The night before the date came, and Arthur was nervous. He hadn't told a soul about it, only spoke to announce the devastating news that no, he wasn't going home tomorrow, and fought back a smirk when he noticed the disappointed faces on his detractors.

Though there was still one thing. "Mark's gone, hasn't he?" Emma asked quietly over dinner, which Arthur confirmed with a small nod. A pained expression flitted over her face, which he didn't expect. Whilst Sakura reached out to comfort her, a tiny voice weaselled into his head that he wouldn't repeat the thoughts of, ever: Shouldn't she be happy that there's one less to vie with for the prince?

Perhaps it wouldn't be a thought that she would allow herself to think, even if they had been close, supposedly. Arthur's shrivelled, tiny optimistic side told him that it was a good thing, but his dominant pessimistic side could only hope that no one would take advantage of her good nature the deeper the competition went, and when people started to turn on each other.

Such thoughts must have presented themselves as a gloom over his face because Leon elbowed him. "Hey, Arthur. Did you want to actually go home or something? Your face is totally gloomy."

"No, of course not," Arthur said quickly, wiping the corners of his mouth. Excellent, another reminder of how different he was from his friends. Given the circumstances of the Deciding, they had grown close together much faster than what he'd expected, but there were still so many things that separated them that he couldn't help but feel isolated at times. Just another reminder of how he stuck out like a sore thumb.

Thankfully, Leon didn't decide to push it further and went back to his meal, though near the end of the dinner session he muttered something to Arthur. "If there's, like, anything you want to tell me, just know I'll hear you out. I'm sure Emma and Sakura'll do the same."

That comfort admittedly did take him aback. Perhaps it had been the scathing words of those not from the holding facilities, but he'd been feeling more isolated of late. It had taken him months to allow himself to befriend Kiku, yet it had only been one month in the palace and everything had moved so fast.

That wasn't to say that the friendships he'd forged hadn't meant anything, of course. Though he believed he wouldn't ever be as close to anyone friendship wise compared to with Kiku, it didn't matter – forged under such unique circumstances, he was fortunate for them to be genuine. For that reason alone, he...

Arthur reoriented himself in the direction of the Drawing Room, following him, and offered a nod to Leon who was slightly surprised at his participation. They'd stuck their necks out for him already, he should do the same not just because he felt obligated, but he wanted to. "I'd...do the same, Leon. Anytime."

He hadn't expected Leon to take him up on that promise on the morning of the date, but here they were.

"The door's closed, right?" Leon hissed, borrowing a pillow from Arthur's four-poster bed.

"Yes, I suppose so," the blond agreed, fishing out his tie, discarded from the dinner, before he sat in the chair. "Locked, like you asked."

"Good." He sighed, brushing away a lock of hair from his forehead before facing Arthur with a serious expression.

Suddenly, as abruptly as them having breakfast in his room once more, Leon placed his hands on Arthur's shoulders and shook them, with a slightly panicked look now on his face.

"You have to promise to not tell another soul about what I'm about to say," he pleaded, and the blond nodded quickly, taken aback by the intensity of his expression, so different from who he usually was. There was clearly a reason why he'd taken him aside like this, even going so far as to lock the door.

"Of course, Leon. I'll never say a word. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's just…Alfred. The prince. Whatever." Leon said, folding his arms and looking uncomfortable. "You know, the date before the Broadcast?" At Arthur's nod, he continued. "We were, like, speaking afterwards, and were thinking of going out again at some point…but at the same time, I don't feel any...anything. I don't think it's going to work out. Like, at all." he looked down at his plastic slippers.

"What makes you think that?" Arthur asked, after a silence. This wasn't supposed to happen, surely – Leon had been an exemplary candidate these six weeks. "I mean, you've been excellent in every other way, and I thought the two of you were getting along."

"We are! At least, we're totally friendly, but that's..." Leon exclaimed, his usually composed face breaking into one that suggested great frustration. "I still can't feel anything, at least not in the way a lover should. No romantic connection, no sparks, my heart doesn't pound like it should, it just all feels wrong."

