Robyn

"Well, that was a fun little excursion, wasn't it Chevy?", Clavis' steps were light as they followed Chevalier's trail.

The brutal beast was once again covered in blood. Crimson drops fell from the edges of his long cape as it swayed behind him like a flag in a summer storm. He let out a soft sigh at his brother's words.

"Come now", Clavis continued in his usual cheerful tone, "No need to be grumpy any longer. Y/n is just beyond those doors"

Clavis's smile shone as he leaned closer to his brother in a theatrical manner, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. This time Chevalier's eyes narrowed. His younger brother was annoyingly sharp at times. This quality was one of the few reasons Chevalier tolerated the rest of Clavis'....mannerisms, but now it put the man in a very unfortunate position. Clavis must had noticed, since he retreated his hand and body both and laughed the matter off like any other time. However, as they passed through the great door that led to the inside of the castle they were not greeted by the one Chevalier hoped to see.

Sariel, the devil of Rhodolite who never seemed to disrobe of his calm composure, was now nervously fiddling his fingers behind his back as he paced at the end of the grand staircase. His brows furrowed as he spotted the princes, his eyes lacking their deviant light. He approached and, with none of his usual witty tone, welcomed the two of them back to the palace. Chevalier did not miss how the minister swallowed words they never got to hear, nor how his eyes seemed to steal worried glances of the second prince as Clavis went on with the report.

"There's clearly something you wish to tell me", Chevalier interrupted them, his blue eyes piercing, searching deep into Sariel's violet ones.

"There is", Sariel cleared his throat. His lips moved once but no words were uttered. They trembled as they formed the sentence "There was an incident" and they closed a great number of times before finally speaking "a fire was set into Bel- Y/n's camp. We have no record of survivors"

Chevalier drew a sharp breath. The news were not unnatural nor unusual in a time of war such as theirs. And yet they bore more weight than their entire artillery. His expression darkened as he mulled over all the facts and options and interpretations of the news. For four eyes himself to have brought them to him, he must had confirmed them a thousand times. And since he put it this way, the fire must had spread with incredible speed and, being set deliberately, the point of origin must had been either close to their ammo or...

"When", Chevalier asked coldly

"Three days ago", Sariel was quick to respond "However the fire had been burning throughout the entirety of the first"

Two days of searching. In a scorched landscape, it should be pretty clear what was left and what was not. But, if someone had escaped, if one particular person had escaped, they would have run for the river or the road, somewhere away from the foliage. And if such was the case they could be discovered much la....

"We searched the area", Sariel impressively picked up what Chevalier was thinking, "and we found this"

The golden chain glittered as the minister lifted it out of his pocket. The rose charm had lost its stem and the metal was stained with ash. Chevalier had chosen the necklace to suit Belle's yellow ballgown for when she returned to the palace, and yet she insisted to wear the damn thing every day because 《it was a reminder of him》. Such a ridiculous notion indeed. And yet, seeing it away from her neck, it looked empty and lonely. Truly broken.

He gently brought his fingers around the delicate jewellery before snatching it away from Sariel's hand and making his way to the main corridor. "Will you script out the alliance papers or will you stand there looking stupid?", he told the two men without turning to look. Both his brother and the minister stood dumbfounded as he nonchalantly climbed the stairs, his steps hurryingly carrying him away quicker than they had ever before.

He took a quick shower but it did nothing to clear his clouded thoughts. So he got back out of his silent room and walked and walked until he reached his office. Luke and Nokto were both inside as he entered. "Out", his voice attacked and the pair swiftly obeyed, well versed by now in Chevalier's unnegotiable way of making conversation. The prince let the chain fall on his desk before leaning over it, his two hands supporting his body. He closed his eyes for a while. When they opened, they fell onto the unending paperwork gathered in his absence. He pulled his chair and sat, his fingers picking up the pen before his mind could process anything else.

It was night when the enormous pile of documents was finished. The chain sat buried under the new pile on his left, the one with papers already signed. Chevalier rubbed his eyes as he walked out into the hallway. His feet moved on their own and soon he stood outside of a door that was not his own.

