Yeay, another update~ Thank you for your continuous support to this story. When writing this and other stories, I think I kinda realised that I'm not meant to write romance story~ Don't worry, I will continue and finish the story until the end~

I have a question though, does anyone actually realised that Arthur and his partner are important characters in this story? Only in this chapter that who his partner is is revealed, but yeah~

Anyway, shouldn't rant too much, enjoy!

Gilbert was ecstatic, but not because of the Prince. The fact that he was able to make friends was already enough to make him feel joy. At that moment, he completely forgot that he was even with the Prince. What's on his mind was just the fact that he just gotten a friend. Gilbert smiled widely and Feliciano, feeling safer not using his real name, smiled shyly.

He did not forget what he was there for though, he suddenly remembered about that man who had introduced himself as Oliver to him, the Prince's attendant he supposed.

"Lovi! Your… No, would you see the fireworks with me?!" he offered, a bit too excitedly. Regardless, Gilbert actually followed the instruction he had been given. He remembered that Oliver told him that he should not said that it was his attendant who wanted himself to invite the Prince or he might disagree.

Feliciano was a bit taken aback by the sudden invitation, he was not used to all of this. He was not used to dealing with people, he really spent too much time by himself in his solitary tower during his childhood. He never had a friend either. However, the invitation actually made his heart fluttered. He felt that for once, that he was being recognised, that someone actually realised and cared for him. Anyway, after all that happened, he did want to see the fireworks.

Friends, companionship, party and others, all things that had seemed to be a dream for Feliciano had never been seem so close to him before.

"O-okay. Gil," his voice was soft, slight hesitation could still be heard.

Gilbert did not catch that though, without any hesitation, he held Feliciano's hand and led him out of the dark corner of the palace. He brought him to the open garden, one of the largest garden in the palace. The flowers were blooming at that season and everything looked beautiful, topped with the large fountain that shined in the centre of it all.

"It's beautiful."

It was Feliciano muttering, much to Gilbert's surprise. He turned to see the expression that the other boy had made. It was something that he did not expect at all, something akin to adoration. It seemed as if it was his first time presented with a sight like that.

"Lovi?"

"Ah, no, it's just that, It's been a long time… since I went outside of the palace."

Feliciano's word was true, but Gilbert, not knowing that he was not actually with the real Prince Vargas, interpreted his words as something different. He thought that because he was the Prince of such a large Kingdom that he was not allowed to roam freely. He could not stopped thinking, he had thought before that becoming a Prince, a real one, would be the best blessing that one could have. Yet, looking at the small Prince beside him now made him doubted that.

Gilbert kept walking, but his wandering thought made him tripped on a small pebble and he fell flat on his face, creating a kinda loud thudding sound in the process.

"!- A-are you okay?"

Gilbert tried to support himself using his two hands, man, he could not feel even lamer at that point of time. He scratched his head and turned towards Feliciano, smiling, trying to gesture that he was fine. Feliciano looked at him, a bit dusty and all, but he was fine nonetheless, until he saw a scratch on the palm of Gilbert's hand. Then he remembered something, something that his mother had taught him about when he was small (and scratched himself often).

He looked around, only stopped when he spotted a white coloured wild flower in the middle of the grassy area. He plucked it off and walked towards Gilbert who was still sitting on the ground.

"Gil, your hand," at that point of time, all the hesitation before seemed to have disappear from Feliciano's speech.

"Eh?" Gilbert still a bit confused, but he gave his hand obediently and that was when he realised that there was a scratch on his palm. It doesn't hurt that much and honestly, he was too used to it, he fell down too often when he was even smaller.

Feliciano used the flower he had picked before, it produces some kind of grease and he gently smeared it over the wound. Careful not to press too hard as he knew it would be painful.

"Thank you, you're good at this," Gilbert said with a smile.

A slight blush formed in Feliciano's face, even a simple word of 'thank you' meant so much to him, he smiled too, "I used to fall down when I was small. My mom taught me about this, a natural ointment for wound. It works very well!"

He's still small. That's the first thing that came into Gilbert's mind, but he did not said it out loud, "Haha, I fell down a lot too! We're the same!"

This time, Feliciano let out a laugh. They chatted for some times, sharing smiles and laughters in between. For both of them who never felt this kind of companionship before, it was something that they did not want to end. Both of the felt so happy, so grateful that they were able to meet each other. Unknown to them, their meeting was a nothing but what's supposed to be a cruel fate.

