Cerra sat on her bed, a thick blanket wrapped around her. She was still shaking. She couldn't get that scene out of her head. Her sword has slipped so cleanly through the assassin. Without hesitation.

"It wasn't your fault." Jay had assured her. "You were just defending yourself." Cerra knew that. She knew she was saving her own life. Yet, in that process, she had taken another. She took a shaky breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She should have expected this. She should have known when agreeing to come to the palace. She lay back, pulling the sheets tighter. She was a bodyguard. This was her job.

• • •

"Teach me how to knock someone out," Cerra said. "I can't make the same mistake twice." Gabe and Jay stood in front of her, their weapons lay on the ground by their sides. Cerra had forced them to drop it and teach her fist to fist combat.

Gabe stepped up, moving to help Cerra into a fighting stance. He lifted her arm and cupped her hands into a fist. He was strangely aware of how soft her hands were and how tense she seemed. He jerked away.

"What next?" Cerra asked, oblivious to Gabe's sudden movement. Gabe looked towards Jay for help.

"I-I'm not really sure," he said. "Jay probably knows. I need to go to the bathroom."

"I thought you just went before training?" Cerra asked, confused, but Gabe was already walking away.

He slid down the tree trunk, burying his face in his hands. His heart beat quickly and his face flushed. He slapped his cheeks three times and took a deep breath. He didn't know why he suddenly started acting so flustered around Cerra. It was fine before she entered the palace. He knew he loved her. It was like this since they were young. Yet, he was able to contain his emotions before. Now... He didn't know what was wrong with him. Maybe it was the testosterone. He stood up and looked towards where Jay and Cerra were practicing. They were laughing about something, and Cerra grabbed Jay's arm. Gabe's turned away sharply and started walking away.

He used to be the only person Cerra smiled around. He could calm her down and make her laugh. As he walked back home, he wondered why he didn't tell Jay and Cerra about Rose and Leo. It wasn't a secret he prided in keeping. He wanted to tell them, to help them, but something held him back. He couldn't. For some reason, he couldn't tell them.

"Gabe," a voice called out hesitantly as he ascended the stairs. Gabe turned, facing his stepmother. His eyes regarded her with disdain and he was about to turn around when he felt her hand on his elbow.

"You can't run away forever," she said. "Eventually, you'll have to accept me. You know your father won't make me leave. You will talk to me and eat with me and—"

"I saw you with the prince," Gabe interrupted her. He was surprised by what he said. He usually ignored Rose, but it felt good to hold something against her. Rose froze, and she swore her heart stopped for a second.

"Y-You can't tell Hanson," she whispered, her pupils wavering in fear. "Gabe, please."

"I can," he said. "If you don't ask me to do anything with you anymore." Rose shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She needed to think of a way out. Gabe turned to go, but Rose stopped him again.

"I see how you look at Cerra," she said suddenly. "You might not have noticed, but I have. I know you desire her like the bird desires the bloom of a flower. I see your eyes gleam with passion every time she smiles. I see how you relax around her, as if she's already yours. I know how you watch in quiet hatred when she interacts with any other guy. I know you think about her, I know you dream about her. I know because I've been there."

Gabe gaped at his stepmother. How could she have possibly figured all of this out? Was he really that obvious? "Why did you tell me this?" he asked finally. "Why bring it up now?"

"I heard she was hired by a prince to be a maid," Rose said casually, a grin of satisfaction on her face. "I heard he's pretty." Gabe tensed.

"And?"

"She'll fall in love, Gabe. It's inevitable." Rose said, her eyes searching for something from Gabe.

"No," he shook his head in denial. "She won't. She wouldn't." Rose sneered, her face twisting into a shape of merciless cruelty.

"She's already falling," she said. "There's nothing you can do. Except... "

"Except?" Gabe asked immediately. Rose chuckled, motioning for him to come closer. She whispered in his ear, and Gabe's eyes widened.

• • •

"How's Helen?" Hanson asked over a cup of coffee. Cerra's father glanced down at his own cup and shook his head.

"I don't know what's wrong with her," he said. "She isn't getting better." Hanson sighed.

“She held us together, Charles,” he said. “Look at what happened without her.” Charles nodded. His family had fallen apart after Helen’s illness. It came so abruptly he hadn’t known how to prepare for it and left everything behind. He felt like he left Cerra behind too. Ever since she’d left for the palace, he felt a sense of guilt, like he hadn’t lived up to the hero she thought he was.

“How are Rose and Gabe getting along?” Charles asked, changing the subject. Everytime Helen’s name came up, he was reminded of the time Hanson and himself were both in love with her. He had been surprised that Helen chose him, yet he had been so happy.

“Gabe’s still treating Rose like she doesn’t exist,” Hanson sighed. “But I saw them talking on the stairway before I came, so I hope he’s beginning to accept her.” Charles raised an eyebrow.

“Really?” he asked. “Gabe’s finally caving?” Hanson laughed, his voice deep and hoarse.

“I really hope so.”