"You're moving too much, the stitches have loosened again." He frowns as he tightens them.

"Being a servant is tiring, even if he is low maintenance..." You sigh tiredly. Law peers up at you and softens the slightest.

"You'll get sick like this, cant you ask Killer-ya to help?" He inquires.

"Nah, he's the type to worry, he doesn't even know about this injury." You respond with a shrug. He frowns more and starts to bandage you up.

"You're a stubborn one. I'll assist you if you have to stretch for anything." He decides.

"I wont tell you if I do." You say bluntly.

"Then I'll have to punish you." He hums straightening up and handing you your top. You smirk, pulling it on and adjusting it.

"In which sense?" You ask quietly, catching him off guard. Pink dusts his cheeks and he smiles a small bit, bringing a knuckle to his lips as he looks to the side.

"What a clever vixen you are ___... I may be unprepared for such an opponent." He breathes. You giggle lightly, you hadn't expected that reaction, it was cute.

"I have to return to the prince now. Farewell for now Law." You tell him before going out. Law looks over as you disappear and chuckles lightly.

"What a woman..."

You find the Prince making his way to his room and fall in step with him. "Checking in so soon your majesty?" You tilt your head when his amber gaze flickers to you.

"I don't feel well." He responds looking ahead. You frown in concern and reach over, feeling his forehead and making him freeze.

"You are warm..." You admit before pulling your hand away. "Maybe you just need rest, if it's not better in the morning then you'll have to stay in bed."

He curses under his breath, " There's a princess visiting in two days... What bad timing." He grumbles.

"Then you better get plenty of rest." You open his door for him. He nods and goes passed. "Sleep well your majesty." You add before closing the door. You usher away his other guards before curling up in front of his door.

He wakes in a cold sweat, sitting up and peering beside him. His shoulders droop, finding his bed empty. He hated sleeping alone, but your words intruded his head every time he thought of bringing someone to his room.

<i> "There will never be anything between us besides this job." </i>

He frowns heavily, it bothered him, no one has ever spoken to him like that, especially not a woman. He clicks his tongue getting out of bed and going to the door. He'd just go find a snack in the kitchen. He stops when he opens the door, find you curled up in front of it, sleeping soundly. Why were you there? Is this where you slept every night? Why hadn't he noticed?

Kid leans on the doorframe, looking down at you with a small frown. He knew nothing about you, or anyone for that matter. With a soft sigh, he carefully picks you up to take you to his bed but stops. You wouldn't be happy waking up there. He looks over at his bay window the seat attached was big enough to be a bed for you. He takes you over to it and lays you down on it before going to close his door. He looks back at you rubbing his cheek.

Should be fine as long as someone was in here with him. He grabs a sheet from his wardrobe before placing it over you. You shift and rollover wincing slightly. He raises an eyebrow but you don't wake. With a shrug he goes back to his bed and crawls in, settling in as his eyes subconsciously train on you, watching your chest rise and fall steadily. Soon his eyes ease shut and he falls fast asleep.

You soon wake, a bad atmosphere pressing down on you. Opening your eyes you focus on a shape slinking toward the bed across from you. Swiftly getting up, you make the intruder freeze and look over at you, taking a step back toward the door. You glance over at the shape in the bed, guessing it was Kid. The intruder suddenly dashes out. You swiftly follow them out, drawing your dagger and swiftly throwing it into their back. They go down and you check the hall before closing Kid's door and approaching the body.

Kneeling down, you wrench the dagger from their back, cleaning it off on their shroud and sheathing it under the skirt of your uniform before rolling them to their back. A guard this time. You frown spotting the sheath he had been carrying, drawing the blade, you find it coated with poison.

"___?" You jump and look back as Killer approaches, and hold up the blade.

"Poisoned, he got close." You yawn and stand up, dropping the poisoned dagger on the body. "I'll leave him to you, goodnight." You murmur going past and back to Kid's door. You stop, looking at it. How did you end up in his room anyway? Had the prince put you there? If so, you should probably at least sleep in there for tonight. Going in silently, you look toward his shape again, making sure he was still breathing before going back to where you had been and laying down with a yawn. "Goodnight Kid..."

The sun peers in at you, making your eyes flutter open to the window, see the forests dancing from a breeze. It sure was a pretty sight to wake up to. You stretch and yawn, wincing when your stitches tug. Sitting up, you rub your injured side and look over at the redhead in hos bed. He had kicked off his covers, frowning in his sleep. You go over and check his temperature before frowning heavily finding splotches of yellow here and there. You feel a spike of worry and swiftly going out, tripping over Killer who sat in front of the door.

