There was no logic in what (Y/n) had chosen to do, her actions based solely on her own pity for herself. Aside from the Trewin boy's beauty, there was nothing holding her to stay with him. In fact, there were far more things repelling her. For instance, though she couldn't feel it from the other members of the royal family, from him and Celith, she felt kinship. However, that was not a good thing, especially when the younger of the two was well aware of her status as well.

Staring down at the orange-haired boy, she watched as he stirred, trying to wake up. His features contorted in pain at the realization he was still sick, but he did awaken. The male must have thought he was alone because he let a few tears slip. However, as he noticed her along with Sona by his side, he was quick to subtly wipe them away. And though it took him a bit longer than it should have, he put on a gentle smile, pretending everything was fine. He must have been used to that.

"I'm sorry you had to stay around for me. You didn't have to do that."

"No, I didn't."

With her blunt response, the male was at a loss for words. Though he was taken aback, trying to formulate just how to continue with the conversation, he retained a small gleam in his eyes. After he had practically begged not to be left alone, she would have thought he anticipated her to be there. But, it was the opposite. He looked like he hadn't thought anyone would actually listen to him, which was odd, wasn't it?

"Does this happen often?" she asked, referring to the seizure only out of her own self-interest.

Again, he looked shocked. Still, a more thankful smile made its way onto his face. He fiddled with the blanket and tensed his shoulders. Somewhere in between relaxed and anxious, he looked filled with joy. She knew why, but it wasn't flattering. The only reason he liked her - even if he didn't know it yet - was because of her bloodline. That was it. And yet he still looked so sincere about having one-sided feelings.

"I'm embarrassed to say it does," the prince chuckled somberly, motioning to all the medical equipment around him, "Sometimes, it happens when I'm around a lot of people and sometimes, it happens when I'm alone in bed."

"Alone?" she huffed, darting her eyes over to the four servants in the room, standing as still as statues.

"Well, I guess I'm never really left alone-alone, but...maybe it just feels that way to me. It's always quiet in here except for the beeping. So, it's nice to have someone here with me. But I guess you wouldn't want a reward or anything?"

"No."

"Oh. That's a shame," A pause. "May I, at least, offer you something to eat?"

The girl let out an annoyed sigh, the male twitching. He gave a look of guilt, knowing she wouldn't have wanted anything. After all, she refused everything he tried to give her before. It shouldn't have been any different that time, especially when he had guilted her into staying with him. Frowning, he hung his head, understanding if she wanted to leave as soon as possible. Yet she nodded reluctantly, giving him back a bit of hope. Sona, however, glowered at her decision. It was just more time being wasted.

"Really?" he sparkled, putting the blanket down from his face, "What would you like? I promise my cook can make anything you want! Ah, what's your favorite food, Miss Shiratori?"

"I've...been told I like sweets."

"Sounds good! And, well, if this sounds insensitive, I apologize, but...you are Athainian, right? I-I just want to make sure the cook makes something from your home country. You must miss it an awful lot. I...I definitely would. B-But that's just because my cousins have told me how beautiful the country is! Am...I rambling?"

The girl nodded, prompting him to flare up again. He was very easy to tease, but that was just because he wore his heart on his sleeve. Every emotion could be seen so easily, particularly embarrassment. Just one little push was all it took for him to squeeze his blanket or hide behind it. It was dangerous watching him do such things. Without a shadow of a doubt, he was precious, adorable enough to even stir her heart. She supposed, though his methods were annoying, Mica was right. He was innocent.

In fact, though he was trying to work around saying it directly, it was clear he wanted to talk more about Athain. His transition made that clear, as did all the little trinkets around his room; things that could only come from her "home country". There were traditional clothes displayed on the wall, pictures of famous scenery in the nation, and even toys that all children in Athain played with. She remembered watching other kids play with them, especially the little wooden spinny-thingies. The girl never got to know their name; just that she wanted one more than anything. Her parents said they weren't suitable for her, more concerned about her weight.

"O-Oh. Was my interest a little too...obvious?" A nod. "I just think it's a very interesting country. Or, rather, I think other countries are fascinating. A-Anyway, I'll have the chef make something for you."

