As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the battlements, Augustus and Isabel stood side by side, gazing out at the breathtaking view before them. The soft breeze played with Isabel's hair, making it dance around her face. Augustus couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked in the fading light.

Finally, Isabel turned to him, her eyes shining with an inner light. "Thank you for today," she said softly.

Augustus turned to her, his heart racing in his chest. He had enjoyed her company more than he had expected. "No, thank you," he replied with a gentle smile. "You were amazing on the dance floor today."

Isabel's cheeks flushed with pleasure, and she shook her head modestly. "It was all thanks to Madam Lefleur," she said. "She's been training me since I was a child."

Augustus felt a twinge of jealousy at the mention of another person being so close to Isabel. "You're lucky to have someone like that in your life," he said, hoping his tone didn't betray his inner turmoil.

Isabel's expression turned thoughtful. "I suppose so," she said after a moment. "But it wasn't always easy. I never quite fit in with my family. As the third daughter, I was always overlooked and ignored. I felt like I was suffocating, so I begged my parents to let me travel and explore the world."

Augustus listened intently, his heart going out to her. "That must have been difficult," he said sympathetically.

Isabel nodded, her eyes far away. "It was. But then I met Madam Lefleur. She saw something in me, I don't know what, and took me under her wing. She taught me everything I know about elegance and grace."

Augustus looked at her, his heart suddenly feeling lighter. "Well, it shows," he said, smiling at her. "You were the most graceful woman on the dance floor today."

Isabel's smile widened, her eyes shining with pleasure. "Thank you, Augustus," she said softly.

Augustus looked out over the battlements once again, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards Isabel, but he also couldn't ignore the feelings he had for Alexandria. "Isabel, I...I don't know what to say," he stammered, turning back to her.

Isabel's expression turned serious, and she reached out to take his arm. Her touch sent a jolt of electricity through him. "You don't have to say anything, Augustus," she said softly. "Just know that I am here for you, whenever you need me."

Augustus felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

Isabel looked at him, her eyes full of empathy. "Do you ever feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?" she asked softly.

Augustus nodded, feeling the weight of his responsibilities as a commander of the guard pressing down on him. "All the time," he admitted.

Isabel smiled, her eyes full of compassion. "Then let me help you carry that weight, Augustus."

Augustus felt his heart swelling with emotion. He looked at her, realizing that he had never felt this close to anyone before. "Isabel, I...I don't know what to say," he said, feeling his throat tighten.

Isabel's expression softened, and she reached out to place a gentle hand on his arm. "You don't have anyone like that?" she asked softly.

Augustus shook his head, feeling a pang of loneliness. "Not really," he said

Isabel turned to face Augustus, her gaze intense. "You know, Augustus, I sense that there is something troubling you," she said. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

Augustus hesitated for a moment, but then decided to open up to her. "It's just...I'm conflicted," he said. "I have feelings for someone else, but I can't deny the attraction I feel towards you."

Isabel looked at him, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know it's hard," she said softly. "But sometimes, our hearts lead us to unexpected places. You don't have to make any decisions right now. Just take your time and follow your heart."

Augustus nodded, feeling a sense of relief at her words. "Thank you, Isabel," he said. "You always know just what to say."

Isabel smiled at him, her eyes sparkling in the sunset. "That's what I'm here for," she said.

They stood in silence for a few more moments, enjoying the peacefulness of the evening. As the last rays of sun disappeared over the horizon, Isabel turned to Augustus once more.

"I should be going," she said, her voice tinged with regret. "Madam Lefleur will be wondering where I am."

Augustus felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of her leaving. "Will I see you again soon?" he asked.

Isabel smiled at him, her eyes shining. "Of course," she said. "I wouldn't want to stay away from you for too long."

Augustus felt his heart race at her words. "I'll be looking forward to it," he said, a smile spreading across his face.

Isabel turned to leave, but then hesitated. She turned back to Augustus, her expression serious. "Augustus, promise me something," she said.

"Anything," he replied.

"Promise me that you'll follow your heart," she said. "No matter where it leads you."

Augustus nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over him. "I promise," he said.

Isabel smiled at him once more, her eyes full of warmth. "Goodnight, Augustus," she said, before turning and disappearing down the battlement stairs.

Augustus watched Isabel leave, feeling a sense of hope and excitement for the future, but also a heaviness in his heart with conflicting emotions. He knew he couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards Isabel, but he also couldn't ignore the feelings he had for Alexandria. Despite the conflict within him, he felt at peace in that moment, taking a deep breath of the cool evening air and gazing out over the city.

As he turned back to look out over the city, the vibrant colors of the sunset had faded into the darkness of the night. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, reminding him of the weight of his duty and responsibilities as the heir to the realm.

Augustus took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the peace of the night envelop him. He knew he couldn't let his personal feelings get in the way of his duty to the people of Hallgerd and the empire. As the heir to the Marquise, he had a responsibility to protect and serve his people, no matter the personal cost.

