After pleading with his elder brother, Yuki raced out and all the way to the courtyard once again. For yet another war reasoning. But outside nonetheless.

For the past year he had been cooped up indoors. Half from his own will. Half from the overprotective nature of his brother. This was understandable, yet also overbearing.

Yuki knew if Sal lost him too he'd be left heartbroken.

Once where his own group of unmerry men were gathered, he took the reins from the skittish female brushing invisible dust balls here and there in a pathetic attempt to impress. When she made no effort to leave once reins were in his hands, his eyes flicked from her to the exit in a silent pardon. Disappointed, she walked away, shoulders slouched.

It was a common event. Attempts to impress him just to sway his interest in their favor in hopes to bed him. What was he, a common whore? Well...with how he had been as of late, that wasn't far off.

Sighing, Yuki made to mount his horse as a chorus of cat calls sounded off around him.

"Your highness. Might I suggest perhaps letting a lady off gentler? No need to be rude. Quite an eye catching bed warmer, if I do say so myself." One of the royal knights perked up.

Eye roll. "I, at least have standards. I may be a whore, but I'm expensive. I sheath my sword only in the finest of holsters."

This set the whole lot of them into a chorus of boisterous laughter.

"I see everyone is already enjoying themselves. Better work it out before things go south." Sal spoke from the side where he approached with a grim smile and hands to his hips.

"Your Royal Majesty!" Each and every one of them immediately saluted in greeting. All except for Yuki.

"Yea yea. Stop dawdling and let's just get moving already." With a yank of his reins, the prince urged his horse and the others along.

                                                                  **


Once nearing Miridia, a bad feeling swept through them. Shivers ran up Yuki's spine and every nerve in his body urged him to stay back. Back and to let the others go forward.

Which is exactly what he did. The rest moved along with not even a glance back as he froze in place atop his trusty steed. If he could, right then he'd physically kick himself. Perhaps he could deal with the same, but mentally.

While fighting himself, out of the corner of his eye he noticed a form...running away from the village and straight into the forest?

Now that couldn't have been right. Were things bad enough that someone would be sent running for the hills?

Pushing away present thoughts of worthlessness, curiosity took over and Yuki raced off in the direction of the shadow.

Despite having the advantage of a mount, it still took roughly five minutes to cover the distance between. Still, he had yet to figure out whom or what the figure he had seen previously was.

Was it a child? No. Too tall.

A woman? Unless she was built, that was unlikely.

A man then? That left him even more stumped.

As he came closer, he let out an irritated growl. Whoever it was left footprints leading through a narrow pathway leading to...who knew what.

Perhaps he should just turn back. It was none of his business anyway. With a twist of his wrist, Yuki turned his horse back around before freezing again and reversing his movement. That figure was familiar. That panic he saw a glimpse of was also familiar. Biting his lip, he let curiosity win over again. Dismounting, he tied the reins to a tree. Taking in a deep breath, he let his body drag him through the narrow path alongside a pair of prickly shrubs.

Once he reached the end, both what he expected and not to see filled his view.

It was Vayne. Curled into a ball; hands gripping tightly to the legs settled affront his chest. He was trembling.

What could have happened?