Presley stood idly by while watching over the orange-haired male. Contrary to how he had been previously doing, the boy was now immersing himself in a variety of books. The coral-haired man flushed as he thought about what he had to do to get them for him. However, when Orion had asked for something with such a hopeful look in his eye, how was he to say no? It was a royal knight's duty to ensure the absolute protection of their royal ward, whether that be physically or mentally.

He had asked for books on romance, but such things wouldn't have been in any of the royal libraries. Of course, the man had thought of the boy's cousins, but all three of them would never have such a book, whether it was instructional or fictitious. And because Satoru had slipped his mind (as he often did), Presley was forced to leave castle grounds to find such material for the male. He did so himself on behalf of the very embarrassed prince, who practically begged him to keep it a secret.

So, at the crack of dawn, before the prince had woken, he had slipped out, making sure to put other guards in place for the younger male. He had practically snuck out of Valiende towards the city, entering a handful of bookstores. Though he didn't know exactly what the prince wanted, he did his best to compile a few different things. Of course, searching for them in sight of anyone in the store was embarrassing, but there wasn't anything he could have done about that. He just hoped he wasn't recognized. Though, who, in Vethela, wouldn't recognize Count Alvaric?

Orion had spent the entire week reading the books. The first few he picked up were fiction novels, ones about princes and heroes. He seemed to like them a lot, glowing whenever there was a happy ending. The next few were instructional guides with very embarrassing names, ones obviously compiled as a form of sensationalized advertising. Either way, he was entranced, very focused. He had even taken to writing notes as he read. Then there were the historical love stories and ones in Viasti, the Vethelan religion.

"Ezdia fell in love with the Sun God, right?" the orange-haired male questioned, pointing to the depiction of the goddess.

"Some believe the Sun God was a human mage."

"But that's not true."

"...Well, it's just one variation of the myth, your highness. Another would be that he was the Sun God. That's why the Sun God Sect exists. If everyone believed he was a god, there wouldn't be any need for the sect, right?"

"Right. But he was a god though."

Presley chuckled awkwardly. It was a given that Orion would believe more firmly in the presence of a Sun God rather than a human mage. After all, his father was the supreme head of the Sun God Sect. And though most of the royal family sided with that argument, he knew that at least one of the boy's cousins disagreed with that logic. Similarly, his grandmother believed the man was a human, as well, but since he didn't want to put the prince in a bad mood, he just agreed. It didn't really matter that he thought it was a human as well.

"So the demon Zydon froze the eternal flower and the Sun God freed her," the boy mumbled, brightening up at the romantic notion, "Did they fall in love at first sight?"

"I'm not sure, your highness."

"The book doesn't say either...but it has to be true. Why else would he save her?"

"Maybe he was just kind. Or maybe he saw that the people of Vethela were suffering without her."

The orange-haired boy nodded, but, in his mind, he made a mental note to ask his father. He wanted to hear that they had fallen in love at first sight and nothing else. Either way, he moved to murmur a few other things about the myth of Inir and Asla, two other gods. Though they were both sardonic gods, the former was responsible for light and the other, darkness. Both were blind, but using only words, they were able to find one another and fall in love. After that, they learned how to love the world and the cycle of day and night began.

"Did they fall in love at first sight?"

"They were blind, your highness, and the story is about learning to love someone even if you don't know who they are," Presley sighed, taking a moment before sighing, a feeling of dread in his heart, "Is there a particular reason you seem interested in love at first sight?"

Orion blushed and Presley had his answer. He gave a concerned look at the male, knowing it wouldn't end well for him. Even if he did somehow manage to form an intimate relationship with a significant other, he still only had a month and three weeks to live, maybe less. He would never be able to get married or have kids or celebrate an anniversary. The coral-haired man paused, wondering if there was some chance of talking him out of his feelings as if it might help him somehow.

"Not everyone needs love, your highness. Sometimes, just the love of your family is more than enough, and, sometimes, a person - "

The man trailed off as he saw the orange-haired male frowning, the hint of a pout in his features. His thoughts were clear as day. They always had been. "Easy for you to say" must have been along the lines of what he was thinking. And while it wasn't any less valid, Presley couldn't help but want to challenge that thought. He was in the same sinking boat. Though Orion would never know it, once he died, the coral-haired man's life would be forfeit as well. That was how things had been done. And that was how things were going to keep being done; tradition and all that.

