that the man was still going to make him apologize since as far as he was concerned he didn't have anything to apologize for. It was pretty clear that Bryce felt differently however, the boy shaking his head when he was told that his face would get stuck if he frowned too much. "Will not," he said a bit petulantly before he replied that he wasn't going to be any more sorry later. Basically meaning that he wasn't sorry now but he didn't say that part.

Nicolas allowed himself to be ushered to his tutor's study, the child shaking his head and looking down as he was lectured about apologies. "Don't exactly have any brawn," the kid said, which was true, he was small and quite lithe. When they reached the study Nicolas briefly thought about making a run for it but before he could they were given leave to enter the room and Bryce opened the door and guided him inside.

The little prince's gray eyes went to his tutor when Bryce told the man that he had something to say, Nicolas very much wanting to back away and leave the room at this point but Bryce was in the way and the child had no doubt that he'd be caught and once again chastised. So there was no option save to offer the apology that he didn't really mean.

Averting his gaze Nicolas said softly, "I apologize for running off and avoiding my studies." His words were correct but his tone made it pretty clear that he was not offering this apology willfully, the little guy reaching back to rub at his bottom as he did so without even realizing that he was doing it or else he likely would have kept himself from it if only to save embarrassment for himself.

Bryce chuckled at Nicolas' reply about not having brawn, blue eyes filled with laughter. He wanted to counter with a, 'Not yet you do, but you will', but decided the boy would realize such in due time. He really did want Prince Nicolas to become one of the better kings, and as his mentor, it was practically a dream to be witness to such a day. However, for now, the little imp was nothing more but a naive little bundle, and he would need some careful looking after.

The brown haired man could easily discern the hint of defiance in the boy's eyes as they entered the tutor's study, though since he were effectively blocking the door, he felt confident the boy would not leave.

Sir Casewell waited patiently for the apology, glancing at Bryce as if silently asking the man if that were sufficient enough. Bryce wanted to roll his eyes, the tutor was quite the beta male! Of course they both could tell Nicolas was quite reluctant to apologize, but upon seeing the boy rub his bottom, the tutor gave both Bryce and Nicolas a knowing smile.

"I accept your apology, young Nicolas. We can continue your studies tomorrow." He smiled, and Bryce gave a nod in response. "Alright, Prince Nicolas shall see you in the 'morrow, Sir Casewell. And I'm sure he promises not to wander off. Let's head off Nicolas."

Gently, he guided the youth out of the room and into the corridor. "I'm proud of you for apologizing. Even if it could've been a little more sincere." Bryce chuckled, ruffling the prince's hair. "Are you hungry? I'm sure a young adventurer such as yourself could use a hearty meal after all of that."

Nicolas did not want to offer an apology, he wasn't really sorry that he'd skipped out on his lessons, he was just sorry that he'd gotten caught by his mentor and thoroughly chastised for it. That was of course not something that the boy could say however so when he realized that he was effectively trapped in his tutor's study the young prince turned to the man and offered up his less than sincere apology. It was pretty clear to all present, or at least it should be, that the little prince was less than willing in the offering of this apology but he managed to make himself do it.

The throbbing of his backside of course offering up the slight encouragement that he needed to go through with it.

He looked at his tutor when the man said that he accepted his apology and that they would continue his studies the next day, the child groaning in response to that since he didn't want to. It was only the thought of the trip that Bryce had said that they could go on that was causing him to behave himself at this point, the boy nodding his head slightly as he replied, "Yes sir." It was at this point that Bryce excused them, Nicolas allowing himself to be guided out into the hallway and then he looked up at the man when he said he was proud of him.

"Would have been more sincere if I meant it and you weren't making me," Nicolas told him slightly petulantly, the boy reaching up to fix his hair after Bryce messed it up. Not that one could really tell since his hair was just naturally unruly. The mention of getting something to eat got a wince out of the child, Nicolas shaking his head as he said, "No, I'm not hungry."

In truth he was very much hungry since he'd skipped the midday meal in favor of his adventure however the thought of sitting on one of the hard chairs in the dining room was enough to convince Nicolas that he'd rather go to bed hungry so he just decided to lie and say that he wasn't and hope that Bryce let it go at that.

