Coughing up blood, Grey opens his eyes seeing himself in the middle of the woods.

They had been betrayed ambushed.

"I failed" he says looking in front of him seeing a woman whom he holds dear, Not because she was his lover, no. But because she was the one he was sworn to protect.

Grace Von Marsellie, The crown princess of the Empire. Her cheerfulness and beauty had always mesmerized Grey. As he would often accompany her to pick flowers and visit the country side due to his role as her Lord Protector.

A position within the Royal Guards that was designated for the sole purpose of the protection of the Royal family. But the Differences was that this position was a newly created one and was hereditary. Where the previous position was held by his father.

Looking back again at the woman, her dark hair had always seemed to shine under the bright sun. As if to show the world her beauty. But non of that matters now as she lay there unconscious and unmoving.

Grey used the last of his strength to get to her, having his legs wounded with cuts and arrows lodge into it he decided to crawl.

"My Lady" he said in between coughs, 'I don't have much time left, I must get to her'

And Grey was right, having both of his legs badly injured he had lost a huge amount of blood. Feeling what he thinks is his own blood Grey continuers on.

"Hold on my lady, I am coming" Grey muttered and groaned to himself. Eventually reaching her he was faced with a gruesome sight.

The blood that he had thought was his, was instead of the princesses. "No..no...no" Grey says to himself distraught and losing his mid.

Dragging himself right beside her and pulling her close to him. "My lady" He says brushing away the strands of her once beautiful hair which was now covered in thick blood making it darker.

Seeing her like this all Grey could do was hold her while crying. " I am sorry my lady" he croaked with tears streaming down his face. He places his hand on her neck, hoping to find a pulse.

And he did but it was a weak one. Grabbing a Tonic from his pouch, he quickly but gently tried to place it to her mouth. Only for a soft and gentle hand to stop his ever shaking one.

"Grey" Grace says opening her eyes and smiling. Her eyes shone bright Gold a color that was rare and unique in the kingdom symbolizing her as a member of the royal family, Despite the excruciating pain that she is going through she still manages to smile. Reassuring Grey thinking that she was fine. But this temporary pleasant break from his feeling of dread was short as he regains himself.

"My lady, please drink this" Grey says urging her to drink the Tonic only to be stopped by her gentle hands once again.

"My lady, why-" Grey says confused and shocked as to why she wouldn't take it.

"I am dying Grey, No Tonics, potions or magic could bring me back from this" Grace says, her voice Gentle soft despite her ragged breathing.

"But my lady it would surely help, It'll give the Knights enough time to reach us, saving you"

To which Grace replies "I am tired Grey" with a gentle smile that broke Greys heart.

He knew what she meant, She wanted to escape it all is what she often told him, to run away from her heavy burden and responsibilities. She never wanted to be born in the royal family and her responsibility for her country and people.

Although she indeed loved the Empire and cared for it's people she never wanted to have the responsibility of their lives and governing the country. Despite it being a selfish wish Grey understood what she meant.

All Grace wanted was to be free, free from the weight of the crown, the weight of producing an heir to the kingdom through a marriage with someone she doesn't love.

"No my lady please, you need to stay alive you aren't thinking straight" Grey says panic in his voice. He needed to save her. He needed her to live as it was his sole purpose in life to keep her safe.

"The Hero will come my lady, your fiancé will save you my lady"

Grace coughs violently scaring grey even more, prompting him to once again make her drink the Tonic. Grace then stops and looks at Grey and places her hand on his face. "Grey, I am sorry for doing this to you, you have served me faithfully and without question and for that I am thankful" Wiping away the tears coming from his eyes. "You must live your own life now Grey, a life without having to worry about me"

"But my lady...." Grey says cursing himself for what he is about to say. "You....you are my life" He finally says.

To which Grace smiles even more.

"You life is my sole purpose" Grey continues "my life, my goal and my reason to live, you may hate me my lady but I can't let you die like this beacause...."

His sentence was finished by Grace "I love you" she says leaning into his chest with.

"Y....Yes, My lady I know I shouldn't have let my feelings for you fester but I could not stop it, From the moment I met you I wanted to protect you, my duty or or not I would have done it without thinking"

"I know Grey" Graces replies caressing his face "I felt it too, when I said I wanted to run away, I wanted to do it with you, Because I too love you, you were there when no one else was, Held me when I cried at knight and kept me company when i felt alone" Grace says, placing her hand on his neck.

"I love you to Grey" To which Grace pulls Grey's head down to kiss him.

It was a long and passionate kiss that startled Grey but soon embraced it. Wanting it to last forever. This feeling, this moment was what he had wanted and longed for his whole life. It was everything the two wanted, their feelings, their love and thoughts about each other had poured out in that one passionate kiss.

Pulling away the both of them could still taste each other in that kiss. A lingering feeling that left unchecked would make them kiss again.

"Grey" Graces says looking him the eyes.

"Yes My la-, Grace" Grey says stopping himself. Formalities were now useless as he wanted her know know that he loved her.

"Don't ever stop being yourself, Always be the same you, the same person I loved, My Grey" She says smiling once more only to stop breathing.

Grey was unmoving and unfeeling at that moment. Part of the fact was that Grace as he knew her was now gone and her smile was the only thing that remained. It was a sight he both loved and hated. Loved because it was Grace's smile, the one she shows when she is truly happy. Hated because it was the last time he would ever see her smile. The perfect smile that would always give him butterflies and the courage to tell her he loved her but always held himself back.

It was then that Grey let it all out, a scream. Filled with pain, hatred, anger and lose. But also filled with love, sorrow and emptiness.

Clutching her tightly and caressing her face he sat there motionless. As if the two had become a statue.

The world had stopped as if seeing such a moment and display of pain and lose prompting everyone in the world to stop for some reason feeling the sadness that Grey is feeling. All of them crying bewildered but they had all let it out.

Sitting there in the forest with the woman that he had loved and cherished Grey breathed is last while holding Grace.

The world had seen his plight, heard his cries, and the World answered.