She sat in her bed looking out the window at the sky as she waited for her breakfast. Thinking back on the day she kissed Robert she tried to convince herself that she had gone mad. Why else would she behave like that and with Robert? Of all people who she could have given her first kiss, why did she choose him? Her face went red, and she pulled the blanket over her head. She could never show her face to him again; it was the only way to make sure it didn't happen a second time. It was just a lapse of judgment, a moment of weakness because of all the stress and built-up emotions she held over the years. She pulled the blanket down and looked at the ceiling, a heavy sigh escaped from her mouth.

"I must be coming down with something. Yes, I am sick, that's why I said that to him and kissed him. It's just a bug that caused everything."

She hoped he didn't show up before her that morning. It was hard enough to avoid him as she went to her lessons. Since it was a student holiday there were no lessons scheduled for the day and it was hers to spend the way she wished. Which meant she had no excuse why she couldn't attend to any invitation she received from Robert, should another one of his servants come knocking at her door. She had not met him for the teatime he had planned for yesterday evening. Or the stroll in the east garden that he invited her to the week before. Or the picnic he planned for them the time before that, trying to avoid being alone with him was her focus. Her body unusually reacted to him since that kiss. She understood why, but she wanted to pretend for as long as possible not to notice. Admitting that she harbored feelings for him would only make things worse when she had to go to war with Serenity. If her experience taught her anything it's that her stepmother was willing to use anything to get rid of her, including killing innocent civilians and the people that were important to her.

Staring harder at the ceiling, memories of Vestin flashed before her and her eyes began to water. Losing Vestin, was the hardest thing ever, and the thought that if she got too close to Robert he would suffer the same fate, made her cry a bit more.

"I should remember that Robert tormented me when we were younger. Yes, we never got along as children, he'd always find a way to make me cry, by talking down to me. Then one year he just began to ignore my existence altogether. This should be easy for me to do. So why am I hesitant about what to do? "

She turned on her side and looked at the door. Her mind raced to try to think of logical reasons for her to bury her feelings. So, he had become a bit more friendly once they came to Ay Su. It didn't erase all the cruel things he said to her. Yes, they were young and inexperienced back then, but did he have to push so hard to get her to dislike him? If he truly did love her, why did it take him so long to say it? Vestin didn't say it either, but she could always tell how he felt. There was no guessing when it came to his feelings. No, this was just another trick to get her to care about him again. Once she gave in, he would revert to the foul-mouth little brat that she knew him to be.

"Loraz, all you have to do is not admit what you already know. You can't ever let your feelings win, or the same thing that happened to Vestin will happen to him. You must hate him...you have to learn to hate him so that you can protect him."

Suddenly a soft knock came on the door, and she jolted up straight. She looked over and saw her robe draped over a chair. Her feet swung to one side of the bed, and she ran to the chair grabbing it and flinging it over her shoulders to quickly force her arms through the sleeves. Her voice was soft as she answered the door,

"You may enter."

Her maid opened the door and poked her head with a smile on her face. She saw the princess standing by the chair holding the front of her robe closed,

"Your Highness, I hope you are doing well this morning."

The maid pushed the door open a bit more and wheeled in a cart that held a tray full of food and she began to set it carefully onto the small table by the window. Turning the upside-down teacup upright, she prepared tea for Loraz.

"Does Your Highness have any idea what she wishes to wear this morning? Should we try the new dress that you got a few days ago? The color will look fantastic against your skin."

Loraz looked at the maid making her tea and setting up her breakfast tray. A sigh escaped her as she wished her cheerful smile could return to her one day. She walked toward the table and then paused in front of the window as a baby bird flapping its wings caught her eye. The tiny bird that waited for its mother's return chirped and moved about its nest. A tear escaped from her eye as she watched it dance in circles and cry out. She no longer cried out for her mother, but how deeply she needed her right now. Her mother would have all the answers she needed to solve all her problems. The memory of how she and her friends found a chim-chim that had fallen out of its nest came to her. How Vestin cried that day because he didn't catch the bird in time as it fell from the tree. Her mother took the bird and nursed it back to health then gave it to Loraz to show Vestin. She was such a gentle person and so kind to everyone. Her mother was the best woman she had ever known.

"Princess, are you ill? You look a bit pale, should I fetch the doctor for you?"

Loraz blinked the tears away; brought back from her moment of daydreaming she looked at the sweet girl and forced a smile.

"I am okay, you needn't worry."

The maid looked at her for a short moment then her eyes went big.

"Oh, I almost forgot to give this to you, Your Highness."

She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a small square piece of paper and handed it to Loraz. Hesitating at first, Loraz reached for it. Her eyes met with the maid as she unfolded the paper and the maid smiled.

"Is this a note? Who sent it?"

"It is from Prince Robert, Your Highness."

Loraz looked at the paper quickly and read the small sentence that was gracefully written.

I will take mine with two sugars and cream, please.

She looked at the table and saw that it had two sets of silverware. Robert must have planned to have breakfast with her.

"That sneaky little..."

She was unable to reject his offer, seeming as if he had already invited himself to her room. As she sat down to sulk and scold herself for letting her guard down, she heard a sharp tapping at her door. The maid quickly ran to answer the door while Loraz frantically fixed her robe. She heard a familiar male voice recite a few greetings and ask to enter the room. The maid looked back at Loraz, and she nodded her head once permitting him to enter. It was Robert, of course, dressed in casual clothes.

