Andrea pulled away from the peck and blushed deep red. Matthieu stared at her in surprise, face colored the same as hers.

Andy looked and stepped away shyly, "Um, s-sorry about that. It was foolish of me. I mean, if you wished to actually court me, you would."

"Andy-" Matt tried.

"We make very good friends as well." She continued.

"Andy-" He took a step toward her.

"And that probably ruined it." The Lady concluded and gave him a pleading smile, "So, can we pretend that never happened?"

"Andrea, I do not want to pretend it did not happen." The Ace stated, "In fact, I w-would like to, um, court you… For real… I-if that is alright by you?"

"Pardon?" She blinked.

"May I court you?" He asked.

She looked at him in disbelief for a moment then nodded.

Matt smiled and kissed her hand, "Thank you, Andy."

[|]

The rest of the day was a blur of noises and voices that melted into the next morning. G-ds, Alfred was exhausted even though he'd just woken. He stretched and yawned largely before rubbing his still sightless eyes. Al sighed as he recalled all of the healers stating that there was no way for his sight to return. But at least they had given him permission to get out of bed as long as he used some staff or something.

Alfred tilted his head upon hearing the sound of sniffling near where he remember the window was. He slowly got out of bed, one hand upon it as the other stretched out while he walked toward the person in his room.

A couple of minutes later, Al's hand collided with someone's shoulder. The sniffling stopped with a small gasp. Alfred managed to find the person's face, felt wet cheeks and frowned, "Don't cry. It's okay."

"I wasn-" Arthur cut off by Alfred covering his eyebrows.

"So it is you, Arthur!" Al beamed.

"You bloody git!" The Kirkland slapped the Prince's shoulder from the offense.

"Whaaaaaat? Your eyebrows are the easiest way to tell it is you, they are so big!" Alfred laughed as he got hit again, "Hey, I didn't say that they make you ugly, because they don't. They fit you very well."

A moment of silence passed between the young men.

"Bet you're blushing." Al smirked and gave a wink.

"Go be eaten by a dragon." Arthur growled.

"So, you are blushing."

"Would you shut up?"

"Nope, Art, you'd get too bored if I didn't piss you off."

"You… you don't piss me off all the time, you know."

"Really? I'm pretty obnoxious."

"Yes, really, Alfred." Arthur whispered.

Al began drying his Princess's tears, "I see. So… May I inquire why you were crying?"

A tense silence filled the room. The Prince gently cleaned the Princess's tears only to find new ones. Alfred frowned in concern.

"You don't have to answer me." Al murmured.

"I am the most likely cause of your blindness." Arthur sniffed.

"No, no, don't blame yourself for this. It was in no way your fault, Art."

"But it is. If I had not cast that stupid spell that made you black out, this probably never-"

"Arthur." Alfred silenced the older man, "None of this is your fault. I have never and will never blame you for any of this as it was not ever your fault. Please, do me a favor and stop blaming yourself. Please, Arthur."

The Princess nodded and sniffled some more. Tears were still running down Arthur's face. Alfred held out his arms in offer. Arthur uncharacteristically stood up and into Alfred's hug. The Prince hoped the warmth of his embrace would comfort his friend and ruling partner.

[|]

Matthieu fidgeted with his hands as he searched for Gilbert. He had to apologize because the guilt was eating at him. Matt really wished he had not lost his control so. He spotted Ludwig and went over to the older man, "Prince Ludwig, I apologize for interrupting but I was wondering if you knew where Minstrel Gilbert is."

"I do, he's in the Armory. Has he done something?" The Crown Prince asked.

The Ace gave a small smile, "No, I just wished to discuss some cultural information with him since he's gone to places I have not."

"I am glad he's not caused you any trouble." Prince Ludwig nodded.

"Indeed. Please pardon me." Ace Matthieu gave a small bow and headed toward the Armory, wondering why he had lied.

It took Matt roughly twenty minutes to find the Armory as he'd never been there before and he did not know the Hearts' castle grounds well. He peeked into the room, seeing Gilbert polishing a piece of armor. Matthieu knocked lightly on the door way. The Ace was positive he'd done it too quietly until the Minstrel looked up.

"Oh, hey, Vögelchen, need something?" Gilbert asked.

"I, um, I wanted to apologize. For slapping you, I mean." Matthieu explained.

Gil shrugged, "No big, not like I didn't deserve it for pressing you like that."

Matt frowned at the albino. Gilbert chuckled, looking down at the piece of metal he was polishing, "Vhat? Don't get it?"