"Erm, I suppose Alfred's just a little careful with his heart." Arthur stumbled, forgetting to add Alfred's affix, but Leon seemed preoccupied enough not to point it out. "He's just trying to slowly get to know all of us; you should just give him some time. You told me about the fact that you're getting along with him as friends, has that not changed your opinion at all? At least, a hope that it might blossom into something more?"

"I know that hopes are a child's toy so late into the game," Leon said, his eyebrows creasing in bitterness. "The problem isn't getting myself to tolerate his company, either. Yes, he's attractive, and he's funny and nice, but those are, like, things you could say about a friend. The Deciding won't come down to someone that you can only totally think of as a friend versus someone he genuinely loves – and we both know there are people like that already here."

Now that was different - and a lot more difficult to talk him through, knowing the confusion in his own heart.

"I just keep, like, waiting for the moment that everything clicks that changes him for me, that makes me feel so much more than 'he's nice', but it never comes," Leon seemed to becoming more frustrated by the minute. "Even if I were to force myself to, like, change, I don't even know what he'd want, so that's an utterly useless front."

Arthur thought about it for a second, and then shook his head. "Has he confided in you about it?" A weak deflection of their garden conversations, but perhaps it would help him find out a little more about their relationship.

"No, he hasn't told me what he's looking for the physical or mental department. Not in, like, words, at least." he shrugged. "I don't think he's even sent me subtle messages about it...or at least, is able to. He totally wears his heart on his sleeve, I feel."

Arthur couldn't resist snorting behind his cup of tea. "Yes, he does."

"...Though, Arthur," Leon said, elegantly wiping the corners of his mouth, "I'm totally sure he likes you. So you must be doing something right. Right?"

The blond scrunched together his thick eyebrows, reflecting on the past month or so on what he had done. Calling him an idiot during half the time they spend together…not very good. Without his intervention, he might had been arrested twice…hardly something to brag about. Kept his priceless jacket after a date, though it was by accident…even worse. Called him 'Alfred' privately so early...

"No," he mumbled, flushing despite himself. "U-Unless you think behaving taciturnly is doing something right."

Leon snorted, which gave him a sense of relief to know that his friend still had some spirit left in him.

"But seriously…do you think that my feelings are forbidden?" His tone had now turned insistent.

"Well, I won't say that they're forbidden per se. From what we learned, the history of Decidings have usually been conducted more so for filling in positions of the Primary Suit than for romance," Arthur reasoned. "It just so happened that this one filled both roles at once. I'm inclined to believe that not everyone has confessed their utter devotion, including me."

"I totally knew it," he sighed, sounding more relieved than upset. "Yet...you still see the possibility of being with him. It doesn't feel like a game to you, either, right?"

"I'm not seeing this as a game," Arthur replied, resting his chin on his palm. "Not completely sure why, but yes, I don't. I suppose I'm still daft about these sorts of things." Leon hid an amused laugh, and pretended to nod in understanding whilst stretching lazily like a cat. Arthur studied the view outside his vast windows before he spoke again.

"Even beyond my possible feelings, there's still several reasons why I have to stay here and not end my chances prematurely before I've given it time to develop. It's been six weeks. But I'm not sure what to tell you in this case, except I'm glad that you did in fact speak about it."

Leon perked up, reaching down to take a bite of his sandwich over his plush pillow. "Of course, I trust you," he said, flooding his chest with a sense of relief. "Though...what am I going to do now, Arthur?".

"Well," he said reluctantly, "If you really don't like him that way, I think you should tell him. I mean, it won't sit well with him or his advisors, but as you said, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Because of that, for his sake, I feel as if he should know."

There was a pause before Leon shook his head, much to his confusion. "What you said earlier was right, though, Arthur. I, like, can't let it end so soon."

"Why, Leon? What's keeping you here?" What do you have to fight for? Not for the monetary compensation, and you already have such an elevated rank where you could enter the lottery back at home for a form. "If you'd like to confide, that is."

"It's just that...it's not a game. I know that. At least, most of us don't see it as a game, but for those who do and want him merely for the crown, I can't sympathise with them like, at all." The words seemed to be coming much slower than they usually did with him. "Even though I don't like him romantically, and he probably doesn't like me in that way back, there's totally still that hope, right?"

