"OBJECTION!"

The music stopped as the door was kicked open. The white horse neighed as the gingerhead rider and the demon cat on his shoulder jumped down, running until there were only a few feet away from the bride and groom.

"Get your hand off the captain!" Ace yelled.

"Ace!" Jonah and Deuce yelled. Even those who played behind the scene came out of their room.

"Well, I'll be damned," Idia scoffed in amusement. "What a hero."

But the princess was not having it. "What is this?!" She turned to the keyboardist, anger flaring in her eyes. "You!" At a great speed, she flew in front of Azul's face as the rest of the band jumped away. She gripped his tie, yanking it like a chain on a collar. "You did this!"

But Azul was somewhat calm, ignoring his racing heartbeat. "This is part of the plan, Your Highness. There's no need to worry."

"Is your plan to ruin my precious wedding?!" Eliza screamed in his face.

"To damn with your fucking wedding!" Ace yelled. "If your partner doesn't want to get married, is it really a marriage?"

Eliza turned to him, shocked and annoyed. "What?"

Chubby flew in between the intruder and the bride. "Princess, don't listen to him! Please hurry and seal your vows with a kiss!"

"No! I'm not playing this game again!" Ace pointed his finger at Chubby. "You know what your princess is doing is wrong and yet you still help her! What kind of best friend are you?!"

Chubby gasped. "As...As long as she's happy, does it really matter?"

"Of course, it matters!" Ace threw his hand to the side. "I get it that the princess is heartbroken, but that doesn't mean she has the right to break other people's hearts! Enabling her isn't a way of being thoughtful to her! In the end, you're just avoiding the actual problem and taking the easy way out!"

Trey winched. "Ah... My ears hurt..." While Cater let out a nervous chuckle.

Ace looked at Jonah who stared at him in an almost awestruck look. "The captain has a lot of people who love him and he loves back. And you're stealing him away from us!"

Eliza suddenly flew behind Jonah. Her arms circled his neck, hugging him from behind almost in a desperate way. "Jonah is my soulmate! That's a good enough reason!"

Ace swallowed, trying his best not to come closer in an attempt to rip the princess away from the captain. "Is it really? Can you really fall in love with someone at first sight?"

"Of course-"

"You've been exchanging letters with a prince you've never seen and it turned out to be a huge jerk. What makes you think Jonah wouldn't turn out to be like that after your first meeting?"

"I..." Eliza flew in front of Jonah, her hands on both of his cheeks. "You wouldn't do that, would you?"

Jonah gaped like a goldfish, but Ace cut him off before he could answer. "You're avoiding the problem! It's not about their dashing appearance or their sweet words. An ideal marriage partner is a person who'll cry and laugh along with you." Ace gripped his chest, his heart beating loud behind his ribcage. "Someone that'll try their best with you no matter how rough it gets..." A bright blush appeared on his cheek. "Or something like that! Don't make me say embarrassing stuff!"

"Ace..." Deuce let out a breath. Something about Ace's words struck something inside him, leaving him staring at the gingerhead who looks so cool at the moment.

Deuce wasn't the only one who was left speechless. Eliza as well. Her fist curled, trembling in frustration. "How should I know..." she gritted her teeth.

Ace turned around, looking at the guards and servants. "And none of your ghosts ever taught you this?" He glanced at Chubby. "Not even your so-called best friend?"

Chubby let out a growl. "You-"

"None of this is Chubby's fault!" Eliza shouted, gaining everyone attention's again. Tears fell down her cheek along with her bubbling frustration that had built up for millennia. "Do you think I had a choice for my future husband? I was in an arranged marriage! I was a princess! You think I had a say in this when my kingdom's pride is on the line! I still try to see the good in him. And what did I get? A husband who doesn't even want to see my face!"

Ace groaned. "You're dead! Just move on!"

"Ace! Watch your mouth!"

Everyone turned toward the voice. Riddle, Rook, and Epel entered the wedding hall, clothes rather messed up after their fight and from running all the way there. They were drained from the battles, but their job isn't over yet. Not until the princess changes her mind.

Vil huffed in amusement. "Well, aren't you two a bit late."

"My apologies, Vil," Rook bemoaned. "We got caught amongst many distractions found on the way to your lost light."

Epel shrugged, not really sure how to react to that. "Yeah. Senior Rook had a lot of fun defeating the ghosts...maybe?"