You both go down with a gasp and you frown at him. "The hell are you doing?" You question.

"I could ask you the same, why were you in his room?" He grumbles.

"I was sleeping in there, he put me near his window last night... At least, I think it was him." You scoff sitting up and closing Kid's door.

"I was sitting guard here after the incident last night. I didn't know you were in there." He sighs.

"Well, could you stay here a bit longer? He's sick so I need to go speak with Law and Sanji." You inform him. "Then you can sleep, I'll be with him for the rest of the day."

"Sure, I'll be here." He hums. You hurry to the infirmary, colliding into the doctor and making you both stagger.

"Easy there, what's wrong?" Law breathes, offering a smile.

"Sorry, his majesty is sick, can you take a look at him?" You ask him.

"Will do," He gives a nod. With that you go to find Sanji in the kitchen. He was humming to himself with a smile as you cooked. You smile a bit and go to him, hugging him from behind. He pauses and blushes lightly.

"Oh, good morning ___-swan~" He greets with a smile.

"Good morning to you Sanji, can you make something for a sick prince?" You hum peering at his face.

"Of course... Is everything okay?" He asks when you don't let him go.

"I like this. And you smell pleasant." You murmur. Sanji blushes murmur and grins sheepishly.

"Well I don't mind if you hold onto me!" He gushes.

"Tempting, but I have to go back to him, will you bring his breakfast to his room when its ready?" You request.

"As you wish!" He chimes. You return to Kid's room as Law comes out to speak with Killer.

"How is he?" You inquire.

"It doesn't look good, it's not just a fever, and the medical plant I need isn't here." He tells you and Killer.

"I'll go get it for you, where do I have to go and what am I looking for?" You decide.

"I don't think he'll survive until your return." Law confesses. You and Killer look at eachother.

"Then we'll take him to it. Will he have a better chance then?" You ask Law.

"Perhaps, but traveling for him would still be risky." Law says. You look around the hall before pulling the two into Kid's room and closing the door.

"We'll have to take that risk. I'll prepare a wagon to transport him in. Killer, you cover for Kid until we return." You plan quietly.

"What? Just you two and Kid?" There was a frown in Killer's voice now.

"Yes, we cant raise suspicion by bringing along more. I'll go get the wagon, Law pack everything we'll need." You say backing toward the door, stopping when Kid groans. You go over and look at him as his eyes ease open. "Morning, breakfast is coming." You murmur.

"It got worse..." He mumbles.

"Yeah, we'll get you healed up, so just hang in there and try to eat alright big guy?" You pat his chest. He offers a slight nod, looking up at you quietly. You smile before going out, maneuvering around Sanji as he appears with a tray of food.

"___! I made you some food too~" He says after you.

"Thanks but I have urgent matters to tend to!" You reply before running out and to the stables in town.

After changing into your traveling clothes, you lead Nox out to purchase a covered wagon from the owner. He sales it to you cheap, requesting that you bring him a new dog if you can find one on your journey. After agreeing, you hook up the wagon to Nox before leading him back to the castle.

Now all you had to do was sneak Kid onto the wagon without anyone seeing. You frown slightly as you go in, leaving Nox waiting at the foot of the castle steps. You return to Kid's room, only finding Sanji with the prince as the redhead eats slowly, looking drained. They both look up as you come in.

"___, its not good to skip meals, especially if you're about to go on a journey." Sanji frowns in concern.

"I promise I'll eat once we get on the road." You assure him. "Where's Killer?"

"He went to have everyone meet in the cafeteria for the castle meal. That way we can sneak out the east wing." Kid tells you, looking at his food. "Sneaking around my own castle..."

"We'll remover the traitors soon enough, it's just safe this way for all of us. I'll bring the wagon around to the east wing. Thank you for guarding him Sanji." You add.

"Whatever helps you ___," He gives a slight bow. You smile briefly before dashing back out, silently thankful your friend was a step ahead of you. You lead Nox around to the eastwing exit, no sooner you reach there does Law and Killer assist Kid out and onto the back of the wagon.

"Be careful ___, I'll be waiting for all of you to return." Killer says, handing you supplies to put next to Kid.

"Good luck Killer, and watch your back." You respond. He gives a nod as Law takes the driver's seat.

"Alright Nox, lets go." He urges the stallion out the castle gates and out of town. You sit beside where Kid lay, putting a wet rag on his forehead.

"___..." The prince begins.

"Just rest for now alright? We'll talk once we get you some medicine." You tell him, bundling him up before crawling out and sitting beside Law. "So, where we heading.?" You question.

