Fran could have not chosen a better time to have a mental breakdown or whatever it was that he was doing with himself. The blond man sighed as he paced back and forth in front of a pair of a large set of important looking doors.

He could really use the way-too-honest-for-his-own-good green haired teen's opinion. That's what he liked most about being friends with the boy, he was someone Bel could always trust to be honest.

He was similar to Mammon in that aspect but Bel was fully aware of the fact that Fran and Mammon were two unique beings.

Mammon was honest, sneaky and snarky in a playful way. He has this melancholic air to him that not many wouldn't dare to trust. But Bel knew better, the cool ice cold act of his was similar to his own act, and it too was there as shield. Underneath Mammon was a kind and honest person, a character that Bel had always envied and admired all in the same.

Fran's facade was admirable as well but he wasn't wearing a shield. The mask he wore was not one he wore on purpose as Bel had thought in the beginning. The young teenager was running at something at full speed, with no desire or disregard to stop and smell the roses because he knew that once he'd achieve his dream that there would be plenty of time to stop and smell whatever he wanted to smell.

So when something that he wasn't expecting crossed his path, he simply didn't know what to do with it.

Interacting with fellow students at first was like talking to another adult, formal and with little interest in creating friendship. This hadn't been because he had a stick shoved up his ass, it had been because he didn't know how to talk to his fellow students in a normal way.

And now if Fran was starting to develop feelings for the blond, his world was surely going into chaos. He would be able to handle it yes? Fran was strong and smart, he would figure this out. Bel's concern was how strong were Fran's feelings for him, if there were any in the first place, and were they strong enough to make him stop and smell the roses?

"You seem deep in thought." A young woman's voice startled the emperor. "Well again you are the future ruler of our country, you probably have a lot to think about."

Bel turned to face the young woman, she looked familiar but he definitely didn't know her. He bowed politely and apologized for not noticing her presence.

"Ah it's fine I should be the one apologizing for interrupting you." She smiled kindly. "My name is Lucille, I was dragged along for the council meeting."

"You're on the council?" The blond asked his mind still elsewhere.

"Um no, my father is." The girl was tall but not taller than Bel, her hair a blond paler than Bel's and her eyes a dark brown.

"Oh yes, that makes more sense." Bel was a bit embarrassed now that he was really aware of what was going on. He laughed in amusement. "I'm sorry, I'm not exactly awake yet, oh is it nine already? I should be going, it was nice to meet you Lucille."

"Same." She watched him enter the big doors.

"I heard you met my daughter." A tall man started as he approached Bel.

The opening to the semi-annual meeting of the council had just ended and they were all exiting the large court. The opening hadn't been too bad; it was made of mostly introduction.

Bel turned to the voice, it was Lucius. He was one of the thirteen county representatives, and of one of the most influential, he was from the Vatican himself. He was a friendly chap, but hardly ever up to no good. A real snake there. Nevertheless he was very powerful, not as powerful as the emperor but Bel wasn't entitled to the name just yet.

The young heir was also aware of the fact that everyone on the council knew the fact that Bel's mother had not been his father's wife. No one ever spoke about it but everyone knew. Not that anyone would dare to use it as leverage against the prince, but Lucius made sure that everyone knew that he wouldn't be afraid to use it if he had to.

Bel didn't really mind, whatever Lucius wanted was always within reason. He was a showy guy but he never wanted more than he already had. They considered each other 'good friends'. That's how they would talk to each other in public anyway.

"Ah Lucius, Lucille, I see what you did there." Bel smiled slowing down to walk alongside the man. "I did talk to her for a bit before the meeting started."

"Yes? Then I should introduce you to her formally! How about lunch tomorrow at noon?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"So Belphegor, I hear you're going to school." Lucius didn't order anything to eat.

"I am." He answered poking at his pasta.

"What is it you're studying, if you don't mind me asking." Lucille asked sipping her drink.

"Music." Bel answered eying this own drink.

"Music? Not politics?" Lucius asked amused.

"Well my father didn't want me to go to school, but I wanted to study music, so he let me go as long as I promised to take my duties as an emperor seriously after I graduated."

