Ledus was at a loss. He felt like the stranger didn’t like him and he was afraid to say anything to upset him. However, at the same time, the glowing charm held his attention. He desperately wanted to know more about it, Ledus was curious to a fault. He couldn’t help but stare at the charm. “What are you looking at kid?” Ledus jumped, slightly startled by the sudden speech.

“I apologize, my lord, I was captivated by your glowing charm.” Kade’s facial features turned to a mixture of surprise and anger.

“What was that?” He asked in a deep, chilling voice.

“I-I was captivated by your charm.” Ledus gestured to the charm on his wrist, slightly shuffling away from the man.

“Did you say ‘glowing’?” Ledus nodded his head quickly. The Chief seemed lost in thought, he watched Ledus with curious yet confused eyes. His softened features gave Ledus a bit of courage.

“If it’s not rude, can I ask how it glows?”

“You’re a boy?” Ledus blushed but grew upset.

“Of course I am!” he huffed out, turning away from the man. Kade felt bad for asking such a question, it wasn’t his intention to make the kid angry.

“No, I’m sorry...I’m just a little shocked.” he rubbed the back of his neck, “Is there somewhere quiet and private we could sit and talk?” Ledus glared at him for a moment but in the end he sighed and nodded, leading the way out of the room.

He took him to an indoor garden. Jarin had this made just for Ledus. Besides the prince and gardeners, no one was allowed in without Ledus’ permission. They sat down at a small gazebo. Once settled Kade began to speak. “Ledus, I want to apologize again for my rudeness. It was not my intention to make you upset.” He paused then took off the bracelet with the charm and handed it to Ledus. “This is a charm I’ve had sense I was born. You see, my people believe that the chief is born with a destined partner. This charm is how we will find them. When we become an adult, we begin traveling the world to find our partner.” He looked at Ledus, his face seemed relieved, “This is my eleventh trip. Though it’s the first time I’ve had a chance to come to Tsunar.” Ledus looked up from the charm.

“How will you be able to tell if you have found your partner?” Kade smiled a bit awkwardly.

“Well, only 2 people can see this charm for what it truly is. Me and my partner.” Kade paused, trying to choose his next words carefully, “Ledus, no one else can see that the charm is glowing.” Ledus looked down at the charm then back at Kade. “I know this is a bit unconventional but the charm has never been wrong. It’s...It’s fate.” The words rang through Ledus’ mind. Kade looked at him with a gentle smile, but Ledus knit his brows, the corners of his lips turned down.

“Lord Kade, I believe in fate, probably more so than others do, but that’s because I already know my fate. I am to live in the palace for the rest of my life, a prisoner with benefits, never to see the stars. When I die, my body will still not be my own. It will be dressed like a doll covered in extravagant jewels and clothes, placed on display till I am either set to the earth or burned to ashes.” He handed the charm back to Kade and looked away. “I’m sorry but my fate was decided long ago.”

Kade held the charm tightly in his hand. He hadn’t expected his partner to reject him, after all, his mother and grandmother had both accepted his father’s and grandfather’s words right away. Of course they took some time to truly fall in love with them, but they never rejected them. The boy’s words rattled around his head, he was trying to find anything that he could use to suade him. Suddenly he looked up. “What if I can change your fate?” Ledus slightly turned his head.

“How would you do that?” He seriously doubted that Kade could do anything that would change his fate, but he was intrigued to hear what he had to say.

“I’ll show you the stars.” Ledus let out a bitter laugh.

“You don’t know anything. I can’t see the stars, my body doesn’t produce its own heat, if I’m exposed to the night, I’ll die.” Kade smiled cockily.

“Are you cold right now?”

“Of course I a-” he stopped abruptly. He wasn’t cold at all. In fact, for the first time in his life, he actually felt warm. He looked to Kade for an answer.

“We were born for each other. Any problems that one may have can be fixed by the other’s presence.” Kade tentatively took Ledus’ hand. “Let me prove I can change your fate, then you can decide what you want to do.” Ledus was unsure.

“If he is wrong, I’ll die...but if he’s not, if I can truly see the stars…” The warmth coming from Kade’s hand was like nothing Ledus had ever felt before. “Ok.” his voice was soft but filled with hope.

They stayed in the garden until Ledus was called upon. During that time Kade asked Ledus about his life. For an unknown reason, Ledus told Kade everything about his current life. It was almost like he was desperate for this stranger to know everything, to understand him, to not write him off. For Ledus revealing his life was almost therapeutic, but for Kade, each new piece of information he received made him more and more upset. He could not stand the way they treated him, not because he was his destined partner, but because it wasn’t right to treat anyone like that. “I know I shouldn’t complain, I have everything I could ever need, but I just…” he grew silent he felt as though he had sounded like a spoiled brat. “Ah, what about you? What is your life like?” Kade smiled.

“I’ve been searching for you for eleven years, to think you were here this whole time. Eleven years and every time something prevented the chance to come to Tsunar.” Kade seemed to become lost in thought, his brow furrowed. Ledus gently touched his shoulder, giving him a soft smile when he looked up. Even though he didn’t believe he would see the stars, something about Kade made him have hope.