"You look tired, Raph," Asher commented as they both sat in their respective seats at the Royal Palace's garden.

"I guess I am, your highness," Raphael spoke as he sipped on the teacup that he was holding.

Dark circles could be seen under the future duke's eyes and he had bags to accompany it with.

Raphael sighed as he placed the teacup down.

"Are there any updates on the young master's whereabouts, your highness?" Raphael asked and Asher shook his head.

"There isn't any progress with the search," Asher spoke as he leaned his head on his hand.

He watched as the golden-like drink that was on his cup calmly sent small waves to the side with the movements he created.

"I don't know where Pier is... I've searched for every corner of the kingdom and I still can't find him," Raphael spoke as he buried his face in his hands and he took a deep breath.

He was frustrated.

The future duke rubbed his temples as he thought about many things.

Is Pier alright?

What happened to him?

Why did he suddenly disappear?

He combed his auburn hair with his hands. The suit he wore was slightly wrinkled due to his constant moving because of his uneasiness.

The servants could not help but take some glances at the two individuals who are having their leisure time together.

The Crown Prince's red hair stood out so much under the sun. His perfectly chiseled face could make anyone swoon in a heartbeat and not to mention, his thick eyebrows, medium-sized lips, and straight, tall nose all complimented each other perfectly.

A prince that perfectly fits the standard when it comes to looks.

Of course, the other person did not lag behind.

Raphael's auburn hair, angular eyebrows, sleepy eyes, and well-defined body also stood out like a rose in a field of dead grass.

They both wore luxurious clothes that the servants knew they could not even dream about touching.

"I'll increase the number of search troops," Asher spoke as he also placed the teacup down on the table.

He crossed his legs as he leaned back on the comfortable seat.

Raphael did not say anything. He kept quiet as he ponded over his thoughts.

Asher felt bad.

He knew that Raphael liked Pier.

It was a feeling that he knew exceeded admiration and was already at the borderline of romance.

Didn't he also promise he would watch on the sides as Pier find the person good for him even though it wouldn't be him?

'Raphael would be good for Pier' He thought as he observed the young duke who was constantly rubbing his forehead with his fingers.

He imagined Pier smiling brightly as the young master clung to the young duke's arms. Both waved their hands as they greeted the people of the duchy and the people from the House of Masters.

He imagined Pier's luscious black hair waving lightly as the refreshing breath of wind passed through them. He imagined Raphael's arms snaking their way on the young master's waist and they both smiled at each other lovingly.

Ugh

He felt a pang of pain in his chest.

He tried to imagine but it was hurting him.

'No, I should stop bothering Pier with my own interests anymore'

He thought as he closed his eyes and allowed the rays of the sun to come down on the pavilion and give him a warm feeling.

Winter was coming soon in the kingdom. It would be that time of the year when snow would fall upon the territory and everyone would stay in their homes as they enjoyed the coldness.

"Your Highness," Asher opened his eyes as he looked at the young duke sitting across from him.

"What is it?" He asked as he saw that Raphael had a serious look on his face.

"Do you... do you have any interests in the young master?"

Asher's eyes widened as he heard Raphael's question.

"What's with the sudden question, Raph?" He asked as their gazes reached each other.

"I... I just have a feeling you do," Raphael spoke and Asher kept his mouth shut.

He did not know how to respond.

Did he like the young master?

Of course, he did. He wanted to be with Pier.

He wanted to have the young master all for himself and treat him better than others could ever do.

He wanted to ask for Pier's forgiveness daily.

He wanted to kneel and kiss the young master's hand.

But he knew he could not and he should not.

Not now that he was starting to create a better version of himself that was void of any lapses that Pier might find displeasing.

He internally chuckled as he thought about it.

He wanted to improve because of Pier.

He wanted to be a better king in the future because of Pier.

He's doing everything just because of the young master who was now far from his reach.

"I do have some interest with the young master," He admitted as his eyes that had hints of red stared back at Raphael's deep orange ones.

"I see," The young duke spoke as his voice got low and his eyebrows twitched.

"Why? I guess you also have interests in the young master?" Asher asked.

It was now a discussion between friends.

They no longer needed to address each other with their titles because they knew that when it came to personal matters, statuses and titles needed to be discarded so they can talk about it freely.

"That is correct. I also have interests for the young master," Raphael spoke in a voice that was full of confidence despite his tired-looking face.

"Tell me, Asher, why are you starting to like Pier now? You had all the chances of obtaining his affections before but now that he's changed, you want him again?" Raphael asked.

Asher thought about the question.

It was true.

He started to see Pier in a better light when the sudden change occurred.

He still remembered the surprise he got with Pier's sudden change of behavior when they met again after the public shaming incident.

He was so surprised that he had to continuously replay Pier's words in his mind and soon accept them wholeheartedly.

Though it did take him months to do so.

"That's incorrect, Raph. I did not like him just because he changed," Asher spoke as he stared outside the pavilion.

Flowers bloomed in every direction that he would look at and there were servants tending to the flowers.

"I did like the change he had but it was only an eye-opener for me," Asher smiled as he spotted a red rose on one corner of the garden.

"Realizations come too late when the chance had already disappeared," He spoke as he sighed.

"Isn't that the same for you?" He asked Raphael.

The young duke also nodded his head.

Didn't he ignore the young master when he was faced with the scandalous issue that ruined the House of Masters' image?

