It's been about 2 months since I've been staying at this castle. I published the interview that I originally did with Zero, and I've been going into work like usual, no one really knows that I'm staying inside of the castle besides everyone inside of it. I've met some pretty interesting people in there. The staff is pretty young minus a few because they've been in the business for a long time.

Axl told me that all of the people in the castle working here have families that root back to the original king's squad. So the squad was so strong that it went on generation to generation. That's almost beautiful.

Things with Zero are the same, he gets close to me one minute then the next he just sorta pushes me away, but at this point in time, I'm crazy about him. I couldn't leave him alone if I tried.

They made me a room and honestly, I'm barely in it. I normally just sleep with Zero in his bed, much to his occasional protest but hey it all works out. I'm convinced that we have a legit relationship but still, he hasn't said "Heeeey, we're dating..." 's just the same.

I swear he's so stubborn.

Zero has been a lot more busy lately in the night and in the day time so I haven't seen him as much, but I feel like I'm almost basically turning nocturnal like the rest of this castle. It's pretty strange.

I didn't think much about Iris after that night a while back. She was pretty much out of my mind. Until that is, one night at 10:01 pm.

I heard glass break a few rooms down, I'd been in my room, sitting on my laptop editing pictures from a new bridge that had just been built, they were due tomorrow and I'd been pretty quote on quote "Distracted" so I'd been trying to piece everything together. That's about when I'd heard the glass break. I dotted up but then I realized that there were people that could handle that. I didn't need to do anything.

So I sat back down and kept working. Then I heard a yell.

"ZERO!" It was a woman's voice. Yep I better just stay in here. Yep. Nope. I didn't, I got up I shut my laptop and opened the door, I saw a woman with long brown hair and a very colorful long dress, she looked like a classic princess, was this her? Was this Iris? Now I was interested.

So I walked out of my room into the long, long hallway I went to the bottom of the stairs and I saw Axl with huge grin on his face.

"So Iris is here?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah apparently, she's going to chew Zero out." Axl said.

"I wanna see this." I said, Axl nodded.

"Saaaaaame, lets go spy. Follow me!" We went to the tech room where Dynamo was. He looked irritated but he knew exactly what we were doing.

Axl turned on the camera to the drawing room where Iris was sitting, a half a minute later Zero walked in and sat on the couch across from here, with a yawn, and he put his feet on the table and leaned back. He was looking as un-royal as ever, wearing his favorite pajamas and bunny slippers and a random plaid robe. Iris scrunched her eyes brows at him.

"Zero, honey...what are you wearing?" She asked.

"Well you see, it's 10 pm I'm wearing pajamas, what do you want from me?" He asked her roughly as if she scolded him for this before.

"You, you're king now! You can't keep behaving like this." She said abruptly.

"You know you're alot less of a kill joy when you're on the phone." Zero said with a small smile. She gave him a glare.

"Zero-dear, I know you don't mean that, besides, I wanted to know why you haven't visited me in about 2 months. What's wrong?" She asked suddenly.

"I've been busy Iris-DEAR. Being King isn't easy." He said with a shrug. She laughed.

"Alright, that's all nice and fine, but still I plan to be your wife someday, so won't you tell me these things upright?" She asked.

"Well for starters, you scold me like you're my mom or something. Why would I tell you anything, you're lucky you're cute." Zero said with a small smile.

"If someone didn't put you in your place you'd just do what ever you want." Iris said.

"You're right, but I guarantee ever after you yell at me I'll still do what I want." Zero said sticking out his tongue at Iris. She blushed and got quiet and looked down. I almost had the same reaction as her, and that made me feel some kind of way.

"Z-Zero-dear that's indecent." She said red faced she looked down.

"What is?" Zero said sticking out his tongue more and opening his mouth ridiculously at her. Axl and I laughed from the room we were watching from. Iris tried to look away.

"Z-Zero!" She cried out. He stopped.

"Fine, fine. Iris, why did you really come here, especially at this hour?" Zero asked resting back in his chair. Iris went red. All Zero asked is why.

"I...really wanted to see you." She explained with a embarrassed smile. Zero smiled, his face was like...like...a fox or something! He walked over to where Iris was sitting and put his arm around her in one swift motion. Axl and I made small noises upon watching it.

