#clavis fluff

Next, it was Nokto’s shoes having their laces tied together. Once he slipped his feet into them, he found that they were filled with tissues that were delicate enough to keep ripping when he tried to pull them out. This happened a day after he’d hit on you, and everyone thought it was Clavis.

The most dastardly of them all happened a week ago when Chevalier’s book collection had been touched. Some of the books had had their paper covering swapped to confuse him, and everyone thought it was Clavis.

Everyone except for you.

Innocent and pure heart? You think not!

It started as a scheme to get the princes to stop messing with you. A scheme you were ready and willing to take the blame for after everything they’d put you through. You were sure Rio knew already, being the only one in the palace who was acquainted with your mischievous nature.

What you didn’t expect was for Clavis to take the blame for you.

The first two pranks, it was simply an assumption. After all, nobody expected Belle to be behind any of the pranks in the palace as long as they had the notoriously evil prince lurking about.

“Why do you do it?” you ask, staring hard at Clavis when he serves you breakfast the next morning.

“Why do I do what?” he says, a challenging smirk on his lips.

“You know what I mean. You take the blame for the pranks I pull.” you say, pinching what you think is supposed to be a croissant between your index finger and thumb, “You know I do them to get back at your brothers, right?”

“Oh I’m aware. Nothing escapes me, Belle.” he snickers, leaning back against the couch, “You’re smart. You’ll figure it out yourself.”

He’s so frustrating.

As much as he tried, Prince Claivs couldn't fool everyone with this smile. Prince Chevalier, who knew exactly why, who had been there through it all; Cyran who had been told, at least, in passing; and his lover, you, who had been told one rainy night, but not the specifics of why, much like Cyran. Chevalier merely took note of the weather and adjusted Clavis’s work accordingly, more or less depending on the day, Cyran tried his best to help in his own way, but you didn’t really know what to do. Newer in his life compared to his older brother and most trusted knight, you were still trying to figure out how to fill in the cracks in his smile. Without knowing the exact reason the rain-soaked roses had such an effect on him certainly didn’t help. Especially as someone who has always liked the rain.

On this particular day, Chevalier decided it was better to give Clavis more than usual. Have him focus on all the things he needs to get done, instead of the scent of damp roses that had filtered through open windows in the hallways. Cyran always hated to admit how the focus on the extra work seemed to help, but he did his part to help anyway, this did mean extra work for him too.

Meanwhile, you spent the late morning making Clavis’s favorite snacks. The earlier morning was spent doing your work with Sariel. You made sure to make extras for anyone else in the office, but your main focus was on your lover. His favorite tea to pair with the snacks. Every little detail about the early afternoon tea would be focused on Clavis and his favorite things.

“Ahh, my lovely lover knows me so well,” Clavis said seeing the arrangement you brought up to the office. 

“I had some extra time, so I thought I’d make something nice,” you said. It was only half true. You had asked for the afternoon off, but it had been planned for you to have less work that day behind the scenes. It’s how you were able to finish your work in the late morning, faster than expected of you. 

“But did you really need to bring any for my brother?” Clavis said as if the man in question wasn’t sitting right there. Chevalier didn’t seem to mind as he said nothing nor did he look up.

“It would’ve been rude not to, knowing he’s here too.” You responded honestly. 

After a bit of a break, you decided it was best to leave to allow Clavis to get back to work. Yet you stopped by a voice other than your boyfriend. Chevalier was telling you to stay to help Clavis sort through papers to get his work done he does have extra after all; Chevalier planned for this.

As the hours passed by, you helped Clavis work. The clouds in the sky parted allowing rays of sun to peak out from the clouds. When Clavis was nearly done, he thanked you for the help and advised you to take the rest of the day off. You’d already finished your work, he could handle the rest. Knowing he wouldn’t take no for an answer, you pressed a kiss to Clavis’s forehead - Chevalier was focused on wrapping up his work, one small kiss wouldn’t hurt. Your lover froze for a moment but smiled as he noticed you were already gone before he could tease you. He decided to let this one pass. He knew what you, Chevalier, and Cryan had been doing all day. Clavis was truly grateful for everything you’ve done today and every other time it rains. (Chevalier as well, but he would never even dare admit it, even to himself.)

