A short chapter to get the other chapter in motion. We're finally getting closer to solving this mystery and finding a way to get Oz back in his country. The reunion between Alice and Oz will soon happen.

Now for those of you who haven't noticed it yet, the Ozbert is coming very slowly. Don't worry, I've got it all planned out, don't hate me, though. It'll happen tho! just a few more chapters or so ^^But this story isn't just about Gil and Oz as you must have already noticed. In all my other stories I often focus too much on just them and kind of ignore all the others... and well, this fic isn't going to be like that. Hopefully I'm doing it good without boring you all?

I don't own Pandora hearts

Tell me if you find any spelling mistakes.

A week had passed; time seemed to go faster then usual. He had spend most of it in the Garland's small library, putting as much effort in his research as possible. He read book after book, trying learn anything new. Something that might help, but after every book he finished without gaining any useful knowledge, the Vesalius found himself losing hope. The pile of read books just seemed to get bigger and bigger, servants didn't dare to clean up the mess they made in the library, too afraid they might move something important. While they did know who he really was, they somehow knew his life seemed to depend on it.

The prince had been more then lucky with Dalia by side, the young woman had been more then happy to help him. She even went to the city if he needed some information about a certain subject they didn't have in their books. In the past week, a lot of money had been spend on scrolls and even more books. She let her servants buy all sorts of newspapers just so that he could every piece of information there was to be found about his case. He couldn't be more grateful for the young lady's help. Dalia had made it rather obvious how much she hated going outside and leaving her ill father behind, but she still did this just to help him. Him. A boy she had just met.

The newspapers did not bring him enough information. More then three months had passed; the tragedy was no longer new. While the whole country was still decorated with 'Wanted' posters of his face, life went on. People didn't even bat an eyelash anymore once you mentioned the Vesalius, and while Glen had declared war on his country, no arrangements had been made yet.

"Perhaps they think it's useless. For all we know, it could be some distant relative sitting on the throne, someone who wasn't involved in the accident." Dalia had said.

To which he could only smile at her, knowing she meant well. "No… Glen was friends with my cousin Jack… I'm more then certain he's protecting him." They had been spending hours in the Garland's mansion, reading book after book. A butler had served both breakfast and lunch there and gave up on asking if they didn't need some fresh air after both had shrugged him off with a kind smile and a 'no, we're good'. The old man had sighed and mumbled something about them needing glasses soon if all they did was read such big books wit only small letters in.

"Which could mean… anything." The Garland sighed, her mood brightened a little once she remembered something to which Oz raised both eyebrows once he saw her perk up like a little child. He had noticed just how fast she opened to him and showed him many other sides of herself. "I talked with Hans yesterday!"

"Did you?" that was amazing news! "Why didn't you call me?" he didn't mean to make her feel guilty, yet the raven haired girl still lowered her gaze for a second, remorse written all over her face. Oh.

"Ah… sorry. I guess I should have," she admitted softly, "It's just… it's just that, you seemed so tired last night. You could barely make it to your room… and Hans showed up very late, I just happened to be awake at that moment. I'm truly sorry Oz, would you rather have I wake you up the next time?"

"It's fine…" he still nodded though, "And I'd like to be present next time, thank you… So, what did he have to say?" the book he had been reading lay forgotten on the large wooden desk, so far the only useful information he had read had been the chapter about the King's protection program in the Vesalius kingdom.

"Right!" the smile reappeared on her face again. "It seems that his master Elliot Nightray has been spending most of his time at the palace. It seems that him and Vanessa got into a huge fight about this."

"Elliot, huh."

Dalia nodded, "Vanessa accused him of working together with the princess, "you're trying to save the prince" or something like that." She closed the book she had been reading and sighed, rubbing her forehead. She seemed tired, the prince noted. "Have you talked to princess Alice yet?" she then asked, "Gilbert told me the bond should be healed by now."

He smiled, because that's all he could do really. Even though his eyes remained void of any emotion and it was obvious that the smile was forced. It was an old habit he had easily slipped right back in once the time for mourning was over. He could no longer waste time over crying.

The answer was no, he hadn't said a single word to Alice. The princess had tried to reach out to him many times before, but he had put a wall between them. Kept her from entering his thoughts and completely blocked out her voice. Sometimes he could still hear her, it did nothing to him, only made the feeling of guilt grow. "No, I haven't." he softly admitted and leaned back into the chair. The desk they had been working on stood in the middle of the library. His back was faced to the many windows; he didn't need to turn around to know it was slowly getting dark. Dalia had already lit up two candles. But he knew it would soon be impossible to read without hurting their eyes.

He had found so much information, that theoretically he should be safe. He knew that according by the law, Glen had no reason at all to execute him without giving him a proper trial, he knew he had enough people that would stand up for him in court. The prince knew the Vesalius throne was now rightfully his and could claim it back any moment.

Theoretically, he was safe.

In real life, he couldn't set a foot in a public place without having to worry about getting shot right then and there. Oz was no fool; he knew the law better then anyone, knew the holes and knew how to use it for his own benefit. But he as well, knew no better then any other how easily people –and more importantly, royals would ignore the law when it came to themselves.

Anything could be bought, as long as you had the status and money.

He had seen his father get away with murder multiple times without anyone running straight towards the newspapers or Pandora. He had seen how rich men used their servants and treated the poor like scum.

"Do you think I'm worthy?"

He hadn't even realized what he had just done before it was already too late, he felt a familiar presence enter his mind, he couldn't help but relax once everything clicked right back into its place. He knew she was smiling before she could answer, her thoughts already flooded in his mind before she could voice her answers. Took you long enough, she whispered. "You'll be the best king that country has ever had."

He smiled again, the blond lifted his head to gaze at the beautiful painted ceiling, decorated by many historical people walking in the clouds, reading the stars and telling stories to anyone entering the library. Even tough the Garland's library was smile, it was still beautiful and held one of the more important books. –"One of the reasons why we lost so much money is because my grandfather spend most of our money on books."- Dalia had one told him after she caught him staring for too long.

"Oz… are you done hiding?"

"I am." The boy looked up to meet Dalia's gaze, he took a deep breath, "Can I invite some people over?"

To which the raven smiled in return, her eyes had this beautiful little twinkle. When she smiled, her whole face seemed to lit up, and this melancholic aura the girl always seemed to have around her vanished. It was moments like this, when he saw her smiling like, that Oz understood what Gil saw in her.

Gilbert and Dalia were made for each other, they deserved each other. Just like Oz had always been meant to marry Alice, not out of love. But because, more then anything, he needed his best friend by his side to guide him. While the blond was good at solving riddles on his own, he needed Alice to understand that sometimes… riddles could only be solved completely with the help of others.

Perhaps the reason why he couldn't accept Alice to enter back into his life wasn't just because he wanted to keep her out of harm, he realized he was also a coward. He had been frightened of what she must have thought of him, what if she hated him for what Glen accused him of doing?

"You're ridiculous. I could never hate you."

I know Alice, I know.