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There was a knock at Harue’s door and for a moment she sat in quiet confusion. She was unaccustomed to having visitors in her room; who could it possibly be? One of her brothers? No… Both Ryo and Clint had been avoiding her ever since the wedding fiasco. Ryo was far too busy putting out metaphorical fires and Clint… Well, she was certain that Clint was very busy. It was not like him to just ignore her, so he surely had his reasons. She could be patient.

If it was not one of her brothers, could it be one of the young ladies she had escaped with during the Windurian attack? Admittedly that was a rather strange way to begin friendships, but she would be lying if she said she did not feel something of a bond with those ladies after their shared experience. It would be pleasant to have a chat with one or more of them.

The only other people she was really at all familiar with were Sir Michael and his sister. And it just simply went without saying that Michael was by far too much the gentleman to be knocking upon her door! And even if he was not, she was a lady who would not by any means allow any man but her brothers into her room while she was unaccompanied. Not even a man as fine as Sir Michael.

Harue had risen to her feet, brushed her hands over the skirt of her dress, and was about to call out to the person at her door when he spoke first. The moment her name reached her ears, Harue dropped her dignified demeanor and hurried to her door, her skirts lifted high to facilitate a little more speed. By the time Clint had finished speaking, Harue had reached the door and flung it open with a bright smile for her cowboy brother.

”Clint! Please, come in. Come in!” In her excitement, it only slowly occurred to Harue to respond to the things that Clint had actually said. She wrapped one of his rough, callous hands in both of her smaller, softer, gloved ones. ”I am sure that you had your reasons for spending some time away. Think nothing of it; you are here now and I am so pleased to see you.”

They had not spoken since Clint’s expletive laced objection at Ryo’s and Grace’s wedding. Harue had never heard so many profanities in her life, certainly not from her brothers, and it was quite jarring! And that was to say nothing of the harsh truths revealed about their parents. Or the… implications of his relations with the bride. But Clint had his reasons then, as well. Harue did not understand them, not entirely, but there was much she did not understand. She was only a silly girl.

Harue backed into her room, hoping to draw Clint with her. ”If you are ready to speak when I am, then I am ready. I have missed you. Should I have some refreshments brought to us?” In some ways it was even lonelier when her brother was so close than it was when he was far away at the ranch. They were close enough to hold hands, for Clint to pat her hair, wrap her up in one of his big, warm hugs, they were so close… Any distance was deliberate. He had his reasons, but a silly girl could not help being just a little hurt.

Clint stopped and Harue began to look up, expecting he would speak. She was much happier when he instead pulled her into one of the big hugs she had so missed first. Harue wrapped her small arms around her brother and pressed her cheek to his chest, her eyes briefly closed and the smile lingering on her lips. She was a sweet girl and so of course her brother would not forget her for long. She had just needed to be patient; everything was fine. She was certain Ryo would check in on her soon as well. She just had to be patient.

But then Clint was telling her that she was allowed to be angry. Perhaps he believed that she should be? That was a strange and almost frightening thought; Father had never allowed her to be angry. Even after he was… gone, Harue could not convince herself that it was acceptable for her to show any strong emotions, particularly negative ones. It was bad enough that she had shown such eagerness in opening the door for Clint, it was not entirely ladylike, but she really had missed him.

Her brother kissed her temple and drew back to see Harue’s still smiling face. She was taking his words under consideration, truly she was, but in truth she was still very happy to see him. His crashing the wedding had not changed that and neither had his absence. He had needed time to cool off and that was reason enough for her. Harue nodded and gestured to a chair. ”Please sit? I do want to talk for a while.”