"Oh hush. If I let you run around to your own devices, you wouldn't apologize at all." Bryce's voice was stern, though his eyes still remained amused. In all honesty, he was amused by the young prince's difficult nature, but he wasn't going to let the boy know that. Besides, as entertaining as it could be, Nicolas was still a handfull. "In fact, I bet if I let you run around to your own devices, you would be in some very sticky situations. But, here I am, here to mentor you, M'lord. Hopefully you learn something out of me being here, or all our little 'chats' would be for naught." Bryce gave a purposely dramatic sigh, almost as if he were trying to lighten the prince's mood with a bit of humor.

After all, he knew how awful it felt to be punished and having to apologize...perhaps that was why he didn't seem inclined to make the boy apologize again. Bryce was lenient enough with the boy that he wanted him to make his own decisions, but strict enough to help him along the way of better ones.

"Imagine if you were the tutor. You're going out of your day to teach someone who just can never sit still! You wouldn't be very pleased, now would you? Unless you were a saint of a tutor of course." He shrugged, raising an eye brow as Nicolas said he wasn't hungry. "Is that so? Are you sure? When was the last time you've eaten?" Bryce playfully poked the boy's stomach.

"Look at you, you're practically bones!" With that, he tickled the young prince, drawing his hand away before stating, "If you want, we can eat in my room. Perhaps discuss our little journey we'll be having soon." That would work, besides, Bryce could keep a steady eye on the prince for a while long before nightfall came and it was time for bed.

"Well it wouldn't be so bad if I never apologized...I'd say I was sorry on my own if I actually was," Nicolas told him when Bryce made the comment about allowing him to run around on his own devices. "Let's test that theory, can we?" the little prince asked, looking up at his mentor with a hopeful look in his always expressive stormy gray eyes. He really was an incorrigible little thing most of the time but he was still possessed of a sweet nature, it was just hard to see that through the bratty side that came out more often than not.

The bit about their little 'chats' got a fierce scowl from Nicolas, the boy shaking his head as he stated, "Do not ever do that again...that's an order." It was by all technicalities an order that he didn't have the power to issue since his father King Asher had given Bryce full authority over the headstrong little prince but nonetheless Nicolas tried it if only for the simple fact that he really hated ending up in that position.

He did look thoughtful when told to put himself in the tutor's position, Nicolas shaking his head as he replied, "I wouldn't try to force him to do something he didn't want to do." Which was true in the moment but a way of thinking that he was going to have to grow out of sooner or later for the good of the kingdom.

The thought of going to get something to eat was not one that Nicolas wanted to entertain so he just lied and said that he wasn't hungry, the boy looking at Bryce when asked when he'd last eaten. "Breakfast but that doesn't matter," he said truthfully, the boy pushing away at Bryce's hand when the man poked his stomach. "I am not bones!" he protested even though he was small and skinny, Nicolas frowning at that. When he was told that they could eat in Bryce's room the boy looked at him a bit skeptically as he asked, "You don't wanna have another 'chat' do you?"

If that was the case he was running though the thought of discussing their plans appealed to the child, Nicolas giving him a curious look despite himself.

"What if you never were sorry?" Bryce responded, cracking a smile as Nicolas' comment to test that theory. He truly was an adorable little guy, and curious, naive. The prince was no different from the other children of the kingdoms, though his only contrasting flaw was the mere fact he was the prince. With being prince, came with great responsibility, and unfortunately for Nicolas, less than pleasing restrictions. "Unfortunately, since I would like to keep my job, I don't think that would be very wise."

Bryce's blue eyes met the stormy hues of the prince, who looked rather annoyed at the prospect of punishment. He expected nothing less, but by the way he reacted, it made the man feel as though he was getting through to the boy. "By the way you're acting, you obviously are not a fan of being punished. Grand, because that should be enough of a deterrent to keep you out of trouble, yes?"

The older male knew that the king gave him full jurisdiction to teach his errant son, which was new considering mentors in the past didn't have as much leeway as Bryce. The brown haired male figured it was a last resort sort of thing, considering Nicolas wasn't exactly easy to work with.

