A/N: To all of you that are still following this story, thank you for not giving up on me! I do plan to start updating far more frequently, maybe once every two weeks. But without further ado, let the heart break begin!

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Joey refused to hole himself up in his quarters and mope, that wasn't the act of a noble. Instead Joey threw himself into fortifying the castle walls, taking care of his people, and actively paying attention the their diplomatic meetings; making sure their lost ally would not make them weak. Serenity understood why Joey refused to talk about the subject, but she worried that Joey had not let himself mourn the loss of a beautiful relationship. While they both acted blissfully, they both dreaded the day their father would come back, and learn of Joey's actions.

While having dinner one night, Joey finally spoke out.

"Am I so undesirable that I'm only good when someone wants something from me?"

Joey asked the question without looking up from his plate. Serenity bit her lip, anger and hurt swirling within. Her brother had lost his light since King Kaiba left. Joey had all but stopped talking with his colloquial accent as well.

"No. That man was just too blind to see what he was giving up." She emphasized man in a scathing manner, that one couldn't misunderstand her anger towards him.

"What if I would have let him explain? Maybe if I would have taken him aside and asked in private? What if-"

Serenity cut him off before Joey could further hurt himself. "He had plenty of times to explain, Joey. You told him who you were, he should have let you know too."

Joey's sagged and his eyes looked older. "You're right. I have to face the fact that Seto never wanted me, he just wanted to shake off an unwanted marriage."

Serenity winced. She understood Joey was hurt and she too was angry that King Kaiba had decided to hurt her brother. A part of her wanted the king to slowly die a painful death, but another part, the part of her that wanted to see Joey happy again, wanted the King to come back and make things right.

Serenity's shoulders slumped. "I should have noticed he was far too eloquent for a simple knight, but I just want to see you happy…"

Joey's eyes gleamed with unshed tears as he looked straight at Serenity's eyes. "Is it dumb to want him to come back?"

Her hand fisted in her lap, she had to hold herself back from pulling her brother into a hug. "No." She put her hand on the table reaching for Joey's hand. They hands grasped one another, both taking strength from the other.

"You little filthy no good child! You worthless dog; how dare you break an alliance with the only profitable kingdom around us!"

King Wheeler had stormed into the castle, anger ebbing out of every pore. His eyes were slightly unfocused with all his rage. He stormed up to Joey and back handed Joey so hard he fell off his seat. The king grabbed Joey by the hair and smashed his face onto the floor, causing Joey to bleed from a potentially broken nose.

"Do you want to see the kingdom fall? Is that it? Are you a traitor to your own father?"

Joey tried wheezing out a response, but could not rasp out a 'no' with the hands that were now tightening around his neck. Joey began seeing black dots in his vision and he was sure he was a goner. The king let go of him, Joey falling gracelessly to the floor once more. The king kicked him once, twice, thrice in his stomach, before he stopped his assault.

"You are no longer a prince. I strip you of your title, and name you a traitor to our kingdom. You committed treason, when you broke that contract. Guards take him to the dungeons, drag him if he can't stand, but he is not to be let out until his punishment is given."

The king may not have been sober often, and these days it was rare to not see him stumbling, but the anger he had accumulating on his way to his kingdom had been enough to get him off alcohol, sobering him enough to show Joey exactly who he had angered.

Serenity who was helplessly crying at what her father was doing to her brother, cried out when he accused Joey of treason. Before her father could tell her anything, Joey managed to wheeze out, "Don't Reni, don't want you hurt too." She nodded, but kept weeping, and she saw the guards drag Joey out of the dinning hall, feeling far more helpless than ever.

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"I'm sorry big brother."

"What is there to be sorry about?"

"I ruined your chance at happiness with the prince..." Mokuba may have been young, but he hadn't been blind to the way the prince's eyes had looked hurt, or the helpless expression Seto had made when the knight had knelt before Seto and announced him as the king.

"I already told you, I was there to break up the engagement. We got what we wanted."

Although Seto said it nonchalantly, the slight tremble in his voice, and the dark rings around his eyes, belied his words.

"Maybe if I go and try to explain what happened, or maybe if you write to him, or maybe if you go see him? Maybe this can be fixed…"

"Mokuba, stop saying nonsensical things, you and I both know that this was the best step for our kingdom."

Mokuba morosely nodded, it was the best for their kingdom, but was it best for his brother? He thought not, so without explanation, Mokuba left Seto's study and headed for his own. Mind swirling with what his letter to Joey would say.

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Nineteen. It had been nineteen whole days since he had been put in this cell. Twenty-two days since he had been so inexplicably happy, he was ready to end his engagement for a 'commoner,' rules be dammed. How quickly life changes. Joey couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped him.

A part of Joey couldn't help but be content with just laying in the cell, rotting away. He no longer had to make decisions. No longer had to worry about having people's livelihood on his hands. He couldn't trust himself on making decisions when it came to his own life, how was he expected to handle those of others? But he had nothing to occupy his mind with, and his mind often wandered to Seto. How had he not seen the glaring signs? 'Isn't that the one thing the poor have going for them' hinting that Seto was not a regular peasant. The way Seto knew how to play chess, which working class person has time for something as leisurely as chess? Or the way that Seto didn't blink an eye to being waited on! Joey had been blind to so much…

Joey hadn't seen his sister since the king's return, he wondered if she had been forbidden from coming down. He wondered what the King was planning. Would he make Reni marry someone too?