Orion proceeded to relay the order to one of the servants. He seemed to be very emotional when giving the instructions, likely wanting to use the opportunity to pay her back. Or, perhaps, he planned on impressing her with the food in order to get her interested in what other things he could give her. Maybe he was concerned about being in debt to someone, especially a foreigner from the embassy. It wasn't long before he started coughing again, though no seizure followed that time. Still, he suffered, not quite recovering from the fit.

"Don't get me wrong! In Vethela, things are very beautiful!"

"I'd have to agree," the girl mused, getting lost in the details of the country, "Everything here is green. It's...calming."

This was the first the girl showed any interest in communicating with him. As such, the prince clasped his hands together and felt his heart fluttering. And, as he expected, she did seem to like flowers, or, at the very least, greenery. He couldn't deny he felt the same way. There was just something rejuvenating about being surrounded by grass and trees as far as the eye could see. It was like returning to where one came from.

"Do you really think so? That makes me happy. But, surely Athain has plenty of beautiful plants, too. How about Lindre?!"

The girl thought of the flower. It grew only on jagged rocks near rivers, always looking for shade and growing sparsely even during its blooming month. She had been able to see a few once, but she had given them away. It was just as well. The beige flower with a golden center seemed more suited for someone else. And since the rounded petals were fragile enough to disintegrate at the mere touch of someone else's touch, it just suited that boy more, even if only on his grave. She flinched.

He had died in her arms, and, not knowing what to do, she had left his corpse, fleeing the scene. In the end, it was taken by the authorities. No one came to claim his body. If there was someone close enough to him to do that, he wouldn't have died in the first place, nor would he have worshiped her. She waited and waited, and the more time that passed, the more guilt she felt. Risking being hurt, she went to take it before they gave his body away for dissection. He didn't deserve that just because no one knew his name.

Oddly enough, though she had expected it, his body was not preserved. It was rotting, just like the day she found him. She guessed no one cared to look after that boy, even in death. Maybe they thought he was too filthy. This child that had been pelted with rocks by his neighbors and left to soak in the putrid filth of trash was nothing more than a nuisance. No one had ever loved him; no one except her, who valued even just his corpse more than her own wellbeing. That was saying something.

She took him. It didn't matter that he was decomposing or that he wouldn't even know of her kindness. That was the last time she had ever done something out of true unconditional love without expecting anything in return. The grave was nothing special. She had merely dug a pit and put his corpse in it before letting herself cry. A medium-sized rock was put at the head of the grave where she hesitantly wrote his name.

It was not long before she paused, filled with hatred for his "purchasers". She didn't want to give him their name, but he was worth more than just his first name. He was worth so much more. The (h/c) haired girl wanted to give him her true last name, but the memories associated with it were bittersweet. She found herself feeling pity for herself as well, wondering to what end she had to be attached to such a name. So, to free herself and him, she made them a new name, because, beyond his blood relation with them, those people were never his family. If he had one, it was in her, and, if she had one, it was in him.

"Ichor," she murmured, a few tears slipping down her cheek.

Orion assessed her. His eyes scanned over the sudden crack in her mask, getting a glimpse of the girl in her true nature. Of course, to him, there was no difference, just that she was opening up to him. In truth, he had seen her pain even before that moment. He had always been very sensitive to people's pain, perhaps because he was in tune with his own. Though he had never expected her to even say a word to him, all of a sudden, she showed such unbelievable weakness in front of him. Did that mean they were getting closer?

"Is that another kind of flower?" he smiled, trying to be bright in her dark times, "I'm afraid I don't know it. The only one I really know is Lindre because it's your royal family's seal. Have you ever seen one?"

The girl paused, not remembering where her thoughts had originated from, but, of course, it had to be that flower. She had found one when she was younger and her first thought was to put it on that boy's gravestone. Every now and again, when she would return to visit the site, she would watch as the flowers multiplied, swarming the tomb like a hug. He'd always wanted one of those, so she left them be, but the next time she visited, everything was gone.

At the time, the flowers were facing extinction, so they were somewhat rare. That's probably why all of the Lindre flowers were ripped away from the grave, but it didn't explain why the make-shift gravestone had been cracked in two. Was it funny? Did someone come along, thinking they got lucky, steal the dead boy's offerings, and presume to desecrate his resting spot? Just for amusement?