Once Clint did sit, Harue would perch daintily in his lap. She was entirely too old for it, but he had assured her this was her show, as he had put it. If that was the case, then she would do what pleased her and it pleased her to be close to her brother. ”I am not angry. Even if perhaps I should be, I am not. I think… I think that I am a little glad. I spoke to Altagracia briefly before the ceremony; I had hoped to begin our bond as sisters…”

Harue hesitated, idly thumbing the black ribbon tied neatly around one wrist. ”She did not tell me everything. I do not fault her for that. But she did tell me that her marriage to our dear brother would be ideal for neither herself nor Ryo. She was gentle with me and tried to leave me with at least the hope that they could come to find some common ground, but I know that she did not believe it. To know that the only reason they were forced together was to cover mother’s crime must have been unbearable for you. Even knowing as little as I did, I wished that I could have done something. I did not dare to. I could do nothing. So I am a little glad that you did.”

It was a strange admission to make. Clint’s behavior had been unconscionable even for a man and brought shame to their family. And to think that he had lain with the bride before her wedding to his brother! Of course he had revealed that little fact with much more colorful language. Arguably the greater shame was the revelation that their mother was a murderess who had taken the life of her own husband, but all of it was quite shocking. But his confession had freed Ryo and Altagracia both and Harue dared to hope that they had a greater chance of happiness in the aftermath.

”It has been lonely knowing you are so close and still out of my reach. I will admit that much. I would have been pleased to see you, even if you were still angry. I am worried about you, Clint. You were so angry… more than just angry, I think. And I do not know how I can help, but I would very much like to if I can in any way. Or perhaps Altagracia? Ah, it is indelicate to ask, but you did say that I am allowed to have questions. So… are you still seeing Altagracia? Surely you can court her openly now. Perhaps the next wedding I attend will be yours?”

After all, it would be quite some time before her own wedding. She did not think that Michael had at all taken notice of her yet! It was really quite disappointing; she was certain she was following all of the prescribed flirtations. Her dresses were all in fashion and she had very shapely ankles, she had been assured. Perhaps she should style her hair differently? Would Clint tell her if she asked? Perhaps she would; surely another man would have some insight.

Harue was a young lady now and not a child, so it really was not proper for her to sit in her older brother’s lap at all. So if she was going to do this improper thing, she would try to do it as properly as she could. That was her thought initially, but it did not survive first contact with Clint. And Harue could not have been happier; in truth, she much preferred to be wrapped up in her brother’s arms than to sit stiffly and primly like a proper young lady.

The princess tried to piece through what she felt and warmed to the idea of Clint and Altagracia as a couple. Maybe she could have Altagracia as a sister after all? Or perhaps not; Harue blinked and looked up at Clint in surprise when he began to laugh. Had she said something amusing? She did not think so, but it still made her smile to hear that carefree sound coming from her absolute favorite cowboy. He deserved to feel happiness, if only briefly in this case.

Clint brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and gently took her chin; Harue could only continue to smile up at him with the faintest expression of puzzlement on her face. Really, what had she said? Was it so strange to think that he might marry a woman that he had… adult relations with?

Harue was not certain how to alleviate her confusion, but as it happened she had only needed to wait. Clint made it all very clear; he had lied. The princess opened her mouth, drew in a breath to speak, looked even more confused, and finally let that breath out slowly. He had lied? She did not understand.

Clint rested his forehead against hers as he continued to explain which was very much needed! Though in truth Harue almost wished that everything had been a lie; it was still difficult to come to terms with her mother killing her father. She was sure she would have had a much easier time coming to terms with her brother simply making it all up. Not a good thing by any means, but far less damaging to her personally.

”So the two of you only talked and kissed in reality.” Harue reiterated slowly, her mind working overtime to comprehend this new change in narrative. There was something deeper underlying it all, of course, but nothing as scandalous as she had been led to believe. It had taken her days to move past the indecency of it all, to convince herself that all should be well and rumors would be quieted if at least Clint and Altagracia married. But now what was she to think?

Harue did not want to admit it, but Clint was very much right about their brother. He was a man of duty and he would not have strayed from the path laid out for him just because his future wife’s heart could not be his. Harue’s gaze dropped as she considered her own future; she was not quite naive enough to think she was safe from a similar fate. And much like Ryo, she knew that she would not have disobeyed. But was that right? Their mother had murdered her own husband; should any of them entrust their futures to such a flawed woman?

