This chapter was ALSO not edited. Whoops. Anyway enjoy ;)

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Someone tapped on her shoulder. An elderly woman complimented her dress and how well it went with the new crown. People swarmed her, and suddenly she was the most popular woman there. Sophie just idly nodded along, her eyes turning back to the Prince above her.

Ruy was gone.

Sophie scanned the busy ballroom, not caring that she looked desperate or was coming off as rude. She spied a purple cloak flitter around the corner and wordlessly excused herself from the boring conversation. She dodged and shuffled around the people, awkwardly stepping on people's feet and outfits.

The hall was quiet, and no one noticed her slip away. By some small miracle, she supposed. At the end of the hall were paneled glass doors that mirrored his dark figure.

She threw open the doors, a wave of warm summer weather meeting her. Ruy leaned against the railings, smiling at her.

His face was slightly deeper, and his hair just a tad longer. But his same gentle but humorous smile and brilliant eyes welcomed her. His wings held proud behind him and his shoulders back, but she didn't miss the nervous pattering of his fingers against the stone.

Sophie gasped, hands clamped over her mouth. She flew to him, shocked hiccuping gasps as she breathed him in. These awful four years. These lonely, scary four years finally felt like they had a purpose.

Ruy laughed and squeezed her tight, burying his face into the crook of her neck and breathing her in. She felt his tears slip over her bare shoulders and drop onto the fabric of her dress. His face was wet as he pulled back. One hand gently held her cheek, and the other gripped the fabric of her dress as if to ensure she wouldn't run away. She took his hand and pressed a delicate kiss into his palm.

And her eyes connected with the small engagement ring on his finger.

Sophie froze, it all clicking in her head. Ruy brought her face forward and gently kissed her. Water danced along his soft lashes, the moon reflecting off his wet cheeks.

Gods above, she forgot how soft his lips were.

She gripped the sleeves of his jacket in fists as she kissed him back, her eyes fluttering closed.

When they separated, it took her a moment to open her eyes. When she did, she met the azure lined with violet eyes she had thought of for so long.

"Hi." Her voice was hoarse and shaky; the small greeting was almost lost to the soft breeze flowing over the world.

Ruy gently leaned his forehead against hers, "Hi."

She smiled, the first real one she had felt in a long time. But the engagement ring on his finger glinted in the moonlight as he reached for her hand, and Sophie carefully stepped back. Ruy looked away as Sophie grabbed his hand and observed his ring. Right. The damn ring.

"Who... oh, Ruy. Oh, gods, was this party for you?! Are you-"

"It wasn't my choice, Soph." He stumbled out, panicked.

Sophie realized she had just kissed the engaged Prince of another kingdom at a very public gala. Dear gods, anyone could've seen them.

And he was engaged?! Did she kiss an engaged man?!

"Ruy, why would you do that if you were engaged?" Sophie snapped, quickly stepping back from him. Ruy stared incredulously. Did he really expect her not to be upset?

"Soph, this is the first time we have seen each other in four years! We didn't exactly leave on the easiest terms! It just felt right to kiss you, I-"

"Oh my gods, I'm such an idiot. This isn't how a future queen would act! What would Kassandra do?" Sophie pulled away, hyperventilating as she paced. Ruy watched as she began to pluck at her lashes. A habit she swore off years ago.

Ruy glared at her, stepping in front of her pacing, "Sophie, are you serious? Why didn't you say anything if we shouldn't have done that? You know, the minute I saw you, I should've been screaming at you?"

Sophie spun on him, "What?!"

Ruy rolled his eyes, "Sophie, you dumped me. You fucking left me. You took the only family I had for years and fucking left!"

"I did what I had to! The Black Swan and the Neverseen weakened us too much!"

"Sophie, don't use that shitty excuse! You were scared."

"I was being practical!"

"You were scared shitless, Sophie! Leto hurt and scared you, so you ran away! You ran away from me after we promised no more running!"