"Not really, no." Matthieu replied.

"You vere and probably still are very distressed over your bruder's state and I pushed you vhen you vere already at your limits. I deserved that slap." The Minstrel commented.

"I am still sorry about it." The Ace said.

"I forgive you, Matthieu." Gil said softly.

"Um, okay…" Matt frowned.

"However, I von't ever forgive you if you dare hurt Andy." Gilbert's expression was completely serious.

"I… How did you find out? We began courting today." Matthieu stared at him in confusion.

"This castle's valls have ears everywhere." Gil glared at the one in front of him. Matt stared at him, brows furrowed. The Bard shrugged, "How else vould most of us know about Alfred and Kiku's little session of, um, let's say, er, youthful stupidity…"

"Oh g-ds, please don't mention that to him. He's quite embarrassed about it." The Ace blurted.

Gil laughed, "Don't vorry, I von't say anything. Also, I von't be here to tease him about it if I vanted to."

"Pardon? You're leaving?" Matt asked.

"Ja, I'm going to the Clubs' vith one of the Traveling Lords." Gilbert smiled.

"Oh, I see, well, then safe travels to you." Matthieu said.

"Danke." The albino packed the piece of polished armor into the bag beside him. At that moment, a young man both of the teens' elder walked around a corner of the Armory. Gilbert pointed to the man, "Und that'd be the Traveling Lord I'll be going to the clubs vith. Lord Friedrich."

Lord Friedrich looked surprised at being introduced for a moment before offering to shake Matthieu's hand, "Ace of Spades I presume?"

"Yes, Lord Friedrich. A pleasure to meet you." The Ace shook the hand. Except, the second their hands touched, Matthieu was shoved into a vision. When the hand was removed, he was slammed back into reality, the new information reeling in his brain.

"An honor to meet you." The Lord smiled, "I hear you've started courting Lady Andrea Woods?"

"Um, yes, I have." Matthieu sent the Minstrel a confused look.

"Told you the valls have ears." The Bard smirked, "Anyways, I am all packed, Fritz."

"Very vell, I need only to get my sword from my room and then ve vill go, Minstrel." Lord Friedrich said.

"Then ve should." Gilbert said, standing.

"Indeed. It vas nice to meet you, Ace Matthieu." The Lord bowed his head in respect before walking out of the room.

"See you later, Vögelchen." Gilbert smiled, grabbing up his pack.

"Come along, Gilbert." Lord Friedrich called.

Gil colored a light pink, jogging from the room, "I'm right behind you, Fritz."

[|]

"Oh, Flying Mint Bunny!" Arthur quickly sat up on his bed, "Hello, how are you doing?"

"I am well, Arthur. You appear better." Mint replied gently.

The young man blushed lightly, "Only a bit, Alfred seems to be adjusting quickly to being blind."

"Good, if he couldn't… Well, it is good that he is adjusting." She landed in Arthur's lap.

"He doesn't seem bothered by my being his Queen, either." The Princess murmured with a small smile. Mint watched him quietly. He pet her awhile before yawning.

She fluttered off his lap, "You should sleep, Arthur."

"Alright." He nodded, laying down and rubbing his eyes, "Hey Mint?"

"Yes, Arthur?" She asked.

"Will you visit tomorrow?" Arthur inquired.

Mint smiled, "Absolutely."

"Good, I've missed you."

"I've missed you as well."

"Night."

"Sweet dreams." Flying Mint Bunny said.

She waited patiently until the young man was fast asleep before she stretched. And stretched, her limbs shifting and growing. Her paws transformed to be longer, clawed and her toes separated. Mint's snout elongated, her nose becoming more reptilian and her teeth sharpened as they grew with her mouth. Her ears hid themselves against her skull as a set of horns grew. The creature's fur wove together to form scales that appeared soft. The tiny tail stretched to balance out the rest of her body and spines covered her from head to tail. Her wings did no more than grow to proportion for her.

Mint huffed in annoyance as she paced silently next to Arthur's bed. Damn that Alfred. The boy was going to cause Arthur's death. Stupid child. In all her years protecting Kirklands, she had never seen such a terrible matching. Arthur did nothing to help the situation. Mint almost swore he was falling for the idiot dubbed Prince.

The dragoness stopped in her steps. Oh, that was a good idea. A toothy smile pulled apart her lips. She could show Arthur just how bad and foolish that Alfred was. Maybe then he'd realize how bad he was about to destroy all his hard work. She walked over to a mirror and murmured mischievously, "Let's get started, shall we?"