She clenched her fists in absolute hatred. The flowers went extinct a handful of years prior, meaning that she, along with many others, would never see one again. She couldn't help but wonder if she had taken steps to hide the flower, would they still be dead? If she had chosen to keep it away from those that wanted to harm it, including herself, would it be able to survive and flourish? But, the answer wasn't so simple, and, in truth, it wasn't about the flower itself, but what it represented for her.

"My favorite," she murmured, holding back a sob, "But they're dead now."

"That can't be right."

"No," Sona sighed, uncertain how, even with the girl's mental state deteriorating, she was still stagnant, "Lindre flowers were only found in very specific spots in Athain. Almost ten years ago, to combat an invasive species of weeds, local governments decided on breeding thousands of rabbits. The rabbits got rid of the weeds, but they also ended up eating any other flower in their way. In the end, they wiped out Lindre flowers as well. They are effectively extinct."

"I meant...The greenhouse has one."

(Y/n) jolted her head up, quick to grab onto the orange-haired boy's hand. She acted completely illogical, knowing she had to put distance between them. However, as it had been since she had gotten to know that boy, her survival took a backseat. She just had to see the flower again, because, if she saw the flower, she could remember him. So she begged. She begged and begged for another glimpse of paradise, forgetting her pride and her fear. Soft, lovely, innocent beige eyes flashed in her mind.

"Miss Shiratori, you don't have to - I would - You can, of course, see it!"

The boy started coughing again, feeling himself get woozy. He knew it was because of the sudden shock delivered by her sudden attention. Yet, despite that, he promised he would show her the desired flower. After all, when he had been trying so hard to impress the girl, her showing interest in something he had was a very good sign. It meant she was willing to be with him, so, despite the temporary pain of the coughing fit, he was satisfied.

At the indication that the royal would be going somewhere, the boy's servants moved to assist him. As he stood up with the help of a servant, he realized and was subsequently displeased by the fact that he couldn't walk. Embarrassed as he was seated in a wheelchair, he averted his gaze. Most people looked at him with pity when he was like that, and though that emotion flickered over her eyes, too, it wasn't in the same way.

"Shall I escort you there, your highness?" a servant hummed, moving behind him to grab onto the handles.

The question was rhetorical. It didn't matter even if he answered negatively. After all, he didn't have the strength to move the wheels himself, so someone had to push him there. He disliked being treated like a child, but there wasn't any other option unless someone carried him, something he would have liked to avoid. The way to the greenhouse was shameful. At least, it was for him, but, thankfully, it wasn't too far. He only had to deal with a few gazes from passer-byes.

As they arrived at the massive greenhouse, the orange-haired male moved to take out a key. Only a handful of people had a key to the building, mostly because the greenhouse itself was a gift for one of his cousins. Though there were workers performing maintenance and tending to the plants inside, aside from them, no one else was allowed to enter. At least, no one without permission from a royal could go inside, but, obviously, that wasn't a problem for the (h/c) haired girl.

"I can manage on my own from here," Orion declared, receiving a frown in return from the servant.

"I can't allow you to go by yourself, your highness. If you were to fall or have an attack, I could not guarantee your safety. Sir Alvaric isn't here either, so we need to put your health before anything else. Those were his orders."

"I know, but Presley's always worrying for no reason, so - "

"Those were his orders."

Orion's smile fell. He didn't know why he thought it would be possible to talk his way out of being tailed. Even if he wasn't going to be on his own, it didn't mean anything. No matter if the coral-haired man was there or not, he was still babied. The frustration was unimaginable, especially when he was the one who knew the limits of his body the most.

"Forget this."

The (h/c) haired girl was quick to grab the handles of the wheelchair and move the two of them inside. Sona followed at a small delay but hastened himself in order to stay close to the girl. After all, knowing her as well as he did, it was clear what she was planning on doing. Frustrated and impatient, she slammed the doors on the servant, effectively kidnapping the prince. All of this for a flower was what Sona didn't understand. She never liked flowers that much, evidenced by the amount of them she had received from Haru and the same number that had been thrown away.

Since the servants were not given permission to enter the greenhouse, they could not follow. Orion saw one of them run off, probably to go and tell Presley, but, for the moment, he ignored it. Instead, as the girl rushed him further into the building, he relished the sense of adrenaline that flooded his veins. He'd never gone so fast, his heart pumping despite his evident fear. After a while, as he felt freedom, he put his hands in the air as if he were on a rollercoaster, giving a small sound of enjoyment in a childish "whee".

