You gazed at him for a moment, his tense posture and twitching hands and wavering blue eyes.

Your chest pounded harder at his words. At the same words you so desperately had been asking him but he ruthlessly tossed them away. Pain bleed through your pores mixing in with your voice.

You scoffed inching away from him, mockingly tilting your head. "You want to talk to me, Your Highness?"

Instantly his face went dark and sullen. "(Y/N)...

You cut him off. "You shouldn't waste your precious time talking to a commoner like me. Afterall you got busy schedule, your Highness you've no time to spare anyone, let alone me; a ordinary insignificant girl."

He lips twitched downward as his blue eyes darkened, emotions swaying within them. You knew how much he hated his Second Prince title. Loathed it.

But the desire to inflict the same pain he gave you was stronger than your consideration for his feelings.

So you basically were twisting a knife into a deep rooted wound. Maybe you'd come to regret it later but for now your hurt blinded you.

"You're really going to make this difficult, huh?" He asked in flatly.

"Hmm. I don't know." You crossed your arms and pretended to think. "Maybe you should've seen this coming when you acted like a complete ass to me."

"Ass. I wasn't that bad, was I?"

"You want me to answer that?" You eyebrows shot up in exasperation. "You know what? You should get going. I don't want to waste Your Highness royal time with my idle chitchat. Yeah, let's just do that."

"I can't. I came here to talk. So at least listen.."

"If it's not important, don't disturb me. Isn't that what you said?" You cut him off with sarcastic smile, using his own cold words. "Don't disturb yourself with such trivial things. Now, shoo, shoo!"

".....It's important."

"For you. Not me, your Highness."

"At least give me a chance--"

"Nope." You looked away from him, gazing at the full moon reflecting on the water surface.

"I'm sorry." His sincerity and genuineness was evident in his voice. Those geniune words were accompanied by a equally genuine expression.

But you were petty and you were deeply hurt. You weren't going to let him off the hook so easily.

You huffed, turning him to give a blank look. "Sorry? Do you think sorry would cut it out for all the silent treatment you gave me. Do you take me for a pushover or punching bag? I won't accept it."

You were being a bit aggressive but he need to know that you weren't some toy he could play and throw away whenever he felt like it.

You shook your head slowly and clenched your fists. You couldn't do this. You wanted to be alone. His presence was way too painful after your nightmares.

"Please go away, Claude. Don't look at me, don't talk to me, pretend I don't exist; you're pretty good at that. You have Penelope, you don't need me." Your tone dipped in hurt as heat gathered around your eyes. "That's what you were trying to say to me, weren't you? And I get it now. From now on I won't disturb you, so please leave me alone."

"I didn't know you were thinking this way." Claude grimaced, looking sick.

You closed your eyes, pretended that he wasn't there which was hard considering his domineering presence which took dominated the whole place.

There goes your peaceful solitude. Your heart crumpled even more.

Claude muttered, jaw stiffening. "You're wrong. Dead wrong. You..got the wrong idea."

"(Y/n), Look at me." His soft tone hardens, his eyes burning holes into your side. "Having Penelope or not doesn't matter. You're... important to me. A irreplaceable part. So don't get the idea I would throw you away just because I got someone new."

You wanted to scoff yet your breath hitched at his words.

"I wasn't trying to be a ass to you. Problems kept piling up and it was all too much. I was on edge, on the verge of bursting out. I didn't want to explode on you. I....I thought it was best to keep distance until I get my head straight."

Your eyes widened and you turned to him. He looked distressed as he struggled to communicate his true feelings. There was glimpse of rage, helplessness and sorrow within his dazzling blue eyes that had no outlet. That had been smothering him from inside.

"Shutting you out, distancing myself, it was all to keep you safe. I wanted to be alone. Even so I was so focused on myself that I end up hurting you."

He let out a defeated sigh and his eye fixed itself on you.

"You know me. Just how bad I'm at expressing myself, at being sappy and all that. I didn't want to worry you. You fret a lot, lot more than Felix. And you go flying right off the bat ready to tear anyone. I didn't want that."

You listened to his words, slowly understanding the situation. His sudden coldness, his distant attitude.