"She didn't like the presents," the younger of the two droned, glancing at the portrait and medallion at the far side of the room.

The man chuckled nervously. It wasn't just the presents she didn't like. For one reason or another, she seemed avidly against the Trewin family. He didn't know why. The individual that had reported to him had simply said she didn't want to be in any way connected to them, a stark contrast against the majority populace. Presley just suspected it was because she was connected to the Akahito family, who had more than enough wealth to make the orange-haired male's gifts pale in comparison. Of course, he didn't know her, so he was wrong.

"Do I send more?"

"I would advise against that."

"Right," A pause. "That's what the book said, too."

The man once again chuckled, but merely to fill the silence that followed the boy's observation. Really, he would have far preferred it if the male was able to experience and learn about romance himself, but there was no time. Even if there happened to be a candidate, not everyone fell in love at first sight, unlike Orion's initial conjecture. In the rare case where there would be one, both able to fall in love within mere moments of meeting one another, would it really be the kind of affection he was looking for?

"But I want to give her something. She helped me, so she deserves a reward."

Presley thought back to the scene and remembered it a little differently than he did. Sure, she had stepped forward to lend a helping hand, but she wasn't the one that helped him up. And even though she had caught him when he slipped, it wasn't her original intention. She was probably just surprised. Otherwise, she would have simply slipped back into the crowd. At least, that was his suspicion.

In most cases, a reward wouldn't have been given. Simply a word of appreciation or an invitation to a party would more than suffice. The royal family tried to be generous to those that helped them, but that was reserved for more than stepping forward. The only reason the male wanted to give her a reward was because of his own personal feelings towards her. Favoritism wasn't rare, but he had never heard of a member of the royal family chasing after someone like that.

"President Kazuya suggested just a letter of appreciation would be fine."

"The president from Echal?"

"Yes. Miss Shiratori came as a guest of President Kazuya."

"I thought from her name she was Athainian."

"I can't say for sure, but I am fairly certain she is. It's my understanding she met President Kazuya's son in Athain but came over to Echal when they were enga - "

"I knew she was Athainian! Ichi and Zuki have been telling me all about Athain! They say it's so amazing there! It even snows!"

The coral-haired man frowned again as he was interrupted. It was important to him that the boy knew the girl was already spoken for. However, he figured, since Athain was a sensitive matter for the boy, he may as well let the matter go for now. He listened as Orion went on and on about his cousins and their experience traveling the world. For once, the younger male looked happy and content with life. How could he take that away from him when life was such a luxury for him?

One of the boy's cousins, Ichiro, had never really taken to Vethela, or, rather, it had never taken to him. As a child, he was always the last one to be considered and in the shadow of both his older and younger brother. As a result, he tried to stow away to Athain, a place he thought would suit him better. However, he was caught by his older brother, Kazuki, and, in some odd twist of fate, the two left together. It came as a shock to the entire country, especially since Kazuki, after Orion, was first in line for the throne. However, it seemed he valued Ichiro more than he did the rest of the country. When they left, Orion was devastated.

Obviously, the two had kept up with him in letters. Ichiro wrote erratically, sometimes sending up to ten letters a day for him and other times, none for weeks. On the other hand, Kazuki sent a letter each week at the same time, often accompanied by gifts. The blonde would send him trinkets having to do with the culture, trying to let him share in the joy of exploring the world, even if he couldn't leave his bed most days. Presley couldn't count the number of things the orange-haired boy had of that country, but it was clear he treasured every single one of them. He didn't know whether it was out of love for his cousins or the unquenchable desire to see the world.

His youngest cousin, Rei, who was a year older than him, was living his life to the fullest. Whereas the male's brothers stayed in one country, he traveled the world. He had that kind of freedom. At least, he would until two months later when it was likely he would be the next king. Sometimes, he would come back to Vethela to drop off whatever things he had bought himself, but, mainly, it was him riding around on his motorcycle to the ends of the earth. And, even if Rei could be inherently cruel, Orion still loved him dearly.