He thought about the long line of count and countess who had come before him, each one shouldering the weight of their duty to their people. They had faced wars, plagues, and uprisings, but they had always put the needs of their people first.

Augustus opened his eyes and looked out over the city, taking in the twinkling lights and the sounds of the bustling streets below. He knew that there were people down there, living their lives and looking to him for guidance and protection.

"I can't let them down,I can’t let her down" he whispered to himself. "I have to be strong, for them."

As Augustus took one last look at the sprawling city, his heart felt heavy with the weight of his duty. Yet, despite the overwhelming sense of responsibility, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace knowing that he was doing everything in his power to protect and serve his people.

Exhausted from his day, Augustus eventually drifted off into a deep slumber. But as he slept, he found himself transported to a dream world, where he stood alone in a vast, empty space surrounded by darkness. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance, gradually making its way towards him. As the figure drew nearer, Augustus could hardly believe his eyes – it was a younger version of himself, back when he was still a rising star in the scientific community and had his beloved sister by his side.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Augustus could hardly contain his tears as he gazed upon his former self. Memories flooded back to him as he thought about the times when he was still full of hope and ambition, and everything still seemed possible. As Hiro – his younger self – drew nearer, Augustus couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia and longing for the innocence and passion he once possessed.

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For a moment, the two versions of Augustus simply stood there, facing each other in silence. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Hiro lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Augustus, as if trying to reassure him that everything was going to be okay. And in that moment, Augustus knew that he needed to carry on with his duty, for the sake of his people and for the sake of the younger version of himself that he once was.

"Hello, Augustus," Hiro said, his voice calm and gentle.

Augustus was taken aback. "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Hiro smiled sadly. "Well I’m you to be fact, even if you have to drown yourself in paperwork to forget about me."

"And I thought it was working?" Augustus asked,in frustration.

Hiro chuckled. "It never works, Augustus. You can try to bury the past, but it will always come back to haunt you."

Augustus nodded slowly, realizing the truth in Hiro's words. "I miss you, Hiro , I miss my old life, I miss my sister," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

"I miss her too, my friend," Hiro replied, placing a hand on Augustus's shoulder. "But you need to accept what happened and move on."

"How can I move on when the guilt of not finding her keeps coming back" Augustus asked, his eyes filling with tears.

Hiro shook his head. "You were never responsible for what happened to her, Augustus. You did everything you could to try to find her, gather the best people, the best detectives yet you found nothing. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. You need to forgive yourself."

Augustus looked down, his heart heavy with guilt. "I don't know if I can," he whispered.

Hiro stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Augustus in a comforting embrace. "You can, Augustus. You just have to believe in yourself and have faith that everything will be okay."

Augustus felt a sense of comfort and warmth wash over him as he embraced his past self. It was like he was hugging his old friend, and for a moment, he didn't feel so lonely.

Augustus was overcome with emotion as he realized the truth in Hiro's words. He had been trying to forget about his past, but in doing so, he had also forgotten a part of himself.

"I'm sorry," Augustus whispered, tears streaming down his face.

Hiro reached out and placed a comforting hand on Augustus's shoulder. "There's no need to apologize," he said, his voice full of understanding. "We are one and the same, Augustus. The past, the present, and the future all intertwined."

Augustus nodded, still struggling to come to terms with what he was hearing. "I've been so alone," he admitted. "I've been trying to do everything on my own, and I've been pushing people away."

Hiro gave Augustus a sad smile. "I know," he said. "But you're not alone. You have me, and you have all the memories of your past. Don't forget them, Augustus. Embrace them, and let them guide you."

Hiro's expression turned somber, and his voice grew more serious. "But Augustus, you must be careful not to repeat the same mistakes I made. Don't let the search for your sister consume you to the point where you push away those who care about you. And don't throw yourself into your work to the point where it becomes your only purpose in life."

Augustus felt a pang of sadness in his chest as he listened to Hiro's words. He knew deep down that he had been pushing everyone away, and that his work had become his only solace in life. He looked up at Hiro, his eyes filled with tears. "I don't know how to stop," he whispered.

Hiro placed a comforting hand on Augustus's shoulder. "It's not easy, Augustus. But you must try. You have so much to live for, so many people who care about you. Don't let the past consume you."

Augustus nodded, feeling a sense of understanding wash over him. "Thank you, Hiro. Thank you for helping me see what I couldn't before."

Hiro gave him a small smile. "Anytime,myself. Just remember, I'm always here with you, in some way.and don’t make the same mistake I did don’t push everyone away like I did don’t realize it too late to go back, remember that Augustus"

Augustus nodded, and the dream began to fade away. As he woke up, he felt a sense of sadness, but also a strange kind of happiness. He knew that he had to let go of the past and move forward, but he also knew that he would always carry a part of Hiro with him.