"Sometimes I forget I've someone whom I could share my problems. But it's hard. Really hard to just say what's on my mind, what's troubling my heart. It's so fucking difficult to just open up." He roughly spoke. "My habit of shutting people out when I'm hurting hurted you too. And I'm sorry."

Claude swallowed hard and his shoulder slumped and his head lowered. Golden bangs shadowed his eyes, a dry smile on his face.

"Felix told me it wasn't too late. I could make up for my action. My mistake. He nagged me to apologise to you. I was hesitating but you know Felix, once he gets fixed on something he's determined to do it."

You perked up at that. Felix. Of course it was him. He probably suspected something was going on between you two and forced Claude to reconcile with you.

"But I came here out of my own violation, not because of Felix, if that's what you're wondering."

"...." As if he read your mind he cleared the doubt.

"I wanted to apologise. You didn't showed up for days. I...I was worried. Really worried." He looked like a beaten puppy with his head drooped low in guilt and shame.

Your heart helplessly clenched at the sight. At his defeated and beaten up posture. At his resigned expression.

You realised he was hurting. All this time he was hurting, unable to communicate it, unable to share it, unable to show it. Distancing was his defence mechanism to cope up with pain. Somehow your hurt only deepened. To think he still was hesitant at openly voicing his troubles.

"You stupid idiot. You fucking moron. Y-you've been hurting..How am l suppose to know if you don't tell me? Do you even know how hurt I was when you keep things from me? How hurt I am?" Your voice cracked and trailed off.

"(Y/n)." Claude breathed out, guilty.

Anger spiked up, colouring your vision red. "Instead of shrinking back, retreating within your shell you should have tried to talk to me! I get it that's how you've been dealing with all your problems within this fucked up family. But you need to know that you aren't alone anymore! You have someone! Stop cornering yourself, dammit!"

Pent up emotions resurfaced with violence, threatening to devour everything in its path. The emotions, feelings, words that you and Claude couldn't communicate came hurdling out, ruthlessly, mercilessly devouring any rationality, any calmness.

Claude face faltered before hardened into cold expression and he glowered at you. The buried feeling coming to surface and he finally lashed out. "Do you think I do it on purpose? Don't I want relief from the constant suffocation I feel? Don't I feel like venting out when I'm hurt?! ?!"

"Then why don't you?!" You threw your hands up, pissed off.

"That's the problem! I can't!!"

The sound of water rippling, rustling leaves and whistling windows now dominating the silence that ensued when you glared at each other heatedly, panting from the explosive outburst. Before you whimpered and sniffed. His face fell and he went quiet.

"I.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I came here to make things right, not worsen them. Dammit! That's why I wasn't coming to close to you. You always bring my true feelings to surface no matter how much I bury them deep." His own eyes glossed over, his hands stretched out as if to hug you but at the last moment it dropped to his side limply.

Drained from the emotion that was eating away at both of you, your shoulders slumped, face slackening in regret at snapping on each other.

You tried to wipe the tears that continued to well up in your eyes but that kept coming and you choked at your own inability to stay composed. You were so caught up in your own hurt thay you refused to see he was hurting. You were pissed off at own lack of perception.

Then you go off taking your anger on him. The exchange could've gone so much better. You could have calmly expressed yourself but instead you lashed out. Did you make the situation worse?

Fuck, fuck ,fuck....

It was quiet...

Gaining some control over yourself, you noticed the silence. You peeked at him with blurry eyes, only to be startled.

His blue eyes had luminescent glow to it as if someone had lit up bulb behind his eyes. Those glowing blue eyes was profoundly staring at the pond.

You blinked and followed his gaze and gasped.

Big droplets were raising from the lake and hovering above the surface. You watched in amazement as more and more joint in and formed a abstract form.

The phenomena was really beautiful to look as the moonlight behind shined through the droplets giving them a bright white glow like fireflies.

You couldn't understand what he was doing. His pointed finger at it in a circular motion and the droplets rearranged itself.

Your confusion soon changed into pleasant surprise.