The clock almost struck nine. It was almost the time for firework, Gilbert remembered. He looked at Feliciano, his reserved self seemed to be gone already. Whenever he looked at Feliciano though, Gilbert could not help but to think if there was anything he could do for him. Feliciano looked so small in his eyes and considering that his freedom was restrained, he could not help but to want to do something.

"Lovi, what's your dream?" Gilbert suddenly asked, grabbing Feliciano's hand with his uninjured palm. His small hand fits perfectly under his grab.

"Dream?" Feliciano stopped to think, he remembered when he used to stare at the garden, the beautiful scenery from the narrow window he had in the tower, and suddenly his eyes beamed with excitement "I want to explore the world!"

Gilbert did not miss it. Feliciano's eyes shined like it never before and it was one satisfying feeling for Gilbert to know that even Feliciano could be that excited. But it reminded him of other things, for a Prince to wish to explore the world, how confined was his world, really?

"I know!" Gilbert suddenly stood up, a brilliant idea came to his mind, "You know? I have a dream also!"

Feliciano was a bit startled but he still kept his attention at the older boy.

"I want to be a knight! The best knight in the entire world! I know of course the awesome me would be able to do it. But now there's something else that I want to do!" Gilbert looked at Feliciano, pulled him so he stood up on par with him. Of course that the other was visibly shorter than him, but they looked at each other in the eyes, "I will be your knight! You will be the Prince and I will be your knight! I will protect you and then we can go and explore the world!"

Never for once in Feliciano's life that he was given that much hope. At that point of time, he did not even care anymore that he was not actually the prince. He just wanted to be given a chance to stay with Gilbert and maybe… just maybe… let his dream came true…

"It's a promise!" Gilbert offered his pinky finger. Offered may not be the correct word, he basically took Feliciano's pinky in his and just like that, the promise was made.

Feliciano actually felt a bit hesitant. He wondered what would Gilbert feel if he said that he was not the Prince? He wanted to tell Gilbert the truth, he wanted to came clear with his first friend.

"Gil, I!"

BANG!

DOR!DOR!DOR!

A loud sound, accompanied by the flashing lights of the fireworks surrounded the area. After that, the scene was etched to Gilbert's mind like a curse. Feliciano fell into the ground, red covered every part of his body. His brown hair was stained with red and no longer was he able to see the hazel colour of his eyes. And Gilbert screamed. Loud and even louder, he screamed for help.

Watching the whole scene was Arthur, on the tree with a sniper rifle rested on his hand. Smoke coming out from its mouth, indicating the recent use. He cursed himself. He had just missed.

-PRESENT TIME-

"After that, help came and they separated both of us. And the Kingdom was closed to public for a few years." Gilbert finished his story.

Lovino kept quiet throughout the whole story. Everything that Gilbert said seemed so real, but somehow, nothing ringed a bell in Lovino's mind. He did not have any recollection of anything similar happened to him.

"Lovi?" Gilbert asked, breaking the silence. His face was one of concern.

Lovino sighed, "That's all for today," and just like that, he left Gilbert alone.

The sun was starting to set when a figure approached the large tree on the backyard. He leaned on the stone wall separating him from that tree and started to open his mouth.

"How's your day, Arthur?"

There was a moment of silence before another voice was heard, it was coming from a silhouette above one of the larger tree branches.

"You're late. What have you been doing?"

"You know I'm busy, as usual."

Arthur sighed, "By the way, I see that there are a lot of guards suddenly. What's the occasion?"

Another moment of silence was observed, Arthur looked around the palace. It was true that there were more guards patrolling around the area. However, it was still an easy feat for Arthur to stay hidden with his cloak blending with the darkness surrounding him.

"We have an intruder."

"Hoo, from where?"

"I don't know. But that's not important now. I need you to confirm something."

Arthur was curious, he at last turned around and looked at his partner in crime, studying his expression which was subtly hidden by the shadow, "What is it?"

"The prince, I think there are two of them."

It took him a few minutes before he realised the meaning of that sentence, a smirk formed in his lips, "I see. That's interesting. When would you like it?"

"Anytime you like. Anytime you can."

Arthur let out a small laughter, he now changed his attention from his partner to one specific window in the middle of the palace. He stretched out his hands, simulating a frame to aim at the corner of the window.

"Make sure you do your job properly, Alfred."

NOTES : I just realised this is a very short chapter