(A/N: Remis' POV.)

I sighed and opened my bedroom doors haphazardly. The gently glowing red amulet fixed to my neck rustled with my staggering movements. I single-mindedly lurched towards the enchanting bed in the middle of the room and flopped, facefirst, onto the soft mattress's silk comforter.

Closing my eyes without a thought in my mind, I breathed in the smell of the sheets' soap and sighed, contented and relieved.

Then two claws hit the back of my head with force, its nails digging into my scalp, shooting bursts of pain through his head. The owl laying atop my head huffed with indignation, and began repeatedly jumping around my head to get my face out of my pillow.

Oh, right. There was still this dude. I groaned and refused to move. My grumpiness made me especially stubborn that night, and despite the pain that the vexed bird was obviously purposely inflicting on me, I was unwilling to move even an inch.

After five minutes of sharp claws harshly kneading my scalp, I finally conceded and abruptly stood up with an exasperated expression on my face. "Alright, I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner and made you wait, huh! Let me get treats for you, get off my head!" I roared.

Nar squawked with satisfaction and flew off my head with what I'm sure was a simper covering half of its face.

I grumbled a few dissatisfied words, saying that I wasn't going to feed that reckless bird next time, and reached to the bottom of the cupboard to grab the dried treat jerky bag. With eyes half-closed, I ambled back to the bed and gestured for the bird to hop on my lap. I fed it especially well, knowing that it had waited for me outside my bedroom window for no less than three hours.

After successfully coaxing the disgruntled bird, I threw the half-eaten jerky back to the side. Nar hopped off me without complaint, flying to and fro with a jiggling, full belly.

I scooted back and propped my head up on the bed's upholstered headboard. I was glad that I remembered I had tucked the note into my tailcoat, or else I would be having a fit of panic from thinking I had lost it, or that Cyrus had taken it from the bird while I wasn't looking.

My dear Remis,

I've finally completed my goal. A delegation will be sent to Vires Kingdom soon, on the premise of a formal apology from the Nyiel Royal family for the attempted assassination on Xenith's son made by the Ramond marquisate.

I've wanted to meet you for many years. I feel us growing closer every time we exchange letters, but I've become greedy. I want more.

In truth, Nar is my spiritual pet. I have the Air element of magic; and after mastery, I've found my innate warped ability, interspecies communication through a breath's mana flow.

For years, I've been asking Nar about your appearance, your voice, your smile, and I really have grown greedy.

I know I've never told you my identity, and I know that you've never told me yours. So I'm going to tell you now.

I'm the second prince of the Nyiel Kingdom.

It's only a matter of time before I come for you, lovely Remis. I'm going to find where you are and bring you back with me. Someday, you'll be mine.

My face fell. I promptly threw the note across the bed, unable to bear reading it any longer.

Why were his words especially flowery today? And what did he mean 'I'm going to bring you back with me'? He doesn't even know my identity. There's no way he'll be able to find me.

And anyway, he's the second prince of the Nyiel Kingdom, there's no way he'll be able to trouble himself with finding an unknown boy with unknown origins.

But, the second prince of Nyiel...

Why did that sound so familiar...?

Before I could deliberate further, Nar grabbed the note thrown on the opposite end of the bed with his claws and placed it back on my lap. It nudged its beak on my nose, confused as to why I reacted with such repulsion.

I forgot about what I was thinking about and patted the top of Nar's head. I forgot. In the note, it said that Nar conversed with Sylvien enough to even describe my smile. I need to act calm, my actions will be relayed to him when Nar returns.

I sighed and stood up. The full moon shone brightly, with its light shining the floor-to-ceiling window in panels of silver and blue. I held the snow-white owl on my forefinger, stepping out to the balcony with a flourish.

"Nar, go back." I commanded. The bird's wings fluttered, but only for a moment. When it noticed the lack of weight on its leg, it cocked its head, confused as to why I was letting it go when I didn't attach a letter on its leg like I always did.

I sighed and brought my arm back. "I don't have anything to say." I then tried to shake it off my hand, but it kept its claws firmly clamped onto me, unwilling to leave without a response. It let out an ear-shattering shriek. Its head shook in jerky motions, trying to mimic a human's refusal.

Smart little rascal. I grumbled inwardly. I breathed a shaky, deep breath, trying to tame the cluster of emotions jumping around my chest like a hurricane. I didn't know what to think. There was already so much going on and my mind was too scattered to properly comprehend the situation, or think about it clearly. At this point, I just wanted to get rid of Nar and take time to myself to collect my thoughts.

"Alright, fine. Tell your master this," I pressed my mouth close to the bird's sleek face, "...you have been my confidant and closest friend for many years, Sylvien. I do treasure our friendship deeply. But, I'm not an object to be taken."

"...Don't try to treat me like one."

----

I woke up in the morning with saggy, dark eyebags and my black hair jutting out like hedgehog spikes, frizzy and tangled. My appearance was like a raccoon which just came out of a successful and fruitful night digging through a rotten-food filled trash can.

