VI

"Your Majesty deserves everything good in the world. Who dares say Your Majesty doesn't deserve them?" Jasper asked with a frown.

"They don't have to say it. Their actions show it loud and clear. I've stopped trying to get involved with them since they made their opinion clear, but I really can't cut them off." Vincent explained.

"Who is this person, Your Majesty? I'll take care of it for you. No need to worry."

Vincent laughed cynically. "How on earth would you take care of it when the person I'm referring to is you?"

Jasper was stunned into silence. His expression a mixture of confusion and shock.

"You're my one and only true friend. Ever since the beginning. And yet you don't even consider me as anything. I'm sure you don't even consider our friendship a real thing. Everytime I bring it up you keep drawing that line. Making it clearer and clearer. Trying to prove to me that we can't and shouldn't ever mess up that line.

I don't know why you're so adamant. I only have you. And you know that. So I wonder what your stubbornness is based on." Vincent stated.

Jasper sat in silence for a few minutes, before deciding to speak.

"I like you." Jasper said with a fake smile. "Not as a friend or a loyal subject should. Not as family should. I like you romantically. Even though I know I shouldn't and it'll never work out. I still do."

Vincent remained quiet only blinking in shock at the man in front of him and wondering when and how that could have been possible.

"I made sure Your Majesty went on as many dates as possible. I tried everything so that Your Majesty can at least be free from this curse. At least you won't be stuck in this life of misery with me. You would never know that I like you and you can live a peaceful life.

Your Majesty, in many of our lifetimes, you were born a king or you somehow became a king and I, always, your loyal servant. If that isn't fate trying to tell us where our roles in life would be forever, then I don't know what else it could mean. You were forever born to lead and I was forever born to follow and serve you. I simply adore you. You don't know it, but my everything revolves around you. My life, my existence, my being, my work. It all revolves around you.

Your Majesty has never once been into my room because it's always locked. I won't keep it locked anymore. I'll leave it as it is so you can see just how deep my feelings run, then you can decide for yourself what you want to do with me. Your Majesty need not worry. I'll be leaving this evening. So you can have the house to yourself. I'll come back to move my stuff the day after tomorrow."

He paused, then continued, "Your Majesty should rest now. I'll tend to you for the last time before I stop. I'll go pack up the things I need now and come back to take care of you before I leave finally."

Jasper bowed lowly to Vincent before turning around and leaving.

Vincent watched him leave with an unblinking stare.

After Jasper had left, he blinked, once, twice, then closed his eyes turning everything Jasper had said over and over in his mind.

*

Jasper returned home the second day to see boxes packed and stacked up in the living room. He smiled a bitter smile, then sighed to himself.

Resigned to his fate, he went to his room, to check that nothing was missing, only to find it locked. He laughed bitterly. 'This is all my fault. If I'd never told him, I'd be able to at least be by his side till we died again. But I just had to ruin it all.' He thought to himself.

He stood back and turned around to leave.

"Jasper!" Vincent called from behind him. "Where are you going?"

Jasper looked back in confusion. "Didn't you already pack my stuff for me. I wanted to leave before I disgusted you further."

Vincent laughed. "Who said those were your stuff? You're so silly, jumping into conclusions at your age. Take a look and tell me which are yours so I'll remove them."

Jasper frowned but walked up to one of the boxes and opened it, expecting to see his things. Only for him to see the things he'd been pestering Vincent to give out or at least throw away for the past few years.

He stepped back with a "huh?", directing his confusion at Vincent.

"What're you playing at, Your Majesty. Didn't you want me gone?"

"Did you ever hear me say that or you assumed?" Vincent asked with a laugh.

"But you know how I feel about you, Your Majesty. Why wouldn't you want me gone?"

"Jasper, you're still my best friend, why would I want you gone?"

"That word again. Your Majesty, if you needed a friend, you could just go out and get one. I'm sure anyone would be more than happy to oblige."

"They're not you."

"Don't say stuff like that Your Majesty." Jasper's voice broke. "You-Y-You'll only play with my feelings."

"But it isn't a lie though and you know it's true." Then he became serious. "Stay. I moved your stuff to my room. The pictures are still in that room. I'll give you the key so we'd be the only ones going in and out of it. No one else needs to see it."

"You saw?"

"Yes."

"Everything?"

"Everything. All the paintings, pictures. You always went back to get them didn't you? Everytime we died, you went back after we were reborn to collect them from wherever you hid them. I don't mind. However you don't need to take the pictures in secret anymore. You could just tell me. I'd pose for you." Vincent said with a smile.

"Your Majesty. Why are you doing this to me? Why are you making me think I have a chance when even I know I don't. Stop playing with my feelings."

"I just want to try. I don't know why you like me of all people, but I'd like to give it a chance."

"I don't think I understand, Your Majesty."

"I'd like us to try dating."