Oooooooh shit. Time to get crazy.

"That was great."

"Are you kidding? They spent that entire play making fun of you!"

"And they were spot on. And it was hilarious."

Rin laughed at his words, her cheeks hurting from smiling so much during the night. "You enjoy seeing people make fun of you?"

"It's all in good fun," he answered, clapping as the actors took their final bows on stage. The play had been a comedy depicting the first day the Kagamines arrived in Khaesea, with much of its humor centered on Len's unprincely habits. Rin was surprised that he seemed to be the one laughing the loudest out of the crowd.

She pulled her cloak to further shield her face, a habit she had fallen into during their time out, and popped a few more honey-roasted almonds into her mouth. They were selling the sweet snack at the entrance of the outdoor theater, and all of her sneaking around had made her quite hungry. She had purchased a full sack of them, more than enough to last the two the rest of the night.

He stood, stretching his arms above him. He had purchased a cloak himself once they reached the city, though he wasn't nearly as worried about it as the princess. A few townsfolk glanced in his direction, narrowing their eyes in vague recognition.

"I want to see the lanterns again," Rin told him, standing too. "Almonds?"

"Please," he answered, diggings his hands into the bag. "These things are amazing."

"I know," she agreed. "I can't believe we don't have them in the palace."

"See all of the new things you get to experience with a bit of delinquency?"

"Shut up. Let's go see the lanterns."

He laughed, offering her his arm as the two walked the steps out of the theater.

It was late into the night, but the event was still in full swing and showed no signs of dying down anytime soon. Rin wondered how little sleep she was going to get tonight, though she didn't mind one bit.

The paper lanterns hung on strings and were scattered throughout the entire village. They hung from building to building, wrapping around wooden posts in the roofs, wooden balconies, and even the top of the fountain in the main square, where they all seemed to connect in their giant webbing network. They also littered the many stands, benches, and windowsills, lighting the village in replacement of the usual torches. The two of them stood at the base of the fountain. They were close enough to feel the cool spray of the water as it fell.

"Did they do this often in Acacia Bay?" Rin asked, her eyes shining against the lights.

He nodded. "We used to set them on little wooden plants and float them down the river."

"What for?"

"It was a tradition. Been around since before my grandfather was even born. Who knows why." He recalled the memories of his home with some sadness. "We would all gather at the foot of the falls and send them off."

She looked around the square, gears turning in her head. "Maybe we can grab one," she suggested. One of the lanterns sat next to a bench lining the fountain. She lifted it gently, afraid of holding it too tightly and causing the paper to crumble, but also fearing the breeze would pick it up and take it away. She turned back to him, smiling. "Now we just need to find some wood."

His heart swelled once he realized what she was doing. It would have been some sort of a miracle if he had ever had the chance to do this again, and he had known it. But now, here he was, searching the streets for a piece of wood thin enough to float but large enough to carry the lantern without getting wet.

"Here," Rin finally said, grabbing a large piece of bark from a pile of firewood far down the street from the square. The candle inside the lantern remained lit thanks to her careful hands. Len took the bark from her, so she would not have to worry about both.

It was only a few minutes before they neared the edge of the river once more. "How do we keep it from blowing away?" She asked, looking down at the light in her hands.

Len threw the hood of his cloak down. They had left the crowds behind. "Drop some of those pebbles in the bottom. They can't be too heavy, though." He lowered to his knees, the waters close enough for them to dip their fingers in. He set the wooden boat on the dirt as Rin lowered the lantern on top of it.

The candle flame flickered but steadied its light once more.

Each of them grabbed a few pebbles from the riverbed and dropped them in the top, careful to avoid the candle.

"Last time we did this," Len began, the light from the candle illuminating his face. "Lenka put a full-sized rock, along with several handfuls of stones in her lantern and sent it off."

Rin chuckled. She was almost afraid to make too much noise next to the waters. She feared that their voices would interrupt the tranquility of the night surrounding them. "Oh no," she said softly. "How far did it make it?"

Behind them, the music and laughter from the village was distant.

"Barely off the shore," he remembered fondly. "My sisters just started laughing, but she was so upset, father had to hold her back from jumping into the river after it."

"Was she okay?"

"The servants brought her another one so she would stop crying," he told her. "And then she completely forgot about the first one. At least she learned." The bottom of the lantern was littered with tiny pebbles, just enough to keep it connected to the wood. "The shores of the river were filled with beautiful blue stones. She loved them so, I guess she wanted as many with her lantern as she could fit."

