Aerith imagined it, too. Which is why she suggested they just spend some time together. Lord Ryder might not be happy to learn that he was serving a foreign servant that had less education than he. Riku wasn't even a LORD from Trabia. He was common. If he learned Riku's character first, his opinion may not be so harsh towards him.
Lord Ryder took another bow to both Riku and Aerith before he left.
"That was quite interesting!" the Princess exclaimed after he left. "I do not think Sora will object at all. Well done, Riku." Well, Riku was handling things nicely. "I was a little unsure of the idea, but people will need to know you eventually, and his personality seemed better for the task." He was young, impressionable, and seemed as though he would be devoted. Himself and Riku were both underdogs. It seemed to work.