Natalie pov

"Hello Yona." I strained to say as my breath was knocked out of my lungs.

She carefully got up and brushed off her little yellow dress. She had tan skin, along with short chestnut hair, she was around seven years old I think. She was left in the orphanage because her mother had gotten very ill and didn't have a father.

"Whoops. Sorry Nathaniel. Are you ready? Are ya ?Are ya?" she asked jumping up and down. I shook my head as I carefully got up.

"This is Yona?" Cole asked from behind then doubled over and burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"N-nothing... Heh she's a cutie isn't she?"

"Who's he?" she asked suspicious of the drunk soldier.

"This is Cole. He's like a brother to me. A very... Very annoying brother."

"Wow cool!" She exclaimed as he knelt down and held her hand.

"Nice to meet you little lady."

She giggled. I rolled my eyes, he had to charm every girl he met, didn't he?

"Hey. Better not steal her from me." I jested.

"Believe me I won't. I'd never wanna put my lil brother through heart break."

"I'm already regretting this." I groaned.

Then we started walking through the shops until we found a florist.

"Here we are Yona. Pick out a flower." I smiled she ran up to the booth and her mouth dropped at the sight of all the pretty flowers. "So which one?"

"Wow. There's so many. And they're so pretty." Ahe gawked with eyes full of wonder.

"Why hello little girl. How about a Ferbin Flower." the woman of the booth offered as she held out a flower with petals piled on til the center. A light blue fading into white as they grew. Yona's eyes widened.

"Yes! Yes! That's it! Nathaniel can I get that one?" the woman smiled.

"Of course. How much?"

"Only four copper coins." she said.

Simple enough I drew my pouch a handed her the coins in exchange for the flower. I handed the bloom to Yona as she held it close.

We started to walk back with Yona leading the way with a skip in her step. As Cole and I followed her shortly behind.

"What was the flower for?" he asked.

"Her mother's grave." I said meekly.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We can't stop the inevitable. However I wish she didn't have to lose her family so quickly." he placed a hand on my shoulder but I only shook it off.

Once we got to the orphanage the moon was still low. "I'll see you soon Yona." I waved along with Cole as I walked away.

"Where are you goin?" he asked.

"The night is still young. I need to get a gift... For an old friend."

"Oh. By the way..." he trailed off. "Where do you live anyway?" Of all the years we worked together, he asks this now?

"None of your business." I retorted as I found a small stand with lots of unique trinkets.

They were all placed on a satin case, causing the items to sink into the plush fabric. Some were simple, others were more extravagant. My eyes wandered them as the man who owned the table helped out another customer. I hadn't realized I had tuned out Cole, but he was obviously rambling on and on and I didn't have the will to tune back in to that dimwit.

That's when my eyes ran over one particular brooch. It had a large, deep blue stone that resembled a sapphire but was most likely glass. It had a thin gold trim with minor details, and two chains that dipped down and up again to a smaller pin in to be fastened as well. It was simple, yet elegant. In my mind it was perfect.

Audrey POV

I made my way to the medical wing where I was about to greet one of the physicians we had. He was a short older man with large round glasses and a thick curly hair with a bald spot on the to of his head. I knew him as Maurice Stokes. He was the one who had watched over me when I was very ill. I was very fond of him actually. I watched silently as he danced around the room grabbing different utensils and jotting down different foot notes in his book.

"Good evening." I said with a hoarse voice, the small man was startled by my sudden appearance. He whipped around, dropping a few objects in the process. I leaned against the door frame for support as a sudden wave of nausea hit me yet again.

"Y-your highness!" His high voice screeched. "Oh my goodness! Just a moment!"he was shocked at just how horrible I must've looked, he rushed over to me and helped me walk to one of the beds and set me down.

"Oh my your highness! What in Fina's garden happened to you?" He screeched as he looked me over.

"Poison." I panted out.

"Was it ingested?" He asked with a furrowed brow but I shook my head.

I held out my arm and pushed back my sleeve to show him to rash that was left behind. "Someone had poisoned a document of mine." I paused, trying to catch my breath. "I don't know what it is." He helped me cross the room and sat me.down on an empty bed.

As Maurice began his standard procedure my thoughts wandered to Natalie. She had touched the note too, I hope I didn't affect her as well. Not to mention the fact that she had inhaled quite a lot of the poison. I squeezed my eyes shut and knitted my brows as I pondered the worrisome thought.

"Is everything alright your highness?" Maurice asked me, "I did not hurt you. Did I?" I looked down to see the short man, the creases on his face deepened as he waited my answer.

"N-no, I'm just thinking of something." I said shaking my head. He took a sigh of relief.

"Ah, that's good. Well I've got good news, from the looks of your symptoms it seems to be only a minor poison, often known as Beetles Venom. Especially since that it was only initiated by contact on the skin. The effects should go away with in a few hours. However I suggest you spend the night here just in case." He said as he rubbed some kind of cream onto the wound and wrapped my arm in a tight bandage to hide the imperfection.

"Ah, understood." I replied as he turned to meddle with whatever was on the tables.

I took off deep blue vest that was embroidered with golden swirls and set that aside before I kicked off my boots.

"Shall I inform his majesty of this incident?" He asked turning around to face me with a thin book and pen in his hand. I lied back down on the bed, my muscles rejoicing at the comfort of the mattress.

"No. I hope to keep this between us." I said as I rolled over onto my side.

"Understood your highness." He said as I heard him scribbling on the paper. "Any idea who could've done this?" He asked again, but my head pounded at the thought.

"No...."

He then came back around with a cup of water and mixed it with a some kind of yellow solution. "Drink this your highness. It should help alleviate some of the pain."

"Thank you Mr. Stokes." I said as I quickly downed the warm liquid.

"Tis my pleasure, your highness." He then grabbed the cup from me and made his way back to his cluttered desk.

I looked out the window and saw the lights of the city, and just wondered how different my life could've been if I hadn't been a prince.

"Mr. Stokes?" I asked for him, he was still sitting at his desk behind me with the candle burning low.

"Yes your highness?"

"Have you ever been in love?" I asked the question unconsciously, the words escaped my lips before I even had a chance to comprehend them. I heard him set down the pen onto the wooden surface and adjust his glasses.

"Yes, I suppose I have m'boy." He said quietly with a fatherly tone. I thought for a moment on what my next words would be but luckily he saved me from the mental block as he continued. "It was a very long time ago, but I still hold the memories dear to my heart." He sighed, "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious I suppose."

"Has his some one caught the eye of his highness?" He asked and it brought a smile to my lips.

"Perhaps."

"Do you plan on telling the lady?" I was quiet at the question but it must've made him uncomfortable. "I do not wish to overstep your highness."

"No no, its alright. I was just thinking of an answer. I'm not sure, most likely no."

"Why so?"

"Because in this life I'm not allowed the luxury of love." I rolled onto my back and looked at him. He his shoulders fell, the creases in his forehead becoming more noticeable in the dim light.

"It may seem that way now. But one day, you will." He sighed and turned back around in his seat, "it's getting late, you should rest your highness."

"Of course." I rolled over again, facing my back to the old doctor. I shut my eyes and waited for the stress and exhaustion to take over.

I woke up several times throughout the night to Maurice dabbing my forehead with a cloth every now and then but it didn't affect me. I just went back to sleep, and that's how it stayed. The comfortable silence in the room with the warm company. I felt right. It felt safe.