"At last! Freedom!"

That thought was accompanied by a wide grin as Oz picked up his pace, too happy to care about the 'no running in the hallway' rule (not that he ever really cared about it in the first place, much to Mrs. Kate's utter displeasure). He had been skipping many lessons lately, so the infuriated governess thought enough was enough and reported the young heir's behaviour to his Uncle. Now, Oz knew that his Uncle wouldn't actually punish him or anything, but he also knew better than to disobey any of his orders when he actually did become strict enough to issue them. And his order had been for Oz to make up for every single one of the missed lessons that Mrs. Kate could recall...

…which was, unfortunately, a lot.

So, he now had an extra hour of lessons every day. And goodness, Oz simply couldn't put into words how boring it was. Yet somehow he managed to persevere, because every cloud had a silver lining and in this case, it was Gilbert. The young servant boy took it upon himself to finish off as many of his evening duties as he could during that one hour simply so that he was free for Oz, who would be even more restless for mischief than usual and would thus spend the rest of the day doing whatever he wished as per his Uncle's permission – with Gilbert by his side, of course.

And that was why Oz was currently dashing down the hall, eager to get started with his free time with Gil as soon as possible. On the way to his bedroom, however, was his Uncle's study, so Oz instinctively reduced his pace from a jog to a brisk walk when he neared it, wary of getting caught. But as Oz actually crossed it, he heard the unmistakable sound of Gilbert's voice and came to a complete halt just outside the door.

"I-I'm not sure yet, to be honest..."

"Why is Gil with Uncle Oscar?" was the first thought that came to mind, followed by, "And what're they talking about, I wonder?" As it was highly unusual for his valet to see his Uncle, Oz quietly leaned closer to the door that was slightly ajar to listen better, being mindful to stay out of the way of the gap.

"Worry not. I can take you to town later and you can have a look around. As for now, I'll see what I can do for you. It's best if you start with something simple, and something that you're used to."

"...What?"

"Like what?"

"Hmm... Now that I think about it, you've never really done any specialised work. Oh, perhaps you could be Ada's valet too?"

"WHAT?!"

"U-um... Th-that's a bit..."

Gilbert's timid voice was instantly drowned out by Uncle Oscar's amused chuckle. "I was just joking. Tell you what; I'll discuss this matter with Mrs. Kate. She'll be the best person to find something for you to do."

"Wha... What's going on here...?"

"Alright."

"Oh, Oz should be done with his classes by now. He's probably looking for you."

At the mention of his name, Oz subconsciously held his breath and took a step back from the door, but didn't leave just yet.

"...Will this really work, Oscar-sama?"

"Hm?"

"I mean... Will I... Will Oz...?"

"Will I what?"

"I don't see why he won't. And don't worry, it's a good thing you came to me in time."

"Oscar-sama, I... I don't want to tell Oz about this... Not yet at least. I hope you understand..."

"Gil, you..."

"Don't worry, Gilbert. I'll keep it from him. But I'm sure I don't need to warn you; he's a sharp boy. It won't be surprising if he notices."

"Uncle, you too...?"

"...There's nothing I can do about that except deal with it when it happens..."

"Gil..."

And at that point Oz could take no more.

One step at a time, he slowly inched away from the door with a look of pure disbelief as the implications of all that he had heard slowly sank in.

"No... It can't be..."

Clenching his trembling hands into tight fists, Oz turned away from the door and slowly continued making his way back to his room.

"It can't be..."

The thought spiralled around in his mind over and over again causing Oz's anxiety to grow and along with it, his pace. It wasn't long until he was practically sprinting down the hallway, desperate for the privacy of his room where there was no danger of anyone seeing his unusually distressed state.

"It can't be!"

With his heart hammering in his chest from both shock and exhaustion, Oz made a beeline for his bed and collapsed onto his back. He simply laid there with his arm over his eyes, taking time to regain his breath as his mind replayed the conversation between his Uncle and Gil again and again, not fully believing what he had just heard.

From what he could tell, it sounded almost as though... As though they were discussing finding a new job for Gilbert.

And that was simply unbelievable. Unthinkable.

It had greatly horrified Oz, he recalled, when his Uncle had suggested Gil to become Ada's valet. Did she even need one?! And anyway, Mrs. Kate generally tended to all his sister's needs. But then an even scarier though followed soon after. His Uncle had mentioned something about going to town... If they were indeed talking about getting a new job for Gil, did that mean that it didn't have to be limited to within this mansion? Any job was fine...?

