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Ludwig's face fell when the other rejected the gems. Was it not enough? It was all he had, the rest had gone toward his useless son's education. "Y-You didn't?" The brown eyes filled with tears as Leo continued to speak, tears themselves rolling down the aging cheeks until he fell to his knees, holding the woman's hands. "You, you are all so kind. Thank you, I thank you so much. You, both of you," He couldn't finish, his joy and sorrow making him cry harder.

Elliot smiled. "How much do they normally sell for, Ludwig?"

"What'll we call it?" Ipo murmured.

The farmer stood, shaking, with help from Leo who promptly gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well they sell for,"

"Actually, the treasury is releasing these, a countrywide currency. This is one of the new bills. Made from cotton and linen.' He held it out to the other. "that bill represents this much in the current currency." he then slipped out the gold and silver coins, placing them down. "However, I shall pay double for Ludwig, my new mastiff." And placed more in the man's palms. "For your help to the country." He kissed the man's head.

"Ludwig is a nice name." Ipo said with a smile, starting his walk the other way.

Elliot nodded at the farmer who was in shock. "Come along, Lily. We've some reading to catch up on." and walked away happily.

Elliot looked down at the puppy who ran awkwardly and not in a straight line. "It will bite if I try. Puppies are known for their needle like teeth."

"It's a puppy sir, not a dragon." Ipo snorted

Elliot frowned at the hare before moving to talk to Leo, realizing how close he was. "Yes, well in due time then, when I am sure it has a mild personality." But that didn't mean he was going to bend down and pet the thing. Holding it was enough for the prince, and he wouldn't hold it ever again, regardless of the fact he was forcing himself to refrain from chuckling at the fuzzy bundle of energy.

"So yay, to the library! What will we read there? Whatever Lily likes?"

"is myself as a child so interesting?" he chuckled. "But they are rich with history, I agree. But what could you possibly learn about me as a child?" And smiled at her. The question though made him think. "No, no you are so eager to read, perhaps I should wait outside then."

Ipo's ears perked. "I'll keep the puppy company outside! I don't much enjoy libraries anyway." And as the library came into view Ipo scooped up the puppy happily, nuzzling it happily before sitting on the steps. "You two enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you Ipo, we shall." And opened the door for Leo before entering as well.

"You could also ask those things as well. I will be on the second floor, I have some things I need to look into." Elliot kissed the corner of leo's mouth before exiting the room with the scrolls ad heading to the second floor. He needed to learn as much about Falia as he could, he did not want to enter the borders completely unknowing. Merely entering the isolated country was enough to cause a war his own country would no doubt lose, but he had faith. He truly did. The Falians could not be absolutely terrible, they had some grassland before the forest.

And they were there for the rest of the day, a guard having to come retrieve them and remind the prince it had closed a few hours ago, but only remained open because he had been there. The prince apologized, flustered and embarrassed, but the rest of the week proved to be the same, Elliot only once going to the poorer sides of town and playing his lute for children and adults alike, handing out simple coin. Ipo made sure to bring the puppy everywhere, and frightened Elliot awake with it, having his nose bitten by needle teeth.

But now they were in the carriage, Elliot sitting on his seat lengthwise, feet up to avoid having his boots nibbled on by the canine on the ground. He only entertained it by throwing pieces of meat on the ground. "So how did you enjoy Loslith? You seemed incredibly relaxed throughout the entire trip."

Elliot was glad, Leo had smiled so much. He might have possibly fallen more in love, oh the Prime Minister would love to hear that, wouldn't he? Leo had been so entrapped in the scrolls, moving backwards and foward in time with a childish glee, with a small smile, hair draped down his shoulders like a curtain. Elliot had more than once stayed hidden behind shelves like a schoolboy, watching the other read. "I knew you would. You love reading." He murmured, flipping the page of his paperwork. There was little else to read. "Yes I suppose we're halfway there." he knocked on the wall before standing up and opening the door, carriage still rolling and Henry once again swearing at the prince.

The carriage did stop and Elliot popped out. "We need a break, we've been driving nonstop for a while aside for breaks for the puppy. Time to stretch our legs."

Ipo cheered, stepping down from beside Henry, guards getting off their horses as well. "I must follow you two everywhere, I adore basking in the glow you both give off." And picked up Ludwig, holding the wriggling puppy. "How I do adore you both."

