A link had bonded them, one to the other.

Even as children, Nuada could sense his feelings toward his twin sister - something more than a brotherly love. Most people were under the delusion that the reason why they were so close, closer than any other siblings, was only because of their link. However, maybe it was out of their relationship, maybe it was out of their status, maybe it was out of something else, he couldn't display it too obvious outside due to all the pressures. Instead there was nothing he could do but resign the affection to ferment unceasingly, and gradually integrated into the blood as time ran by…

As he grew more, understood more, it became clearer, he knew what he wanted, the way he loved her. He could express more as maturity increased with his age and affections. He thought that she understood, she was another half of his soul, after all.

Without a doubt, she sensed his strong amorous emotions both from physical and mental connections. But she never dig into it, even almost "purposely" avoided it when it came to the thoughts. There were moments, when they were very close to a particular frame of mind, although infinite close but also infinite apart.

The Prince went straight into training after they returned from the seaside, the exercise that could possibly give him vent to his dander and pain.

The Princess, who slowly walked on the aisle, closed her arms tightly around her own body, coldness kept rising from her backbone, seemed like it was going to freeze her blood. Dim lights casted through from the corner, a strong stifled sorrow overcame her, left her in a loss of sense of belonging. That was one of the time that he disclosed his pain to the others, the guiltiness inside tortured her, she wanted to get away, from his dismal eyes. She knew that she had hurt him somehow, deeply.

Her pale hand reached out for the cold doorknob as she had came to her chamber.

Oh, brother… She whispered to herself in her heart while she stood on the balcony, the cold, gloomy moon light kissed her face quietly, bathed her in loneliness.

She realized his changes before anyone else did. Which left her in a slight astonishment, that his possessive instinct for her seemed to alleviate. He acted just like a "normal" brother, the Princess got less touch from the Prince. There were less talk, even none when they passed each other in the castle, as if their intimate relationship gradually was falling apart… This condition worried her and tortured her also by how deep she seemed to hurt him.

The summer ball arrived with heat, the nobles and aristocrats in the ballroom were all in animated conversations. Except for Princess Nuala of Bethmoora, who stood quietly beside her father, head lowered, and listened to his conversations with the lords, only her mind at somewhere else. Before the ball was officially began, the Prince of Bethmoora's whereabouts remained a mystery, although this might not be a perfect decent thing to do, however the King already seemed to be used to it.

An unnoticeable form who remained in the shades watched the otherworldly, fragile shape who stood by the King, and had her back pointing Nuada, her beauty seemed so unreal, as if she didn't belong to this inefficient world.

The Prince looked at her silently.

Nuala… perhaps you resent, owing to the selfishness I own leads to the thought, of locking you into a world with just the two of us. No matter how, there is no retrieving, I am ready to deprave. Even if til the end, all these are nothing but an illusion. Will you ever know, sister…?

Nuala looked back and searched the room while she sensed Nuada's presence. Her gaze fell upon the figure by the side entrance of the ballroom, who looked at her also. His expressions were hard to tell, for the half of his faced was hidden in darkness. He was in black suits, nothing embellished his hair, still it looked perfect and proper. Her brain was paralyzed before a dismal smile slowly appeared on his pale face, he turned and walked away.

Hold on…

Nuala raised her gown and started to run towards him, but he disappeared in the darkness before she reached the spot. She looked into the dark, empty corridor, and slowly slid down against the wall, she curled up her body as tears soaked her gown. The sum of all her happiness for all these decades were not a patch to the desolation that exuded from inside at the moment he turned around and left, as if someone had digged a hole on her heart, with the cold wind in winter blew through. Yet there was nothing she could do, to fill up this hole.

"Your highness, are you alright?" one of the younger maids came forth and asked the Princess as she sensed her unusual, Nuala replied nothing as an older maid gently pulled the young maid's arm to remind her place. Then they saw the Princess stood up and walked away with glazed eyes, although they all worried about her, however their feelings told them that it was something the Princess had to deal with by herself.

Almost near the end of the ball while Nuala wanted to take some fresh air, she noticed the back of a man that she had ever loved so much, the slightly lonely figure who stood on the big balcony outside the ballroom, where they had been so close before, where contained memories.

She emerged into the moonlight and approached him, wrapped her arms around his waist and gently pressed her face against his back. Clearly felt his temperature through the thin shirt that he wore, and his soft, smooth hair brushed against her cheek. Nuada felt his heart lightened, his burden grew more bearable and he even allowed himself the briefest of smiles when a familiar voice came from the shadow behind him: " I'm sorry, brother." she began finally, "You are, and will always be the first in my heart, it is unalterable."

Nuada's body stiffened, he didn't say a thing. She had no reason to apologize, she didn't do anything wrong. It almost felt like he was angry at her, but he wasn't. He was only trying so hard to give her less burden since...she rejected him. But it didn't assuage her pressure, instead she wished that everything could go back to how it once was. What could this possibly mean…?

He slowly turned his head to find Nuala as she released him, who was willowy, hauntingly beautiful - and his identical match. The light put the facial scar, a match to his own, into focus, which he thought was what made her uniquely attractive.

Their eyes met for a beat, Nuala smiled softly and turned around to leave for the time to let him adjust. In a fraction of moment, fluster quickly rushed through Nuada's mind when he almost unconsciously grabbed Nuala's arm and pulled her hard with cursory. She then slammed into him, he enveloped her in his arm and buried his head into her neck.

Nuala closed her eyes, the hand that set at his pecs felt his constant heartbeat while the other hand patted his back gently. Although without knowing when will the wound that seemed to cure completely dehisce again, however, this was the moment that would make both of them the safest.

No one noticed the pair of eyes with wrath in the shades. The voluptuous shape that stood there behind the luxurious curtains watched the royal twins who embraced each other so tightly on the balcony through the glass, who looked more like lovers instead of siblings. She finally decided to turn back, walked away with the anger, and jealousy that trembled her body.

Author's Notes:

This chapter is so hard, especially the prince's thoughts are particularly hard to carry out, I pushed so hard for it not to sound so hypocritical, don't know if I succeeded or no but...I think that'll be the best of my ability (covering my face right now)