As you made it to your room you realized that despite the sun shining over the gardens it had started to lightly rain. You’ve always enjoyed the rain. Especially sun showers. Ever since you were young you’d go out and play in the rain or read a book by the window to the calming sounds of rain in the background.

With Clavis never explicitly telling you the reason for his great dislike of rain-soaked roses, you wondered if your want to go out with him was one you should ignore or not.

“Clavis!” You said happily having just left your room to look for him. “Come dance with me? Please.” You grabbed his hand excited to go dance with him, if he's willing.

Clavis noted you changed into the new sundress he’d gotten for you a couple of weeks ago. The plans to wear it on your next date in town kept getting moved around with work, more work, and the weather. You look amazing in the dress, as he expected. “Dance? Wh-”

“Don’t think about it, just come dance with me, please?” You asked, cutting him off. 

“How can I possibly say no to such a request?” Clavis agreed with a soft smile.

The third prince let you happily pull him out to the gardens, the rain-soaked roses hitting his senses immediately, but you tightened the grip on his hand keeping him with you. “Don’t think, just follow me,” you said looking back at him for a moment. And he did. You looked incredibly happy, you looked like you knew exactly what you were doing.

And you did. You lead Clavis down the cobblestone paths of the garden to the open area by the lake. Yes, there were bushes around it, but there were rose bushes all around the gardens. Avoiding roses in Rholdiate was nearly impossible.

Slipping your heels off, you pulled the third prince towards the grass and twirled underneath his arm to face him, resting your opposite hand around his neck with a laugh.

It was rare you left Clavis speechless, but this was definitely one of those times. The sloppy and awkward yet smooth dance you led him in was one you clearly enjoyed. The way you giggled as you spun under his arm again and again, the rain flowing off your dress as you did so. The way the sun shined on your face as you dipped back confident Clavis’ strong arms wouldn’t let you fall. The two of you getting soaked from the rain, yet you didn’t seem to mind; it seemed like you loved it. The setting sun only lit up your smile in a way it hasn’t before.

As the sun dipped further into the horizon, the rain seemingly picked up. Yet your happiness didn’t fade with the sun, nor did Clavis's. The scent of wet roses seemed to disappear the longer the two of you had danced, despite the smell only growing stronger. Still, Clavis found himself genuinely smiling as he focused solely on you, on the dance.

The rain had completely stopped now, giving way to the light of the full moon. Clavis had joined you in your bed after a much-needed hot bath. Carefully helping each other wash out the cold rainwater. Even now he can still feel the warmth on your skin as you hold each other close.

The next morning brought with it clear blue skies as the sun lit up the gardens. The third prince watched as you looked out the window fondly. Water dripped off the rose petals and leaves as the sun started to dry them. Clavis realized that while he will never like the smell of rain-soaked roses, he wouldn’t mind dancing in the rain with you again.

«I believe it’s quite late at night, your Highness,» you teased him, standing up so that you could face him, «I doubt most of the people in the Castle are sleeping, yet.»

«I know, I know, however, my heart is heavily burdened,» despite his words, Clavis spoke with his usual grin while walking towards you with long steps, wrapping an arm around your waist and tugging you towards his chest, «I didn’t get to dance with my sweetheart.» he whispered, and you desperately wanted to kiss that annoying smirk from his lips.

«Why didn’t you save me a dance?» he teased again, leaning towards your lips with the intention to finally kiss you, but you immediately tilted your head to the side, so that his lips found your cheek instead.

«I believe it’s you who didn’t save me a dance…» you mumbled, your tone a little bit sadder than you originally planned.

The truth was that you desperately wanted to dance with Clavis at some point of the night, but such a simple wish seemed to be impossible to realize: your lover was constantly talking about business with nobles, thing that left you waiting for him as you occupied your time chatting with the other Princes.  

Although you sometimes met Clavis’ apologetic gaze through the crowd, you spent song after song waiting, and waiting, and waiting; without realizing it, it was already time to head home. Clavis’ fingertips tilted your head towards him, and as his gaze burned into yours, you noticed that every trace of his usual amusement had vanished from his features; he gently ran his gloved fingertips on your cheekbones and repeated the action a handful of times to the point it tickled, and you scoffed a laugh in half annoyance.