The maid which woke me up silently observed my appearance, her calm and tactful appearance almost shattering because of my horrific image.

I stared back at her with certain pity and, after consideration, told her to get Eliad. The maid revealed a shocked expression for a split-second but bowed and scurried away, seizing the opportunity to throw the duty of cleaning me up to someone else.

I sighed and slumped back onto the still-warm pillow. My mind was still tired and distraught. Despite sleeping until noon, I felt as if my body had just come out of a washing machine.

I stretched my hand up towards the canopy of the bed, rocking it one way or another in a daze. ...Cyrus' family is coming over today, to personally congratulate the family because of our close relationship... I was a bit mean to Cyrus, I admit... I should coax-

Three knocks interrupted my wandering thoughts and I turned my head lazily to face the door. "Come in," I drawled.

The door opened and Eliad ambled in. His polite, professional demeanor seemed to make me a bit more awake. "Young Master, good morning. Would you like to take a bath?"

A bath... a memory surfaced, and a light pink tinted my face. "...no, thank you."

"Alright, then." Disappointment flashed in his eyes. He walked forward and swiftly removed the covers wrapping up my body like a burrito.

He picked me up in a princess carry and easily took me out of bed. My raccoon self was grateful for his understanding and relaxed in his care obediently. He carried me through the bedroom and bathroom, and like a machine, brushed my teeth, washed my face, combed my hair, changed my clothes, and made the bed efficiently and powerfully. After fifteen minutes of busywork, Eliad gently placed me in the middle of the floor and said, "Young Master, breakfast is ready. I took it upon myself to bring a tray here so you wouldn't have to walk down."

My half-closed eyes narrowed further in bliss. My mouth quirked up and I jiggled a few times contentedly. Standing on my tiptoes, I patted his head with a dazed grin. "Eliad, you're so professional, I'm proud of you."

Eliad's ears turned to a bright red shade and he bowed once more to disguise his embarrassment. "Thank you, Young Master."

I retreated back onto the made up bed and flopped back on it face first. "Mhm, keep up the good work."

----

Two hours later, a maid came into my room and announced that the Fortier family had arrived, and that Mother had demanded that I come down to greet them. I hauled myself away from the book I was reading and trekked downstairs, waiting on the second-to-last step of the main staircase. The cold marble step permeated the soles of my feet as I waited.

I was glad that I didn't have to get dolled up because of the familiarity and long-lasting friendship of our two families. The doors opened and the doorman announced that the Fortiers had arrived. I pulled up my head and plastered an awake expression on my face. I felt my body swaying ever-so-slightly as I felt a head rush.

"Good afternoon, Countess, Count, thank you so much for inviting us!" The couple standing outside walked in without hesitation after lightly nodding towards us waiting inside. Following Mother, they familiarly sauntered towards the main parlor room. I plodded behind the families with my eyes drooping slightly. Cyrus stole quick glances towards me, but stayed with Aileen and Raen, afraid of provoking me.

I sighed lightly and looked away. The fog in my mind cleared in face of the slight guilt I felt. While Cyrus was a capture target, he was one of the first people I knew in this world. I ambled up behind him and hesitantly reached out my hand. I'm just coaxing him, it's not anything much. I lightly grasped his swaying hand. Looking down, I felt my ears and my cheeks heating up.

Cyrus's eyes twinkled with glee and his lips strained as he tried to suppress his wide grin from showing. He turned his head, concealing his expression. From the corner of my eye, I could see the tips of his ears glowing a bright red.

The rest of the walk grew especially awkward, and a sweet air permeated the atmosphere. Aileen stole a few glances towards us. She and Raen covered her mouth and whispered to each other with overtly smug expressions.

We arrived at the parlor room, and the adults were quick to throw us out of the room, not bothering to deal with us any longer. Raen and Aileen were accustomed to the treatment, and, unfazed, the two of them eagerly strode towards the west rose garden's gazebo. I could see a servant carrying a tray of sweets behind them as they disappeared around the corner.

I could feel Eliad stare at my hand with dark and unwilling eyes, but ignored it. I put on a composed face and tried to ignore the warmth of Cyrus's hand, pulling him in the opposite direction towards the fish pond, near the knight training grounds towards the back of the mansion.

I sat down on the roots of a big oak tree and tugged Cyrus close, jerking him next to me. We huddled in the shade, watching the peaceful view of the sun's light reflecting off the crystal clear water. The distant sounds of knights yelling and clamoring, steel hitting steel, gave an isolated feel to the pond.

I'm just coaxing him. This is my apology, it's nothing much. I felt my neck growing red before I resolutely planted my head into the crook of his shoulder. His body grew rigid and his breathing stilled. I didn't know what he was thinking.

We stayed in the position for an undisclosed amount of time before a servant appeared from behind us. My head shot up from his shoulder and I assumed a dignified expression.

"Young Master, the Mistress calls you to the first parlor room. She says to make haste."

I let out a slight cough to before a cool and collected nod of approval. "Good," I uttered calmly, before rising abruptly from the roots of the tree and hastily scurrying away.