Riddle was focusing on the princess. "Your Highness, if I may," he started a hand on his chest in politeness and sympathy. "I know how you feel. An arranged marriage is not something you can get out of that easily. But, there is a truth in my friend's words: you have another chance to make it right, to marry someone you really love." He glanced at Ace, smiling slightly, before looking back at Eliza. "Don't waste it. Don't be a wandering ghost forever. You have to move on and grow up."

Eliza shook her head lightly, taken back from the words. "But... But I do love him. I do!" It wasn't fair! Why does everyone keep seeing her in the wrong?! "Are you saying my feelings are fake?!"

"Dearest Princess." Rook stepped in, voice gentle and filled with patience. "Love is an incredible feeling. There are many different forms of love other than romantic. From the unconditional love of a creator to their creations, the platonic love between precious friends, to the familial love from home. Even young puppy love that you have is a form of love. However, there's a difference between a teenage crush and marriage. To wed your soulmate, the love must be mutual. What's the point of unification when it was a one-sided love or nothing at all? I know you know about this well, dearest princess."

Eliza flattered. "I..."

"As Monsieur Heart had said: you don't know about Capitane well, so how would you know that he would love you back?"

"But... But..." She fell to the ground, hands gripping her chest. Despite her heart no longer beating, the pain was real. "I can't..."

"No, Princess!" Chubby floated beside her in panic. "You can have your wedding! I'll make sure of it!"

"But why would anyone marry me?!" Eliza wailed, burying her face into her palm. "I'm just a horse-faced crybaby that nobody wants! They're right. I don't deserve love..."

"You do! You deserve it too!" He reached for her shoulder. "If there's nobody in the world who want you, I'll take you!"

The room when silent.

Eliza looked up. "Wha-"

Chubby squeaked, finally realizing what he just said. Despite his panic, the blush still crept up his cheeks. He ducked his head. "I-I mean-"

"You..." Eliza said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You want me?"

Chubby gasped. This was it. This is his chance to finally confess. He took a deep breath and once again look at Eliza. "Of course, I want you. It can't be anyone else but you."

"Because I'm a princess?"

Chubby shook his head. "I don't care if you're a princess." He took her hands, holding them gently. "You're sweet and pretty and I really like you. I fancy you. I love you. I don't care if I have to be your servant forever. As long as I can be with you again! My biggest regret was not being able to rescue you from that asshole prince. Your happiness is my happiness. Nothing else matter."

Eliza breathed out. "Chubby..."

"I know I have no right to say all of this, but this is the truth." He cupped her hands, pressing them to his lips. "Even if the whole world becomes your enemy, I'll be at your side no matter what."

At that moment, it felt like they were the only people in the world. Time turned back to a millennia ago, back when they were young and still human...

Back when Chubby hadn't worked at the palace and was still an orphan living in a small cottage. Nobody would care for a little boy who had nothing and couldn't give anything to the world. His only safe place was a big tree, older than the elders, out of the city where the wind would blow gently like a lullaby he held close to his heart. He would often sit there under the shade, wishing more than anything to have someone to stand by his side.

And one day, it came true. Someone he would never expect.

The princess of the kingdom itself came down by the tree by herself. Even with her hood, Chubby could recognize those beautiful eyes.

"Hello there," she greeted with her toothy grin.

"H-Hello," he greeted back, feeling so small despite being the same height as the princess. "M-May I help you?"

She shook her head and looked up at the tree again. "I was just walking around and I saw this tree. It's so big!"

"S-Shouldn't you be inside the gate?" he asked. "They'll be looking for you."

The princess shrugged. "Aw, but I've never been outside the castle. It's so boring there with this and that rule. Besides," she grinned at him. "You're here too."

Chubby looked down to the ground, feeling sad so suddenly. "Nobody would be looking for me."

The princess let out a confused sound. "What about your mommy and daddy?"

Chubby shook his head. "They're dead."

"Uncles and aunties?"

"Never had any."

"Siblings?"

"I was an only child."

The princess gasped. "I'm sorry..." She thought for a moment before yelping cheerfully. "Then come home with me?"

"W-What?"

"You can come with me to the castle. Mommy and Daddy wouldn't mind."

"I..." Chubby stepped backward but the princess reached for his hand.

"I can help you. You'll get warm clothes and eat lots of food and we can play together! It'll be fun!"

"But... Princess-"

"Eliza," she pouted. "If we're going to be friends, you have to know my name." She gasped. "Wait! I don't know your name!"

