“So, how does it feel to be married?”  Even if Solara hadn’t seen the smirk over Mereo’s lips, she would have heard it from the tone; flowing out of the fearless lioness with ease.

“The best hours of my life, so far,” she smirked right back, leaning against her arms while swirling wine in her glass. “You should give it a try.”

The red-head hummed, looking up to the ceiling, as a result of which, Tani’s gaze fell down and her posture slouched forward; a hint of blush rising to her cheeks.

“In time,” was the reply, after a few seconds of deliberation that seemed more to have been for the sake of seeming less enthusiastic about the idea than she actually was.

“But perhaps it’s better to not wait for too long,” Lena noted, taking a sip from her wine glass.

The table at which they sat, along with Neva, and Josele, was to the side from the main table. Not too far to be considered a corner, but far enough for them to have a more private conversation. Though most of the guests had retreated into conversing in their own circles. Much like them.

“Agreed. One shouldn’t wait for the fulfilment of marriage. Life is short, after all,” Josele noted, thinking back to the days passed, far longer than they seemed. But also the days ahead, now that the battle with devils had been won, even if only for the time being.

Mereo’s eyes turned to her, as if assessing. But since she had not been acquainted with the brunette previously, aside of having heard what had happened, she couldn’t say that she was happy about it. Though under the circumstances, it was better to stay quiet.

“I see,” was the only comment she gave to the statement. Not meaning anything more with it, but the way the words left her, gave an impression that she might have.

“We’ll just need to see who catches the bouquet,” Tani interrupted, trying to ease the tension. “It tried to make it sturdy enough to actually withhold the toss.”

“And I have no reason to doubt that it wouldn’t hold,” Solara replied, trying to shift the conversation elsewhere. “Thank you, again, by the way,” she continued as a soft smile crept onto her face. “It wouldn’t have been the same without your input.”

“It was nothing,” Tani protested. “It was a simple task, really, and I was happy to do it.”

Had Solara had to guess, she could have sworn that there was a hint of a blush on Tani’s cheeks along with her tone. But as Mereo wrapped her arm around her beloved, and pulled her closer, making the guessing unnecessary; although this blushing was for other reasons.

“And you too Neva,” Lara turned her gaze. “You really outdid yourself. Thank you.”

“Of course!” She half blurted, half said. “I mean… Of course, I would help. And it was good practice on mana control.”

“Regardless, thank you.” The words were spoken with a nod, and a smile, while the platinum blonde girl took another piece of cake in front of her. She still needed time to get used to compliments. Being recognized for her work. Though she couldn’t say that she wasn’t exactly given credit, it was more that she wasn’t… most often, thanked for it.

“It was interesting to see other Theans… doing… a ….” Tani begun, trailing off as someone floated through the air on a piece of… metal? Surely such spells existed, but something about it just caught her attention. Which caused the others to turn to look towards the same direction, to see a young woman, easily below twenty, approaching.

“’ey,” she greeted, stepping off the board and taking a seat by the table, all with a swift motion.

Her hair was short, reaching only her jawline; mostly platinum white, much like Selena’s, but a couple of individual streaks of red ran through them.

“Didn’t mother tell you to leave that at home for today?” Lena asked, glancing at the board.

“[She told me to behave,]” the woman remarked.

There was a pause which spoke more than words might have. At the end of which Solara let out a soundless sigh.

“What? I’m behaving,” the woman retorted.

The gazes turned expectantly to the twins; to make introductions if nothing else.

“I’d like you to meet our little sister,” Solara motioned to the woman.

“Yo,” she said with a wave of a hand. And received various replies; all of which were a greeting of their own.

Selena glanced at her from the corner of her eye, but the sister didn’t seem to mind.

Mereoleona’s brows furrowed, as she thought about it. And she could recall seeing the woman briefly at the Divine Evaluation. But they hadn’t actually talked. Barely exchanged a greeting beforehand. Though, she supposed, the situation had perhaps been weighing on the little sister to the point where making such greetings felt obsolete.

“Aurora, was it?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Yeah… Though, I prefer Rory. Because ‘Aurora’ sound so… formal, y’know?”

There was a second, and two, three, during which Mereo only looked at her, until she nodded.

“So… what’s up?” Rory’s eyes shifted around with an awkward smile. “What’s the plan for next?”

“Where have you been?” Lena asked with a tone that was trying to not be displeased.

“Around.”

“[You could have been more present.]”

“[I was!]”

“Please… you two,” Solara sighed, taking a sip of wine.

A moment of silence passed around the table. Lena’s expression settled down into a composed one, right before her gaze fell, looking into the depths of the table.

Meanwhile Rory’s brows stayed furrowed, but her eyes, too, were directed down and ahead of herself.

“I was around… I just… I don’t like these kinds of socials… But I’ve been around,” she insisted. “I saw the ceremony, the cake cutting, the dance and everything, but I…”

Lena hesitated for a moment, while Lara waited for Rory to continue. But instead, it was Lena to speak up first.

“You could have come say hi,” this time her tone was softer, more gentle and understanding. But there was an underlying veil of hurt.

“I guess…” Rory’s gaze turned to the side.

“You’re here now,” Lara concluded with a vast array of emotion. But… She was glad that Rory did eventually make an appearance. “Not everyone likes to be … on display, in lack of a better word.”

Rory only nodded. Not sure what she should say about it. Because she couldn’t say that she wouldn’t have been placing herself on display at times, but the stuck-up kind of being on display that was associated with nobility was the specific kind she didn’t want. If she was noticed she wanted it to be for a reason of her own choosing.