Presley understood the male's frustration. Not only did he lose his precious grandmother, the previous Queen of Vethela, when he was very little but he lost his cousins, too, to the rest of the world. That in itself might have been fine if the boy's father had been around, but Cadmus was very heavily relied on. Not long after Rei had left for the first time, Cadmus had wandered off and he hadn't returned since, leaving Celith to take care of the Sun God Sect in his absence. The only one that Orion had next to him was his mother (and though there was someone else, like always, he had slipped Presley's mind).

"I'd love to visit some...day."

The knight flinched as Orion trailed off. He began to shiver a bit, trying as hard as he could not to cry. They both knew he would never be able to make such a trip. The trinkets his cousins sent him from Athain were just that; trinkets. They would never be memories or experiences, and they would never be feelings aside from bitterness and overwhelming envy. Presley never asked himself why - when those emotions are so prevalent within the objects - did he still keep them so visible to himself?

"Let's...come up with a present to give Miss Shiratori," Presley caved, giving a forced smile, "Maybe she likes flowers."

"I-I like flowers!"

The boy glowed again, putting his hands together and interlocking his fingers. It was true. Orion adored flowers, but flowers did not adore him. The pollen made his already sensitive body reject itself. The last time someone had put flowers in his room, he had a seizure, panting and heaving even when he recovered from it. Looking back on it, it must have been a sympathetic servant that saw how the boy stared longingly out at the labyrinth. That was his favorite place in the entire palace.

"If I remember correctly, your highness, your favorite flowers are lilies. Maybe she would like some lilies, too."

"You think so?"

"Why not? Unless you ask her, you'll never know. Let's start on the letter before we decide."

A servant brought the boy paper, but, as evident from the look on their face, they hadn't expected anything. Most servants that were there solely for Orion didn't have to do any work on most days. They would occasionally bring food or water, but, most of the time, he didn't have anything he needed. It wasn't like he went outside or had friends over or even left the palace grounds at all. It was always fetching tasks, but even those were rare, hence the confusion and somewhat shocked response to the request.

The orange-haired male spent an inordinate amount of time just planning out the letter. He was very determined, wanting not only to convey his appreciation for her assistance but her humbleness. Orion also wanted to comment on how stunning she was and that they must have been meant to be, but Presley warned against it. He, too, thought it might have frightened her away from him, so he kept it to himself.

The knight went over it for the umpteenth time, pointing out a few more tweaks to the letter. The orange-haired boy moved to adjust it accordingly, handing in the final result to the man. He then began to put together the envelope, shutting the flap. For a moment, he paused, not remembering what to do next, but the servant then motioned to his own personal seal. His eyes lit up in joy, reaching out for it before Presley moved to grab it suddenly. Orion paused.

"Allow me to do it for you, your highness. Fire is dangerous. You might burn yourself."

Though he looked like he was going to object, he let the knight light the wax for him. The man then poured it over the envelope before handing the seal back to him. Even if it was strenuous for the boy, no one but him could use the seal. He watched nervously as the boy pushed down on the wax, ready to interject if it was necessary. Despite that, there were no issues, allowing the letter to be sealed.

Orion flipped it over to stare at the way he had written the girl's name. He didn't know her first name, just her last, so all it said was "Miss Shiratori". It was his hope that, if he sent the letter, he might get a response back. Then he could keep writing to her, and, perhaps, his condition willing, he was able to talk with her in person. It was a romantic thought; pen pals to lovers. But he knew it was best to be friends first, so that was his goal. Hesitantly, he handed the letter to the servant, blushing brightly.

"Um," he stuttered, nervous and shy, all the same, "Please deliver this to the Echali embassy. And, oh, please be careful with it."

"The flowers, your highness?" the servant questioned, tilting their head.

"I'm afraid she won't accept it...if it comes with lilies."

The orange-haired boy burst into embarrassment, quick to hide under his blankets. It was cute. That was what the servant thought, and out of hope that the prince would have his wish come true, they acted without his permission. They had gone into the labyrinth and picked some roses, attaching them with the letter. All they wanted to do was help their beloved prince. So when they delivered the letter along with the roses, they didn't expect such a reaction.

