After everything had calmed outside, the company moved inside the house to warm up and assess any damage. Lenalee had tried to fuss over Lavi and Kanda, who were dying not a full hour ago, but the two would not have it. Lavi insisted that, since their ailments had been brought on by magical means and a curse that was no longer present, they had all made a full and instantaneous recovery.

Lenalee finally gave up after being continuously reassured by Lavi and Kanda, who stated vehemently that he was perfectly fine, and went to sit on one of the sitting room chairs. Lavi went with her and began checking for any wounds she may have sustained trekking through the surrounding forests. When he'd finished with her, he moved on swiftly to Tyki who was covered in scratches by that point.

It was decided that day that Tyki would stay at the castle for an extended period of time. Allen, Kanda and Lavi wasted no time in testing to make sure every aspect of the curse had been lifted. The men took off early the next morning and ventured around the abandoned town, something they had not been able to do for decades. To their excitement, they were each able to pass the gate and venture into the town.

Perhaps it was because their castle was immaculately kept because they cared for it every day without fail, but the condition of the rest of the town astonished and well as dismayed the three.

Despite their meeting and that they had both wanted the same woman, Allen and Tyki quickly grew close. Tyki didn't quite like the name Allen, it was a little too neat and tidy for Tyki. Even though he was a lord, he was much more fond of informal things. He soon coined the nickname Boy for Allen to which the white haired boy was immediately irked.

Tyki and Allen began to have arguments heated enough to rival Allen and Kanda's. In between their arguments, the two found that they had a lot in common. Tyki's favorite hobby was reading and he did it often when he was bored. Allen liked to read to as it was his only look into the outside world for a long time and had a magnificent library that he let Tyki use for the duration of his stay.

The next morning, Allen, Lavi and Kanda left the mansion to see if every aspect of their curse had indeed been lifted. True enough, they were able to pass through the gate and into the town, something they hadn't been able to do in years. They didn't know what they'd expected, but it was worse than they could have imagined.

They stayed together in silence for a while after that, the sight of the town so deteriorated driving home the full extent of time's passing. But they would fix it, they knew, and make it even better than before.

They set to work a few weeks later. Tyki used his connections to get merchants and builders to venture to the long forgotten town. He fabricated a story that a descendant of the monarch that once ruled over the barren kingdom and lived in the castle had come to Mater with the intention of reviving the once prosperous kingdom. Needless to say, everyone who heard this ate it up. All wanted to meet the mysterious Mr with royal blood.

Kanda, Lavi, Tyki and even Allen set to work cleaning up the forest. They needed it to be easier for there to be travel in and out of Mater and the forest was the only way. The trees and plants were watered, weeded and trimmed. Once they had, through extensive labor, cleared the foliage away enough to allow carts and carriages to pass through, the men laid down stones and mortar to make a simple pathway fit for both feet and wheels.

Once in awhile during the process, Lavi would stop and just watch Allen work. He enjoyed the sight as it reminded him of the loving, hard working boy Allen used to be. He had never minded being dirty or tired. He appeared where he was needed and just had fun. Lavi remembered when he first began seeing the change in his friend.

It was slight at first, the irritation with being kept waiting for something and lack of appreciation for those doing jobs around the castle. The boy who never seemed to care about behaviors more fitting of royalty began to take on regal airs. Complaining about food and service quality, belittling the servants, visiting the town less, dressing and acting like he couldn't stand to hurt or dirty himself for fear of his reputation being hurt. He began to take part in more social functions and held extravagant balls.

He even began to use that gentleman personality of his to methodically flirt with the women who attended his balls. Lavi, since they had been close friends for years, was one of the only people who worked in the castle he still lowered himself enough to talk to, along with Kanda. Allen began to confide in him things Lavi had to do a double take at to make certain he heard right.

He had to try not to choke when Allen would talk about getting married as if it were just a contract. Though he had never said it specifically, Allen had indicated he wanted to marry a noblewoman solely to benefit him politically. He also noted how women could be useful to have around for things like cooking and cleaning and keeping the castle. He would end up turning the poor lady into a servant rather than a bride! Lavi remembered thinking.

It was that night that the fairy came and cursed Allen and the castle. Lavi knew that what was said that day was the catalyst for her coming; Allen had crossed a line that day. When hiring people to work, Allen had paid due attention to a person's skills, but always chose based on their personality and if he liked them. Before he changed, he had always treated and chosen the staff well and they all felt like friends or family.

