"Young Master, we should leave the vampire all alone," Gideon spoke and Pier stared at him with an expressionless gaze.

"I-I mean... we're going to leave now that we are finished helping them, right, Young Master?" Gideon asked, afraid that he would upset his young master.

Pier turned to look at the still resting Ciaran inside the flame bubbles.

The vampire prince looked so calm while he was sleeping.

His hand that had completely turned black was now almost at its original color and only the fingertips were the ones remaining discolored.

Pier sighed as he sat beside the sleeping prince again and stared up at the sky.

The clouds that gathered and were lit by Melfar's magic were now dispersed. Only the firewall remained that prevented most of the cold from the environment from entering inside.

It was peaceful

Pier did not expect everything to end like this.

It was an unexpected finale for his journey at the Mir Mountains.

Gideon also looked at his master.

He stared at the pale white skin, dazzling blue eyes, and the silky white hair that was the definition of perfect.

It was still a very new scenario for him.

His young master's white hair was very good to look at that he could not find any appropriate words to describe Pier's beauty that was shining so great under the moonlight.

It was as if

'Moonlight was made for my master!' Gideon thought as he contemplated how the evening scenario along with the stars shining down on him well fit his young master.

He then started to approach Pier with slow and steady strides.

"Young Master..."

Gideon called out to Pier and the latter looked up at his knight.

"Hmm?" He hummed in response as Gideon sat beside his young master.

"Do you like the vampire?" He asked the same question he asked Pier yesterday before they talked with Ciaran.

Pier chuckled at his personal knight's question.

"No, I guess I don't like Ciaran," He spoke as he hugged his knees closer since he was not wearing a coat anymore.

Gideon tried to comprehend his young master's answer.

In his perspective, it was understandable for his young master to not like anyone yet.

He thinks that Pier was still in the process of recuperating his loss after his problem with the Crown Prince.

One would truly be devastated when the person they love does not return the feelings they have and it was doubled when instead of fixing their relationship, the Crown Prince asked his master to become Asher's concubine.

"But that doesn't mean just because I don't harbor any romantic feelings for him I would just leave him and Nightfall without saying anything," Pier spoke.

He then leaned his head on Gideon's shoulders and the knight flinched.

"What? Are you uncomfortable having your young master lean on your shoulder?" Pier asked and Gideon scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"O-Of course not, young master" He replied cheekily.

Pier was tired.

Even with the phoenix's restoration of his vitality and health, he still wanted to rest and sleep after all the things that happened.

"How about you, Gideon, do you like anyone?" Pier asked and his knight blushed at the question.

Does Gideon like anyone?

"I... I don't have anyone in mind as of now, young master," He replied and Pier chuckled.

His charming voice resonated in Gideon's ear.

"I see. If you ever find someone, they should be good for you," Pier reminded him and Gideon bowed his head.

"I will remember that young master," The knight spoke as he lifted his head again and he turned his head to look at the young master who was resting his head on his shoulder.

The icy blue eyes that he had come to love so much since he had seen Pier back at the boundary reflected the light of the firewall and the moon above them.

It was breathtaking.

"What if..."

"Hmmm," Pier asked as he looked at his knight.

Gideon's freckled face met his and the two looked at each other.

One was with curiosity and the other was with hesitance.

"Ah... please don't mind it, young master," Gideon said as he turned his head to look back at the sky.

That's right. There's no need for him to trouble his young master with his personal feelings.

"I see you've lost the sword I have given you," Pier spoke when he remembered that Gideon was frantically looking for his sword earlier.

"Ehe, I think I lost it somewhere down the forest when we fought the monsters, young master," Gideon spoke and he scratched his head.

"I will go and look for i-"

"No, that's fine. I will give you a new sword," Pier interrupted Gideon from talking.

"I beg to reconsider your choice, young master. I could not just replace the first sword you have given to me!" He spoke with a frown on his face and Pier smirked at how Gideon was acting like a child.

"If that is what you desire then go look for it in the forest," Pier instructed as he removed his head from Gideon's shoulder so the knight can stand.

Gideon followed suit as he stood up and walked towards the burning flame wall.

"Take these two with you," Pier spoke as with a movement of his hands, the two giant burning skeletons all rose from their current positions and they marched towards Gideon.

Gideon still had a frightened look on his face but he was slightly assured now that it was his young master who was controlling the monsters.

"Uh... young master, how do I get past through the wall?" He asked and Pier chuckled.

"Sway your hand the way you imagined the fire would also move," He heard Melfar's voice in his head.

And he did follow.

With a movement of his hands, the flame walls created a space, enough for Gideon to pass through.

"W-Woah..." Gideon watched as the walls separated like a curtain and allowed him to pass.

'The young master really is powerful!' He thought as he turned to look back at Pier.

The white-haired noble smiled at him and Gideon blushed at the beautiful smile.

