he was rewarded when he found the boy hiding out under the strawberry bushes, the plants were out of season but all the same it looked appropriate next to the green pie that was the other. he came closer until the sound of crying over-took his ears. he reached through the leaves and pulled back the plant. under it the boy was pale and set to shine with tears. he felt odly moved to touch the face but before he could the boy opened his watery green eyes

Evans eyes snapped open when he felt warmth near his face. He was rewarded to the sight of a hand right before his face.
Shocked, he jerked away and fell backwards into the bushes with an ungraceful 'oof'.
Peeking out cautiously, he realized that it was the Prince who had reached out to touch him.
"I-I'm sorry Your Highness, you startled me" he admitted, reaching up to scrub the dirt and tears from his face.

he crouched down and lightly batted the boy's hand away hoping to leave it how it was even with the light brushing of soil. "your nurse died today."

Evan's lip trembled as he looked at the ground, eyes down cast. "She told me she'd be alright by the time morning came around..." he said softly, another fat tear sliding down his pale cheek, the liquid clung to his long eyelashes, like dew drops to strands of grass.
A soft sob passed through his lips.

he grabbed the chin and forced the boy to look at him through the tears. fascinating "her last words to you were a lie, she is dead and being buried as we speak"

Evans eyes welled with tears that slipped off his cheeks and began to soak the collar of his dress, he began to tremble.
" If I had stayed awake with her, she might here right now...." he nearly wailed.

his breath caught. the other looked as if he were nearly dead, but for the red around his eyes and on his lips all color had left him. the prince licked his lips and looked away. he knew better than to abuse the boy like this but when distressed and in tears the other looked simply ravishable. he turned back warring with himself as to whether he should calm the other or keep feeding him dark thoughts

( Whoa, so weird, I totally typed out a response to this already)
Evan finally noticed that something was amiss. He opened his eyes and stared at the Prince with wide eyes. "Y-Your Highness?" he asked cautiously.
There was something strange about the air between the two of them.

he pulled the boy's face a little closer and all but purred "yes?"

The Princes nearness was dizzying.
But the expression on his face caused something in Evan to snap.
Was the Prince amused by his tears. He couldn't be, that would just be cruel...
" I-I don't understand...." Evan began breathily, as the thought of the cruelty, whether it was true or not, caused his eyes to flood.

he smiled and his eyes went half-lidded, he whispered huskily "understand what little lord?"

Evans brows furrowed " It cant be true, no one can be that cruel" he thought to himself.
His tears dripped onto the Princes hands.
" I wont believe it" Evan mumbled.

it was too much "believe what?" he asked airily. leaning in he kissed one of the tear trails, the salt of them on his lips

It was then that Evan knew it must be true. He tried to pull his face away, but it was caught securely in the Princes hands. So he just hung his face, feeling heart broken and humiliated.
He wanted to stop crying, defying the Prince... But he couldn't stop crying.
"Why would you want to see me cry like this?" he stammered tearfully.

ah the question he wanted as well. he did not lean forward as the other granted himself an inch or so of space. he put off the question long enough to build himself a suitable answer "green eyes are rare only you i and my mother have them in the entire castle" the other turned his eyes away. "i love the rain, it is beautiful, it is cleansing and dangerous. i would starve for a season of rain" he hmm'd as he found his answer. "you look like rain falling from my eyes" the words made no sense but it felt right. he leaned in again.

Rain?
Evan was slightly confused, but also relieved. At least the reasoning wasn't because the Prince liked hurting people.
His long eye lashes fluttered shut, sparkling with tears. " I see... If you wish to see me cry for that reason...Then I will do as you ask" he answered in a soft voice.

he sighed softly against the boy's cheek, the saline taste of the other was nearly too much to bear "then cry for me little lord, be rain, be my eyes so i can know what it is like, for i do not know how" he trailed up to the boy's eye. laying a soft kiss upon it he dropped his and to the stays of the dress and found them undone already the stiff under-corset was absent altogether. he paused in shocked realization. "you are naked, who was suppose to dress you?" he grew angry forgetting for a moment his own intentions on stripping the other. "i will have them flayed for this negligence" he was seething, to think the other had been seen through the halls wearing nothing but a dress. he clenched his unoccupied hand angrily.

"B-But Your Highness, Constance dresses me..." he murmered.
The sudden realization that Constance would no longer help him to dress in the morning.
"Oh no... What will I do?" he stammered, paling even more.
How was he to dress properly in the morning without someone to help with his corsets and under clothing.

he blinked twice oh it had not occurred to him that the woman was the only one to know the secret. for several seconds he was at a loss "i..i don't know. i guess i could try" he did not mention all his efforts with ladies underwear were in getting them off. he was not sure putting them on would be much different bu all the same he had never tried. "more importantly we must get you away from prying eyes" he scooped the boy up and pust himself to his feet, without the heavy garments holding everything together the boy was much lighter and they all but sped through the halls.

Once again Evan was in the Princes arms. He felt himself blush deeply.
He was at a loss for what to say.

they were lucky, not a soul passed by them in the halls. when they made it to even's rooms the prince dropped the other on the bed "where are your things?"

