Thank you all for continuing reading. I know I don't leave many author's notes (I do on my ao3 account) but I appreciate every like and review. Thanks to SIGF for betaing as always. It means the world to me.

The time at the estate was dull at best and insulting at worst. The nobleman didn't even bother to try and hide his distaste for Hoshido. He likened them to pawns, a means to an end, as if their "charity" was far overdue. Of course, he stated, he had no need of charity, as he was well off and had his own ways of obtaining goods, but that was neither here nor there. No, the man was awful about Hoshidans, but Leo felt it would show a conflict of interest to let his feelings be known.

Now, Leo had told Kazahana herself about how Hoshido needed to procure goods to Nohr, and he felt guilty after hearing it from another's mouth. He wanted to apologize, but some things were better left unsaid.

The nobleman mostly left them alone though, spending his time admiring his collections of art, and left his two guests to their own devices. Kazahana was secretly relieved, for the man was unpleasant to be around. She spent her time playing her koto, and sometimes she'd find herself in the library reading Nohrian literature, something that was far overdue. She felt that, as Leo suspected, it was time to learn of the country she resided in. It was lazy of her to not do so otherwise.

Leo found a chess set and tried new strategies, but he could only do so much. Beating oneself grew boring and he wondered if Kazahana would be interested in a game. He found her in the library that day, reading a historical text, which surprised him, and approached her.

"Kazahana, would you be interested in a game of chess?" He asked quietly. For a moment, he felt vulnerable. Her rejection would crush him, but at the same time, he probably deserved it. He knew he was mean to her at every turn, and he decided this could be a chance to rectify that.

Kazahana only knew that chess was similar to shogi, and she did not want to let her ignorance of the game be known. "I've never played before…"

"It's fine. I can teach you." He was desperate at this point for a companion. He was bored.

"If it pleases you, then I will." She got up from her seat with grace, something that Leo always admired about her. She held herself with dignity that he supposed only a musician would have.

He found the board in a small section of the library, a fine set with glass pieces and a ceramic board. He set it up and allowed her to play white, which always went first according to the rules.

They spent some time going over the rules, him teaching her what each piece did, how to win, and whatnot. He found she was a slow learner when it came to the game, but he was patient. Chess wasn't easy.

"S-so I move this b-bishop like this?" she asked, moving the piece wrong.

"Unfortunately you are mistaken. It's this way." She had done it reversed.

"Oh!" She blushed. "I'm…no good at this…" She went to get up but he grabbed her hand gently.

"Kazahana, it's not an easy game to play. Don't give up so easily. You'll learn."

"How can you be so c-confident I will?" she inquired quietly. "I have no m-mind for strategy." It was true. During her time in the war, she was left out of strategy meetings and only participated near the end so she wouldn't feel so useless. And even then, she had to run away. Strategy, games, war… She was no good at them.

"True, but if you can master an instrument, which takes the same sort of intelligence, you can learn this." He realized his backhanded compliment, but he said nothing of it and neither did she. She sat back down and they reset the game.

After a few hours, she got the hang of it, and took out quite a few of Leo's pieces. He saw the look of delight on her face as she took his knight, and he congratulated her on it.

"You're doing well. I told you that you would learn." He smirked at her. "Maybe one day you'll even beat me."

She flushed at his statement. "You…in-intend to play me more often?"

"Of course. If you're going to be our court musician, then surely we'll see each other often, and it would be nice to have a companion." He realized companion was too strong a word. "That is, a playmate," he amended poorly. Now he sounded immature.

Playmate was a cute word she thought. It was like Leo was a young boy, asking for attention. She knew he was the middle child by now, and realized that he probably was ignored a lot. It reminded her of Takumi again.

Thinking of Takumi brought tears to her eyes, and Leo noticed, wondering what he said wrong.

"I… What did I say to upset you?" he asked gently. He hated sounding so meek, but he knew that now was the time to be gentle with her, to treat her with kid gloves. It was no longer necessary to torture her with questions. He had his answers and he swore he'd keep them secret. She deserved better from him.

"You…reminded me of someone I lost to the war. He…he was very similar to you and quite kind."

"I apologize. I'm sorry to upset you." And he felt that he genuinely meant it, unlike the other times before.

She stared at him wistfully. "It makes me wonder how you two would get along… He liked games like this too."

Leo stayed silent. He wasn't sure how to properly respond. Was this young man…a previous beau at some point? He didn't want to ask.

"I m-miss him…" she uttered quietly.

"I'm sure you do. It… isn't easy." Though Leo didn't lose his siblings, he had lost his mother at an earlier time and his own father's death didn't sit well with him. It was tragic to slowly watch the demise of what Leo thought was once a great man.

"I doubt you can s-sympathize. You have your family still. You didn't lose someone you were once close to." Sometimes, when she said dark things, things that weren't in her gentle manner, it disturbed Leo. It was in a moment like this he saw how hurt she truly was.

"True, but I did lose my mother at one point. I wasn't close to her, but losing a parent… It's still sad. And I lost my father in a horrendous way. Corrin herself had to kill him. That… isn't right."