It was likely due to Allen's change in character in the last years, Lavi believed, that most of the staff besides him and Kanda left. Everyone else left, some left for fear while others thought of it as their chance to escape from the prison Allen had turned the castle into. The castle was soon to become a more literal prison and any one of them that had been loyal enough to endure that with Allen, no longer cared for the person he was.

Lavi and Kanda, on the other hand, could never have even thought of leaving. They had all been the best of friends since Lavi and Kanda started working at the castle and met Allen. When the fairy told them the conditions of the curse, she told them that they could leave or stay, it was their decision, but they would have to live with their decision for eternity. In the end, Lavi and Kanda cared too much.

Even though his eyes showed his need for them, it took the boy years to show verbal thanks for them having stayed. They had been there for him ever since, comforting their friend and catching his tears when they fell. It was painfully clear to Lavi how much Allen relied on them and even Kanda knew.

Now, though, seeing Allen truly like he used to be, Lavi felt for the first time like the curse had a purpose. It brought him his best friend back and that was worth more than Lavi could say. He also had to thank Lenalee, it was all thanks to her and her kind heart that this happened.

The hiring began after the forest was cleared out and the first merchants came through. The town still had to be cleaned and rebuilt, but no one was set to move in yet and they unanimously decided that the castle should be brought to life first. Tyki had become a big part of the process of bringing Mater back. He had surprising strength and stamina for a nobleman. Since Tyki had been of so much help even before the curse had been lifted and seeing as he had taken it upon himself to deal with many of the pertinent political matters Allen suddenly had to reacquaint himself with, Allen gave him the title of Royal Advisor and Chief of Cabinet.

Since there there was still so much work to do, they took turns interviewing the many people who came for jobs while the others would busy themselves with other tasks. Tasks like dealing with merchants and political matters, getting recently hired staff settled and other things. A new kingdom with a castle in need of servants was a big thing and drew people in from all over, many having worked in high class homes.

Compared to how many servants applied, they hired very few. There was a man, Noise Marie, who was hired to be the main gardener even though Allen insisted he could do all the gardening himself. A man named Bak Chang was hired to manage the servants. He obviously had a thing for Lenalee, but Allen and Lenalee just laughed it off as a harmless crush. They even hired Krory to work for them.

Among other hires, there was a middle aged woman they ended up hiring named Miranda Lotto. She wanted to be a maid and seemed to have all the credentials for it, but had a high strung personality. Tyki, Allen and Lenalee ended up interviewing her together. It started with her going to sit down and she ended up sitting down too hard and falling backward in the chair. She then proceeded to jump back up at an amazing speed and heartfelt apologies spewed from her mouth without end.

The rest of the interview with Miranda Lotto went like that. Miranda would timidly but excitedly answer the questions the group asked her. Every few minutes, she would do something clumsy and would apologize profusely. The three of them would then try their best to calm her down and placate the kindly woman. Tyki found her especially interesting and began to watch her every move with renewed interest.

Not long after the castle began to fill with people as it once was, the builders set to work on the town. Tyki and Allen (not to mention Kanda and Lavi, when needed) made a commanding presence that assured the builders would work quickly and efficiently. Every time a home was rebuilt up to living standard, someone was allowed to move in and slowly but surely the town became populated again.

The news of a new kingdom being brought to life by an actual King had spread very far by that point. Now, and with Tyki using his connections, many other royals and nobles were (if you'll forgive the expression) foaming at the mouth to set up relations with Allen. By the time a full year rolled around, Mater was a beacon of light in the land. The trees and the grass were growing back in full, the castle was flourishing and the town even more so. A cursory glance would still reveal that they were pulling themselves out of some hard times, but they were on their way and things were going smoothly.

A year and a half after the incident when Allen and Lenalee professed their love for each other found the couple on the day of their wedding. Allen and Lenalee were friendly with everyone in town and visited the town often. They would even play with the children that moved in with their families. All of the townspeople loved them so it only made sense that they'd have an open wedding in the center of town so all could attend. All the townsfolk thought that the two were a perfect match.

They needed a lot of food so that everyone could partake of the delightful feast, but their amazing chef, Jerri, was well suited to the task and, in fact, relished the challenge. He made lots of treats from all over the world and they were all perfect, it was one of the special things that Jerry could do. He also made an amazing and large wedding cake. The cake was seven tiers, each of a different flavor, of white buttercream frosting. Every tier was decorated with Allen's signature white roses.

Lenalee's wedding dress was simple but beautiful, with a long train the ivory dress was long enough to meet the floor if she didn't pick it up. Miranda took this opportunity to braid Lenalee's hair specially for the wedding. She braided in some of the roses from that very special flower bush in the garden. Lenalee looked so beautiful in her white dress surrounded by flowers.

