Disclaimer: I already disclaimed this

A/N: Well it's been a while hasn't it? I have a legit excuse this time, I swear I didn't forget! My brother decided to be a jerk and cut off my internet for a month D= It was irritating, but I finally got it back and just spent the last half hour typing this up since I wrote it in a notebook XD

My hand hurts so much... It might have to with me accidentally hitting a pole. I was aiming for something else, but it moved, and I was not aware of how hard I hit until then... All this typing did not help. At all.

ANYWAYS! Enough of my rambling XD

The livejournal link is posted on my profile. I'll still be posting here on fanfiction, I'll just be posting there as well


Xx~*~xX


Vash sighed into Roderich's hold. He stayed like that, his head comfortably against the prince's chest, for a few seconds before blushing and awkwardly looking up. He was met by Roderich's soft gaze. Vash opened his mouth, then closed it, unsure of how to phrase the question in his mind.

"I suppose you'd like for me to answer your questions?" Roderich asked, saving Vash the trouble.

He let out another sigh and nodded, deciding to start with a simple question.

"Why a bakery?"

A small smile appeared on Roderich's face. "Long version or short version?"

"Long version," Vash responded after thinking about it for a second. It couldn't be that long a story, right?

"I grew up an orphan in a small village outside the kingdoms," he started.

Vash nodded. He knew about those villages, they were a neutrality zone. The residents were made up of those who were –or were related to someone- rich or powerful. Vash grew up in a more secluded one when he was separated from Lili.

"I had an inheritance, which allowed my uncle and me to stay there." Roderich threw Vash a sly smile. "I got the glasses when I was 6, seeing as I kept running into poles." Vash blushed at being caught admiring the intricate framework.

"Around age 10, I met my best friend, Ludwig. We were inseparable. We both hated the village, it was incredibly oppressive, and so we left. We ended up going to the Green Kingdom since it was closer. For two years, Ludwig and I worked at a bakery and barely made enough to afford the apartment behind it. When I left the village, I left my inheritance. I didn't care for it, I was completely happy working with Ludwig every day. It was peaceful.

"One day the queen visited, having heard about my Sachertorte, and hired us to be her pastry chefs. We lived in the castle for a year before I met my first love."

Vash held his breath, not liking where this was going. Hearing about his past loves did not feel pleasant. He refused to associate it with jealousy though. Roderich smiled fondly.

"Her piano," Vash let out a breath of relief before hastily covering it up with a cough.

"I'd sneak away to play it all the time. I'd practice the things I learned when I was a child taking piano lessons. I never noticed the queen standing behind me when I practiced, silently listening to me play, until she requested my presence and told me. I was expecting her to just make me the royal pianist, despite my age, but instead she asked if she could adopt me." Roderich sighed in remembrance. "Although the princely treatment is nice, there are times when I miss the simplicity of working in a bakery. So, with the queen's permission, I opened the cake shop. I run it when I can, but most of the time I trust the store to Ludwig."

Roderich looked down at Vash, his smile becoming amused at his expression. He looked like a kindergartener at story time, soaking up every word.

When Vash realized this, he blushed and looked away.

"There I answered your question, in detail might I add. Anything else?"

Vash bit his lip, refusing to look up at Roderich as he thought of his next question. "Why did you kiss me...? Why," Vash swallowed nervously, "are you lying next to me?" He murmured, not sure if he wanted the answer. How nice it would be to just indulge in these affections, to just lose himself in what Roderich was trying to make him feel. He could never do it, though, he had to be more responsible than that. For Lili.

Roderich blinked. "I told you. You had cake on your teeth. And this, well-"

"That's not an answer!" Vash exclaimed suddenly, sitting up with his back turned to the shocked prince. "I'm just a servant, idiot! You're not supposed to kiss me, even if you were pretending to be a regular citizen. You're still royal!"

"I know-"

"If you knew, then why? I am the servant of Princess Lili of the Yellow Kingdom. I'm damn proud of it too. Why would you kiss a servant –that wasn't even yours- in the first 5 minutes you met them in?" Vash grasped the sheets so tightly, he was shaking with anger. "You must have wanted something!"

Vash tensed as warm arms embraced him. "You're right," a soft voice whispered.

Something in Vash seemed crushed by that. He knew it. He was just a toy. A plaything to pass the time with. He shouldn't care at all, he should have been used to it, it shouldn't hurt as much as it did. Not after just one day of knowing the man, it didn't make sense as to why he felt so intensely about this. He meant nothing to him, to a royal. All of them were the same. All of them were greedy, selfish, self serving bastards who think themselves so high and perfect. He hated all of them.

All except his precious Lili.

"I wanted to be seen as something other than a prince. Something other than a political pawn. I saw the opportunity for it, so I grasped it."

