XERIS' POV

"Of course, she still loves you. And even if she doesn't, someone else will."

There it was, the reassurance I didn't know I had been longing for. Something in me unknotted. Tears ran down her face. Tears of her sorrow, as well as mine.

I was the one who asked her what was wrong, and yet here she was comforting me. I didn't know what to do. So, I continued looking at her. She smiled and then stood up. She left me sitting there, the feeling of her hand still on mine. Once the door closed, the dam burst. I had never cried since that day. Nothing had ever made me cry.

Why did a few words from a girl I barely knew make me do something I hadn't done in years?

I tried to bite my fist to muffle the sounds I was making, but I don't know if she heard. She must have already been in the bathroom by now. I stopped trying to quieten myself and just let it all out.

I don't know how long I cried. But once I was done, I just lay there, letting the vague memories of Nala wash over me. I still couldn't remember what she looked like. Only the sound of her laughter didn't escape me now. My eyes felt swollen. I decided it was time to leave. I walked to the apartment wondering how Victoria would act around me now. Would she act like she was treading on egg shells? Or would she act like nothing happened?

I walked in and found her already asleep. And that was a good thing because I wasn't ready to face her yet.

Tomorrow would tell me whether I made the right decision by telling her.

***

As every other morning, I woke up before she did. I got up out of bed and took a shower. Once clothed in my training attire, I headed toward the kitchen, intending to have breakfast alone. I thought better of it and decided to wake her up.

I put my hand on her shoulder and shook her gently, "Victoria, it's time to wake up." Surprisingly, she woke up immediately. She opened her eyes lazily and blinked a couple of times.

"How do you do that?" she asked with a sleepy voice.

"Do what?" I asked.

"Wake up so early every single day." She yawned.

I smiled a little, "It's called an alarm clock."

"How come I never hear it?" she asked further.

"Because you sleep like...what do you Earthians say...a log." I said after remembering the phrase.

"That's not true, I'm a very light sleeper. Wait, do you still sleep in this bed?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Where else am I supposed to be sleeping?"

"Uh, I just never hear you coming to bed, to the bed," she cleared her throat looking a little embarrassed.

"As I said earlier, you sleep like a log. I always come in and find you already sleeping, then wake up before you. Did you really thinking you were sleeping alone?"

"Well, I thought you were avoiding me."

I just kept smiling and walked away before she could see.

Why am I smiling so much?

I went to the kitchen and ordered our food while I watched her go to the closet and then the bathroom. I remembered our conversation last night and decided I was glad I had told her. She helped me cry and that was what I needed. It was cathartic. It felt like I had finally let go of a heavy burden. She finally walked out of the shower and went to put her clothes away in the closet. She walked out and I stood to take our food out of the warmer. I handed her her food as she sat down.

I finished eating before her and waited for her to finish.

"Why do you always make two braids?" I asked.

"Why do you always make one?" she responded.

I smiled again. She was quite witty.

"Actually, why is your hair so long? Is it a tradition?" she asked.

I wasn't going to avoid any of her questions anymore

"No, it is not a tradition. At the start of this journey, I came up with the idea."

She raised her eyebrows, spoon in mouth. I waited for her to swallow because I knew she had something to say.

"You came up with the idea to have everyone grow out their hair?"

"Not everyone. Every male that was a part of this mission. Everyone else on the ship decided to do so as we all did. We all agreed to only cut our hair as a sign of our success."

"And everyone just agreed to this?" she looked sceptical.

"I'm quite influential around here." It's not that I didn't want to tell her who I was, I just didn't see the need to pull out the royalty card when it wasn't necessary.

"Ah, that explains it." She picked up her spoon and carried on eating.

"What does it explain?"

"Oh, you know, why you're so demanding. I bet things rarely don't go your way, so dealing with me must be terrible, what with me being a little stubborn."

"A little?" I laughed at this. "I'd say more than just a little."

She was smiling and looking at me.

I noticed and she went back to finish her meal.

That day after training, we had lunch together as well and headed to the greenery, were her questions continued. After the greenery, we had supper. The light and playful atmosphere from breakfast was still there. We headed to the sitting area as we had come back from the greenery earlier than usual.

"I have a proposal," she said suddenly.

"I'm listening."

"Any relationship is a two-way thing, give and take. So how about we get to know each other by each asking questions and answering honestly and fully?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Awesome. I'll kick it off. Are you an only child?"

"No, I have an older brother whose..."

And just like that, we got to know more about each other's lives with each passing day. I told her of how lonely growing up was and all the expectations I had to meet. I still left out the fact that I was a prince. Purely because she didn't ask. She told me about how she hated her high school experience due to her adoption. She talked about how she felt about her parents and how she thought they felt about her. She talked about how much she loved her sister and how much she loved to read. She explained why she had gained so much weight in such a short period of time and why she seemed so determined to make herself better.

Another three months flew by and at the end of it, she had all but mastered the basic skills I had taught her in martial arts. She wasn't an expert, but she could definitely hold her own against me. With more training, I could foresee her surpassing me. If only we weren't confined to this space. And then the call from Bulba came. It was always just Bulba, never Purit.

"Your highness, I am pleased to inform you that I have lifted the temporary confinement on all participants in this mission. You are both now free to roam wherever you please."

She didn't look pleased at all. But then again, I don't think she was capable of showing any emotion. Must have been Purit's doing.

I walked out of the closet I had gone in to avoid waking Victoria up. I looked at her and wondered how to break the news to her. Would she be excited? Or would she dread being surrounded by people. From what I gathered, she didn't like people very much.

I would let her decide.

We now sat in the training room stretching after our workout.

"You've gotten stronger," I commented.

"Physically," she agreed.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well yeah, I am stronger. I could probably beat all my old bullies up but, I don't have the courage right now to face them. I know it's silly, it's not like I will ever meet any of them. And if, or when I do, I want to be able to look them in the eye without cowering."

It was decided, I wouldn't tell her just yet. I would tell her after she had gotten stronger inside. I needed Purit's help with this one. He always knew what to do.