~*~ Later that Night ~*~

I walked into Shiro's room, he's my new friend in this palace. He had two beds just like he said, I wonder why he has two beds. Perhaps there was someone else in this bedroom with him, his sister maybe. I'll ignore the question for now, I need some sleep, it's been an exhausting and depressing day but on the contrary I made progress with the investigation. Should I tell Zen? I don't even know if I can face him after what that girl said.

"those PJ's suit you" Shiro complemented me before getting into bed, I go in bed as well.

"Thanks" "goodnight and sweet dreams"

"dido" and with that, we both fell asleep.

Meanwhile Zen ~ At the same time

I was searching the whole castle for Y/N and I still couldn't find her. I couldn't stop worrying, it's painful. I haven't seen her at all today, why didn't I check up on her in the morning? What if the person has gotten to her? I sat down on the garden bench and ran my hand through my hair, I told her not to go anywhere without me or did she take that as a joke. I can't lose her now, I stood up again and continued to search for her. She must be around here somewhere, I looked back into the medical room but of course there was only two guards. I looked back in my chamber to see if she was just late to bed but no, she wasn't there either. I tried the library, the workshop, the garden =, my office but she wasn't there. I laid down in my bed and tried to go to sleep but I couldn't because I wasn't able to get the thought of Y/N missing out of my mind.

I'm not going to get any sleep tonight unless I know of Y/N's where abouts. There's nothing I can do at this time of night and then I remembered that she likes to visit Clarissa once in a while. She's probably over there for the night. Still knowing that fact I couldn't get to sleep because I hadn't seen her at all through the day.

~*~ Morning time ~*~

I sat up in my bed and looked over to Shiro who wasn't in bed anymore, he must've gotten up early to start making a breakfast suitable for the nobility of this castle. There was a knock on the door.

"come in" I jumped out of bed and stood towards the door, it was Shiro holding two plate of food. To my surprise, he made us breakfast. I scratched my neck "Shiro you didn't have to-"

"Don't mention it, I could tell that you were down in the dumps the other day so I made you this" he handed me a plate of (Your_Favourite_Breakfast) (even if it's fancy cereal... or fancy tuna XD). He could tell that I was sad, usually my emotion aren't easy to read to people I just met, I guess this guy has high social skills.

"Thank you" "This does a world of good" I began to eat on my bed. He is certainly a chef, a good chef at that. It's just as good as the breakfast I shared with Zen that morning. I didn't appreciate the memories but it was nice to have a teat. I'll have to repay Shiro back somehow, someday and after this debt is repaid I can leave Clarines and start anew again. I finished my breakfast and Shiro kindly took them back to the kitchen while I got showered and changed into my work clothes. I have a new sheet of orders to fill from the palace. When Shiro had come back to the room I was already away working in the work shop.

I hammered on the hot metal just like I always have but this time I was hitting it extra hard venting all my anger and frustration, knowing that Zen and I will never be together. It breaks my heart but I can always dream.

"Y/N!" I looked up and saw Zen walking or more like stomping towards me. What did I do to make him upset? "Where were you last night" he whispered/yelled

"I was sleeping in a different room"

"What room?" "You should've told me I got worried that you had been attacked"

"In Shiro's room, he's my new palace work friend, he's a chef"

"You slept in another boy's room..." "Why didn't you just sleep in my room again"

"I thought you would like the room to yourself" I don't even know how I was holding this conversation out. "I'll be sleeping in Shiro's room from now on"

"I want to meet him" "he's a palace chef, right?" I nodded my head and Zen walked away. What's with the attitude? He's like a father, does he think that Shiro will try something because I can say Shiro is way too innocent for anything like that. I slightly laugh and continued to work.

Zen's POV

I've never heard of the name Shiro before and I don't think that this palace has ever had a chef just about my age. I don't think Shiro is who he say he is and if I'm right it would mean that Y/N is most likely in trouble and that's something I can't allow. If Shiro is one of the intruders then he must know the other female, lovers perhaps or siblings? I walked into the kitchen, the workmen bowed to me as I past them, I walked right up to the head chefs and asked him about Shiro.

