I'd like to thank all of you who didn't give up on this story. You are great and this is for you!
At first, Yugi's heart froze.
Late, late for what? Did Mahad die? Oh gods, no, have something happened to Serenity? To Anzu?
But before Yugi could work himself into full-blown panic, Mai grinned.
"You are so late that everyone else is asleep. No food for you." Yugi released breath he wasn't aware he was holding.
"I assume that apart from that everything is well?" The Prince asked, a smirk present on his face, distracting enough to overlook how tired he still looked. But Mai was an old friend and she wasn't fooled.
"Better than whatever you all been up to, your Majesty. You've looked more handsome when you left."
"And here I thought you preferred me beaten up and battered." The prince answered with an easy smile and Yugi tried his best not to read too much into that. He failed. Was Mai loyal to the prince because she was in love with him? It seemed unlikely and honestly, the thought had never entered his mind before but now… No everything was confusing.
Gods, he wanted to see Anzu. But he assumed she wouldn't want to be wakened in the middle of the night. Not again, with soldiers entering her house. He was suddenly grateful that the duke's men were staying outside of the town. This house had too much history with soldiers invading it.
They entered as quietly as they could, ignoring for the time being their hunger. They could wait a little longer and as far as Yugi was concerned, sleep looked like a better option now.
He couldn't think too much when he slept. Before he went upstairs, he heard Mai giving the prince a silent report on what they were doing while the prince's party was away. He didn't hear much, but he heard a word 'plan'. Maybe the Prince would remember that Yugi was supposed to be his advisor and would share the plan with him in the morning. Maybe. But then again, Mahad was here and he was the main advisor, Yugi was just a stand-in. Maybe he was just a substitute for Mahad, maybe the Prince and Mahad…
Oh, he was going mad.
Sleep, sleep was a very good option.
Provided, of course, that one was able to sleep.
/
Anzu should have known that it was too easy. When she woke up to the sight of Yugi grinning at her from beside her bed she was so happy that everything she could possibly worry about, skipped her mind.
She hugged him as strongly as she could without hurting him and just held him in silence, not asking how his mission went. It didn't matter. He was here, he was with her, alive and unharmed, and it was all that she cared about. He seemed as happy to be back home as she was to welcome him there. The two of them went down to the breakfast already made and Mai describing something dramatically to Mahad over the omlettes. She was having fun and Mahad was amused and Anzu felt strangely at home. Yugi was with her, there were people arguing in the kitchen and no one was dead, no one was sad. And they were ready, they were finally ready.
When Anzu and Yugi joined the other two and sat at the table, Anzu didn't even care about the mission Yugi just returned from. He returned and frankly, listening to the story could wait. Maybe she was somehow afraid of what she might hear. Maybe something in Yugi's expression warned her that she would not like whatever he had to tell. So she waited. She poured him tea and watched him praise it, as if he had not drank it in a while. He probably hadn't. The next person to stumble into the dining room was Mana, aided by Serenity. Usually it should be other way around, but Mana looked far less aware of her surroundings than Serenity did.
"I am the hero. We all are. We should be allowed to sleep as long as we want." Mana complained as Serenity lowered her on a chair and chuckled.
"I didn't wake you." Anzu defended, amused. It was good to have Mana back, the house was too silent without her, though Mai tried to emit same kind of energy and enthusiasm Mana usually showed.
"No, the Prince did. Forget everything I said about him, he is evil and should not be trusted." She muttered darkly. The Prince awake at this hour, with sun still shining? That was unheard of.
