Lucas groaned. "I was hoping that had changed by now." He muttered to himself.

Lila glanced between the two. The only difference she could tell between the two was the furrowed brow of Jonas. He seemed to be more serious. While, Lucas's face was pulled out in a pout. Another boyish expression, that enhanced Lucas's child-like side. For the expression made her want to giggle, a rare thing for her to desire to do.

Lucas glared at his cousin. "You don't need to apologize to her. It is my fault. I never told her that I had a cousin who looked exactly like me." He said stubbornly.

Jonas tore his eyes away from the beauty standing before him. Observing the glare and pout on his cousins face, he gained a nervous expression.

Indeed, his cousin had returned, twisting all his conceptions of life. Maybe, what father had said so long ago was true.

"People will fall in love with your cousin at just one glance. You must be able to cause that too." Jonas had taken that to heart, in fact he had not failed. Everyone in the palace adored him; the staff, the court, and his subjects adored him. But, this girl was completely oblivious to it. She wasn't one to let people inflict her mind with compliments and insults. In fact, at the moment, her face and eyes held no expression.

Lila felt tortured, holding back this desire to giggle was harder than she had thought. But, everyone was staring at her, it was most important that she kept up her act.

When she had met Kael and Warren she had been playing the role of a naïve girl, someone who was confident that just a smile would win. What expression would that girl use? She could use shock, a pout, or a smile. Considering, her previous character a smile would be the most fitting.

To those in the room, it seemed suddenly quiet. Jonas felt that he had done something wrong by his mere presence. But, this lady that Lucas had brought with him, intrigued him. The same way, Lucas had always intrigued him. Why was she quiet at this moment? What thoughts was she thinking? What would she do next?

Esa couldn't help but stare down at her own appearance. She wore dresses everyday, yet they had never caused such a dramatic change in her appearance. This strange lady who had accepted her true feelings, was definitely a person to be cautious around. Yet, she couldn't hate her. After all, Lucas did not seem to be aware of the girl. He was presently glaring at Jonas.

Lila cocked her head to the side, a wide blinding smile appearing on her face. She gave a soft giggle, than she put a hand on Jonas's shoulder.

"Lucas isn't happy." She said, her back facing Lucas. Three people in the room froze. Esa found that she couldn't tear her eyes from that smile. Jonas found that deep in his heart, a fear had awakened in him. Kael couldn't help but think about his mother. Her smile had been just like that. But, Lucas couldn't see the expression on her face. So, he was left with a undeniable desire to make her look at him.

The smile faded away quickly when the door opened.

"Your majesty's! Your father desires your company immediately." The messenger was a young boy of thirteen, his face was panicked.

Jonas backed away from Lila. "Yes, we're coming!" He took Esa's arm and waited for Kael to get up. Kaels face became unreadable, a mask of calm. He took one last glance at Lila then left the room.

Silence filled the room like a heavy blanket. Lucas couldn't get up the courage to look in her direction. He couldn't help but remember the soft voice and smile that had appeared on Lila's face. He wanted to see it again, but really that smile scared him. It was a rare thing, for Lucas to be truly scared of something.

Lila stared at the now closed door. "They left," She whispered. "Just like that, they walked out. They must really hate me." She murmured aloud.

Lucas found himself cursing his cousins quietly. There had only been once, where he had heard that despairing tone in Lila's voice. A voice filled with a loneliness, that made him want to embrace her.

Lucas climbed out from under the covers, slipping a loose white shirt on.

"Am I free from our agreement? Can I get out of bed?" He asked, trying to take Lila's mind off of the overwhelming emotions that had suddenly enveloped her.

Lila was slow to react, returning from her deep reverie. She looked behind her shoulder at him. A gentle smile on her face. "Let me check your temperature." She said, approaching the bed.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "I didn't know you cared so much." He teased, sitting up straighter.

Lila's smile twitched. "Don't be silly. I just don't want to have to drag you up a hill again." She said raising a hand to his forehead.

Lucas closed his eyes for a brief second. Her hand, had relaxed him. He had been agitated, even upset, but yet she had fixed him right up. He gave a long sigh, then opened his eyes.

"Once I thought you were heartless, but, in truth you really do care for others. Someone who people call selfish, but the person is actually, very sensitive to the feelings of others. Ignoring your own feelings. I admire that about you." He said softly.

Lila froze. His words seemed to trigger something in her. She couldn't move away, and she felt like an empty shell. Her eyes went blank, a lost look. She stared at him, tears slowly falling down her face.

Lucas cursed himself. "Was it something I said?" He asked her softly.

Lila blinked trying to stop the traitorous expression. It was a failed attempt. Her face took on a blush. "They won't stop. They won't stop." She murmured, looking down at the floor.

Lucas felt powerless. Why had she reacted that way? He had complimented her, shouldn't she be smiling? He couldn't say anything, because he had no idea what she was thinking.

Lucas got up on his knee, so that he was looking down at her. With his hand he lifted her chin up. Lila's eyes opened, an awkward blush. Lucas knew that he had to be careful. He gave a gentle smile.

"Just now, you were thinking about the pain of being alone? Weren't you?" He said softly.

Lila stared at him. He was right, she had been thinking about that sort of thing. How she always left people, just because she didn't want to be alone.

She left people in the dust, so that they would never have a chance to leave her. It saddened her when she had to leave, but yet, she also felt like the world was fair. That pain wasn't the only feeling that came with being alone. With solitude came a sense of control.

She couldn't speak, her throat did not have the power to produce sound, like a gag had been stuffed down her throat. Oh, how she wanted to speak. To tell him, the thoughts the words he had just spoken, troubled her.

