Mask

3

-No one's POV-

It was in the middle of the night, moving in the darkest shadows of the castle was a boy. He was quick and silent as he ran in the corridors, looking for it.

He stopped when he heard voices, or more like screams of a woman and an all too familiar man's curses and yells.

It made him think of what they was doing a second before quickly continuing the mission he had at hand. That was until he abruptly stopped at seeing a certain goddess.

"F-first p-prince, what are y-you doing here?" The silver haired asked. He looked at her, trying to think of a lie.

"I don't find my way to my room." He said after a moment of silence. She nodded and without thinking, took his hand and softly pulled him towards the hallway where their rooms was.

For her, everything went so fast as she thought about the future. She would be crowned queen soon after all.

While for him, it was like the whole world stopped when she touched him. It was the warmest and nicest touch he ever felt.

Once he caught himself thinking about her touch and him staring at her as she pulled him with her, he stopped.

She was yanked back by surprise and fell onto him, which ended up with her in his chest and his arms around her waist, catching her to not fall towards the floor.

They stayed in the position in at least 10 seconds, both having to process it before she blushed madly and went out of his grip.

He watched her get up, just to pull her close to him again.

"You are so... warm... and soft..." He mumbled, snuggling into her back. Becoming even redder, she turned around and backed some steps, saying "I-I apologise for my clumsiness, I will help you to your ro-"

He went up to her again, hugging her tightly and mumbling "What is this feeling? What is this called? It's so warm and comfortable in your embrace..."

Feeling confused, she hugged back, asking "Yo-you don't k-know what a h-hug is?"

"Hug? Is that what this is called?" He asked softly, closing his eyes as he concentrated on her warmth. She slowly hugged him back, asking "Have you never been hugged before?"

He slowly shook his head as she then asked "Haven't your father or brother ever given you physical affections? To show how much they love you?"

"F-Father have." The blonde answered, making her slowly let go and ask "How?"

The first prince still held onto her as he answered "He hit us."

"W-what?!" She asked, forcing him to let go of her. He nodded with a small smile "He hit us out of love to teach us rights and wrongs."

"That's not love! I-I have to talk to my mother about t-this!" She responded, quickly turning around again to walk away when he grabbed her wrist, making her turn around.

"Don't tell anyone, I'm not allowed to talk about myself. It just slipped. It's better if you forget it." He said, now showing emotions for the first time, however, that emotion was worry. Worry that she would tell someone.

"I-I h-have to talk to mother about this!" She argued. He shook his head, saying "No, actually, I think our parents do some inappropriate stuff right now, I heard them in the hallway."

"Like what?" She asked, wanting to go to her mother immediately and tell her everything.

"I don't know, but I don't think we should interrupt. That's wrong either way."

She sighed and nodded, saying "Then I might show you to your room again, yes?"

He nodded slowly as they started walking towards their rooms in silence. Once they arrived and she mentioned to his door, he was about to walk in and she was about to go into her own when he spoke "Princess Elizabeth?"

"Y-yes?"

"Forget all this, it will probably be better that way." He answered before leaving to bed. She just stood still a minute, not knowing what to do...

He was nothing like the rumours said, he was just... misunderstood, that's all. Knowing that, she made one of her best decisions, but also one of her hardest in life yet, she would help him until he gets what he deserves.

. . . . .

It was silent in the dinning room as they all ate breakfast. The two rulers on each of the short sides of the table as the two princes sat on one of the long sides, the princess on the other.

It was completely quiet, the only thing being heard was when butlers and maids offered more food.

The princess watched the two princes in front of herself. They was both eating with etiquette. The only strange thing being that the eldest prince had the knife in his left and the fork in his right, the opposite than what he should.

His brother seemed to hold it the right way, leaving her to think a bit more about it. Was he left handed or just not remembered that small detail in etiquette?

It wasn't anything serious, but that was the best she could think of right now. She wanted to keep her mind away from this awkward moment called breakfast and the blonde in front of her fascinated her.

He wasn't anything like the rumours said he was. He just seemed lost and even a bit scared. Also very lonely and like he had never got the love he needed. At least, that's what she thought about him.

Instead of being scared of him like when he came, she wanted to get to know him and maybe even get to be his friend.

"Elizabeth, would you be so kind to help our guests to prepare themselves to the ball tonight after breakfast?" The Supreme deity asked, her daughter immediately nodding.

"Yes mother." She answered.