"Do you think he liked my gift?" Pier asked as he was treading the path back to the Easter District's populated area.
"F-Fluffy..." The dead fairy spoke its name but Pier understood its meaning.
"He better be grateful." He murmured while puffing his cheeks out like a child who was embarrassed of something.
Of course, he would be. It's his first time doing something for someone he acknowledged he likes and it was making him flustered.
He also planned to tell Ciaran about the cave when the man returns from the Mir Mountains and maybe it can serve as a hideout for the vampire prince.
The young master was in a good mood after slaying the beast.
Though extremely tired, the fruits of his endeavor were worth it. He did not just get Ciaran a new shadow that is helpful for flying over many places, he also saw the power Fluffy held.
'Fluffy is extremely powerful for a fairy.' Pier thought while staring at the brooch in his chest.
Being able to raise a couple of undead was already horrifying enough but the dead fairy can raise as much as it wanted as long as it does not run out of dead souls and magic.
He felt like he was cheating on a game again with how overpowered Fluffy was.
While returning, Pier passed by the ruins again.
The rubbles and giant stones that were scattered around the surroundings were making him curious as well as the tilting tower in the distance.
"For a reason the tower felt familiar." He had an inquiring look on his face but he decided to postpone his ideas for now and get some sleep after helping with the distribution of the rations.
After another few minutes of walking, Pier reached the area where people lived and there he saw that the carriages containing the rations have already arrived.
He also saw some familiar faces with the carriage.
There was the old butler that constantly followed Asher around and there was also his attendant.
Pier sighed in exhaust one more time before he trudged towards them. His steps were lousy and his mind was starting to close off considering he was really sleepy.
"Young master! It's a pleasure to meet you here." The old butler greeted him once they saw each other eye to eye and Pier nodded his head.
"It is my pleasure to meet you again here, head butler. How's your day?" He asked while staring at the knights and the mages who were distributing the rations to the people.
"I've been good, young master. Packing the rations for a few weeks was tiring but it felt rejuvenating seeing the people of the Eastern District receive something that would get them somehow through the winter." The butler responded which Pier liked.
"That's good. Thank you so much for your service, head butler." Pier smiled at him and proceeded to gaze at the other person beside the butler who was busy directing the distribution of the goods.
"Sir Caspian." Pier spoke which made the latter flinch in surprise.
He turned his head around and froze stiff when he saw who it was.
"Y-Young master!" He greeted with an awkward smile and Pier who was confused with his actions shrugged his shoulders.
"It's been a long time since I last saw you, Sir Caspian." Pier decided not to notice Caspian's awkward expression since he thought it was normal now.
The young master walked towards him and he placed his hand on the attendant's arm.
Caspian watched the hand touch his shoulder and he gulped multiple times.
"How are you?" He decided to ask and Caspian took a few moments of thinking before he was able to respond properly.
"I... I have been good, young master." He spoke politely which amused Pier.
He remembered that the attendant would usually dismiss the old Pier as if he was a child that came to play in the palace but now, he looked like he was avoiding any conversation with him.
"That's nice. You're a good nobleman for helping people in need." He squeezed the attendant's back and Caspian's awkward expression turned into fluster.
'Huh?' Pier raised his eyebrow at the reaction.
"Are you okay, Sir Caspian?" He asked and the noble immediately backed off while covering the spot he touched with his arm.
'Do I smell bad?' Pier thought while sneaking a sniff on his clothes but he could not find any unpleasant smell.
"I-I'm alright, young master." Caspian responded before he turned his back and started to walk off.
"What's wrong with him?" Pier asked as he stood there not knowing what to do next.
---
"Pier, can we talk?" Asher asked he observed the young master sitting on the shore while munching on an apple.
"What ish it?" He asked with his mouth full. He did not find the necessity to talk formally and with full manners because he's tired.
Asher stopped the smile from creeping up his face as he saw that side of the young master.
"Does your head still hurt?" He asked which confused the latter.
"Huh?" Pier raised his eyebrows and Asher lowered his head in embarrassment after seeing Pier's reaction.
"Ah, I apologize. I must have pried too much again." He smiled before looking back up at the ocean. The waves crashing on the shore reminded him of the time he went with Pier to the library's secret passage to get painted by the fairy.
"I'm sorry." He spoke after a few minutes of silence and Pier did not leave his gaze from him.
"What for?"
He closed his mouth off again while his heart was beating so fast.
"Yesterday..." Asher trailed off which made the tired Pier even more confused.
"Just say it already, your highness. I'm tired." Pier spoke while reverting his gaze back into the shore.
He threw the apple core on the side and he facepalmed himself. He badly wanted to get back in his bed and just doze off until they depart from the place tomorrow.
He still had so many things to do in the Central District.
"Yesterday when you were drunk, I kissed you back."
"..."
Pier's eyes were wide as he quickly looked back at the crown prince.
