Sorry for a late update. I had stuff, but now I have time. I hope you like this chapter, and thanks to everyone who is reviewing. It keeps me motivated to continue this story. :)

Len's POV

The next morning I awoke, as the sun was just rising. With a yawn, I pushed myself out of bed and almost called out to Dell to come have the servants make me breakfast. Then I realized that I was not in the comforts of my castle, but some dingy home in the middle of nowhere.

The scent of something baking drifted into the small room, and I was drawn downstairs. Quickly, I ran to the large kitchen and saw Rin baking bread. Despite it probably made from low quality ingredients, it smelled amazing. It was unlike any scent at the palace.

"Good morning," Rin smiled, as she turned towards me. "I hope you slept well." I gave a nod, and wandered closer to her. She set a loaf of bread down on the table, and cut it in half. She handed me one of the halves.

"Again, I apologize for the meal," she said. Rin turned back to pull another loaf from the oven, as I snacked on my bread. It tasted good, almost as good as the soup Rin made yesterday. Though I had only tasted her cooking a few times, it was a thousand times better than what I was normally used to.

"By the way," Rin said, as she set her last loaf on the table. "Could you deliver this bread to some people? I need to help Gakupo out with something this morning, and I don't have the time to do the deliveries." I recalled that Gakupo had been the sword smith with the long, purple hair. I wonder what business Rin could have with him.

"I'd really rather not," I replied truthfully. Being someone's delivery boy was not something a prince did. It was a job meant for the lower class. Rin simply nodded, and said in return, "That's okay, I think I can manage anyways." I felt a pang of pain in my stomach. What was this? Did her bread poison me?

Rin grabbed a basket and set the loaves of bread inside. She covered them with a small towel, and headed towards the door.

"Wait," I said, grabbing her shoulder. "I guess I could deliver them." I instantly regretted saying that. Rin gave me a big smile, and handed me the basket.

"Thank you so much," she beamed. "Just drop one loaf off at all the houses. Everyone should be home." With that, she quickly ran out the door to Gakupo's. She seemed to be in a hurry.

With a sigh, I walked outside and observed the small town. Even though it was small, there were still quite a few houses. At least fifteen and that meant lots of walking. I noticed a girl with a long ponytail working outside her house in a garden.

I walked over to her, and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and revealed a face covered in dirt. It must have been from her garden, but it made her look poor and pathetic. I handed her the loaf of bread, and she gave a smile.

"You must be that newcomer, Len?" she said. News travels fast here, doesn't it?

"Yes," I replied, my voice filled with boredom. I had no desire to stay and chat with this girl, since I have things to do.

"You seem a bit weak, but I'm sure Kaito will train you in no time," she laughed. "You'll be a great addition to our little rebel force." There was the mention of that rebellion again. I guess everyone in the village really is in on it. I'll have to have this village eliminated as soon as I return to the palace. It isn't safe to have rebels like these people around.

"I'm Neru," the girl said, sticking out her hand. It was covered in a thick layer of dirt. With a look of disgust, I turned to leave to go to the next house.

The drunken woman from yesterday was in the next house I visited, but she wasn't as drunk now. She looked down at the bread as she opened her door, and snatched it from my hands. Her glare would have made any normal person uncomfortable, but I was unaffected.

"I don't trust you," she said, with a growl. "A rich bastard like you has no place here. You'll be killed as soon as you step foot in a fight. Go back to your mansion or something." She slammed the door in my face, and I felt a bit frightened now. She was scary.

As I was about to leave, the door opened again. I expected it to be the scary lady, so I turned to run. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Wait!" The glasses man from yesterday was standing in the doorway with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Meiko can be a bit harsh sometimes. She isn't very trustworthy of people since her encounter with the prince."

"What encounter?" I asked, almost immediately. It's not like I really cared, but I had never seen that woman in my life.

"You see," the man started. "A couple years back, one of the prince's right-hand men, a shady looking fellow with graying hair, came to Meiko's village searching for some extra help. This was before the prince had developed his bad reputation, so Meiko accepted a job, hoping to earn some money to pay for those drinking habits of hers. She thought her job would be cleaning stables or something, but the prince had different plans in my mind. Turns out, he was just gathering people and forcing them to work. They didn't get paid, and were treated like animals."

I had no recollection of such things. Dell did all the hiring of servants and staff, but I had always assumed that they were treated fairly. Not that I cared much though.

