It's the start of a new week. I personally can't wait to see Mr. Drames. He is an interesting fellow. I don't know why but I feel like it's because he was tormented in the past for his interest in agriculture. I can kind of connect with such a person. Thinking of his pain makes me realize my own. I've experienced so many different forms pain in the short time have been here it is getting more and more tempting to simply end it. However, I feel that even if I tried to die my grandfather would never let me off so easily.

Speaking of pain... it is first thing in the morning yet I feel something digging into my side. I'm lying down on the dry rotted wooden floor of the shed, so it is likely some sort of tool. Wait, is that mumbling? I turn my head.

Why is she here? I honestly can't comprehend what I am seeing. It's Flara. She is curled up into a ball next to me, naked, and is kicking me in her sleep while rambling on about something. I wonder what she is dreaming about. However, my real question for her would be something along the lines of why are you here, and why are you naked. This is... um, yea... I turn my head away. I will be the first to admit it's not the worst thing I could see after waking up in the morning. However, after last night I truly don't know what thoughts might be prancing about in her head and knowing myself I might not have the same resolve as last night if I keep looking at her vulnerable... naked form.

I shake my head in an attempt to purge myself of "impure" thoughts. It didn't quite work but I'm not fazed by such thoughts considering what I experience last night. At least I'm unfazed until I stand up and see her body lying at my feet. Some relatively... twisted... thoughts flash through my mind. My imagination is running wild. Tears. I remember her tears and her silence, a certain sort acceptance that comes at a price is what I felt radiating from her last night at that moment and knowing what she was feeling made me want to draw a line. My thoughts stop.

I go to slam my head into the wall but it just rests there. I sit with my forehead against the wall of the shed not knowing how to feel.

I take a deep breathe that seems to take all of these stupid subtle emotions and throw them to the wind, far away from me. I stretch my limbs and grab some clothes from one of my luggage bags. I begin taking off my clothes without thinking, it's the kind of thing that becomes habit when you are used to being alone.

"Ah!" I turn when I hear the little yelp. Oh, I guess she woke up. I'm now just standing there naked looking down at her. Her face is bright red and she is covering her eyes. Should I cover my eyes too? She is naked after all. The thoughts are back again... This is quite the conundrum now isn't it... my dog is barking, how embarrassing.

I turn back around to finish getting dressed before this gets even more awkward. I think I just saw her peek between her fingers but I'll pretend I didn't see that.

*Bang*

Fuck. She surprised me when she jumped on my back. I fell over, crashing into the wall and knocking over some tools. I can feel her peaks against my bareback. This is way too much for me to handle! Someone can only take so much of this shit! I'm now slamming my head into the floor trying to keep myself from doing anything I'll regret.

"Stop." She put her hand over my forehead to keep me from hitting it. I stop. I can feel her wet tears rolling down my back. I have the urge to flip myself over and hug her but I fight it. Perhaps it's because she was a cause of various misfortunes I have suffered this week or the fact she plotted with my grandfather but I keep coming to this sort of conflict. At first I wanted to get some sort of revenge but I feel that I buried my malice along with George. I honestly don't want to hurt her. So many conflicting emotions and ideas are fighting in my head it's hard to choose a side. I feel it's time to let go of our past differences, there is no reason to continue over such petty grievances.

Perhaps being nearly killed by a mob of women, choked half to death, being roasted along with my best friend, and being tied to a bed aren't petty to another person but it really is all my fault isn't it? It was my choice to keep my habit of being naked in my room when I knew it might cause some trouble and who asked me to dive into a sea of flames or listen to my grandfather's suggestion? I'm at fault. I created my own problems to begin with. I think stopping myself last night might have been the wisest choice in my entire short life.