«I have an idea,» you watched as Clavis’ perfect grin painted his lips, «let’s have a dance.» «Here?» you echoed, unsure. «Here and now.» Clavis confirmed, before detaching himself from you and taking a step back and you could nothing but look with with incredulous amusement at the Prince – now hinting a bow in front of you.

«Would you bless me with the honour to dance with me?» Clavis dramatically asked, and you giggled in return.

«I would love to, but…» although your doubts, the Prince had already guided both your hands on his shoulders, before wrapping his arms around your waist, «what about the musicians? And… Well, personal space?» you asked, referring to the fact that the stance you were in definitely wasn’t like any steps allowed during dances.

«Do we need any of that, my love?» Clavis confidently answered before taking your hand and slowly making you twirl in front of him, just to guide you in the position you were in earlier; your bodies were slowly swinging left and right, the only music you could actually hear was the song of nocturnal birds and crickets and still, as Clavis’ eyes bore into yours with nothing but the deepest affection, you found yourself preferring this to any kind of dance he could have asked for in public.

«Most importantly, I unintentionally made my only love sad tonight.» Clavis admitted, his features serious once again; you sighed softly, reaching out to caress the frown away from his handsome face.

«You didn’t make me sad,» you replied earnestly, «although I love spending time with you while we’re in public, I love just as much – probably even more, when I have you all for myself.» you confessed, enjoying the faint blush colouring Clavis’ surprised features. Clavis’ adorablesurprised face turned into a gentle smile, and he buried his face in your neck while mumbling a soft «how can you be so cute…» thing that made you genuinely laugh, simultaneously making the two of you stop your silent dance.

«Do you think we could dance like this again, sometimes?» you asked Clavis, who instinctively stole your lips in a chaste and quick kiss.

«I don’t know, leaving the decision to me means that we’re going to have this kind of tryst every night.» Clavis’ eyes were now hungrily travelling on your features, and you slid your hands from his shoulders to his nape, standing on your tiptoes so that you could meet his eyes.

«Every night it is, then.» you hummed, before capturing the Prince’s lips in a kiss.  

all works © lettersfromaphrodite

Do not modify, repost, translate or plagiarize my stories. I only publish my works on tumblr & AO3.

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You much preferred your room; quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. The window sill in your room at the palace was big enough for you to sit in, perched on the precipice between the inside and outside worlds, with only a thin veil of glass separating you. Sometimes, like in the current winter chill, you breached the wall of glass and pushed one side open, letting the crisp breeze of the night air reach your legs under the blanket. It was snowing, everything was frozen, even you. But that didn’t stop you from letting the fine, ephemeral flakes swirl into your bedroom before hitting your blanket; the carpet; the bed; and sticking, then slowly melting into nonexistence. Snow was a beauty you didn’t get to see often, and if getting to see its beauty up close meant freezing your limbs, so be it. 

A soft knock at your door pulled you from your reverence and you padded, sock-footed, over to the door and opened it to reveal a certain plum-haired prince in your doorway. “Good evening, Clavis.” you gathered him in your gaze, searching for any obvious clues as to why he had arrived here like a lost puppy at some poor unwitting woman’s doorstep.

“I couldn’t help but notice, my lady, that you have your window open despite it being unbearably cold outside.” Mischief glinted in his eyes and you stepped back involuntarily. 

“I do, yes.” you replied hesitantly. “Were you watching me from the garden?”

“Mhm,” he hummed, taking the space between you as a sudden invitation to cross the threshold, and strolled over to said open window. “But what’s the point if you can’t sprawl out in it, am I right? Tsk tsk.” he chided, the ghost of a smile haunting the faux disappointment on his face. 

Whereas normally yours and Clavis’s ideas of fun were vastly different, you couldn’t help but agree with him here, and let out a soft sigh. “Sariel would kill me. It’d be too easy for me to get sick and fall behind in my studies.” 

“Well then, little kitten.” Clavis turned abruptly to face you. “Isn’t it just perfect that Sariel isn’t here right now?” 

