Note: 'Aneki' means sister

"You have the options to either accept or decline His Majesty's proposal, hence it is really up to you, Princess Touka. As someone who has been given education by His Majesty himself, I have seen his kind nature and I believe he is a good choice for you. Thus choose your love, then love your choice. As people said, 'a man has a choice to begin love, but not to end it.' I can see that he will cherish you for the rest of his life." Naki ended the proposal speech, head held high with a proud expression on his face.

His education had improved a lot compared to five years ago when he couldn't even spell 'Kaneki' correctly. For that, he was eternally grateful to Kaneki, as the King himself gave him an education, and now, he became the Head of Public Relations due to his skills in communication. It was an honour, really.

Princess Touka, however, was left speechless. First of all, she did not expect the Re Kingdom's Head of Public Relations and Head of Spy, Naki, and Hinami to visit Anteiku. Second of all, she did not expect the purpose of the visit would be a marriage proposal. Third of all, she did not expect Kaneki would even propose to her. After the bad parting they had six years ago, this was the last thing she could even imagine.

"What do you think, aneki? Will you decline?" King Ayato enquired while staring at her as if waiting for her response immediately.

"I- Give me some time. Three days, will that be enough?"

"Of course. Take your time as much as you want to, Princess Touka."

"Kindly stay here in our castle for the time being. The journey from Re Kingdom must be tiring."

"Your kind hospitality is highly appreciated, King Ayato." Both Naki and Hinami, along with the guards from Re Kingdom bowed before following Koma, the butler from Anteiku to their respective chambers.

If Re castle was full of dark tiles, Anteiku castle was a contrast. Almost everything was bright-coloured. The hallways were spacious, and there were candlesticks near each pillar but it seemed they weren't used as the windows were large enough that sunlight was illuminating each area of the castle. The guest chambers were huge as well and on the desk of each chamber, there was a cup filled with coffee, hot and ready to be served to each guest.

"Ah, Anteiku's coffee is the best! Thank you so much for this." Naki seemed joyful looking at the coffee on his desk.

"It's our pleasure to provide the best service to our guests. Please enjoy your stay in Anteiku."

"We will. Thank you so much, Koma."

Koma bowed and left Naki alone to enjoy his coffee. He took a slurp and the taste brought him to heaven. Figuratively of course.

'Ahh, it's so delicious! If only you were here Miza. I wonder if I can bring some coffee beans back to Re…'

"Aneki." Ayato greeted after stepping into his sister's chamber. Touka was lying on her bed, hands on her forehead, she was definitely thinking about the unexpected proposal.

"I don't understand him. Why me?" She sat up, staring at her lap.

"I don't understand too. Maybe Rize rejected him or something. I swear I thought he would have married Rize."

"Me too…"

Ayato went to sit beside her on the bed.

"Hey, at least you have more options now. Just choose whoever that you think will make you happy. And, don't accept just because you feel obligated to. Review everything thoroughly. If you accept Kaneki, you'll become the Queen of Re Kingdom. If you accept Rio, you are still a Princess as he is not the first child."

Touka still looked as troubled as she was this afternoon.

"Also, follow your heart."

Still, silence accompanied them. She didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. Who to choose. Ayato sighed heavily before speaking up.

"Okay let me guide you. When Rio proposed, you asked him to give you a month to think about it. A month has passed, and you asked for another month. But when that half-assed bastard Kaneki proposed, you asked for three days. Do the math and I can definitely know who you are choosing." Touka's face flushed at this statement. She lightly punched her brother's chest.

"Stupid Ayato."

"I'm a genius and you know that." He smirked. "Should I update Naki about this?"

"Yeah, do whatever you want. I trust you. It's just that, I know he is not interested in me. So that makes me feel uneasy. Why would he propose when he doesn't have any feelings towards me? And he hasn't visited for so long. Out of nowhere, he's asking my hand for marriage? Don't you think it's weird, Ayato?"

"Hmm… I think father asked him to marry you or something before he died…" Touka's eyes widened at Ayato's response. She definitely was not expecting that answer. But it could be a possibility. And everything would make so much sense. She felt bad for Kaneki though. It must be hard for him to ask someone that he doesn't love to be his wife.

She sighed heavily before laying her head on his shoulder, cherishing each moment with her brother as much as she could as she will move out of Anteiku very soon.

"Don't you feel bad for Prince Rio?"

"Well, I don't love him anyway."

"Heh~ so you do love that half-assed Kaneki. I see."

"Wha- I didn't say that!"

"Come on aneki, I can read you like a book. You still can't forgive him, I know, but it doesn't mean you don't like him. You use the rabbit hair stick he gave for your birthday present on your hair every single day. Even now you are wearing it." Unconsciously Touka's hand reached up to feel the hair stick on her hair.

"Just because I wear it every day doesn't mean it holds a special place in my heart. Besides, it's been too long. I have moved on years ago. I don't love him anymore." Her facial expression was indifferent. Ayato had a hard time reading her expression.

"Well, but Kaneki's a good guy. He reminds me of our father a lot though. Like, a lot. Look at how he managed his kingdom, not a single rebel, everyone loves him, everyone adores him. He's doing a great job. Unlike me…"

"Hey, you're doing great Ayato. Don't try so hard to be like father, just be who you are. I know our people love you. Yes, some of them keep on comparing you with father but it will pass eventually. Anyways, I won't be here anymore to rule Anteiku with you, are you sure you're gonna be fine?"

