A/N: The cover is La vie en rose by Harrison Reade on YouTube!

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Pier was walking in the Royal Palace's spacious garden. He wanted to inhale fresh air after being confined with the group of nobles during the gathering they had at the Crown Prince's study.

'Organize a search group, you say?' Pier chuckled at the memory he had from the meeting that ended earlier.

'How could knocking on every house as a means of searching for the anti-royalty faction be of benefit for them?' The reason behind Pier's constant chuckles as he took a stroll in the garden was due to the plan that the nobles have come up with after Pier announced his non-alignment with their plans for the opposing faction.

It did not make any sense for Pier. How can publicly announcing the search for the anti-royalty faction help with the issue? The group had been present in the kingdom for literally centuries as well and of course, the past generations have already done the same search operations as a means of capturing them.

'They could simply hear the news of the search group and flee to another place.' He shrugged his shoulders after chuckling a few more times. He found it really funny.

He was amazed by Elena's confidence in suggesting the plan.

'Of course, she's the future queen everybody is looking up to. Her suggestions are like commands unto the other nobles.' Pier gave a lopsided grin at how things are going in his environment.

As he walked into the extravagant garden, warm sunlight doused his frame and gave warmth to his senses. The fresh wind produced by the uncountable plants and trees entered his body. His hair and his clothes fluttered along with the gusts of wind.

Pier liked the scenario. It was calm without any nobles in sight.

It was then that the leaves in a certain direction rustled.

'Huh?' He looked at the origin of the sound that he heard. It came from behind a set of bushes in the garden's corners. Pier took slow steps as he was curious about the constant rustling he heard from behind the thick bushes.

'That's why a lot of people die in movies because of their curiosity. Maybe I'll die too?' The unnecessary joke inside his head made him smile all of a sudden as he approached the bush.

His careful steps were pretty much soundless at this point as he tried not to make any noise. Once he reached the place of the rustling, he peeked from above and was surprised to see someone leaning over the set of plants.

"What are you doing here?"

"AAH!" The boy behind the bushes screamed after being surprised by Pier's sudden question. Pier laughed at the expression the young boy gave as he fully revealed himself from peeking over the bush.

"Oh, i-it's you, young master!" It was the young servant that Pier had talked to before going inside the Royal Palace and attending the gathering. The servant took deep breaths to calm himself from the shock he got after Pier's unexpected appearance.

"It is indeed me. What is a young boy like you doing here in the royal garden all alone?" It was punishable for servants not assigned in the garden to even step foot in the place because it would be a disgrace to the royal family if servants were to simply wander around the garden and high-class nobles or other royalties would see them loitering around.

After realizing who the person the young servant was facing, he immediately became pale and his body felt cold. Of course, it would be. Who wouldn't shiver and get scared after being discovered by a high-ranking noble that he was sneaking around the palace's garden and he's not even a servant assigned in the area?

"A-Ah, forgive me, young master. I-I..." The boy tried explaining but his fear overcame his senses and he stuttered nonstop.

"Hold it, child." Pier stopped him from taking any actions. Even though they were only five years apart, Pier still saw the young servant as a child.

"Why are you saying sorry again?" He asked the servant as he sat beside him in the patch of grasses.

"I violated an important law..." the boy said with soft words. Pier's heart slightly ached at the sight of the young servant shivering in fear after being caught.

"It's okay, I won't tell anyone." Pier leaned his head back in the soft bush and he felt the slight itch he got from leaning back on the plant.

"Really?" The young boy's shivering lessened when he heard Pier's assurance for him.

"Yes. If anyone does see you, just tell them you came with me." Pier then proceeded to look at the thing the young servant was holding.

"You play?" He asked. The young boy was holding a small guitar.

'A ukelele?' It was a ukelele and Pier was surprised to even see one in this world. It was the first time he saw a ukelele in the period he had been living as Pier.

"Yes, young master. It was the item I bought after you have given me the golden coin." Pier's eyebrows raised in amazement at the young boy's statement.

"You know one gold coin is equivalent to multiple of these small guitars, right?" Pier asked.

'Did he get scammed? You can definitely purchase multiple of these instruments with a single golden coin but if he only bought one...' He was worried if the servant got scammed because he did not know how much one gold coin is worth. However, he was surprised at the boy's answer.

"Of course, young master. The owner of the shop I bought this with is a good man. He gave me the change accordingly and I gave it to my mother as sustenance for our needs." The young boy explained as he stroked the small guitar in his hands. He was smiling as he said those words for he was happy they won't have to worry about eating for a few more days.

Pier took pity on him. He was moved by the boy's actions.

"What's your name?" but instead of voicing his sympathy for the young boy, he asked his name.

"My name is Caleb, young master!" He said and the smile on his face did not cease to exist.

"Caleb, huh? Can you play something on the small guitar, Caleb?" He asked but the boy's face reddened in embarrassment.

"It's my first time buying this, young master so... Uhm... I'm still practicing with the small guitar." Unable to choose his explanation correctly, he only shrank in his place because he cannot play a song for the person who gave him the golden coin and helped his family.

"Oh, is that so? Can I play a song instead?" He asked. He wanted to play with the small guitar Caleb was holding.

"Of course, young master! You can play all you want," Caleb said excitedly. His tall but thin frame moved with excitement after hearing Pier's request. He was thrilled to see Pier play another type of instrument after he had seen him play the piano like a genius back at the Royal Banquet.

