The next morning, Nanny was furious at both of them. It was one thing for Andre to take Lady Oscar to that sketchy part of town, but to let her get into a bar fight and end up injured? "The boy must've been out of his mind," she muttered, shaking her head as she carefully cleaned Oscar's wounds.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Nanny, but Andre is the one who needs medical care. He's in much worse shape than I am," Oscar said, wincing slightly as the antiseptic stung her cuts.

Nanny huffed, her face a mix of concern and frustration. "Andre... My Andre..." Oscar thought to herself. Her head was still spinning from all the bourbon she had drunk last night, but she hadn't completely blacked out. She remembered being carried, feeling warm and free, unburdened by the usual expectations and pressures. She remembered Andre's voice, gentle and comforting.

Her fingers brushed against her swollen lips, feeling the tenderness of the bruise. Along with the pain, there was a lingering sweetness, the memory of her first kiss. It had come from someone who saw her for who she truly was. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she reflected on the previous night. How could she have been so blind? Andre had always been there for her—through her troubles with her father, helping her with her horse, sparring with her, following her wherever she went. Even when Fersen had broken her heart, it was Andre she turned to without a second thought, never considering how he might feel.

Nanny's voice pulled her back to the present. "You're smiling after a night like that? You must have truly lost your mind, child."

Oscar's smile grew a little wider, though she tried to hide it. "Just thinking about how lucky I am, Nanny," she said softly.

"Lucky? You call this lucky?" Nanny's voice was sharp, but her touch remained gentle as she applied a fresh bandage to Oscar's arm. "You both could have been killed."

"I know," Oscar replied, her tone serious now. "But last night... it made me realize something important. Andre has always been there for me, in ways I never truly appreciated until now."

Oscar's mind raced. Why has she not realised it before? Her life was complicated, her duties and obligations often leaving little room for personal desires. But she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't ignore her feelings any longer.

"I need to check on Andre," she said resolutely. Nanny nodded, watching her with a mixture of pride and worry. "Go on, then. But don't forget to take care of yourself, too."

Oscar nodded, her thoughts returning to Andre. She needed to talk to him, to find out where they stood after everything that had happened. But first, she needed to make sure he was alright. Rising to her feet, she steadied herself against the dizziness still lingering from the night before. Nanny cannot know about her recent realisation. Society will not allow such relationship like Andre and hers to exist, not with their class difference. If anyone in the family found out, both Andre and Nanny might get fired. Still, that didn't stop her from wanting to understand what had transpired last night.

Oscar left the room, her heart pounding with anticipation and anxiety. She didn't know what she would say or how he would react, but she knew she had to try. As she made her way to Andre's room, she couldn't help but smile again, thinking of how much he meant to her. Whatever happened next, she was ready to face it together with him.

Andre wasn't in his room when she checked. It took her a while, but she finally found him by the riverbank, their favourite spot to hang out when they were kids. She cannot remember the last time she went there. With her new position in the Royal Guard, some quiet time for herself had become a luxury. Thanks to her injury and the Queen's spending more time at the Petit Trianon, she now had some hard-earned time off.

She could see Andre from afar, his head patched up with bandages hastily applied by Nanny. "Nanny sure knows how to punish her grandson," she chuckled softly to herself, "the poor thing." She watched him for a minute, admiring how strong he looked, his broad shoulders, and the way the wind teased his dark locks of hair.

Andre seemed preoccupied, staring at a strand of grass but clearly lost in thought. Oscar wondered if he was thinking about the same thing that was on her mind. She quickly brushed her fingers across her lips where she remembered Andre's kiss from last night.

"The lips that I know... they were passionate, crept in and pressed my lips softly..." she mused.

As she stepped closer, she noticed his shoulders shaking. He had his head tucked down, his arms wrapped around his knees. Seeing her childhood friend suffer silently, Oscar felt her heart ache as if someone were clutching it. She was even more frustrated at herself for not realizing his feelings sooner, and for dumping all her emotions, her feelings for Fersen on him. The poor thing must sit through and listen to the whole thing….

Andre startled when she sat down next to him, his eyes lighting up for a moment before becoming more anxious as he noticed the bandages on her lips.

"You shouldn't be up, Oscar," he said, his voice filled with concern.

"Neither should you. Why are you here?" she countered.

"Granny won't let me hear the end of her nagging when she found out about our little venture last night. I needed to get out of the house," he replied, grasping for the first excuse that came to mind. It was ironclad, but Oscar was disappointed, she was hoping he would come up with some excuse that involves her.

"Ah, makes sense. I was getting worried since I hadn't seen you all morning," she said, her tone softer, tinged with concern.

"Do you need me for something? Why didn't you get one of the girls to come get me?" He tried to hide his emotions, he can't tell her that he is avoiding her for her own good. After last night, he didn't know how he could resist kissing her again if he kept looking at her for too long.

"It's not like that," Oscar began, her voice trembling slightly. "You know I've never thought of you as one of the helps. You've always been my friend, I saw you badly injured you were last night, plus, I need to confirm something..." She grabbed his collar, pulling him closer and pressing her lips against his.

Andre was astonished, the suddenness of her action leaving him no time to react. He felt the warmth of her lips, and in that instant, he lost himself in the sensation that washed over his entire body. Confusion mingled with a rush of emotions, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He let himself go, returning her kiss with a fervour he had kept hidden for so long.

Their kiss deepened, the world around them fading into oblivion. Andre's hands moved to cradle her face, his fingers gently tracing the contours of her cheeks. He could taste the remnants of bourbon on her lips, mingling with the sweetness he had imagined for so long. The kiss was more than a simple confirmation; it was a release of years of pent-up feelings, of unspoken words and hidden desires.