“You know he has eyes everywhere, Clavis.” you admonished.

The 3rd Prince’s grin widened into that Cheshire smile you were so used to seeing blooming on his lips. “Not in the places I know about. Come on! We’re gonna have some fun tonight, and Mr. Grumpypants will be none the wiser.” Before you could even consider disagreeing, your hand was folded in Clavis’s and he was tugging you out the door. 

You should have been rolling your eyes; you should have been concerned about what Clavis was up to; you should have missed the novel you had left discarded on your window sill. But all you could think about, as a blush crawled its way up your neck and face, is how soft Clavis’s hand felt as he laced his fingers with yours, and how your heart lurched at the idea of him letting go. 

Squeezing through a cabinet in the kitchens, down back stairs that had no flames to light their descent, through a small alleyway between two of the palace towers, and down into the courtyard below, Clavis led you, taking care to keep you upright and unharmed. “It would ruin the fun if we had a blood trail,” he had said, but a small piece of you hoped he simply wanted to keep you from getting hurt. You yelped in surprise when he lifted you off your feet and settled you into his arms, bridle-style. 

“Shhh!” he chuckled softly. “Don’t wake the guards. The Devil will really have our heads then!” he was chastising you, but there was mirth in his gaze, and you tucked your head in his neck to keep from giggling foolishly. 

“So why are you carrying me?” you whispered into the warm skin of his neck.

“This way, there’s only one set of footsteps leading out of the castle, not two. No incriminating evidence of you disobeying orders, milady. Just me.” you could feel his triumphant grin without even looking at him, and snuggled closer to his chest. 

“And you’re okay with that?” you whispered again.

“Of course!” he replied under his breath. “I am an expert at evading the Devil’s wrath.” 

“And what of your secret passageway? It’s practically ruined now.” you murmured, almost feeling guilty at the absurd notion.

“I have plenty.” came his simple reply, and your guilt vanished instantaneously. Of course he did. After several moments where you heard nothing but the crunch of Clavis’s shoes in the snow and the consistent beat of his heart against your ear, you reached a secluded part of the garden that he had shown you once before, in the spring. The wrought iron gate was decorated in a collection of icy flakes, making it sparkle and shimmer in the pale moonlight. Even in the winter, this tiny corner was ripped straight from the pages of a fairytale. You had every intention of walking in yourself, but Clavis made no moves to put you down as he fiddled with the key in the lock to the gate, merely shifting you so he could hold you with one arm instead of two. 

Your giggle finally escaped your lips and you clapped your hands over your mouth, until you looked down at Clavis, who had ceased in his war with the gate and was gazing up at you with- no, it couldn’t be, could it? Your hands lowered from your face absentmindedly, gravity returning them to where they belonged. Clavis’s smile was no longer that of an unruly wildcat, but of an arduous lover, and suddenly this rendezvous felt forbidden in a different way entirely. A clank beside you pulled his gaze from you at last, and he cast his eyes down at the lock that had haplessly fallen from the gate. “Shoddy piece of rubbish,” he mused, shaking his head. 

A moment later he had whisked you inside and closed the gate behind you, setting you down with a distinct crunch as your sock feet collided with the wet snow. “Ah!” you yelped at the stinging cold and hopped over to the bench in the center of the alcove, brushing the mound of snow away and sitting down, much preferring your rear to freeze than your feet. Clavis laughed, trudging over to you. 

“What a show you always give me,” he muttered, a tender smile on his face as he pulled a pair of slippers from his coat. 

“How did you-?” you muttered.

“I wasn’t planning on letting you say no.” he grinned up at you as he bent in front of you and took your foot into his hand, eliciting a surprised gasp from you. Winking, he slipped the shoes onto your feet and shrugged off his cloak, wrapping it around your shoulders instead and tying it at the base of your throat. It was warm, and smelled like him: lavender with a hint of cinnamon that drew you to close your eyes and absorb it without any other sensory distraction. When you opened your eyes, he was leveling you with that look again; the look that stoked a fire inside of you, hot enough to burn away the remnants of the chill.

“Clavis-”

“How do you like the snow?” His sudden and sharp change of pace threw you out of orbit and you sputtered for a moment, unsure of what to say. 