"That was generous of him." Lucius had lost interest in the conversation and was now trying to get a waiter to come over.

"Most people believe my father to be a stricter man than he really was, he was actually quite the softie." Bel told Lucille.

"It's true," Lucius agreed rejoining the conversation. "He was very a smart and determined man. But he was also a very kind man."

"I had the honor of meeting his highness when I was a young girl." Lucille added happily.

"So Bel have you started thinking about finding a wife?" Lucius changed the subject.

"A wife?" Bel asked a bit surprised. "To be honest I had forgotten about that."

Lucius laughed loudly. "Does anyone come to mind now that I've reminded you."

Bel was a bit shocked to have Fran come to mind. "Not Fran." He muttered mostly to himself.

"Fran?" Lucius asked confused.

"Er- a friend," Bel was a bit embarrassed that he heard that.

"Fran is a boy's name, no?"

"Ah, no it's a-um short for Francine." Why would he say that? The blond slapped himself mentally and shook his head lightly.

"And you don't like 'Fran'?" Lucille asked observingly.

"Ah, I do?" Bel was still slapping himself mentally. "I just wouldn't want to marry hi-her."

"I see."

"What about Lucille? She's a very accomplished young lady," Lucius teased. "And I'm not just saying that as her father."

"Father!" Lucille exclaimed.

"Your daughter is lovely." The heir said grinning politely. "I wish I were closer to her."

"Don't mind him!" Lucille said apologetically, "He's been making a fool of himself trying to marry me off."

"Yes darling but there's suitors and then there's the emperor, they're in two different leagues." The older man joked. "But seriously Belphegor you ought to think about it."

The man gave Bel an odd vibe, but he nodded politely, "Will do sir."

"Next matter Louis." A dry voice droned in the grand room.

"Alexander would like to propose the regulation of the water used for the fountains in Centre Plaza." Louis read from a sheet of paper.

"Regulation?" The first of the speakers looked over at the man presumed to be Alexander.

"Yes, controlling the water flow would help us preserve water."

Malcolm leaned over and whispered something about tree hugging.

"The water is already recycled water, and the fountains are turned off at night."

"And the fountains are the biggest attractions here in the city, if we were going to regulate anything it should be curfew." Someone else added. "No one can get a good nights rest with all that noise!"

"Not that again." Louis sighed, "We already agreed to no curfew Oedi."

Oedi rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Anything else you would like to add to your case Alexander?" The head of house asked him blandly.

Alex shook his head.

"Very well, all in favor of fountain regulation?"

A counting of hands was done.

"Denied. Next matter."

"Next is Lucius on Belphegor's coronation." Louis announced.

Bel and Malcolm raised an eyebrow at each other.

"Lucius."

Lucius rose. "Belphegor's coronation date has been announced to be a month after he finished school, but I propose we move it till winter."

"Why on earth would we do that?" The head looked at the man as if he had lost his mind.

"Lucius you are fully aware that we can't prolong the coronation any longer-" Malcolm tried.

"Malcolm, Lucius will explain." The head waved for the other man to continue.

"There's simply not enough time for all the preparations."

"Preparations?"

"One month is not enough time for Belphegor to finish his sacraments."

This time Malcolm whispered something about a Jesus freak.

Lucius continued. "He needs to finish his catechism classes, finish confirmation and matrimony before he can be sworn to the crown by the Vatican."

Malcolm rose but the head of house motioned for him to sit down.

"Bishop Winstow has already agreed that Belphegor is more than ready to be confirmed, and he will do so immediately after his graduation." The head stated calmly.

"Even if that's true, the Pope will not overlook matrimony. I had a word with young Belphegor earlier today and he has no preparation in the area, he needs more time to find a wife." Lucius looked over. "Unless he plans to marry within the month…"

The head made a face of remorse, then looked at Malcolm.

"This is ridiculous. He's 20, he's not ready to make a lifelong commitment!" He defended while glaring at Lucius

"I think 20 is actually a rather appropriate age for marriage." Someone stated.