He saluted as he exited the fire with the two bone monsters accompanying him down the mountain peak.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Pier heard the multiple thumps of the bone monsters' large bodies away from him and he sighed again.

He turned to look at Ciaran and he was glad that the vampire prince's condition was now stable.

Pier thought about it.

Does he have any romantic feelings for the vampire prince?

It was still the same answer.

No.

He could not find anything he can give back to Ciaran.

He did like him as a friend, as someone whom he can confide in his problems and probably on the same level of trust with Gideon. However, romance was out of the question.

"I'm sorry..." He spoke as he touched Ciaran's forehead.

He was apologetic because he could not return what Ciaran desired for him.

"Is it bad for me that I still needed more time to sort out my personal feelings?" He asked as he continued to caress Ciaran's hair.

"I'm sorry I could not return your feelings for me," He apologized again.

It was then, he felt Ciaran's hands start to move.

"Are you awake now?" Pier asked the vampire prince and Ciaran groaned slightly as he opened his eyes.

Blue eyes met with green ones and they were locked in a competition of staring at each other.

"I would prefer to wake up like this every day," the man spoke as he enjoyed the young master's fingers brushing against his hair.

Pier did not reply and he just continued massaging Ciaran's scalp with his fingers to relieve some of the stress from the vampire prince's body.

"How was it?" Ciaran asked and Pier smiled at him.

"It was successful,"

Three words.

All it took was three words for the worry on Ciaran's entire system to disappear completely.

He was glad.

Truly glad.

He can now rest for the moment and not worry about their home getting destroyed by the monsters again. It was even better now that they can finally have the Mir Mountains all for themselves.

It was thanks to the person in front of him.

The person who gave him hope.

The person who stayed by him.

And the person who made him achieve greater heights.

"Thank you," Ciaran whispered in his low and tired voice.

Pier smiled at him.

"You're welcome. Thank you too," Pier spoke back as they smiled.

It was now the end

The end of the rampage which terrorized the vampires who lived on the second mountain.

The end of Nightfall's jeopardy.

But it also meant one thing.

It was the end of Pier's help with them.

Ciaran looked at the blue eyes that he had adored so much.

The clear blue eyes that made him breathless every time he stares at it.

"Is this where we'll depart?" Ciaran asked and Pier had a soft look on his face as he smiled on his face.

"I still have many things to do back at the kingdom, Ciaran," He reminded the prince and Ciaran nodded his head.

He stood up from lying down which caused the flame bubbles to pop.

He did not even mind that he was inside it in the first place.

He did not freak out when he saw the flame walls that were surrounding them.

All he could think right now was the white-haired noble who stole his heart on a whim.

"Will I meet you again?" Ciaran asked as he held both of Pier's hands. The cloak fell off from his chest.

Pier laughed as he heard the vampire prince's question.

"We haven't departed from each other yet and now you're already asking if we would meet again," He spoke with his laugh in between.

However, it was different for Ciaran.

He had a slightly melancholic look on his face as he stared at the beautiful person laughing in front of him.

"Ciaran," Pier called and Ciaran did not respond.

He did not want this to end.

He wanted Pier to stay by his side

To be with him until he takes his last breath.

He did not want to do anything that would finally end his and Pier's relationship with each other.

"Look at me," He called and Ciaran complied.

The young master's ocean-like gaze that he would not stop describing with all of his heart was seen by his own eyes once more.

It was a scenery that he would not get tired of looking at.

In the two months that he was with Pier,

He learned how to continue going forward.

He learned how to rule.

He learned how to love.

"Even when we go on our own ways, if fate allows us to meet again then let it be," Pier spoke and Ciaran's hands trembled.

He tried to get up but his body slightly swayed in the process.

"H-Hey, are you okay?" Pier asked, worried that Ciaran might be overworking himself considering he almost died as well.

"Pier..." Ciaran called as he clung to the young master's frame.

"Pier... I don't want you to leave..." He spoke as they now stood with the young master hugging the vampire prince's body to support him and Ciaran was bowing his head down while his hands were also around Pier's waist.

"I don't want you to leave but you have to..." He spoke and Pier felt something wet drop on his head.

He turned to look up.

"Pier..." Ciaran called out as the man who had stunning green eyes silently allowed his emotions to drop down his face.

"Ciaran, why are you crying?" He asked as he wiped the tears off of Ciaran's eyes.

However, the man could not stop it.

He wanted to cry.

How could he not when it was the time when he had to let go of something that he truly liked.

"Pier... hic... I..."

"I like you so much that I wanted to keep you for myself but I couldn't," He spoke as tears continued to brim his eyes and fall.

"I... I know you could not return my affections but..." He spoke as he buried his face in Pier's hair and he held the young master's body tightly in his embrace.

He wanted to remember one last moment how it felt to embrace the person he liked.

The person to give him hope and the person who saved him.

"But... I still want you to remember that I will always store these affections I have," He spoke.

Pier's heart clenched as he listened to the man's words.

