Disclaimer: I do not own Servamp or any of the characters

"This inn isn't home sweet home but it should do. We'll head back to the castle in the morning. Rest for now." Hyde said once they were alone. He bought them a room in a small inn to sleep in. It would be impossible for them to reach the castle and it was already past midnight. Mostly, he thought it would be best to let Licht rest after the day he had.

While he was the strongest person Hyde knew, he didn't want Licht to push himself too much. The angel was as stubborn as he was strong and he would push himself well past his limit. It always fell onto Hyde to pull him back. He didn't mind though. Despite their different personalities, he enjoyed spending time with Licht. He was certainly the most interesting person he knew.

"I'm going down to the bar to buy us something warm to drink. It'll be best if you stay here. If the people who kidnapped you are searching for us, you should stay out of sight as much as possible. I'll be right back though. Do you want something to eat as well? You can ask for anything." Hyde said as he shut the curtains. He looked over his shoulders to Licht who was on the bed.

Licht was laying on his stomach and muttering into the pillow so he couldn't see his expression. But, from how his wings beat against the bed, Hyde knew that he was frustrated. He leaned over him and lightly touched his shoulder. At first, Licht stiffened but he relaxed when he moved to touch his wings. Angels were rather weary of others touching their wings but Licht didn't mind if it was Hyde.

"My wings are stiff and you're not helping, Shit Rat. Stop before I kick you out the window." He said to hide how he truly felt. If anything could help ease the tension he felt, it was Hyde's tender touch. Licht had to fold his wings beneath the cloak to keep them hidden so his feathers were knotted uncomfortably. "I want to stretch my wings and fly. Can't we fly back home? I'm not that tired."

Hyde groaned to himself and debated what he should say. He would only become more defiant if he told him the wrong thing. He chose his words carefully. "Think of what will happen if someone saw your wings and realize you're a prince. Either you or Mahiru will be branded as an impersonator and someone will be hurt in the confusion. Please, stay here for just a night."

"I hate politics. Why did you involve a poor witch in this stupid plan of yours?" He said but his wings drooped. That small action told him that Licht reluctantly agreed with him. He pushed himself up and swung his legs over the bed. "I'm hungry so buy me something light to eat."

"Your wish is my command, Angel Cakes." He said and bowed jokingly at him. Hyde lowered his voice so no one outside the room could hear them. He already placed a protection seal on the room but he had to be cautious. "This room is small but you can try to fly around a little to stretch your wings. If they're still stiff when I get back, I'll brush your feathers."

"My mother always said that angels need to take care of their wings. I guess there's no one else to help my brush them. I can always kick you if you twist my feathers." Licht reasoned and turned away from him so he wouldn't see his blush. He hoped his threat would mask his feelings too. "You better not stay too long and use that as an excuse to sleep in my room."

"Angel Cakes, this is our room. I only bought one room for us to share." He told him and Licht gave him a distrustful glare.

"Were all the other rooms booked?"

"No, there were other rooms but—" He couldn't finish before Licht hurled a pillow at him. He used enough force to knock him to the ground. Licht jumped off the bed and stood over him. He placed his feet on his chest and lifted a pillow to attack him again. Hyde raised his hands to stop him. "Wait, Lichtan, I just wanted to stand guard and this is the best way I can do that! I was planning to sleep on the couch."

While Licht didn't attack him again, his eyes continued to burn holes into him. Hyde aimed a charming smile up at him and Licht rolled his eyes. He took his foot off his chest and thrust his hands into his pockets. "You don't have to sleep on the couch."

Hyde was hopeful that Licht was willing to share the bed with him. Then, Licht folded his arms and said: "I should make you sleep on the floor as punishment for not telling me about your plan right away. But, since you did save me today, I'll be lenient. Buy me something delicious and I'll give you the couch."

"I was already planning to buy you a melon." He stood up and tousled his black hair briefly. Hyde once again reminded him to stay hidden before he went to the door. He placed his hand on the doorknob but he glanced back to Licht. He was flying in a lazy circle but there was a frown on his face. That expression laid heavy on Hyde's heart because he knew how much Licht needed the sense of freedom flying gave him. He made a promise to himself to make him smile later.

Hyde opened the door only a crack so no one could look into the room. He squeezed through the small opening and closed the door behind him. He walked down the hall but he scanned his surroundings carefully. Since he couldn't know who arranged the kidnapping or who was helping that person, Hyde couldn't help but be suspicious of everyone who approached him.

The inn's bar was relatively quiet because it was late. Most who were still lingering in the bar appeared drunk as well. Aside from buying food for Licht, he had also planned to speak with the other patrons for information. Hyde slid onto a stool and waved to the bartender. "I can use a drink after the long day I have. Is the kitchen still open?"

"There's only one cook so don't ask for anything fancy." He told him. "Alcohol is always flowing."

"That's the best part of a bar. But I need to get back onto the road at sunrise so it'll just be water for me. Tell the chef to make me a melon salad for my wife. She's pregnant so she didn't want to walk down all those stairs. She sent me down here as her pack mule. At least I finally get a minute to myself after sitting in that carriage for hours." Hyde lied with a light laugh. "We're visiting her mother."

