[ he blinks, startled by the assertion, feeling vaguely and amusingly affronted about it. really! ] I rather think I'm too tall to be considered small. [ he'd inherited his mother's slight frame, though, and his illness hasn't been particularly kind to him. he knows these things, of course.

.. still. his lips quirk up, teasing. ] I've a mind to keep them to myself, now, [ he says with a huff that isn't remotely serious, and proves that a moment later as he unwraps the bundle in his palms and offers it back out for the stranger to take one or two. ] I must admit, this brings back memories. It's been quite some time since I lived in a castle.

[ his mother hadn't often let him leave her side, but his brother had given him as many opportunities as possible to just be a child, to get into harmless mischief like bothering the kitchen staff. he doesn't often think of those days, so long gone now. ]