"And where is he now?" That was Joey asking, sounding as tired as Mana, though slightly more cheerful. He glanced at Serenity with fondness, but not longing, so Anzu assumed they had their share of greetings already. She looked at Yugi who smiled at her. Oh, gods, it was so good to have them back. The breakfast was a pleasant affair, though as it was nearing to an end, it started to worry her that no one was saying anything. Even Timaeus who joined them last and seemed to be in a fairly good mood, was unusually silent. As if no one wanted to tell them what exactly happened. They were relaxed, so it was unlikely that they failed and yet…
"I think it is time for us to learn what you were up to. You were gone for some time. Reports came and went and you were not here to read them, we had to act in your stead. So I propose a deal. You tell us what you did and then we will return the favour. Whose story is better is excused from washing up duty." Thank gods for Mai and her energy. Everyone present simply nodded, grateful that the tension would stop. The air was filled with everything they weren't saying to sustain the cheerful atmosphere of homecoming and it seemed that Anzu was not the only one fed up with it. Maybe she would learn why Yugi appeared… Distracted.
" We accept the proposal. Ladies first." Timaeus answered and Mai rolled her eyes at him.
"I don't think so. You were gone and risked your lives, entertain us."
"Seconded." Mahad added and Serenity echoed immediately after.
Joey sighed tiredly.
"Fine. I would prefer to forget everything, to be quite honest, so I am pleading oath of silence. I don't want to be the one to tell the story. It's too glorious for my tongue anyway." He added with a smile obviously directed at Mai.
"Mana?" Mahad prompted and the girl blushed slightly. And then, she started talking…
/
Yugi listened to the story with some kind of detachment. He knew it already and frankly, it wasn't as perplexing as what Mana was not telling. She had no idea of what Timaeus told Yugi, of what he asked him to do. She didn't know what happened between Yugi and the prince either and all that was left was almost a cheerful story of unlikely alliances and Yugi's bravery. Anzu made outraged and surprised noises in few places, squeezing Yugi's hand tightly under the table, as if reassure herself that after all that she was hearing, he was still here.
He was, but he wasn't the same as he was before, that was for sure. It all seemed unreal, and suddenly the dream, that strange dream of darkness came back to his mind. Who Yugi actually was?
He wasn't a genius, though Mana called him that. He wasn't a good person, though Timaeus believed he was. He wasn't Anzu's little brother anymore, a fact that started to be obvious even to Anzu as she listened to what happened in the Maze City. He wasn't the prince's advisor anymore. Then who? He was well aware that he was doing it again. Defining himself by whom he was with, by his relationships to other people. He always considered himself to be someone's something. He was Anzu's brother, Joey's friend. Mother's son. Then, he was a companion. To Mana, to Mai. Then, he was a trusted friend to the Prince. And then, the borders got mudded and he no longer had any idea.
He was just Yugi.
Simply Yugi, though at the moment, he didn't know what that meant. But he was left by himself, despite many relationships to people that were in the room, he was no longer defined by them. He couldn't piece himself together from what they thought about him because he was aware that they didn't know everything. They probably never will. He was the only one who knew the whole story, who would ever know what was going on in his head. And though he would always be able to count on them, on his friends, he was something else now. He didn't know whether he should thank the prince or curse him for it. He didn't notice when Mana stopped talking or when Anzu threw her arms around him, but he noticed the tears that were now trickling down his sister's face.
"Hey, it's alright." He managed. Hugging her as much as he could, despite his sore muscles.
"Oh, Yugi." Somehow it conveyed everything. That she was worried. That she was proud. That she was angry at him for risking his life and that she was so happy that he succeeded. That she loved him, even though she too, had no idea who he was anymore.
"What about you? You said you were busy as well?" Joey prompted and the moment passed. Anzu let go off Yugi and sat back in her seat, her eyes already dry. She was shaken by what had happened to them, but she wouldn't dwell on it anymore. She too, had changed during his absence, Yugi realized.
"Yes. We got very promising reports from both Ryou and Marik. We decided to prepare ourselves for another part of the plan." Mai replied, a satisfied smirk on her face betraying her actual excitement.
"I wasn't aware there was another plan in motion?" Timaeus hesitated, looking at Mahad, who simply shrugged.
"Oh, it came to life while you were absent. Crawford is holding a ball in his palace and apparently, no one from the royal family is invited."