Bryce nodded thoughtfully at the prince's answer, but didn't say anything more about it. The boy was young, he'd learn sooner or later, and it wouldn't make sense to continue trying to beat the hypothetical dead horse.

"Breakfast seems forever ago! I think you would do well with at least some delicious, freshly baked bread. I, for one, would rather like some myself." He chuckled at Nicolas' protest, realizing he really did enjoy his time with the little prince. And as he asked that skeptical question...Bryce had to bite his lip to keep from smiling.

"Of course not...unless you think you deserve another one?" A joke, but Bryce couldn't help himself, offering Nicolas a gentle smile to indicate he was indeed teasing. "Come along then, the kitchen awaits." With that, he led the boy towards the kitchen, the smell of cooking by busying maids wafting into the air. Bryce's own stomach rumbled as if on a que, and he breathed a sigh of content as they entered, the servants bowing upon their entrance.

"Hello, ladies! I would like some bread...and ah, chicken. What would you like, Prince Nicolas?"

Nicolas tilted his head slightly to the side when he was asked how it would be if he were never sorry, the little guy seeming to put a great deal of thought into that prospect before he replied, "Then I guess I wouldn't ever apologize." Seemed pretty straightforward to him and he was not the least bit happy when Bryce shot down the idea of letting him test the theory and leave him to his own devices for a change, the child frowning when Bryce said that he would like to keep his job. "Father doesn't hafta know," he said, giving his mentor a conspiratorial wink as though that would convince him.

The little prince went on to tell, or more like order, Bryce not to punish him again and he narrowed his eyes slightly when the man said that he could tell that he wasn't a fan of being punished, that getting Nicolas to roll his eyes since he of course couldn't think of anyone that would like such a thing. "That was just stupid...and I told you, you're not allowed to do it again," the child said somewhat petulantly and as though the matter was resolved at that point.

The topic did eventually shift to eating and Nicolas said that he'd had breakfast, looking at Bryce when he said that it was forever ago, the child shaking his head again as he said, "Not hungry." Of course his stomach chose that time to make a liar out of him, the little guy's stomach growling rather loudly. Which caused Nicolas to blush slightly but he was distracted by the offer of eating in Bryce's chambers, Nicolas asking about another talk since that was teh last thing he wanted and he wasn't going with the man if that was in his future.

"No, don' deserve 'nother," he said with a slight pout before allowing himself to be ushered to the kitchen. It didn't take them long to get there and Nicolas watched all the maids bow but he thought that was just stupid, the little guy running over to them with an impish smile on his face as he asked, "Gots any pastries?" He was frequently coming and getting those from them but of course usually not with his mentor in tow so the maids were nervous about giving them to him and that was obvious though Nicolas was too little and naive to pick up on that.

Bryce snorted as Nicolas stated that the king didn't have to know, giving him a less than convincing wink as if that would sway the man in the slightest. "Oh yes. Let me just jeopardize my current position as so the prince can do whatever he pleases." Came the sarcastic response, accompanied with an eye roll. "I'm sure you practically did whatever you wanted before I came 'round, and I assure you, those days are over." Bryce spoke flatly, as if growing a tad annoyed by the prince's prodding. "And this 'ordering' business is going to have to stop. I'm your mentor, I'm the one who issues the orders until you're old enough to know how to issue them. I'm hardly appreciating your tone right now."

Bryce's jovial attitude was becoming more of a warning as he walked beside the boy, but it returned as the boy's stomach contradicted his words, and which of course led to the adorable pouting and decline of further punishment. "Good." Bryce responded, a slight smile forming on his lips.

Once inside the kitchen, the brown haired male watched as the maids regarded Nicolas with a slightly frightened expression as they glanced at Bryce.

"Sure, give him pastries. But please give him real food as well. You can eat the pastries afterwards."

The maids nodded immediately, setting up a platter of bread, chicken, and delicious pastries in which they handed to Bryce. "Thank you kindly."

"W-would you like anything to drink with that sir?"

"Ah, no. I have water in my chambers. Come along Nicolas. Good day, ladies!" Bryce flashed them a charming smile before he headed out of the kitchen, holding the tray of perfectly placed food.