Riku didn't mean to scold! He just wanted to assure this young man that he shouldn't be worried about coming here to talk to the Prince, since it was a birth-given right that he should be able to. He could at least have confidence in that!
Riku was going to point out that the Prince's court was small still, only Abe, the twins, and a few other young men that the Prince had felt would serve him well, but Riku was stopped short by the Lady Princess's suggestion and pulled back a little to stare at her with big eyes.
Him? Have a court? Was he even allowed such a thing?
And he barely knew this person. Being given Abe for the Prince had been real luck. This young Lord, Sir Ryder, what if he was not like Abe, and didn't know when to not share everything he saw?
But now that Princess's Aunt had suggested it, and Riku couldn't just refuse. That would be very rude to her, and she was a more knowledgeable person than he.
So Riku pushed himself to his feet, and descended the few stairs to go and stand before Lord Ryder. "I understand your concern," he said, "And I think you are very brave, to come here inspite of it."
He placed his hand, flat, under Ryder's chin and gently lifted his face so that he could see the young man's eyes. Riku smiled. "Would you like to be part of my court?" he offered. Not that he even knew if it was allowed, but he'd been told to suggest it. "It is a very small court... currently, you would be the only one. But I think you would be the perfect man for the job."