"I-It's Christopher. But-"

Eliza grinned even brighter, rivaling the sun. "Nice to meet you, Christopher. Let's be friends!"

He couldn't say no to the princess. He couldn't go against her and she brought him to her parents and said that she wanted him to be her playmate. "I don't want him to be lonely," she said.

It was very easy for the king and queen to grant her wishes. After that, Chubby was granted every necessary thing; a room without leaks on the roof, meals that he never tasted before, clean clothes, fresh water, and even a senior butler who was really kind to him and taught him everything he needed to be Princess Eliza's playmate and personal butler.

As they grew older, 3 pm tea time became their private moment. With Eliza's growing lessons, it became harder for them to have their usual leisure time. That time was the moment when they didn't have to be Princess Eliza de Henshaw-Ravenswood and Christopher the Bulter, but just Eliza and Chubby. And Chubby loved every moment he spent with Eliza. For the greatest gratitude for saving him from being forgotten in the street, it grows into something more. He cares about Eliza. He always asked what snack she wanted for tomorrow. He knew what kind of soup she liked for a bubble bath. He knew how to braid hair because she taught him. He listened to her rant about his economy tutor and why it was harder than poetry. He loved her giggle, her spontaneousness, everything about Eliza was endearing for him.

He loved her.

He always loves her.

But, Eliza was married to someone else. Yes, he cried for a long time. How could one move on from this? He kept his feeling sealed in his heart, letting the regret fester. But, he swore to himself that he would never leave Eliza's side. She needed her in this situation. Even when their status became more prominent. Others would always remind them about their status. How can a married princess become close to a lowly servant?

"Your Majesty, I beg you," he once said when he was alone with Prince Felipe, "give you love to the princess."

But the prince just scoffed. "How I treat my wife is none of your business. And I suggest keeping your distance with her or else it'll be your execution."

It became Chubby biggest regret for not giving Eliza enough love, for not trying harder to make her days happier. She died so young after giving birth to a child, heart too broken to live again. Chubby was not allowed to see her or even attended the funeral. He could only watch from afar, for he had been fired. The rest of his life became a blur, for who could mend this broken heart?

After he died and turned into a ghost, he was greeted by a familiar face of a princess. She smiled and offered a hand toward him. He took it again without hesitation.

"What have I been doing?" Eliza's voice brought him back again. He never realized that he was crying until Eliza pressed a hand onto his wet cheek.

"Princess...?"

Eliza's eyes were soft when she stared at him. "My prince..."

Chubby gasped. "Prince?"

Eliza let out a teary gasp. "You've been there for me for the longest time... And yet I never realized it. I'm so stupid."

The panic rose again. "No, Princess! Nothing is your fault-"

He didn't get to finish his word as Eliza threw herself at him until he was half lying on the floor. Eliza hugged him tight, crying softly.

"I fancy you..." she whispered.

Chubby's eyes widened. "Princess..."

"I love you..."

"Eliza..."

"I'm sorry for never seeing it."

Chubby finally reached to hug her back. "It wasn't your fault. What kind of princess wants a lowly servant like me."

"Me." Eliza pulled back. She was smiling, the same smile that he remembered. "I want you... It can't be anyone else but you..."

Chubby gasped tearfully. "Eliza..."

"I'll be the happiest ghost princess if you would marry me. If you still want me. A one-sided marriage only led to a downfall, right?"

It was almost surreal to hear this. Never in his dream that he would marry the one he loved knowing his status. But this was real, even as a ghost, his dream could be a reality. His chest suddenly felt light. He let out a laugh. "It'll be my honor to marry you," he said.

Eliza floated up. Her hands holding Chuuby's. The world lit up again and they turned to their audience, all frozen from the emotional moments as no one dared to break them up.

"Everyone," Eliza spoke, "I truly apologize for causing so much trouble." She turned to the captain. "Jonah, I am truly sorry for completely disregarding your feelings."

Jonah nodded. "I too apologize for not being truthful." He then smiled. "But I'm glad that you've found your soulmate in the end."

Eliza smiled back. "Yes." The pair exchanged glances. "But, if you don't mind. May we continue the wedding here? Everyone is invited."

Jonah looked around. Everyone seemed tired, but nobody looked like they wanted to object. "Well, we've reached this far. It'll be rude not to have a wedding at all."

Eliza let out a grateful sigh. "Thank you."