"You're n-not wrong. Perhaps you've m-met more hurt than I realize." She amended.

"I think most of us have. War…isn't easy." Why things always went back to the war he would never know. It was as if it was the only thing she could think about.

Then again, being with Nohrian royalty probably only brought back unpleasant memories as he was one of the few on the frontlines. He did a lot of killing. He did a lot of harm. And, if she was truly a Hoshidan spy at one point, then she had to have known that. Did he kill people she once knew? He had no way of knowing and he doubted she did too.

Could he have possibly killed the young man she likened to him?

"I truly am sorry for all the suffering you've had," he apologized. He felt like that was all he could do, and he didn't expect to assuage her feelings.

"It's over now… Don't w-worry about it…" She looked at the chess board. "Let's play again."

So that's what they did. No conversation was had. Leo ruminated on the girl whose heart he was continuously breaking and he wondered why on earth she had stayed for so long. She could have left, meek as she was, but he knew she had a strength that even he didn't have. Something about her was so different. She did remind him of Elise, but Elise was so peppy and even proud. Kazahana was modest and sweet.

"You make me think of my little sister," he said after a few quiet moments. She had just taken out a pawn.

"Oh? What is she like?" Kazahana vaguely remembered meeting this sister at the uncomfortable dinner in Izumo, but she didn't let Leo know that for obvious reasons. She was very defensive over Corrin, this… Elise was it? Kazahana had no will to fight with this girl. How she reminded Leo of her was beyond her.

"She's very sweet and kind and asks only for peace. She used to get in trouble with Xander over that, helping people that didn't deserve that kindness. Still, she has a knack for healing too, and she was a great asset during the war."

Kazahana blushed. "I…I wasn't so much a help." She wondered if Leo would take that statement badly.

He didn't. "I'm sure you were helpful in your own ways. What made you stop being a spy?"

She sighed. A new lie would have to be made. "It's just that…I wasn't very good at being deceptive and felt that I was too…weak. So I took refuge in Nestra, where I was welcomed with open arms, s-surprisingly." It wasn't that far of a stretch. Nestra was kinder than she would have thought.

So he wasn't wrong initially. She wanted to survive and found the only way she could: on neutral ground. Though, he thought to himself, she was better at being deceptive than she gave herself credit for, but he decided he'd drop that.

"That makes sense, and honestly? It takes a lot of courage to admit when one must retreat. It isn't easy, and you'll berate yourself, but you do what you need to survive. War teaches you that." He smiled at her kindly, warmth in his eyes. She found that was a good look on him.

And of course, lost in those eyes, she said so. "You h-have l-lovely eyes," she managed to get out. Then, she realized her mistake and blushed profusely. "Oh my! I'm s-sorry!" She hid her face behind her hands. He was a prince for the gods' sake! She couldn't gush about him, to him! Even if she was a former princess, a Hoshidan and Nohrian could never mix, no matter how good of a bond the nations may have now. (They didn't really. It was all business, not pleasure.)

Leo was taken aback from the compliment, but found that he liked it. It warmed his heart, something he didn't feel often. Maybe he indeed was the cold prince of Nohr, never knowing warmth. It took a Hoshidan girl to do just that.

"Kazahana…" he let out in a soft breath. "That was… Well, I suppose I should thank you." He really didn't know what to say. Compliments weren't had very often.

"I'm so em-embarrassed," she squeaked. "You're a prince! I shouldn't be so forward."

He chuckled. "You make it sound like you have a crush on me."

She stayed silent. Did she?

Well, he was handsome, that much was for sure. He, in a weird princely way, had treated her with respect for the most part, despite his initial suspicions of her, and he offered her a place in his home, far away from the treachery that was the Nestrian rebellion. She would be safe in Castle Krakenburg. He was a skilled fighter and protected her life. Sure, he had gotten onto her for lying, but instead of executing her or punishing her in some other fashion, he just kept asking. It was pestering, sure, but she knew by now he had an inquisitive mind, and his thirst for knowledge probably outweighed his sense of decency. Takumi could be the same way, so she felt she could forgive Leo on those grounds.

Maybe, one day, she could let out the truth, the total truth. But she doubted it would be received well, no matter how kind he was now. Admitting one was a lost princess could never sit well with a current royal.

He took her silence as a yes. "You do, don't you?" He saw the apprehension in her eyes when she slid her hands down her face. There were tears.

"I…shouldn't," was all she could say. She really shouldn't. He gave her so many emotions. He made her mad, he made her feel belittled, yet he would turn around and protect her, offer to play a game with her, he was currently escorting her to what would be her new home. She couldn't figure him out and that mystery of feelings erupted into some stupid crush that she didn't really regret. She never liked a boy before.

"It's…fine." He was at a loss for words. What does one say to this sort of thing? Should he admit he felt similarly? Should he let her down? She was just a musician, a common girl, and he a prince. Their union, should there be one, would not be received well. At least, initially it wouldn't.

There was an awkward silence, as Leo felt it best not to say anything at all. This would only be messy.

"I'll take my leave," Kazahana said quietly. Leo heard the heartbreak in her voice. So she did have feelings for him after all.