The girl, perhaps wanting to repay the male for letting her see the beloved flower once more, pushed him faster. She listened to him giggle with unadulterated joy, filled with some herself. Orion really was innocent, excited enough to even shiver a bit. It was like enjoying a taboo. Since Presley and his mother would never let him do something so dangerous, he maybe enjoyed it a bit more than he would have otherwise. The scenery was beautiful, too.

The greenhouse, belonging to his cousin, was a gift from their grandmother. His cousin had always loved butterflies, so she had a special place built just for him where he could enjoy their company all year round. Flowers were placed in there for them, but, as always with the royal family, they were special flowers, cared for by the very best and adored along with the butterflies. As the girl behind him pushed him, those butterflies flew up into the air, a brilliant display of blue and black.

Even when she slowed down, he was beaming from ear to ear. He knew he would like the (h/c) haired girl. Guiding her to the direction of the pond, they took their time admiring the beauty of the area. Though all of the royal gardens were beautiful, Orion thought it was even more so when he had someone to admire them with him. Perhaps that, too, was a luxury he never had. Presley joined him for every garden visit he went to, but he only ever looked at Orion, concerned and worried. Yet the others that would come seemed to only look at the flowers, ignoring him.

But then he looked behind him. (Y/n) was radiant enough to make him freeze in place. In many ways, she resembled what he thought Ezdia would have looked like. The nature goddess was at peace with every living organism, and she seemed much the same. She would sometimes brush her fingers along some petals delicately while the butterflies comfortably landed in her hair. But, most importantly, she would look down at him and motion to the beautiful things as if asking his opinion on them. She was recognizing both.

His heart started fluttering, a constant thumping audible in his ears. The emotion was foreign to him, but oh-so-welcome. And then, all of a sudden, he stopped. Confused, he watched as the girl moved around him. Her sole focus then landed on the Lindre flower. He had forgotten that was their entire purpose for going to the greenhouse, and, yet, somehow, it hurt him to see her run to it.

Orion wanted to keep looking at flowers with her. More so, he wanted to talk to her about different things while they did so. He wanted to become friends with her and learn about her interests. It would just be so out of the ordinary. He would love it, and he would love it even more if she loved it, too. But, instead, she knelt down to the flower, all of her focus solely on it as if it were her obsession. Then she began to cry and his heart sank further.

The mere sight of the Lindre flower was precious to her. She never anticipated she would see it again when she heard it was dead and never to be revived. The one in front of her was perhaps the only one left in the world. She cried and cried, but whether out of appreciation or mourning, she didn't know. Unabashedly, she wept, restraining herself from touching the thing, for, if she did, the petals would disintegrate and the only Lindre flower left in the world would perish at her hands, just like the boy it stood for.

Orion panicked. For some reason, seeing her cry like that triggered something in him that made his chest compress. Something weighed on him painfully, and, before he knew it, he had fallen from his wheelchair. It wasn't an accident. He fell onto her lap, instinctively holding her around her waist. She needed a hug. That was what his instincts told him, and they didn't fail him, the girl quick to squeeze him like a teddy bear.

"It'll be alright, Miss Shiratori," he murmured, finding his own eyes watering up in response, "I don't know why you're sad or why this flower makes you sad, but it'll be alright. And, if it's not, you can hug me as much as you want."

Though he coughed again, this time, finding blood escaping his body, he didn't feel any pain. Rather, as he comforted the crying (Y/n) in his arms, he felt healed, himself. Obviously, he was still sick, and he would still be sick, but he was happy. He didn't think he would ever be helpful to anyone the way he was, and yet, there it was. She was gripping onto him so hard it hurt, but he was smiling as wide as he could.

All the while, Sona watched, waited, and winced. Beyond the status of the girl's mental well-being, he worried over her motivations. She had told him before that she wanted nothing to do with the Vethelan prince; that her only intentions were to help Kazuya, nothing more. But there she was, clinging to the male and accepting favors she would feel burdened to repay. And then there was the lingering coldness that surrounded the palace. Something was very wrong.