That was impossible... right?

Because Gil was useless! He couldn't possibly get another job, and in town of all the places.

That's right, he was utterly useless... The only thing he was good at was serving Oz... Being by his side... Being his friend...

"Gil..."

...Just being here was enough. Just being by Oz's side was enough. It was a job only he could do. It was a place that no one but Gil could take...

But... Did Gil not want that? It certainly seemed that way after that conversation. But Oz had honestly never seen it coming. Gil always acted so content by his side. So happy. Whenever his servant would openly profess his gratitude and contentment towards Oz during the rare moments when he would abandon all reservations, the latter always believed – truly believed – that Gil really meant all that he said after seeing those genuine smiles that would always follow such declarations.

Yet earlier he had asked his Uncle not to tell Oz about all that they had talked about. Why? Why on earth would he-?

...Oh...

Could it be that this whole time – right now even – Gilbert was simply...

Being polite?

After all, Gil had technically been forced into working for Oz. It was true that the little raven-haired boy didn't really have a choice that time, nor did Oz have much of a say in the matter either; he had been too young to make decisions like that. But surely no one in the world was glad with serving another individual, right?

So perhaps Gilbert had simply kept quiet about it all this time. It was an undeniable fact that the boy was awfully shy and a bit self-conscious, so he would never speak his mind out unless asked (or rather, forced) to. Therefore, admitting something like dissatisfaction with being a servant, even if asked, was completely out of the question.

When Oz thought about it like that, it made sense if his servant wanted to move on. No one could stay quiet forever, after all, so perhaps Gil had privately approached Uncle Oscar about it to avoid hurting his master's feelings. Gilbert had done more than enough services over the past four years or so to thank the Vessaliuses for saving him, and that was a long time. It made sense if Gilbert was sick of him by now...

"...Why am I getting so worked up over it anyway...?"

Oz had always steeled himself against things like attachment. After his father had openly rejected him, it became a skill that he heavily depended on for survival in this ever-changing world where people came and went. Even Gilbert was no exception... Oz would admit that yes, he had grown very fond, and perhaps too attached to his loyal servant, but he had always kept his last line of defence standing.

And that was indifference to the boy's loyalty.

Gilbert never, ever hesitated to speak his heart out once he gained the courage to do so. But not once had Oz properly told Gilbert just how glad he was to have met him, how grateful he was for having such a loyal servant and caring friend enter his life, how much his presence had brightened his otherwise blank life, or even...

'It's true that we can't know what tomorrow may bring. But, Young Master, whatever may happen, I will always be by your side. I know of the darkness that you carry. And you know of the weakness I carry. We're not connected by a part of Light, but by a part of Darkness. That's why, no matter how much time may pass, even if our circumstances were to change, I shall remain as your loyal servant forever.'

'I... don't believe in "forever".'

'Right, I know that. But... It's alright to have at least one of those, don't you think?'

...Or even the fact that he had actually put some faith in that forever.

...Was it all a lie...?

'Well, one's peaceful everyday life can be easily broken, right? That's why, whatever may happen, whoever may betray me, I'll accept it. That's all there is to it.'

Oz couldn't help but smile sardonically when he recalled those words he said that day. That scenario was practically happening right now, and his faith should have shattered by now.

Yet... Why? Why wasn't it happening? Why could he not bring himself to accept all this when he should have been able to?

...The answer was that he knew exactly why. But he simply didn't want to acknowledge it... And he had never expected something like this from Gil to begin with. He could never picture a day when his servant simply wasn't there. At some point, it became unimaginable. Unthinkable.

All of a sudden there was a hesitant knock on the door that dragged Oz out of his thoughts, followed by a timid, "It's me, Young Master. May I come in?"

Great. Just the person who he wanted and didn't want to see the most right now. Well, it's not like Oz could actually say no. Firstly, he could never really bring himself to say no simply because it was Gil. And secondly, it would be far too suspicious – considering the earlier development – if he did.

There would be time to ponder later. For now, just act natural.

He propped himself up with both arms stretched out behind him, palms flat against the mattress while shifting his legs to hang over the edge of the bed. "Come in~!" called Oz with a cheery lilt present in his voice.