"Nothing suspicious here, he is just a provincional lord…"
"Yes, but some people from the royal council have been invited. No one admits it out loud and the list of guests is not a public knowledge, but Ryou has reasons to suspect that Crawford may no longer be loyal to the king. Or at least, wants to consider not being loyal." Mai replied.
"It might be a ploy." Mana pointed out.
"Or a great occasion we cannot pass. We must consider our options carefully." Mahad answered and Mana fell silent.
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, as you know, I've been keeping touch with Mr. Arkana's mistresses, just in case some of them would wonder why he is no longer writing…" That got Yugi's attention. Judging from Anzu's face, it was news to her as well. Of course, how could they forget? With so many mistresses running around, it was too much of a good luck that not even one wondered what happened, not popped up for a visit. They were both so drunk on their newfound freedom that they forgot about obvious dangers. Thank gods for Mai.
"Madame Wong was very grateful for all the gifts I brought her as compensation for her loss of a potential husband, we have an understanding. " Here, Mai winked. Yugi was now assured that he wasn't wrong when he thought that Madame Wong was not exactly fooled by Arkana's manners and wealth. She got over his death pretty quickly. Unless, of course, Mai fed her some different kind of lie, but it didn't seem likely. Maybe she just omitted how exactly he died.
"She was one of the invited ladies and wrote Lord Crawford a letter in which she inquired if she could bring her young relatives with her. She delicately complained that her sister-in-law came from over the seas with her daughters and it would be a shame not to attend the ball but she would not dare to leave them alone. Lord Crawford extended the invitation."
"That's why you smiled when you saw Cinderella!" Anzu exclaimed and Mai gave her a smile.
"Indeed. It gave me the idea. Crawford hasn't ever seen any of us, aside from Mana, so we should be able to go there unnoticed. If he is really plotting something, we might get further intel." The table fell silent and Yugi had a feeling he wasn't the only one that found something lacking in this plan. It wasn't that he doubted Serenity or Anzu's skills of persuasion, but if he understood correctly, the only person that could potentially sway him was the prince himself. He had a deep regard for the prince's strategist mind and… Frankly, Yugi was sure that it all would end up in a game between the prince and Lord Crawford, that just like the duke, he could be convinced by the mere majesty of the prince. To do it by plotting and women wiles? It sounded… Unfitting. Or maybe he was too caught up in the scheming, in prince's mind games and stopped being able to see the bigger picture. Oh, if only the prince was here. Maybe Yugi no longer needed his guidance to define himself, but he would appreciate it to help him make sense of everything that was going on.
"Why is Lord Crawford so crucial?" He asked, an unusual force in his tone.
"I am aware that he is the Lord of the North, but we could have easily leave him alone until every other region was under our influence. Or the Prince could just crown himself and demand loyalty. And yet, we are all concerned on both the duke and now Crawford. Why?"
"Yeah, thank you. Yugi is asking the real questions here. What is so important about them?"
"That is an easy question, Yugi. I rather thought you have already figured out the answer." Came the voice from the kitchen door. As everyone turned towards the door, they saw the Prince standing there with a very awkward looking Duke. If Mahad or anyone else was surprised to see him, they didn't show it and Yugi was taken aback with how young and unsure the Duke now looked. He was very brave too, if he decided to trust the Prince and come here without his troops, to the house he knew hid the Prince's met. And yet, here he was.
"This is Otogi, Duke of Devlin. Since we are having a war council, I assumed our new ally would want to be included. After all, we are trying to trust each other." Here, Yugi was sure that the Prince looked at him on purpose. What was it, however, Yugi wasn't sure. To reassure him that the Prince was still to be trusted? That he trusted Yugi? That he thought Yugi was right in saving the Duke's life?
The Duke was now introducing himself to everyone and though the rest seemed wary, they replied in a kind. When he got to Yugi, he even smiled weakly. Then, he finally sat down next to Serenity and relaxed a little, as if sure that no harm could come to him as long as he sat next to a blind girl.