I can't let others push me around or coerce me into this shit. I might be young but that just means I have more time to start making better decisions. That is what I will do. I will work to become something I'm not, I suppose. I'm shit but I will work myself into gold. I suppose even a dirty farmer can become a white knight right? I truly want to denounce such thoughts and say it's impossible no matter how I try. Then what is the point, should I give up? No, I still have to get stronger and become a better man than the one true devil in this world... my grandfather. Then I'm going to kick his wrinkly old ass!

I take a deep breathe after this long strain of thought. I will strive to become a paladin. I can still remember my mother's stories when I was little. They are so memorable because those are the only times my mother would talk to me as a child other than for formal occasions. She told me stories of paladins. They were mages only they wielded barbaric weapons, swords, and wore heavy armor. They are regarded in history as being barbaric yet wholly influential to society as we know it today. My mother to be completely honest would always bad mouth them and referred to them as "fools".

However, when I was small I read books from our library when I discovered a biography about one of my ancestors, a paladin. He was a grand mage who was said to have been one of the most righteous men under the sun. The book was dusty and forgotten but it told of his various exploits. It also told of his style of fighting. He had found a way to combine magic and sword. However the pages that described how were torn out and as a child I held no true thought towards it. I was simply curious and alone with nothing to do. It is quite funny now that I think about it. I now know what I want to be however how is one righteous when they have a naked woman on top of them? Between smothering my empathy for others or embracing it I have chosen to embrace it for now.

I turn myself awkwardly underneath Flara. So she is now sitting on my knees. I try to ignore the fact that we are both naked and our positioning is rather... crude. I hug her and whisper apologies into her ear. Why am I crying? I don't believe in love. I don't believe that human kindness is in abundance. I do believe that kindness is almost never repaid. Then why am I being kind to her even I think I may never get the same in return? Why do I care about her so much? Is this what it means to love someone? I wouldn't know because I've never felt it and I have already decided that love is shit, so why?

In the midst of our extremely awkward emotional crying session a pole rises between us. Seriously though, I didn't mean to break the moment it just kind of rose up on its own. I'm trying to ignore the fact I can feel my "dog" nipping at her stomach. This is...

*slap*

She slapped me and is now standing up holding her head, her face is even more red than before. Oh my... and I thought the serious emotional moment could last.

***

Walking out of the shed earlier was quite... interesting. Quite a few people whispering, finding out a princess slept in the same place as a dirty little scumbag is hot news. They didn't know she slept next to me naked but I think they believe we went further than simply being naked. Flara really thinks nothing through. After she had slapped me we both put on clothes before talking about different things... turns out she wanted to "make up" for the trouble she caused me last night so she had asked my grandfather what to do. My hands get shaky thinking of the day I can finally kick his wrinkly old arse to dust.

I really don't blame her, my grandfather has a sort of charisma that makes people go along with his suggestions. I myself have fallen victim.

After talking to her for a while I kind of get the sense that she is actually a fairly lonely person. She is one of thirteen princesses after all and thinking about it, others rarely approach her. Looking at her figure now I realize in everything she does it portrays this sort of delicate and empty loneliness. I had once thought her character fiery and intense only now I realize she is like a rising flame burning the wick too fast and flickers with a light breeze, one day that flame will burn to the root or that wind will be gone... only leaving a puff of smoke and a hollow shell of a person.

Realizing someone else's loneliness sometimes makes our own more apparent I suppose. I had never really thought of myself as lonely, servants were always nearby and we talked. However, we only talked our small talk and formalities. I don't think I have ever had a full conversation with anyone in my family unless it was a formal occasion and even then it was all hollow and meaningless. I am alone. No, I was alone. I guess two lonely people can find comfort in each other's emptiness, I renounce my previous statement—this is what love is. It might still be shit and not extravagant as others might try and tell you. However, if this love is shit then let my life revolve around it, this shitty thing that is love.

I turn my head and stare at Flara whose eyes are closed and she is using my shoulder as a pillow. I realize that if none of this crazy stuff had happened between her and I may have never come to a conclusion about what I want to do with my life. I stuff some fancy pancy breakfast into my mouth as I can't help but grin at my own thoughts, and other people's thoughts.