Just put on your mask.

Gilbert entered the room looking clearly apprehensive, and somehow Oz was able to understand why even before he said what he did next.

"I went to the study by Mrs. Kate said you already left..."

"Ah, that's right! I came straight here thinking you'd be here as well, but when you weren't I knew you'd find me anyway, so I thought I'd laze around a bit~"

That instantaneous lie had been so perfect in its delivery that Gilbert visibly relaxed while sighing, before looking up suddenly and asking, "Are you tired, Young Master? Shall I prepare some tea for you?"

Oz shook his head and beamed. "No, not tired. And you can prepare tea later, it's finally free time!"

Gilbert smiled warmly upon seeing his treasured master so cheery. Admittedly, he himself was in a fairly good mood after the positive outcome from a conversation he had with Uncle Oscar earlier... Not that Oz would know, though.

"Indeed it is. Shall we play a game then, Young Master?"

He knew very well that games generally never went well for him since it always somehow ended with him becoming subject to Oz's sadistic tricks and teasing. But after that conversation, this strange rush of warmth and excitement at the thought of what he would eventually do had to be expended somehow, so Gilbert decided to channel that energy into spending time with the one person who he was doing it all for.

Earlier Oz's thoughts couldn't have been more desolate. When he heard his servant knock, he wondered if he would really be able to keep his mask in place during the whole time they'd be together. Yet just now, when Gilbert had smiled like that, it was as though the conversation was already long forgotten and Oz's own smile began to feel more real as he began to conjure ideas of how they should spend their free time. But when Oz was about to excitedly ask his servant what they should play, a though suddenly occurred to him, shattering his momentary bliss.

"Why would Gil decide to leave?"

Was it because Oz was simply too much to handle? Was Gil sick of getting dragged around into Oz's games?

Oz's smile dropped by a fraction and he averted his gaze. "...Actually, let's not."

Gilbert blinked. "Eh?"

And then he gaped. "...EEEH?!"

Oz? Not up for a game?

Absolutely unheard of.

"M-Master, what's wrong?" asked Gilbert, his voice dripping with worry. "Are you sure you're not tired? Or are you unwell, perhaps?"

Before the blonde could even respond, Gilbert was already by Oz's bed in three swift strides. He leaned over, balancing himself with his right knee on the mattress beside Oz's thigh and his left hand next to his hip, before pressing his right hand across his master's forehead. It was only then when Oz registered the other's proximity and his eyes widened in alarm. Yet Gilbert did not move, far too focused on checking Oz's temperature to notice.

"...Just a bit warm..." mumbled Gilbert, before removing his hand. "But not enough to be a fever. Still, you do look a bit pale, Young Master," he commented, gazing down at Oz with concern in his eyes.

Oz then focused on what exactly he had just said and panicked for a moment, realising that it was indeed quite strange of him to deny a game when he was always the one insisting for them.

"A-ah, yeah... Actually, I am a bit tired now that I think about it. But I'm fine, really! Just... just tired. Looks like those extra lessons are finally taking their toll on me!" explained Oz with a forced laugh. He knew that he was pretty much contradicting himself now but he had no choice but to hope that Gilbert would overlook it as Oz not thinking straight from exhaustion. "You know what, I think I'm going to take a nap," he quickly added. Then he made to sit up fully, but upon realising that Gilbert was still hovering above him, he couldn't stop the faint blush that dusted his cheeks.

Oz cleared his throat shyly. "U-um..."

For a moment Gilbert stared at Oz, who was looking up at him expectantly. And then it hit him.

He recoiled back with a cry of surprise and began spluttering apologies, bowing his head to hide his burning red face from sight. It didn't really help much though; Oz could still see it and that, in turn, simply made his own facial complexion darken even more when he realised that Gil had probably been thinking the same implications as him.

"I-it's alright, really," said Oz as he stood up, and after taking a moment to recompose himself, he gently ushered Gilbert towards the door with a smile. "Anyway, don't just go sit in some corner of the library and stare at clouds to pass time. You're free to do anything you want while I sleep, okay?"

"O-okay..." answered the slightly perplexed servant as he allowed Oz to guide him to the door, before opening it himself. Then he turned back to Oz who was beaming at him as usual. Gilbert regarded him for a moment, before releasing a soft sigh.