Zero was smooth as fuck. Now I know why I'm like this.
We watched eagerly. Zero spoke. He tilted his head and put it close to Iris'

"Listen, you know it's dangerous at night, your brother is probably worried sick." Zero said in her ear. She blushed.

"I don't care! I missed you so much." Iris said quietly. Zero leaned in for a quick neck kiss, then he moved to her lips. I felt myself getting irritated.

"Hell naw." I said, I was about to get up when Axl grabbed me by the arm and I looked at him, he shook his head.

"You do realize that you're the other woman right?" Axl said simply. Dynamo nodded from where he was standing, I looked over at him.

"X, you have no right to be even remotely upset." He said.

Of course I did...didn't I?...I counted my privileges for a minute. Then it hit me...I was the one who wasn't supposed to be there. I sat down with a blank face.

"Ahhhh what have I gotten myself into?!" I said suddenly. Axl smiled.

"Dude you're just now realizing that?" Axl asked. I shook my head.

"But everyday it just gets to be more and more..." I explained.

"Well regardless, maybe this will show you why you aren't needed here." Dynamo said. Axl shook his head.

"That was rude as fuck man. X don't listen to him, he's just old fashioned, I definitely think you need to be here." Axl said as if he was trying to come up with a reason.

"For what though? Zero looks like he's pretty content over there with pretty princess over there!" I said I didn't want to start shouting but I feel like I was. When did I get like this? Axl sighed.

"Bruh." He started, I shook my head.

"I can't watch this. I want to go home." I said.

"You can't...? Can he?" Axl asked Dynamo, he shrugged. I walked out.

I just wanted to leave the castle, I felt sick to my stomach. Why was this fair? Why did I get baited into this, even after knowing that he had someone else. She was cuter than, me, more suited to him and above all else, A WOMAN. I felt incompetent and sort of used.

What about all those times the last two months, what was it? Why was I even here...I knew Iris didn't know about the curse. She'd never seen him like I saw him. Even after that I still...I still...like him alot...I guess...? I looked down at my feet. I walked to my room and slipped on my Vanz. I wanted to get out for a bit.

Deep down after this I knew that I didn't want to leave Zero alone. Not even after seeing him and Iris kiss. I knew that he had a fiance...it just wasn't in front of me, It didn't occur to me, that he kisses her and hugs her, and legitimately cares for her. He probably he knew he for a long time. Probably since they were kids. How could I compete with that? All I was, was a random guy who came for a interview and ended up staying because of ..."reasons" and like what was I?

What's more He called her his fiance...I wasn't even a boyfriend? I was a side guy...

Damn man. It takes moments like this to realize how little you actually are.

I always forget how important Zero is. He was the king. But to me, he was just Zero.

Before I met him he was like this higher being but once I did, I got it, he was just another guy just like me. Maybe more majestic and hot, and beautiful but like...he was, I don't know to me he was perfect, even if he was cranky and irritated and just talking gibberish just so he could get more sleep.

He was perfect. And me...I was basic.

I'd like to talk about how I'm perfect for him...but I'm not. She is.

Together they look like something out of a fairy tale. I couldn't compete with that.

I walked out into the night garden, it was covered with roses and it just reminded me of the whole situation. I deeply sighed. I walked deeper into the huge garden and sat down on the ledge of the fountain. There were flower petals falling from it and it just looked generally beautiful. It might be nice to look at while it set in just how basic I was.

I hadn't been there for a while when I saw someone that I seriously didn't want to see. It was her, Iris. I looked down at the water, I was going to have to be nice wasn't I?
I took a deep breath and prepared myself for this. She looked at me and stood right in front of me. She looked at me as if observing me. I smiled back at her.

She spoke first.

"Greetings, you look familiar, but I don't know where I've seen you..." She said looking at me closely.

"Me? My name is X, I'm a journalist and..." Before I could finish she finished for me. She snapped her fingers with a smile.

"I know you! You interviewed Zero a while back! Nice to meet you! It was written really good. Normally Zero's so sarcastic with interviews but with you he was just so chill. It was nice." She said shaking my hand.

"You're Iris right?" I asked. She nodded sweetly.

