(Y/n) had promised to come and visit Orion the day after the party. Though she had been spending all of her time with Haru, the prince was overjoyed to hear that he would get attention, too. As a result, like always, he spent ages making sure that he looked attractive. Thankfully, since his great uncle had been quick to find him some new assistants, the work was not as burdensome. It was the only reason he had the time to spare for her. But, if that was not the case, he would have been livid he had to miss out on her company.

Nonetheless, he waited eagerly in the garden she specified, admiring the flowers. Presley kept him company, listening to the boy prattle on and on about how much he loved the (h/c) haired girl. Really, Orion could come up with just about anything to say if it was about her. Sometimes, he just devolved into endless blabbering about one tiny detail about her. That time, he was very interested in talking about how she held his hand. The knight was somewhat relieved to see the girl arrive, mainly because he was then forced to stand away from earshot.

The prince jumped up from his seat on the bench, running straight into a hug. Though he, at first, surprised her, she nonetheless gently wrapped her arms around him, too. He giggled. It was always amazing hugging her. Somehow, she knew everything he wanted and provided it, making him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Even when they sat next to each other, he didn't feel any less warm. In fact, though he was not hugging her, he was getting to hold her hand and lean on her shoulder.

"I'm so glad you asked to see me today," the male confessed, blushing at the tips of his ears, "I was actually pretty jealous of Mister Haru, you know. You gave him a lot of love and stayed with him and even went to a party with him."

"I did. He's just...in a bad place right now."

"And I feel so bad for him. He's lost so many things so quickly, a-and I couldn't even imagine what it would feel like if my mother died. I'm sure he's very sad, and I'm prepared to do anything I can to make him happy again!" A pause followed as the prince snuggled a bit more into her. "But I'm your lover, right?"

"Actually, I wanted to talk about - "

"Oh! I almost forgot! I know how much you love sweets, so I had the kitchen make some. Here!"

The prince held up a picnic basket with all kinds of desserts. He first placed a lemon raspberry tart in her mouth, the girl flinching but melting at the taste nonetheless. It was crispy and gooey, but, most importantly, it was deliciously sweet. She didn't mind Orion nuzzling her arm while she ate it. In fact, the dessert distracted her long enough for him to amuse himself. That was probably his intent. It was a common tactic in the courting game.

"Actually," the boy paused, his cheeks becoming flush, "I...I really love you. I-I can't stop thinking about you and I'm always looking forward to holding your hand or getting...a k-kiss. And, well, I'm going to have my coronation soon."

Orion fiddled with a wooden box on his lap, shyly darting his eyes away as he rubbed it nervously. She took the time to munch on another tart while observing the thing. It seemed strangely inconspicuous despite the fact it appeared to be a gift. She was sure the wood was high quality, but it was the emblem of the royal family seared onto the wood that made her lift a brow. Nothing else about it gave away its contents.

"I don't...I don't know if I'm ready to be king. I'm not smart like Zuki or good with people like Rei. I don't even have the motivation Ichiro has. These things would have come easy to them."

"You just started. It doesn't really have to do with intelligence alone. No one could understand it all right away."

"But that's what everyone expects. Grandmother was incredible and she was a lot younger than me. I have a lot to live up to. No, but that's not what I wanted to talk about! I - "

"You should give yourself more credit," the girl smiled, patting the male's head, "The people love you. Your citizens, your servants, and your family adore you. I think, if it was anybody else, there would be a fight over their right to succession. But no one will argue against you."

"Do you really think that?"

"I do. In fact, I think you're so lovable that other countries will think the same thing."

"T-Then, if I had you with me, do you think we could help Vethela flourish?!"

"What? You don't need me."

"But I want you, so - "

Orion cut off his sentence abruptly as he opened the box. (Y/n) flinched at the sight of the crown within. It had been created with luxury in mind, the white silver backing emphasizing the pink sapphires surrounded by white topaz in the shape of leaves. There were small diamonds outlining the crown, but, for the most part, it was the pink sapphires that stood out. Inside the box, along with the crown, Vethelan rose petals were scattered around inside.