Someone sitting closer to him turned and added, "At least you can pick whoever you want to marry unlike our previous emperors."

"And he's had his time to fool around, maybe a wife would help him finally settle down?" Oedi muttered outloud.

"Why don't you ask for his opinion?" Louis asked.

"His opinion won't change the rules." Someone else added.

"Belphegor?" The head asked and the room quieted.

Crap. He cleared his throat and tried to sound as composed as possible. "It is a bit short of notice." He began. "I don't wish to marry quite yet. But if it is what I must do…" he sighed. "Then I will marry."

"Spoken like a true king." Someone said.

"We shouldn't force him…" Another voice began.

"Should we find him a proper wife?" A stranger asked a fellow councilman.

"Nah, we wouldn't want him to end up like his father…"

Malcolm gave Bel an apologetic look, who tried to assure him that it was fine.

"Silence!" The head of house called out. "All for Belphegor's matrimony?"

Another counting of hands.

"Allowed. Next matter."

"That asshole!" Malcolm swore as they exited the majestic building. "What the hell does he think he's doing?!"

Bel shook his head in disbelief and sighed.

"What are you going to do? Do you even know any women? You go to an all-boys university no?"

The blond shrugged. "I'm going to do what he wants me to do."

Malcolm was confused.

"Marry his daughter."

Malcolm made a face of understanding. "What a dick." He said after some thought. "You really ought to stop spoiling that man."

Bel smiled. "Yeah, but I suppose he could be worse."

The young heir inhaled deeply. Frustrated with his situation. He thought of what his green haired friend back home would think of the matter. He sighed and knocked on the huge wooden door.

"Come in." An expecting voice called from inside.

Bel walked inside the large study, where Lucius sat behind a heavy desk of mahogany.

"What brings you young Belphegor?" He asked with a smile and implied that he already knew what it was.

The blond bowed before continuing. "Lucius, I'm here…" He struggled but managed to keep his composure. "I'm here to ask for your daughter's hand."

"Do you derive the square root of x? How do I do that?"

"The square root of x is the same as x to the 1/2th remember? You take-"

"Ohh! I remember now, I can do this."

Fran snorted as his purple haired friend returned to scribbling furiously at his desk. "How'd you get through Calc 2 and 3? That's Calc 1 stuff."

"Oh shut it, I just needed a refresher." Mammon defended. "My brain died an hour ago during engineering physics."

Fran returned to his own homework spread out on his bed. He began to read the paragraph he had been on for the last hour due to Mammon interrupting him so often. Alas he was interrupted again by a knock on the door.

"Bel?" Fran was aware that Bel was due to return from his week at council today, but he didn't think he would find him at his door at 1 in the morning.

"Hey," The blond looked exhausted and distracted but he was smiling, "Can I come in?"

Fran looked over at where Mammon was sitting, his roommate hadn't noticed Bel.

He nodded warily, "sure."

"Who is it?" Mammon asked turning around, and was a bit caught off guard when he saw the blond. "Oh hey Bel, you're back..."

Bel nodded and the three sat in an awkward silence for a short moment.

"I just remembered I left my Calc book at the library, good thing they're opened all night! Hey you know what I think I'll just study there, easier to focus, don't wait up for me." Mammon puked the rapid chain of words out and fled before Fran could protest.

"That was weird." Fran was so nervous his laugh sounded like a cough.

Fran could see that Bel was just trying to find a way to form words. He sighed finally in distress and came forward to embrace the younger.

Fran was no longer in the right state of mind to think, let alone do something about his situation.

Bel on the other hand knew that this was probably the only chance to do anything and here he was just wasting it. He had wanted to confess to the teen but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

If Fran felt the same way for the heir, he would hurt him with this news. If he didn't feel the same way his friendship with the boy would probably be over.

But something in the back of his mind Bel hoped- almost knew that Fran returned Bel's feelings. And this was all that he had the courage to do tonight.

He pulled back. with his hands on the boy's shoulders and a pained smile he thanked him for everything and apologized for anything.

He turned to leave, hesitating at first, but managing to exit eventually.