The girl took one look at the letter and then at the roses before her expression hardened. The brunette behind her watched predatorily. It was like he wanted to strike the servant down until they could no longer get back up. However, he did nothing. Instead, he waited for the (h/c) haired girl to make her decision before he made his. She stepped forward and took the roses, making him clench his jaw. The girl then clenched hard on the stems, beginning to bleed, but still, she had an emotionless look on her face.

"Here," she hummed songlessly, extending her hand to the servant and letting their palms fill with her blood, "Go give him that. That's what he wants."

"Pardon? I'm afraid...I don't understand."

"I won't take the letter and I won't take these flowers."

The girl threw the bouquet to the ground and turned her back on the servant, leaving them with her blood in their hands. Sona moved to help heal her back up, but Haru remained. He stayed still for a while before moving towards the servant. Grabbing at the letter, he opened it aggressively, noting the seal of the Vethelan prince on the back. The servant moved to grab it back, royal law dictating only the intended receiver of an object with a royal seal could view its contents. But what was a servant to do against the next head of the Akahito family?

The brunette read over each and every letter with a vested interest. He became progressively more mad, visible in both his expression and his body language. It was rare for him to show that much care for something as trivial as a letter. (Y/n) made it clear she was far from happy to receive attention from the prince as well in favor of the brunette, but he was still pissed. No one had ever tried to take something away from him. No one. So he didn't see why it had to happen now that he had his heart set on her.

"Even if you are a guest of Vethela, staying in the embassy, you cannot break a law like this."

"I don't care about your laws."

The brunette looked down at the roses and the pile of the younger girl's blood. He didn't like it. He didn't like that she had given away her blood to someone. Yet, still, he waited for five seconds, rocking back and forth impatiently. Frowning deeper, he moved to take the servant's hands, ignoring how they flinched at his sudden pull. Haru dipped his hands into the blood, rubbing it off of their filthy digits. He looked down at the blood and sighed longingly, lifting it to his face to observe it closer before kissing the liquid. For a moment, he smiled, but then he looked back at the servant and frowned again. There was still blood. Her blood.

Holding the person tightly, he moved to rub the blood off of them more and more. He did it again and again, but it just wasn't coming off. Frustrated, his brows turned up, and he gritted his teeth, clenching his jaw in anger. Still, her blood was on their hands. So he began scratching. Maybe that, somehow, someway, would get it off of their undeserving form. But, it didn't, and the mild sounds of discomfort that rang from the servant fell on deaf ears. It was then that Haru began clawing.

The brunette sunk his nails into their skin and raked along the flesh, brightening just a bit when it worked. Though the servant began yelling and screaming, tugging away from the rabid male, he could not get him to budge. So, he continued. Dig into skin, rake away the top flesh, repeat. Pierce into flesh, pull out a chunk of muscle, repeat. Gouge into tissue, string out a tendon, repeat. Before he knew it, Haru couldn't tell the difference between the servant's blood and hers. Yet, still, he continued. He couldn't leave it to chance.

Before long, the brunette had tackled the man to the ground. He kept skinning the man layer by layer, piece by piece. At that point, he had done so for an hour, and the man had died long ago. Eventually, the brunette had to be stopped by Sona, who had come in to inform him that there was no more blood anymore. It all leaked onto the grass and on the male's body, soaking him completely.

"I'll clean the mess for you. Go inside and take a bath."

"Don't tell (Y/n)."

"She probably already knows."

. . .

It had been an entire day and Orion hadn't seen the servant he set out. He had been calm and patient before he had gotten a letter back, another servant handing it to him. Eagerly, the orange-haired male ripped open the letter, delighted to see the girl's handwriting as well as her name signed at the bottom. It was still only her last name, but that was fine. She'd tell him her real name soon enough, or, even better, he could make a pet name for her. He'd always wanted one, himself. Only his family called him "Oreo", if anything, so it would be nice to hear someone else call him something a bit cuter, like orchid or lily.

However, as he read the contents of the letter, he shook with an indiscernible emotion before locking his door and hiding under his bedsheets. It said that she didn't want to hear from him again and that she despised roses. She also claimed that, if he sent one more thing, she would go back to Echal. He began to cry, sobbing and clenching his pillow in anger, mumbling "idiot" over and over again. With a glare, he moved his gaze up in frustration.

"Idiot," he repeated through gritted teeth, thinking of the servant, "I remember insinuating 'lilies', not roses."