Bars were the best place to collect information. The person who organized the kidnapping must work for the castle but there could be outsiders who helped him. While the declining economy had made the commoners anxious, he didn't think they were resentful towards the royal family. Hyde assessed the man in front of him while he took a sip of his drink.

"We're going to be here for a while so I would like to find a job. But the mines have been emptied, I hear. I'm a wizard so hopefully I can find something. A lot of people must talk to you over a beer. Tell me, is there anyone looking for a wizard for hire? I'm open to anything." Hyde probed. He doubted someone would hire wizards to kidnap royalty in such an open manner. He had to ask though.

"… I know someone you can talk to. A man came and talked to one of our chefs. I overheard some of it though and they appeared to be old friends. The chef quit soon afterwards. He must've been paid a lot if he was willing to help him." Hyde could hear fear in the man's voice. "The job is dangerous so I don't know if a man with a pregnant wife should take it."

Hyde didn't know if he could look too much into his words. He could be referring to the kidnapping of something else. He took a napkin and summon a quill. With a few quick strokes, he drew a simple design. The royal family would give their employees an enchanted cape once they work for the castle for five years. "Did the man wear a cape with this design?"

"It was a week ago so I don't remember him well but it looks familiar."

"Remember any detail you can. He must've worn a brooch as well. Can you draw it for me?" Hyde flipped the napkin and held out the quill to him. When the man hesitated, Hyde tossed a few gold coins onto the counter. "Your tip for the food and drink."

"Are you desperate for money?" He asked but he was already drawing on the napkin.

"I just have an angel I want to protect."

Kuro walked down the hall once breakfast was over. He intended to go to the throne room and discuss the engagement with the royal family. He wasn't able to discuss the details over breakfast. Licht wasn't at the table and it didn't feel right to negotiate his future without him present. He wondered why Licht skipped breakfast. It didn't seem like he was sick the previous night.

As he walked down the hall, he overheard two maids. "Licht wasn't at breakfast and he's not in his room. Do you think he went out flying? What if he ran away again? We should tell the king and queen as soon as possible. We need to find Licht."

Kuro realized that they were walking towards them and he slipped into the room next to him. He was certain their worry would turn into panic if they knew that he overheard them. That would be troublesome and he didn't know how to handle such a situation. He intended to hide in the room until they passed but then he felt a book hit his head.

"Oh, Kuro, are you okay?" He turned in the direction of the voice. He was in a library and books were swirling around the room. Kuro pushed past the scrolls and pens to find who he thought was Licht perched at the top of a ladder. He smiled down at him and said, "Give me a moment to clean this mess. I got ahead of myself when I saw all these magic books."

Mahiru chanted a spell and ordered the books and parchment to organize themselves on the table. Since he worked at the magic shop, he was accustomed to waking up early and he instinctively went to the castle's library. He knew he would never have the chance to study rare spells again. The library was full of books he could only dream of reading.

He slid down the ladder and landed nimbly on the ground next to him. He smiled up at him and politely said, "Good morning. Did you come here to search for a book too? I can help you find it."

"I'm not much of a reader." Kuro admitted. Their conversation was interrupted by a soft purr and he noticed the basket on the table. A black cat peaked its head out of the blankets and purred at them. He recognized it and scratched the cat's ear. "What are you doing in the royal library? Shouldn't you be with Mahiru in the servant's quarters?"

"Mahiru asked me to adopt this cat. He doesn't have the money or time to take care for him properly. I couldn't say no this cute face." Mahiru scooped the cat into his arms and pressed their cheeks together. According to Hyde, Licht also had a soft spot for animals. He was surprised that he had anything in common with an angel. "I decided to name him Ash. It's simple."

"Wouldn't it be weird if you marry Sleepy Ash and then bring a cat with a similar name to his castle?" Kuro pointed out. Mahiru laughed but it sounded a little awkward. He couldn't tell him the truth that he was a poor witch. Once Hyde and Licht returned, he would take Ash back with him. He didn't know where he would go after Hyde paid off his debt. Yet, that uncertainty didn't scare him.

Mahiru would finally be free to pursue his dream to help people with his magic.

"Maybe we can make a nickname for Ash or Sleepy Ash." He said because he needed to pretend to be Licht. Guilt made him avoid Kuro's eyes and Mahiru absentmindedly pet the cat. Kuro assumed the reason he sounded so hesitant was because of the engagement. He sympathized with his position since he could relate to how he felt all too well.

Kuro thought it was best to change the subject. "I overheard that the maids were looking for you. You weren't at breakfast either."

"Is that the time? I lost track of time reading. They must be worried. I need to go talk to them so they know they can stop looking for me." Mahiru gathered the notes he made and placed them in Ash's basket. With the basket over one arm, he lightly pushed Kuro towards the door too. "Let's go to the kitchen. You must be hungry too."