She got up to leave, taking hurried steps away from him, but his longer legs allowed him to stride to her side, grabbing her arm to hold her back. "You needn't be ashamed, Kazahana," he said gently.

"Y-you're a pr-prince!" she insisted. "I have no b-business developing f-feelings for you!"

If this were the case, if this was what destiny was leading him to (was destiny truly a thing, or was he forging his own fate?), he decided he'd jump in full force.

"I like you, too."

Kazahana felt her whole world stop. It was as if time froze and put her in a spotlight, awaiting her decision. Should she accept his feelings, something wonderful could occur. But she knew the risk she was taking. King Xander couldn't possibly allow this.

And what of their journey? They still had a long way to go. Yes, it would be utter bliss, to be alone with someone she found she cared for, but what if things progressed too fast? Kazahana blushed at the implications of her thoughts. No, they couldn't do that. That would be improper and she knew he had too much honor to take hers away. Would they kiss? Maybe. Maybe he'd hold her hand. He'd listen to her play the koto, enamored with her performance.

She felt like only good things were to come of this, even if it were to end abruptly, so she nodded. This would be tricky, and she knew that somehow, she'd have to demand his respect since she felt he had little, but this couldn't be so bad. What did she have to lose?

She did feel that somehow his feelings were…shallow. He was so rude to her sometimes, so she wondered what made him like her. He did have the reputation of being cold, so maybe being around a girl he claimed was pretty and talented clouded his better judgement and perhaps this made him just as confused as her. Perhaps they were people who were so unused to the feeling.

"It feels g-good to hear you say that," she whispered. "I n-never th-thought…"

"That you'd fall for a prince? Heh, I never thought this would happen to me at all. To like someone, and to have those feelings reciprocated is something I never would have imagined what was in store for me." He kissed her hand. "It is an honor to be in your presence, Kazahana."

She felt herself swoon and he caught her. Her legs were weak and she found herself lost in his eyes again. Her eyes were still watering, but she found they were tears of happiness. Confusing happiness, but somehow this felt right. Or perhaps she was being a silly girl who just longed for the attention of a cute boy. She'd probably never figure it out.

"I'm so happy, Prince Leo."

He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her badly. But he righted her, and simply held her hand. "I am too," he responded.

It was then that the nobleman interrupted their private little world. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked slyly. He knew very well what was happening.

"Ah, Kazahana was just leaving to practice, weren't you?" Leo gave her a slight nudge. Even if the nobleman saw everything, he could pretend it never happened. He was a little embarrassed, like a young boy with his first crush. In actuality, he was a young man with his first crush. Leo was a late bloomer so it would seem.

"Ah, y-yes! J-just leaving!" Kazahana fixed her skirt and rushed past the nobleman. He chuckled once she was gone.

"I saw the tail end of that. My my, Leo, one must be delicate in the laws of love, lest disaster fall upon you." He approached Leo like a cat stalking its prey.

"What do you mean by that?" Leo asked warily.

"She's Hoshidan, obviously so. Surely the new King wouldn't allow such a dalliance?" The man chuckled wickedly.

"Xander is a kinder king than King Garon could ever hope to be," Leo said defensively. "He'd understand." Calling his father by his given name… It felt wrong, but Leo found he felt no tie to the man anymore, especially under these circumstances.

"What of the people though? Tensions run high, and Hoshidans are dirty, selfish creatures who hold onto their riches in tight fists." Leo's blood rushed to his face, causing him to anger.

"Kazahana is the kindest woman I've ever met. Saying such things about her heritage disgusts me beyond words." He didn't care if he were to be kicked out in this moment. He couldn't stand being near this man anymore. His words were hurtful and most of all wrong. Leo found that he didn't care much for racism anymore, and though his past prejudices came out once in a while, he vowed silently to correct himself, if only for Kazahana's sake.

"My my, a Hoshidan sympathizer. Oh how the royalty of Nohr has come crashing down, socializing with those savages."

"I wish not to hear of this anymore, good sir. If you don't mind, Kazahana and I will be taking our leave immediately."

The nobleman waved him off. "That suits me just fine. I won't have a Nohrian dirtied by a Hoshidan whore in my residence any longer."

Leo felt the blood rushing through his ears and he wanted nothing more than to dispose of this man with Brynhildr. But he held back his inclination and rushed away, preparing himself mentally to take on this long trek with Kazahana.

He went to her room first, knocking on the door a little too loudly. She answered it, looking worried.

"Prince Leo, what's wrong?" She saw the fury in his eyes.

"We must take our leave. It seems the nobleman wants nothing to do with us anymore." He couldn't repeat what the man said about Kazahana. He felt she was too delicate to hear such things.

Kazahana knew though, in her heart, and she even respected Leo for preserving her feelings. She didn't want to hear any of it. "Okay." She turned around to grab her things, mostly her koto.

When she finished, she followed Leo to his own room and he grabbed his things. They hurried out of the estate together, where a squire already had their mounts prepared.

The young man said nothing as Leo and Kazahana mounted. Without a goodbye, without looking back, they whipped the reigns and galloped off, sickened and hurt.