On The Way Back...

With the completion of their studies abroad, Prince Bruno and Princess Brunia were expected to return the Granzreich kingdom within five days. They both received several accolades for their immense contributions for their respective fields, but unfortunately, they weren't returning home on good terms as one can reminisce.

Princess Brunia and her royal guard Oliver met up with Prince Bruno and his royal guard Ludwig and departed for Granzreich without uttering a single word to each other in the royal railways. The train had massive accommodations, so the four of them occupied their personal chambers. However, the most peculiar attribute about the vehicle was that it possessed only one bathroom. So everyone had to wait for their respective turns whenever they required to prepare themselves for a tranquil twilight. Both the royal guards concluded their effectiveness with the restroom and Prince Bruno and Princess Brunia were last in line. Bruno was unusually taking a lot of time in the washroom. Brunia allocated 30 minutes anticipating for her turn; she turned anxious and cracked the door to ascertain Bruno collapsed on the toilet floor!

Brunia rushed by his side to find his head burning hot as a result of a warm temperature generating within his body. Bruno gestured towards the toilet pot with whatever strength he had left within him. Brunia comprehended his need and moved him towards the the toilet seat for him to throw up!

Brunia stroked his brown hair and reassured him, "It's alright. It's competent to remove the poison out of your gullet. You will be fine, Bruno." Brunia called out, "OLIVER! LUDWIG! SOMEBODY CALL THE DOCTOR!" The royal guards came bounding and followed the Princess' instructions. However, predestinately, no physician was available in the middle of the night.

Brunia was a biology student and was well versed in the therapeutic and pharmaceutical background. Also, she had happened to carry the required medications demonstrating that she was well prepared for the trip. She reassured the guards that she will take care of the matter at hand and that they both can go back to slumber in their respective compartments.

Brunia carried the Prince to his chambers and placed him on his bed, and stated huffingly, "Wow, you're really troublesome! Have you augmented your weight?!" Bruno couldn't help but gawk at her with his cheeks growing red due to his high body temperature. Brunia exited the room for a brief while and came back with a backpack in her hands. She removed the required medicines and gave him the imperative dosage.

Brunia spoke, "You're down with a nasty cold, Prince! Wait a moment I will go get a quick yet relaxing remedy for diminishing your rising body temperature." She brought in a small mug of cold water and a handkerchief; soaking the cloth in the chilly, freshwater, she placed the rag on his head thus bringing a sense of relief and peace within him.

Bruno asked softly, "Why are you doing this, even after considering our fight in the hotel a month ago?"

Brunia answered, "Of course I had to help, anyone would have done the same if a person suddenly collapsed in the washroom!"

Bruno whimpered, "Oh, so you really do hate me then? But I--" Brunia calmly shushed him and removed a Vicks vaporub from her backpack.

She paused when she looked at the Prince, waiting for his consent, and stammered, "Actually umm... t-this is umm... supposed to umm... help you with your umm... cold, so will you mind if I umm... well... you know umm..."

Bruno smiled and unbuttoned his shirt without a word and gazed into Brunia's eyes. Brunia was spellbound at the sight of it, and as a response, Bruno spoke, "Not a problem, if it's too much for you, I will do it."

Brunia responded, "No, no! I never really imagined that I had to do this for someone. But don't worry, I have never abandoned a task before."

She dipped her hands inside the container to take out some of the ointment and then slowly placed it on the Prince's flat, bare and incandescent chest; rubbing the medication across the area. Brunia asked, "Is it okay? Do you want me to stop?"

Bruno put on a genuine smile and responded, "No, not really. Is it strange that I don't want this to end?"

Brunia spoke with all the courage she could muster up in her sleeve, "Bruno, I'm incredibly sorry for the way how I took such a trifling matter so far and assumed things about you. I don't know what I was thinking; maybe I wasn't! Because if I were I wouldn't be so absurd, and--"

Bruno placed a finger on her lips, thus interrupting her by saying, "I LOVE YOU TOO."

Brunia was spellbound at the sound of that, whereas Bruno continued, "From that day you yelled at me, I was wondering if you also felt the same way about me. I have been searching for that feeling for 16 years; unfortunately, I never found it. But all that changed when I met you." He then interlaced his hands with the Princess as he revealed, "Brunia, I don't think you were wrong about Sennett. You're right! She did make a move on me, and I was unaware of it." Brunia didn't let go of his hand; instead, she merely sat quietly and listened.

She then stated, "Bruno, you mustn't take on so much workload! You get stressed, and then this condition befalls you. Ludwig informed me that this isn't the first time that you fell ill on a trip."

Bruno confessed, "Truth be told, I had to labor over the whole cultural report all by myself. Sennett suddenly abandoned the whole workload on me and ran away to her kingdom. Do you still want to know what I said to her?"

Brunia answered, "There's no need for that. If you said yes, you wouldn't be here right now, would you?"

Bruno posed a question, "About the bonding assignment... weren't we supposed to get along just as friends... and not like.. umm... you know?"

Brunia replied, "We can just say that we have made a lot of progress on that front, right? It isn't a lie. It's just in a different way... I guarantee you that no one will ask you about your feelings towards me. Even if they do, act normally." Bruno smiled as a response, and the Princess affirmed, "You need your rest, my Prince. You need to get better before we reach Wiener. Goodnight, Prince Bruno; sweet dreams." She kissed his cheek and advanced towards the door until Bruno beckoned her.

Bruno asked, "Brunia? What are we?"

Brunia grinned and answered, "Whatever you may want us to be."

Bruno inquired, "You mean that I'm your boyfriend, and you are my girlfriend?"

Brunia smiled and replied, "I don't mind being called that."

Bruno spoke, "So it is then! Goodnight. And thank you for taking care of me..."

Brunia answered, "You're very welcome."