"To answer Yugi's question – because they were the only ones that had power and skills to stop us. Two greatest minds in the kingdom turning against us, that would be something even the bravest troops like would not be able to handle. Even if we won and took the capital and the throne, they would be still free to take it back and I am quite sure they would do it." Yugi glanced at the Duke and saw that despite his hatred towards the prince, a hatred that was well-founded and strong, he basked in the compliments. He wanted his rival to respect him and Yugi was once again hit with realization that this was how the Prince earned another ally. It was a manipulation and it turned out that it was successful.
"Besides, I was always sure that there was always a slight chance that they might want to join us. They are both intelligent people who care about their people. Though north had been left alone, they were informed of the state of the country and considering that Otogi is here with us, I see that I didn't overestimate him. With his help, we can convince Pegasus to come with us and get rid of the usurper." The Prince explained and sat down on a chair that would be his forever, it seemed. No one ever sat on it since that fateful night he came to this house and spared the lives of its owners. It all seemed like from a fairy tale, a fairy tale that somehow became real and was affecting Yugi's life.
A fairy tale in which Yugi wasn't sure which role he played. Was he a protagonist? A villain? A sidekick?
"I am still not sure what I am doing here, but I owe something to the people that died because of my stupidity and my lack of ability to deal with Crawford. Therefore I will aid you as much as I can. The Mad Prince…" Here, the Duke fell silent, looking at the prince as if waiting for reaction. There was none, the Prince was still looking at him in concentration.
"It would be easier if I knew your name." The Duke prompted.
"I suppose so." Was the Prince's only answer. The Duke frowned, but continued anyway.
"Your prince explained to me the plan to convince Pegasus during his ball. Plan good as any, provided that it is polished a bit. Swaying Crawford is one thing, but the people of the North… That is another thing entirely and I think that more than just spies should go there."
"That's what I figured." Mai muttered and Anzu murmured something about men's clothing, though what, Yugi couldn't hear.
"The ladies should look and act as aristocracy, after all lords would only follow one of their own. I have nothing to criticize your manners for, but there are dances and gestures that you'd have to learn. And, of course, I will bring the men with me." Here, the Duke cracked his first real smile. "I have been invited, after all, and I can bring my friends, if I want. Or… partners, in this case."
"With Crawford dealt with, we head for the capital. The rest is ready, Ishizu would require some help that should be easy to grant after we take the North. Aknadin is even madder than before, sending his spies across the country. After North, we are not coming back here. Not all of us, at least. " The Prince said and Anzu and Yugi exchanged glances. " The moment we leave this house, we are at the point of no return. We can only move forward... "
Here, for some reason,the Prince looked straight at Timaeus. " …Some may never come back. So cherish your last days here. We leave in two days." A
nd with that, the prince stood up and went away, leaving an air of unease after him.
Yugi didn't know what to think about all of this. He could stay here, he could say 'no, I've done my part'. But to know that Anzu, that his friends would go even so, that they might never come back and he wouldn't be there with them… That was something he couldn't possibly bear. But then again… He was changed after the Maze city, he knew he was. He wasn't sure if he wanted to change even more, wasn't sure what he would even change into. But the Prince… Leaving the Prince, that was something he simply couldn't do. And he was right, no matter if he won, or lost, the Prince wouldn't be coming back here. The little dream of all of them meeting in this house, living in this house together after all was done, was unrealistic, Yugi knew. But still, he hoped that maybe, that somehow… The Prince destroyed that in one sentence.
"He knows how to inspire people, doesn't he?" Duke's voice woke Yugi up.
"Well, I'd rather use word 'motivate', but yes, he has this way about him." The Duke just smiled weakly.
"I still sometimes think that I should bolt, should call my troops and run to Crawford, to warn him, to tell him about everything. But your Prince is right. This is bigger than me and Crawford. We are talking about thousands of people who live in terror because the king is mad with guilt and power. And as much as I still don't like him, the Mad Prince has a point. He is the better option." Though not the best, he has a cousin, he won't leave an heir… But to say that now would be treason. All of them needed to believe in the Prince, that he was the only choice.
