.
Jylan was a butler, not an idiot.
Scratch that, he was a duke now, but, you get the point.
That's why he had only pretended to be asleep after Sebastian had banged the door open. So as soon as both of the people disappeared down the hall, he leaped up, kicked his blankets aside, grabbed his bathroom slippers, and dashed down the hallway behind him. It had taken him so long to find the prince again - no way in hell was he going to let some red-eyed handsome weasel take the prince away from him again.
Or so he thought.
This wouldn't be a book without a constant plot. Sorry, Jylan. Today's just not your day.
Still, now Jylan dashed through the hallway, grabbing stairway railings and skidding down the carpeted stairs, until he stopped at large oak doors, which he clawed open and ran outside. Instantly he saw footprints and relented a smile.
Then he ran along the path, following the footsteps that gleamed in the dim light of the moon, and finally stopped when a silhouette came into view. It was hard to see anything amidst the darkness and plants, but the shape of it was familiar.
Jylan paused, and, before he could stop himself, a tear slipped down his cheek.
"I thought you loved me, Prince Sebastian."
The silhouette stopped and slowly turned. Sebastian said, "Jylan? Why are you awake?" in a flustered voice. Jylan wiped his cheek, and sniffed, "What are you doing? Where are you going? Let me come with you, I love you." The prince stopped, sighed, and said, "I'm going somewhere." Lies. Lies lies lies. Jylan said, "Can you tell me where?." Sebastian scratched his head and said, "Uh, no..." Jylan clenched his fists. Then the prince turned around and stepped away before any more could be said about anything more.
"Don't go."
He kept walking.
"Sebas, Don't go."
The sound of leaves crunching under boots continued to dance in Jylan's ears.
And then the prince couldn't be heard anymore, the sounds of footsteps and breaths faded away, and Jylan was left in the middle of the path, mud seeping into his slippers.