"R-Right."

"It's foolish, but I, like, want someone to love me for me, not my money or my title or my wealth at some point." Leon said, slouching until his elbows rested on his knees. "Even if that means marrying poor, or my life becomes so much more different that I'd thought it would be. I can't leave when there's still that luxury of being with someone I've truly had the time to care about…not now. He may be a friend now, but things can totally change."

The other boy nodded, having found truth in his words, yet tried to get them to stop echoing in his ears. Leon's struggle was a surprise, yes, but with the competition only having just started, perhaps it would be more commonplace than they thought. He shouldn't count himself out before feelings really had time to develop, including Arthur's own...

"Leon," he said, gingerly reaching out to pat his friend's shoulder, "Just stay here as long as you need to, all right?"

After that, they continued to eat breakfast and have their usual day, with Leon going to the Drawing Room shortly before lunch and Arthur going to the post office to see if there was any word from his family. Yet something nagged at him, for the rest of the day.

Even if that means marrying poor...what in the name of the Fates does he mean? Obviously, as a member of the royalty, Alfred wasn't in want of money. And Leon himself wouldn't be anytime soon, life and social favour permitting. So why even mention that?

I suppose he's just saying it for the sake of it. Or are those not from the holding facilities really that different from us at all?

That, combined with everything else, was why Arthur had trouble focusing during lunch. Somehow, Anna had done the impossible and made wearing a turtleneck in the spring bearable, so much so that he'd wanted to wear it for today. Eating each spoonful of food with extra care, however, was not exactly his forte and he was sure he couldn't make himself eat a single bite if the sweater wasn't as dark blue as it was. A slim notepad in his pocket for possible topics about things he'd like to take out in the library...that was the only weapon in his arsenal today to handle the date with Alfred.

Another matter, that of the prince, made him acutely aware of any movement up where the three royals sat. Usually, he would have some vague idea due to Emma casually discussing it, but usually he wouldn't be paying attention and usually he wasn't scheduled be on a date, so everything was different. He'd wanted to try to catch Alfred's attention when he first walked in, yet the prince was conversing with a few other members of the Chosen on his right, and he hadn't mustered enough courage to do the same again.

The same could not be said for the other, though. Look this way, come on, pleaaaase, Alfred yelled internally, twisting his fork. I wanna smile and wink at you! Then you can smile and wink at me back!

He'd cleared out the library and finished everything that needed to be done for the Meeting that was due for the day, so he wouldn't really mind too much if the time went over. It wasn't an issue anyway, since the other boy was the only date on his schedule today, after the hectic dating schedule he'd been taking the past week. Not like he was really confident about a date in a place he barely went to, but hopefully Arthur knew what he was doing. At least, he knew what he was doing with the pumpkin soup, carefully lifting it to his mouth, not a single drop of the soup spilled, completely unfazed.

Fitting in so perfectly like that, you can't expect me to not watch.

"Alfred, what's with your bad habit of leg shaking now, hm?" Yao was chastising him, jerking him out of his thoughts. "You're not nervous about your day, are you? You told me you only had the one arrangement today, compared to the three yesterday."

"Yeah, I do, but it's still nerve wracking every time, Yao!" he wailed. Okay, maybe Arthur made him feel a distinct type of nerves, but that made the point even worse.

Matthew fought back a smug smile. "Doesn't have to manifest in the leg shaking. You know, you and your super strength. Might actually break the table like the last time you and Ivan had an argument."

"Now that was hilarious," Yao chipped in good naturedly, gesturing with his fork. "I thought they were going to attempt to wrestle each other again."

"But that stopped once you pulled out your staff! Yao, that's so mean to tease-"

"Not with that reaction, obviously!"

"Matthew! Not you too, man," Alfred wailed, though he himself was fighting back a laugh. It seemed as if the Chosen had noticed, though, as the laughter spread itself through the room. Forgetting himself, Alfred turned to look at them, and then caught Arthur's eyes watching him, his head shaking in disapproval, something in his eyes. The smile dropped from his lips for a moment, taking in the fondness in his gaze, their eyes meeting for a second too long before Arthur broke away, head ducking away in embarrassment.