She furrowed her brow. "Blue stones?"

"They glittered like gems in the lanterns," he remembered. "I have not seen them anywhere else beyond Acacia Bay."

"I cannot imagine a blue stone."

"Perhaps I will get to show you one day."

She blushed, remaining silent.

"I think it's ready."

Rin smiled, excited. She, too, removed her hood, enjoying the breeze flowing through her hair.

Len gently picked up the lantern, setting it on the water expertly. It was caught in the current immediately, flowing down the water.

"There it goes," he said, standing to watch the light grow smaller and smaller on the horizon.

Rin stood with him, watching carefully, worried it could sink at any moment. But it didn't. The two of them stood silently as the light grew smaller and smaller before it was nothing but a mere speck of light against the dark wilderness behind it.

"I could only imagine a full kingdom of those," Rin said with wonder. She folded her hands in front of her chest, letting her imagination run with the idea.

"It's definitely a sight to see," he confirmed, his eyes glued to the light. Then, after a moment: "That felt good."

Rin beamed. "I'm glad."

"Thank you."

She waved him off. "Don't thank me. I wanted to see it as much as you did."

"But it really means a lot." He turned to her. "I mean it. There were times when I wasn't sure I would ever see it again-"

"Len!"

A familiar voice called out from behind them, causing them both to finally rip their eyes away from the little light, now far off. Kokone, Galaco, and Yuki all ran up to them.

Len furrowed his brow in surprise. "What in god's name are you doing-"

"What in god's name are you doing!" Kokone shouted back, stepping up to the two of them. "Sneaking around out here with her!"

Rin was surprised to see the girl so angry. Never before had Kokone been anything but kind to her.

Len's expression fell blank, his jaw locked in anger.

"They're looking for you," Galaco informed them from behind her older sister. "The guards."

Rin's eyes widened in terror. She had considered the consequences, but they had always seemed too far away to worry about. And now, they were here. How could she be so naive? Acknowledging that she could be caught without realizing that she most likely would be.

Her eyes fell to her shoes, panic letting itself loose in her mind.

"How did you find us?" Len finally asked, the gentleness in his voice gone.

"We saw you in the square." Of the three sisters, Yuki's voice was the most timid. "And we followed you."

"We need to get you back to the castle before the guards find you," Kokone said harshly.

"They're looking for you too, princess," Galaco offered, wishing Kokone would at least try to contain her emotions for once.

Rin shook her head, feeling tears coming to her eyes. All she wanted was one night. One night. One moment of freedom, one memory she could look back on with fondness. That was it.

Len sensed her anguish, abandoning his prideful stance and leaning towards her so that they were eye level. "Hey, hey. It's alright. We'll sneak back in through the gate and they'll never know. We'll just say we were in the ballroom the whole time, okay? They'll never know."

"What gate?" Kokone spat.

"The gate to my gardens," Rin answered softly, unable to hide the strain in her voice.

Kokone took a deep breath. If they walked in through the main doors to the palace, they would surely be caught. She hadn't even thought about how they were going to sneak the two of them back in. "Let's go, then. Right now."

Rin nodded, casting one last glance over her shoulder at the lantern floating freely down the river.

It was gone.

"You've done some stupid things, Len," Kokone ranted just above a whisper as the five of them trudged through the grass back towards Rin's gate. "But this? This tops it all."

"Stop talking, Kokone." Her insults had no impact on Len at all, but every word struck Rin like a knife, and he knew it.

"Why?" She yelled, wheeling around to face him. "Because you won't listen to me? Because you never listen to me?"

"Walk," he demanded.

She let out an angry huff of air, letting the group resume their path along the river.

At least they found us before the guards did, Rin though, keeping her head down in shame. She would not let tears fall in their presence, but once they were gone and she was left alone in her chambers, she would let all of her frustrations pour out into her pillow. It was the only thing she had to look forward to.

Nothing but the soft shuffling of grass was heard as the reached the gate.

Len pulled it open, holding it for the girls. "Go," he demanded.

Kokone went first, glaring at him as she passed. Then Galaco, and then Yuki, who was small enough to simply walk in.

Len watched Rin as she slowly prepared to slide between the gate and the wall, and he felt the sudden urge to slam it shut. Locking both of them away from this world, perhaps they could find a horse in the stables and go for a ride in the countryside. Or even abandon the idea of coming back at all. Anything to keep that look of despair from Rin's face.