"Yes that's correct." She said then she thought for a second. Then the question in her mind came out.

"So why are you here?" She asked. I thought for a second and then we both heard footsteps, it was Zero, he was in his pajamas, before he walked up all I could hear was

"Hey! X!" When he walked up he looked at both of us. Was this seriously about to happen? Did he even know Iris would be right here. Still Zero didn't look nervous like any lover would who was cheating so why was he so calm? Was he going to pretend we were just friends. Yep that had to be it.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Ah nothing, I just wondered where you went but now I see you're out here being melodramatic by a water fall like something out of a play." Zero said with a small smirk.

"Well you see, it's just the life of a side hoe." I responded. Zero shook his head.

"Side hoe huh? I wouldn't call it that" Zero said sitting down next to me poking my cheek, Suddenly Iris clapped her hands. Then she started laughing.

"Zero this is the guy huh?" She asked. Zero nodded.

"Pretty cute right?" Zero asked. She nodded with her eyes closed. I was confused.

"Cutest I've seen in a minute." She said. Suddenly she didn't look like sweet little Iris anymore. She had a face that made her more mature, and her eyes were like lightning. I was intimidated.

"So what are you gonna do about it?" Zero asked her. She smirked at him, like a huntress in the night.

"I won't lose. I'll never lose. Not to this guy. Or anyone else."Iris said standing from where she was sitting.

"W-" I started but then she put her gloved finger to my mouth.

"You aren't on Zero's level. You aren't even close, I was made for Zero, and I'll have him. So go ahead. Have your fun. You've already lost!" She yelled at me. I looked over at Zero and he had a "WTF" face.

"Maybe you need to calm down, I mean like I expected this from you but like...not so seriously, you know?" Zero told her. She shook her head.

"No I can't yield to him. He's got the same look his eyes as I do." She explained.

"I'm not following." I said finally.

"You think you love him don't you?" Iris asked me.

"I wouldn't go that far...maybe, I don't know."

"If you're undesicive, you already lost. I won't yield to you. You're my enemy." Iris said discarding ever single cute princess thing I saw of her earlier. She was being a bitch.

"How do you know?! You don't know as much about Zero as you think! In fact I've seen more of him than you'll ever see." I said suddenly letting the inner catty bitch come out of me. Jesus Christ was I actually turning into a woman?

"How dare you, commoner! I've known him since before birth! Our spirits our intertwined."

"Well have you seen him naked?" I said simply with a smug face. Her face went blank.

"NO! I haven't because we aren't married yet and..." she started I cut her off. Meanwhile Zero was just chilling in the background as if he was babysitting.

"Well if you aren't putting out how can you ever hope to beat me? Zero and I have seen every inch of each other's body, such an intimacy you can't even fathom innocent little princess. So maybe it's you who've already lost." I said getting up in her face. She slapped me. I had it coming. I seriously did. I wasn't even mad.

"Welp this escalated. Are you guys done being extra now?" Zero said unamused.

"Zero. I'll be back, and I'll win. You can bet on it. And X-dear... let me tell you something, the next time I see you...your ass is grass." Iris said with a sweet smile. Zero laughed.

"Really Iris, you couldn't think of a better line than that. You're messing up." Zero said with a smirk. She pouted and walked away. I spoke first.

"You told her?" I asked. Zero nodded sitting next to me.

"I did, it's out of respect for the both of you and myself. What kind of man would I be if I were sneaking around in the shadows, abusing her trust when I don't deserve it." Zero said. Even when he's a lousy cheater he still has my respect. This was an odd situation.

"Thank you..." I said suddenly not sure why.

"I don't want to hide anything from you." Zero said simply then he continued. "Don't thank me. I know I'm wrong." I touched my cheek where Iris slapped me and I smiled, it didn't really hurt but it was almost like I could still feel her.

"She's serious about you." I said.

"Well yeah, Iris has always been like that ever since we were little." Zero explained thinking back. So they did know each other for a long time.

"Do you love her?" I asked. Zero went into thought and made a "Hmmmmm" noise.