A smug grin on his face as he walked into the room.

"You disappointed me when you never showed up for tea."

Loraz blushed at the sight of his smile and quickly averted her gaze.

"I wasn't feeling quite myself, so I made it an early night."

He walked towards the table and reached for the other chair.

"Oh, you felt ill. How do you feel now? If you need a minute to prepare yourself, I can wait until you are done."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye as he readied himself to eat then looked down at the table when their eyes met.

"I am well, and I can just eat like this."

"That is good to hear."

After the maid was done serving them breakfast, she excused herself and informed Loraz she would return shortly to help her dress. They were completely alone now, and she wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing. Her heart was racing as she secretly watched him sip at his cup of tea. She picked up her cup and took a sip from it then looked up at him, her eyes focused on his lips. Almost dropping her cup on the table, she placed it down.

"No, no, no, this isn't right. We couldn't possibly."

"We couldn't...what exactly couldn't we do?"

"We couldn't possibly do this. We grew up together...as siblings. In the eyes of the people of Mossca, I am your sister whether you wish to acknowledge that or not it doesn't change the fact that father took me in as his daughter."

"We both know you are not my blood sister. We also know that you have no ties to my family's bloodline whatsoever. I don't know your true story, how you came to be the Princess of my kingdom is a mystery to me, but I hope one day to find out."

He slid his hand carefully over the table and took her, his eyes were intense as if he were trying his best to tell her he felt by just looking alone. She slowly removed her hand from his and looked away from him, her mind repeating that it was not right to be in love with him. She had to keep her distance to protect him.

"You won't ever find out the answer to your mystery. I can't let anyone know of my story...not even if I could allow myself to admit that I loved you. We can never be."

Robert jumped up from his chair annoyed and quickly walked over to her. Spinning her around, chair and all, he placed both hands on either side of her, clutching the armrests tightly. Staring her down he looked as if he were a predator who had captured his prey. He slowly leaned in, and she gasped in a short breath of air. He paused, his face extremely close to hers and he glanced at her beautiful pale lips. Closing in he pressed his lips to hers slowly. She pushed him away and bit her bottom lip.

"I believe I have already mentioned this, but I have never, not one time since we've met, thought of you as my little sister. You are no kin to me, but you are my life and I hope that one day I can capture your heart completely. Plus, the father seems to approve of us."

He leaned in and kissed her again. Surprised at first, she pushed up on his chest then slowly she began to give in to the feeling that was spreading throughout her body. She slipped her hand up his chest and slowly began to wrap her arms around his neck. They kissed as he fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her slightly thin waist pulling her closer to him.

Her mind raced with thoughts that didn't seem to make any sense at all and she realized they were all about him. Falling deeper into what she was trying to force herself to believe was a sin, she let the thoughts continue and pulled him closer. Subconsciously she had always been looking at him in a different light and she couldn't bring herself to admit it. She remembered how disappointed she was when he left for Royal High the day after his eighteenth year and how she was secretly excited to see him after one year when their father had sent her to Royal High. She pulled on his shirt wanting to feel his body against hers, she slid further and further off the chair, and they ended up both kneeling on the floor. Just as Robert went to lay her down on the floor, they heard a light knock at the door and snapped out of their lustful trance. The knock came again, and Robert looked down at her as she lay there flushed. He wanted to continue, but at the same didn't want to force her to give herself to him.

"If you answer, the person will enter, and this moment will end here."

Loraz sat up a bit and pulled her robe closed then sighed. She couldn't fight her desire to have him, but she wouldn't stop trying. At least until she could make sure he would be safe by her side.

"Unfortunately, we will have to end it here."

Robert sat back and ran his fingers through his hair. Looking up at her he smirked, watching her try to fix her robe made him chuckle.

"You understand now that there will be no going back?"

She looked over at him and rolled her eyes, he had a point. To pretend as if they didn't share such an intimate moment would be insulting to both. While she wasn't ready to admit she had feelings for him openly she wouldn't run away from him anymore, they weren't children. She would just have to hold off from any open relations with him until after she figured out the mess with her stepmother. Getting up and moving closer to him, he watched as she came right up to his face and forced him to sit back on his hands.

"I hadn't planned on it. I won't run anymore; I've done nothing but run all my life."

She leaned into him, and they snuck one more kiss before returning to their chairs. Fixing her hair and robe once more she looked over at the door as another knock came to it.

"You may enter."

The maid from earlier had returned to help Loraz get dressed. Robert excused himself and went to walk out the door. He then turned around and looked at Loraz her face was extremely red, and she looked as if she didn't want him to go. He walked back over to her and pulled her into him. The maid turned her head and blushed. Robert gently kissed her forehead.

"I will see you later, I hope." He spoke.

She nodded once and he smiled, his eyes held a boyish sparkle to them. Releasing her from their embrace he walked toward the door and exited the room.

The maid looked back over to Loraz and saw the look on her face.

"Are you okay, Your Highness?"

"I think I may be damned in my afterlife. What have I done?"

"What do you mean, princess?"

"Nothing, I mean nothing...what should I wear for today?"

The servant stood a littledazed at the sight of her smiling face. She couldn't believe her eyes; PrincessLoraz smiled for the first time since she arrived here. This was mostcertainly big news. Yes, big news indeed.