Carmilla paced in her room collecting clothes and grabbing money and jewelry she could fit inside her bag. She would run away with Cecilion and start a new life with him even if they have to be poor as long as they're together she'll be contented and happy. Cecilion already agreed and said that they should make their move tonight since it's her last day in the empire. 

She's been fuming and crying ever since Ruby told her the truth. She couldn't bear to bow down to her father's whims and be a tool for his power game. No. She will follow her heart even if she has to leave everything behind. Even Ruby. 

She paused sitting on her bed before sighing. She removed the locket hanging from her neck and opened it to reveal a photo of her and Ruby smiling brightly from ear to ear. They looked so happy and carefree as if the world was a perfect place with nothing but fantasies for their innocent hearts. She just wish things could go back to how simple they were. 

She kissed Ruby's image and placed it on her desk. She grabbed a quill and paper before starting to scribe a message for her fiancee, mostly apologies and confessions of her feelings for Cecilion and how she truly felt about her. Ruby deserves to know the truth and she deserves her honesty so she poured her heart out into every word even though her penmanship was rushed and not proofread. She signed her name and folded it before placing it in a neat envelope and hiding it under her desk. However, she can't leave just yet. 

Their hotel is secured by her father's men for protection so she has to wait until it's the dead of the night to make her escape and go to Cecilion in the opera house where he is temporarily staying for his one-week tour in the empire. In the meantime, she has to attend dinner with Ruby on the hotel's rooftop so she doesn't appear suspicious. She just needs to survive this night and then she'll be forever free from being her father's puppet and finally be her own person with the one whom she truly loves. 

🌹

It was the middle of the night when Carmilla initiated her escape. She went to Ruby's room first to leave her the letter and place a parting kiss on her forehead before taking her leave. 

Shrouded in a dark cloak, she moved along the shadows and hid within the darkness whenever she heard footsteps nearby. She eventually encountered a few of her father's men but they don't seem to notice her at all as she blended well with the night. 

It was very difficult and exhausting as she only walked to her destination yet the aching of her feet are the least of her worries. She encountered a few thugs along the way and although she may not be as strong and as well versed as Ruby when it comes to combat she was able to easily neutralize the threats. 

After what felt like the whole night of walking Carmilla finally reached the Opera house. She entered through the backdoor like Cecilion had instructed her and went bravely inside the dark hallway. Her path was barely lit so she had to rely on her memory of the structure to not get lost and reach her destination. Cecilion had said that he'd be waiting in the backstage for her arrival so she quickly made her way there. 

When near the amphitheater, she heard his voice singing a soft ballad and the sound enchanted her. A smile made its way to her lips as she allowed his voice to guide her path. She opened the heavy doubled doors and slowly entered the room, taking her time to bask in his serenading song and elegant gestures. He sang a sweet song he had written especially for her as the spotlight shone down on him. 

The song soon ended yet it seems different than the original version where it ended sweetly while this one ended sadly. 

"Cecilion I-" slow eerie clapping interrupted her words and it came from the seats of the amphitheater. 

"What an excellent performance. I clearly see why my daughter was so fond of you. You are a special plaything that produces pretty sounds. But I don't think my daughter should be playing with toys now that she's getting married. So Carmilla, why are you really here?" The lights soon opened one by one revealing her father in one of the middle seats of the play, where she had sat with Ruby. 

When all the lights were flickered on Carmilla finally noticed the men pointing bayonets at Cecilion, who couldn't even look at her. 

"F-father..."

"Carmilla, I told you not to do something so brash." Earl Ansaac said stepping into the stage towards Cecilion with a sword in hand. 

"Guards, escort my daughter back to Castle Aberleen. Cecilion and I have a lot to discuss." That's was the last thing she heard before being taken away as she screamed and thrashed.
 

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"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! What were you thinking trying to run away with that-- with that lowly commoner when you are to be married to Edelweiss?!!" Earl Ansaac thundered as he paced around her room. Carmilla had been forced to return to Castle Aberleen after being dragged back by her father's knights while she thrashed and fought. She managed to escape their grip a few times but they always caught her. 

"You've put our family into scandal and embarrassed me to the Pendragon house!! What am I supposed to tell Lady Altria?! How am I supposed to tell her that her loyal daughter was crying because mine was a slut?!" he exclaimed throwing a base against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces. Carmilla winced and lowered her already bowed head. 

