You walked with Ether parched on your head, refusing to get down. He has been more clingy than usual.

You rubbed eyes, feeling it sting. You agonized whole night, pondering on the words of the Crazy lady. Somewhere pondering you had a breakdown at the thought that you'll never be able to see you family again. It was a painful night filled with restlessness and nightmares.

A gurad passed without noticing you. Ether had put a invisible spell on you since you kinda were afraid of encountering the Crown Prince: the ultimate deathflag you want to avoid.

You aimlessly walked, just letting your legs take you anywhere. In the morning, a seamstress had came and took your measurements. That meant soon you'll start your training which came as a relief. Idle mind was a toxic mind; filled with nothing but negativity.

Your self-indulging thoughts came to a pause when you spotted mane of red and gold walking infront of you.

You couldn't describe the relief that came with it. Felix had came to check on you multiple times but Claude; you felt like he was avoiding you.

You couldn't place why but the thought of him avoiding you left a bitter taste of your tongue. You thought you were pass the strangers stage but it seems not.

Feeling petty, you decided to mess with him just a bit. You stifled your giggles as you imagined his priceless expression-- if he showed any emotions at all. Tiptoeing behind him, you readied yourself to scream, hands outstretched to startle him.

Before you could a hand shot up with blinding speed, grabbing your wrist swiftly. The world tilted and the next thing you knew you were on your back blinking owlishly at the cold face of Claude.

"Owwie..."

"Your highness?!" Felix exclaimed before looking down at your slumped figure his worry skyrockets. "(Y/n)?! Are you alright?!"

"Do you have a death wish?" Claude said flatly completely ignoring Felix fussing over you. "I could've ripped your arms off. Do you have a brain up there or you simply forgot it's existence."

You stared at him perplexed, entirely ignoring his nasty remarks.

He can see me. How? Didn't Ether placed an invisibility spell on me.

"Your Highness, you should be more careful. She just recovered from illness." Felix lightly reprimanded Claude who scoffed at him.

"She should've seen that coming. Sneaking behind someone like an enemy, you truly don't value your life." Claude bluntly rebuked Felix's worry.

"You can see me." You huffed accusingly. Bitter at your failure of prank. Giving a smile to Felix who helped you up.

"Last time I checked I wasn't blind." Claude said flatly.

"And when was the last time?" Your sarcastic reply made his brow twitch slightly, his face maintained his stoic expression.

Before he could roast you to burnt chicken nuggets, Ether diverted his attention.

Claude picked up the purring cat who was rubbing his face on him affectionately.

He blankly stared at him as the cat pawed at his face meowing sweetly.

You snickered finding the blank face of Claude hilarious. He clearly liked Ether but you couldn't tell from his stoic face. "He remembers you!"

"Hmm."

You sighed."I left him back at the manor in my haste but he found his way back to me. Isn't he a loyal little cute kitty!"

"You should be grateful that he did or else you'd be seven feet down with inches long grass growing."

You shuddered at his bluntness. "That's a morbid way to put it. But I'm glad too. I don't want to die so early. I haven't even seen bits and pieces of the world yet."

Claude smirked slightly. It was quite unnerving on his usually stoic face. "The way you go messing around, you practically are asking for death."

"That was just a harmless prank!" A tick mark appeared on your forehead. You took deep breaths to calm down.

Felix awkwardly looked from side, feeling quite sympathetic for you. Ask the man who has to deal with stoic face him and his so not subtly bullying, ahem taunts on daily bases. He could relate to your frustrations.

You gazed at him as he scratched Ether's ear blankly, his eyes smiling.

"...."

"...."

"What?" Claude asked feeling your eyes drill into him.

"Thank you. I owe you one I guess." You smiled, feeling your heart fill with warmth.

"For what?" Claude feigned ignorance.

"For saving me. You might be a jerk.." he sent you a cold glare."...but you're kind jerk."

Claude froze, unable to meet your eyes.

Felix smiled. "His Highness will never admit it but he was worried about you."

Claude sent a withering look at Felix who smiled serenely, unfazed by his scary glare.

You smiled teasingly. "Your highness, were you worried for a mere peasant. I'm touched."

"I'm wondering why would Ether choose such a troublesome girl as Master." He clicked his tongue in annoyance, his ears turning red.

"You are just jealous that you don't have him!" You laughed at the flustered boy.

Claude rolled his eyes. "I'm not jealous. Don't flatter yourself."

You giggled. Definitely a tsundere..

You looked at him as he avoided your gaze, tips of ear red. You smiled.

You pushed yourself infront of him. "But why didn't you tell me your status first time we met?" We could've avoided this mess where you got nearly killed. You left that part out.

"I saw no reason." His curt reply made you slip in exasperation.

You pointed your finger at him. "No reason, my ass! You should have told me regardless."

"Such foul language? Tsk."

Felix laughed nervously, watching his friends bicker.

"Don't act high and mighty. Couldn't you clear up the misunderstanding." You threw your hands up in exasperation.

I'm almost got killed, dude. Should there be any more reason.

"Why does it matter? Are you gonna treat me different just because you now know I'm not the person you thought I was?" Claude said in low voice that had you frozen.

You looked at him. Feeling those words carried much more meaning and complexity. You suddenly felt pressured by unknown expectations.

You could see Felix hold his breath as he looked at you expectantly.

"Of course not! You're just my friend. Being a prince or not doesn't matter. You don't make friends based in someone's status." You said to break the tense atmosphere. You hoped your words were right one.

"There's no arguing that, huh?" Felix breathed out in relief.

Claude remained the usual stoic face stone but you could feel he was relieved.

"Let's go, Felix or we'll miss out our break if we keep on listening to her ranting." Claude suddenly said.

Geez talk about mood swings.

"Hey, I don't rant!" You jogged up to him.

"Where do you think you're coming?" He questioned you.

"With you. I don't have anything to do. Might as well hang out with you guys."

"Do we look like we've leisure time to entertain you? Go away and find something else." He said coldly.

"Nope. I'm definitely coming with you."

Felix interjected. "Your Highness, it's break time so there shouldn't be a problem. Let her come."

"Thanks Felix. I can always count on you to have my back." Felix waved his hand in a placating manner. A serene smile on his face.

"Since when did both of you became so close?"

"Jealous?"

"No." He grunted.

You beamed at him. "Sure."

Claude clicked his tongue before a small smirk formed on his face. "If you are coming, just don't go and puke infront of someone. It kills the person appetite."

You jumped, feeling your face burn in embrassment and humiliation. "You're not going to forget that anytime soon, are you?"

He mimicked your voice from before. "Nope."

You gripped your head in despair and horror.

Well shit.....