TW! Topics written in the comments!

The fire's blaze filled the room, lighting it up to enable the brown-haired prince to read the newspapers. It reflected within his glasses, dancing up and down, as if trying to catch his attention. It proofed to be useless, as all of it was focused on the headlines of the paper in front of him. His eyes scanned the words, before he scoffed. Then, he tossed them away, like they had no further purpose, other than to strengthen his opinions.

"Mastermind criminal has finally been caught!"

"The end of the murderess?"

"Thief caught by Royal Guards!"

Of course, all of them held information about that woman, that the guards had arrested after she had helped them. It was more than his research had provided him, and though there were some contradictories, they painted him a picture that he believed to be true. They had focused on her crimes, what would await her as punishment, and how she had evaded the guards for years. The more rational part of him told him, that the authors clearly had exaggerated, while the part that was still shaken from her arrest took it as proof, that she had deserved it. How, though, could it be, that his master didn't seem to agree with the treatment she received? She was a criminal, so why would she deserve anything else?

Each of the articles had fallen back to a scandal a few years ago, where a nobleman had been murdered. The investigations had shown her to be the culprit, after which she wasn't found again. Apparently, she had tried to break into his house, and when she was discovered, she had grabbed the weapon she had with her, and killed the man. He was no one very known or liked, but nobility, which had made the investigations necessary.

Prince Bruno just couldn't wrap his head around the fact, that Heine had still been ready to protect her, to prevent the arrest. The thought, that it hadn't been how it was described, or that there was more to it, than was shown, didn't even cross his mind.

"What an awful person.", he muttered, turning back to his studies.

Aithne sat still in her cell; her legs pulled up to her chest. The tears had dried long ago. She felt the remaining salt on her cheek, not bothering to do anything.

She had done it. She had shut herself from every person, that might decide to drop by. The guards had taken a liking to her quiet presence, her never faltering, gentle manner. As long as she didn't do anything, they'd grant her this wish.

After hearing Heine get rejected, she had heard Prince Kai's try. According to what she'd told the guards, they'd delivered him the message, that she wished to have some time to herself. The reason being her need to process some of what happened to her, her life, actually. That she wanted to think about her doings, before everything would go down. Kai had been very understanding, and she was relieved to know he didn't hold a grudge against her for it.

She leaned her head against the cold wall, as she imagined the headlines, that were probably circulating through the kingdom. A murderess. A thief. Was that really all she was? Some cold-hearted person, that deserved what she was going through?

Yes, she decided. Because even through that man had done horrible things and had threatened to do them to her and the children, that were present, he had still been a human. A rather terrible one, but still human. But what scared her the most, was that she didn't even regret it. To have killed someone, yes, but not this certain man.

Aithne still remembered the day she'd met Heine. Both of them were orphans and forced to live on the streets. She and him had protected the younger children, that were homeless, that were starving, freezing. While Heine hated the king back then, she somehow didn't. Maybe it was because of her offspring, her heritage. Maybe it was, because she thought, that there must be reasons for his actions. Though that may sound naïve, she had hoped, that he would somehow care, and try his best.

She had recognized Viktor, when they met. Choosing not to say anything, out of curiosity, and hope, that he might change their fate. In the end, she was right. He had changed it. More for Heine, as for her, but she didn't reproach him for it. In fact, she was glad, that Heine finally had a friend in him.

She didn't know what had happened between the two. When the tumult around them happened, she had been on the other side of a crowd, unable to actually see what happened. All she knew, was that suddenly, guards had swamped the place, and that someone had tried to shoot her closest friend and companion. Viktor had reached him first, though she had been able to shove him to the side when the bullet came closer. She would never forget their faces, filled with shock and horror, calling her name.

"Ai!"

"Aithne!"

She remembered the pain, that had filled her chest, the bruise on Viktor's arm, and the sound of the prince falling to the ground, loosing consciousness. Heine's cries for her, the panic and rage. The helplessness, once he realised, that they had hurt Viktor as well.

"Heine..."

The blood had drained her clothes, and she slipped into darkness as well, though only for seconds. Then, she had tried to breath, an aching around her wound.

"This... isn't you... Heine..."

He had frozen, stopped. The guards had ripped him away from her body, as she coughed a red liquid she noticed to be blood. She had tried to reach out to him, as he did to her. It was a matter of seconds, until her hand dropped, too heavy too lift. She remembered her fear, as they took Viktor and Heine, leaving her, thinking she'd died already.