Sophie's mind flashed back to when Ruy sprinted away from her in Cariana all those years ago. The true panic and betrayal she felt. Was that how Ruy felt when she left?

"Y-You needed to help the Dunmer. To them, you were their savior. I couldn't take you away from them." She whispered. Ruy's eyes were watering again, but not out of relief and joy, but out of anger.

"I waited for you on Kephalonia for two months, Sophie. Two. Fucking. Months. Sarai found me and I was practically catatonic! Even after I returned to the Dunmer, I would go back to that stupid island to wait for you to come back and tell me it was a mistake!" Ruy was practically screaming now. Sophie worriedly glanced through the windows, thanking the gods no one had heard them yet.

When the tears of anger and snarl met her, she wanted to slink away into a shell. Ruy stepped back from her, turning to the railing of the balcony. Sophie carefully approached him, making sure not to stand too close. Ruy's knuckles were white as he gripped the rail.

"When you left..." Ruy started, and Sophie turned to him. Ruy's face was one she hadn't seen before. One of complete anguish.

"When you left," he started again, trying to speak through his wavering voice, "I was back in the Neverseen. I was alone again. I had to survive again. I could feel every beating and vicious words my mothe- Vespera gave me as if they happened the day before. I cut off everyone. I... dear gods." Ruy turned to her, weakly stuttering, "You did that to me, Sophie."

Tears streaked down her cheeks, and Sophie turned away. She couldn't look at him.

"I'm done." Ruy spat from behind her, quickly striding back to the party.

"I'm sorry!" Sophie sobbed, not even facing him. She heard his footsteps freeze for a moment. "I'm so sorry!" She repeated.

She waited, though she didn't quite know what for.

But Ruy's footsteps resumed, and he closed the balcony doors behind him, leaving the new Queen of Inalia sobbing.

Ruy desperately walked through the seas of people, all calling his name and demanding his attention. But he found the curly bob and ram horns with a dress made of raven feathers and grabbed her arm.

"Mom." His voice was shaky.

Sarai turned and looked up at him, momentarily pausing her conversation. Her face dropped to see his tears and snotty nose.

"Oh sweetheart, what happened?" Sarai's eyes drifted to Sophie on the balcony, her face in her hands and her shoulders moving as she hiccuped with sobs. The windows were small, but Sarai instantly knew what had happened.

Sarai turned back to the conversation she was having, setting down her flute of champagne, "I'm afraid I'm going to call it a night. Have a good night, everyone."

The people, confused about their Saviour Prince with red cheeks and wet eyes instead of the strained smile he gave all of them, fell into a deep bow.

Sarai helped Ruy navigate the seas of people and to the parlor. Ruy slumped onto a couch, ripping the crown of his head and throwing it aside, hearing it land somewhere on the rug beneath him. Sarai sat next to him and didn't say a thing as Ruy leaned on her shoulder, quietly hiccuping and wiping his snot on his sleeve.

"I'm an ugly crier." He mumbled.

"Don't trust anyone who is a pretty crier, sweet pea." Sarai cooed, rubbing his shoulder.

The night went on slowly after that. Ruy couldn't thank Henrietta enough, who handled all the curious nobles wondering where her fiance had run off to during his engagement party. Henrietta makes a good ally.

Sophie had also retired to the guest chambers for the night after the encounter. Her little Inalian court had departed when she did, heading home instead of staying in the royal guest chambers as she did. Ruy retired to the tower, listening to his beat-up iPod and staring at the door to his studio. He should make something. Sculpt or make some music or anything. It will help him filter through his feelings. That's what the doctor says.

When he rose to head into the glass studio, two gentle knocks rapped at his door.

He stopped, about to snarl at them to go away-

"It's an emergency! Let me in!" Sophie snarled from behind the wood.

I said I would give y'all Soruy. I didn't say it was going to be happy. 

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_Sibylline_