Violet glanced up at the cruise ship that would be her home for the next three days. It's been a while since she last journeyed this far away for work. It's been more than three years since she began working as an Auto Memory Doll and requests for her services have grown immensely. She couldn't exactly fathom how people from all over the world had come to know about her. Even now, as she began to board the ship, people would stop her along the way for a chat or even just to shake her hand. Claudia told her that it was a testament to her skills and that she would eventually get used to it; but she doubts she ever will.

Bowing to the usher who welcomed her on board, Violet headed to her room before more prying eyes could catch wind of her. The last thing she wanted was to get caught in the middle of a crowd. Slipping swiftly into her room, she locked the door as she released a tired sigh. Placing her suitcase at the foot of the bed, she glanced around the tiny single room – a closet, a bedside table, a lamp, and a tiny window that showed nothing but the sea. This would be her home for the next few days.

Glancing at the orange rays of the setting sun, Violet took note of the fact that she would have to leave for dinner soon. She sighed. Being a doll has taught her many important things in life, but never did she imagine it would cause her to lose something just as valuable – her time. For the past couple of months, she hadn't had a moment of silence. She could no longer walk the streets in anonymity. Everywhere she went, there was always someone demanding her for time. Every day at work, there would be a crowd of admirers waiting outside just to catch a glimpse of her. The company had difficulty keeping up with the volume of gifts sent to her on a daily basis. She was limited to working within the headquarters because Claudia feared for her safety travelling alone. It took a lot of convincing before he finally agreed for her to go to this assignment. After all, she was requested by Queen Charlotte who demanded no other doll but her – the very reason for the success of her marriage and the peaceful union of the countries Flugel and Drossel.

Violet sighed once again as she recalled the ceaseless insistence of Claudia and Cattleya to have Benedict escort her during the trip. And he would have, had he not sprained his ankle yet again because of his ridiculous choice of footwear. It was so bad he couldn't walk without the use of crutches. He really got an earful from Cattleya this time around.

Blinking, Violet found herself surprised at the darkness before her. She hadn't realized just how long she had been staring into space. The sun was gone and in its place was a full moon shining in all its glory. Deciding to put off dinner a bit longer, Violet headed towards the bow of the ship. At this hour, people would usually converge at the upper and middle decks for dinner and entertainment, leaving the ship's rear deserted. It was a perfect opportunity for silence.

Maneuvering around the halls as if she was still in the army, Violet successfully avoided a few number of passengers. Finally making her way to the lower deck, she moved further back towards the low humming sound of the ship's rear propellers. The lights were getting dimmer as she reached the bow. She settled her eyes onto the steel railings that stood out amidst the darkness. Reaching out a hand, she heard a small clank at the touch of metal against metal. Glancing down at her hand against the railing, she tightened her grasp. She felt nothing other than the slight tightness that the prosthetic hand signaled to the flesh of her arm. It had been so long since she last felt the sensation of actually touching something.

Sensing another presence in the area, Violet immediately drew back from the rails, twisting her body to face the unwanted guest. She stood frozen in shock.

A tall, lean stature. Short dark hair that swayed with the wind. And dark emerald eyes that mimicked her surprise.

"M-Major…" Violet stuttered in disbelief. But before she could say his name, a scoff cut her off.

"Have you become so domestic that you've lost the ability to accurately distinguish faces in the dark?"

The initial surprise from the set of emerald orbs turned into something akin to annoyance. Violet felt the tension in her shoulders release. "Cap… Admiral Dietfried." She corrected herself.

"How many times must you mistake me for my brother before you are satisfied?" Dietfriend responded monotonously as he walked towards the edge of the ship, a few feet from where Violet stood. His gaze was fixed at nothing in particular, just gazing aimlessly out into the ocean. He really couldn't understand why she always expected Gilbert to show up whenever his family name was announced, whenever they would accidentally run into each other in town, or whenever he would ask for her to visit as requested by his mother. She would always show that ridiculous expectant look that made him want to slap her in the face. More so when that look shatters into utter disappointment when all she saw before her was him.