"Rest well, Young Master," said Gilbert at last, returning Oz's smile with his own, smaller one.

And with that he quietly closed the door behind him, immediately after which Oz's smile faltered. But it did not drop just yet.

He stayed at the door and listened because it seemed as though Gilbert was still there. But after a minute or so Oz finally heard the sound of receding footsteps, which was when he allowed his smile to drop with a sigh, and made to lie down on his bed again.

Oz had stressed on the 'anything' earlier so that his servant shouldn't feel restricted in any way. But there was one important thing he wished he could've added.

"But... Please don't leave me while I'm not looking."

~ ...Three Days Later... ~

Gilbert, Oz and Uncle Oscar were currently in a cosy little cafe in town, enjoying a light lunch. Earlier that morning, Oscar had surprised the boys by announcing that he would be taking them out to town as a treat. His given reason was simply because even he got bored of being in the mansion all the time, and he was free today anyway. Yet all three of them knew there was far more to it than that.

Oscar was actually fulfilling his promise to Gilbert from three days ago, and the latter was well aware of it. But when he wondered why they were bringing Oz along, Oscar explained that yes, there was the disadvantage that Gilbert couldn't openly consult him for any ideas nor could he be too obvious with his search, but it would look awfully strange if they had left Oz behind and since being sneaky would only make matters more complicated if they were caught, it was best to take Oz with them. Besides, he really did wish for his nephew to have a breather as he was always cooped up at home. Gilbert had instantly felt great shame for even thinking that they could leave his master behind after hearing that, and said no more.

Oz, on his part, had obviously figured out the real reason for this trip to town after overhearing his Uncle's promise to Gil, and he was aware that they brought him with them so as to not make him feel left out. But little did he know of Oscar's true intent and Gil's real motives...

The young Vessalius heir never got many chances to leave the mansion, so whenever he did he always made sure to enjoy himself to the fullest. But this time, no matter how much he tried to, he couldn't shake off the constant feeling of dread. That conversation had been haunting him day and night, though he expertly hid any signs of it. He did his level best to ignore it, yet the thoughts crept into his mind regardless making him feel as though the more he pondered over it, the closer he was coming to acknowledging a startling realisation that he so desperately wanted to avoid out of fear that it would tear down his final line of defence.

"Is something wrong, Young Master?"

Oz snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at Gil. "Hm?"

"That's right; you've been awfully quiet this whole time. Did you not feel like going today?" queried his Uncle.

Oz mentally cursed himself for forgetting to act natural, so, with an automatic smile he said, "No, I'm really glad to be here, Uncle; thank you for taking us out today. I was simply thinking about where we should go next."

So far they had simply roamed various different types of shops for a bit, yet they had not bought anything. Oz scanned all the surrounding shops from his seat by the cafe's window until one in particular caught his attention.

"Let's go to the bookstore!" suggested Oz, turning to his Uncle and Gil. "I want to see if they have any new titles."

"That's a great idea, Young Master!"

"Alright, it's settled then. Finish your food while I go pay the bill, boys."

Gilbert and Oz did as they were told, after which the trio left the cafe and headed for the bookshop that Oz had spotted a few shops down across the street.

Ding!

"Welcome!"

Oz closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose before exhaling with a smile of satisfaction. There was a certain charm about bookstores that never failed to draw him in. The dim lighting, combined with the rows and rows of bookshelves, some of which were lined with antique leather-covered books that gave the shop a soft feel due to their warm brown hues, the mysterious scent of aged books, and the feeling of opening the cover, turning the crisp pages and simply discovering a new world... He loved it.

The young Vessalius heir automatically grabbed his servant's hand and dragged him through each and every aisle, showing him all sorts of different titles excitedly. Oz asked Gil for his opinion on each one after they scanned its summary, teased him with the more romantic ones and even snuck a peak at the more adult section of the store (much to Gil's utter embarrassment) when Oscar was busy elsewhere.

At some point the boys split up when Oz suggested they take the time to choose some books at their own pace. This went on for some time, but eventually Oz was satisfied with his finds and was about to move onto another section of the store when he spotted Gilbert and his Uncle talking in hushed tones, making him stop in his tracks. The sight stung a bit not only because of what happened three days ago, but because of the thought that followed.

"Does Gil want to work here...?"