Vash whipped his head around to face the saddened eyes hidden by the glimmering glasses.

"I ran away with Ludwig all those years ago because my uncle was using me for my inheritance. He only cared about my existence as long as he gained money," Roderich told him with a slight bitterness in his voice. "Did you know the Green King and Queen can't conceive children? Not with each other or with anyone else. That's the only reason the king agreed to the adoption. He needed an heir." Roderich turned his tired eyes to Vash. "I am sick of being used for greed and power. I just want to be Roderich for once, not Prince Roderich, not Lord Roderich, not Young Master Roderich. Just Roderich," he sighed.

Vash's surprise had worn down, sympathy taking it's place. It seemed he wasn't the only one with a fear –no, a hatred- of being used.

The only reason Lili's mom kept him alive was because 'the bastard child might be of use to my precious daughter. It makes sense that the dirty child would serve and be beneath my pure child.'

He still bore no hate towards Lili, despite this. Her mother on the other hand…

Vash shook himself from his thoughts. Yes, Vash completely understood Roderich's need to not feel used.

"Why me?" Vash asked softly, all traces of anger gone from his features.

The smile returned to Roderich's features. "You said your title with pride. Almost all other servants and citizens hate the princess and rarely admit they're from the Yellow Kingdom. At first I thought you were just an idiot," Vash narrowed his eyes dangerously, "but your suspicion of me said otherwise. I wondered a bit while you ate, before I realized it. You see her for her person, don't you? You don't see her for her neglect and unfair rule, you see a sweet little girl." Vash's eyebrow twitched at Lili's less-than-perfect reputation. "I saw my chance and I couldn't let it slip away, so I did the only thing I could think of doing. I kissed you," Roderich smiled sheepishly.

Vash sighed. "Princess Lili is my sister. I was sent away when we were little. I know she isn't the best at managing a country, but I know she tries. Lili is a kind, sweet, caring girl if you actually knew her," Vash spoke of his sister with a fond smile, not noticing Roderich's shocked expression- now turning into a grin.

"So you're the legendary half child. I heard about you, but I was told you were still living in isolation. You're Princess Lili's servant now?" Vash gave him a deadpanned look for asking an obvious question. He knew his becoming a servant after the queen and king died was kept a secret to keep rumors from rising. He didn't get why this would be so shocking though. "That would give most people even more reason to hate the princess," Roderich stated, amused.

"It's not her fault!" Vash barked. " Besides, this way I get to stay with her and help her if she ever needs me."

Roderich's grin turned into a simple smile. "This just confirms my theory." Vash gave him a strange stare. "Any other child would be bitter about their situation, but you look past that and remember her sweetness. You look for the peace."

Vash blushed and looked down at his hands, not knowing what to say.

His eyes widened as his lips were captured again by Roderich's. The calm aristocrat smiled as he pulled back. "I want that. I want to be seen for the person I am, not my title."

Vash sighed once again and put his head in his hands. "This is too much." Roderich seemed so sincere, and Vash understood him. There was still something keeping him from being with the man.

What about Lili?

"I can't. I couldn't be the source of a scandal for my kingdom and mar Lili's name," Vash looked up to give a an apologetic, helpless look.

He was met with a sly smile. Roderich leaned in and whispered in Vash's ear.

"It'll be our secret."


Xx~*~xX


Vash hastily made his way back to the party, back to his Lili. He was in a happy daze after Roderich, but there was a heaviness about him. He was berating himself for nearly forgetting about his dear princess. He quietly stepped behind her from her seat at the table, noticing Roderich's absence.

"Where were you?" Lili whispered softly to him. Vash couldn't see her face, the chair she was sitting in was rather large for her. It was meant to sit the -now deceased- king. Her tone gave away nothing.

"I was in the kitchen, helping the kitchen staff since we're short." It was half true, a lot of the staff had quit recently.

Lili was silent for a moment. Vash was about to ask if she had heard when she stood up and tapped her glass, calling everyone's attention just as Roderich finally made his way to his seat.

"I suppose you all are wondering why you were called here tonight for this dinner. I have an announcement to make. In order to grant one of my parent's final wishes, Prince Gilbert of the Blue Kingdom and I are to be engaged." There was no happiness or excitement in her voice, just business as usual. Prince Gilbert's face wasn't the epiphany of happiness either, slumped back in his chair the way he was. It seemed he was against the arranged marriage. Vash nearly scoffed, Lili was too good for him. "I hope there are no objections or interference with such a joyous affair," Lili's eyes seemed to linger on Roderich when she said 'interference' for a moment, but Vash probably imagined it.

They proceeded to toast, then eat and converse lightly as if the announcement never happened.


Xx~*~xX


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