The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the courtyard, two combatants vigorously dueling with their sabers, dodging thrusts and parrying attacks before the tip of a blade had a chance to snag at their clothes.

"You seem to be getting better, my liege."

"I'd have to say the same to you Chrollo." The blonde grunted, shifting behind a statue to avoid the swing of a blade. "Though it seems like you're a bit slow today." He twirled around the pillar, thrusting his sword towards his opponent.

Chrollo dodged, chuckling as he did. "You know, I take back what I said." They crossed swords, the tips moving towards the sky as the competed with their strength instead, pushing against each other in hopes that their opponent would give out first. "You've still got a long way to go." He side stepped, letting Kurapika stumble forward without anything to counter him. "I think I win today's match, so let's go back and clean up, shall we?"

The noble sighed in defeat as he got to his feet. "So what does that make this, 32-36?"

"Oh no, I've won way more than 32, especially if you include the magic competitions."

"Well yeah, I know that I'm beaten there, but I've always been more skilled with the sword than you have."

"True. I'll settle at 34-36 then, how's that?"

"A two point jump?" Kurapika punched Chrollo in the shoulder playfully, the other wincing.
"Well, I suppose I could allow that for my favorite retainer."

"I'm your only retainer."

"Precisely." They both laughed as they walked away from the training grounds, sheathing their swords and settling into comfortable conversation, the butlers cleaning up the broken remains of the pots they had massacred earlier in their fight.

"So, I heard from your parents that you've got some sort of arrangement with a foreign princess."

"Oh right," The blonde pushed his bangs back from his head, "About that, I'm not really interested."

"Really?" Chrollo inclined his head, "but, isn't this a huge deal if you guys can get engaged?"

Kurapika glanced at his retainer. He tried to look for the reasoning of his question, but could only find pure curiosity in his eyes. He sighed once more, casting his gaze to the ground. "I'm going to be completely honest, her personality is quite dull. She's pretty, yes, but I couldn't entice even a single intellectual conversation from her."

"It's hard to find any lady like that in these times," Chrollo commented, stopping in the middle of the walkway to think. "The only one that I know to keep up with your conversations would be the handmaiden, Melody.'

"And she's quite the exception might I add."

"Not that you'd be allowed to wed her." Chrollo joked as Kurapika rolled his eyes.

"I wouldn't want to, and," the blonde looked around quickly, ignoring the strange look his retainer gave him. "You know what? Not here, follow me." He commanded, though didn't really give the other a choice since he had grabbed his wrist as he took him into the closest building. They passed by some guards, who gave a quick nod or salute before continuing on their way, a few snickering at Chrollo's predicament. After going up a winding staircase and down a couple corridors, they entered a small but comfortable room, the red curtains over the window casting a dull, warm light throughout the room.

"You have to promise not to tell anyone," Kurapika said as he shut the door, locking it with a key from his pocket.

"That's fine," Chrollo managed before raising an eyebrow at his liege, "but why in such a secluded area? I understand that you don't want others to hear, but it couldn't be so bad that you-," he paused, seeing the look that Kurapika was giving him. "Oh, that bad, huh?"

"Very much so."

"I'm not going to have to seal my promise with kiss, am I?" Chrollo snickered as the noble turned red with embarrassment . The boy quickly recovered from the memory, taking a sudden interest in the decorations on the wall.

"Well, not unless you want to that is," he muttered, avoiding eye contact of his retainer. He didn't want to look, but he could tell that he had heard what he said since he heard him splutter a bit, probably unable to conjure up a good retort. The blonde waved a hand, forcing the blush on his cheeks to recede. "I simply jest, I think a pinky swear will do here." He extended his hand, coughing into his hand to regain his retainer's attention.

Chrollo met him halfway. They linked their pinkies together, shaking it once firmly before retreating to themselves.

"Okay, so what is it?"

Despite the door being locked, Kurapika still felt anxious about just saying it aloud: one could never tell who was listening. He stepped forward, beckoning Chrollo to bend down. He complied and the noble cupped a hand around his mouth, leaning in as close as he dared. He took a deep breath, willing himself to be calm as he whispered what had been burdening him for several years at this point.