"Shiro? No he doesn't work here" "sorry your highness but we did have a customer this morning name Shiro" "he was asking for a breakfast for two"

"Thank you" I walked off in the direction I came in, so he's lying to Y/N about being a workman, I bet that's just because he want to get close to her and that just rises suspicion on whether or not he's the one responsible for the crimes or not. I should tell Y/N about it immediately, the sooner I do that the more she'll realise that it's dangerous for her to be by someone she can't trust. Am I being to protective, I don't know I've never bene in love like this before. All I want is for her to be safe and for her to trust me and my actions.

By the looks of things, I did something to upset her because she wasn't too keen on talking with me, I think it's because I wouldn't let her help with the investigation nut like I said, I want her to be safe and happy so I don't want her involved in this otherwise she'll become even more of a target. I arrived at her workshop but she wasn't there, there was note on the wall though.

To Zen

I'm in the woods with Shiro, I'll be fine so don't worry

I crunched the paper in my hands out of pure spite. "Zen are you okay?" Mitsuhide ran up to me after he saw my expression darker. I shoved the paper in his hands and ran over to my horse, I'm going to the forest. This would be a perfect time for him to strike now that they're alone.

He's really jealous – Mitsuhide

I jumped off my horse and tied it up to a tree beside the small cottage that Kiki and Mitsuhide usually reside in through the day. I walked around the spots that Y/N and I would usually visit together when we went to the woods. I walked close to the river and heard voices. I hid behind a tree and watched them play in the water. The season has changed so the water has pf course gotten warmer, Shiro is the first to play in it with Y/N, I gritted my teeth at the thought, I was on the opposite side of the river and after about 10 minutes in the water he helped her out and warped his coat around her. He's such a flirt, I mean I would do the same because she's drenched with water and probably cold with the wind on her face but he does it in a way that obvious. I walked back to my horse and rode back to the castle. They're most likely going back there too.

~*~ At te castle ~*~

I leaned against her workshop wall like nothing had happened, I'm just waiting for her return. She saw me and came walking over, her hair was dry and she was in new clothes. "Zen, do you need something?"

"I was just waiting you to come back from the forest"

"so you saw the letter, I hope you weren't too worried about me" "see I came back just fine" she twirled around.

"I have something to mention while we're here as well" Y/N sighed. "Shiro isn't a chef at the palace"

"what, he's lying to me?" "You have to be joking"

"I asked the chefs today" "I don't who he is but he doesn't work as a chef-"

"You caught me!" "I was going to tell you I promise" I glared at him. "Sorry my highness for lying to one of your very close companions" Shiro bowed to me. "I'm a noble that resides here in the castle for a few days with my sister Angela" My breath hitched at that name.

"Why did you lie about being a chef" Y/N asked him

"I saw you looking rather sad the other day so I decided to be kind to you" "because of my status I didn't know whether you would pretend to be happy for me so I decided to trick you that I was a worker of the palace but now that I know I actually make you happy as a person I can stop pretending" "I sincerely apologise" I didn't buy any of it. His sister, Angela has been asking me to join families to have a greater wealth and share supply's as they come from a country that bathes in gold.

"Shiro, there's no need to apologise" "you ordered me breakfast and took me out today" "I had a wonderful time with you" The words Y/N sent an arrow through my heart, they had breakfast together and went to the woods together. It's as if he's trying to take my place from Y/N's world. "I'll be going, you two can get to know each other better" Y/N left Shiro and I alone.

"What are you planning?"

"I plan on making her fall in love with me and then marrying her" "that will hurt you won't it prince Zen"

"don't forget who's land you are on" I threatened him. He loves Y/N, his sister loves me to a certain extent and they both know I love Y/N. that's their game, I'm stuck in a love square, a very confusing love square. I need to make sure that Shiro doesn't get to Y/N first and I need to make sure that she doesn't get tossed around by his sister either. These two are the ones responsible I just need to prove it and Y/N needs to know.