Images of the cities he passed through fill the former soldier's mind. He calls back the sights, the sounds, the smells. . .In his line of work, he had to pay such close attention. He recalls the attention to detail he paid every given inch, every shadow, every alley, every shop, every guard he passed. He recalls the feeling of terror and unease from the moment he left his unit to the second he returned to his father's side. He never found a way to enjoy his forays into hostile territory, despite all of the truly wonderful things he saw each and every time.

“Streets of cobble rather than dirt.” he murmurs, eyes distant. “A press of people so thick it was hard to breath. So many faces, so many beating hearts, but each one completely alone as they passed one another on the streets.” He turns to look at Hiro, flushing. “A lot of the places were very similar to the larger cities of this country, but sometimes I went a bit further and saw building far plainer, but with an oddly appealing look. Might have just been the novelty though.” Still flushing, he looks back over the water, clearing his throat self-consciously.

His eyes find Hiro's again as he thanks him and he simply nods in response. When asked how he's feeling all he can manage is a shrug, looking embarrassed once more. “Fine I guess.” he mumbles, unable to shake this feeling of bashfulness. “What about you?” he asks, trying to redirect away from himself. He listens quietly as his betrothed talks, relaxing faintly as he hears that the prince isn't completely calm about everything either. His eyes are drawn on occasion to the flickering flame in the other's hand, but he mostly watches that pale, delicate face. Takes in his every expression, each twitch of the lip, every scrunch of the nose. He wants to give his full attention to the man, showing him the respect he deserves.

The conversation ends up on him again and he lets out a slow breath, the tenseness returning. “For me, I am not sure I am quite out of the fog just yet.” His voice is soft, smooth, his gaze falling to his hands. “I know it is not a dream, but that does not stop the hazy feeling I get every time I try to come to terms with what the future holds for me. . .” He sighs softly. “I can try to deny it, to flee the palace, to hide behind my training, to spend my spare hours laying far from the hustle and bustle of it all, but in the end I am drawn back in and reality begins to cloud my mind once again, showing me that my past is falling away, and the future, once so clear, is now a large unknown with few certainties in it. . .”

His gaze flickers back to Hiro, biting his lips gently before going on. “One of those things I am sure of, one of the things I do take strength from, is that. . .That y-you will be there.” He curses his stutter silently. “You have been kind High-. . .H-Hiro, and for that, I am forever grateful. . .” He flushes again, deeper this time. “You are kind, understanding, and I. . .I find comfort in the idea that I have someone willing to spend their life around me who is as understanding as you have been.” Despite knowing he will be married to the man, he can't bring himself to say “who will spend their life [i]with[/i] me”. Hiro is still too far from him, despite how close they have been growing. He still can not see the man as anything closer than “his highness”.