"Please be my queen," he mumbled, hiding his face behind the box.

"Your - "

"My wife. I-I want to marry you. Because I love you," A pause. "Y-You're not saying anything. Do you like it? I-I designed it myself. Well, I didn't make it. It would probably fall apart if it was me, but I did the sketches and chose the colors and the gems and even the size. O-Oh, please say something!"

The (h/c) haired girl stayed still. Shocked, she merely stared, hand over her mouth. She could not believe he had proposed. Yes, he was head over heels for her, and, yes, he was of the same kind as her. But marriage was not a concept to them, so rushing into it didn't seem like something he would do, whether he was aware of his bloodline or not. For that reason, she could do nothing but stare in awe.

"(Y/n)?" the male called, moving forward to kiss her, only for her to jolt away.

"I can't accept the offer."

"You can. I know you like me. You're always doting on me and you do things just to make me happy, so you can't possibly hate me or anything. I-If it's too soon, then I don't mind - "

"I don't think it's about time. A-And I do really like you, but you're not...the only...one."

Orion's grasp on the girl tightened. He looked incredibly agitated for a split second, but, before she was able to gaze at his reaction, it shifted. Instead, his face was blank. The only indication of his anger was the possessive way that he was hugging her arm. He refused to lighten the grip or to, in any way, separate from her. On the contrary, he tried getting even closer as if it would dissuade her from thinking of others.

"I love Haru," she elaborated, giving a pained look, "He may not be an ideal boyfriend for a lot of people, but, for me..."

"Why? I've been a good lover, too, but I don't lie to you. And I can actually tell you how I'm feeling."

"I know. You're honest. But he is, too. That's why I'm conflicted right now. I have feelings for the both of you, but Haru won't share."

Orion was insulted at that thought. He didn't want to share either. Furrowing his brows, he leaned into her, if only to avoid showing her his displeasure. After all, amidst the assumption that he would share, she was highlighting his gentle personality. He didn't know whether to refute it, but, out of fear, he decided it was best to go along with the assumption. Pushing her into a corner guaranteed one of them would lose.

"If," A pause. "If you marry me, you can be with Mister Haru, too. But you have to live in the palace with me."

"Thank you, but I think I'm going to take some time to figure this out."

"Take...time? Y-You're firing me? From being your lover?"

"I'm just going to take some time for myself. I'm not going to forget you or anything. I just want to make sure I'm making the right decision."

"But you can't! I-I was good, right? I was a good lover and you love me!"

"I know. You made me fall for you."

(Y/n) gave a grateful smile as she leaned forward, kissing the male softly. He was fairly stationary as she did so, almost like a deer in the headlights. The kiss was loving but it was also a goodbye of sorts, and he hated that. Though he tried to hold it in, his sniffling came out, the girl quick to apologize and kiss his forehead. But it did not help in the slightest. He still felt a searing ache in his heart and a rage that took over him.

"He doesn't deserve you!" he shouted, tears streaming down his usually innocent face, "If he couldn't protect his mother and little brother or his stupid robot, what makes you think he can protect you?! How do you even know he loves you?! He thinks of you as some kind of baby maker!"

"And you don't?"

"What do you mean? I only ever wanted to marry you because you deserve so much more! Everyone should see how smart you are and praise you for it!"

"Under your shadow. You would get the credit. Everyone would praise your name for my contributions."

"No, that's not how - "

"Your father was the Oracle before he married your mother. He was one of the most powerful people in this country, but once he became a consort, suddenly, he was nothing more than your mother's accessory."

"That's not true! They love each other!"

"Even if that were true, he can't do anything without your mother. And your uncle, too. Everything he had done to make his own business...and the credit went all to his royal wife."