But he didn't, knowing he couldn't abandon his parents, and completely aware that Khaesea would identify these actions as nothing other than kidnapping their princess. The entire kingdom would be on the hunt.

Rin slid into the gardens, avoiding his eyes. He fell in after her.

"We will return to the entrance hall alone," Kokone demanded. "So that mother and father, as well as the king and queen, can see that you were not sneaking around with the princess."

"But I was," he stated blankly.

"Do you want the king to turn us back to the road again? Do you want Lenka and Alexa to sleep on the cold hard dirt? Do you want us to scavenge berries and hunt rabbits to feed our people?"

The five of them reached the steps up to Rin's balcony. As expected, Len did not have a response.

The idea of the Kagamines being exiled because of her actions sent another shockwave on anxiety through her. She halted on the steps, one hand gripping the banister, the other covering her mouth. She resisted the sudden urge to vomit and let out an audible whimper instead.

Len stopped, looking down at her with worry. The sisters froze as well, Kokone finally realizing who was taking the worst part of her insults, but pushing away the guilt for now. She would get them home safely, and then she would feel bad. She was the first to look away from the princess and push open the doors to her chambers.

She let out a gasp of surprise.

Len bounded up the steps instinctively, briefly remembering the attack and preparing to fight, but the occupants of Rin's room could not be defeated by him alone.

Six guards stood in the room. The door to the hall was open. They all stared as Rin, Len, Kokone, Galaco, and Yuki stopped on the balcony, but their eyes were focused on the princess.

It was the first time in her life that Rin felt the primal instinct to run. But her legs were completely frozen in place.

"Princess," one of the guards said as another disappeared into the hall. "We are glad to see you safe."

Despair filled Kokone's body. They had been caught.

The guard that had disappeared from the room entered once again. None other than King Brighton himself followed, Lily close in tow. The putrid smell of alcohol filled the room upon his entrance.

Rin's father marched into the room, his face contorted in anger, walking right past the guards, the sisters, and Len. He grabbed his daughter's arm forcefully.

"What do you think you're doing?" He yelled, his voice shaking the walls.

Rin looked away, ignoring the pain in her arm from her father's grasp.

"Look at me, girl!"

Yuki shrunk away from him, afraid. Galaco and Kokone backed away with her.

"Well?" He demanded a response from Rin, not caring at all about the others in the room.

She finally found the courage to open her mouth. "I-I just wanted to see the village-"

"I told you to stay close to the guards! I told you to stay away from that boy! And what did you go an do?"

"You're hurting me," she whimpered. He was unaware in his drunken rage how tightly he was holding her arm.

"Bruno," Lily warned from behind him.

He didn't listen. "You will have guards at your door every second of every day until you leave for Casburg Bay. They will escort you to meals, which you will enjoy alone, lessons, and any other duties you may have."

"Bruno!" Lily yelled again, wincing at his continued hold on their daughter's arm.

"Quiet!" He yelled back at his wife before returning his attention to his daughter. "I didn't think I would have to treat you like a child anymore, girl!" Having nothing more to say, he threw her backwards as he finally released her arm.

She stumbled, hugging herself tightly with her head hung. Never in her entire life had her father laid a hand on her.

"And you," he continued, locking eyes with the prince, who watched the situation with helpless fury. Bruno marched up to him.

Len took a step back, not hesitating to retaliate if the king decided to grab him.

But he didn't, instead choosing to lean over him close enough that Len could see and smell nothing but the king. "If I catch you near my daughter again," he began. "You will enjoy your meals with the other prisoners in your own personal cell. Picked specially for you in the dungeons."

Len could only meet his eyes with a stone face.

"Do you understand me?" The king continued, waiting patiently for his answer. His voice was unsettlingly calm.

Len said nothing, only staring.

"I asked you a question, boy," he prodded.

To Kokone's dismay, Len opened his mouth. "If only you spoke like this to your commanders," he spat. "They might actually listen to you instead of your daughter."

The king took a sharp inhale of breath, raising his arm high to strike the boy.

"Bruno!" Another voice sounded from the doorway. This time, it was that of Ken. Kaori stood beside him, horrified. "What is the meaning of this? Why was my son not brought to us at once?"

It was only then that everyone in the room realized Yuki had slipped out of the doorway at some point, sprinting to her parents in fear. She entered once again, hiding behind her mother's skirts.

Bruno lowered his hand, turning to face them. "If you will not teach your son some respect, then I will!"

