From the very tips of his toes to the top of his head, pain hissed and slithered throughout his body. Tauntingly mocking him with the desire to cry stop.

It really was a cruel temptation.

The pain would be so much worse if he succumbed to that ever present desire to plead for mercy. Mercy was granted only to those who had no need for it. An individual weak enough to need it would only endure worse.

Topaz knew this.

He really did.

Yet the words still attempted to claw their way out of his throat. Dragging desperately across his tongue and attempting to pry open his lips.

The pain was so intense.

Burning was his least favorite.

He’d gotten so good at turning off his senses until his father forgave him but burning was the one pain he’d never been able to grow accustomed to. There was something about the peeling of flesh, the way the pain lasted so long after he’d been punished, the way the burning never seemed to stop and seeped so much deeper than skin.

The feel of his flesh peeling away.

He would rather be skinned. The times his father had skinned parts of him had been so utterly excruciating but still somehow more tolerable. He could handle it with the poise and grace his father demanded of him.

But burns were impossible.

Tears burned at the corners of his eyes and Topaz held them in as though his life depended upon it.

It was so much worse than his life depending on it.

A murder victim didn’t have to worry about the time spent healing. The weeks he would have to spend pretending that he wasn’t in agony. The smiles he’d have to wear while facing the world. The way he would still be expected to maintain every duty within his schedule to absolute perfection despite his injuries.

Should he fail he would return right here to this place.

Death would be a mercy.

Topaz feared death just as anyone would. He wanted to live.

To thrive.

But he feared this fate so much more.

Duke Diamond Edentus inspected his son’s serene expression for signs of weakness, finally pulling away the searing red hot rod he’d be using. Topaz didn’t let a single hint of relief leak into his expression.

Diamond sneered and turned away. It was the closest to approval he could hope for while his father was still in a foul mood. Topaz was wise enough not to let his expression slip even while his father was looking away.

There were always eyes on him.

Always.

“Kunzite.”

The servant appeared from the shadows. Topaz wasn’t surprised. It still struck him as eerie though.

The people that his father employed were sometimes just as nightmarish as the man himself.

Topaz closed his eyes peacefully. Whatever they said next, it wouldn’t do him any good to pay attention to it.

“Have you finished preparations?”

“Yes, your grace.”

To Topaz’s shock, his father actually sounded pleased when he replied. It was such a rare emotion for him to express.

“Good work.”

Such a short conversation but it made Topaz’s blood run cold. There were so few things that could make his father happy.

It was merely his intuition that told him which one his father was currently pleased about but he was sure of it.

He knew exactly what Kunzite was preparing.

His finger twitched but he otherwise maintained his outward composure. Inwardly, panic ate away at his heart and began to consume the very blood in his veins. He felt so cold despite the burns across his body.

How many years had he been fooling his father?

Since that day so many years ago when Ruby first coughed up blood?

Topaz’s thoughts drifted to the vials of poison hidden so carefully in his room and for one desperate moment, he debated drinking them all himself. He’d already drunk plenty in Ruby’s stead. The dosage would be sure to kill him in one go but the panicked fear was so intense that death felt like such a relief.

…if he died, who would protect Ruby…?

“Topaz…”

“Yes, your highness?”

Ruby’s gentle face fell into a frown and he tucked a hair behind Topaz’s ear. “I wish you wouldn’t call me that. You used to call me by my name.”

“Did I?” Topaz waved off his touch, concealing how the warmth danced like butterflies against his cheek. “I’m sure you’re imagining things, your highness.”

Ruby’s face split into a grin and he pulled Topaz into a loose hug, resting his head atop of Topaz’s nonchalantly. “You won’t break etiquette but you’ll dare to call your prince delusional?”

Emotion gripped Topaz’s heart.

He held onto tightly. There were always eyes on him. He could never show his sincerity. He’d lose his fathers trust.

“Get to the point. You called my name for a reason, your highness.”

Gentle arms pulled him in so close that Topaz feared that the prince would feel his heartbeat. He did his best to control the beating of his heart.

“Why are you sad today?”

The question cut Topaz down the middle and his heart froze over.

Ruby’s voice had been barely a whisper but it had seen through him.

The poison vial remained in the picnic basket, ready for when he was supposed to sprinkle on Ruby’s food.

“I’m not.”

“Liar.” Ruby nuzzled against his hair and let out a sigh. “One day, I’d like it if you opened your heart…”

Topaz’s body crashed to the ground as the restraints were released. The agony from the fresh burns grinding against the gravel nearly stole a scream out of him.

If he wasn’t so scared, it would have come out.

As it was, Topaz gracefully got to his feet and left with his dismissal.

He was lucky today. His father would allow him the time to treat his injuries.

Unfortunately, time wasn’t something he could afford.

His heart pounded urgently in his chest as he walked as steadily as he could manage back to his room.

There was only one thing that Diamond would be so pleased about.

They had decided on another plot to take Ruby’s life.

Topaz had worked so hard not to lose his fathers trust. Poison the prince, just enough to keep him unhealthy but not enough to cause lasting damage, agreeing to this farce of a marriage, and agreeing to lead Ruby to his death after obtaining the power of royalty.

Topaz was his fathers perfect pawn.

He worked so hard just to keep Ruby safe.

Topaz needed to learn his fathers latest plans and find a way to foil them. He needed to hurry. He couldn’t afford to–

“Young Master Topaz.”

Topaz clenched his teeth and turned his attention to a servant. Yet another one of his fathers mysteriously stealthy attendants. This one was named Pearl and Topaz reserved a special brand of hatred for him.

“There is a guest for you in the drawing room.”

Topaz’s heart stuttered.

“His highness, the crown prince, the pillar of this kingdom, Ruby Lefehyr awaits your attendance.”