”You may be right. There may not have been another option; it is difficult to imagine another objection that would have been even nearly as effective. But Altagracia must be feeling so humiliated! It was bad enough when I believed that she had at least committed the deed, but now…” Harue shook her head as the full horror of it crept upon her. She did not think she would be able to show her face again if someone lobbied that accusation against her; her would-be sister in law was a brave woman.

”I should speak to her. Offer some sort of apology? I know you were being a bit sarcastic, I do not think I could convince her to speak to you after that even if we were close, but I feel like I owe it to her to apologize. If only because I believed you; I never would have thought you capable of telling such a harmful lie.” Clint was like the hero in a novel to her, placed high on a pedestal for other men to aspire to. But perhaps that was her own fault; deep down she knew that her brothers were human and flawed like anyone else. She needed to stop being childish and building them up into icons in her head.

”You need to make this up to her, Clint. Gods help me, I don’t know how you could even begin, but you must. A woman is given little in life besides her maidenhead and her reputation and now the whole kingdom believes both to be soiled. Preventing that wedding was ultimately a kindness, but you found such a cruel way to do it. You understand that, don’t you? I do not even know what I would do in her shoes; what man could look at me as anything but sullied goods? If enough people believe a thing, it becomes its own truth.” Harue spoke softly and calmly, but her nerves were liable to spike through the roof. It was all she could do to keep her hands folded primly rather than to clench them tightly. She should not be lecturing her brother, or really any man. It was not at all like her to speak this way; even a male servant would be hard pressed to earn such a scolding. But Harue felt like the words had to be said or they might burn right through her throat; Altagracia had been wronged and she did not think it was good enough to just say that it was all for the best. Even if it was, in one sense only.

Harue was quiet as she listened and mulled over all that Clint had told her, chin dipped down slightly and hands primly folded in her lap. The truth was far less shocking than what he had said at the wedding, but it was still a very messy situation. Clint had said that he very much liked Altagracia, but there had always been the barrier of her engagement to Ryo. And what were Altagracia's feelings? She had kissed Clint, but what could Harue really intuit from that when she had been about to marry Ryo? Were adult feelings always this messy?

It was more complicated than she realized. Harue had insisted that Clint should apologize and make it up to Altagracia somehow, but he did not seem inclined to agree. Harue tried to give him a stern look, but it was more of a pout than anything and did not linger for long. It was never too early to worry about wrinkles, after all. But why wouldn’t he want to make amends with someone he had hurt, especially if he liked her?

At least that answer was pretty simple. And in a way he had already given it to her, but Harue had not at first realized it. While all of this was news to her, Ryo had known from the beginning. From the day after Clint had first kissed his intended, he had known and chose to do nothing. Altagracia had chosen to do nothing despite having no feelings for Ryo and no hope of developing any. Were the restraints upon them truly so great? Surely they had not been waiting and hoping for Clint to intervene? Honestly, that task never should have fallen to him. Harue frowned very faintly; it was the first time she had actually considered that thought.

Harue had begun fidgeting with her maiden ribbon again though she did not realize it until Clint took her hand in his. He was trying so hard to explain everything while still being gentle with her. For a moment, Harue felt guilty. She was still so young, sheltered, and naive even though she was trying to be so adult. If she really was a proper adult, Clint would be able to just speak his mind without worrying that she may not take it well.

”You are right. The world is not fair and there would be no point in apologising when you are not sorry. And I was wrong to believe that you should be. You have given them a gift; they no longer have to marry and neither of them had to lift a finger to free themselves. You did it for them and for no reward that I can see. If the only cost she has to pay is a smudge on her reputation, then perhaps her freedom was paid for rather cheaply on her end.” Harue still felt a little angry, but she realized it was not Clint she was angry with. Rather she was angry for him; a useless emotion when she could do nothing about any of this, but it still burned in her chest. In a story he would at least get the girl, but that was only fair and the world was not fair.