Elliot smiled at Leo. "No, I might agree. Think of it as a glow of happiness. You've been happy since we left Loslith. Yes, yes I will agree with Ipo. You're glowing and it's absolutely beautiful."

"You know what else is beautiful?" Ipo said, placing the puppy down and letting it bark and n** at Elliot's feet. "This tattoo right here."

"Ipo don't!"

But the hare was tapping and tracing and pressing at the tattoo curiously. "This has appeared every since you made the town rain. And the glow is of happiness and love, Elliot, get it right." But he paused, noticing the horror on his prince's face.

Elliot leaned forward to grab Leo, blood landing on him and the ground. "What have you done?" He said quietly, eyes wide in horror.

Ipo took a step back, arms close to his body and ears going limp. "I don't-"

"What did you do?!" He roared, feeling Leo drop out of his hands. Elliot moved to the ground quickly, knees landing in the blood soaked dirt. he hated this, Leo looked like a puppet on strings, forced into these positions. "Breathe, dear god please breathe." he exclaimed, wanting to hold him but afraid he would break. He was already in so much pain. "Leonard breathe! And why are you standing there?!" The prince yelled at the shocked hare. "Get help, Ipo! And you shut up!" He shouted at the yapping dog.

The teen nodded, wide gold eyes looking around the empty grassland. "Help, help." He took a few steps in every direction, panic filling his being much like the poison was to Leo. "Help!" he screamed, turning in a circle, trying to spot some help. All he spotted was the guards who were watching, unsure what was happening. "Guards! Help! Lily! Lily's! Help!" He cried, running over quickly. "Sh-She's bleeding from the mouth and convulsing!"

"Leonard! Leo please try to breathe!" Elliot didn't know what to do, covered in blood that was warm and making the fabric stick to his skin. "Don't move, please don't move. You'll get better, Ipo's getting help." he said softly, wide eyes analyzing the face. "No, no stop moving. Dammit why are you moving, Leonard de Lumine?" And held the cold hand to his face, gripping it tightly. "Why are you smiling? Leonard why are you smiling?!" He yelled before silencing, the cold lips on his own.

He could feel the small convulsions rippling through the thin frame, unwilling and unable to kiss back. "Leonard, Leo!" he shouted before pulling the limp body into his arms and holding it close. "Leo, Leo?" Elliot brushed the black hair from the nearly colorless face.

The guards ran up, but it was the Retian guard who fell to his knees. "My prince let me see."

"No, no he'll be fine."

"Give him to me!" He shouted, making the prince look up in shock, which in turn shocked the guards, especially Henry in the background. He looked like a child, holding his bloody mother in his arms and horrified at it. The guard did take Leo though and removed his own gloved, taking out a knife.

"What's that for?!" Elliot exclaimed.

Cutting his thumb and adding pressure to draw blood he placed it to the mark on the back of the other's neck.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Ipo whined, tears rolling down his cheeks as he paced, holding the tips of his ears down to his jawline, biting his lip. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

The guard quickly wrote and speaking while he did it. "এই বেশ্যা মালিক হিসাবে এতদ্দ্বারা আমি এই সীল এবং মুক্তি তাদের শাস্তি থেকে এই এক ফিরিয়ে আনা." Looking up eyes scanned before landing on Ipo. "bring water, all of it."

"He's moving!" The guard exclaimed.

"Leo! Oh dear god please Leo be alive." Elliot said, trying to gather him back from the Retian guard, failing. But the other seemed to be in pain, his hands were twitching. "Why isn't he breathing? He isn't breathing!" He demanded.

The guard held up his hand, speaking calmly, shifting the other until the back arched. "Give him time, his body was dying, it needs to fix itself and start over. Please remain calm, Prince Elliot."

And then the first gasps of air making Elliot look back down. "Oh my Leo, my Leonard." And the guard handed him over, Elliot cling to him tightly and giving a weak smile. "Said the pot to the kettle. Oh you are forgiven. Forgiven one million times over." And kissed the other happily.

"I have water! How is he? I'm so sorry! Lily I'm so sorry!" And collapsed beside the other, uncapping a canteen of water and holding it out to the bentien's lips. "I'm so sorry, i didn't know. I didn't know!"

"You're spilling!" Elliot snapped, taking it and holding it steady as Ipo continued to apologize and grovel, head on the dirt.