He couldn't actually be thinking to do so, could he? That... that was insane! Yet, at the same time, it did seem highly possible... This was a big bookstore, but the only one managing it was the elderly store owner. Having a young, helping hand around the store wasn't really a bad thing. Plus, it would be kind of fun to watch – Oz thought with a smile – seeing little Gilbert in an apron to keep his clothes dust-free, timidly greeting the customers or scurrying around the store to fetch a book, and maybe he'd trip over a box or lose his footing on a ladder, but Oz would be there, ready to catch-

Oz's smile dropped.

No... He wouldn't be there.

He really hoped that his Uncle would let him leave the mansion more often if it ever came down to it.

That is, if Gilbert even wanted to see him.

Oz continued with his search and eventually the three of them regrouped at the store's entrance, after which they left once their purchases were paid for. Next they came across a fancy clothes shop which Oz did not hesitate to enter and dress his servant up in over-sized coats and silly hats, seeming to have forgotten about his earlier worries. This time they didn't buy anything and after leaving the shop they stopped by a nearby park for a break, which didn't last long for the boys because Oz insisted that Gilbert play tag with him while Uncle Oscar was engrossed in his new book.

Almost an hour later said Uncle finally looked up to see his nephew and his servant sitting back-to-back on the grass with flushed faces and bright grins of humour, breathing heavily as they tried to regain their breath. That was when, with a fond smile, he suggested they have some tea before heading back.

On their way home, conversation was scarce but the silence was content. The day had truly been a good one despite Oz's previous gloomy mood, but once they neared the mansion he was reminded of it again. At that point he vaguely noticed how he always seemed to forget his worries whenever he was around Gil, which only served to taint his otherwise fairly good mood. Apart from that little scene in the bookshop, Uncle Oscar and Gil hadn't acted in any strange way for the rest of the day. Though... now that Oz thought about it, there had been one instance where Gil suddenly stopped in front of a small store selling antique trinkets and ornaments when they were about to leave the town square. He gazed at all the display pieces for a long time, but when asked about it, his simply shook his head and insisted they continued.

Strange...

When they returned home, Gilbert and Uncle Oscar continued to act normal. They had dinner, and then Gilbert served Oz tea in his bedroom before helping his master get ready for bed. All seemed unusually well, Oz thought as he was about to doze off, but then he heard the very faint creak of a door which, in the silence of the night, sent a jolt through his mind, awakening him in an instant.

He sat up and quietly approached his door to listen carefully for any footsteps, which there were. So, Oz waited for them to recede before slipping out of his own room and following, knowing with a sinking feeling, just who it was and where they were going.

As predicted, he ended up outside his Uncle's study.

"Hm? Is that you Gilbert? What's wrong?"

"U-um, I'm very sorry for bothering you at this hour but I just wanted to thank you for today since I didn't really get the chance to."

"No problem, no problem! So, did you find anything?"

Oz stiffened.

"Well... T-to be honest I'm still a bit confused, but at least now I have some idea."

"I see... Oh, I just remembered. I think this will help you with your problem too."

"What?"

"Mrs. Kate has found some things you can do."

"Mrs. Kate... How could you?!"

"Really?"

"Yes. And one of them was helping restock the mansion's pantry. Usually, at the end of the week, two servants are sent to town to do this. There's generally a rotation so that it's not always the same two, but we can make you an exception if you'd like. It's a simple task, plus you can have a more thorough look around in town while you're at it. It's killing two birds with one stone, don't you think?"

"It's exactly as you say, Oscar-sama. So please allow me to do this task!"

"Not a problem. I'll inform Mrs. Kate. She'll also fill you in on the other tasks as well. Individually they're not a lot since you have to serve Oz as well, but considering you have to do that as well, it should all work out."

"I understand. Thank you very much, Oscar-sama!"

"And Gilbert?"

"Yes?"

"...Are you sure you want to go through all this? You really don't have to, you know. I don't want you to be overburdened."

"I know it will be difficult, but... Regardless, I still wish to. It's like I said last time."

"Your determination is admirable as always, Gilbert... Alright, if that is what you wish, I won't try to stop you again."