They were both having a hard time sorting their own emotions.

"I don't know when we will meet again, but when we do..." Ciaran lowly spoke as he whispered while his face was still buried in Pier's hair.

"When we meet again, I promise I will not let go anymore."

The vampire swore upon his title, his status, and his name.

"I swear by the position I have as the chief of my clan, I will treasure these feelings I have," He continued to express his affections for Pier.

Pier chuckled as he also buried his face on Ciaran's chest.

"Try and win me by that time, Fenrir, the odds might be in your favor," He spoke as they both laughed.

"I'm sorry, it was my first time crying," Ciaran spoke as he removed his head from Pier's hair and he looked at the young master who was now the one burying his face on his worn-out cloak.

"It's okay. You don't have to apologize for something normal," Pier spoke and Ciaran gave him a manly grin as he now fully stood on his towering height and Pier reached his chest.

"When the morning comes, will you go back on the kingdom?" Ciaran asked as he combed his rough and calloused hands on the young master's white locks.

Pier nodded his head.

He needed to go back now.

He needed to.

Especially now that he knew Ronnovian knows he was here at the Mir Mountains.

He did not want to prolong his stay on the place which might endanger Ciaran and the rest of Nightfall's home again but with the humans this time.

"I see... if that is the case, can I ask you one more thing?" Ciaran asked as he lifted Pier's head through his chin.

The young master had a solemn yet soft look on his face and Ciaran found himself slowly descending on Pier's face.

When their lips met, Ciaran felt the air inside his lungs disappear.

He wanted to cry again as he shared one final kiss with Pier.

This time, there would no longer be a white-haired noble who would threaten to poke his eyes out when he stares at the wrong places.

There would no longer be a white-haired noble who would constantly order him around because the said noble was too lazy.

There would be no young master with whom he can share warm hugs like these anymore.

"May I ask if I can dance with you, young master?" He asked as they departed.

Pier's eyes widened at the request and he had a surprised look on his face.

"A dance?"

"Yes," Ciaran asked and without hesitation, Pier agreed.

"We don't have any music though" He spoke and Ciaran smiled at him.

"Wait here for a moment," the green-eyed man spoke as black smoke surrounded his body, and a few seconds right after, he disappeared.

Pier stood on the peak of the mountain alone as he wanted to think about a lot of things.

But before he could even do so, black smoke started to rise once more where Ciaran had just been.

"Here," he spoke as he showed Pier what was inside his hands.

Pier observed the small box that was carefully held by the vampire prince.

"A music box?" He asked, confused.

Ciaran nodded his head.

"I bought this at the music shop you entered back at Stone City," He spoke and Pier had a surprised look on his face.

Ciaran knew he was at the music shop back at the time when they stopped at Stone City?

"I wanted to give this to you as a present but I think it is the best time to use this right now," He explained and the young master gave him a warm smile.

"Then let us use that," Pier softly spoke and Ciaran nodded his head.

He went to place the music box on top of the now-empty place where the stone had just been.

He carefully opened the wooden box and the melodious music started to come out from it.

He hurriedly went back to where Pier was standing.

"May I have this dance with the young master?" He asked formally and Pier gave him a light laugh.

"You may, your highness," He replied as he placed his hand on Ciaran's waiting palm.

The older man placed his hands on Pier's waist and the latter placed his hand on Ciaran's shoulders.

They both started to sway while listening to the beautiful music played in the music box.

They did not need to wear fancy clothes

They did not worry about having a grand orchestra playing in the background while they danced

They did not need the audience of nobles

All they need was the other person.

Ciaran Fenrir Aegenwulf, the prince of the vampires and the chief of a clan danced with Pier Belmiunde, the successor of the House of Masters.

They both danced under the moonlight at the peak of a mountain with the firewall burning around them.

"Disperse," Pier spoke as he leaned his head on Ciaran's chest as they swayed.

The firewall then started to disperse just like Pier had commanded. The flickering lights caused by the fire started to subside and disappear into nothingness.

Now, what remained were the two.

Ciaran held Pier's waist tightly, but enough that the young master was comfortable. He wanted to remember this moment.

The moment when the two shared their first dance together.

He did not know if it would be the final but he was simply thankful.

He was thankful that he can dance with Pier like this.

"Pier," Ciaran called lightly and Pier looked up at him.

"Hmmm?"

"I love you."

The young master's eyes widened in surprise at the words Ciaran spoke.

"Ciaran-"

"Shhh," Ciaran shushed as he hugged Pier's head again.

"It's okay, I don't want you to feel bad just because you could not say it back" He spoke as they continued to sway along with the music.

"It feels foreign now that I was finally able to say it," He joked.

Ciaran laughed as he hugged Pier closer.

Two individuals were quiet as they danced and swayed along with the music from a small music box.

They did not need any words to know what the other person wanted to tell.

They already knew that they were grateful for each other.

Grateful that they could share this dance together.