Fran still at a loss for words, simply turned and collapsed onto his bed.

What the hell had been up with Bel last night? Fran couldn't get this out of his head all morning, and to make it worse he hadn't see the blond all morning. Not that he had the strength to confront him about it, but perhaps he would explain himself.

He walked into his painting class and was disappointed when the blond failed to be in his seat.

"Fran!" Mammon looked concerned as he came up to him. "What happened last night?"

"Nothing why?" Fran answered. "Like literally nothing."

"Nothing? Bel didn't say anything?"

"Like?"

Mammon looked around and got closer. "Like did he mention that he's getting married?" He said quietly but with an urgent tone.

Married? "What?"

"He didn't tell you?" Mammon was confused. "That pansy probably chickened out." He nodded putting it together..

"Again… what?"

Mammon put a hand on Fran's shoulder. "Don't worry I got you, I'll fix this." And with that he left, Fran didn't know if he should be scared or not.

"Frannie!" Chika blared loudly as he slapped the boy on the back. "Guess who got us into the Emperor's engagement party?"

"Oh god." As if Fran wasn't tired of hearing about the upcoming celebration already. It had been the talk of the school- country for the last week.

"Yeah I know, I'm the bomb." Chika gloated. "You're welcome."

"You're such an idiot." Mammon said shaking his head.

"Fine, guess who's uninvited." Chika said glaring at the purple haired boy.

"Oh the horror." Mammon said with heavy sarcasm.

"Anyway, there's a catch but it's no biggie!" The obnoxious blond said to Fran. "We won't actually be attending the party as guests; we'll be serving drinks but no biggie right?"

Mammon rolled his eyes at the blond. "Oh now I'm really glad I'm not going."

"I think I'll pass." Fran said politely.

"You should go." Mammon turned to him suddenly interested in the conversation.

"Why? You're not going."

"Yes but you're closer to Bel." His roommate explained. "Maybe you can convince him that he's making the worst decision of his lifetime."

"Worst decision?" Chika looked at Mammon in disbelief. "Have you seen his fiancée? She's a babe! I wish I were him!"

"I repeat you're an idiot." Mammon turned back to Fran. "You're going."

"Am not."

"Am too."

Fran felt betrayed.

Betrayed by Chika for making him do this. Betrayed by Mammon for letting him do this. Betrayed by everyone at this celebration for their sheer existence. But mostly betrayed by Bel.

The most frustrating part of it all was that Fran wasn't even sure why. He hadn't done anything wrong. Yeah so Fran had feelings for the heir so naturally he should be bothered by the whole idea of him getting married. But should he be upset by Bel's fiancée and not the emperor himself. It's not like he promised that he wouldn't get married, Fran didn't even know if he returned the boy's feeling. That was something Fran wouldn't even dare wonder about in fear of the truth.

Fran should be upset with himself, because the greatest betrayal had been brought upon by himself.

A stranger bumping into him threw off his train of thought.

He apologized and veered off in Chika's direction.

"Here." Fran shoved his serving tray in his hands, "I can't do this, I'm leaving."

"What? Bel and his fiancée haven't even arrived-" The obnoxious teen babbled.

"I'm feeling sick, I gotta go." The young teen bailed before Chika could convince him to stay.

He exited the intoxicating ballroom into the spacious grand hall. He began to pull off his tie as he ascended up the stairs, he needed to return the uniform before he left. The lighting in the hall was dark and there was nobody up here so it was nice and cool. Fran took a second to breathe.

That's when Chika caught up with him.

"I'm leaving." He said in a strict tone.

"Please don't." Or not Chika...

"Bel?" Fran's voice was inaudible.

"I need you here today." Bel said earnestly, solidly, not in any way unsure.

Fran brought himself to look at him, it was harder because the blond was standing three steps down from the top of the stairs. It felt strange to be looking down on the heir for once. But for the first time Fran felt like he was in control of the situation.

Bel was dressed nicely, naturally, but Fran felt like he didn't look like himself.

"You look awful." He pointed out plainly.

Bel almost smiled, "Not as awful as you."