Oscar's grip on his collar tightened, her body pressing against his as if seeking to fuse their very beings together. Her lips moved against his with a desperate intensity, her breath hot and erratic. She felt a wild mix of relief and exhilaration, her heart pounding as she finally let herself feel what she had denied for so long.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless, their faces inches apart. Andre's eyes searched hers, trying to comprehend the depth of what had just happened.

"Oscar..." he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"I was hammered last night, Andre, not dead. But I need to know if your feelings are as real when you're sober, and more importantly, how I feel about it when I'm not under the influence of alcohol."

"I hardly had any last night. I was just there to make sure you got home safely, and to listen to your rant about..." Jealousy suddenly took over his mind as he revisit their conversation last night. She had been agonizing over another man's words last night, and now she was confusing him with her kiss. She should know better than to toy with others' emotions and not give him false hope if she had no intention of being with him. He backed away from her slightly, his heart aching.

Oscar sensed where this was going. She put her index finger on his lips, stopping him from finishing his sentence.

"I know what I said last night, and that wasn't fair to you. I have been a real jerk, putting you through all of that when I know what it's like being in unrequited love. My mind was too caught up with the new duties at the Royal Guard, with Rosalie joining our family, and with the Queen's errands. I did not notice how you've always been there for me, how you always had my back. I can be myself when I'm with you, Andre. You, Nanny, and my mother are the only people in this world whom I don't need to prove my femininity to."

Andre was completely taken by surprise. He had no idea Oscar felt that way. He had always admired her kind heart, her strength as a commander, and her deep compassion for others. But he never expected her to have romantic feelings for him. He gently took her finger off his lips and held both her hands in his. He placed her hands against his chest.

"My heart is beating because of you, Oscar, and I don't mean metaphorically. You literally saved me from the death sentence from the King. I've loved you since that day. I'll never leave your side, no matter what you do or say."

Oscar felt a wave of emotion crash over her. She had known Andre cared for her, but hearing his words, feeling the sincerity in his voice, made her realize the depth of his feelings. She leaned in closer, her forehead resting against his. Her breath quickened, and a solitary teardrop traced a path down her cheek.

"I love you"

Andre gazed into Oscar's eyes as she continued

"I am powerless in this wheel of history. Will you stay by my side? Will you love me and only me for the rest of your life?" she asked, her voice a delicate whisper of vulnerability. Her hands trembled, perhaps from the cold breeze of the riverbank or the lingering sensation of their shared kiss. He felt his own composure slipping away, struggling to hold back the torrent of emotions.

Andre's grip on her tightened, pulling her into another embrace. "Do you want me to say it a thousand times, or a million times, Oscar? My words will stay the same. I love you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Oscar's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her lips quivered as she absorbed his words. Without hesitation, he silenced her faint breath with another kiss. The taste of her lips was still fresh in his memory, yet it felt like an eternity had passed since their last embrace. He had seen Oscar vulnerable before, but never because of him. His heart surged with passion, realizing that the love he thought was hopeless and unrequited was now cradled in his arms, seeking his vow.

"I love you, Andre," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of relief and joy. "I'm blessed to be born…"

His kiss was deep and fervent, his tongue teasingly exploring her mouth. He tasted her, sweet and intoxicating, his kisses becoming more insistent, more demanding. He pulled her even closer, feeling her body melt into his. The sensation sent a shiver down his spine, his hands roaming her back, pulling her against him as if he could never get enough.

Oscar's lips were soft and yielding, and Andre couldn't help but lose himself in the moment. He kissed her with a hunger that he had kept buried for so long, a passion that he could no longer restrain. His hands tangled in her hair, his lips moving from her mouth to her neck, tasting the salt of her skin. Her scent, her taste, everything about her overwhelmed his senses, driving him wild with desire.

He whispered her name against her skin, his breath hot and ragged. "Oscar," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion and longing. "You are everything to me."

His kisses trailed back up to her lips, capturing them once more in a kiss that was both tender and fervent. He felt her respond, even in her unconscious state, her body instinctively pressing against his. The feeling was electric, a connection that went beyond words or reason.

Andre knew he had to stop, had to pull back, but the desire coursing through him was too strong. He kissed her deeply, savouring every moment, every sensation. His hands caressed her face, her neck, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Love piled up within him so intensely that he felt like he might explode. His desire to cherish her crept in, making him want to make her his in every way. The gentleman in him fought valiantly against his rising lust; he could not take advantage of Oscar, not when she was vulnerable. Millions of thoughts raced through his mind, battling each other, but his love for her won out.

Oscar could feel her body getting hotter as Andre embraced her, their chests pressing against each other as if they were melting into one. Her legs began to tremble, and she let herself fall into his arms, surrendering to the moment. As their kiss grew more erotic, she felt a wave of nervousness. She loved Andre with all her heart but was unsure if she was ready for the next step in their relationship.

Sensing her hesitation, Andre broke off the kiss, his breath ragged. A part of her was flustered, but another part felt a profound sense of relief. He could feel the uncertainty in her kiss and knew he had to respect her pace. He gave her one last gentle peck on her lower lip, his eyes locked passionately with hers.

"I'm so in love with you, you have no idea," he whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion.

Oscar's heart swelled with love and gratitude. She smiled softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I love you too, Andre. More than words can say."

He pulled her into a tender embrace, resting his forehead against hers. "We'll take this one step at a time, Oscar. There's no rush. Just knowing you love me is more than enough."

She nodded, feeling a profound sense of contentment wash over her. They sat by the riverbank, holding each other close, the cool breeze mingling with the warmth of their love. In that moment, they found a perfect balance, ready to face the future together, one step at a time. Their love was their guiding light, a beacon of hope and strength in a world full of uncertainties.

Andre gently caressed her face, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. He sealed their promise with a kiss as gentle as a whisper.