He didn't know it yet, but as he felt his heartbeat speed up, that moment would sustain him for the weeks to come. The fun quickly subsided and everyone continued on eating their lunch, though Alfred had to contend with the look in his eyes all through the meal. What had it meant? Was it just friendship? Civility? Contempt? Some other concept that was in a fancy word that he didn't quite understand?

Or was it what Alfred had been hoping for so long? Okay, six weeks wasn't super long, that was fair, but this was also a Deciding. It would look terrible on him if it dragged on for ages and ages. He'd promised Yao and Matthew to ascend the throne as soon as possible, anyway, in order to both fill the roles of king and queen, and not to mention the advisors-

The one sweet thought that he'd had in his throat soured, and he coughed it back, forcing his expression back into one of laughter. He didn't think Yao had noticed as his mentor went back to his meal chuckling, and Matthew simply patted him in on the shoulder, mentioning that it was only in good fun before doing the same.

Maybe it was his focus on ignoring his sudden misery that he didn't notice Arthur quietly watching him, observing his small storm with a hint of concern.

"So, Artie? What are we gonna do today?"

Thankfully, he could at least have that little tease. "Artie...ah, I-I told you to not use that nickname, idiot," Arthur stammered, left hand tightening on the notepad, rendered flustered even before they'd gotten to the library.

After lunch, whilst everyone had filed out of the dining hall and went probably to the drawing room, Arthur had dithered until there was just the two of them in the room, as Alfred had said goodbye to Matthew and Yao when they'd left to complete more Meeting prep. Save for one camera, they were alone.

Yet he could barely help himself. Fighting to keep his composure, Alfred moved forward, closing the distance between them even more. A fierce blush spread on his cheeks. "Alfred, you're too...too close-"

"Hm hm, so that's your reaction," Alfred said in a singsong manner. Oh, but, his lips were so close...and they looked so soft and so pale pink to him, parted in a small o of shock. He could even see the chandelier lights reflect off of his long eyelashes. If Alfred leaned just a little bit forward and tilted his nose at an angle...

Noooo! I mean, no no no, what am I thinking? Oh man, that's absolutely not heroic at all, uh...if I could do that, it would be super cool. But I can't! I'm not tongue tied or anything, but...

All of a sudden, Arthur saw Alfred's cheeks turn scarlet behind his frames, before he looked away – what was with that? He hadn't seen him so embarrassed, and they were still so close together physically, to the point where he could feel the tiny caresses of Alfred's breath on his cheek. If he just moved forward just a little bit and touched his face, pulling him closer and breaking that forbidden space between them...

"We're going to the library today, not standing around in the dining room," Arthur huffed, forcibly wrenching himself out of his foolish thoughts. Oh Fates, there was a camera that he'd barely noticed. That meant that their encounter might be recorded, which made that closeness even more mortifying. "We should get going, Your Highness."

"Yeah," Alfred said, though he appeared dazed for some reason. "Yeah, let's, uh," he looked over the top of Arthur's head to see the cameras, "Sir Arthur. Follow me!"

Pausing to extend his arm to him, to which he obviously refused with a smirk, they both walked towards the library within the palace, lone cameraman following. As soon as they arrived, though, Alfred gently opened the large oak doors and gestured Arthur in first, before pausing to share a few words with the cameraman.

"Hey, buddy, can I have a moment of your time?" he whispered, cupping his mouth for secrecy once he noticed Arthur's awe at the library.

"Of course, Your Highness."

"I believe I told you about this before, but is it all right if you come back later? Say, uh," he dug into his white shirt and checked his clock, "Two to three hours? I'd prefer it if you could respect Sir Arthur's privacy, as well as mine. Also, it's the library, so it might be a little too quiet for another guy besides us, I guess. I'd really appreciate it."

The cameraman looked a little frustrated, but simply nodded and stepped backwards as Alfred closed the door to the library with a small noise.