When the time came, Yugi would protect the cousin Timaeus was talking about, he would do his best. But right now his loyalty was to the Prince.
"I know that he probably didn't say that out loud, but he is very happy that you are with us." The Duke smiled more genuinely.
"He actually did, when we were on our way here. You are teaching him new tricks. If he spends even more time with you he might actually become nice." The Duke joked and with a short nod directed at Yugi he turned towards Mai who was asking him about the ball. Not really interested in the topic, Yugi turned towards Anzu.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" She asked with a small smile which Yugi returned.
"Well, according to Mana, we are on our way to become heroes, I don't think we should complain." Anzu laughed at that.
"It is so surreal. I am afraid, no, I am even terrified, but then I think that at least we will be together in this and frankly, that is all that matters. And, of course, I am a little bit excited as well. "
"Yeah, you don't go to a ball every day." He answered and for a moment, they were again a pair of siblings happy to be together.
/
After the dinner during the Prince was absent, the atmosphere from heavy shifted to giddy.
Mai was boasting about her previous battles while Otogi, no longer wishing to be called the Duke, tried to one her up with stories of his own. Mana was complaining to Mahad about Timaeus who was, in turn, making Serenity laugh by telling her stories about Mana's childhood. Anzu would really miss them in her house when they were gone, she was sure of it. Yugi would too, judging from the sparkles that he had in his eyes every time he looked at the people around him. Right now he was speaking with Joey about their shred hatred for formal clothing and fears of having to wear such for their 'mission'.
Since they have just came back, after the dinner Mana and Yugi volunteered to do the dishes, while Otogi decided to start his first lessons in manners and ballroom dancing. He was definitely in his element, because as long as the Prince wasn't there, he seemed not exactly at ease, but at least not so tense as he was before. He twirled around with Serenity who was delighted and giggled every now and then, stepping on Otogi's foot by accident. Judging from his face, he found it charming. And so he should because she looked absolutely stunning in her dress that Anzu and Mai sew for her. Otogi was right to ask them to wear their dresses, to learn their weight and length and to learn to dance in them. Still, it was unfair, because Yugi and Joey were spared wearing their clothes. They simply put them on, decided they fit and changed back into their old ones.
Thankfully, they at least got rid of the ones from the Maze city. Anzu was sure no amount of washing it could get rid of the smell of horse sweat. That, and they didn't exactly have time to change, from what she had learned, at least not after they came to Paradox Fields. No matter their excuse, she burned that rags in the fireplace this morning and was proud of herself.
She watched Serenity and Otogi for a while, enjoying their dance but feeling somehow neglected. Yugi was dancing with Mana now, after they both defeated the mountain of dishes and though Mana was pretty graceful when she wanted to be, right now she was having way too much fun spinning Yugi around and confusing him with sudden moves, so Anzu doubted any of them learned anything. At least they had fun.
Mai and Joey were arguing, both ignoring advices Otogi was giving them, too busy deciding which one of them was worse at it. To be frank, Anzu wasn't so sure, they were both pretty terrible. At least they were dancing.
Mahad tried to dance with her but his wound didn't let him move for too long and the only other partner that could accompany her, Timaeus, disappeared somewhere, possibly deciding to sleep off the night journey. He was a king, there was a good reason to believe he already knew how to dance. Still, she would love to be included. She didn't want to complain, or to ruin the pleasure to anybody else but she was alone and not learning much.
"A lady in such a dress should be standing here alone." Came the voice from the doorway and Anzu shuddered. If it was spoken in a flirty tone, she might have laughed. But no, the Prince said it like a statement, like an universal truth. He probably didn't flirt at all, to busy with his duties, but it didn't stop Anzu's treacherous heart from skipping a bit.