The next week was blurry to her. She recovered, somehow, thanks to the elder kids she'd helped during her years on the streets. Those kids had brought her to the safety of their hideout, and had done their best to help her heal. Her thoughts were focused on Heine and Viktor, even if she didn't know the latter that well. She had only caught glimpses of him, whenever he and Heine were on their ways through the city. Apart from what Heine told her, she knew nothing from him. Their only encounter had been after they had met, when Heine showed him their lives.

Her relief when Heine came back had been immense. He had looked pale, but he seemed just as relieved to see her. Until this day she remembered the tears that had glistered in his eyes. His concern.

"I'm alright.", she had promised him, smiling softly. "As long as you're here, I'll be fine."

Now, she sat in her cell, forced to think about the incident that had changed their lives even more, had made her withdraw herself from him, all for his safety. She felt her breath shudder, as she thought of it.

It had been a rather stormy night, when she and Heine had taught the children inside the church Maria Vetsera. She had assisted him, and after their lessons, the weather had become too bad to send them back to the orphanage, even with them tagging along. Once it had bettered, they had been on their way. Back at the children's home, however, the situation had turned again, to an even worse scenario.

"The weather's too bad to walk back. We should stay here, until it clears up again.", Heine said, his careful look wandering over the playing children. Aithne had hummed her agreement.

"The caretakers are stuck within the city anyhow. That leaves us to watch them, then."

"You're right. They're too young to be on their own."

The woman chuckled. "Different from us, back then." Her eyes were soft, as they observed their games. She wore a look that could almost be called sentimental, giving away her thoughts. "They're innocent..."

This time it was Heine, who nodded.

A knocking disturbed the moment, and Aithne turned to grant entrance to the late visitor. "Stay here, Heine. I'll take care of it."

Her steps were quick, as she hurried not to let whoever was waiting out in the cold too long. The large doors screeched in protest, as she opened them to face a man cloaked in a big coat. The clothes led her to the deduction, that it was a nobleman she was standing across.

"Good evening.", she greeted politely. "How may I help you?"

"Do you have some young girls in this orphanage?"

"Uh, yes.", she managed to say, knitting her brows. "May I ask why?"

"I want to see them.", the man said curtly. Until then, she hadn't recognised him, so she let him in, unsure of what to make out of him.

"Sure. I-I'll lead the way."

She shivered as she took in his appearance, not yet sure of who he was. She kept tabs on all the noblemen she knew of, and that were many. Though she couldn't quite put her finger on it, she had a bad feeling about this man.

"Here are their dorms. They're already in there.", she told him, facing him again.

"Thank you. You're no longer needed."

His unfriendly tone took her aback, and she stepped back a bit. Once he was in, she softly laid her hand on the doorknob, leaning towards the door. When screaming erupted, she barged in. The man had tried to rip of the little girl's dress, that now cowered in the corner across from her.

"Eleyna!", Aithne shouted horrified, causing the man quickly turn, now facing her. "Leave her alone!"

The man gritted his teeth, not moving an inch.

Her shouts had alerted Heine and the rest of the children, who now rushed over to where the girl's dorm was located. Heine burst into the room the same way Aithne had just a moment before.

"Aithne!"

The woman trembled, as the noble she now was able to identify stepped closer to her.

"Or what?", he snarled threatening. "If you don't shut up, I'll do the same to you!"

Heine understood the situation as quickly as Aithne, and tried to shield the younger kids from the view. "Get back.", he gritted through his teeth to the children, who were unable to move.

"I won't let you take advantage of a little girl! If you want to come one, come at me, not her!", Aithne yelled out, hoping to get the terrified girl away from him, or at least his attention from her. The man sneered, but focused now on Heine's brave assistant. She straightened, before she readied herself, preparing for the attack that would soon come. Heine couldn't keep track of the fight, where dirty tricks were played on both sides. He was in shock, and unable to move, out of concern for the children, that huddled behind him.

Suddenly, Aithne held a knife in her hand. Shaking, she called out; "Stay back!", without use. The man charged at her, and Heine saw her eyes widen, as the knife dug into his stomach. She took a step back from him, who still didn't give up his attacks. Blood spread over the floor, as her knife bore into his body again, taking his life away from him. She trembled, and the children drew back, whimpering.

