Walking from his quarters he fixed his vest and checked his breath. His pace quickened when he saw a holoclock display that it was twenty minutes past the time they agreed to meet.

Jensek watched from a shadow cast by a decorative wall and sighed. His captain seemed different than the one he watched over the years. The normal lust for blood was no longer in his eyes and he seemed to smile more now that he had met this princess. Something was off and he wasn't sure if he could follow a captain who was thinking with his heart and not his head. They had a mission to fulfill and that was to spy on the princess for the king of Serenity. They had both pledged their lives to the king and now Vestin was ready to throw all the years of hard work to achieve his position to the wind for some girl who claimed to be the true heir to the throne.

"Are you going to betray our king just to appease a woman?"

Vestin paused at the sound of the question and turned to look over to see Jensek causally leaned up on a wall with his arms folded across his chest and a cold lifeless stare on his face. With a deep inhale Vestin looked out of the window next to Jensek and then met his eyes once more.

"Is there something you don't understand?"

Jensek shook his head, of all the times to play dumb now was not one of them. Vestin could be put to death for his actions and now it was well known that he had sided with that prissy little princess. Jensek couldn't stand by and say nothing while the possibility of his captain ending up at the end of a pointed blade of an executor. The respect he held for Vestin was too grand to just leave him to be.

"Well, I am grateful for what she did for Gin, but do you truly believe she is the lost princess of Serenity? The one we hear of when the older troops speak?"

Vestin's face tightened up. The smile and hint of laughter now disappeared and all that looked back at Jensek were the eyes he had known for years. The blank stare held an unworldly chill and Jensek found it a little hard to stay calm. He could feel beads of sweat pool up on his forehead and wasn't sure if he should move to wipe it clean. Vestin inhaled and slowly released it. Gaining his composure his facial expression softened and a weary smile crossed his lips.

"I do. I have known her since we were small. We used to roll in the mud together and race along the same dried-up stream near our village. She is who she claims to be. Her mother, the nurse who raised her, confirmed this for me many years ago."

Using the arm that rested on the wall Jensek pushed himself upright and rushed at Vestin with a painful burn within his chest. He cocked his tightly balled-up fist and punched Vestin in the face, catching him on his cheek. Because he loved her he would cause a war? He would send thousands, maybe millions of people to their graves just because he wanted to please a young lassi who he claims is his childhood friend.

"So you plan on bringing our people into a rebellion that may cause more trouble than it is worth?"

Vestin hung his head down as he licked the inside of his mouth. He looked up at Jensek and then spit out the blood that pooled in his mouth. Had he not understood why the young man struck him he could have him put to death for such a crime. Yet, he knew how it felt to just follow behind someone blindly. The fear of not knowing if you should continue to follow the plans of your superior or the nagging feeling in your chest that says that there is more to the story than you can see, he knew it all too well.

"More trouble than it is worth, you say, our people starve by the dozens while the castle eats until they pass out. They fight over drinkable water because their royal highness has blocked the river and has placed a new tax law for anyone who wishes to get any. Children are now working harder in the fields to help their parents on the farms," Vestin balled his hands up then released them. His shoulders slumped, and he closed his eyes as he remembered what they did to his village. How he was the last hope for the few that survived and she could be the last hope that the land he called home needed. He stepped up to Jensek and looked him in the eyes, "Our kingdom is slowly dying. It is slowly fading into nothing. All we've left is our hope for a better future. A brighter day than the one before and I am not the only one who believes that she will bring our people out of this hell we've lived in for so long. It will break the chain of that tyrant queen and her demon spawn and all who follow her. So to answer your question, yes, I plan to march at her side proudly and ride into the thick of battle to place her on the throne where she so rightfully belongs. I do this for the good of the people of Serenity who deserve to smile from ear to ear with joy."

Jensek took a step back and laughed, of course, this would be the response he would get. How could he doubt his captain so much like that? He may love the daft girl, but he plans for the future of the people he was entrusted to protect. So then why did his chest still feel such a painful sting when he said he marched by her side?

"I would say you are a fool, but I know from being with you over the years that your judgment of people is solid. You don't make a decision based solely on emotions but on facts. I don't agree with your plans for this girl. A novice Princess who barely knows how to protect herself, how do you think she will fare in a battle?" Jensek looked away from his gaze. He could tell the words that were falling from his mouth were gibberish meant to hurt Vestin, "Think about it, with that same level of skill do you believe she can win a war? Because that is exactly what you are heading towards."

Vestin sighed and shook his head. He patted Jensek's shoulder and then playfully tasseled his hair. Vestin could see his actions were that of a mere brat and this was just his way of throwing a tantrum because he didn't like the way things were going.

"Jensek, it is not for me to choose what you believe in or hope for. We are both people of sound mind and we can both choose what road to take. I will not force you to join our cause. If you wish to do so it will only be when you truly believe in what we see for the future of Serenity and its people."

Jensek smiled wearily. The piercing pain he felt in his chest grew sharper and sharper with every word they exchanged. His heartbeat raced as Vestin's fingers ran across his scalp and through his hair. He pulled his hand away from him and stepped back to put some distance between them.

"Maybe one day my eyes will be as opened as yours are, but for now I will just observe the situation. I will not inform the royal family of your betrayal, only because I have high regard for you as my captain and the darkness that has grown within the castle walls does need to be cleaned. Whether your Princess is the one to achieve this is still a mystery and I guess I will have to wait and see what happens."

Vestin's eyes softened as he pictured Loraz. Her smiling face could brighten a whole room in a matter of seconds. It amazed him how she could impact those around her in such a brief time. That skill along with many others would be the key to her success as a proper queen for Serenity.

"She can achieve wondrous things if given the chance and proper guidance. That is why I fell in love with her and have been in love with her for so long. Now if you excuse me I have to go meet her in the east garden."

Upon hearing Vestin proclaim his love for Loraz Jensek finally understood why his chest ached so much. He was such a fool, to confuse respect and admiration with love, but most of all for acting out of character and playing the role of a scorned lover. He watched as his captain walked down the hall towards the garden. His back looked most handsome when he walked with such childish steps. He turned to look out the window and saw two chim-chims flying by.

"I am one big assfool...how could I have fallen so deep and so quickly? Dammit."