[Brinley's POV]

My footsteps reverberated in the empty corridor leading to my room.

My mind is on my beloved, my shooting star. She just came in my life so suddenly like a shooting star would. And like one, she's both beautiful and mesmerizing.

How long has it been now? 2 years? It was short, but it was full of love. And I'd prefer it rather than one that is long but full of coldness instead.

I pushed open the door, the inside of the room lit up by numerous candelabras, wherein the silhouette of my beloved, bathe in the moonlight that peeked over the windowsill, while she sat atop my bed immediately caught my eyes.

Her pristine skin glistened, her luscious figure – barely covered by her nightgown – is as beautiful as art.

She seems to have not notice my arrival, for she just sat there, looking outside the window.

A naughty idea popped into mind, as I silently crept closer to her. As I got close however, I noticed her downcast mixed with anxiety expression. Tears ran down her cheeks, her eyes lost and staring at nothing.

My hand reached out on it's own before I know it, and wiped the tears that kept falling, startling her from her stupor.

"B-Brinley?" She stammered, looking shock and panic.

"Are you okay? What happened?" I inquired, worry laced my voice.

"Y-yeah. I-I'm okay." She said, wiping her tears, her voice crack.

"Are you sure? You can tell me anything, you know?" I tried to get her to talk, wanting to know what cause her into such a state.

"Y-yeah. I'm okay, Brinley. Really."

"How can you be okay when you're crying? It's not like we're strangers. Tell me, what's troubling you?" my left hand patted and rubbed her back, whilst my right swiped the strands of hair that got in her face.

"N-nothing. *Hic*"

"You sure?"

"It… it's just that I miss *hic* my family back home and all." She finally relented, her head rested on my shoulders. Howbeit, I know in my heart that there's something else entirely bothering her.

"Mhm. Do you want to go home? See them and have reunion? Just tell me, I'll immediately arrange for it." However, I didn't press more from her, for fear that I might step into a landmine.

"Mhm." She shook her head. "No, *hic* it's okay. Besides, I have my duty. I can't just leave." She added, her emotions now had calmed down.

"If you're saying that because you don't want to inconvenience me or because you're embarrassed, then, you don't have to be." I said softly, my hand gently caress her head, while I stared straight into her eyes.

"No, really. It's okay." Again, she declined, her stubborn eyes also locked onto mine.

Sigh –

"Eliza –" before I could complete my sentence, her lips pressed against mine, shutting me up.

I gently pushed her, before I spoke. "We don't have to do it tonight. Just rest for now."

"No. I want to do it. I need your comfort." Her hush voice drifted into my ears, her breathing labored as she sat atop me.

Once again, she lunged at me. And without any more choice, I conceded and reciprocated her advance, as we shared a passionate kiss.

One by one, the garments that donned our bodies got strip off and thrown in the marbled floor. Our naked bodies got illuminated by the moonlight, while our hands busily darted all over our bodies.

I halted, admiring her naked beauty. Our eyes met, both contained affection, care and ablaze passion. However, hers contained other emotions – sadness, guilt and anguish.

'Just why? What's causing you so much negative emotions? Why is it bothering me so much?'

I kissed her once again, this time much intense, much more passionate. For I was eager to replace those negative emotions with a more positive one.

'I'll make you happy.' – I thought, envisioning our future, as we spend our days growing older together.

Soon enough, the sound of flesh clashing against flesh filled the room. The sound of sweat dripping, and the pleasured moan of two lovers, harmoniously played along with the nocturnal birds chirping, and the all too familiar sounds of crickets.

------------------

"Huu~." I exhaled tiredly, my back lay on my bed, while Eliza is in my embrace.

She just lay there silently, not speaking, her mind drifted on something else.

I looked at her askance, wanting to probe her once more. But I decided against the notion, and kissed her forehead instead.

My eyes glistened as an idea dawned on me.

'I reckon this would be the right moment to do that. It surely will also make her happy.'

I reached out onto the drawer near my bed, pulling and taking out something. "Hey, Eliza." I called.

"Hmm?" she looked up, her eyebrows raise as she look at me questioningly.

"Hehe." I snickered mischievously and mysteriously. "Close your eyes." I commanded.

She still look at me dubiously. But, nonetheless, closed her eyes as per my instruction.

I held out my hand, holding a small box, it's lid open. "Now, open them."

She opened her eyes slowly, her eyes look at me first, before following down onto my hand. Her eyes met with the box, rested on the center of it, is a brilliantly sparkling diamond ring.

She abruptly stood, then froze. Her mouth agape and her body shaking subtly. Her eyes became moist, and tears threaten to fall down.

I knelt on the bed, a beaming smile adorned my handsome face. "Miss Elizabeth of Aleburg." I preamble.

"In the past 2 years of my life, the time that we have been together. My life has become much wonderful and brighter because you are with me. Just your presence alone makes me happy even if I feel sad and low." I started, stating the speech I've made beforehand. I swallowed hard, nervousness rising and filling my being – much more so than when I'm speaking with nobles or to the populace.

"Your smile lightens up my life and all the darkness disappear. Your love has made me crazy, my dear Eliza. I love you so much. To the point that I just want to be with you for every second, every minute, every hour, every day. Heck, if we can live for a millennium, I'd choose to spend the rest of it with you." Tears had formed at the side of my eyes, while Eliza put her hands on her mouth, sobbing.

