Ryan lay down staring at the stars and the blue moon. "Beautiful view of the sky tonight."

Claes also lay down and his head next to him, "Yeah. It's true what you said. I can finally feel relieved for a moment."

"Sometimes we need to rest like this."

"Yes," Claes said.

"Ever since I was little, I loved looking at the stars. Maybe because I live alone. When I see many stars, I feel that I am not alone in this world."

Claes also looked deeply at Ryan. Then he said, "You are no longer alone, and I will never leave you alone again."

"Unexpectedly, we have experienced so many things," Ryan said.

"Yes." Then Claes continued, "Ryan..."

"Yes?" Ryan turned to the side and saw Claes. Their eyes met.

"I'm glad to see you."

"Hahaha... What's wrong, prince? Don't we meet often as usual?"

Claes looked away for a moment and then looked back at Ryan with eyes full of conviction.

A smile radiated from Ryan's face. The clouds passed; the moon was shining. Ryan's face is clear.

Claes clenched his fists and dared to speak,

Ryan gasped at what she heard as if lightning had struck.

"Prince..." she said in a small voice. "No way... You must be kidding, right? Ha-ha..." continued Ryan.

"I'm serious. I don't know why I feel like we've known each other for a long time."

Ryan saw the seriousness and then said to him, "But how is that possible? Prince knows that I'm a commoner, right?"

Claes then touched her cheek and said, " and one thing I ask of you, call me Claes."

Ryan still couldn't believe what she was hearing, her eyes sparkled as she looked at his warm and gentle face. Her heart was beating fast.

Then Claes turned around. They stared at each other so closely that their lips met. Soft and caring touch. Instead of rejecting it, Ryan accepted the prince's sincerity. They blend like a full moon.

Then they arrived at a big tree house. To access the tree house, they go through a wide staircase decorated with lights and flowers on the left and right to the top of the house. The house only has rooms, cooking utensils, and a balcony in front of it.

"It's already late, we'll sleep here," Claes said.

There was only one bed. Just like that time.

"Get some rest," Claes said.

"Yeah." I felt nervous and my heart was beating fast. Then I sat on the bed while Claes was standing looking outside and said, "Ryan..."

"Yes, Claes?"

"You remind me of a little girl when I was a child."

"Deg... Does Claes know that I am a woman?" Ryan's mind.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Claes turned and looked at me, then told his story, "When I was ten years old, I once met a girl in a forest. She found me who was crying at that time. Then she took me to her tree house. The days passed happily even though we lived simply. But that happiness didn't last long. The royals came to bring me. I asked them to bring the child too, but they refused."

Ryan put her attention to hearing the story.

Then Claes continued, "What I remember is that she has a gem necklace. She said it was a legacy from her mother."

Like a flash of lightning, Ryan was taken aback. "It turned out to be you. You still remember it." Ryan muttered inwardly while holding back her emotions.

"You may ask, why am I telling you this? That's because I saw your resemblance to that child. Your eyes seem to display her presence again in my memory. Sorry... I've been talking a lot."

"It's okay... No problem" replied me.

"Should I just tell the truth that it was me?" Ryan said in her heart which then opened her voice, "Claes..."

"Yes?"

"How about this?" I said into my heart while dumbfounded.

Claes was waiting for me to speak, "What's wrong?"

"Have a good night's sleep," I spoke.

Claes replied while smiling at me. "Have a good rest."

I couldn't sleep either and then turned around to see Claes sleeping beside me in a supine position. Then, I recalled the memories of my childhood with him. We've slept like this before. I never thought I'd see him again. After reminiscing about my childhood, I looked at his beautiful and serene face. I want to touch his face. Then he turned to me while still sleeping. My heart is beating fast. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

The next morning, Claes who woke up first saw Ryan still asleep.

"She's cute too when she sleeps," In Claes's mind.

At that moment, his eyes shifted to the necklace under Ryan's robe.

"Deg..."

Claes also wanted to see what necklace Ryan was wearing. Then he came closer. But at that moment, Ryan woke up and saw Claes who was close to her. They are ashamed and embarrassed.

"The scenery outside is beautiful and also the atmosphere is peaceful." Said Claes who headed to the balcony.