And as he walked to his balcony and was greeted by the soft orange and pink hues of the sunrise. The sky was slowly transitioning from a deep blue to a lighter shade, and the first rays of sunlight were just beginning to peek over the horizon.

He took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, feeling the cool breeze brush against his skin. The city was still quiet, with only a few early risers out and about. He watched as a few birds flew by, their wings flapping softly as they soared through the air.

As he stood there, taking in the beauty of the sunrise, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. He realized that, despite the challenges he faced as the heir to the realm, there was still so much beauty in the world. He made a promise to himself to take a moment each day to appreciate the little things in life, to find joy in the simple pleasures.

The world was full of pain and sorrow, but there was also so much beauty and love. As Augustus watched the sunrise, he knew that he could face whatever challenges lay ahead as long as he held onto that hope and beauty.

Augustus sighed as he turned his back to the sunrise and walked towards his desk. He knew there was a mountain of paperwork waiting for him, but he had no choice but to face it. He sat down, picked up the first document, and began reading.

As he worked, the quote he had been thinking about earlier kept ringing in his mind: "One who does not learn from the past shall repeat it mistake." He couldn't help but think about the mistakes he had made in the past and how he needed to learn from them to move forward.

The sound of the pen scratching against the paper filled the room, and he lost himself in the task at hand. He worked tirelessly for hours, signing documents and reading reports. But as the sun rose higher in the sky, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He knew that with every document he signed, he was making a difference in the lives of his people.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Augustus put down his pen and stretched his tired muscles. He looked at the stack of papers on his desk and smiled. He had done it. He had conquered the mountain of paperwork.

As he walked away from his desk, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. He knew that there would always be more work to do, but for now, he could rest easy knowing that he had done his part.

But the bureaucracy paper must be done and as he continued to work on his paperwork, he began to feel a rumbling in his stomach. He realized that he had skipped breakfast again in his haste to get everything done. Just as he was about to get up to grab something to eat, there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," Augustus called out.

Ostrava, his trusted maid, entered the room carrying a tray of food. "Good morning, Your Highness," she said with a warm smile. "I thought you might like some breakfast."

Augustus smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Ostrava. You always seem to know just what I need."

Ostrava chuckled. "It's my job to take care of you, Your Highness. Now, let's see what we have here." She set the tray down on the table and began to uncover the dishes.

Augustus's mouth watered as he looked at the spread in front of him. There were freshly baked pastries, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a steaming cup of coffee.

Ostrava's smile grew wider. "Of course, Augustus. You're like a brother to me. I'll always be here for you."

Augustus finished his breakfast and turned to Ostrava. "Well, I should get back to work. Thank you for this, Ostrava."

"Anytime, Augustus," Ostrava replied as she took the tray and left the room.

Augustus took a deep breath and turned back to the mountain of paperwork on his desk. As he started to sift through the documents, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the people in his life who continued to support him. It was moments like these that reminded him that he was not alone.

As Augustus was finishing up his breakfast, Ostrava made her exit and Alexandria, his betrothed, entered the room.

"Good morning, Augustus," Alexandria said as she walked over to him. "I hope you slept well."

Augustus looked up from his paperwork and nodded curtly. "Yes, I slept fine. What brings you here?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the upcoming Prince's birthday gala," Alexandria said, trying to keep her tone light and friendly.

Augustus sighed inwardly. He knew what she wanted. She wanted to break through his cold exterior and make a connection with him. But he couldn't let himself get distracted by her.

"I'm quite busy with my work at the moment," Augustus said, his tone cool and distant. "Perhaps we can discuss it later."

Alexandria's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "Of course, Augustus. I understand that you have many responsibilities. But I just thought that it might be nice for us to attend the gala together. As your betrothed, it's important for us to make appearances together."

Augustus looked up at her with a raised eyebrow. "Is that all this is to you, Alexandria? Just appearances?"

Alexandria's expression grew more serious. "Of course not, Augustus. I care for you deeply. But I know that you have been distant and cold towards me. I just want us to connect on a deeper level."

Augustus sighed and rubbed his temples. He knew that Alexandria was right, but he couldn't bring himself to let his guard down. Not yet, at least.

"Look, Alexandria," Augustus said, his tone softening slightly. "I know that I've been distant. But it's not because I don't care for you. It's just...complicated."

Alexandria leaned in closer to him. "I know it's complicated, Augustus. But we're in this together. We can face anything as long as we're together."

Augustus looked into her eyes, and for a moment, he felt his resolve crumbling. He knew that he couldn't keep pushing her away forever. But for now, he needed to focus on his work.

"I appreciate your concern, Alexandria," Augustus said, standing up from his desk. "But I really must get back to my work. Perhaps we can discuss the gala later."

Alexandria's expression fell, but she nodded in understanding. "Of course, Augustus. I'll see you later."

As Alexandria left the room, Augustus let out a deep breath. He knew that he needed to start opening up to her, but the thought of letting someone in was terrifying. For now, he would just have to focus on his work and hope that someday he could let his guard down.