"We will laugh together, we will smile together, we will cry together, we will share our sadness and happiness. There is no place beautiful for me in this world, but when you are with me."

The candelabras lighting the room flickered and swayed, seemingly feeling the emotions filling the air.

"My beloved Elizabeth." I whispered softly, calling her name fondly. "Will you allow this humble prince, to spend the rest of his life with you, and to walk beside you? –" I paused, my heart thumped so hard, it was about to leapt out. "– will you marry me?"

My tears had completely fallen, while I looked at Eliza with both expectation and anxiousness.

Her on the other hand had clutched her entire face, crying.

I just knelt there, patiently waiting for her response and to calm her raging emotions.

She wiped her puddles of tear, her face flushed, while she sniffed. "Y-yes." she said in a soft voice. "Yes. Yes, I will, Brinley."

I leapt out of my kneeling position and hugged her tightly. "Thank you. Thank you very much, Eliza." I cried, unbefitting of a prince, but I don't five a fuck about it, for the woman I love is all that matters. "I love you."

"Mhm. I love you too, Brinley." She hugged me back, her lips pecked into mine.

"Even though we can't have official marriage. You'll be the only woman in my heart. And the only woman I'd call… my wife." My heart fluttered as soon as those words escaped my mouth. I felt all fidgety just thinking of the moments I'd get to call her as such.

"Hehe. Can you say that again, my husband?" she teasingly said.

"My wife. Eliza, my wife. My beautiful wife!" I sweep her off of her feet and we spun around, laughing to ourselves.

I set her down, pinching her cheeks all the while. "Oh! I just got the right wine to celebrate this joyous night!" I exclaimed excitedly. Though, Eliza's expression became odd.

However, it didn't register to me as anything unusual, my mood is too merry to be sullied by anything else.

"You haven't tried wine from Aurora yet, right? I just got one ordered and it came last week. Let's use it to celebrate." I went into a corner, where a mini-bar is and took out the wine, simultaneously taking out two wineglasses.

As I turned to go back, Eliza is murmuring something, her expression lost once again.

Skipping on my way, I represented the wine to her. "Tada! It's here! You'd absolutely love it, my wife."

Eliza never responded, though I just infer it as her too overwhelmed with emotions. I popped the wine open, and poured us a glass. "Here." I handed one to her.

"N –" she murmured.

"Hmm? You say anything, my wife?" I tilted my head, at the same time forcing the wine glass onto her hand.

"N –"

"You okay?" I asked, chugging the wine down.

"No."

"No, what?"

"No!"

She suddenly screamed and slumped down, her knees hitting the ground hard, a wound had formed into it. While the wineglass had broken into pieces, sending shrapnel everywhere.

I immediately went to her, clutching her trembling shoulders as she kept on crying. "What's wrong, my wife –" it was then, that I felt vomiting.

I gagged, and blood started to come out of my mouth, whilst Eliza kept on screaming "No!" in between her crying.

I looked at my hands, drenched in my own blood. Eliza grasps my cheeks, her eyes full of guilt. "B-Brinley." She sobbed, anguished. "I-I'm so sorry." Her voice tinged in sadness.

'What's happening?'

My mind spun, trying to deduce the situation.

'Am I poisoned? By who?'

My eyes locked onto the crying Eliza.

'Ah. Is that how it is?'

Varying emotions welled up within me. Anger, betrayal, disbelief, confusion, denial.

My hand reach out to her cheek. "W-why?" I muttered weakly, my strength leaving my body. I tried using my aura to counteract the poison, but I couldn't find where my aura core is, it seemingly vanished into nothingness.

"I'm so sorry." is all that she replied back.

'Sorry?' – is that all? I wanted to ask more, wanted to let out my complex emotion, wanted to lash out to her.

But my body reacted otherwise, and hugged her.

"What's burdening you, my love?" I instead blurted out, my feelings for her triumphing anything else. For all the time that I've been with her, I, most of all knows her the best. Certainly, there is a reason that led her to doing such a thing.

"I'm so sorry, Brinley. I'm so sorry." She repeatedly said, crying in my embrace.

My eyes darkened, my consciousness flickering in and out.

'I'm dying.' – I instinctively felt.

With much difficulty, I gently pulled her from our embrace, and simultaneously caressed her face that is blemished with tears.

'Why do you keep crying today, my love?' – I thought, for I didn't have the energy to open my mouth.

I looked at her beauty one last time. For death is coming to take the life lease onto me by the maker.

I took in everything about her. Her raven black hair, her blue eyes stricken with grief. Her lips, that was always blooming with a painting worthy smile is now turned glum, colorless. Her perky nose that I always love to nuzzle. Her body, that comfort me every time we cuddle. Her personality, which attracted me to her.

I took in everything. Admired everything. Savored everything. Both her and the memory we made and shared. For one last time.

I wanted to kiss her, but the poison might inflict her instead. – 'How regretful. I, at least, wanted to take one last kiss with my dear beloved.'

Well, she truly is my shooting star, isn't she?

She came so suddenly, like a shooting star would. Like one, she's both beautiful and bedazzling.

And like one…

She also went away far too quick.

My vision went black. My consciousness and soul leaving my body. The coldness of death embracing me.

'How fleeting.'