Caleb handed the instrument to Pier and Pier accepted it gratefully. He inspected the small guitar and adjusted the tune of the instrument. He strummed a few strings as he twisted the tuners carefully.

The sound got better as he adjusted them and Caleb was amazed at how good Pier was.

"You're really good at tuning it, young master!" Caleb said as his eyes were glued to Pier's hands.

"Mhm, you just need to get used to it," Pier replied as he was focused on his tuning.

"Did the young master play with a small guitar before?" Caleb asked and Pier stopped with his work for a second.

'Crap'

"Oh, I read how to play it in a book at the library when I studied music," He replied while giving a small laugh with his excuse. The original Pier liked music but he never had the talent for it. Whether it'd be with keys or strings, he was a sucker for them.

"Wow! Learning how to tune just from reading books, the young master is truly amazing!" Caleb was astonished by Pier's answer. Pier felt a little bit bad seeing the young boy's astonished expression but he did not dwell on it for long. It was better than saying he learned it in his past life.

After he finished adjusting the tuners and other necessary parts, he strummed the strings and the sound it gave was better than the time it was still not adjusted.

Caleb inhaled as the anticipation from Pier's playing

strum...

---

"Have you seen the young master?" the servant that was cleaning the floor froze in her place as she saw who asked her the question. In front of her stood two individuals wearing luxurious clothes. Their expensive-looking cufflinks blinked brightly like diamonds under the sunlight. She took time in answering as she was bewildered by the Crown Prince talking to her.

"Y-Your Highness!" She immediately dusted off her servant uniform and stood upright.

"Please answer the question," Raphael said hastily. Pier just simply left immediately after the gathering had ended. They wanted to talk to him but they were occupied by the nobles who looked proud of their decision to form a search group.

"I have seen the young master go towards the garden, Your Highness, Lord Raphael!" She said with a dignified expression as well. Royalties rarely interact with servants especially those that are not a member of the royal servants so it was a lifetime achievement for her to talk with Asher and even Raphael too.

"I see. Thank you." Asher said as both he and Raphael immediately headed to the garden and look for Pier. The servant stood there clutching her chest as she felt pride sweep her heart for talking with the two individuals.

When they reached the premises of the garden, both the prince and the young duke started searching for Pier but he was not in sight.

"Did the young master really go this way?" Raphael said as he tried to search for Pier but everywhere he looked, there was no sign of the dark-haired noble.

It was then they heard the voice of a child speak excitedly.

"Of course, young master! You can play all you want!" the child's voice said. Asher and Raphael looked at each other before approaching the part of the garden where the voice came from.

As they neared, they heard the child speak again.

"You're really good at tuning it, young master!" Asher's curiosity peaked as he wondered who this child the young master was talking to.

"Mhm, you just need to get used to it." they heard and both the prince and the young duke stopped in their tracks after coming in close and seeing Pier and a child wearing ragged clothes sit side by side.

"A servant dares to-!" Asher gritted his teeth after seeing the young servant sit beside Pier, an extremely esteemed noble but he was stopped by Raphael. Asher turned to look at Raphael but the young duke had a calm expression on his face.

"Did the young master play with a small guitar before?" the servant asked Pier.

"Oh, I read how to play it in a book at the library when I studied music." The prince and the young duke were astounded by Pier's reply.

"He knows how to play that?" Asher asked himself. Pier was holding a small guitar and was fixing some things.

"Wow! Learning how to tune just from reading books, the young master is truly amazing!" The child excitedly said. The two continued to watch Pier and the child interact. Once Pier was done with the thing he was fixing, he started to strum the small guitar.

strum...

"Quand il me prend dans ses bras

Il me parle tout bas

Je vois la vie en rose

Il me dit des mots d'amour

Des mots de tous les jours

Et ça me fait quelque chose

Hold me close and hold me fast

The magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose"

Asher felt his chest stir with a pleasant feeling as he heard Pier sing and play the small guitar. Pier's voice was soothing. It was the first time he heard the song Pier was singing but he thought it was beautiful, very beautiful.

"When you press me to your heart

I'm in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak

Angels sing from above

Every day words

Seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La vie en rose"

When Pier's playing ended, all that was left were the three people who heard his voice. Their hearts beat quickly along the memory of the melodious and charming voice of the dark-haired young master.

"Pier..." Raphael instantly approached Pier after hearing his performance. The latter who had just finished strumming the small guitar flinched in surprise after his name was suddenly called.

"Sir Raphael!" Pier called out to the young duke who was approaching him with long strides.

When Raphael reached Pier, the young duke held Pier's hands.

"That was really beautiful, Pier," Raphael whispered to Pier with a low voice, and the young master who was taken back with surprise after Raphael's action flinched.

"Sir Raphael, please let go," Pier whispered back and Raphael hesitantly let go of the young master's hands.

"A-Ah, forgive me, the song was just so beautiful I suddenly had the urge to hold the young master's hands," Raphael said cheekily and Pier glared at him.

'Who holds someone's hand just because they heard them sing?' Pier asked himself but decided not to voice it out.

"That was really good, young master." Pier turned to look at the other source of the voice.

"Your Highness" Asher stood a few steps away from them. His dignified posture exuded elegance but his face was contorted in an unreadable expression.