He opened it and entered y/n's room. He fell onto the sofa, his head leaning back out of tiredness. His closing eyes darted towards her empty bed. "Hm, is she still studyi-"

His eyes went wide. Suddenly all the weight left his eyelids, all the need for a good night's sleep disappeared from his body. The man who never forgot a thing had just forgotten one very important and crucial detail. She would never come back again.

The silence was suffocating. The littlest of sounds echoed in his mind along with Sariel's words. His thoughts battled with logic what he felt. "this is normal for war", they said, "people die, it's the way of the world"

The word 《die》 repeated itself a particular number of times in his head, so much so that he was almost starting to think someone stood beside him, whispering it to his ear. He shot out of the sofa, hurrying towards his room. He opened the door and seeing another empty bed he closed it once again and went to his own private part of the library. He leaned against the frame as he closed the door to his secluded sanctuary. No one would bother him there, not even his thoughts. He closed his eyes as he leaned back his head. He listened to his own breath and, for the first time ever since he could remember, he heard it skip its regular rhythm. Not the battle, not the aggravating endless meetings with Leon's misguided faction, nor all of Clavis' antiques had ever managed to succeed in having him exhibit this human but unusual to his behaviour. The blame lay with him. He should had never let her leave the safety of the palace. Then again, her determination and reasoning, two of the qualities he adored most about her, would never have allowed him to act otherwise. It was logical for her to help, and she had taken a position far enough from the field to keep her safe while doing the most good, treating the injured. Or so he had thought. How had he failed to predict this? Or maybe he hadn't failed, rather thought the possibility of harm coming to her appear less concerning, as his confidence overtook him and as she explained her need to help. Or perhaps, and this was the most fearful reason of all, life was just that cruel.

He had never taken part in a conversation about deserves and nots. He did not believe there was a punishment for all who questioned morals. And yet, at that moment, his heart inexplicably ached as if the simple act of being close to her had led to her perish. And what ached most was the fact that this was not far from the truth even when examined by unbiased logic, as countless times before, she was put in danger because of her affiliation with him. In any of those times, the story, THEIR story could have ended the same way. But, all those times he was there. This time he was not. There was nothing he could have done for her. People die, and that's all.

He opened his eyes, his breathing finally regulated. He walked to the countless shelves that lined the walls of his private shelter, his fingers tracing the binding of every book he passed by. Romances. They were all romances. What he devoured quicker than any food was now sickening to the thought. Lies. So many of them were lies. He had known that for the start, but y/n had convinced him it was not so. She had lied to him too. She had said love had value....well what value did the pain he felt right now have?

He stormed out of the room and returned with a sack. He tossed books together in bundles inside, entire shelves emptying in his every move. When the sack was filled and could not hold more books without tearing, he threw it on his back and made way to the sitting room next door. He threw the luggage onto the couch and filled his arms with books. The flames of the fireplace danced in his eyes as he stood hesitantly before it, their reflection showing the emotions his face failed to depict. His thumb brushed over the cover of the first book. His face twisted as he took hold of it, but as he threw it inside the flames and watched them devour its pages for the last time his expression returned to its usual cold self.

"The hell are you doing?", Leon's voice came from behind.

Chevalier paid him no more attention than he ever did. He tossed another one of his books into the fire. Then another, and then another. He heard Leon hurry to his side but did not grant him the courtesy of acknowledging his presence. It was a nuisance that he was here after all. What was he doing so close to the library anyway? Wanted a new place to sleep?

"I was looking for you", Leon said, this time next to Chevalier.

He grabbed the second prince's arm once he did not respond, and turned him forcefully to face him. Chevalier threw another book. Leon tried to stop him but his brother easily manoeuvred his hand around and finished what he started. After that failed attempt, Leon grabbed the half-finished pile away from Chevalier.

"I ask again", he said, "What are you doing?"

"Can you not determine that using your own eyes?", Chevalier's voice came out as expressionless as ever.