"I've known this for so long but I allowed it because I thought that it was a temporary fling since you showed so much devotion for Edelweiss but to confess to her that you love that bastard and to elope with him is unforgivable!! NO MORE!! No more will I allow you to intermingle with that wretch! From now on you are not leaving this tower until you are married and I will teach that bastard a lesson he could not forget!" Earl's voice boomed like a clap of thunder striking an exploding volcano. 

"No! I don't care about scandals and honor. You will not hurt Cecilion! I'm tired of being your puppet for your little game and enduring grief for your petty desires. I'm your daughter, not a tool so please start acting like a father!" A hard slap made her face twist sideways, a sharp pain colored her cheek red. She stood there in silence, disbelief and shock decorated her face. 

"I'm doing all of this for you. What life can he give you, huh? You will have nothing, live in nowhere, and you will be nothing. I'm actually doing you a favor so stop being a brat because you  don't know anything about love so shut up and just be grateful that you were born with all this." Earl Ansaac turned his back on her and slammed the door shut, locking her in with no way of escape. 

Carmilla was left alone in her cold empty room, grief and anger are the only things swirling in her head. No Ruby this time to console her as she had greatly hurt her and no Cecilion to comfort her heart. Sadness and worry overtook her being due to her misfortune and for what could become of Cecilion because of her father's greed. She cursed her fate and threw everything her hands could grasp until there was nothing left to destroy. 

Carmilla released a loud scream in frustration and threw herself on the mattress. She could do nothing now but cry on her bed as she laments her decision and bemoans her fate. 

🌹

Days passed by as uneventfully as the falling leaves of autumn. She spent her time in solitude like the classical princess trapped in the dragon's tower. It was torturously quiet and the isolation is asphyxiating. Time seemed to have stood still in her large empty room while the outside world continued with its life without her. The only view she had of the outside world was her narrow window sealed by iron bars. The only people she's spoken to so far are her maids who would bring her meals and prepare her baths. Her only measures to pass the time and not lose her mind are reading books and singing songs Cecilion had written for her. She can only reminisce by her window her happy times with her beloved while whispering promises she didn't get to keep. 

Today, however, was a bit different. 

"Ruby?" she said in astonishment due to the girl's unexpected visit. Tiredness was clearly visible on her face and she lost her brilliant glow and energy. She was paler than before, and she seemed thinner. Carmilla was worried that she hadn't been eating right or sleeping peacefully and yet she herself was no better. 

"I brought you dinner and your wedding gown so you could see if it fits." Ruby declared as she held a silver tray filled with a delicious meal specially made for Carmilla. 

"Thank you." she meekly answered as she welcomed her to her room. Maids followed after holding a large box in hand and placing it on her bed before leaving. It was probably the gown she was talking about.

An uncomfortable silence followed as they sat opposite each other on the round table. Ruby placed the tray in front of Carmilla and settled in her seat, her face betraying no emotion. Carmilla was unaccustomed to her sudden cold attitude but didn't say anything. She was still afraid and guilty of facing the pain caused by her betrayal. 

Carmilla didn't touch the food yet due to the awkward feeling in the pit of her stomach. The atmosphere became heavy and suffocating so she decided to break the ice. 

"Ruby... I'm really sorry for all that I've done. I don't deserve your kindness, and I don't deserve you. I wish I could say sorry enough to make it all better but I couldn't. Nothing I can do will set things right between us. Please forgive me. I should have exerted more effort to make us work but... I know you felt it too. That we are drifting away. I'm not blaming you or anything but I betrayed you enough now I want to be completely honest with you. I don't love you anymore. At least not like I used to. I'm sorry." she paused not looking at her, too afraid of what reaction she might see from her eyes. Ruby didn't say a word. She only stayed still and looked at the roses in a distant vase. 

"I know what we had was amazing and true but now it has completely faded. I love Cecilion now and I don't know what to do. I don't know how to feel. I don't know what to say to you. No amount of apology can make things right but I still want to tell you that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for keeping this from you and I'm sorry for betraying you." 

"What did you really do except for fall in love? We cannot control who our heart will desire and I completely get how you feel even though I still love you but I--I bear plenty of bad news. I hope you prepare your heart to take this all in." Carmilla noticed the pain that flicked from her eyes but didn't dare address it so she only nodded for her to proceed and sat still waiting for what she had in store. 

"They are moving the date of our marriage into next month to ensure that no further hitches could go on." Ruby informed with a blank unreadable face. Carmilla became shocked by this and figured that it was due to her prior confrontation with her father.