The knife fell from her hands, while Heine rushed over to her to check for any injuries. Her mouth was open from shock, and she couldn't shake of the feeling of dread.

"I... I killed him... Heine..."

Her life had turned upside down after that. Fear stood written in the children's eyes whenever they saw her, though some thanked her for saving them. She was haunted by nightmares for months, and some of them reached her to this day. The caretakers of the orphanage had cleaned everything up, not saying a word. The silence was more painful, than any rage or fury could have been. The only person who remained by her side was Heine.

He had never left her side, silently trying to support her. Whenever she woke from a nightmare, she knew she could turn to him. She knew, that he had heard her crying herself to sleep for weeks. Then, she had become numb. She couldn't care about the children's fear, their slowly changing attitude. Some of the elder one's understood her doings, though they still kept some distance. Some admired her for her dedication to protect them, while some simply feared what she might do.

It took only two months for her to pack her bags. The investigations would lead to Heine and the caretakers if she stayed, so she did the best she could think of.

Run. And never turn back.

"You're brave for what you did, Aithne. It may have lead to his death, but you saved them. Don't ever forget that.", Heine's last words to her rang through her mind. He had tried to smile at her, to make her leave easier for her. To assure her, that they'd be fine. His eyes betrayed him, however. "Sometimes, you are too brave for your own good, though..."

A violin disrupted her mind, and her sadness. The melody reached her heart, almost the same as Heine's voice. With her eyes closed, she enjoyed it, felt the notes reach down to her. Shortly, she wondered who it was, that played, before she got lost within it.

"There's some things I should've said...

I was too afraid...

It was just so hard to let you know...

And now it's all too late..."

As soon as Bruno had heard the voice, he had reduced his playing. He didn't stop, continued. Curious, he began to adjust his melody to the singing, and focused on what he heard.

Who... is that? Their voice is... incredible...

"What we had was beautiful,

I didn't wanna wreck it all,

Every day I think about the truth..."

The Prince tried to think of the possibilities of who that might be. Though he couldn't get his hand on the answer. None of the servants ever dared to sing along, and he knew their voices. This was someone else. Someone he might only has met shortly, without a true conversation.

These lyrics... They're telling a story..., he realised. They're not just simple improvision. Or are they? Whoever that is, must be truly talented...

"I wish I was, I wish I was,

Brave enough to love you,

Brave enough to love you...

I wish I was, I wish I was,

Brave enough to love you,

Brave enough,

Brave enough,

Brave enough to love you..."

Bruno tried to let his gut decide what to play. Didn't go after some melody he had learned ages ago, to trust his instinct. He found that he actually enjoyed it. For a while, he simply played, before leaving the mysterious voice take her part again...

"You stripped away the walls I built...

Like no one ever has...

The hardest part's we'll never know...

If we were meant to last..."

This time, he knew what was coming. He played, as an addition to her voice, and realised who it must be. The woman that was arrested! Aithne, was her name?

Her cell laid in the part of the dungeon, that was underneath his room. Suddenly, he understood what Kai and Licht had meant, when they talked about her. Was she really as bad as he made her out to be? Didn't he want to create a kingdom that allows second chances, like Kai wanted? Her singing was so melancholic, that it somehow touched his heart. What had really happened? Was there a reason for her crimes, like Kai had hinted to them? Didn't his own master believe in that woman he deemed as evil?

"What we had was beautiful,

I didn't wanna wreck it all...

Every day, I think about the truth...

I wish I was, I wish I was,

Brave enough to love you, brave enough to love you...

I wish I was, I wish I was,

Brave enough, brave enough,

Brave enough to love you..."

He continued to play, and she continued to sing. He began to cherish it, as no one had dared to do it before. It was a new kind of joy he never knew, and it teached him something. It may sound foolish – he would admit it right away, if asked about it -, but it somehow showed him, that he may had misjudged her. He didn't know her, or her story, yet had tossed her right to the side, without caring about it – without getting to know anything about her. He realised; it was a mistake to do that.

Once their duet had ended, he sank his head. Regret washed over him, and he silently promised, to never forget this lesson. Not in a million years.

https://youtu.be/os9Etbm5xCU

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I DO NOT OWN THE ROYAL TUTOR; ANY PICTURES OR THE MUSIC USED IN THIS FANFICTION