This was probably true, Fran felt as if he hadn't gotten proper sleep in the last month. He probably looked like it as well.

The blond went up another stair, his intention to continue to the top. Only to be cut off when Fran climb down to the next step.

Bel looked at him bewildered. Fran simply set his hand gently to his chest almost unconsciously. Although from his dazed expression he was probably thinking hard about something. His tired face was so close to the blond's then swiftly tilting in for a kiss. One which Bel was surprisingly ready for, his hand reached up to touch the younger's face but couldn't bring himself to do it.

They parted for a second before Fran went in again. This time Bel did pull him deeper into the kiss. This one lasting quite a bit longer compared to the first.

When they parted Fran inhaled loudly, breaking the tension and the silence.

"Are you laughing at me?" The boy asked taken aback when Bel laughed at his loud inhale.

"No," Bel assured, his previous easily amused by Fran character returning, along with his genuine grin. "I-I just really needed that, I had no idea how I was going to break the tension."

Fran showed signs of disappointment. Bel took his arm and pulled him along up the stairs and down the corridor. He seemed to have an idea of where he was going, which would make since it was his home.

The blond pulled Fran into the room, closing the door behind him and immediately pulling him into another kiss. It took a moment for Fran to catch up, but once he had he began to kiss the blond back wrapping his arms around his neck. Bel's own hands hovering around the boy's waist, as if waiting for permission to touch the younger. When Fran jumped onto him and wrapped his thin legs around the heir, he finally wrapped his arms around the boy.

He carried him over to the bed in the center of what now seemed to be a guest room of some sort. There they continued to kiss, Bel began to unbutton Fran's shirt when he shot up suddenly pushing the blond to the side, as if he had only just woken from a dream.

"I'm sorry I can't do this." He apologized but before he could climb out of the bed Bel had his arm again.

"Stay." He said again in his confident voice. "You don't have to talk about it or go back out there, just stay. I have to go back but I'll come right back. Then we should talk."

Fran's eyes followed him suspiciously as he got up and began walking towards the door.

"I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to, if you really want to you can go." Bel reassured him, with a small smile.

He closed the door behind him knowing that Fran would be there when he returned.

What had Fran done?

He had taken his little ant of a crush and somehow created a tsunami over his friendship with Bel.

He was really going to be sick, he flopped back onto the bed and tried to smother himself with a pillow.

What the hell had happened to controlling himself?

He knew he shouldn't have come tonight.

Underneath the clouds of humiliation there was a glimmer of hope and accomplishment.

This meant the blond liked Fran right? He wouldn't just play with Fran's feelings like that. Yeah he was the kind of guy that would fool around, but they were friends right? He wouldn't hurt Fran right?

Along with the glint of hope there was a dash of doubt. But was he doubting Bel or himself?

This had escalated far too quickly.

"Where are you going?" Bel's newly announced fiancée asked as he retreated from the ballroom.

"I'm tired I'm going to bed early if you don't mind."

He was lying but Lucille couldn't tell what he was lying about. "Alright, I'm staying at the Jensen's tonight, but I'll stop by tomorrow around noon is that alright?"

"Hm? Oh yeah of course." He took off immediately. Lucille had the idea of following him, but decided to let him be.

Meanwhile Bel returned to the frog for a surprise. Fran was indeed still there but he had fallen asleep.

He grinned and considered waking him, but decided against it. He shut the door and retreated for the night.

Hopefully this didn't come off as rushed, I didn't mean to. I wish I had a real excuse as to why I haven't updated but I don't. School got out like two weeks ago, and I've only been working 11 hour weeks, what have I been doing? My roommate says playing guitar hero, but I don't believe her I've only played like once a day for two weeks ;) The next chapter hopefully won't take me as long.

Anyway I think Mammon is a badass in this story, poor Fran, poor Bel, it's going to get very interesting next chap but in the meantime enjoy.

Also my roommate aka my proof-reader is convinced that Malcolm and Lucius are into each other, and I'm like those two are so irrevelent where did you even get that from!? But she's crazy so that probably explains it.

Enough banter, I will see you all in a week or so :)