He might have never done any harm to Pier with his own doings but he ignored the young master.

He ignored Pier when he was shamed, criticized, and disrespected by the other nobles.

"That's true. It was the same for me indeed," Raphael spoke as he crossed his arms.

Between the two males who were sipping tea in their free time, none could ever be called faultless.

They both had their own flaws when it comes to the young master.

They both ignored Pier in different ways and they knew that they were in the wrong.

"However, even with you harboring feelings for the young master, I still do not intend to give him up," Raphael spoke with certainty and clarity in his voice.

Asher smiled at the braveness Raphael is showing.

He wishes he could have that too.

He would if he could.

But he had done much more sins to the young master

He disrespected Pier by requesting him to be his concubine which caused Pier to leave the kingdom.

It was a sin so great that Asher knew he had no place left in Pier's book of goodwill.

His hope of having Pier as his close confidant, close friend, and even just a friend all vanished in thin air because of his own actions.

Right when he wakes up until the sun rests on the horizon, his mind would constantly wander to the past months he had spent with Pier.

None of those moments could ever be called enjoyable and good.

Even amidst those times that they spent in the boundary, he had done nothing good that benefitted the young master.

He was a sinner that shamed his own integrity.

"That's good," Asher commented as he picked the teacup back again.

"That's good," He repeated as he enjoyed the tea with a warm and solemn expression on his face.

"You don't plan to try and win Pier back?" Raphael asked with curiosity.

Asher lightly laughed at the statement.

'Do I plan on winning Pier back?' He questioned himself.

'I did try before, but all went wrong and the chances were thrown in the gutter' He thought as the warm and pleasant taste of the tea lingered in his throat.

"It would be shameless of me to even ask for Pier's affection back when he had clearly stated he would depart from chasing me," Raphael had both of his eyebrows raised in amazement at how Asher was sounding.

The Crown Prince looked so mature as he had a calm and collected expression.

"If he did like me once more, I would be the happiest man in the entire world," He spoke as the smile on his face lingered.

---

"Pier!"

Ten-year-old Asher Lumiere called to the child who was the same age as him.

The child looked up and his clear blue eyes that were the same as the blue skies above them gazed at him. His hair that was dark as ebony and skin as white as snow stood out like a sore thumb in the field of flowers they were in.

"What is it?" The boy asked as he held a flower in his hand.

The wind swayed across them and the boy's dark hair danced along with the gusts of the earth's breath.

Pier pouted as he tried to fix his unruly hair that had been disturbed by the wind.

"Look at this!" Asher called out as he wore his usual training clothes.

Pier walked towards him. His strides were quiet but it caused the grass that was long and tall enough to reach their knees to rustle.

"Hmmm?" He asked in curiosity as the prince was holding something in his hand.

"I found this insect on top of a flower!" The prince exclaimed with a bright smile on his face.

Pier stared at Asher's face.

Slowly, he also started to form a smile of his own. The small dimples on each of his cheeks deepened.

He was so beautiful to look at that the uncountable flowers of various kinds could not compare to the beauty he possessed.

The prince opened his hand and Pier's eyes widened at the little creature that was crawling in Asher's palm.

It was a ladybug.

"Wow!" Pier exclaimed in amazement as he observed the ladybug.

It had a reddish back with black dots.

"The color is the same as your hair!" Pier spoke with a grin on his face and Asher frowned.

"I am not a ladybug though?" He then shook his hand which caused the ladybug to fly away towards a flower below them.

Pier watched with a pout on his lips as the ladybug disappeared.

"Well you have red hair and the ladybug had red wings!" Pier spoke as he did a little 'hmp' while his hands were on his hips.

The prince rolled his eyes at Pier's behavior.

"Maybe we have the same hair color but I am a prince and the ladybug is an insect!" He pointed out in retort to Pier's claims.

"Well, that is true. You are a very very very handsome prince!" He complimented and Asher's grin returned.

"That's right, there is no one more handsome than me, right?" He asked and Pier eagerly nodded his head.

"Yup!"

The two laughed as they chased around the field of flowers. Their giggles resonated at the quiet place.

Asher stopped running around when he saw a red rose that was on a bush next to them.

"Pier, come here for a second!" He called to the young master who was giggling like an idiot while running around.

Pier stopped doing so as he heard Asher's voice. He then immediately went to the spot where the prince was standing.

"Hmmm?" he hummed when he approached the prince.

He then saw that Asher was holding a red rose in his hand.

"What's that for?" Pier asked curiously and Asher smiled at him.

"Come nearer! This would look good on you," He spoke and Pier followed.

When the young noble was in front of him, Asher placed the rose on Pier's ears.

"There, you look beautiful," He complimented with a smile on his face.

Pier's face reddened at Asher's words as he bowed his head in fluster.

He also fiddled with his fingers in embarrassment.

"I... I am?" he asked as he looked up to see Asher's face. The prince nodded his head.

"It suits you perfectly," He spoke and Pier's confidence was boosted by the words.

"Does that... does that mean you also look good with me?" Pier asked as he hid his face by bowing his head again.

Asher stopped for a moment.

"Yeah, I think I would," He laughed as they both chased around the field again.

---

"What a wonderful world it would be if I gained his love again," Asher spoke to himself as he watched the red rose shine brightly in the well-lit garden.