"In the chest over there Your Highness..." he stammered, pointing a finger to a large oak chest to the left of the bed.
He watched the Prince with shock. Was he really going to help him dress?
The idea was quite embarrassing.
Evan had made it a habit not to be exposed around many people.

he pulled out the under-shirt, corset, and stays, he did not know about the res of the clothing in the trunk but for now he worried about the part people could see. he carried the undergarments over to the bed and dropped then next to the other "well. undress."

Evans eyes widened. "U-Undress...?" he asked in shock
Instinctively he reached to hold the clothing closer to his body.
"B-But Your highness" he stammered.
(LOL, gonna have to fight him for it)

he did not have the patience. "now!"

( LOL, you realize they haven't even called eachother by their first names yet?)
Evan jumped slightly at the command. " Y-Yes Your Highness..." he stammered, working as quickly as he could with his nervous hands. Soon the dress slid to the floor.
Feeling quite foolish, he stood there in front of the prince, wishing that he could turn invisible on the spot.

he gave the boy a once-over he was not unhealthy but though it showed that he did not spend much time in the out-of-doors. he ignored the painful looking bruises that littered the young man's stomach and waistline. the other did not complain and so he would not insult him by mentioning it "no wonder they chose you to be a woman, you are too skinny and too soft to be anything else" he grabbed the shirt and slid it over the boy's head hiding the marks from sight. the other looked relieved as well though he accounted it less to shame and more to the coolness of the chamber. the boy turned around to receive the corset next. "no, turn back around" the other gave him a strange look over his shoulder at the request but did as he was told. the prince grabbed the corset and threaded the boy's arms through he wrapped it around the other and leaned his head over the boy's shoulder to look while he laced. the other made a small noise as he shifted it tight. he could feel the other twitching as he spoke "h-how do you know all of this" he spoke honestly "lots of practice" he finished the laces and looked to the stay. thinking of the boys torso he decided against it. "from now on you will only wear one"

Evan nodded quietly, it was a relief that he would only have to wear one.
Evan wondered what the Prince meant by lots of practice, then it hit him that he must have experience with women.
Which really made Evan wonder why the Prince had agreed to marry him then.

he looked back over to the chest "i would not begin to know how to put on the rest though." he peered back at the boy "can you do the rest yourself?

"Y-Yes your Highness" he stammered, breaking out of his deep thoughts.
Quietly and methodically he slipped on the rest of the garments, and attempted to lace and button the gown.
"Forgive me your Highness... But I cannot reach the ones in the back" he murmured with a slight blush.
He had been able to do it before, because he merely slipped the whole gown over the top of his head and stuffed his arms through the sleeves... But now, with all the under clothing, he knew it would be impossible.
He carefully lifted the wig to expose the back of the dress to the Prince.

he complied and buttoned the dress back up, when he was done the boy looked like a proper woman once more. he nodded his approval as he looked at the other "much better though.." he tipped his head slightly back towards the door, it is time for breakfast or there-abouts. would you like i had a servant bring us our meal or would you like to dine with everyone else" he looked down at the other "you are in mourning you have a choice today"

" I'd prefer to eat here in my quarters" Evan admitted nervously.
All the talk about Constance's death from the lips of people who did not know her had tired Evan out.
He knew that he'd have to send his parents a letter letting them know of her passing.
"If your Highness does not mind, I'd like to know more about you" Evan said suddenly.
It made sense, they were to get married.

"oh..." he did not know what to say to that admission "then i guess i will eat here with you then" he backed up and turned to leave "though i suppose you will have to talk about yourself too, it's only fair" he opened the door and slipped out into the hall leaving the other no room to protest.

Evan watched him leave the room and wondered if his request had been too forward.
He was notoriously sensitive, especially when it came to matters of other peoples emotions.
His stomach growled. He had been quite hungry, but had not found the time to appease the hunger due to the chaos of Constance's passing.

in the end he could not find anyone to fetch food so he ended up getting it himself from the kitchens, it felt odd for him to be back in the busy warmth of it all, he had not been there since he was a lad stealing pastries and rolls. he was quick however to get the food and leave, he felt odd having all those faces staring, it was not noticeable when they were supposed to stare but he felt markedly out of place here, a man in the play-place of a boy. he hurried back even quicker than he had left

Evan wondered how his parents would react to the news. He was considering beginning the long letter to them, but thought better of it, and waited patiently for the Prince to return to the room.
He wondered what life would be like once he left this palace and moved to one of the Princes estates.
Hopefully he wouldn't have to worry about so many prying eyes.

he managed to get the door open without spilling what he had. it was an easier feat getting the door closed again "i have returned"

Evan immediately stood to help the Prince, he helped relieve him of the burden of all the food, allowing the Prince to free his hands to close the door.
The food looked delicious. "Thank you Your Highness" he said with a beaming smile.

he looked coldly at the other. smiles did not suit the boy at all. he moved around the other to sit on the bed, he would not stand to eat his dinner like some servant.

Evan nearly shuddered at the Princes cold stare. Had he done something wrong?
Following the Princes example, he sat as well.
The food smelled delicious, and his stomach grumbled again.
(What are they eating?)