"I will be returning home for a while to clarifying things with my mother. I will be departing tomorrow and will return in a week's time." Carmilla noticed Ruby fiddling with her fingers indicating that something is bugging her mind.

"What is it?" she questioned wearily.

"Your father had forced the opera shut, had Cecilion beaten, and he will soon be exiled into the monster realms." Ruby confessed with a disappointed look. 

"NO NO NO! That can't be! He can't do that!! When?!"

"Tomorrow." Carmilla's world stopped due to the information and her blood ran cold with despondency.

"Cecilion had also left this on your window sill on your original room." Ruby pushed an open letter towards her and she quickly took it with lightning speed in desperation. Carmilla read it expectantly however the words on the parchment made her heart broke. He's leaving by the next dawn and bidding her goodbye forever. 

"I've read it. He confessed his deepest secrets and entrusted you with his identity. Those flowers in your vase had been from him. He would leave roses on your window every night and I collected them all and ordered the maid to put it in your room."

"When did he put it there?"

"Perhaps in the early morning and being a blood demon explains all of his enigmatic ways of slipping past our guards. I must be leaving now. Will you be okay?" 

"No." Carmilla answered with a blank look while holding the parchment close to her heart and replaying the words again and again inside her head. She wiped away the tears forming on her eyes and mustered a pained bitter smile on her lips. 

"I'm sorry. Thank you very much for giving this to me. I really appreciate it. You should go. I don't want to keep you here any longer."

"Okay." Ruby nodded but she was still very worried about her friend's mental state. She's been in so much pain for all this time and knowing that her lover is abandoning her she must be very devastated. Ruby feared that she might do something reckless however she cannot linger any longer due to her schedule. 

The two of them stood up and Ruby unexpectedly encased her in a tight hug. Carmilla was astounded at first but she quickly composed herself and wrapped her arms around her back before letting out all her pain and grief as she cried on her best friend's shoulder. Every bottled-up emotion, every silent scream she wasn't able to release poured out as Ruby allowed her to free herself.

"I hope you get better once I return." Ruby said as she finally detached herself from Carmilla who had a lighter look about herself. 

"Yes. I'll try. Be careful on your way there and don't rescue any more princes." Carmilla joked laughing weakly. 

"I won't." Ruby kisses her forehead before heading out of her room. 

When the door clicked into place the smile faded from Carmilla's lips as she made sure to lock it. She went to the box lying on her bed and opened the top revealing an extravagant white gown with angel quartzes and the most expensive layers of gossamer fabric tailored by the best hands in the empire especially crafted to fit her body perfectly. 

She dressed herself in the beautiful gown and searched desperately for something in her sliding boxes. She pulled her drawers and threw them violently when she didn't find what she was looking for, scattering debris and unwanted objects on the floor. After the third drawer, she finally found it. 

Carmilla placed the letter opener against her arm and started digging it against her wrist. The blade was quite dull so it took her a bit of pressure to tear through her flesh and draw blood, however, a shallow wound is not what she was aiming for. She needs to dig deeper. She cut through her wrist in a vertical line and pressed harder drawing out more blood. The pain was excruciating, her sight is starting to blur while black dots started invading her vision but she kept going. 

Blood covered her white dress turning her skirt crimson. She trembled as she felt the blood gushing from her wound and she cried both in pain and in grief of her fate. She dug deeper and finally popped her artery. Her eyes blinked in exhaustion, her mind is barely clinging to consciousness and darkness seemed to be more comforting than life. She called his name yet her gentle voice only reached the ears of the wind and the cold stones of the walls that all seemed so gloom due to the macabre sight they had to witness. Her lips whispered their last regret as her eyes completely closed from life. She finally passed away with grief and despondency as her only companions. 

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Cecilion stared at the picture of Carmilla in a locket. It was the dead of the night and he was about to take his leave before her father's men take him and banish him into a godforsaken place. His cheeks still sting a bit due to the punches and kicks Earl Ansaac's soldiers did on him. He was thoroughly beaten and bruised after their attack yet he did not retaliate even though he wanted to tear them down to shreds. 

He caressed the image of his beloved with his thumb and grieved for their unfortunate love. He feels terribly lonely and despondent to leave her behind and it was worse than the pain he felt before he met her. Truth be told he does not want to abandon her however what sort of life can a blood demon like him provide for a girl like her. She deserves to be pampered among the lavish jewels and silk linens of her expensive family and not be chased down like a fugitive. 

