"Ugh..." Oliver groaned as he hobbled along the sidewalk, his injured ankle sending rippling waves of unbearable pain with every step.

     While limping down the road, Oliver spots a familiar man standing on the sidewalk ahead. He squints to get a better view and quickly realizes that it is none other than his friend, Gregory. As he draws closer, Oliver notices Gregory's face contorting—as if he has recently been through a heated argument.

     Oliver sighs with relief as tears leak from his eyes. He races from the side towards Gregory with hope and desperation. Oliver's sprained ankle sends a sharp shock through his legs every time he paces. But, despite the excruciating pain, Oliver moves swiftly.

"Greg!!" Oliver cried out with a hoarse voice.

     Gregory hears Oliver's troubled cries. He immediately turns his head to his side and sees Oliver scurrying towards him while limping. Gregory gasps as he watches tears gush down from Oliver's eyes. As he hurries towards his friend, Oliver feels a stinging pain in his ankle, making him fall in front of Gregory. With his eyes wide, Gregory reaches his hand and catches Oliver in his arms.

     Oliver yelps as he lands on Gregory's broad chest. Gregory quickly wraps his arms around Oliver and brushes his hair. Oliver pants as he holds onto Gregory's shoulders.

     Oliver and Gregory stare at each other in the eyes. Gregory immediately notices tears falling from Oliver's eyes. Gregory's brows quickly arch up in concern.

"What happened to you...? W-what's wrong?" Gregory asked, his voice filled with concern.

     As tears flood Oliver's eyes, he looks down, his emotions overwhelming him. Suddenly, he feels a warm pair of hands wrapping his palms. Gregory takes hold of Oliver's hands and grips them tightly, trying to offer comfort and sympathy to his friend. Gregory cradles Oliver in his arms and passes his warmth onto him.

"Oli... I'm here for you. You know that, right...?" Gregory said, his voice gentle and reassuring. "We'll get through this together, I promise."

"...Hm," Oliver whimpered as he lowered his head and leaned closer to Gregory's face.

"Now... tell me... please... what happened?" Gregory asked.

Oliver nodded, his breath trembling as tears filled his eyes. "I... I ran away from home," he admitted.

Gregory's eyes widened in shock. "Why?" he asked.

"After we stopped the wedding, my adoptive parents—" Oliver flinched. "...I mean... Mr and Mrs Fuers became furious and threatened to beat me up... like they always did since I was a child..." Oliver explained, wiping away his tears.

Gregory gasped. "I... I'm... I'm so sorry, Oli. Oh... Oliver," he wrapped his arms around Oliver's shoulder.

Oliver shook his head. "I can never go back there," Oliver said firmly. "I won't let them hurt me again..."

Gregory nodded. "We'll figure something out," Gregory said as he looked around and saw strolling men and women staring at them.

As Gregory spoke, Oliver let out a sudden cry of pain, clutching his injured ankle. "Ouch!!"

"W-what happened!?" Gregory gasped in surprise.

"Ow! My ankle!" Oliver screeched.

"Easy! Easy!" Gregory said as he helped Oliver to sit down on the sidewalk. "Let me take a look at that..."

Oliver lifted his ankle. "Sorry... it's just... this." He gritted his teeth.

"...What happened?" Gregory asked, his voice filled with worry.

"I think I broke my ankle..." said Oliver.

"...Oh. I think I have just the thing," Gregory said, reaching into his waistcoat's pocket. "These are some leftover potions from my work at the potion shop." He then pulled out a small bottle filled with a red, shimmering liquid. "Here we go... this is a healing concoction." Gregory opened the bottle and handed it to Oliver. "Drink up!"

Oliver hesitated as he shook his head. "Eh..."

"Don't worry..." Gregory whispered. "...It tastes just like wine."

Oliver then took the bottle and savoured the potion's sweet, alcoholic taste as it gushed down his throat. "Hm..." As he swallowed the liquid, he winced his eyes. "...Will I be alright?" he asked as he looked into Gregory's eyes.

"Of course, you will. Now, try standing up," Gregory said as he grabbed Oliver's hands.

     Oliver cautiously lowered his foot to the ground and gasped in astonishment. The soreness instantly vanished as he stood upright on both feet without pain. A sense of relief washed over Oliver as a smile spread across his face.

"...Y-you're the best," Oliver exclaimed.

"Thanks," Gregory smiled. He then cleared his throat and asked, "So... what will you do now?"

Oliver glanced down and responded with a heavy breath. "I don't know what to do... I can't stay on the streets," Oliver said as he glanced at his surroundings. "People finally found out who I am." Oliver continued, his voice becoming softer, "...Everyone now knows I'm the Remaining Podeshire... and the assassins might come for me at any moment."

"Good heavens, you're right. We must move on quickly, even if we cannot be certain whether any assassins have learned about your identity," Gregory said urgently.

Oliver nodded. "I understand... but... I cannot risk being exposed," he whispered.

"Nor can I," Gregory replied, holding Oliver's hands. "We should go before it's too late..."

Oliver looked up at Gregory with a concerned expression on his face. "How about you, Greg? It's getting late. It's almost nighttime. Shouldn't you return home already?" he questioned.

"...The safety of my friend is my foremost concern. Your well-being is of the utmost importance," Gregory replied with a confident, unwavering voice.

"...You're truly a good friend," Oliver said faintly.

     Soon, stars began to glisten in the dark blue night sky. A comet streaked across the expanse of space, its glowing tail shining brightly and catching Oliver's attention. Oliver gazed up at the beauty of the celestial display, and a brief sense of serenity and tranquillity washed over him, distracting him from the uncertainty in his life.

     The moon sent ample light streaming down from the starry sky, illuminating the streets and casting a soft glow over the bustling crowds of people. Oliver and Gregory passed through numerous men and women as their footsteps echoed on the pavement. While they walked, Oliver couldn't help but feel uneasy as he felt a thousand stares stabbing him in the back.

     With a determined look, Gregory stood ready to defend Oliver as they navigated the packed streets. He cleverly positioned himself beside Oliver, circling his arms around his back to shield him from the curious gazes as they picked up the pace. Oliver felt relieved after Gregory obscured him from the crowd's piercing stares. As they marched down the street, Oliver kept his head down, not wanting to draw more attention to himself.

"Wait, is that Oliver Podeshire?" a woman whispered from the sidewalk.

"It is him," another lady answered.

"Ladies, did you hear? He stopped his wedding earlier," one of the women gossiped, "...in front of the crowds."

"Why?"

"It turns out... his wedding was arranged, and he wasn't eager with such coercion."

"Is that true? I had no idea."

"It is true! I was there earlier to witness him halt the wedding himself."

"Ugh, don't I just despise arranged marriages as well?"

"I suppose it's the time for a change in society, just like what the Remaining Podeshire said."

     Oliver became intrigued by the women's gossip, wanting to gaze in their direction. However, he hesitated to make eye contact, fearing it would draw him more attention. Instead of turning his head to look at the ladies, he eavesdropped on their conversation as he walked with Gregory.