"No partner for me, unfortunately." He simply nodded and with a gesture, asked her for a dance. It would look ridiculous, it should look ridiculous, she was higher than him! And yet when they started to move, she was sure that they looked amazing. She loved dancing when she was little and when father taught her, so she fell back easily into the rhythm, remembering how much joy it brought her. They weren't doing anything unusual, in fact, Anzu was sure that the Prince was simply following Otogi's instructions, for sometimes it seemed like he hesitated or didn't move fast enough, but they still managed not to get on each other's toes too much. Nevertheless, it was the best experience of her life.
Strong arms were guiding her, letting her move with grace and whenever she looked at her partner, he was wearing such a gentle smile… She barely heard music that Mahad was playing, Otogi's voice was like a distant echo. Neither of this things mattered. It was like she suddenly stopped being Anzu and became Cinderella, dancing with her prince in the moonlight. It was magical.
Though, of course, when they stopped dancing and the Prince kissed her hand, she woke up. There was no moonlight, only the lights inside the house and they were in the dining room, not a beautiful ballroom.
But still, for that short moment, she felt truly happy. Appreciated. Noticed.
Attractive.
The Prince thanked for the dance and all she could manage in return was a short nod, her pulse blocking any other sound.
She sat down, still dazed. For a moment there… For a moment… She thought they would kiss. That she would get a prince after all, though he wasn't exactly a fairy tale one, but she would get him. But the reality crashed into her dreams soon enough. They were on a mission here and neither of them had time for this. Maybe… Maybe later. No. Later, he would be a king and he would be even more unapproachable than before. If she wanted to act on her feelings… What feelings, exactly? Maybe it was just a magic of the moment, of the dance, of finally feeling like a lady? Maybe not. But was she ready to do anything about it and was it really worth it?
For the rest of the day, she couldn't stop thinking about this simple moment. She watched the Prince dance with Mai, both of them elegant and chatting all the time, probably bantering as it was in their habit. But he wasn't looking at Mai the way he was looking at Anzu, she was sure of that. And Joey was not looking at her the way he was looking at Mai either, though dancing him was enjoyable. He certainly learned a lot.
Otogi praised her immensely when they finally danced together and complimented her on her skills, not to mention the fact that he was a perfect gentleman and anything a girl could want, really, and yet…
Nothing was as special as that one moment. She didn't get to dance with Yugi because he disappeared from the room at some point and Anzu was a little bit ashamed that she didn't notice that earlier.
So cherish your last days here. We leave in two days
Maybe she should speak to the Prince after all. Maybe if she didn't do it now, she would never do and she would regret it for the rest of her life.
This evening, she decided.
/
Yugi didn't know why it shaken him so.
The Prince had every right to dance with Anzu and Anzu had every right to enjoy it. It was just a dance, he was well aware and yet… Was that a way he himself was looking at the Prince? This besotted, enchanted glance she was giving him all the time, was that how he looked like to everyone? If so, he was horrified. It was so open, so clear what exactly she was feeling for the Prince and Yugi, her own brother, the one she was ready to protect no matter what was jealous of that. What was worse, he felt vindictive.
They didn't kiss, though Anzu clearly wanted them to.
But it didn't happen, the Prince didn't kiss her.
He kissed Yugi.
And it gave him some kind of joy, joy he tried to squash inside him fiercely. Anzu was his sister and her happiness should come before his own. Should always come before his own. And yet… The Prince already chose him, hadn't he?
Exactly… Had he?
Or was Yugi too confused by his own feelings to see exactly what was going on? Maybe it was simple, maybe it was some sort of tradition of the capitol Yugi had never heard about, maybe he was making something easy seem too grand and complicated. Perhaps he wanted it to be.
They were leaving. They were leaving in two days, in one day even and they should not be distracted by anything then. If something was to be cleared up, it should be cleared up now.