Perhaps leaving her was for the best. He's sure that Ruby will take very good care of her. Even though he doesn't really know her, Cecilion is sure that she's a woman who will go through the lengths of the earth just to protect the ones that she loves so he was somewhat assured that Carmilla will be in good hands. 

He sighed before closing the pendant and hanging it around his neck. He grabbed his suitcase and was about to jump from the window and spread his wings however a sudden knock from the door stopped him. 

Surely this cannot be Lord Ansaac's men, it's still 2 in the morning and they wouldn't knock and just break down the door so this made him curious. He dropped his suitcase on the floor and proceeded to open the door to see who the person is. 

"May I come in?" His eyes widen due to his unexpected visitor. His jaw nearly dropped due to how remote this possibility is and yet she's here.

Ruby pulled the crimson hood covering her head to reveal her gentle face. She stood in front of him looking at him straight in the eyes while a bright crimson cloak covered her shoulders.

"Lady Pendragon, it's a pleasure to see you. Yes of course. Please come in." He didn't detect any hostile intent from her like the last time so he stepped aside to accommodate the lady who was very much smaller than him yet she carried herself with so much grace and splendor. 

"I would offer you a drink however I have nothing as of the moment." 

"I understand don't worry I won't linger long. I just need to talk to you about something."

"What do you want to speak to me about?"

"King Earle had imprisoned Carmilla in the highest tower of the Castle and I was the one who received your letter and read it. I'm sorry, though I handed it to her before leaving. Even though those were merely words I was able to measure how much you really love her and the longing that she had for you made me realize how much she loves you." Ruby paused for a while before looking back at Cecilion who had an unreadable expression as he looked at the ground. 

"I love Carmilla and I love her more than anything else in the world even though she no longer feels the same way for me. I don't want to subject her into a relationship where she'll never be happy, where she'll always think about what could have happened if she was with you... I love her too much to put her to such torture." Ruby went by the window, turning her back from him and gazed out into the sleeping city blanketed by fog and darkness with melancholy in her eyes. 

"I've always thought that she belongs in the bed of roses of nobility, among gold and gems and fancy soirees but... if she was happier with you perhaps it's with you where she truly belongs." Ruby extended her hand offering him the rose that he had recently placed on Carmilla's window as she gazed at him with a sincere look on her eyes, laced with sadness and acceptance. 

"What are you trying to tell me?" He asked in confirmation as he reached out for the flower.

"Go to her. I want you to go to her and save her from that place. She doesn't belong to be locked up in a cage like an animal. She deserves to be free and to be able to spread her wings." Ruby went near him and held his hand into her smaller ones and looked at him with glassy eyes filled with pain as well as determination.

"I love her the most that's why I'm willing to let her go. I want you to rescue her and make her happy. Like I never could." A pained smile stretched across her lips as a single tear fell from her eye. 

Cecilion could only stare at her in astonishment. He was moved by her words but more so by the immense feelings her pure heart could pour out into the world. Her love was kind and unselfish and it was truer than anything he had ever seen. This girl had more kindness in her tiny fingers than any other human being in their whole bodies. He was astounded that a mere human could be this ungreedy. He had always thought that they were all selfish and cruel but this girl and Carmilla were the kindest and purest beings he had ever seen in his entire life. Perhaps there's still something good from this race. He smiled at her and squeezed her hand in reassurance. 

"I promise you, Lady Ruby. I will treat her like a queen. I will love her with all the love there is in the world. And I will send my heart out just to protect her. I assure you this." He vowed, giving her a very warm smile. 

"Thank you and here. You're going to need this to start a new life." Ruby placed a bag filled with diamonds and gold in his hand. 

"Thank you very much, my lady. I will never forget your kindness."

"You should go now. I don't want her locked up in that cage any longer." Ruby smiled and pulled her hood over her head before heading towards the door. She paused and turned back around to face him once more. 

"I know that we might never see each other again but please tell Carmilla that I always wish her the best and that I'm happy whatever she chooses to do. Farewell." she said before vanishing into the corridor and out into the night. 

The smile on Cecilion's face faded as he looked outside of the window towards the direction of Castle Aberleen. Ruby was right. He shouldn't surrender to anything stopping him and run away like a coward. He should fight for his love even if it's against the world. 

He didn't waste any more time and flew into the dark night to save his princess with the pale full moon as his only guide. The cold biting wind kissed his cheek but it doesn't matter. Nothing will stop him from rescuing the woman that he loves. 