“I- uhm, it’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing me out here.” you replied, at last forming a coherent sentence. 

“Good, I’m glad you like it.” he turned away from you, as though he were admiring something within the bushes, then he bent low like he was examining something. 

“Clavis, what are you- ah!” you screeched as a splat of something distinctly cold and wet hit your cheek. Upon recovery, you realized that Clavis had flung a snowball at you, and was now grinning cheekily at you from where he stood. Once the shock wore off, you began to laugh; an unruly, unfettered laugh that very well could have carried on the wind to the palace guards. But you couldn’t find it in yourself to care, because you were already picking up a snowball of your own to hurl back at the 3rd Prince, who livened up immediately once he was sure the game was on. 

Snow was volleyed back and forth, defensive walls were made, and laughs exchanged. The snow had long since ceased its descent from the sky by the time the white flag was raised, and you were a mess of wet snow and incessant giggles. You met Clavis in the middle of the alcove and shook his hand in mutual surrender, then the prince burst into laughter too. “Alright, let’s get you inside before you catch your death - or I catch mine.” he said with a more serious tone. You nodded, remembering his weak constitution, and let him lead you back to the gate. But before he exited, he turned, holding his arms out. “No evidence, remember?” he smirked and you tittered, nodding. He hoisted you into his arms once more and you laid your head against his chest without even thinking. You heard his melodic chuckle above you and you realized what you had done. Despite the fact that your cheeks were burning, and not from the cold, you didn’t move. You laid against him willingly the whole way back to the castle, snuggling as close to his damp skin as his clothes would allow. 

Once you were back at the door to your room, he made a little mockish bow. “Milady,” he said curtly and turned to leave. But your hand shot out without warning even you, and your fingers curled around his bicep. He turned to look at you, surprise written in his shadow-cast features.

“Do- do you want to warm up?” you asked sheepishly. “I can light the fire in here. It gets warm pretty fast.” A beat of silence. Two. Perhaps you were mistaken? Perhaps the heat between you was yours alone. You loosened your grip on his arm and pulled your own back to your body, subconsciously curling into yourself. “I apologize. I crossed a line. Goodnight Pr-” but before you could even finish the word, he had pressed up against you, pushing you to step back until he stood in the room with you. 

“I’d love to.” he murmured softly, tracing your features with his perceptive gold eyes. “Warm up.” he added, his voice barely above a whisper, and your heart began to race.

“Okay,” you replied, a small smile catching your lips up in your heart’s erratic hoping.

That is how the night ended with a roaring fire in your fireplace, and two bodies tangled closely together under the covers of your bed, fingers tracing every available inch of skin with reverence and vulnerability, and lips gracing lips with unspoken words of ardor and desire. The cold had melted away in the arms of the man that never failed to make you smile, and you snuggled impossibly closer to him, your heart swelling when he beat the odds of pulling you in even more, his hand crawling under your nightshirt to splay his palm against your back, his touch as smoldering as his eyes before they closed so he could kiss you again. You sighed, relinquishing your will in the long battle against sleep, and drifted into a world where no number of beautiful dreams could possibly contend with your reality in Clavis’s arms.  

THE sand felt icky between my toes; the crash of the waves provided a remedy for my condition. For a moment, washing away the sand was the only care I had in the world, as I hiked my skirt over my knees and marched into the ocean. 

Unfortunately, my expectations that were set high by the lovely descriptions of the sea in my books were intimately deflated the moment I stepped foot in the water. Instead of washing off, the sand stuck to my feet, made worse by the seaweed tangling around my ankles and the clams below my heels. All of a sudden, my body reacted out of instinct, desperate to flee.

“GET IT OFF–what the fuck is that ?!” Half shriek, half cry I jumped around, trying to put distance between me and whatever ungodly creature just crawled out of the ocean.

Laughter rang in my ears, the source being a doubled over Clavis desperately trying to catch his breath. “My goodness” he managed in between gasps “…what an amazing reaction!”

Contagious. So much so that in spite of myself I found humor in my own humiliation.

 “Is that why you brought me here?” I quipped back, as I struggled to contain my own giggles. 

