Virgil didn't know when he had started running or when he had stopped but he did know he had done both and was now trying to catch his breath, leaning against an ivy-covered wall.

"Hey. You okay?"

Virgil looked up, still panting. It was a boy. A boy with long hair, dirt smudged all over his face and worried blue eyes. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Virgil nodded. "It's just because you've been running in the opposite direction of the prince and you look like you're about to break down."

Virgil sighed and fumbled with his pencil. "I'm alright." He said, trying to convince himself more than the gardener. "I am alright. Just confused."

"Well, maybe I can help. I'm always confused." The other boy said frankly, making Virgil laugh slightly. He smiled. "I'm Janus."

"Virgil."

"You came with the fancy princess, didn't you?"

"Yeah. She's my... friend." The word sounded so foreign in Virgil's mouth. Janus nodded slightly and leaned against the wall, turning his head to face Virgil.

"So, what are you confused about?"

Virgil sighed and shrugged. "Everything. Feelings mostly."

"Care to explain why?"

Virgil shook his head but then he paused and thought for a little. "Well... say that, in a hypothetical situation, a person is possibly, maybe in love with someone else who also possibly, maybe returns the feelings. But, hypothetically, they've only known each other for a few days. What should Person A do?"

Janus thought for a little while before answering. "Well, I think that Person A should stick around and try and talk to the other person. To see if they actually do love Person B and it's not just some mental fluke."

"But the thing is that Person B is way more important than Person A."

"Why should status and station matter?" Virgil opened his mouth to reply but then closed it, defeated. Janus tilted his head slightly, looking at Virgil. "Did that help at all?"

"A little, yeah." Virgil smiled. "Thanks."

"No problem." Janus looked Virgil up and down again. "I'm guessing you want to be left alone so I'll go now."

"Oh, um, thanks." Virgil smiled awkwardly as Janus nodded again and then walked away. Virgil sighed.

"This is one weird palace."

***

"Hey Roman."

"Jesus Christ Superstar! Oh, hi Rose." Roman said rather sheepishly as the princess laughed.

"What're you doing?"

"Writing a poem."

"So you like poetry then?" Rose asked sceptically. Roman laughed.

"Rose, I think you know by now that I am not a normal person."

Rose laughed slightly, sitting down beside Roman. "So, how'd talking to Virgil go?"

"It went okay, I guess."

Rose seemed to understand. "Virgil's a difficult person to get through to. He doesn't really... talk to others." Roman laughed a little.

"Somehow, I've already figured that out."

"Yeah." Rose laughed. "But, keep trying. He doesn't show it but he real cares about you, Roman."

Roman laughed again, this time there was no humour. "Yeah, sure. I wouldn't really call running away every time I try and talk to him caring about me."

"I've known Virgil since before I could remember, Roman. I know his tendencies and he is a nervous boy. But he's also a little snarky. If he cares about you, he'll get pretty flustered and nervous around you. Now, has he been getting nervous or flustered around you?"

"I... I guess?"

Rose smiled kindly. "He does care about you, I know it. Trust your instincts, Roman. They told you that there was something about Virgil that you liked, use them to see if he gives any indication of liking you back."

Rose smiled again slightly and left, leaving Roman to stare at his half-finished poem and wonder if anything she had said about Virgil was correct.