Lenalee herself was incredibly nervous. She had waited impatiently for this day for more than a year yet now that it was here, she was so scared. It wasn't that she didn't want to be getting married to Allen, the opposite, actually. She was so excited to be married to him that she was cracking up over it. He wouldn't decide that he didn't want to get married at the last minute, would he? No, that was crazy since they made this decision together.

Lenalee continued to pace and worry until Miranda came and got her so the wedding could start. Lenalee managed to get even more worked up on the walk from the room she was using to where Allen was waiting. She was just to the point of hyperventilation when they got to the place where everyone was waiting.

What she saw was something greater than she could ever have imagined. All the people of the town were crowded in, all smiling and all there to show their support. Kanda and Lavi were there and Komui and Bak and, in the center of them all standing at the altar, was Allen. He looked amazing.

Allen wore a black suit that brought out the startling light of his eyes and hair, not to mention his smile. Oh, that smile, the one that always reached to his eyes. It spread across his cheeks and animated his face. She saw him standing there waiting for her amongst their friends and family. His smile widened when he saw her in her wedding dress.

Miranda handed Lenalee her bridal bouquet and went to stand at the altar next to where Lenalee would be standing in a moment. Komui diligently took up his place next to Lenalee and took her arm. Together, they began slowly walking down the aisle. When they reached the altar, Lenalee turned to give her brother a hug. As she did, he returned it and whispered some parting words in her ear.

"I couldn't have hoped for you to marry a better man." Komui smiled gently at his precious little sister. At some point she had become a woman and he hadn't even noticed.

Lenalee returned the smile with an appreciative one of her own and extricated herself from her brother to stand next to Allen. He immediately took her hand in his own and squeezed it comfortingly but gently. She looked into his eyes and saw the beautiful mix of love and kindness she had gotten so used to seeing in the last few years. They were both so engrossed in each other's eyes that the minister had to clear his throat to get their attention.

After the vows, Lenalee threw the bouquet and she went with Allen do the cake cutting ceremony. Many of the women attending the wedding wanted to catch the bouquet, not just because the queen threw it but because it was also said that whoever caught the bouquet would get married soon after. These women got into position to catch it and waited for it to be thrown.

Miranda was never one to go looking for love or attention or anything like that. Even though, deep down, she wanted the bouquet, she didn't get ready to catch it. Instead, she went to the back of the women near one of the tables of food and looked away. What happened next took her by surprise. Something flew at her and hit her over the head, bouncing off and landing in her open hands.

This event surprised her so much, she stumbled backward and almost fell on the food table. Suddenly, an arm reached out and grabbed one of hers, yanking her away from the table and towards them. Miranda realized what had happened when she felt her head resting on a man's chest. She hurriedly scooted back as far as she could with the man's hand still holding onto her arm.

Looking up at his face, she recognized him as Lord Tyki Mikk, one of the people who had hired her and who lived in the castle. Cue the hurried apologies and self- deprecation.

"I-I-I am s-so s-sorry, my Lord! I-I'm so c-c-c-clumsy, I…" Miranda stuttered out, but Tyki had learned to interrupt her without letting her finish or she'd never stop.

"It's quite alright, my Lady." Tyki said graciously and gave a charming smile. Miranda blushed, she wasn't used to being talked to so nicely by anyone much less someone of such higher class than herself. Lord Mikk was always very kind to everyone much like King Walker and Queen Lenalee. The three of them and others were always kind to her and each time, she felt as if she didn't deserve it.

She had been so flustered and lost in thought that she only then realized that they had both been silently looking at each other the whole time. She scooted back quickly and this time Tyki didn't hold onto her arm. Miranda rushed away to attend to Lenalee but couldn't keep the Lord from her mind. As Tyki watched the interesting maid run towards Lenalee, he felt that for the first time he was happy to be single.

Allen and Lenalee fed each other cake to complete the cake cutting ceremony. They both tried to be careful, but they got a lot of cake on each other's faces anyway. Everyone started eating and Allen kept eating plate after heaping plate while Lenalee looked on with good humor. She had gotten used to this part of him and she'd even begun to like the way he eats.

Lenalee sat by Allen, the two of them in their own little world. They wouldn't be going on a honeymoon after this, things were too important for them to leave right then. That was alright, though, they didn't want to leave. They wanted to stay there together forever and now that they were married, they would get to do that. By getting married, they pledged their lives to each other. After all, if there was anything they'd learned on their journeys, it was that they were drawn to each other by fate, by something stronger than any other force on Earth.

The couple looked at each other and they knew. And Lenalee wasn't afraid anymore.

~END~