Leon sighed. The two brothers looked each other eye to eye. The amber eyes of the lion turned warm the more they gazed into the coldness of the tiger's blue. Fortunately, he had some brain to lead his faction and figure out how Chevalier felt at that moment. But instead of leaving him alone, Leon said, "Come", and gently pulled on his brother's shoulder, urging him to follow. The latter didn't move. His brow furrowed as he said, "I have no interest in participating in whatever fruitless brotherly activity you have in mind"

"You shouldn't be alone right now", Leon's voice, much like his body, would not budge.

"You know not of what I need", Chevalier responded, "and neither are you in a position to assume"

"You loved her", Leon said, Chevalier's fists clenching at the words, "I know you must feel..."

"DON'T presume to know anything about me"

Chevalier grabbed the pile of books back out of Leon's arms, just as Nokto and Jin rushed through the door, drawn from their way to their nighttime adventures by the sudden commotion.

"What's going on?", Jin concerned.

"Go", Chevalier's voice came threatening.

Nokto's eyes darted from the sack of books to the paper remnants inside the fireplace. His eyes widened as he understood. He walked around the sofa, catching a glimpse of the brutal beast's face without truly approaching him. He had spent the most time with Chevalier than anyone apart from Clavis. The man was angry alright. Annoyed even more so. But for the first time in his life, his older brother also seemed lost. Those frosty eyes fell on him warningly. He did not feel threatened anymore by them. Surprisingly, all he felt was pity. It was clear there was no use in talking right now. Nokto turned on his heel and left the room, travelling to where he could do more help.

"Leon?", Jin's voice still insisted behind Chevalier.

"Chevalier", said the fourth prince, "you value these books most of all, you can't-"

"No", Chevalier cut him off. No, he did not value them most of all. What he did value 《most of all》 was stolen away, taken too soon, casting a dark shadow over everything else. He took another book and prepared to throw it into the fire but his heart stopped him as his eyes fell on the title. 《The Romance of the Rose》, he spoke it inside his mind. Why....how...his mind went back and confirmed that he did empty in the sack the self where the book laid. But it was a cruel coincidence to find it in the pile, right after Leon's words. "Leave or die", his eyes drilled through the cover of the book, "I won't ask again"

He heard his brothers sigh before they finally did what they should have from the start and left him alone. He let the rest of the books he held fall, holding the precious novel carefully with both hands, like clinging to all the memories, and collapsed to the couch. He remembered every word, every paragraph and every chapter, and yet he opened it up and began reading it again.

The night progressed into morning and that into noon. At some point Chevalier fell asleep, the book tightly wrapped in his embrace. No one disturbed him. Seems they were sensible enough not to. His eyes slowly opened in the afternoon, arms tightening around the novel like it was his lost love. Once again they expected to gaze at her beautiful face, her unending cheerfulness greeting him into the day. He had spent many nights without her in his arms as the war raged on, but only that morning felt truly empty. He made his way to his office, not knowing the meeting Nokto had called in the round table room.

"Why did you call this meeting Prince Nokto?", Sariel said as he closed the door behind him.

"The fact you specifically excluded Chevalier is intriguing", Clavis smiled, "you must have an amusing reason"

"Can you not?", said Yves, "I never agreed with anything Chevalier does but I can't imagine how hard this must be for him"

"I'm not sure it is", Luke crossed his arms angrily, "I saw him yesterday and he seemed his usual self, yeah? I would imagine he'd feel something"

"He is", said Leon, "I know he is screaming right now but would never let that surface"

"We saw him burning books yesterday", Jin scratched his chin, everyone who had missed the evening meeting standing speechless. Only Nokto proceeded to speak.

"This is why I left for that town ", all eyes fell on him, "if there's the slimmest chance our report was wrong I had to...but I don't want him to know before anything is certain"

Clavis set his feet down from the table, his expression suddenly turning serious. "Was it?", his concern seemed genuine.

