"Would this be considered an invasion?" Erin questioned, watching as Minho's finger danced over a crumbled picture. Her eyes scanned the spruce floor beds to the dark oak walls dressed with family photos. Light entered through the open door, shattered windows and collapsed roof. Pictures were thrown around the room, many getting lost beneath the stacks of straw and layers of dirt. 

The prince's eyes slowly lifted to meet her gaze, "invasion?"

"After all," she progressed towards him, pulling the picture out of his hands and eyeing it. "This used to be my home."

"Did it?" he questioned sarcastically. "I thought you had a neighbour with a creepy obsession of painting of you and your family."

She frowned, "how do you know this is me?"

"Green eyes," he pointed at the picture. "Not many people have green eyes. Besides, it has a little boy and girl, both parents and an old man. And I recall you saying your grandfather was a big part of your childhood."

"You remember me saying that?"

"I mean, yeah," he shrugged. "It was one of the few things you actually told me about your past." He pointed at the painting, specifically her. "Was this an exaggeration or did you used to smile?"

She rolled her eyes, "believe it or not, Your Highness, I was happy once upon a time."

He chuckled, giving her his full attention as he uttered, "I don't doubt that."

"Well, you've seen me smile. Not many people have."

"I'll take it you feel comfortable around me," he smirked.

"More of I don't feel I have to prove myself to you," she retorted, making him scowl before she playfully slapped his arm. "I was joking."

He raised an eyebrow at her, "I'm guessing the talk with Hyunjin went well."

"Some aspects, not all."

"He told you what happened to Nathan and Chan, didn't he."

"He did," she approved, gaze shifting back to the painting of her and her family. "Sometimes I wonder how much easier life would have been if the Royal Army never invaded Masan. Would my parents and grandfather still be alive? Or would something else take them from me?"

"Hey, don't think about that too much. Look at you now. You are an amazing, powerful woman and the Leader of the Guardians. You can't get much better than that."

"Was it worth it? All the sacrifices leading up to this, was all of it worth it?"

He extended his arm out, bringing his hands to brush her arms softly and smiling.

"What did you want to become before the attack?"

"Well, the months leading up to it,  Guardian."

"Don't you believe what happened that day and every day since then was the reason that became a reality?"

"I mean," she shrugged. "Perhaps."

"Perhaps? Ever since I have been here, I've heard you and the other Guardians ramble on and on about how Jeongin wasn't ready to be a Guardian, you know, that he hadn't experienced enough. That attack was what built you into the person you are today. Yeah, life would have been easier if it didn't happen but would you have really become a Guardian if you didn't experience all that? When you first captured me, I remember thinking of everything I could have done to avoid it and yet here I am more comfortable with the Guardians than I ever was with the Royal Family. I know it isn't the best comparison to your situation but I guess what I am trying to say is that sometimes the unthinkable happen for a reason... for the eventual good."

She furrowed her eyebrows, "eventual good? It has been ten years and still nothing."

His hands quickly snaked their way up until they cupped her cheeks, "maybe not yet."

She rolled her eyes, grabbing one of his hand and holding it, "gosh, you are arrogant."

"What?" he laughed. "I didn't say anything."

"You hinted at yourself. Tell me, my Lord, what is going to happen when your father catches us? Surely he wouldn't approve of his heir loving a Guardian."

"Of course not. But if I'm not going to return to the Palace without you."

"I'm still a Guardian. Not sure he would be very inviting of the enemy living with him."

"Probably wouldn't but if you think of it," his thumb caressed her hand. "I've somewhat become his enemy too."