However, unlike him, Carmilla seemed to have given up as he found her bathing in her own blood. She had taken her own life while wearing her wedding gown and holding his letter tightly in her cold dead fingers. He couldn't feel anything but remorse due to his late arrival. He was so enraged with himself for not coming sooner. He picked her body and flew back into the darkness, holding her dearly in his arms as they traveled to eternity. 

Carmilla awakens to find herself nestled in Cecilion's solemn embrace as he stared at her with eyes filled with kindness and tenderness. She soon discovered that her body was no longer warm and her skin had turned as pale as his as if she was a corpse. That's when she realized that he never abandoned her. He came back and revived her with his blood so that they could be together forever. 

She lifted herself up and sat on his lap before cupping his cheeks and kissing him full of passion and longing. Time seemed to have stood still as they felt that they were the only people in the world. Nothing can separate them ever again as they shared their love in eternity. 

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Twelve riders rode into the dawn leading their powerful stead North of the land. Ruby was being flanked by heavily armored guards as they head back to their homeland. The maiden was still heartbroken due to the events that had occurred but she knew that her decision was right because it hurt however it made her heart feel lighter. She smiled knowing that Carmilla will now be happy with the one whom she truly loves and she'll never be bound again by anything that aims to utilize her as a tool. 

"Mistress someone seems to be following us." one of her knights informed gesturing towards a lonely rider mounted over a white stead tailing their rear. Ruby looked over her back and instantly recognized who their pursuer is. 

"Should we shoot him down, mistress?" questioned the knight. 

"No, I believe doing so will cause more problems however tempting it is. Order the men to halt but prepare your weapons just in case I change my mind." Ruby commanded and the knight nodded before complying and ordering his comrades to execute her will. The horses halted from their gallop and formed a protective position for their mistress. The lone rider soon caught up to them panting and exhausted. 

"Prince Aurelius, what could be so important that you needed to delay our journey?" Ruby asked sardonically. 

"I've come to speak to you." Aurelius roamed his eyes around her entourage who all looked at him as if he was some scum instead of a prince. He couldn't care less about what they think but he needed to speak with her. 

"Alone, please."

Ruby seemed to contemplate this for a moment before replying.

"Of course."

"My lady, we shouldn't trust him. At least let one of us accompany you." warned one of her knights. 

"No need, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself and I'm very much curious about the reason why the noble prince of the empire rode all the way from home just to chase a girl he just met weeks ago. He traveled quite so far it would be a shame to just turn him away." Ruby reassured directing the prince an amused smirk. 

"Watch the perimeter. I don't want to be jumped at by a beowolf." she ordered before dismounting her horse. Her men replied with a unison of 'Aye' before dispersing to scout the grounds. Ruby walked towards the prince who was having a very hard time containing his excitement as she approached. 

"Ruby, it's very nice to see you again."

"Yes, yes, what do you need to speak to me about? It better be worth stopping my whole entourage for." Ruby asked as she crossed her arms. 

"I just want to tell you that I'm sorry for playing with you, manipulating you, and scheming to try and destroy your relationship. I was really selfish and foolish for double-crossing you like that and then flooding you with my emotions. I should have been honest with you in the first place. I was stupid. I'm really really stupid. And I'm sorry for putting you through that." Aurelius said with so much sincerity it almost moved her heart. Almost. 

"Wow, you made this trip just so you could say that? You could have just sent me a letter in Cadmure." Ruby sneered at him unamused. 

"I could... But I figured that you'd just burn it or tear it to shreds and you would never know what I really want to say." Ruby laughed at this sending a light feeling inside his stomach. 

"Good call. So I should be going now I still want to attend breakfast at my house but since you delayed it I guess it will just be brunch." 

"You're rich you can literally have breakfast anytime you want." Aurelius frowned jokingly making her snicker. 

"Right on that. So anything else before I change my mind and have my men leave your corpse here?" 

"Actually there's one last thing." Aurelius went back to his horse and grabbed a small flat square box from a pouch hanging from the stallion's neck and offered it to her. 

"What's this? Another fancy gift for another fancy plot?" Ruby mused accepting the box before flipping the top. 

"No, it's just a simple chain of bond symbolizing our platonic relationship with hanging carved representations of our fond memories in the form of something you can wear around your wrist."

"I made it myself. I learned to craft metal and cut gems this past few days after our... meet up." he added nervously.