At that point Oz realised that the conversation had come to an end, so swiftly but silently, he went back to his room. As he lay there alone with his thoughts like last time, he contemplated over what he heard. From what he could tell, Gilbert still wasn't sure about outside work, which was good. Oz still wasn't happy about how his servant was going to be busier from now on, but at the very least Gil would still be in the mansion, and that was better than not being there at all.

But it was probably temporary. His Uncle had given Gil a route to town, which probably meant that his ultimate goal was to leave this place.

The question was... Would Oz let him?

Would he able to let Gilbert go, if the time came?

...He didn't know.

~ ...One Month Later... ~

Gilbert was currently out on his regular supply-stocking trip to town, waiting for his partner who was currently at the butchers'. This part of the trip always took the longest, not that he minded because it gave him the opportunity to roam around a bit and ponder. Over the past month he had received quite a lot of tasks and although balancing them and his valet duties became tiring at times, Gilbert wouldn't complain. After all, he was doing all this for his precious master and best friend.

Oz's birthday was only two weeks away and this year, Gilbert had resolved to buy him a present. During the four years that he had been with Oz, the only thing that Gilbert ever had to offer on that special day was his presence and services. Oz always claimed that just spending time with the people he cared about was more than enough which was the most beautiful statement he had ever heard, but it was also a painful one... because there was always one person whom he could never spend time with.

Gilbert had come to notice something over the years. At first it was merely an observation but it gained significance when Uncle Oscar had verified it one day. That observation was that Oz seemed to become more subdued once December arrived. The reason, which Gilbert eventually learned, was because his father would never come home for the holidays – and for Oz's birthday. Due to that Oz would simply lose the spirit of celebration altogether. He would shy away from attention, thinking that he was a bother. He would always say it was alright with a smile when no news of his father's arrival came, when the truth was that he was actually hurting on the inside. And he would always silently blame it all on himself, thinking that he wasn't worth receiving affection.

But he was wrong. So very wrong. And Gilbert was always doing his level best to make Oz realise that fact through whatever means he could.

Then some time ago, before their trip one month ago even, Oscar had taken Gilbert and Oz to town; something he would often do to let his nephew enjoy a change of environment whenever he was free from his duties as a Duke. It was then when Gilbert was inspired with the idea to buy Oz a present. But there was only one problem...

Because of his circumstances, Gilbert did not get paid for being a servant. He didn't mind the slightest, because it's not as though he should have. He had no parents, and his home was right here with the Vessaliuses. That alone was a great blessing, but he even had the great honour of being Oz's personal valet and best friend. Nothing could and would ever outweigh that.

Yet... After seeing the item that caught his eye that day, the idea just wouldn't leave him alone. And that was when he decided to consult Uncle Oscar one night.

"...And that's why I've come to you, Oscar-sama."

Uncle Oscar set down his cup of tea and leaned back on his chair. "Hmm, I understand. Not a problem! Just tell me what you would like to buy and I'll have it arranged."

"N-no! That's... That's not what I meant..."

"Oh?"

"I... I couldn't possibly ask for such a favour! B-but..." Gilbert averted his gaze, unsure of what to say next. Indeed, it was wrong for him to accept such a thing. But at the same time... At some point he had realised what other alternative he had, but he couldn't bring himself to suggest it, afraid of Uncle Oscar's reaction.

Oscar regarded the young servant for a while until realisation hit him, making him smile in amusement. "...Aah, I see~ So, our little Gilbert has finally grown up and wants to be paid, eh? Oh, I never thought I'd see the day."

Gilbert's head snapped back up towards the elder man in panic. "Th-that's not-!"

"Relax! I was simply teasing. But if it's an alternative you're looking for, that's the one."

"U-um, please don't get me wrong, I don't mean for this to be permanent at all. Only until Oz's birthday..."

"Don't worry, Gilbert. I understand."

The young servant released a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Oscar-sama."

"But you know; I really am quite surprised. Your dedication towards Oz is truly admirable, and I'm proud of how you're choosing to tackle this problem... But there really is no need to push yourself. It's not as big of an issue for me as you might be thinking it is."

"I am grateful for your concern, but... This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. I just... I don't really know how to explain it but I feel like I need to do it on my own. I want to earn the right to be able to give my master something I'd like him to treasure from me from my own hands, not have that right handed to me... Just like how I earn the right to be by his side, by serving him."

"But don't you think you've already earned that right a long time ago after all these years you've been in service to him?"