"You what?" Baffled, he inquired.
"You were drunk yesterday evening and I went to follow you since you might get in danger." He started to explain and Pier was watching with horror in his eyes.
The tiredness and the drowsiness immediately leaving his body.
"Then you kissed me... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"
Asher wasn't even done explaining when Pier grabbed the collar of his clothes and brought his face closer to him.
"What else did I say?" He asked and Asher's surprised expression turned grim for a moment.
"You were calling out the name of another man." He spoke and Pier felt his entire world freeze.
"Who... whose name was that?"
"Fenrir. You kept calling the name Fenrir." The prince admitted and Pier felt his heart pound in his chest.
"And I kissed you?" He inquired again and Asher nodded his head.
"Is that... true?" Asher nodded his head again and a look of panic crossed Pier's face making Asher alerted.
"It was my fault-"
In a swift motion, Pier stood up from his spot and he turned his back immediately from the prince.
"Pier, wait!" Asher tried to call out but Pier was not taking any of it.
"Pier, listen! Please forgive me! I was also slightly drunk that time and I was swayed by the moment! It's all my fault for not considering-."
"Enough."
That made Asher silent.
"You should've pushed me away before I even kissed you, your highness." Pier spoke with his head hung low.
'What have I done...' He trailed off in his mind while he was trying to think about what happened yesterday evening.
His hands were shaking and Asher also clenched his hands making the sand in his grasp enter.
"I see that someone you spoke back at the library's passage was the man named Fenrir." He spoke with a bitter tone in his voice.
"And? Does that concern you, your highness"? Pier turned his head to look at him from the side.
"Of course! You do not know how many people are trying to take advantage of you, Pier! You should be wary of the people you meet!" He reprimanded him with desperation in his voice but the young master only sighed.
"Don't..." Asher stopped his ramblings when he heard Pier speak.
"Don't ever speak his name again and do not talk about what happened yesterday, your highness." Pier's blue eyes were staring at him intently and Asher could feel the condescending feeling he got from the young master.
"It was my fault because I did not know that's how I would act when I'm drunk but you heard me call for the name of another yet you still accepted my drunk advances." At this point, he was now glaring at the prince.
No matter how Pier tried to put Ciaran's words a few weeks ago before he left for the Mir Mountains, he knew that the vampire prince meant all of those things. He did not want to see anyone die just because of a careless mistake he made.
Asher also had a regretful look on his face. Whether what side he looked at it, he was the one who had the most responsibility in the situation since he was the one who was more sober.
"Just don't speak about it again, your highness. Keep what happened between us two or maybe you could even forget it, please do." He asked the prince for a favor and Asher's clenched hands tightened.
'Of course, he already knows. I have his dead fairy watching over me.' He sighed and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"It was all a mistake. As you've said, I already have someone so please refrain from making a big deal out of it." Pier gave him one last look before he started to walk back to the house he was staying at.
"It was all a mistake."
The sentence reverberated in Asher's ear and he gritted his teeth.
"Can I... meet him?" He asked and Pier who was not that far from him yet also paused in his steps.
"I'm trying to protect you, your highness. Don't even think about such things." Pier continued to walk back. His steps were heavy and the calming sound of the waves rushing to the shore no longer mattered.
However, before he could fully get out of the crown prince's perimeters, he halted in his steps again and spoke.
"I know you would try to look for him once we get back. I'm assuring you that you do not need to fret over me. I know how to handle myself." Pier spoke and Asher was left speechless while he still sat on the sand.
"The Pier that chased you before... he's dead. Don't try to involve yourself in my personal matters anymore since I no longer held any affections for you." Pier was very much annoyed with all the things that were revealed to him just now.
"Not even a single drop was left. Keep my request if you do not wish for us to go back in being strangers again, your highness." That was the last line he left before he started walking again and disappeared out of the prince's sight.
When he was gone, Asher leaned his body back with his arms supporting him. The cold winter winds were making clouds of breath as he exhaled.
He closed his eyes while trying to absorb the statements Pier had said.
'Not even a single drop was left.' He chuckled at how pathetic he was.
He had been hoping all along. That there was even a miniscule of feelings Pier had stored for him deep inside.
But hearing that none was left from the person himself, it felt frustrating.
He had been expecting this but it still was making such a big impact on him.
"Is this how you felt before?" He asked while feeling the air caress his face.
'The Pier that chased you before... he's dead.' He breathed hard as he recalled the sentence over and over again.
Pier's way of words was making him feel anxious.
"I'm so tired of thinking about you but at the same time, I feel like all my efforts are not enough." He spoke and the wind carried his words of frustrations.
Meanwhile, another person was standing not too far from them.
Tears were streaming down her face as she covered her mouth to avoid any noise from coming out.
"I'm wishing you would come back to me but that sounds farfetched." Asher spoke again and she held her sobs even more.