"Yes..." I answered.

"We go around for a while before leaving this place." Said Claes, then walked away and left me alone.

"Well... well," I replied, still embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Claes' face was flushed red.

After a morning walk in the forest, we returned to the kingdom. I hugged Claes from behind. Claes smiled. Arriving in the room, Ryana was pacing back and forth. I cannot be like this. "Who should I choose, Claes or Lucien?"

*****

With the melodious singing of the birds on this pretty hot afternoon, I relax in the meadow. Then Claes came over.

"Good afternoon." My greetings.

"Good afternoon, too." He answers.

"Looks like I have to say it," Ryana muttered.

"Claes, I have something to say."

"Say it," he said.

"I... actually, I am a lady!" said Ryana.

Claes was silent for a moment and sighed. Ryana turned to Claes and wondered why he wasn't surprised. Claes smiled as he said, "I already know."

"Hah???" Otherwise, I was surprised.

"Since when?" I asked.

"During camp..." Claes stopped and didn't finish his sentence. Because he was ashamed to think about it.

"Ah. That is not important. Hehe... What's important now, what should I call you? It feels weird if I keep calling out the name of man," said Claes.

"Ryana... You can call me by that name."

"Heh?? It's the same as before."

"Yeah..."

"Beautiful name. But why did you have to disguise yourself as a man?" asked Claes.

Ryana also explained it as told to Lucien. Claes also empathized with hearing her explanation.

"Time went on and I was like a failure who was drowning in confusion. Sitting quietly and pensive. At first, I wanted to be beautiful and popular like a royal princess because I know how it feels when people don't care about your presence. But that desire has now been replaced. I'm grateful for this life and I just want to be a good person, live a simple life, be humble and help others." Ryana explained to Claes.

"Her smile shows that she has to face it up with a sincere heart. But she didn't realize that she was actually beautiful." That's what Claes had in mind.

"At first I thought that life is unfair. But Hehe," said Ryana

"She smiled cheerfully," in Claes's mind.

Then Claes touched my cheek saying, "You're beautiful as you are."

Even though it was only a short sentence, I was shocked, sad, and happy at the same time. Because there are people who can see the positive in me. I feel I want to cry. I reminisce about my life in loneliness. He wiped my tears with his finger and then hugged me to his chest. An airy and warm, that's how I feel. I wish it was longer like this. Am I selfish?

"Now you don't have to hide your feelings." Claes said to Ryana while being followed by a thought "I know your subconscious is still harboring sadness."

On the other hand, Princess Eudora visited the kingdom again. When she was told that Claes was in the meadow, she went there and saw the prince hugging Ryana. Of course, she flinched because, in Eudora's eyes, he was hugging a male soldier. With anger as well as envy surrounding her, she clenched her fists.

A few moments later, Eudora visited Claes who was in his room at that time. Claes greeted her warmly. Then Eudora said seriously, "Prince, do you love me?"

Claes replied, "Sorry princess, I have loved someone else."

The princess was shocked. It means that what she saw was true. Then she continued, "Is he a warrior?"

"Yes," replied Claes.

"Why... why do you love him, prince Claes? He's just a commoner and... and I'm prettier than him too. But why do you prefer him?" Eudora couldn't accept it either.

said Claes.

Princess Eudora, who still hadn't given up then said, "But isn't he a man?"

"No. She's a lady."

Then Claes added,

After saying that, Claes left princess Eudora alone. Eudora fell limp and wept. She actually didn't want to let go of her love for the prince, but reality said otherwise. Her heart felt like broken glass. Finally, that same day, she returned to her kingdom and never returned.

Then Claes brings Ryana with him to meet Taddeus. At that time, Ryana was pleasantly surprised to see Helcia as a maid when serving tea. They both smiled at each other. As she was about to leave the room, Taddeus called Helcia to stay because they were friends. Ryana also congratulated Helcia. Then Claes tells Taddeus that Ryan is a woman. They were both shocked especially Helcia. She also became embarrassed because she previously had feelings for Ryana.

"I'm sorry Helcia..." Ryana said.

"It does not matter. I believe you," replied Helcia with a warm smile.

They held their hands warmly.