"I could not confirm that", said Nokto, "But I could not rule out the possibility either"

"What do you mean?", Sariel stepped in

"The fire burned through the village in a single night. However the number of citizens and stuff is not the same as the number of ... bodies discovered", Nokto took a deep breath before continuing, "Some are bound to have escaped"

"But we found the necklace", said Licht

"It was not on a body but on the ground. Now there's a chance that the fire simply didn't leave all the bodies behind but the numbers differ quite a lot for that."

"So some people must have run away from the fire", Leon pondered, "but why haven't we found them? Wouldn't they seek help once they were far enough?"

"I think they might have been prevented to do so", said Nokto, "we've found that many victims were killed with blades before the fire claimed them. That or, someone just went ahead and stabbed all the corpses"

"That would be a tad excessive", said Clavis, his smile returning as he figured out where Nokto's words were headed.

"There were soldiers hunting them, so they must have hidden", said the fox prince, "but I'm guessing they could not know that their hunters have left them and thus they are still in hiding"

Sariel snapped his fingers and an attendant came in. "Then we best get moving", he said, ordering the attendants to prepare the horses.

The night took too long to come and when it did the dreaded task of falling asleep came with it. Chevalier was still in his office. As he cleared his desk of all the paperwork he signed yesterday he found the necklace that had fallen underneath. He fell back on his chair, fingers knitting the chain around them, and brought the necklace close to his lips. His eyes closed as he leaned towards the precious gift - precious to her - and the silence seemed again to drown him. A coldness spread over the skin of his handsome face. He raised his hand and brushed his cheek, its sudden wetness tingling his fingers. He remembered everything, and yet he could not remember the last time tears had spilt from his eyes.

He lifted himself up and made his way to y/n's room. The necklace dangled at his side as it hang from his hand. His gaze, usually standing high and proud, now observed the impeccably clean marble floor. He raised his gaze just as he reached the door, only to spot the attendant sitting down next to it, his eyes red with tears.

"What do you want here dog", Chevalier said annoyed but immediately thought back and agreed his tone was not the best he could have used.

Rio startled. He must have been too absorbed to have heard the prince approach. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Goo- good evening y-your highness", his words struggled to form between his sobs. He hadn't stopped crying, even though he had no more tears to shed.

Chevalier sighed. He leaned his back on the wall and slid down so that he sat on the floor on the opposite side of the door from Rio. He twirled the necklace in his hand as the two sat in silence, a wordless understanding of the grief they both felt.

"She loved you", Rio's voice came almost as a whisper, "She really loved you"

"I know", Chevalier spoke calmly, "she told me last i saw her as well"

She had said it. Those three little words. I and love and you. But he had never said it back. He had said that she knew how he felt and she did not need a pointless display of it in words. He believed it too. But there was nothing he regretted most now. He recalled the warm feeling that he felt as he heard her say those three, ordinary words. He remembered how it felt to know that she would not speak them in such intimacy to anyone else. And now those memories were a dagger driven into his once frozen heart, as he knew he had never granted her the same gift.

Footsteps echoed in the lonely corridor. "I thought I'd found you here", Clavis said cheerfully as he approached.

Chevalier's gaze immediately turned threatening again. His eyes threw daggers at Clavis as the latter leaned over the opposite wall.

"Now now, don't look at me like that Chevy", he smiled

"Have you no decency?", Rio stood up in the blink of an eye. The next moment he was pulling Clavis' collar as his teeth gritted saying "Did you seriously come here to mock his pain?"

Chevalier looked at him surprised. The attendant had no reason whatsoever to frustrate himself over Chevalier. Rio said "his" pain to Clavis, but the second prince could see from the attendant's eyes that were now filled with newly formed tears that what he did was mostly for himself. Rio's pain, not Chevalier's. He could not blame him, especially since he agreed with his reaction, at least on an emotional basis.

Clavis lifted his hands. "No need to get angry little puppy", he cheered, "I come bearing good news, here to tell you she's alive"

Rio froze. It was easy for Clavis to shake off his grip after that. Chevalier stood up and approached his brother, his primary shock dissipating into a serious frown.