"...Serving Oz is part of the debt I owe to the Vessalius family for taking me in, Oscar-sama. That is why I will not rely on my past services, because these two cases are different. What I wish to do is a personal desire, not duty. Therefore, I have no right to mix them up."

Oscar picked up his teacup once more and inspected it with a distant look in his eyes. "...You truly have grown since then, haven't you? To understand the value of honest effort at this age is not something common. Oz is truly lucky to have a friend like you..."

"N-not at all..." started Gilbert, feeling his face warm up slightly. "If anything, I feel as though I'm the lucky one to have been taken in by such a wonderful family and allowed to serve such a kind master."

The Vessalius Duke, who had been watching the young boy from the corner of his eye, smiled warmly at him before taking a long sip of his tea.

"So, what have you decided to get him?" he asked, after putting his cup down.

"I-I'm not sure yet, to be honest..." replied Gilbert, quickly looking away.

"Worry not. I can take you to town later and you can have a look around. As for now, I'll see what I can do for you. It's best if you start with something simple, and something that you're used to."

"Like what?"

"Hmm... Now that I think about it, you've never really done any specialised work. Oh, perhaps you could be Ada's servant too?"

"U-um... Th-that's a bit..." trailed Gilbert who was unsure of what to say in response to such a proposal. After all, his Master was already quite notoriously sadistic. Could his heart handle if little Miss Ada turned out to be that way too? He already had his doubts from the way she behaved when he and Oz were forced to attend her pretend tea-parties...

Oscar's chuckled in amusement. "I was just joking. Tell you what; I'll discuss this matter with Mrs. Kate. She'll be the best person to find something for you to do."

"Alright."

"Oh, Oz should be done with his classes by now," remembered Oscar all of a sudden when he caught a glimpse of the time. "He's probably looking for you."

"...Will this really work, Oscar-sama?"

"Hm?"

"I mean... Will I... Will Oz...?"

Again, Gilbert was unable to voice out his thoughts. Would he really be able to do this? And more importantly, would Oz be happy...?

The unspoken questions did not go missed by Oscar, who answered with, "I don't see why he won't. And don't worry, it's a good thing you came to me in time."

"Oscar-sama, I... I don't want to tell Oz about this... Not yet at least. I hope you understand..."

"Don't worry, Gilbert. I'll keep it from him. But I'm sure I don't need to warn you; he's a sharp boy. It won't be surprising if he notices."

Indeed, Oz would eventually notice how much busier Gilbert would become... But it couldn't be helped. Gilbert would manage somehow; his number one priority was serving Oz, after all.

"...There's nothing I can do about that except deal with it when it happens..."

And so, Gilbert had been assigned more responsibilities since then. All was going well, and it had been one month since then. But Gilbert had come and gone through town several times yet he still hadn't found the perfect gift.

Well... Actually, that statement was a bit untrue. To say that he hadn't found the perfect gift was a lie, because in truth he already had chosen something a long time ago. In fact, he was staring at it right now.

He was currently standing outside a small store that sold antique trinkets and ornaments. From what he could tell, the only person managing it was an elderly man. That day well over a month ago when Oscar had taken Oz and Gilbert out to town, the latter had spotted something displayed in the shop window that instantly caught his eye.

It was a beautiful, circular bronze locket. On its front was a big flower with five petals of the top left-hand side, and a smaller flower with four petals overlapping it on the bottom right hand side. A small azure crystal was embedded in the centre of the bigger flower while in the smaller one's centre was an emerald crystal, which instantly reminded him of his master due to the striking resemblance it held with Oz's eyes. Finally, behind the two large flowers were intricate embossments of vines and small flowers that seemed to resemble tulips from their three petals.

The moment he had seen it, Gilbert knew right away that he wanted to give it to Oz. The warm feeling that blossomed in his chest when he pictured Oz, proudly wearing the little locket that would probably contain a picture of him was so strong that he had almost entered the store right there and then to inquire on its price. But then pessimism hit him like a brick.

Why would Oz like a locket, especially one from his servant? A locket was more of a feminine item to wear, and if Gilbert of all people gave him one, it might give the wrong impression. The last thing he wanted to do was offend his master. And when on earth did he get conceited enough to think that Oz would want to carry around a picture of him? People normally carried pictures of their loved ones, so he would most likely carry a picture of a person like Ada. Or one day it might even be the woman he would come to love...

