"Kai…." She said.

"Kai, what do you wanna do today?" She asked.

He looked at her. She was in her Royal Mechanics uniform. It was completely flattering and very sexy, and blue/black oversized jumpsuit, knee high brown boots, her hands in their gloves, her hair in a messy ponytail and her face. Oh, her face. It was goddess like. She was so beautiful. That perfect dark tanned skin, those brown eyes, those pink lips, and that dark brown hair. Whenever she smiled, his world stopped.

"I…I don't know. I have to go to a couple of meetings then some classes afterwards. All the perks of being the future emperor I suppose" he replied.

They continued to talk in the hallway outside the Royal Mechanics Office. There weren't that many people coming by this late in the afternoon. And his father and the Royal advisor Torin wouldn't know where he was so he could keep on procrastinating.

"I guess so. Well then, I have to stop by the market and pick up some food for dinner. I have to remember my list. Tomatoes, onions, green peppers, apples, oranges, salt, pepper, brown sugar, lettuce, kale, and jalapeños. I also have to get 4 chicken breasts and some other spices. It's not going to cost much but I really don't want to go to the farmer's market, people there are either really nice, or really rude" Cinder said.

Kai smiled. "I would love to come over and taste your cooking sometime" he said.

She paled. "Absolutely not" she replied.

"Well why not?" He asked.

"Because."

"Because, why?"

"Because reasons is all."

Kai was perplexed. She was hiding something. But he didn't know what. His mind ran through every possible scenario until he came to the conclusion that seemed so impossible. Did Cinder have a boyfriend? No, not his Cinder, that couldn't be. He had to know.

"What, you have a boyfriend or something?" He asked condescendingly.

The question caught Cinder off guard. Why would he ask something like that? Why would he want to know? They were just friends right? Even though he was the most handsome man in the world to her, he could never know that. He's way out of her league. Why would a prince lower himself to a commoner's level. He's someone who can change the world. She's someone who can change a tire. They weren't even in the same class, let alone she wasn't of importance. However, it seemed like a good time to have some fun with him. Maybe her answer will catch him off guard and make him think of something other than work and classes. He needed a mental break. She'll tell him the truth, just not now.

She smirked. "Maybe" she replied.

Kai's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. His heart shattered into a million pieces. This can't be true, can it? He knew Cinder was beautiful and even though she was a cyborg, she was still someone who could be in a relationship. Maybe with another cyborg? He looked at her face. Her beautiful features as she smirked, her eyes rolling around her sockets. Before he could get more information out of her his port rang.

"Kai, you are to come to the business meeting in the grand ballroom in the west wing of the palace immediately" his father said through the speakers of the port.

Kai sighed. He had to know. Who is the man that captured his love's heart?

"Well, it looks like you're busy, and I've put off going to the market for far too long. I'll see you tomorrow Kai" Cinder sang.

"Uh, yeah see you tomorrow" he replied.

She smiled at him and then bowed lowly. She then proceeded through the double doors to leave the palace. He watched her intensely as she left. She was going to go home, to cook, for some man. The thought of it made his blood boil. His port rang again. He knew he had to get to the business meeting and fast, but he couldn't shake the thought of the girl that he loves, being with someone else.

"It's going to be a very long night" he thought.

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Kai was in his bed, wide awake. The meeting had taken forever, and then his class with Huy, the Commander of the Army took just as long. It wouldn't have been that bad, if Cinder and the man she's with didn't occupy his thoughts. Cinder cooking for him, Cinder talking and having fun with him, Cinder even having sex with him. That was what did it for Kai. His Cinder, being in unthinkable positi…no he couldn't think about it. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Kai tried to shut his eyes completely and fall asleep, he couldn't. He couldn't shake the thoughts out of his mind. He turned his head and looked at the clock. It was 1:47am. It was pretty late, and today was Wednesday, one of Cinder's most busiest days. He didn't want to disturb her. She won't be here until her 10am shift

"Ugh, I can't go on like this" he said. But he did. Kai laid in his bed, eyes open, all night. He couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about her. Her and him. Hours passed, and eventually the maid came into his room to wake him up at 8am.

"Good morning, your highness. Your eyes are completely bloodshot red. Did you have a nightmare and didn't sleep well?" she asked.

"You can kind of say that" he replied.

"Well is there anything that I can help you with?" the maid asked.

"No not really" he replied.

"Well I hope everything is fine your highness. I have set your clothes out on the dresser for you and have set the soap and toiletries in your bathroom. Your father wants you downstairs for breakfast in approximately 45 minutes. Please respect his wishes as you always do" the maid said.