As he replaced the last droplets infront of the moon, something really beautiful occured. The moonrays reflected through the droplets formed a rainbow arch and soon a pattern started to form as each droplets were joint by the rainbow rays as you watched in anticipation.

'I'M SORRY. FORGIVE ME.'

Your eyes widened before they shone brightly as you looked at the message written in colourfull rays.

You glanced at him and he was anxious as he looked at you with nervous blues eyes that glowed within the night.

You wanted to apologise. Say hundred of times 'I'm sorry'. Apologise that you failed to see his burdens, failed to be there when he needed you the most. Failed to be the unwavering support you promised you would be.

But no such words came out. Sometimes at the most difficult time the words you want to say never comes out. And it was now. You felt the words on the tip of your tongue but unable to say it.

Was this how he felt? Unable to speak his heart, unable to voice his pains, just silently enduring it and hoping it would disappear?

Your guilt increased, twisting inside you threatening to drown you into it.

The words you wanted never came instead changed into something else. So you went along with it. Afterall humans were good at pretending, good at hiding their feelings.

You puffed you your cheeks and narrowed your eyes in defiance playfully. "Do you think that would be enough?"

"Hoped so." Claude cringed, head drooping as he dragged his hand through his hair. The hope and determination clear on his face along with exhaustion. He again lifted his finger and soon the glowing droplets zoomed towards you twirling around you in colourful orbs.

You gasped unable to hide your awe. Curiously you poked a droplet and it shattered into brillant light before flickering out in white glow.

Your cleared your throat, trying to hide your childlike wonder as each droplets started to bust out, lighting up the area before flickering out. It was like tiny fireworks.

"T-that still isn't enough." You stubbornly refused though the smile on your face betrayed you.

Just as you finished something landed on your lap startling Ether who let out a growl.

You picked it up. It was your favourite favoured chocolate bar. So he came here with full preparation.

"So, is the answer still the same?" He nervously fiddled with his shirt cuffs, eyes fixated at you.

You could feel his anxiousness coming off in waves and that surprised you. It wasn't usual to see him so emotional.

You shook your head. "Promise me you won't shut me out again. Won't distance yourself. Won't push me away. Whatever your problems-- maybe I won't be able to solve them but I'll help you shoulder them on! Then maybe I'll think about forgiving you for being a total jerk to me."

He fumbled with his collar, looking progressively frustrated and restless. It was no easy promise. You were asking him to break out of his habitual defense mechanism. It wouldn't be easy feat for him.

Now that you looked close he too looked awful, there were dark circles surrounding his tired, glossy eyes. Was he not getting enough sleep.

"Fuck," He quietly cursed under his breath.

"Alright. I'll try. That's the best I can give you. I don't want to make empty promises. " He swallowed hard as he waited for your reaction.

You give him a cheeky grin. "Then I'll try to forgive you. No promises though!"

Claude tsked. Looking relieved and annoyed as he glared at you.

"Did I hurt you that bad?" His blue eyes dimmed and he lowered his head hiding his expression. "...If I kneeled before you, would you forgive me?"

"Eh?" You stared wide eyes at him, shocked. Did you hear it correct? He was willing to get on his knees and beg for your forgiveness?

No way, right. He was a prideful person, no way he was going to do that. It was already a stretch that he said sorry. Sorry! The single word you hadn't heard him say since you knew him.

When you saw the serious look in his brillant jewelled eyes, you quietly gulped and goosebumps rouse on your skin. He was really ready to throw away his pride and do that for you.

You didn't know how to take it. You knew he was a prideful person. Really prideful person. To go to that extent.....

"No need." You mumbled, looking at the chocolate bar in your lap. You picked it up and tore through and took a bite.

"So you forgive me?"

"Not so fast!" His face fell in disappointed and he looked like a disowned puppy with big doe sad eyes.

He was doing on purpose, wasn't he? There was no way you could be mad at the puppy face he was making!

You slowly closed your eyes and opened it before sighing, cursing your heart which couldn't handle cuteness. "Eventually."

Suddenly much to your perplexity his puppy face was wiped away as if nothing. He nodded and smirked triumphantly. "You're quite stingy, huh?"