That's what truly frightened him, what future had he made for his sister? Would his dad just sell him off once more? He hoped so. He would do anything as long as his baby sister stayed out of harm's way. Joey just lay there curled up into himself, wondering what lat ahead.

"Wake up you worthless traitor, I might be able to make use of you yet."

The king hadn't come visit him either, but then again Joey hadn't thought he would until his punishment had been set. Joey sat up and didn't say anything.

"I had been planning to lend you off to pay some of my debts, but then I thought better on it, I can marry you off to Pegasus, and get pay out of you. Sure he may not be a king, but you ruined your chances for that when you betrayed me. Plus he already has a foot in the grave. You'll undoubtedly inherit all his money! Which in turn you will obviously give to me. I will have you bathed and changed into your most flattering clothes, before we are off. Don't try anything, or else it will be your sister I send."

Joey felt bile rise up his throat. His father was going to parade him like a prized cow and sell him off to the highest bidder all for greed! He wanted to launch out at the king, but refrained himself from doing so; scared of what repercussions would land on his sister.

Both the King and prince left as soon as Joey was dressed.

The night while eating dinner alone, Mokuba's letter reached the Wheeler kingdom. Serenity wanted to rip the letter in half upon seeing the emblem on the wax sealing, but refrained. A part of her hoped this was the apology Joey waited for. She was greatly disappointed upon noting the letter was from the younger prince of the Kaiba Kingdom.

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Hello Kaiba-boy,

I have just heard of your broken 'engagement' to the little blond prince. I must say, I was with much surprise and delighted that King Wheeler has contacted me to meet your prince. Perhaps he shall be my Prince? Hmmm?

Pegasus.

The letter bunched up in Seto's hand. How dare Pegasus think he will lay one hand on my blond puppy? Yours? Yes, mine. You told him his land meant nothing to you. That your engagement to him meant nothing, and you might as well have told him you never loved him. I never told him I didn't love him. So how do you plan on getting him back?

Kaiba was already coming up with many scenarios in which to get Joey back, he just had to think of one that would, once more, win Joey's affection.

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Joey didn't like Pegasus. The man was a creep. He had a full head of white hair, but his hands were faster than most teenagers! The man had led them into his dinning room, but Joey could have sworn he felt a hand on his rear. Before Joey could react the man was already striding half way down the room. Why had his father agreed to stay a week? Pegasus had all but agreed to whatever his dad had asked for. It seemed Joey was the only losing party.

"Will we all be living at your castle, one big family?" Pegasus smiled, one eye covered by his hair. 'Or will Joey and I be staying in my home' was left unsaid.

That was another thing that bothered him. Pegasus talked as if he held all the winning cards, and his sarcastic fluctuations of speech. Joey had to stop himself from punching the guy. The only upside was that Pegasus was talking down to his dad, who had to take it if he wanted the money. It was almost enough to forgive the groping.

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"Big brother!" Mokuba came in eyes wide, and filled with fear. There was a cloaked figure rushing in after him.

Seto immediately stood up, thinking his brother was in danger. He was ready to shield his brother from anything, until the person took their hood off. Princess Serenity was here.

"I may still not like you, but I have come to you for help. My father learned of the broken engagement. I have not seen my brother since the day he came home. He was accused of treason and put in the dungeons. That was almost a month ago."

"Why should I care Princess? Both you and your brother made it very clear I was not wanted near or around anything pertaining to you."

Mokuba stood in front of Seto, hand on his hips. "Don't say that Seto! We need to go help Prince Joey!" Mokuba may as well have not said anything for all the attention that was being paid to him.

"Do you have no feelings? Did you really only use my brother? Was your love for him truly a ruse?"

Of course his feelings hadn't been an act! How dare this chit think so! But you easily lied to him, maybe you lied about your feelings as well. Shut up, why would I lie about something that did not favor me? Then why are you denying help to Joey?

A memory of Joey's smiling face came to mind. Kaiba couldn't believe that it had been a month since he had seen the smiling blond. A dull ache echoed within him. Kaiba didn't know if he wanted to remain impassive or carelessly go free Joey of whatever fate he had in store, but would the blonde want him to do this? This was why he hesitated, then and now, Seto Kaiba was a coward. Hiding behind indifference, while being scared of defeat.

While Kaiba was fighting with himself, Serenity lost hope.

"If that is the case then I will be taking my leave." Serenity turned, anger and defeat swelling within her. Her last hope and rested on the arms of a cold-hearted bastard.

Before Serenity could make it to the door, Kaiba reacted. "How can we help?" He refused to be a coward!

Serenity choked back tears of release. "Would you be so averse to marry him?"

Without thought, Kaiba said "Would Joey be ok with that?"

Serenity did let tears fall then, "I've always heard that it is 'better to ask forgiveness than ask permission.'"

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Let me know what you think please R&R!