Mine Only.

Chapter 1 - Licorice I

Everyday, it was the same routine. Drag himself out of bed. Try to tame his ragged and tousled hair. Try to not collapse under the pressure of the ridiculously high standards of the academy. Try to look representable. Try to look composed.

Why?

Why did he always bear the long and tedious lectures when he wasn't learning anything at all? When he was behind and couldn't catch up?

Because of them.

After another tiring day at the academy, he would always force his frail body to run up the mountain. He'd trudge past the Coffee Tribe, ignoring the weird looks cookies gave him. He ran right through the Milk Tribe, also ignoring the looks he was given. Once, he bumped into a village elder who was carrying four glass jars of milk. Despite the elder's angry shouting, the village folk gazing at the spectacle, the glass shards that tore his skin and him being drenched in the pure liquid, he dragged himself through the cold just to see them. His prince.

Licorice had memorized the prince's "schedule" throughout the two week suspension he was sentenced to. For his prince, he tore three library books with his bare hands. For his prince, he purposefully shoved his classmate's potion right off the table, with glass shattered on the ground and the scorching pink liquid splattered on the floor, his uniform, the desk, and the crying classmate's uniform.

He scribbled the prince's daily schedule in his diary, pink hearts littering the page.

" 6:25 AM — They wake up, bathe, and clothe themself.
6:40 AM — They have finished tidying their room and sending the laundry to the castle's laundromat. They refuse to eat much, but they give in to that prim maid's scolding and grab an extra bottle of juice before heading out.
7:00 AM — They patiently wait for their father to wake up. If their father isn't present at the castle, they wait anyway, since they seem to miss him.
9:00 AM — They receive a break from their lessons.
12:45 — They finish their lessons.
3:00 PM — They tire out from practicing their swordsmanship, and rest near the lake.
3:30 PM — Head inside to eat lunch, and then head outside again.
5:00 PM — They head inside to read a book by the window. (Perfect time to observe them!) "

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28th of February
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"Licorice!" a voice rung out. Heads left and right turned towards the cookie in question. Licorice's blood ran cold as he looked up at the scowling professor. He had been zoning out this entire class, daydreaming of all his repressed fantasies with the prince.

"Yes, sir," he stammered, avoiding eye contact.

"I have called on you three times. Have you not heard me, child?"

Licorice blinked for a second, two, and then settled on a lie. "I have not, sir. I'm sorry, my head is aching." he meekly looked away.

"Well then, off to the infirmary you go, child."

He couldn't have gotten out of there soon enough.

He dodged past the infirmary and ran to the bathroom. He shut himself in a stall and sank against the door. His stomach felt fluttery whenever he thought of his prince. His face burned and tears streamed down his pale cheeks. He was making a fool out of himself for someone who doesn't even know he exists. He will never have his prince.

Or could he?

It is pretty easy, if you really think about it. Just annihilate any prince or princess they're arranged to marry, if that old man ever bothers with his son's love life.

No. Rid those thoughts out of your head.

But it's too easy... I could easily "take them out".

He couldn't sleep that night. Or the night after. Or the week after. Or the month after. He was just scheming and writing notes down. He even gave up his scholarship. He didn't care. All that mattered was his beloved prince.

He'd bought a room at an inn (with the little money had stolen) not too far from the Cacao Kingdom. It was a ten minute walk up the mountain, dodge the guards, and in the Kingdom's square he was.

For a way to get in the castle, however, he thought of becoming a sort of butler. He just had to find out if there was a new helping hand expected, and he'd show up instead.

Technically, he also needed a job, as the Cacao Cookies were a lot sharper and not that easy to pickpocket.

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[ 3rd of March ]
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"Licorice, move those over there, dear," nodded Bon Bon to her new assistant. "And don't trip over the ribbons! Tuck them in—No, the other way—There, and file them by color, please,"

She was too busy getting the measurements for a young girl's ballgown to notice Licorice was gawping out the window.

"Licorice! Will you get those fabrics filed!" she snapped, turning her head to his direction. She noticed what he was staring at. Quickly she adjusted her dress and whisper-yelled at Licorice to file the fabrics and look "neat".

His prince was right outside, seconds from entering.

Chapter Note:
updates weekly/daily idk lol. sorry if its short midterm exams are a pain in the ass :)