Oh dear lord, you guys are beyond precious. I'm actually thinking up of a short 10k RougeOC oneshot, nothing much yet but after Fool's Gold is done I'll be moving on to an original story that I've been planning for the past three years. 'Course finishing that might never happen since fanfiction is such a big part of my life ahahah.

I'm trying so hard to get myself back on track updating-wise but urgh you know- I want to finish writing the however many chapters left to finish this fic but I almost don't. You get me? No? Nevermind. Enjoy.

37. I Wouldn't Leave You ( For the World )

When I agreed to help her; I expected one of two things- topmost being that it was hard enough work that would take my head off of the white dragon slayer and second being that I was actually going straight to said poor village.

It seemed like a logical thought stream anyways- I could only do so much in Crocus after all. If I went straight there, not only will I reaffirm Orelohr power in that village but I'll actually be able to train using whatever spells I remembered of my old magic without having to constantly look over my shoulder.

But of course Azalia had different plans.

Very stupid plans actually.

Which involved me staying in Crocus for the reminder of the Grand Magic Games and guarding the Princess Hisui.

Which you know wouldn't have been too bad if the two didn't seem to have another hidden agenda. What were these people and hidden agendas anyways? You'd expect the system to have fallen apart by now just by sticking a sword into the heavy atmosphere of Mercurius. Seriously, every noble person that inhabited this place probably hated each other.

I wouldn't be surprised if what little I heard of the Eclipse plan was actually a secret coup d'état that Arcadios was planning against Datong.

Oh good lord, poor Krued would have to work alongside this guy when he gets promoted.

Bless his soul, I hope he survives.

I can see why no one likes him, I thought to myself as I shadowed the princess who was currently trying to swerve past the Minister of Defense's accusing gaze. He certainly gave off those creepy vibes.

I experimentally unsheathed the short sword I was handed earlier as I made eye contact with the man. I knew if Princess Hisui caught me mildly threatening the Minister, I'd be scolded for sure but it was I was more driven by curiosity than rebellion. I was still a person of noble descent and I was pretty sure news of me popping back up have spread by now thanks to the circus. I knew what the public knew of me but I hadn't exactly spent enough time with a person of high status to get a real idea of what they thought of me.

Not that my image had bothered me before-

"I like your pink hair. I like you the way you way, bunny girl."

Just as I felt the whisper of his breath against my ear, Datong reacted in a way that got me scurrying after the Princess who was now half way down the hall.

He laughed.

Bitterly. It was more of a chuckle than anything but the way he kept my gaze creeped me out more than anything. He gave me a look- like he knew I knew something that he didn't know. Which I didn't. But I was certain it had something to do with Azalia and Hisui's hidden agenda.

"Miss Orelohr," I tensed up and quickly ran up to the princess who had now rounded the corner and was waiting for me in front of a set of windows. I bowed, staring at the marble floor as she sighed and fixed her short dress.

She didn't say anything for the longest time and I was scared I might have done something to insult her. Maybe she did see me unsheathe my sword- oh gosh, and this is why Krued is a knight and I'm not.

I was about to apologize for my rudeness when she spoke up, "you used to be a Sabertooth mage."

The princess was looking out the window, her fingers tracing small flowers on the condensation and her face unreadable. Meanwhile I was having a heart attack just beside her; I am going to be killed. I knew agreeing to Azalia was going to lead me to my death.

The act wasn't that bad, was it? We tried so hard- Sting and I.

Sting...

My fingers were absently ghosting over my lips as I tried to swallow back the events leading up to my being here. His touch had haunted me ever since I got into that carriage with my sister; the phantom sensations still lingered on my skin. His fingers in my hair, his hand on my cheek, his lips on mine... It got harder to ignore what had happened with each passing second. I kept reminding myself that this was for the best, that this way I wouldn't get hurt.

But Sting's voice would always come back whispering, begging, crying into my ear.

The sound of one of the princess's rings clicking against the glass brought me back and I lowered my head.

"Yes, Princess Hisui." I answered and balled my fists into the fabric of my shirt. "I went by Lily Harvard."

She hummed, turning away from the window to stare at me. Her gaze flat and calculating.

"You're well acquainted with Sting Eucliffe, are you not?" Hearing his name out loud was worse than thinking it in my head. The way she said it so easily brought memories of how we used to joke around and worked without a care in the world. It sounded so natural on her lips and I felt so alienated all of a sudden. Like I never actually knew him. Like I was just another girl who fell for his looks. Like I was just another disillusioned girl.

"Was well acquainted," I said slowly, pulling away once again from my thoughts and hoping that my voice wouldn't crack. Tears were beginning to well up in my eyes now as I stared at everything that was not the princess. Sting was just another boy, I'll get over him.

Right?

"You used to be referred to as Bunny Girl?" I nodded, still not wanting to look up as I bit my lip.

"Sting coined that nickname when he saw my quirk one day," I whispered and tried not to think. Tried not to sob as his name came tumbling out in my voice, leaving my lips like his when we shared that kiss. Like hushed breaths and flushed- "it stuck."