Lucas gave her an encouraging smile. "You act like you don't care. But, you do care. You care so much that with each parting, something inside you churns." He whispered softly. He too, was having trouble with his throat. It had closed up.

A sly pleased smile flashed across his face. He had just had a new experience. The feeling of a throat, closed with emotion. Strangely, he was pleased by this strange emotion.

New things always seemed to happen to him around her. Especially when it came to his emotions. Before he had met her, he had never been jealous. But, suddenly he saw every man as a potential threat.

His understanding of people had been turned upside down. His plans had been pulled to a complete stop. He had run away, with the plan to never return to the life of noble. But, then he had met her.

He had been caught in the overwhelming vice of freedom. He had escaped an unfeeling mother, a palace with unreasonable rules, the pressure of supporting thousands of people. That he had never met. Before that day that seemed long ago, he had been addicted with freedom. Then, while he was lolling around, a noble family had discovered him. He had stayed there, avoided the Lady Ferina's daughter, and gone for a walk…

"Where are you going, Milord?" The guard at the front door asked.

"Out." He had replied with a grin. The guard's eyes had narrowed.

"The Lady Ferina is waiting for you in the dining hall."

Lucas had laughed and walked out of the door with no reply.

Lucas winced to think of the million rude things he had done. But, then he hadn't cared what anyone had thought about him.

It had been a dark night. The streets were silent except for the yowling of cats in the alleys. Lucas had walked, far away from the large fortress.

His appetite had brought him to stand in the orchard behind a large inn. The sound of laughter had made him glance up.

The smell of baking making his stomach rumble. The window had opened and a girl was standing in front of it, placing a pie on the windowsill.

"We have a daring one out there." She said aloud. Her voice had been the first thing to strike him as fascinating. It was like a musical cling that even though it was quiet came out loud and clear.

A slightly familiar voice answered her question. "Good. Tonight was getting dull."

The girl had laughed in reply. "I think I'm going to give him, onion dessert and…"

"Why not the Pepper roll?"

"He's a traveler he's bound to have had that one. I'm going to make up a new recipe." Her voice came out eager and excited.

Lucas had suddenly found himself standing in the lobby of the inn. Maids with platters of steaming food entered and exited through the large wooden door behind the staircase.

Lucas was able to pick up bits of conversation. From what he heard, the people were looking forward to the reaction of the old bulldog man, who had challenged the main chef. Which apparently, the chef was a real, beauty.

"There is an open seat over there." The voice belonged to a dimpled woman with rouge smeared cheeks. He could tell immediately that the woman was staring at him.

Lucas gave a grin and took a seat. The woman was called to another table and a sudden silence befell the lobby. Lucas became aware of a new fragrance. It was like the door had just been opened and the wind was let in.

A skirt of light gray came into his sight. Bringing with it, that teasing smell. Lucas found himself wrought with an unnerving desire to look up. The skirt had stopped right in front of him.

"Calm down." The musical voice said softly. Then the swish of the skirt continued past him. Lucas took that moment to look up. A unique color of hair, shimmered in the dim light. He remembered watching the girl, being fascinated with her sly smile and her eyes. Especially her blue- green eyes, which held such a deep energy. When the man he had grabbed her arm she had reacted with control.

Lucas, had suddenly become angry. He had wanted to get out of his seat and attack the old bulldog. He raised his hand and a maid had attended him. "I'd like to give my thanks to the chef." He said with a grin.

The maid had frowned. "The chef is not available." She said stiffly.

Lucas had realized the tone of jealousy in the voice. In response he had given the maid one of his best smiles. "Oh, why is that? Busy with more orders?" He said, lifting the glass of water to his lips. Never breaking eye contact with the maid.

The maid's mouth dropped open and her face turned red. "She-He doesn't care to be thanked. She, no, I mean; he is only glad to serve others." She stuttered, her hands twitching nervously.

Lucas leaned forward and using his finger beckoned her to come closer. He slipped a gold coin into her finger. "Can you make an exception for me?" He said softly.

The maid fell for it. She gave a satisfied smirk and backed away from the table.

"Alright, but I got work to do now." The musical voice sounded and the girl stormed past him.

Lucas got up and returned to the orchard. There outside the window, he watched as the calm mask of the girl slipped. Rage and tears streamed down the girls face, as she attacked something at her feet.

A spectacle that Lucas, was not the cause of. There had been countless times, where Lucas had watched the plump, red-faced chef curse under his breath after having a bucket of water dumped on him. An normal prank, but now in front of him, was a flustered girl. Not to mention, one that really had no reason to be mad. So, he laughed, when the dough was suddenly flung at the window.

Then her eyes had met his. Her expression had taken him completely by surprise. The calculating look on her face, emanated a confidence that Lucas had never come across before. An aura seemed to surround her, and it seemed to isolate her from every other person Lucas had ever seen.

Then she had given a cold smile, and Lucas felt his heart stop. It was right after that, where he spent any free time watching her.

It had only been by luck that he had found her in that dark glade, crying. There were no words to explain the joy he had felt when she had told him to stay.

Lila jerked away. "Why? Why do you understand me so well?" She asked him, through the unstoppable tears.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I'm sorry it took me so long to get this one up. I had placed it on an old laptop and that laptop locked it up and couldn't find it. But, here it is, ending with a cliff hanger. You get to hear Lucas's story. Although, it is kind of wimpy for Lila to break down crying. But, give her a break... she's not the crying type.

Remember you can make a difference in this world.

You rock socks!

-Lightzing ^o^

(p.s- be aware, it might be a long wait for the next chapter! sorry)