"If this is one of your misguided jokes-"

"'tis no joke, brother, I assure you", Clavis's smile turned almost kind, "Nokto takes most of the credit but we helped too. We searched the forest and found her hiding in an abandoned cabin. She's in bad shape but alive"

"Y/n is....a-alive?", Rio murmured, his eyes tearing up for a whole other reason.

"Where is she now", Chevalier urged.

Clavis was more than happy to answer, "Downstairs in the infirmary"

He watched his brother rush away without another word, his cloak swirling behind him like every other time he had left Clavis behind. But Clavis knew there was something different about him. All these years that man, the bloody tiger, the brutal beast, seemed a domineering persona, unmatched by any other. He had spent so much of his life both caring for and envying his talented older brother, knowing that he would never reach him and yet never ceasing to try and be equal to him. Those two days that had passed, however, he had taken notice of the emotions he never knew Chevalier had, as they bled between the cracks of his brother's broken heart. And for the first time in a long time, he felt true unconditional sympathy.

Y/n laid on the infirmary's bed as Chevalier opened the door. He tried to keep his steps levelled and calm but his feet had carried him there quicker than anywhere else he ever needed to be. He immediately noticed the ointment on her burned arms as the physician covered them with gauzes. There were cuts on her shoulderblade and scratches on her knees. Her lips were pale and chapped from dehydration. Nevertheless, she opened her eyes and that was all that was needed for the white tiger's heart to fill once more. He came to her side and gently caressed her ash-covered cheek before cupping it. She tried to move her hand, but Chevalier took it in his and slowly lowered it back to her side. She should not move her elbows right now; her skin, already starting to heal over her burns, would break again. Once the physician was done wrapping her wounds, he left the room at Chevalier's command.

"Che...va...lier", she made an effort to whisper, her voice rasp. But as Chevalier's eyes returned to her tired face he saw her smile. In all her anguish, after everything she had been through, she smiled at him. He leaned too fast to steal a kiss, stopping mere inches away from her lips. Gently, he placed one on them, only enough to soften them without further damaging them. He brushed his fingers on her cheek as he leaned his forehead against hers. For the second time, tears slid away from his crystal blue eyes, the joy of them falling on her beautiful and still warm face bringing even more up their way.

"Chevalier....are you....are you cry...ing?", she made no attempt to move, her body too weak to do so.

Chevalier smiled, a smile of true happiness. "No", he chuckled.

"Heh", y/n said, "strange...it seems...to me....that you are..."

"You're mistaken simpleton", he leaned his head to the side, more tears falling on y/n's face, "your eyes deceive you"

"Mhm", her fingers tightened around Chevalier's. She kneaded them together as she said, "I was.... so afraid-"

"I know"

"-I was...afraid", she continued, "you'd...lose...your heart"

Chevalier drew a sharp breath. He squeezed her hand as he placed a caring kiss on her brow.

"I don't believe that to be possible anymore", he said as he recounted the humanity in his own reaction, "But there is one very important thing I wish to tell you."

"What is it?"

He released his grip and brought both of his hands to cup her cheeks. He caressed them with his calloused thumbs as he brought up her face until her sleepy eyes met his. He looked deep into them as he said, "I love you"

"I know", she smiled and somehow that pained him. The dismissive way she had taken his words had been cultivated by himself.

"No", he said seriously, "I love you. I truly, inexplicably, madly and unfathomably love you"

He underlined every word until y/n's eyes seemed to take each in. He brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face before taking the necklace and placing it once again around her neck. Her eyes, even as tired as they were, beamed at the sight, her expression filling Chevalier with incomparable joy, one that he dismissed so many times in the past. He was glad that this small trinket was in the end all that her pursuers managed to take from her. He placed another soft awkward kiss on her cheek and gently rested his head on her chest, his ear listening attentively to her steady heartbeat like it was the greatest symphony on earth.

"Don't ever leave me again", he said closing his eyes, even then knowing the absurdity of his request.