He faked it?! Your jaw dropped in shock before smiling.

You protested, the anguish vanishing replaced with the playful atmosphere you were familiar with. "Hey, I would rethink about forgiving you. I would make you kneel before me and treat me like the absolute queen I'm!""

"You won't." He said with certainty.

You blinked and suddenly something dawned on you. "Y-you knew from the start...!"

Slowly a self satisfied smirk formed on his face. "I did. I knew you wouldn't make me do it. You aren't that kind of person to take pleasure in someone's humiliation."

Your cheeks flushed as you stared at him accusingly. Incredulous at his dirty trick. "A-Arrogant jerk..! You tricked me!"

He smirked, crossing his arms over his folded knees. "Not my problem that you're so transparent. And so easy."

"Y-you....!"

Grumbling some more profanities, you glared at him. He stared at you before leaning forward and suddenly snatching your wrist.

You yelped in surprise when you body shot forward, close to him. The warmth of his body sank into yours and you shuddered at the sensation.

"W-What are you--?!"

He loomed over your small figure, his shadow encasing you. His fingers laced through yours and he brought it upon his chest. "...All things aside. What I did was wrong and I'm sorry for it. I won't make any excuses for it."

He whispered in quiet low voice that sent tingling shivers down your spine. "But you have to believe me. I never meant hurt you. Make you feel like I was discarding you. I swear on my heart I didn't mean it. I'm sorry." His fingers curled up on your soft hand and dig it close to his heart, you could feel his heartbeat vibrating under your palm. His fingers interlocked through your fingers trembled.

Your cheeks flushed, the closeness making your heart skip beats. You stared at his stiff face and softly smiled and mumbled. "I believe you. But I won't forgive you so easily. Maybe I forgiven you tiniest bit."

His face lit up and he tsked to hide his mirth. "That's a good start. I could work with that."

You immediately put distance, face burning red.

Thank God, the misunderstanding were cleared. You couldn't go one day without talking to him. It was painful. Maybe.... just maybe you..

You sneaked a peek only for him to do the same. You cheeks flushed along with his and you both looked away from each other, embrassed at being caught.

No, don't think that way!

"So.."

He gave you a questioning look still flustered.

"Tell me what's troubling you. I want to know what made you act so stupidly to cut me off."

He stared at me before a faint smile appeared on his softened face.

"You never change. And I hope you never do."

"Hey, what's that suppose to mean?" You shot him a confused look.

"Nothing." He sighed before uncharacteristically plopping on his back. "Where should I start?"

"With what's troubling you most?" You suggested, following his example and plopping on your back.

The stars looked beautiful littered in the midnight sky. Along with the moon that shone on both of you.

You turned to him expectant. He looked at your curious twinkling eyes and sighed.

"So let's start with daddy dearest then" Dry sarcasm painted his words as he gazed at the midnight sky. "So he thinks it's a great idea to use black magic in war. Putting the life of soldiers and Knights at risk. I mean what's best method to develop a country, use black magic. Great example he's setting for the future Emperor. Not that his son is any better. Both of them seem to have born without common sense. Or any sense for the matter."

"Not only that. Anastacius hired assassins to eliminate me. He thinks I'm a great obstacle on his path to gain the crown. Not that I have any interest in becoming Emperor. I don't want to be part of the scheming, greedy dogs." The venom in his voice was reflected in his blue eyes that had darkened looking like abyss. But within those glacier pupils you could see pain and sorrow. His brother had severed the last thread that could lead to reconciliation. Now they were no more than stranger with same blood.

You heart tightened at his pained expression no matter how much he tried to hide it. His words swirled around before settling down with a sensation of utter dread.

"Assassin...? Why?! I thought you were outcast. Why would they worry about you taking his place?"

He scoffed and a hollow dry laugh escaped him. "My magic is far enormous than his. Even my skill exceeds his in both academics and politics. And even on Magical field. It always has. Somehow this information got leaked out in the higher faction despite their attempt to keep it under tight leash. Now nobles are thinking about nominating me for King. He's worried and panicked I'd take advantage of this situation and snatch his crown from under his nose."