"A lot actually, but not how you might think, she's more like a sister I guess. I didn't know too many kids growing up and we used to have play dates and stuff. I always used to scare her on purpose and make her cry with Axl. Til my dad scolded me and was like "Be nice to Iris, you never know one day you two may end up married." Then I got scared shitless because Axl's dad told me that Marriage was the death of a man's spirit. So I was nice to her out of fear for a while." Zero said reminiscing. I smiled at that.

"That makes sense...what are you going to do if she shows up one day in the daytime?" I asked suddenly Zero shrugged.

"She won't I told her not to. Iris is demanding sometimes but she wouldn't ever just not listen to me." Zero said.

"Ah alright...god...I can't believe I just argued with her." I said replaying all that back. Zero nodded.

"Yeah, you even pulled the whole "I saw every inch of his body" thing. It was something out of a romantic novel." Zero said mocking my voice and laughing. I punched him in the arm.

"Shut up man! That was emotional." I admitted.

"God, you guys are a lot alike." Zero said with a small smile. I looked towards him. He was looking up at the night sky. It got quiet and all I could hear was the dripping sound of the water fountain and the small petals dropping into it. Suddenly Zero looked back at me with another smile.

"I mean, she's a lot like you, Iris." Zero explained. The wind blew Zero's hair was everywhere. I didn't want to agree with him or completely see it. Mainly because Iris and I were so called enemies right now, but I saw it. We had the same resolve. We couldn't leave Zero alone. But the only difference between us is, I know his secret. I'm still here, would she accept him if she knew? or would she cast him aside. I really wanted to know.

Suddenly the wind picked up more and the fountain stopped giving out water making everything completely silent. I shivered. Zero took off his robe and put it around me. I smiled and grabbed it.

"Lets go inside, I don't feel like catching a cold today." Zero said walking away the I grabbed his hand.

"Zero why are doing this to both of us." I said suddenly not looking up at him. He gave me a small smile.

"Because I'm selfish. And I couldn't get out of the arrangement with Iris unless she absolutely hated me." Zero said.

"Why am I even here? We're not dating, there's no structure. All of a sudden sometimes you just feel like liking me back. That's not cool." I said. Zero nodded.

"Okay so...you want to date then? You need a title to feel secure?" Zero said more than asked.

"Well..." I started up. Then Zero spoke again.

"So what if I stay like this forever huh? You still want to "date" me? It wouldn't be a good life, I'm always busy, I'm really only active at night, and I look like a giant fucking wookie in the day time, and unless you're into that I don't think you'd want to be around for that." Zero said questioning me. I shrugged.

"Yeah without a doubt. I want to hear you say it." I said with a nod. Zero smiled and then turned away and then turned back to me and grabbed my hands, and his royal charm was on and I felt like I was gonna pass out.

"So X, will you please, please give me the pleasure of being my boyfriend." Zero said in a fake charming voice, obviously being sarcastic. I laughed.

"I mean if you insist." I said with the same sarcasm Zero put out. He smiled

"Good, you better buy me flowers and take me out daily or I'm dumping your ass." Zero said with a mock hair flip.

"Zero god, you're so high maintenance." I said in mid-laughter.

"Well when you're the baddest bitch like I am..." Zero started and then we both started laughing walking back inside.
Zero grabbed my hand and we walked back to the door of the castle. Zero walked ahead of me for a second but all of a suddenly I felt something strange from over by the water fountain. I looked in the general direction but there was nothing.

"X, are you coming inside?" Zero asked.

"Yeah sorry, thought I forgot something for a second." I explained and I walked inside.
Suddenly I heard the fountain turn on again and the wind was blowing.

To be continued.

Alright so this was kinda uneventful. All chapter X was just feeling sometype of way. But I was to establish Iris more. Because Iris will be the realest on the block later on in the story with her gaston self. GUYS. Do you know how hard it was for me not to type "Side Nigga" and "Fuckboy" while writing this chapter? I had to pause like..."Oh man wait." xD Poor X. The side nigga. Instead I went with "Other woman" and "Side hoe"

Alright does anyone else feel like Zero probably has resting bitch face? I do. I picture it all the time.

Anyways, I'll catch you guys next time and

OH SHIT OH SHIT IT'S GOING DOWN NEXT CHAPTER. DAYYYAAAAM.

-Love Froggy, your second favorite fanfiction writer.