Aliciel widen her eyes in realisation as she stood up and look around for Lia. Lia notice Aliciel's presence and smiled warmly.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked softly while looking at her.

"M-my former dress...! Since you changed me, you must know where it is, right!?" she asked as desperation filled her eyes.

Lia give her an apologetic smile. "I'm terribly sorry, but I already throw the dress because you can't use it anymore and it's torn." she explained as Aliciel's eyes widen.

"B-but there's this handkerchief-" before Aliciel could finish her sentence, Lia take out the very familiar handkerchief Aliciel was looking for.

"You're looking for this?" she asked with a small smile plastered on her face as Aliciel take the handkerchief from Lia's hand and tears threatens to fall from her eyes as she received it.

"...t-thank god..." she stuttered out as her voice cracked and hold back her tears.

Lia seems to notice it and pat her shoulder. "It looked very important to you." she said while looking at Aliciel as Aliciel freeze on her spot.

'Important...?' she asked to herself while thinking of Valen, the time when he asked her to make one back at the Academy. Her lips form a smile as she nodded. "Yes... this is important."

-

Aliciel open the door to be greeted by Valen who is checking on his sword. He notice her presence as he put the sword back and smiled at her.

"Hungry?" he asked her as she take a seat beside him.

Valen take out a bread and share it together with her as they eat the shared bread together.

Out of nowhere, Valen chuckle much to Aliciel's confusion. "....I just never thought that we would eat like a commoner and share a bread together." he said with a light smile as Aliciel form a small smile.

"Well, God has a funny way to make us expect the unexpected." Aliciel replied while looking at him.

Valen smiled and sigh afterwards. "If you're not there, I think I'm going to die." he said sincerely, "Thank you for saving me."

Aliciel nod slightly. "If you're not there, falling together with me, I might die and the branches might break my bones." she said sincerely. "Thank you for saving me." she said the same way he thanked her that somehow, warms his heart.

"I'm sorry about the assassin. Vilanc often send them to me." he said as he finished eating the bread.

Aliciel shakes her head. "It's alright. I'm also surprised that he would send someone to assassinate you on that day in the afternoon." she trailed off. "...But why would Vilanc did such things? Why would he go this far to the point sending you assassins?" she asked as a slight sadness and concern filled her eyes.

"...he probably want justice for his mother." he started as Aliciel turned her head towards him questioningly. "His mother is the late Empress. Everyone thought she was sterile so that's why my father married my mother to make a heir." he explained as his eyes directed on the floor.

"Vilanc's mother couldn't stand it but after a year, she finally has Vilanc, her first son. But I was born a year first than him, so father didn't pay any special attention for Vilanc and making me the official heir. The Empress becomes crazy and tried to kill my father including me, but she was executed for that." he explained sadly.

"...I understand that, and I also understand about your mother. You want to become the Emperor and also bring justice for your mother, right?" she asked while looking at Valen in the eyes.

"....I guess my mother and Vilanc's mother didn't have a happy ending. His mother was executed and my mother was despised by the empire. That caused us to fight for the throne." his eyes directed downwards. "...But still, I have the upper hand."

Aliciel form a small smile. "I guess you and Vilanc are really a good son. But Vilanc's hatred for the Emperor landed on you, the Crown Prince of this Empire." she trailed off. "...I'm on your side on this." she said, determined. "I want you to become the Emperor." she added making him surprised by her statement.

"...What's the reason?"

"You are rational and able to think calmly about this political problems. Most of all, you didn't plot any cruel things towards Vilanc and care about the commoners life. Vilanc, sending assassin to assassinate you was not a wise act, instead, it's brutal. Also, you try to understand Vilanc but he doesn't want to understand you. You're quite wise." she explained shortly making Valen smiled brightly.

"Thanks!" then, he sigh as he continue, "...if I become the Emperor, I would give Vilanc the land of Genetta and become a duke."

Aliciel's eyes widen, "It's really a good offer."

"Yeah, but he sees it on the wrong way. He was not satisfied with it because he wants the throne so bad. That's why his salvation is killing me." Valen let out a bitter laugh at his own statement. "This political world is fucked up, right?"

"...Yes."

They stayed silent for a while, getting drawn in their own thoughts as Aliciel decided to break it.

"Here." she said while handing him the handkerchief as his eyes widen.

Then he burst into laughter. "You're still keeping this? I didn't bring you any bears to eat, it's still at the hunting ground! Though I hunt 3 of them."

"3 of them!?" Alicel asked with wide eyes and chuckle. "...I think you deserve it. Besides, you already hunt it for me." she reasoned him, motioning him to receive the handkerchief which he received it wholeheartedly.

He stared at the handkerchief for a while and smile. "It's really good. You're good at embroidery. Well, that's to be expected." he let out a little laugh and smiled at Aliciel.

"Thank you Lady Aliciel," he smiled as he turned his head towards the handkerchief. "I'll treasure it." he said with a slight blush on his face.

"Your welcome." she smiled back at him.

Out of nowhere, Valen groaned as he run his hand through his hair, frustrated about something.

Aliciel notice his behavior and ask, "What's wrong?"

Valen let out a low laugh as he turned his head towards Aliciel. "...I think in the past few days," he trailed off and form a small smile.

"...I have feelings for you."

Aliciel's eyes widen in surprise at his statement. "...you have feelings for me?" she asked again, just to make sure.

"...Yeah. At first, I said something wrong and I tried to apologise to you. Then, we become friends and I'm grateful that I met you. I don't know when this feelings grow like this." he confessed and grin widely at Aliciel. "I just wanted to say that..." he trailed off as his gaze moved to the sky that is filled with stars.

"....I love you, Aliciel."

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