Miles had intended to avoid Mad Future Emperor Yuri, he really had. He's managed to make himself scarce whenever he spots the man in camp, or get at a far enough distance to stare at the man without being obvious. But mostly he's careful not to hang around the areas a crown prince is likely to be, and that works well enough.

Until now, anyway. He almost literally runs into the man, in fact, having decided to take his meager supper (and a nice bottle of mead) outside to enjoy the spring air. Only a quick recovery sends the tray careening into the ground and not all over the Crown Prince. Better wasted than spilled on Yuri, after all. He drops the bottle too, but at least that rolls rather than shatters.

Miles stops to stare afterwards, momentarily speechless. He really isn't ready to be face to face with this man. (Well, face to chest - because of course Yuri is tall on top of everything else.) It takes him a moment to find something to say at all. "Your highness," he says, almost dazed. "My apologies." He stoops to pick up the tray and bottle both. And tries not to think about the fact that this man right here is going to murder most of his family.