Kuro groaned to himself but he didn't resist. He heard that Licht was famous for being stubborn so he decided it was best to give in. At the same time, he wasn't anything like he expected. It was clear that he was passionate about magic. He thought Licht preferred music to learning magic and politics. He had to reconsider as they walked down the hall.

"I've been thinking more about the fruit bats this morning. This kingdom has been a mining community for centuries and it might be difficult for the citizens to suddenly transfer to agriculture." Mahiru tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. "Can we include a clause in the treaty where your kingdom provides some workers to help them learn the trade?"

"I can talk to Sleepy Ash about it." Kuro shrugged.

"Also, tell him that this engagement won't be one sided. The royal mines are… sparse at the moment but I have a plan. I've always thought that we limited ourselves by only mining precious jewels but there may be other resources like ore and oil hidden in the mines." Mahiru pulled out a copy of a map that he made. "My only concern is the environmental damage further mining will cause."

"Agriculture is our specialty. If you find ore and turn it into farming equipment for us, we can help you minimize the damage." His offer made Mahiru beam brightly and the smile that appeared on his lips was stunning. He didn't seem to notice the blush Kuro had.

Mahiru reminded himself to tell Licht everything about their discussion once the two came back. Hyde promised that he would return before the sunset. He hoped the two would return soon. Mahiru was able to maintain the act but he didn't know if could continue to fool the royal family. He put away the map and pet the cat for comfort.

"This is the kitchen." He stopped in front of a door. He already familiarized himself with the castle's layout from the map Hyde had given him. Mahiru knocked on the door before he stepped into the kitchen. He gave the staff a friendly smile and said, "Hello. Kuro told me that you were looking for me. I'm sorry that I worried you."

The cooks were shocked when Mahiru bowed to them. While Licht had never been rude or cruel to them, they were surprised to see him speak so familiar to him. One maid was pulled herself out of her shock. "That's okay, Licht! We already prepared your breakfast so we will bring it to your room. Please give us a moment to warm it up."

"Is that all for me?" Mahiru's jaw dropped when he saw the spread of food on the tray. He took the tray before the maid could and he took it to the table. After he set it down, he created a small flame in his palm. He used his spell to warm the food. "There's a perfectly good table we can use here. You don't need to walk all the way back to my room."

He gestured to the three to sit with him and eat. The cook lightly protested, "We can't possibly eat with you, Licht. That would be rude of us."

"But I'm inviting you to have breakfast with me. Please, sit down. I can't possibly finish all of this by myself and I don't want your food to go to waste." Mahiru had to admit that he felt more comfortable eating with others than staying in Licht's room all alone. He took a spoonful of oatmeal and poured it into a bowl for Ash. "Thinking simply, a meal is only made better with company."

Kuro was the first to sit next to him and the others soon followed his lead. Mahiru smiled warmly and tried to make the staff more comfortable. As he split the tray of food between them, he searched for something they could discuss. "The weather has been beautiful these days. I hope it continues."

Their reply was polite but vague. Mahiru wondered if he was right to insist the others eat with him. It was clear that the maid and cook were confused. He had to pretend to be Licht but it didn't feel right to eat while others worked around him. He handed the plates out and then he began to eat in silence. Did Licht feel lonely in his own castle as well?

"Well, it seems like we're staying here until Hyde and Licht returns." Mahiru said to Ash once they returned to Licht's bedroom. Mahiru wished he could practise his magic at least. His illusion required him to use most of his magic and he could only perform simple spells. He passed the time by playing with the cat. He would throw a ball for Ash to chase.

The cat would occasionally act like a dog and bring the ball back for him to throw. When it dropped the ball in front of him again, Mahiru scooped the cat into his arms. Even though the cat couldn't respond, he spoke to it to fill the silence. "The first place we're going to when my debt is paid is a farm. I was the one who suggested we build a sanctuary for the fruit bats so I would like to see that through. For now, we have to stay in this room. At least there's a lot of room for you to play."

Mahiru looked up when there was a knock at the door. He stiffened and instinctively strengthened the illusion around him. He placed Ash on his shoulder before he answered the door. On the other side of the door was Kuro and Mahiru wondered if he needed to speak to Licht for the engagement negotiation. Yet, he was wearing a jacket as if he was going outside.

"The maids said you were acting strange and they think it might be because Hyde had to suddenly leave for that family emergency. They said you two were close so you must be lonely now that he's gone." Kuro told him. "I doubted Hyde told you this but we knew each other when we were kids. I owe him my life so the least I can do is keep his friend company until he returns."

Kuro didn't know how much more he could tell him without saying too much. While he never confessed, he could tell that Hyde had feelings for the angel. He felt a little guilty that the engagement would hurt his childhood friend. Hyde told him that he only wanted Licht to be happy. So, he said, "Do you want to go to the farms and oversee the fruit bats?"

Before he could answer, Ash purred loudly and hopped onto Kuro's head. Mahiru laughed and said, "It looks like he made the decision for us. There's only one condition: I have to return before dusk."

"Are you Cinderella?"

It was an off-handed comment but Mahiru smiled sadly. "In a sense."

I'm in the mood to write fantasy so I decided to update this.