I had to take a deep breath and sink my nails into my sweaty palms; it felt like such a long time ago when I finally let go of the cloak I donned and Sting saw what kind of effect he had on me.

I was choking back tears when she finally sighed and leaned over to put a hand over my clenched fist, "Miss Orelohr."

"Yes?" I looked up finally to stare at her, not caring if my facial expressions had scrunched up so much that I was now pulling an ugly face in front of her royal person. I couldn't hold it in anymore; there was so much more than I let myself believe when it came to my feelings to the white dragon slayer. When he pulled away; not only did he break my heart but I felt my spirit crumble into ashes to the wind when each and every word dangled over my head, mixing and mingling with my own personal belief.

He was more than just Sting Eucliffe to me.

He was so much more than just that.

"Did you..." her face showed the slightest bit of concern laced with curiosity and I almost laughed bitterly at that- she was a princess. She was destined for an arranged marriage; in this cruel world there was no such thing as knights in shining armor.

"I thought we had something special," I confessed between sobs. "I thought and ignored what I knew and I-"

"You loved him." She concluded and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. That question seemed to shock me to my senses and I realized just what kind of situation I got myself into.

"Love is a dangerous thing," I said, pulling away from her hands and bit into my lip until it bled. Slowly I regained my composure until I was just a shivering red-eyed mess in front of the princess. I bowed, kowtowed almost, "forgive me, my lady. I spoke out right when I shouldn't have and done things that could have been handled differently. I hope you do find it in your heart to forgive my insolence."

"But you didn't-" whatever she was going to say was interrupted when she realized I had bent down so low that I really was going to bend my knees into a kowtow. "Stand up, Miss Orelohr. Such a position is never suited for a young lady."

"But I-"

"Stand up." She merely raised her voice and I found myself face to face with her once again. I blinked tiredly as she leaned against the window and stared out into the town view it offered. "Things are changing, it'll be best if you talked things out before the end of the Games."

I didn't dare reply this time, the way she worded it was every bit suspicious and it made me wonder just why she even brought up this topic.

"You'll find the things necessary to plan for your soon journey to your family's village in your room." She started, whipping around and looked every bit as royal as she should. "But before then, I would like you to think of what I just said. You are dismissed, Miss Orelohr."

I bowed once again and she clapped her hands only for a maidservant to appear right beside her. She left just like that, leaving me to my thoughts in front of a giant pane of glass with a scenic view.

I wasn't lying when I said that love was a dangerous thing. To my knowledge, love has led to more deaths than all the wars combined. Love leads to irrational thoughts and for me to admit that I love Sting Eucliffe. It was-

( It was maddening and before I knew it, he began tickling me, tackling me to the ground with a mischievous smirk and wouldn't stop until I was begging for mercy with tears in my eyes. We were both laughing like crazy when we realized the position we were in. His head was hovering over mine, his hand on my hips when someone coughed awkwardly. )

( "C-can we meet after this?" His head snapped at me, his expression unreadable as the two exceeds entered the room like we predicted. I panicked at his silence and started to flail around, getting up and bowing. "W-what am I saying! O-of course, we can't. This was a just a pure coincidence." I laughed nervously and scratched the back of my head, b-lining to the door, "this wasn't supposed to happen anyways. Bye!" )

( Both hands were on me now; playing with my hair, stroking my cheek, pushing me closer against him and encouraging me to reciprocate his passion. Before I could even put a thought to it, my arms were already wrapped around his neck and I followed shyly to his gentle nips and loving dance. )

I didn't just how it happened- how my crush turned into something more. Maybe it was when he first sent me out to find Wendy, or when Emily bust into the infirmary after I found out I was now a blond or when he found me in the inn throwing up. All I knew I always had this conversation with myself and I always came up with the same conclusion.

But the memories.

The memories.

The feeling of warm arms wrapped around me and a gaze so compelling... It was foolish to have ignored all this before, to try to run away from it again.

I loved Sting Eucliffe. I love Sting Eucliffe.

I love him so much.

I love his voice, his touch, his face, his personality. I love how much he cared, how he was always so fun. I love how careless he could be sometimes, his arrogance, his ignorance. I love his laugh, his scoff, his butt.

I love him for everything he was.

And even if he didn't feel the same way I did, I knew this was only going to kill me until I couldn't hold it anymore.

For a moment, I worried if this was Azalia's plan all along but I shook it off as I took in a deep breath. No more crying, plan or not I was obviously not going to leave Crocus now. I had promised him.

I was his best friend. I wasn't going to leave him. Not for the world.

But actions spoke louder than words. Speaking with him was an entirely another matter.

Sting has a nice butt. Don't lie to me, you know you've checked it out some point in the manga/anime. Hahhaha.

So yeah, further analysis on Lilian's feelings. Next chapter will be all about Sting. And then maybe two chapters until the end or something. I don't know, we'll see since I all but abandoned my plot outline. Oops.

Review?