Two days went by in a blink, the prince recovered fast, and he was then back to working, spending all his time to make up for the days he was ill. His focus was completely on the paperworks given upon him by the king himself. It was a normal day, like any other. The pressure never leaves his company. He was chained to his responsibilities as the next ruler. He never even has enough time to breathe. The last two days, he spent to formulate a plan regarding the wall protecting their kingdom from the Dark Forest. Even bed-ridden, he still did everything he could do until he passed out.

'What can I do? I have not the right to raise a protest against my responsibilities. I was just a puppet, after all,' was all he thought. He seldom sees the sun and touches the healthy grasses with the soles of his boots, almost never leaving the comfort of his room. An invisible knot was tied upon him and his works. 'What even is a break?'

"It was not pleasant seeing you almost kissing the table, Sire. It is time for your postponed measurement." The annoying voice perked his ear. He did not even notice that the dressmaker had arrived. He continued scribbling, pretending not to notice that annoying man in front of him. He thought that he would eventually get tired of talking. However, it dawned on him that the dressmaker would never stop mumbling different things which he somewhat enjoyed listening to. The topics he talked about actually have a lot of sense in it, like how the system of the other kingdom was far from being exceptional because of its corrupt leader and the ways he ruled it. He then talked about the barter system of the farthest kingdom from them which was the best. The man clearly has knowledge and deep understanding of the systems all over the five kingdoms.

"You can stop. Let us do the measurements." Prince Nicholas removed his glasses and stood up. He removed his coat and placed it on the bed gently. He just stood straight and waited for the dressmaker to finish what he was doing. The dressmaker found it easy to get the measurements of the prince. The designs were clear in his mind. He knew exactly at the surface of his mind which color, which patterns, and which style of suit suits the beaut, like he was bound to know what makes the other shine brighter and blind him and the others with his beauty. He knew very well. That's why, on the very same day, he requested for the finest, most sophisticated silks and cloth.

On that very same day, the dressmaker was bound to start working and living inside the castle as the royal dressmaker. The royal sewing area was required for him to use. He brought his favorite machine with him, nonetheless. It was the very thing that he requested from the king when he was invited to create a suit for the royalties. The king did not protest and granted him the favor, as he was the well-known tailor of the East, the best one out of the bunch, a one-in-a-million, exceptional dressmaker.

The night that day, Prince Nicholas sat on the balcony of his room, legs crossed as he sipped a fine cup of coffee he brewed himself. He looked upon the starry canvas up above, the moon forever glowing, amidst some parts of it not visible.

"It was almost the full moon, the ball is nearing." He sighed, eyes landing on the clock inside. It was four minutes before his bedtime. He knows he needs to pack things up and call it a day although he is not, in any way, sleepy. He stood up and faced the moon once more before turning his back.

The prince already stepped a foot inside his room when he heard someone say, "Did the moon captivate the eyes of the Beaut of Helianth?" He then felt a hand reach his. "The night is still too young and the moon is fascinating yet you want to waste your time and spend it gazing upon your blank ceiling? Come, join me here, my dear prince."

"I'd rather not. I was only one minute away from my bedtime. You can spend the night alone." He removed the dressmaker's hand from his and faced him, a glare forming on his face. Mauve noticed the dark circles under the eyes of the prince. It was not good, but to him, it did not diminish what beauty the other possessed. 'Still pretty,' his mind spoke for him.

"Why, though, would I spend it alone if I can spend it with someone as exquisite as the moon?" The prince scoffed upon the other's response. He rolled his eyes and contemplated, tempted to go back on his seat and talk about the most random things they could talk about. Albeit he is annoying, he knows well how much the dressmaker was aware of the things in different kingdoms. It will be a good talk, he knows to himself, and the universe knows how dying he is to talk to someone about things with so much sense. 'Maybe just this once, I can ditch my schedule. I was not sleepy, after all,' he thought to himself, giving in to the temptation of a good conversation.

Just like that, the two of them spent the night talking about different unexplained phenomena which happen in every kingdom. They sat there, the moon illuminating their faces, while they immersed themselves in a conversation only the two of them understood.

"And do you know the proposed theory from the Lune why eclipses happen—" Mauve stopped on his question when a yawn came out of the prince's mouth. He smiled, Nicholas would be able to sleep. "It seems to me that I have served my purpose. You can have your good night's sleep today, your highness, we can continue this conversation tomorrow. I'll let the moon watch over you as you slumber."

Nicholas' eyes grew big when the dressmaker jumped out from the balcony to the ground. He almost screamed for the other's life, but pretended not to care and reached for his bedroom. It is one of those rare occurrences that he was feeling sleepy. 'It was more effective than those sleeping pills.' A small curve formed upon his lips before closing his eyes.