That thought made his insides twist almost painfully, and his chest felt cold and hollow.

Immediately focusing his mind on something else, Gilbert found himself gazing at the same locket now. Every time he went to town he would pass by this shop, and every time he would stop and stare. So far, the locket had remained perched on its little maroon velvet cushion this whole time, and Gilbert honestly didn't know whether to feel relieved that it was still there or sorry at the fact that no one deemed it worthy to be purchased. For the umpteenth time he felt tempted to enter the shop and qualm his contradictory feelings once and for all, but just as quickly as the urge came, he managed to suppress it.

He really didn't know what else to get for Oz. The boy didn't really have any specific interest in anything. Yes, he liked books, but he had plenty of those. He enjoyed music but the only instrument he could play was the violin, which he already had. He was also a little too old for toys, and that just left articles of clothing, which Oz had plenty of. Gifts from other noble families were usually things of absolutely no use to a young boy, and if Oz needed anything else, he could get it on a whim...

"All I need is you by my side, Gil~!"

That's what his master would always say... And maybe there was some truth in his words. Oz didn't care about the materialistic. He didn't need or want anything else.

And yet...

There was indeed one thing his master wanted. Something he needed. Something intangible and something no one and everyone had provided to him all this time.

Love.

But Oz had never realised it. He was always loved, and always will be. By Ada, by Oscar...

By Gilbert.

And that's why Gilbert was so intent on that locket. It wasn't to fulfil a tangible desire, but to serve as the symbol of a promise.

No matter how much he tried to hide it, no matter how well he could hide it, Gilbert knew how fragile Oz was when it came to things like love and affection. He yearned for it at every degree, but at the same time he feared it.

All because of that contemptible man... That man had shattered Oz, his confidence, and his hope.

But Gilbert wanted to change that. It would take time, but he wanted to see the day when his master would be able to accept loving and being loved again. That locket would mark that day; the day when Oz could fill it with the picture of the one whom he wanted to keep the closest to his heart.

"Gilbert! I'm done. Let's head back."

The voice of the servant he was accompanying dragged him out of his thoughts, so with one final glance at the locket, Gilbert approached him and together they silently left for the Vessalius Mansion.

"Come to think of it... Hasn't Young Master Oz been acting a bit strange lately? It's almost as though... as though he's distancing himself."

Gilbert had noticed a few things that seemed rather off about Oz for some time now, but it was only now that he was actually thinking about it. Oz always had this strange look in his eyes whenever Gilbert was around that the latter could never fully identify. It... It seemed like... tiredness, maybe? And he seemed less energetic too. Before, Oz would always drag his servant around from one game to another without a care in the world for the freezing weather, but lately, that wasn't the case. Now, they played very little and spent most of their time indoors. Sometimes they would talk, other times they would read, but usually Oz would just stare nonchalantly out the window while Gilbert simply remained by his side, just as silent as his master. Those days usually ended with Oz even dismissing his servant, allowing the boy to do whatever he pleased, stating that he wanted some rest as his extra lessons were quite tiresome.

Now, Gilbert was a tiny bit relieved for this extra time as it let him tend to his other responsibilities. Oz was aware that his servant was busier than usual and had even questioned him about it once. But Gilbert had been ready for it and answered that as the holiday season was coming up, many servants had requested a leave to spend that time with family and friends. However, there was also much to do in the mansion, especially with the Christmas Ball that the Vessalius family would be hosting coming up, so Gilbert had been asked to assist as well. Naturally as a servant, he couldn't decline. Oz, convinced by the logic in this explanation, never questioned him again after that.

So, yes, Oz was probably dismissing his servant because he was aware of all that and didn't want to exhaust him. But... Gilbert was still worried. Did Oz truly believe that his friend had no time for him? Did he really not have faith that his servant would be able to carry out his number one duty to its fullest? Because he could. Gilbert's first priority was still his master no matter what after all, and that was a well established fact...

Something was wrong with Oz and Gilbert didn't know what. The only possible explanation he could think of was that Oz had slipped into the depression phase that always plagued him at this time of the year. But every year, Oscar, Ada, Gilbert, and even Mrs. Kate were able to bring a smile to his Young Master's face despite that.

So, this year... This year would be no different, no matter how depressed Oz felt.