Harue took her hands from Clint’s and wrapped them around him, burying her face into his chest. ”It’s not fair.” She would allow herself this one, hopefully small, and muffled childish outburst. It wasn’t even a little bit fair! ”I’m sorry. I know I’m being childish. It’s just… it’s just… She kissed Clint, not David, so what does being a second prince have to do with anything? I don’t know what you two feel for each other, but you were always Clint. So why can’t she ‘stoop down’ if it’s for you? I’m sorry. I’m sorry; don’t answer that. I know; it’s not… it’s not some story. But I want you to be happy. I want you to get the girl and be happy, like the stories. It’s not fair.” Harue closed her eyes, but a few unbidden tears still leaked out.

”I’m sorry. Can you hold me for a while? I’m sorry. Nothing even happened to me, but it still hurts. And I know I can’t fix anything for you, even though you would fix anything for me. I wish I could be more adult about this. I am so sorry.”

Harue had been trying so hard to be more grown up. She was nineteen now, she was old enough to be married, she could not remain a child anymore. But all Clint had to do was tell her that she didn’t have to be an adult after all and Harue let go of all of that. Just like that she was just a sad little girl clinging to her big brother for comfort and wishing she could offer him the same. If she couldn’t be grown up about this, then Clint shouldn’t have to be, either. But who was going to hold him and let him cry?

Clint was rocking her gently and Harue let herself cry enough for the both of them. Maybe that wasn’t fair either; why should she get to cry if he couldn’t? But even if that was true, Harue didn’t think she could have stopped the tears from falling. She just wanted him to be happy. She wanted both of her brothers to be happy. That couldn’t be too much to ask; it just couldn’t.

The tears had slowed to just a sniffle here and there when Clint spoke up quietly, the words carrying a pain that Harue did not yet understand but she soon would. The truth was that she had of course noticed Altagracia spending copious amounts of time around her brother, but the intervening years had softened the edges of a few important details. In all honesty, back then she was far too naive and inattentive to even think of their friendship as a romantic one. But even if she had noticed Altagracia’s feelings, she would have assumed they were feelings for Clint. Not David.

”I forget, sometimes. Not everyone saw you the way that I did. Even I did not really understand the first time that you insisted that I call you Clint. I was confused, but decided it didn’t make a difference until I realized that it really does. The big brother that answered my mirror messages and told me what he could about his life at the stable was content. His life was hard, but he did not hate it. He was… at home in that life. So when you would return to us, but subdued and suppressed, I could not think of that person as you any longer. Prince David was just a mask that mother insisted you wear and an uncomfortable one at that. It was nice to be able to hug you and kiss your cheek as I always longed to, but those affections were always for Clint. So I forget that not everyone had the benefit of seeing you for who you are. Not everyone saw past the thin layer that was all that remained of David. It’s such a shame; I honestly very much prefer Clint. No one has ever loved me more fiercely than Clint, not even the boy that once was.”

But even if Prince David was no longer a real person to Harue, and truly Bubby was more of a real person to her than Prince David was, it didn’t change what Clint had said. The circumstance of his birth would follow him throughout the rest of his life; he could not just discard David and be completely embraced by the world as Clint. ”I know it does not fix anything, but you have been Clint to me for a very long time. Only Clint. And I love you so much.” More than it felt right to say; Clint had always been the measuring stick to which she compared every other man she had ever met and most had been found wanting. Titles were all well and good, but a title had never gladdened her heart the way Clint could by smiling in that way he had and calling her darlin’.

Or doing whatever silly thing he was doing with his nose just then. Harue giggled a little in spite of herself; it cheered her even when she thought she couldn’t stop feeling sad. ”I never doubted that you would. But after this, I never want you to have to. I know it would not be the same, but that is still how I feel. I am going to marry someone I love. And I… I just hope that Ryo will approve, or at least understand. But I will not let him get in my way the way that mother got in his.” Harue’s voice became quieter as she spoke; the truth was she was a little anxious to be making such a declaration. But she meant it, and with a man she had fallen for already in mind, there was nothing to stop her. She would be happy. And this time all Clint would have to do was watch!

”There is someone I… Well, he has not said anything, but… No, I should tell you when there is more to tell. Hopefully soon.”