"I apologize." Violet offered a quaint bow. She knew he lost his beloved hair when he ran into a burning school to save a little boy who had been left behind. And because it was now an age of peace, news like that made it to the front page of the paper. It had been the talk of the town for days. "I… still find it difficult to get used to the way you look, Admiral."

Dietfried released an annoyed sigh as he glanced at the woman before him momentarily before staring back at the distance. "It's not like I can help it." He ran a hand against his hair, feeling his front bangs fall to his cheek, while the rest of the hair behind his head barely moved.

Violet stood up from her bow, still eyeing the Bougainvillea heir in a trance-like manner. Right this moment, as he stood just an arm's reach away under the light of the moon – his face, his hair, his build, his eyes – he was a splitting image of Gilbert now more than ever.

"Stop staring." Came Dietfried's commanding tone, his eyes narrowing as he glared. "I'm not Gil."

Violet blinked, not realizing she had been gazing at him so intently. "I… I apologize."

Dietfried clicked his tongue as he leaned both hands against the cold steel railing. His eyes closed as if trying to compose himself. "Honestly. It's been years. When will you people understand?" He paused, shifting his gaze onto Violet. "Gil is gone. He's never coming back."

Violet's eyes widened not at the words he had uttered, but at the intensity of his gaze. She couldn't help it. In this light, if it hadn't been for the harsh way he looked at her, it was as if Major Gilbert was standing right before her, alive and well.

Realizing this, Dietfried turned his gaze away in frustration. First it was his own mother, then it was that coward Claudia. Even the upper brass of the military would look as if they've seen a ghost whenever he walked by.

Realizing how uncomfortable she was making him feel, Violet offered another apology.

Dietfried kept his gaze on the water. "If all you're ever going to do is apologize, then just shut up and leave."

Glancing at his stance, Violet decided to place both her hands on the rails as well; her eyes never left his profile. "I would like to stay awhile longer." She stated without room for argument.

Dietfried snapped his head towards Violet with clear irritation, to which she responded with the simultaneous shift of her gaze towards the ocean.

Deciding it wasn't worth the headache, the Bougainvillea heir turned his head away cursing his luck. Here he thought he could finally have some peace and quiet. Ever since that news article broke out a month ago, people just wouldn't leave him alone. Because of the sudden surge of his popularity, the upper brass deemed it mandatory for him to become the face of the naval forces. Being an admiral was tiring enough, but now he had been given trivial responsibilities such as providing public appearances and media coverage. He couldn't wait to climb even higher up the ranks so he could silence any unnecessary demand required of him.

"What brings you to travel to the country of Flugel?"

Dietfried clicked his tongue as he felt her eyes on him once more. "None of your business."

"Is your mother doing well?"

"Ask her yourself." Came his curt, impertinent reply.

"How are things in the navy?"

"Uneventful."

"And you?"

Dietfried blinked, before allowing himself to glance at the cerulean eyes gazing attentively at him. "What?"

"How about you, Admiral?"

"What about me?" He narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"Are you doing well?"

Dietfried directed his gaze towards his body. "Can't you see for yourself?"

Violet shook her head in clarification. "I meant to ask, are you happy?"

Dietfreid felt his mouth open slightly at the unexpected question.

"Cattleya told me that life is all about finding one's happiness. It can come in different forms, different ways, but ultimately, it is what gives life meaning." Violet paused, her eyes never leaving his. "I wanted to know if you have found yours."

Dietfried continued to stare dumbfounded at the remnants of the weapon he had found. The little girl who, despite half his size, subjugated his entire crew, leaving only him alive but powerless. The child he sent off to fight in a war with every intention of getting her killed. The tool he passed on as a gift for his brother to serve as his protection in the battles ahead. That young girl who was once so ruthless and deadly was standing before him in garments fit for a maiden, questioning life's meaning and purpose.