"But I would never - "

"It's not about you. It's about the people in Vethela. They're so enthralled with whatever blood you have in your body that - even in the most equal relationship in the history of the royal family - the consort is always screwed over. I love you because of who you are as a person, but I don't know if I'm willing to be a consort because of it, queen or otherwise."

The prince grabbed at the hem of his clothes, frustrated and confused. He thought he would have won against Haru. He really did. If all she wanted was protection, he could surely offer that to her. But she didn't care about that anymore? Biting down on his lip as he tried to suppress his sobs, he felt almost disgusted when she tried to wipe away his tears. Quick to swat her hand away, he took in a deep breath.

"I'm the direct descendant of the eternal flower! If I tell the people you did something, they'll believe it!"

"That's another thing. I don't think you're a deity."

A look of absolute shock crossed the male's face. He hadn't ever expected she would say that. After all, it was an empirical truth. His special bloodline was the whole reason they ruled Vethela, and he was of direct descent. Everyone in Vethela believed in his bloodline because it was a fact. He thought perhaps she was joking, trying to cheer him up, but, when he glanced up at her, she was entirely serious.

"I-If this is about drinking Ezdan when I die, there's no need to worry! It's painless and you immediately come to paradise with me, so - "

"I'm not going to commit suicide because your traditions say so."

"It isn't suicide! It's the most romantic thing you can do!" the male shouted, only to pause and bite on his lip again, lowering his voice drastically, "We're getting off-topic. I just - I don't want you to leave me. S-So, can't we...I don't know!"

"Orion, it's alright. Just give me some time and I'll handle the rest."

The prince finally started crying, squeezing her in a tight and demanding hug. He hoped to get anything out of it, especially for her to love him. But, in the end, all she gave him was a little coddling, playing with his hair or giving him a small kiss on the top of his head. Angrily, he gripped onto her shirt, his mind rushing through all of the possibilities. What could he have done for things to go his way?

"I-I don't know what I'm going to do!" he sobbed, "I love you, (Y/n)! I promise I do! A-And I said I'd give you anything you wanted! "

"I don't doubt that."

"But then what do I do?! I just...lose?"

"Well, that's the thing. If you're going to be in a relationship, it's a give and take thing. You can't get something for nothing."

"But all Haru does is take!"

"With all due respect, you don't know him like I do. No one does. And, contrary to what you think, he gives a lot, too. Though, I guess I understand you feel he's taking something from you. But, in the first place - "

"If I hadn't been sick, I would've found you first!"

That was a ridiculous statement. Even Orion knew it was. Though he wanted to believe it wholeheartedly, thinking that they were destined to be, he only came to that conclusion because he was sick. He fooled himself into thinking that his goddess arranged it all for him to balance out his illness. Then again, when it came to fate, there really was no logic, so Orion could trick himself all he liked. It wouldn't change anything. Fate was a lazy bastard.

"And I'm plenty capable of giving! I won't take from you, either! You don't have to give me anything!"

"I'd be giving away my freedom if I became the Queen of Vethela. And freedom is the thing I want most of all."

"D-Don't say that! If you say that...If you say that...," the male trembled, leaning more on her, "then it's like you already decided you don't want me. E-Even if you chose me, you wouldn't marry me...would you...?"

"If you want an answer, then," A pause as the girl held his face up, delicately wiping away his tears, "Do I really have to be the consort?"

"What do you...mean?"

"I wonder."

The prince strained himself to decipher her words. It was the only rope she was giving him to hold on to, so he had no other choice but to cling on to it. He squinted his eyes as he thought, the (h/c) haired girl adoringly beginning to unscrunch his face. When he couldn't come up with an answer, she pulled him up into a sweet kiss. He melted immediately. Still, his heart slowed progressively as she pulled away and told him she decided to stay in a hotel for the next week or so.

He begged her to wait, apologizing for being too slow, but she merely told him it might help to speak with someone else. A little smile was on her face, confusing him greatly until he suddenly thought of his mother. Perking up, he ran off to find the woman, hoping she knew what (Y/n) meant.