"I was rejected," said Aemilius sorrowfully. 

"HAHAHAHAHA what did you do? Did ya give him a pose with one of your killer lines? Saying something like, “Be mines?”

Silence was Aemilius' reply as a slight blush started to dot his cheeks.

“For real… you said that? Like really?”

"No… my words were more polite. I asked if he would like to be mine's."

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA” more laughter erupted from the other end of the phone, causing Aemilius to pull the phone away from his now stinging ear.

Perhaps it was a poor decision to call Eli? He knew that she would find his situation amusing but not to this degree. He sighed once more as he looked at the giant moon looming above his head. He was outside, leaning gracefully against his balcony with cold air brushing pass him, sending chills down his spine. He smiled fondly at the stunning cityscape lights upon lights filled his vision, coming together to illuminate the dark night sky. He was grateful for the location his home was built upon; a giant hill that looked upon the city.

"So.. are ya planning on telling me what happened? Or is sitting in silence your thing now?" It was Eli's voice that brought Aemilius back from his thoughts.

"Ah yes…" and so Aemilius told Eli his side of the story. He told about how he raced towards Damien’s class in hopes of catching a conversation with him, but instead decided to wait when he saw that Damien was on the phone. And he told her about how he stopped Damien in the middle of the hallway, and even about how Damien shook him off. 

By the end of the summary, Aemilius was feeling even more depressed. A sigh escaped from his mouth, "hence I was rejected…" He clenched his phone tighter as he waited for more laughter from Eli, yet surprisingly all he received was silence.

"Eli?" The cold air filled the void of silence while Aemilius waited for her reply.

 "Hey Aemilius…” she started, her words softer than usual, “why are you so obsessed with this kid?"

"Obsessed?" Aemilius was at a loss for words, yet Emily continued on.

"Like you were scared of him this morning, what changed that?"

Nervous laughter escaped from Aemilius' mouth, "Me, scared?”

For a moment, Aemilius was quiet as he racked his mind concerning his sudden change of heart. Was it perhaps then? He thought back to Damien’s warm smile during his phone call. Could that be the reason? Irving may look scary… but that smile…  He quickly shook his head. No that is definitely not the reason. He is… is... 

“He is simply interesting.” he decided to tell Eli and by simply saying that, the cloudy feeling that appeared in his mind had quickly disappeared. “He is simply too interesting to leave alone. That is why I want him to be my tutor.” he felt proud with such a declaration.

Eli sighed at this so-called ‘declaration’, “Yeah, yeah I get it prince. Just don't get hurt from this kay? Or like do anything stupid ya got me?”

A smile graced his features at his friend’s words, “Understood, Yet I do not know how I can get hurt from this. Still I will be careful.”

Eli hummed in agreement, “Got cha prince.”

And so the two continued to talk and eventually said goodbye as the moon rose to the middle of the night sky. A satisfied smile appeared on Aemilius' face as he jumped into his bed; conversations with Eli were always fun. Yet a frown quickly came across Aemilius’ face. I want to pursue Irving, yet I do not know how I will do it. He needed a game plan, a hint or even a clue on how he was to claim this Irving as his tutor.

“Hmmmmm” he continued to stare up at his ceiling, his eyes following the swirls of gold that made up the mural upon it. If it was not for Edward entering his room, Aemilius would have been in that same position for the rest of the night.

Edward threw a worry expression towards his young master. “Young master, are you having nightmares again? Would you like a warm glass of milk to help with your sleep?”

Aemilius continued to be spread out on his bed. A warm smile graced the old man’s features. It is as if the master had not grown at all. He still looks like a child. Aemilius' small size laying in the middle of a king-sized mattress was quite a sight for the butler. Edward smiled at this, as he looked upon his master with fondness alongside his worry.

Aemilius shook his head, “A cup of warm milk would be wonderful right now, but no it is not nightmares. Currently I am thinking.”

Edward tilted his head, “About what young master?”

Aemilius got up and smiled at his butler, “On how to capture someone.”

For a moment, Edward was quite stunned at his young master’s declaration, but eventually he shook his head. Since he knew that his young master had always had quite a strange way with his words. “By capturing someone… Are you referring to their heart, young master?”

Aemilius rose up from the comfort of his bed and smiled at these words, “Yes, you can phrase it like that.”

“Oh” Had my young master finally found a suitable young lady? Brief tears of joy came to the old butler.

“Edward?”

“Ah.. hem” Edward faked a cough and continued as if his tears of joy had never existed “So young master, how do you plan on capturing this person’s heart?”

Aemilius frowned and fell back onto the bed once more. “That is what's troubling me…”

Seeing how troubled his young master was, Edward spoke the first idea that came to his mind.

“Perhaps… you can do it this way young master.”

Aemilius raised an eyebrow, “This way? What do you mean Edward? No matter how much Aemilius searched his mind he could find no such way.

Edward smiled at his young master’s plight, “Friendship. It is simply friendship. Even if it may be slow, befriending the person will eventually lead you to capturing their heart.”

Aemilius rubbed his chin as if he was deep in thought, Befriending them... suddenly his expression grew brighter, he smiled at Edward, “Befriending them to capture their heart... such a great idea!” Yet Aemilius soon grew depressed once more. “How would I do that though?” He thought about the ways he made friends up till now. With the princesses all he had to do was send a smile their way to become friends with them. And with Eli all he had to do was allow her to take some pictures of his glorious self. Yet I feel that this will not work with Irving. Already he had tried the smiling method, yet Damien only shook his head and kept walking. And pictures definitely will not work… Aemilius couldn't recall seeing a camera attached anywhere on Damien. He thought some more and eventually smoke started to rise from his head. 

This caused a frown to appear on Edward's face, because he did not know his master would think so hard about befriending someone. This young miss must be quite the amazing person. Thought Edward as he faked a cough. This action caused the confused Aemilius to look towards him.

Edward smiled at his young master, "Young master, would you like to take a walk in the garden?"

At the word "garden" Aemilius' eyes shone with glee. Yes… the garden, perhaps there I can clear my mind and think of a proper way to captu-  no... befriend Irving. Aemilius smiled at Edward, "A great idea as always. Shall we be off Edward?"

Edward smiled, he was such a great butler. He followed his young master out to the garden.

……

Aemilius clutched his blanket closer to himself as the chilly night air brushed pass him and Edward. The scent of flowers graced his nose and the moon lit his way through this garden. He breathed in, enjoying the coldness of the night and the scent of the flowers. All throughout this, Edward followed quietly behind. 

Aemilius smiled, Coming here was a good choice. Now… What should I do next? He thought back on his one and only conversation with Irving in an attempt to look for clues or perhaps a hint on where he should proceed next. He stopped and stared at the flowers before him. Blue flowers, that petals glided with the wind. Aemilius touched this flower ever so lightly and thought about the last words that left Irving's mouth.

The bus.

He had heard of such a thing and even seen one in movies but why would anyone willingly ride one? Just the thought itself disgusted Aemilius but still… If it was a way to capture Irving, then he would go all for it. But before that… 

“Edward, I think that I found a way to capture their heart.”

Edward was excited for his young master and even wanted to jump for joy at the spot, since his narcissistic young master was thinking so hard about someone else instead of himself. Yet only a smile betrayed the butler’s true thoughts, “Is that so young master.”