The prince ends up staying in his room for the next day, saying he's not feeling well and not entertaining any guests. He needed to think. He had to pull himself together so he could face his best friend again. But that's not an easy task. After his unplanned confession, he didn't know what to do from here on. He's a little embarrassed but, at the same time, relieved to have said those words.

"You're in love with your attendant."

Prince Vaughn's in love with his childhood friend. That's a fact.

"Not that it's not obvious, but you realize only now?" Prince Luca, his cousin who's the same age as him, has visited their kingdom. His brother, Prince Gallel, told him about Prince Vaughn's lovesickness. Hence why he rushed to his cousin's side for a good tease. He wasn't expecting a dejected Vaughn, almost ready to cry.

"It's not that I never thought about it. I just wasn't able to picture Kiren leaving my side. In my mind, I'm prepared to see him go and be with somebody else, but my heart...."

Prince Vaughn couldn't even say the following words like something's stuck in his throat. He clenches his jaw, trying to suppress the tiny stabs of the needle he felt on his chest. He has to stop thinking, or he'll only hurt himself.

"Have you ever thought of him as your soulmate?" Prince Luca asked, playing with the ring on his pinky.

The two princes never talk about soulmates since the event that happened to Luca's pair. Prince Vaughn knows that the ring is an amulet. It's used to cover or prevent the owner from seeing where and who the red string's connected. His cousin wears it all the time since he turned eighteen, thinking he won't meet his pair, but they met once. That time, when Prince Luca's soulmate's on his last breath.

It's not a pleasant event to remember. Prince Vaughn knew his cousin hadn't recovered. But he also knew why Prince Luca asked. He doesn't want him to experience the same thing.

"I don't have a string," Prince Vaughn responded. There's no point lying to his cousin when he knew how the other prince felt about red strings.

Prince Luca wasn't expecting the answer. His eyes bewildered, not knowing if he stepped on a landmine. He knew Prince Vaughn wasn't worried about soulmates. He knew his family wouldn't approve anyway, but he didn't know if it's a good thing or not.

Everyone has a soulmate. The red string becomes visible to both soulmates at eighteen, but not everyone chooses to be with them. It's the reason why soulmate blocker rings existed. It's to prevent someone from seeing their soulmate.

"Are you sure you don't have a string? What if you're a late bloomer and couldn't see it, or your pair's also wearing a ring blocker," Prince Luca reasoned.

"I can guarantee. The Fates themselves said so." Prince Vaughn faced his cousin. "I met them on my eighteenth birthday. I overheard them talking about my strings and how there's none. They seem to have forgotten, so I let it go."

It's what Prince Vaughn explained, but he knows that deep inside, there's a hint of regret and sadness. A part of him wanted to see his soulmate. He wants to know if there's someone meant for him even if they can't be together.

Prince Luca didn't ask anymore. He changed the topic and invited his cousin for an archery game to pass the time. It's a better way to relax and destress rather than locking himself in the room.

The two spend a good hours shooting arrows and joking around, temporarily forgetting the event at hand. It was all fun and games until Prince Luca left for the day, leaving the prince to be lost in his thoughts again.

"Your highness," his attendant called, interrupting his train of thoughts. "I came to deliver a letter from Her majesty."

"Another engagement invitation," Prince Vaughn said dryly. He hasn't spent time with Kiren as friends since the confession. But as his attendant, they still maintained a professional interaction.

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," Kiren replied, walking closer and dropping the invitation onto the counter.

Prince Vaughn shrugged, drawing his bow and releasing it to hit the target. "It's just repetitive, attending the same event every time." He didn't hate matchmaking, engagement, or weddings. Events are a way to interact with people and gain connections. It's not that bad. But after he realized his feelings, he didn't want to get involved with anyone else.

"You should at least talk to the queen about this. She's been asking me about your reasons, and I can't keep making up for one." Kiren tosses him a towel before calling the maids to take care of the prince's bow and arrow.

"Just tell her the truth."

Kiren flinched at the prince's response. That's not something to joke about, nor could he say to the queen. " Your highness, I -"

"Nevermind. You don't have to. I'll deal with my mother on my own. I won't let her lay a hand on you on this squabble." The prince tapped his attendant's shoulder, to assure Kiren before walking out of the archery area.

Prince Vaughn's determined to show his feelings to his attendant. He doesn't want anyone to tell him otherwise. If the Fates forget him, then he'll carve his own fate and be with someone chosen by his heart.

***

Prince Vaughn did plan to talk to her mother as promised, but his duties as the second prince took a toll. It kept him busy and away from the palace. But now that everything starts to slow down, he planned to talk to his parents about his decision.

It's late night when the prince got back from his last task. He's tired and ready to sleep when he passed by the garden on the way to his room.

"Why don't you tell him the truth?"

"I can't."

His brow furrowed when he heard a familiar voice. He wasn't expecting to hear his voice in this place at this hour. The prince moved closer to confirm his guess until he could see Kiren and the man he's with last time. Even if he's facing Kiren's back, he could sense the frustration and confusion in his voice. Like he's stressed about something and wanted to let it go.

"I already did what I could. And I've warned you, didn't I?" The man exclaimed. Both oblivious of the prince's presence.

"I can't let it reconnect," Kiren uttered in distress. "There must be another way." He faced the man waiting for him to agree and give him an option, but there's no response.

Prince Vaughn never saw Kiren so desperate. He never saw him plead with someone for something. It's an unusual sight to see, but a fang of jealousy also creeps his heart. Kiren never confronts him for something, nor has he asked him for help. It hurts, but what hurts more is to hear the next words that come to Kiren's lips.

"I can't be with the prince. We are not meant to be. I need to cut our strings again."

⸻