"Tch, How can a guy like THAT get a girl like HER!" I think I've heard so many comments like this dripping with envy I kind of want to laugh at them and tell them that if they had simply approached her she would likely given in to any of their demands. Only it's too late for such people, I will protect her even if she decides to rid herself of me one day. Feeling her warmth I can't help but think such things in response.

"You know don't you think they oddly enough look super cute together?" To be honest the girl talk has got be my favorite. Don't let girls fool you. They are like spies. They have a multilevel web of connections.

Ignoring the surrounding strings of gossip I finish my breakfast with Flara leaning on me the entire time. I nudge her a little before telling her softly, "It's almost time for class, we should go. Everyone else is already pretty much gone." The cafeteria was relatively empty. She opens her eyes and looks up at me. She yawns and stretches her limbs like a cat. I get up and she gets up too. We both walk together. She intertwined her hand with mine, I resisted a little at first but her fierce little hand gripped mine until it was red so I stopped. We come to where we must split ways.

"Have a good day..." We kind of hesitate, this is new for us. However, our heads slowly inch together before I lips meet. This kiss was totally different from ours before. Last time it was forced. This kiss was short lived yet passionate.

Walking our separate ways I feel different. I realize how much I have changed. I don't know how to feel. Things are getting better I believe, they have to be.

***

Running through the motions of the week, it was relatively all plain. However, now that Flara and I have found mutual feelings my life seems less dark. My talk with Mr. Drames was interesting but I've found it lacks the same meaning as when I talk to Flara now. Battle Mage class was surprisingly easy, my grandfather had somewhere to be so the class was canceled so I guess I can definitely say it was an easy day.

I had been dismissed from Magic Theory earlier so now Flara and I are both in front of our "home" as we have come to call that rundown shed. We are both planting some food and vegetables in the "farm" and it's quite the joyful experience. From time to time we mess something up, fling some dirt, or just flat out start laughing. A nobleman and a princess planting crops on a farm. Quite the comedic thought.

I hear heavy steps that seem almost rhythmic. There are around twenty of them. They are wearing gaudy silver robes. They are wearing the crest of the royal family, a scroll bound in chains. They are likely soldiers under the king's command because only those under his direct orders can wear that mark. They form a tight circle before one man steps forward and reads it, the decree. "Under the decree of his majesty Charles Andrane the fifth, Kyte Mangantaire of the noble house of Mangantaire and Seventh Princess Flara Andrane of the Royal family of Andrane are to be taken into custody to prevent any further "tainting" of the princess in question until the dispute over marriage rights is settled in the form of a respectable contest of strength." The decree suddenly bursts into smoke that binds both Flara and I.

We are struggling but we can't resist the king's decree. Fuck! Fucking hell! Tainting? Tainting! She was feeling alone! Now that we've both felt warmth it's going to possibly be taken from her and I?! Fucking Shit! I can see her crying and it's breaking my heart. I stop struggling, there is no use. I will simply have to make sure I marry her I guess. For some this might be too quick but I don't want her to cry and I want to be there to comfort her, to wipe away her tears.

I raise my head as I let out my last bit of resistance in the form of a shout, "Shit! You are all fucking shitheads, fuck you and the decree!!!!" I am feeling woozy, this is a spell. I resist the temptation close my eyes. Flara is across from me, we both fall over. Our eyes meet. Then our eyes close.

{CHAPTER END}

[NEXT TIME ON MAGIC IS OVERRATED...]

[The Fat Pig And His Damned Decree]

•—•—•—•

I bet this chapter may have been a little too serious. A little too all over the place. A little too ridiculous. A little too cliffhangery. But yea this was an interesting chapter for me to write. I'm a whimsical person so it just kind of "happened". Tell me what you thought. I know this chapter wasn't too hilarious and more lovey dovey shit but eh. I write what I want.