"I'm fine. I have Uncle Renji, and Yoshimura is still here. I'll be fine, really. Just… don't forget to visit us."

"I will. And I'll bring Hinami along." She winked.

He coughed but didn't retort to her words anyway.

"You miss her, don't you? Go talk to her before she went back to Re."

"Wha- I-"

"Just go!" She pushed him away. Ayato's face was red and Touka laughed, she had so much fun seeing the blushes on his face.

"Stupid aneki! You still love Kaneki and I know that!" He shouted before leaving the chamber. Touka still couldn't stop laughing but slowly after he left, her laughter stopped, and she buried her face in her hands.

'Stupid father. Stupid Kaneki.'

On the way back to his chamber, Ayato passed by the castle's garden to cool himself off. Also, the garden was the place where he and Hinami spent their childhood days when they were young. When Dr. Fueguchi Asaki, Anteiku castle's private doctor, was still alive.

Anteiku castle was raided eight years ago, assassins from Pierrot Kingdom snuck into the castle but surprisingly their target was not King Arata, but Dr. Fueguchi instead. The assassins killed both Dr. Fueguchi and his wife. Duke Renji and Knight Yoshimura encountered them when they were trying to escape, the assassins lost the fight but both Yoshimura and Renji were badly injured as well. The assassins proceeded to kill themselves before Anteiku even had the chance to interrogate them.

After King Donato, the King of Pierrot Kingdom thought his people had been killed by Anteiku people, he declared war on them. Anteiku, unable to defend against the full army led by Knight Uta after the injury of Duke Renji and Knight Yoshimura, sought for help from Re Kingdom.

King Kaneki, during that time was only 16 years old. But his army, led by himself and Knight Nishiki was strong enough that it made any other kingdom afraid to mess with their kingdom. In the end, Anteiku Kingdom won, but they had a bad relationship with Pierrot Kingdom ever since.

It was during the days Kaneki spent in Anteiku that he became closer with King Arata, Princess Touka and Hinami. Ayato disliked him as he thought it was very shameful of Anteiku to seek help from another kingdom. But his father seemed to have taken a liking to the young king ever since. What worse was not only his father had become closer with Kaneki, but his sister and his crush too.

Kaneki didn't stay long each time he visited the kingdom, but he always visited them about once per three months. Because of that, Ayato called him half-assed. He was definitely jealous of the king, every time they greeted each other the atmosphere was always intense from Ayato's side.

Sometimes during Kaneki's visits he would have sparring sessions with Touka and Hinami, and during that time he discovered Hinami's potential and requested her to move in to Re with him, as Re was lack of a powerful spy. To his surprise, Hinami accepted. But someone wasn't happy.

As if luck was on Ayato's side, Hinami was also in the garden, reminiscing about her childhood days in Anteiku. She was on her way back to her chamber when she saw King Ayato sat on one of the benches at the garden's entrance. She bowed towards him.

"Your Majesty." Ayato snorted.

I don't remember asking you to call me that.

"But-"

"Just call me Ayato-kun like you usually did."

"But you're a King now, and-"

"Hinami." His said sternly, and Hinami shivered.

"At least, when in private, call me Ayato-kun. You can call Touka 'onee-chan' like you usually did, I know she won't mind either. She has always wanted a younger sister." For some reasons, Ayato blushed at his own statement.

"A-anyways, have a seat." He patted the space beside him, Hinami hesitated a bit but she sat beside him eventually.

"How's life in Re?"

"It's… okay, I guess. His Majesty has been very nice to me."

"Did you… miss us?"

"Well, sometimes. But every time I did, Tsukiyama-san and Banjou-san would cheer me up and I would feel better." She smiled, remembering how those two did their best to make her feel comfortable.

"I see. Don't you… ever want to return?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, well, after your whatever business with that half-assed King is finished, you are welcome to return anytime. We will accept you with open arms. Damn, your home is here. With us. I mean, in Anteiku."

Hinami giggled.

"I like King Kaneki."

"HAH?!"

"I didn't mean that way. I like him, as a king. He's a good king. He cares for his people a lot. Sometimes I feel like he's too overworked. I'm worried. I really hope onee-chan's presence will light him up. He is so lonely… He…" Hinami bit her lower lip. She couldn't tell Ayato that her precious king is dying. It was a top secret only known to those who were close to him. If Ayato knew… he would disapprove of this marriage.

So she cried. She poured her heart out. She couldn't bear to see King Kaneki dies. He was so kind towards her. He taught her literature. He provided a home where she won't feel lonely, he made sure she didn't feel sad when thinking about her parents. She could never imagine a kind king like him dies at an early age. He needed to live. He needed to find love. He needed to feel loved.

Banjou, Tsukiyama, Nishiki, Naki, Miza, they all loved him, but he could not see it. There was some sort of wall between them and King Kaneki that they could not break it down no matter what. She really hoped that with Princess Touka, he would not build any wall. He would show his vulnerability. To be able to love her for who she is, and she loves him for who he is. 'But this isn't a fairy tale…' Hinami trying to remind herself, and it made her bawled even louder.

Ayato panicked, he didn't know what to do but then lifted his hand to pat her shoulder. She buried her face on his chest for a moment.

"I'm sorry Ayato-kun, this is very inappropriate." She wanted to pull away but Ayato gripped her shoulder tighter. So she stayed there. Crying her heart out.

'Why does everyone I care for hold a strong emotion towards Kaneki… that bastard. If he makes my sister cry again I'll fucking kill him.'