"... The Bloody Meadows. A special flower there can heal most sicknesses." He responds looking ahead. You frown heavily at him.

"That's in Howler territory Law." You tell him. Howlers are vicious humanoid beasts, they often resembled wolves or bucks, that enjoy killing. Travelers unlucky enough to be in Howler territory at night are always found ripped apart, intestines strong up in trees for future travelers to see.

The bandits that live in the territory also call themselves Howlers, but they were basically scavengers, taking the dead's belongings during the day. The territory was just all around unpleasant, the towns linked to it are in poverty and mostly held by thieves and mercenaries as.

"It's the only way to save the Prince." Law states. You frown and look back into the wagon at Kid who slept soundly.

"Alright, I trust your judgement, get us to that flower." You breathe. Law nods and peers at you as you maneuver back inside to check on Kid and go over your weapons briefly.

"It'll take us half a day to reach the territory, so we'll have to set camp before we enter, or else we'll have to deal with the beasts." Law informs you.

"How long does he have?" You inquire.

"I'll check him now if you wish to switch places." He tells you. Equipping yourself, you give a hum and move back out to take the reigns so Law can check on him. "He's doing well so far, he'll last long enough for us to reach the flower, I believe we could even get delayed and he'll be okay." Law assures before joining you outside.

"Good." You relax with a small smile.

It was a dusk when Law stopped the wagon just outside of the Howler territory. You get off and set up a small camp with his help. You let Nox free to go relax somewhere nearby. "See that tree?" Law touches your shoulder and points to the top of a tree that stood taller than the others in the forest.

"Yeah?" You glance at him before following his point.

"That tree sits on the other side of the Meadow, at it's roots is where we'll find the flower." He breathes.

"That's pretty deep in there..." You mutter.

"Yes, but there's a path I made that leads straight to it, I marked it with yellow rocks so it wont take us long." Law assures.

"Good, I'll get some wood for a small fire." You decide, starting for the treeline.

"Be careful." He hums before going to check on Kid. You smile to yourself, it felt like it was going to be a nice night to sleep under the stars. As long as Kid's condition remained stable at least. After gathering plenty of wood, you make your way back to camp. Law was still in the wagon, which troubled you.

"Is he still alright?" You peer into the wagon as Law checks over Kid. His grave frown and Kid's trembling form makes you stop.

"It's accelerating..." He whispers. You pale and crawl into the wagon as Kid groans in pain.

"Kid, Kid wake up." You pat his cheek. "You have to fight this."

"He'll be dead by sunrise." Law murmurs. You glance at his distressed face. "I should've been more diligent..." You frown more at his words before smacking Kid and waking the prince.

"_-___..." He pants lightly looking up at you weakly.

"Law, he's not dead yet, help him last until morning. Kid, you stay awake okay?" You pat the redhead's cheek. His amber eyes watch your face troubled.

"I'm sorry." He murmurs. You blink at him in confusion.

"For what?" You question. Kid adverts his gaze.

"For not thanking you... You're the best servant I've ever had." He coughs, starting to shake more. "Ch... Maybe it'll be better for everyone if I die here." He rasps. Your eyes widen slightly.

"Stop talking like that. I'll be back as soon as I can so stay awake." You tell him checking your weapons swiftly. Law looks at you in alarm.

"___, don't, that's suicide." He tries to stop you. Kid looks at you in confusion.

"What are you doing? J-Just let me.. That's what they all-" Your hand comes across his face a second time. Making Law straighten in surprise and him freeze.

"Fuck them! You're going to a be a great king! Don't you dare let them get to you when I'm on your side dammit! Now shut up and fight this sickness while I go get a damn magic flower!" You snap at him before jumping out of the wagon and grabbing a stick from the fire, starting for the forest.

"___!" Law calls swiftly chasing after you.

"Stay with the King." You respond flatly.

"You're so damn stubborn." He growls, grabbing your hand. "I cant believe I can't talk you out of getting yourself killed. The path starts over here." He leads you to a medium sized yellow rock that was at the treeline. "Please reconsider."

"I'm not going to wait until morning hoping he doesn't die Law." You set the flaming stick against the rock and turn to him. "Not when the thing that can save him is so close." You breathe. He shifts looking into the forest looking even more stressed. He meets your gaze again and cups your face, kissing you deeply. You pause in surprise, enjoying the warmth of his hands and lips as you kiss back.

"In case I never get another chance to do that." He whispers pulling back. You offer a small smile.

"Take care of him until I return Law." You tell him before entering the forest as deep howls echo the night air.