Ken glared at his friend while his wife sobbed quietly next to him. She motioned to Kokone and Galaco, who crossed the room to join them.

Something in his friend's eyes cooled Bruno's anger, but not entirely. "Out," he demanded. "Everybody out except for my daughter."

The guards did as he commanded, snapping into movement at his words. Lily was a bit more hesitant, but led Ken and Kaori out, apologizing profusely for her husband's words.

"That means you, boy," the king growled at Len's stillness.

The prince's shoulders rose and fell with his heavy breathing, stealing a glance at the princess.

"Len, please," his mother's choked sobs came from the door. Although leaving Rin was the last thing he wanted to do, he dreaded being alone with his parents even more. So he turned around, stomping onto the balcony and fleeing into Rin's gardens towards the gate.

No one tried to stop him.

The door closed, leaving Rin alone with her father, who was slowly calming himself down. He felt ashamed at the way he treated her, but she had frustrated him beyond his imaginations. He hadn't had the choice.

He took one more deep breath before speaking to her, gently this time. "I'm sorry," he said, looking at the pitiful sight of his daughter, her eyes trained on the floor and her hair hanging limply past her face. "But you have to understand where I'm coming from."

She didn't trust her voice to remain strong. So she didn't speak.

"I sent a raven to Casburg Bay," he began, Rin's gaze snapping up to him in disbelief. "I received a response yesterday."

Rin stared at him, her mouth hung open, praying he was joking.

"Queen Tohoku has agreed to wed you to her son as soon as possible."

She could not stop the tears this time. "You-You did what?!" She screamed. "How could you! I- I am not old enough-"

"They are on their way here already," he explained, trying to keep his voice steady. "They will likely be here within the fortnight."

Rin's voice trembled, along with her body. "Father, how could you! Why… why! It's too soon!"

"It is done."

"Why are you so eager to get rid of me!?" She wailed. "You must hate me! You must!"

"You think I want you leave?" He retorted, raising his voice once again.

"I can't! I won't! I'll- I'll run away! I'd rather hang myself from the rafters! I won't-"

"Don't speak nonsense."

"I won't do it!" She screamed, loud enough for the whole palace to hear. She hoped her voice rang out above the music in the ballroom, the laughter in the village. She wanted them all to hear her. "I won't!"

"Listen to me," he said, making no attempt to quiet her or even calm her down. "Rin, you are all I have."

"And you are sending me away!" Her words could barely come out between her choked sobs.

"Listen to me," he repeated, resting his hands gently on her shoulders.

She said nothing, focusing on breathing steadily in and out to calm herself. It did not work.

"I have no sons, Rin," he continued. "There are people in this kingdom who are not as kind as you would hope. And they are already talking about who will rule after me."

She listened, still fighting back sobs.

"And when they decided to move on the throne, you will be their first target. Because you are a threat to them. And I won't have it. So you must leave."

She shook her head furiously. "No, no, no. I won't. I won't leave."

"Unless you want people to worship you in your grave instead of on a throne, then you will."

The worst part of it all was that he was right. Rin had no brothers to take the throne. Even before she was sent off to rule a kingdom of strangers, she was alone in the world.

"Please, just try to see where I am coming from," he continued.

"What about Len?" She asked, sniffling.

"What about him?"

She stared at him, not uttering the words. She didn't have to.

He sighed. "What does he have to offer you, besides snide remarks and abandonment? You just saw it for yourself. He ran away like a coward."

"You demanded him to."

"He has nothing for you. And where would he take you? A cottage in the wilderness?"

That sounded much better than the fate awaiting her now.

"Besides. I promised you to Tohoku's son. A king should never go back on his word."

She had nothing more to say. Her fate was sealed.

He stood tall, taking his hands off of her shoulders. "You are tired," he commented, eager to leave the room. "It is time you get some rest." He did not wait for her response as he made his way to the door.

"Why can't I rule?" Rin asked in one final attempt to sway his choice.

He froze, the door half open, before uttering a somber laugh. "Don't be ridiculous, Rin."

He shut the door behind him, leaving Rin alone in her cold, dark chambers, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Dayum Bruno. Anger issues much?
I've been writing the last few chapters of this fic and omg it's been so much fun. There have been a lot of scenes that I was just dreading writing out and then they turned out to be so. much. fun. omg. I love this fic.

Anyway, thank you guys for reading. Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed! It's really good motivation knowing you guys are enjoying this as much as I am! :)

Thanks for reading!