"Yes ma'am" Kai replied.

The maid set everything out and bowed. She left the room abruptly.

Kai showered, had breakfast with his father and went off to his first class, Worldwide Economics. He was so tired. But it was only after this class Cinder would show up. He had to bear through it, for his sanity. As the clocked slowly ticked by, he counted the seconds until he could be let free.

"Kai, you are free to go. And while you're out, think about taking a nap. I have no idea what is wrong with you today, but you have heavy circles around your eyes and they're bloodshot red. Please go get some well deserve rest your highness, your health depends on it" his teacher said.

"Yes sir. Thank you for the advice, I really appreciate your thoughts and concerns as someone who helped me grow as a person. It means a lot to me" with this Kai bowed to his teacher and thanked him once again. He knew he had to get some rest, but before that he just had to go and get Cinder and talk to her. He wouldn't rest until he knew about her boyfriend.

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Cinder was walking out of the bathroom and was filling up her water bottle when Kai called her name.

"Cinder" he yelled out. She looked to her right from where he was walking out from. She shifted her backpack and turned towards him.

"Kai…" she noticed his chocolate brown eyes were bloodshot red. There were heavy bags under his eyes as well. Something must have bothered him to where he couldn't sleep last night.

"What happened last night? Your eyes, they're very red and have bags under them. Did you stay up late and do lots of homework again? Or is something else bothering you? It was only a meeting with the business people right? They didn't have any threats and your father wasn't mad at you? What about class, are you stressed out from that too? Maybe you should take a break from everything, your health is dependent on it" she said.

There she was again, that was his Cinder, always worrying about everything else except herself. She was so selfless, in a sea of selfishness. He knew that he wanted her more than anything, but this wasn't something his money could buy him. However to make sure of things, he had to know now.

"Here" she held out a bento box. "I had some leftovers from last night and since you wanted to taste my cooking I just went ahead and made this. I added some rice and some more fruit we had lying around the house. I hope you'll like it." She said.

Kai looked at the box. It was a cute robot bento box, something Cinder always loved and is making now along with fixing many royal ships and hovercars. He bowed when she handed him the box and said "Thank you" to her.

"I hope it's good enough to satisfy me as it did with your boyfriend last night" he said. Kai was mentally sick thinking about the man Cinder was with, but he tried to sound so reassuring of the relationship so he wouldn't sound so bitter.

Cinder blinked, and then began to laugh. It was loud and hearty, and there was some snorting as well. She couldn't believe that he actually believed her. Who in their right mind would love me? No one, so it's impossible for me to have a boyfriend. Now would be a good time to tell him, it'll catch him off guard, and Cinder could run into the RMO before Kai would be able to catch her.

"Boyfriend? Kai you really didn't believe me did you? I don't have a boyfriend. I have two stepsisters and a stepmother that's all. It was a prank to help your mind go on things that didn't have to do with work or school, it was nothing but a little white lie as second era historians put it. Anyways I have to go to work, and while I'm working I want you to be sleeping. Have a nice nap Kai, bye" Cinder said and with that she bowed and then turned away and walked into the RMO.

Kai just stood there, bento box in hand, and his head hung. He couldn't believe that it was all a little white lie. He felt so stupid, for falling for her prank, but it made him more relieved that she was just talking about her family, not her boyfriend. He felt the heat running throughout his face, and he felt the grin on his lips as he knew she wasn't with anyone. That's all he needed to hear, and with that, he returned to his bed and blissfully fell asleep.

Kai turned over and looked at his alarm, 8:46am it read. The dream Kai just had felt so vibrant and felt like it had just occurred. That event happened about 18 months ago and it hurt then just like it did now. To know that she wasn't going to be his, it hurt him knowing that they'll never be together, whether it be Channary or his own father to stop it. It had been almost 16 hours since he last saw Cinder. He had only slept for a couple of hours, if she was still here, she would scold him about not getting the proper sleep that he needed in order to function. He remembered her face, gosh she was so gorgeous. He looked back at the clock, in 14 minutes, the maids would get him ready for the day, the day in which the Lunar court came and took his Cinder away from him. His heart ached. Kai then turned over to look at his desk, on top of it was his royal crown stating his heritage to everyone in the world. Staring at the crown it was at this point Kai realized what he needed to do; however doing so would let everyone who has helped him even in the slightest way down. He knew some way; somehow he was going to get her out of this, even if it causes him his own crown.