The biggest question was… What answer Yugi wanted to hear? What would make him happy, the Prince proclaiming his love for Anzu? The Prince admitting to being in love with Yugi? Or, the most probable option, the Prince saying that he doesn't love anyone, that he has never loved anyone because that was a sign of weakness and that both of them fell into his trap? That it was all just manipulation. Would the Prince confess if Yugi saw right through him? Or would he smile the same smile he just gave to Anzu and kiss Yugi again and Yugi would forget everything and be happy because, because…
Because he was in love.
Oh, how terrifying it was, to even think it. It didn't make it any less true. He wasn't the princess of this story, he realized. He was a rival. An evil stepsister. The one who wanted to destroy the heroine's happiness to achieve his own.
Because the fact that he was in love wasn't as horrible as the fact, that he wanted to be loved back. He was ready to snatch Prince's love away if he only could. That's what he had turned into. A villain. A villain that fooled everyone into thinking he was good. Noble. Self-sacrificing. But at the bottom of his little, unloving heart, he wanted something else.
No.
He would never do that to Anzu. He tried to calm himself down, he got up from his bed and walked around his room, trying to get his thoughts in order. He recalled all the games he played with the Prince, all of his loses. Has he learned anything at all from them? Did he understand the Prince better now?
Not likely… But there was something… Something important in all of their games… Ah. You always play with someone. No matter if with or against them, you play with someone. You are not the one who decides everything. He had no say in the Prince's feelings, he realized.
He couldn't influence them. The Prince felt what he felt and for whom he pleased and it was not in any way dependent on Yugi's opinions and needs. It would be the Prince's choice.
At the end of the day, all he could do was to ask the Prince and brace himself for an answer.
Assuming, of course, that it was so important that he had to ask. He returned to the bed. Maybe, if he slept long enough, his emotions would calm down and he would be able to see things more clearly. The moment he closed his eyes, he recalled the dream. The dream of darkness embracing him, talking to him… Loving him. Giving him what he wanted.
He got up.
Now or never.
/
Anzu was well aware that it took her a lot of time to finally make up her mind and move from her room to talk to the Prince, but she felt excused.
She had to decide if it was even important enough to bother him. Not to mention if it had any future to speak of. But, she decided to be true to her heart and finally ask. It would be better for her to know, no matter how it might end up. There were few worse things than uncertainty. It was after one and most probably everyone was already asleep. And even if they weren't, their quarters were on the first floor, there was no one who could disturb them. She was fairly sure that the prince was not asleep yet.
So without hesitation, she knocked on door.
There was no answer.
Maybe he wasn't there. Could she try to enter? Maybe he was asleep? Or something happened?
She rested her hand on a doorknob. Maybe he was with someone and…
That would give her an answer. No, he was genuine, their moment… It was real.
She pushed the door open.
She was welcomed with silence.
The room was dark, the curtains still closed, no matter that there was no sun to enter the room now. She could hardly see a thing with the light from the corridor, but she could see a human shape buried under the sheets. Only one.
She sighed with relief, berating herself for her stupid imagination. She closed the door as quietly as she could. If he was asleep, this could wait, after all, there was another evening. She could wait.
Somehow reassured and still curing her over creative mind, she went back to her room.
Really, what came over her?
/
When the door came closed and Anzu's footsteps faded in the distance, a man moved from behind the door and sank back into the bed.
Few moments later, the shape under the sheets turned and raised a hand, undoubtedly searching for something. For him, most possibly.
"I am here." He whispered, catching the hand and stroking it gently.
"I cannot see you." Responded the voice, barely awake. The hand touched his bare arms and moved to his torso, as if really trying to make sure he was there. It sounded as if they had this conversation before, though in which circumstances, he could not recall.
"You see me." He replied and kissed the hand again. There was a sight and the hand stilled, placing itself next to his heart.
As if to see if it was beating.
Of course it was.
It will beat as long it needed to.
Maybe if he was a better man, he would feel bad for Anzu. If he was less smart, he would have told her the truth. He would tell both of them the truth. But as it was, he needed them where he had them. Only time would tell if he chose his companion well. He started to caress the strands of hair that escaped from under the sheets.
Not every manipulation was a lie.