"I was working for the prince at the time. I was his tutor, though it was the most miserable job I had ever had. That's when I met Meiko. I found her in the courtyard, covered in muck, exhausted after her day's work. I fell in love instantly. I started to talk with her and we really hit it off, but she made me realize the prince's true cruelty. She and I escaped the palace and found our way to this town, in the hopes of making the prince pay for his crimes against his people."

So the glasses man was Kiyoteru. I remember him leaving suddenly, right in the middle of the year. Dell claimed that he had quit, and never mentioned anything about trying to escape. Was the palace that much of a prison to some people?

"I'm sorry for boring you with such a story," Kiyoteru chuckled. "People are waiting for that bread, are they not?" I nodded, and ran off to deliver the bread. But I found myself deep in thought over what Kiyoteru had told me.

A FEW HOURS LATER

The last of the bread had been delivered, and I walked back to Rin's house with an empty basket. The morning was almost over, and changing to the afternoon. I was surprised to see Rin and Gakupo talking outside of the house.

"Len!" Rin exclaimed, as she saw walking. "Come here, I have a surprise!" Not feeling the least bit excited, I walked over.

"What?" I asked, in an irritated tone. I didn't mean to sound like that, but it just came out that way. But Rin's smile didn't falter.

"Surprise!" she shouted, as she pulled a long object from behind her back. It was a sword, and a very well made one at that.

"Gakupo made this for you, after Kaito and I decided you needed a sword more your size," Rin smiled. "I'm surprised Gakupo made such a sword so fast, but here it is." She set the sword in my hands, and its tip gleamed in the sunlight.

I stared at it in awe. It was very beautiful and looked like it could slice through a man in an instant.

"Now you'll be able to start training," Rin said. "After all, it's only a matter of months." I didn't know what she was talking about, but I didn't care at the moment.

"Do you like it?" Rin asked. "Is it too big? Or do have better swords than that back at your home? We can always try again if you don't like it." I still don't understand why Rin does so much to please me. She'd probably jump off a cliff if I asked her too.

"It's…nice," I said, looking up to Rin's face. Her blue eyes radiated happiness, and my stomach started to hurt again.

"That's great!" Rin cheered, as she wrapped her arms around me in a huge embrace. I was taken aback by the sudden hug, but felt my cheeks heat up. I wanted to ask her to let go, but I couldn't. What is this strangeness I'm feeling?

Rin's POV

I quickly let go of Len once I realized what I was doing. Nobles like him probably aren't used to being hugged. Along with that, my face was a bright red. I had hugged guys plenty of times though, so I'm not sure why I'm blushing.

"Why don't you go see Kaito?" I offered, as the redness on my face slowly disappeared. "He can teach you to use that thing better than me. He's a great teacher." I spoke from experience. Kaito taught me most of what I know about how to use a sword, even though I'm a tad better at fighting.

Len nodded, and headed off in the direction of Kaito's house. I giggled a bit. Len was so stiff and showed little emotion. He was like a little kid in a new place, too afraid to show what he's feeling. I'm sure he'll open up a bit once he gets used to being here.

"You can go back if you want," I said, turning towards Gakupo. "Luka is probably looking for you anyways." Gakupo's face turned a deep red, and I laughed loudly. He grumbled something, and headed away. It's so easy to bug him.

I headed back inside, and grabbed my own sword and decided to have a bit of practice. Behind my house, I set up a small hay bale with some markings to practice aim. It was no high class training ground, but it worked well for me.

I thrust my sword into the hay with a hard push. It went through effortlessly. It was easy enough to defeat a hay bale, but an actual person would be much harder. That was one of the things I feared most about the rebellion we had planned.

I don't think I could attack a person. If I injured, or even killed someone, I don't think I could ever forgive myself. The prince might be the only exception to that, though. I wouldn't mind slicing him into pieces. And after all, if the prince wasn't removed from his throne, what's the point of a rebellion?

I thought about all the people that the prince had wronged. So many had suffered at his whim. Not just my friends, but many others who I will probably never meet. It's unfair that the prince ruined so many lives. If I ever get the chance, I'll have to kill him, for my friends, and for everyone else.

And for Len, a voice said in the back of my mind. I felt my cheeks turn a bit red. Yes, I wanted to do it for Len too. I suspect that the prince attacked Len's family, since they were nobility, and Len was behind after the destruction. He's still probably in shock from what happened, and that's why he appears cold-hearted.

But despite his seriousness, I always feel happy around him. His presence brings joy, like when I was with Rinto. I haven't felt this kind of happiness since I've been with Rinto. I'm not sure why, but I want Len to open up to me. I'd like to become good friends, but that might take a while. But I'm willing to wait, but I have to ask. What is this happiness I keep feeling?

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