Then, as the moon glows, the sunflower gleamed before losing a petal.

Sunrises and sunsets passed by quickly like a gust of wind. Mauve continued sneaking into the prince's room who, as always, locks himself inside his room to study or work. It became a routine, rather a hobby for both of them. The dressmaker suddenly barging inside the spacious bedroom either by door or by window, and the prince being annoyed, but it will always end up with them talking about things they share knowledge about. Everything is new for the latter. The new presence, the new kind of attention he gets, the extra care for him he feels. Even more so, the new warmth which makes him scared at the pit of his stomach. He was scared of getting used to these, as life never really treated him with utmost fairness.

Never did he ever find himself someone that could give him so much affection that he never had faith in magic...in love. How can he believe in such a ridiculous thing if life took so much from him? First, his mother, then his grandfather, and his sister. Now, it was only him and his father who did everything but show him the most important thing he seeked when he was a child—love and affection. All that was given upon him was the piles of books he was bound to read, training he needed to complete, and studying until he saw black.

Everything feels foreign. He was lost and confused. Why is this man here when no one dares to disturb him with his study? Why is it that he does not give up no matter how hard he tries to push him away? Why is the dressmaker's annoying presence suddenly turning into something he wants to be inside his room any moment? And why do he find the other's voice more beautiful than the chirps of the bird or the vinyls playing?

He sighed, clear enough for Mauve to notice that his mind was in complete haywire. The prince felt a hand on his shoulder. "What bothers you, dear prince? Do you need some time alone? Hmm? Tell me and I shall come back later."

Nicholas was quick to shake his head. "It was none of your business, mister dressmaker. The information was just too complex for my understanding."

The hand on his shoulders shifted to his creased forehead. He had the urge to breakfree from the other's hand. However, as soon as the dressmaker moved his hand across his head, his urge vanished, and was rather replaced by the relaxation that the touch brings into his system. The touch gives him the peaceful scenery of the sea. The citrus-smelling hands sorted out the thoughts crumpling inside his head a while ago. 'Ah, so this is what they called rest...'

"You must have so much on your mind, my dear prince. But you can tell me anytime, hmm? Or you can simply ask me to do this. I'll clear everything on my plate and do this until you're calm." His touch was calming, and so was his voice. It was a lullaby for Prince Nicholas, an enchanting melody, a harmonious orchestra.

"Are you prepared for tomorrow's event? I heard the other royalties are invited, and so are the wealthy families from the other kingdoms." Mauve asked, making the other scoff as he remembered how hard it was for him to deal with people, but was always forced to communicate because it was his duty. He never liked people, in all honesty. "I don't have a choice."

The other did not respond, but put his hand in his pocket, leaving the forehead of the prince alone. Nicholas felt empty on his forehead and just sat straight on his chair. He was about to open the book again, but a hand was quick to close it.

The prince's forehead is knitted. He looked at the other, confused and irritated. Mauve just flashed a smile before placing one of his hands to the forehead of the prince who looked like it was about to attack him. Once he touched the skin, he felt how it relaxed instantly, making him chuckle. 'Adorable.'

He then placed a chocolate bar in front of the prince. "Eat this first. I suppose it will help." A bird suddenly hit the window, catching his attention, making him miss the small smile that ghosted Nicholas' lips. It was a rare incident that only a few people can witness, yet he has not seen.

The prince ate the sweet bar on his hand, piece-by-piece as he scanned the pages of the book. He was delighted by it, as it is familiar to him—the very chocolate that her mother always bought him before. 'How can he have some of this expensive chocolate from that kingdom?' He wants to know, but he did not ask.

"It seems to me that you're done eating and your mood has gotten quite lighter. It is time for you to try your new suit on." Mauve stated as he stood from the couch.

As they spend another day beside each other, with the annoyed one and one annoying the other, the sunflower, yet, loses another petal. Nicholas felt it, he knows he needs to do something. He went inside the sunflower's chamber once the other had gone out of his room. With a gentle hand, he opened the glass box caging the curse.

His eyes shifted from restless to hopeless when it landed on the withering sunflower. He immediately went closer to the flower as he observed the petals which fell at the bottom. Helpless, that's how he feels. Disappointed, even.

"How come he is not the sun I was looking for? What pulls me attracted to that man if he isn't?" He asked himself, not minding if anyone could hear him vent out his confusions. Nothing frustrates him more than the thought that the dressmaker was not the sun he was supposed to meet. He does not want to admit it, but it was in the back of his head that in the past month, Mauve was able to break his strong walls he tried so hard to build.

Nonetheless, it was pointless. 'Why bother tell him anything if it will only result in one sure thing? I should cut everything between us, whatever it is. It was a risk I cannot take.'

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