"Admiral?"

Dietfried felt a cold touch on his arm, concerned cerulean eyes met his surprised ones.

"Are you alright, admiral?"

Shaking the metal hand off his arm, Dietfried cleared his throat as he turned his gaze back to the ocean. "Don't touch me."

Violet kept her gaze on the now unreadable expression on the Bougainvillea heir's face. "Did I say something wrong?"

Dietfried closed his eyes to compose himself. It just didn't make sense. "Just what…"

Confused emerald orbs met calm cerulean ones.

"Just what exactly did Gil do to you?" Dietfried couldn't bring himself to understand. It was impossible for someone to change as drastically as she had. Killing was all she knew. It was all she lived for. Just what did his little brother do to tame this monster?

Dietfried stared speechless at the genuine, heartfelt smile Violet offered him in response.

"He loved me." She paused as she brought a hand on the brooch wore on her chest. "Major Gilbert… He loved me."

Dietfried looked away. He couldn't understand why but seeing her this way made him feel sick. She was a living reminder of everything he wanted to forget. His incompetence for his inability to protect his own men. His cowardice for his overwhelming fear of dying a meaningless death. His cruel immaturity for taking out his frustration on a little child who knew nothing of the world. His guilt of joining the navy instead of the army, a duty of Bougainvillea men, leaving his brother alone to fend for himself.

Violet stared in surprise at the grip Dietfried had on the steel rails. His hands were shaking. "Admiral?"

"You." Dietfried continued to grasp onto the rails as hard as he could. His thoughts were in turmoil. "Why did you keep me alive?!" One hand darted off to grasp Violet by the collar. The feel of the cool green stone in his hand did nothing to quell his growing anger. He stared at the wide-eye woman before her, keeping her lodge between him and the rails. How easy would it be for him to throw her off the boat and into the ocean where she would die a slow and painful death?

"Answer me!" He demanded, his grip on her collar punishing. It was the question he had always wanted an answer to but could never bring himself to ask. He watched as she started to struggle at the tightness of the clothing on her neck but it annoyed him to no end that she did nothing to push him away.

"Y-You…" Came Violet's strangled tone. "Didn't try to hurt me."

Violet felt the grip on her loosen. The angry dark green orbs she was gazing into were now drowning in a pool of surprised confusion and pain. The way he looked at her now was exactly the way the major would always look at her. "Unlike your men, I felt no ill intention from you, Admiral."

Violet watched as Dietfried's hand moved away from her, and back onto the steel railing; his head hung low with his eyes closed tightly. She stood in silence trapped between his arms, feeling the cool metal on her back.

All this time, the very life he intended to eradicate kept him alive because he gave her no reason to fight. No reason to kill. All she wanted was to stay alive. All she ever did was try to survive. How could he not have understood that? Instead he turned her into a tool, an object of hate that would bare all his sins – an escape from all his incompetence and insecurities. Who was the monster now?

"Admiral…" Violet whispered. "You look like you're in pain."

Dietfried bit his lip as a wave of guilt hit him like a canon. Just how had he been living his life?

Cool metal hands reached forward hesitantly. Violet wasn't sure what to do exactly, but during situations such as these, people would almost always want one thing.

Dietfried's eyes flew open at the feel of cool metal on his face. Raising his head, he looked at the woman before him in surprise. She cupped his face in both her hands, her concerned gaze never leaving his, before she moved to envelop him in a hug.

"It's alright." She whispered. "It's alright."

Dietfried didn't know what disgusted him more – her audacity to touch him so intimately, or the warm feeling of security her embrace made him feel.

End of Chapter 1

A two or three part story (depending on inspiration) for this fandom because I can't find a story that would satisfy my need for this pairing to be explored, and because my heart hurts so much after watching the anime I feel like locking myself up and never leaving my room.

A constructive review would be appreciated!