Ruby inspected the accessory in her hand. Like he had said it was relatively simple if you exclude the ruby gems and fancily carved charms. She had seen jewelry much grander than this but none seemed to possess the same amount of feelings as this one. 

"You mean to tell me that you came all this way, stopping a five-hour journey in the middle of the night, just to give me friendship bracelets." Ruby summarized squinting her eyes at him. 

"It sounds stupid when you put it that way but to put it simply. Yes, I did. I hope you're not too mad at me."

"Don't worry 'mad' wouldn't be able to start how I feel. Enraged would be the most appropriate term to describe it I'll be merciful enough not to show it and not kill you just yet." she yelled making him squirt due to her loud and harsh tone that died down as quickly as it came.

"However why are there only three charms here? Did you get lazy? What is this deformed blob in here, this single firewood, and is this a flower?" she teased making him blush a cute dust of pink in embarrassment. 

"There's only three so far since I want to fill it with you. This one is a memory of when we beat the chimera, the second one is a queen chess piece when we played chess in the opera house, and the last one is supposed to be a middlemist red from our date. You actually got the better carvings mine was fine but I think yours is better." Aurelius pouted lifting his arm where a similar accessory hangs from his wrist although instead of rubies, his charm bracelet had sapphires and a king chess piece in place of her queen. 

"Is it too cheesy?" he asked mustering a cute innocent face. Ruby had a blank look for a while as she stared at his wrist before erupting into a wild fit of laughter, catching the attention of her guards. 

"I know it was terrible just give it back and I'll bury myself in the ground so that you'll never have to see me ever again." The Prince said shamefully before trying to grab the bracelet from her hold. 

"No, it's mine now. You gave it to me. I'm not insulting it, it's actually kind of... cute and very thoughtful but if it's another bribe to get my affections then into the fire it goes."

"It's not a bribe. I just want to be friends. I tried being your lover when you actually needed a friend. So, I'm offering you something new. I want a clean slate or just a new start. So let me begin." Aurelius cleared his throat before offering his hand out and greeting her with a goofy smile. 

"Hi, my name is Aurelius I'm the prince of the empire and I just want to say that you're really pretty and cool so can we be friends?" Ruby averted her face as she released another snicker at this. 

"What are you? A little boy confessing to his crush? But fine. I'll play along." Ruby straightened her posture and produced a smile.

"Hello I'm Ruby and I'm the daughter of the Duchess of the North and yes we can be friends." she replied before shaking his hand. Ruby allowed Aurelius to help her wear the bracelet and he did so with uncontrolled excitement. 

Aurelius walked Ruby back to her horse held by her knight after their friendship ritual. They now talked more amicably than before. 

"My guards are probably thinking 'What the fuck are those two doing? It's freezing out here.' or 'I'm cold and starving here while those two flirt in the middle of nowhere.' Does anyone even know you're here?" Now it was Aurelius' time to chuckle. 

"No I snuck out in the dead of the night to find you but I heard from the maids that you were going back to Cadmure. When will I be able to see you again?" 

"I'm not very much sure since we don't have much business with the empire however I always go to the Igrain woods. It's only a 40-minute horseback ride from your castle and a 30-minute ride from mine. I should really be going now. See you later." she said before pecking his cheek completely taking him off guard. 

"I-I thought you hated me, wh-why kiss me?" he stuttered with flushed cheeks.

"Oh, it was a completely amicable gesture from my birthplace. We kiss the cheeks of our friends when we meet or when we part ways. Do they have a different tradition in the capital?" 

"Yes, we just shake hands but I like your ways better. Should I kiss you as well on the cheek?"

"Aurelius, remember baby steps. We're still on tier one so we stay on tier one. That's tier two since it's different for you, okay? We take things slow."

"Of course. Pleasure prolonging your trip and disturbing your breakfast plans, Lady of the North." Aurelius extended his hand out for another handshake and Ruby accepted it with an amused smile. 

"You learn fast but I'll soon have some payback for all your misdeeds. Farewell and perhaps see you soon as well."

Aurelius watched as Ruby mounted her horse with a beaming smile. He stared at her fleeting form as her guards flank all her sides protectively. She even twisted around to wave him goodbye with a small smile as her horse traveled towards the horizon. He carefully watched as the wind carried her golden hair making it sway like waves of the sea while the rising sun haloed her form. For the first time in a long while, he finally smiled with a gentle heart.

"I'll see you soon."