Time seemed to freeze, as the world narrowed to just the two of us, laughing like children on the beach. Even as I lost grip of my skirt and the water soaked its hem, even as a wave knocked me off balance, sending me face down into the wet sand. Except the impact never came. Instead of the expected cold embrace of the water, I found myself embraced by warm arms; instead of finding myself reflected in the blue of the ocean, I saw myself in Clavis’ golden eyes.

“Ah, I can’t take my eyes off you for even a second, my sweet” He chuckled deeply. Clavis, who was usually impeccably groomed from head to toe was in absolute disarray below me, sand plastered to his shirt, seaweed tangled in his hair. Yet, he laughed wholeheartedly, like he was genuinely having the time of his life. 

“Your hair is a mess.” Giddy,  I plucked seaweed out of his drenched waves. 

“Yours isn’t any better. Maybe the local children will mistake you for a sea spirit.” 

“Is that so? Then they must mistake you for a sea monster, given your state”

“A male siren! Ah, you say the most flattering things, my sweet”

“Between us, I’d be the one mistaken for a siren. Especially next to you!”

He let out a deep, bellowing laugh, making me much more aware of his chest pressed up against mine. I figured he was built solidly, but the lean elegance of his body was all the more obvious with his soaked white dress shirt…

For the first time in my life I snapped my head up to the sky in silent prayer–please don’t let him notice the blush climbing up my neck.  When I regained enough of my composure to look down. I was met with a tilted smile and flushed cheeks—I could not breathe, could not think, could not do anything but look into his eyes.

Clavis called out my name, hands around my waist trembling. Nervousness, excitement, adoration and fear danced on his face—the man that I had only caught glimpses of was finally in front of me, tangible and real. My thumb found its way to the beauty mark right under his mouth, traced its way across his plush bottom lip. 

“Yes, Claivs?” I barely recognized my own voice, raspy and raw, filled with want. Time stopped–all that mattered was his warmth, his laugh, his smile. 

“What do you want to do now?” Slowly, his hand tangled in my hair. 

Our situation was ridiculous, yet it was the first time in years where I didn’t care about what came next. “Kiss me, Clavis.” Barely a whisper, my heart sored—finally getting its way after years of being ignored. 

“As my lady wishes.” Swiftly, he closed the distance between us, his plush lips meeting mine. Softly, I kissed him back, afraid that he’d disappear behind his usual mask. 

Through soft kisses and caresses, our hearts shared secrets that our heads were too scared to acknowledge. When we finally broke for breath, we burst out in giggles—giddy like a pair of infatuated teenagers.

Clavis frowns when he enters the castle and it’s quiet, usually, he is pounced on by Belle. Stopping by Sariel’s office, his worry grows when he is informed she hasn’t been feeling the best.

Frantically checking the library, kitchen, and her room, he has almost given up when he opens his door. The moonlight shines down on his bed where a lump is showing. Relief floods Clavis’s face as he hurries to change into his nightclothes.

Amusement shines in his eyes as he moves toward the lump on his bed, pouncing on the bed and wrapping his arms around the blanket wrapped Belle. Laughter comes from under the blanket, and the Prince moves the blanket down, uncovering her face.

“Hey, you’re squishing me!” Belle squeals and Clavis laughs.

“Why do you always end up under my blanket?”

“No reason, your’s is warmer” Belle’s face flushes and she hides her face. Clavis looks down at her and notices the way she buries her nose in his blanket.

“Well if you want I can buy you a warmer blanket,” Clavis teases, causing the woman to glare at him.

“Don’t you dare take this blanket away from me,” the exhaustion is evident in her voice, and Clavis sighs. He presses a kiss to her cheek and can feel the heat coming off her body, she shivers against him and he feels bad for teasing her so much.

“Come here, let me cuddle you properly,” he lays in his bed and slowly works Belle under both blankets, making sure his blanket is wrapped around her. Belle rests her head against his chest, her lids fluttering. Her body seems to stop shivering as bad as Clavis’s warmth intertwines with hers.

“So do you want to tell me why you were wrapped up all in my blanket?” he whispers, just wanting to hear her say it. Her voice finally drifts out of the blanket.