“I don’t really like these kinds of socials either,” Neva admitted. She wasn’t exactly sure why she was the one to speak up. Perhaps she just felt that she could relate.

“Like a plant out of a pot,” Tani tried to joke. Because she was also very much out of her comfort zone with noble balls, parties, alike.

“But you kept an eye out for your sister,” Josele smiled. “Even if from the side lines.”

Rory thought about it for a while. How they all seemed to … not like such socials. Or at least understood her motivations. But still they were there.

“Rory…” Lena continued. “It’s not that I’m upset with the fact that you made an appearance, but I… wished that you… I wish that you’d be around more. You’re always coming and going.”

Rory nodded. “Look, Lena I… miss you guys too. Both of you,” she looked at both Lara and Lena. “And you’re tied in things a lot. Plus, I have my own life to figure out…” she begun to trail off; but stopped before she did so fully. “You’re right though. I could have come say hi.”

There was a smile shared, but no words exchanged. Perhaps because neither knew what to say, or perhaps because there was no reason to say.

“Bouquet toss.”

Everyone glanced at Lara.

“The next ‘event’ is bouquet toss,” she repeated with a faint smile.

“Cool,” Rory said. “And garter toss?”

“Garter toss?” Lena quirked an eyebrow.

“Yeah. I heard it’s this thing where the groom reached under the bride’s skirt and removes a garter, which he’ll then toss like the bride tosses the bouquet.”

Lena blinked.

Rory looked at her. “Yeah. I’m serious.”

Lena blinked again, and turned her attention to Lara, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. It’s a real practice Lena,” she commented. “But we’re not doing it. We’re tossing something else.”

“Oh?”

“My hairpiece,” she replied, her fingers reaching towards the accessory that held large red roses, although artificial.

Lena hummed in thought, but said nothing. Simply because there was nothing to say.

“So… any of you, or your spouses gonna take part in the tosses?” Rory asked, glancing around the table; trying to make conversation, more than anything.

“I think I’ll pass,” Mereo remarked, taking another sip of her drink.

“Oh?” Tani glanced at her.

“You’re welcome to, if you want to. I just don’t see a reason for it,” she shrugged.

“I’ll also join,” Neva uttered. “Just for fun.”

“And Yuno?” Solara asked.

“I don’t think he will,” Neva blushed slightly, tilting her head. “I don’t think it’s really his thing…”

“The same applies to Nacht,” Josele thought out loud. “But I think it’s entertainable.” Her eyes shifted around, trying to catch a glimpse of him. Speaking of which… where is my darling devil divine? She thought right before the announcement came to perform the bouquet toss.

Solara took her bouquet as the people arranged themselves. Some gathering into a rather large crowd near French doors that led to the balcony. Meanwhile others gathered around to see who’d be the lucky one to catch the assortment of flowers.

Tani positioned herself around the middle of the group, thinking that the bouquet was slightly lighter than it might have appeared, but the fact that it was a cascading one, might make it more difficult to throw.

Neva settled onto the left side of the crowd, concluding that right-handed people, while throwing something over their head most often end up throwing towards the left.

But Josele settled to the back. The game was silly, although for good fun. However, she didn’t see a reason to position herself to a place where those who were intent on catching the bouquet might push around. She could take it, but there seemed to be no real reason to subject to such. And besides, from there she could try to keep an eye out for Nacht, in case he’d appear from somewhere.

“Ready?” There was the sound of a smile in Lara’s tone, but it nearly slipped Josele as Nacht appeared next to her.

Her head turned to him, away from the crowd.

He extended his hands forward, as if to present a point. “Josele? I’ve been thinking abou-“

There was a bouquet in his hands.

“Hm?”

“HE CAUGHT IT!” Someone yelled.

Nacht turned towards the sound, to see a good number of women staring at him as Josele’s hand rose in front of her mouth to hide her smile, and the laugh that tried to leave her.

“I DEMAND A RETOSS!” The same voice called as Nacht’s eyes shifted between Josele and the crowd.

“I’m…”

“LET HIM HAVE IT!” Yami yelled in return with a grin.

The crowd turned to Solara who was trying to contain a laughter, her hand, too, covering her mouth.

“Ladies…” she managed through her amusement. “If he wants to get married this much, then perhaps we ought to let him.”

There was a displeased grumble from the crowd, but no real argument against.

“Good catch,” Josele teased while placing her hand onto his arm.

“I… suppose…” he uttered, looking at the item in his hand. “Actually I… was thinking about something like this…” He uttered under his breath.

“For what?” She chuckled, not quite sure exactly what she was referring to.

His eyes turned to the side, the crowd and the people nearby who might hear. And it was too early for them to hear.

“You were saying something?” She asked, seeing the glance, the apprehension and the reservedness.

“Yes…” his gaze travelled around the room, after which he pulled her with him out of the doors and onto the balcony, as people begun to disperse.

The activity had been concluded. Even if not all were pleased with the outcome, despite it having been all fun and games, more than anything actually meaningful. Silly little tradition that had served a good laugh with the unexpected turn of events.

Solara made her way towards Fuegoleon, who was standing next to Nozel and Yami; as Yami was musing to Nacht having been the one to catch the bouquet.

“Sure hope he takes this as a sign,” he laughed. “He’s been looking at Josele like a puppy dog for ages. Better if he finally took the plunge.”

“Sometimes it requires time Yami,” Fue noted as Lara linked her arm with his.

“Sometimes,” she teased.

“Sometimes,” he agreed.

“Yeah, you two waited for a while too,” Yami remarked with a straight face.

Solara shook her head while Fue sighed. And Nozel frowned.

“So, now to the hairpiece toss?” She asked, looking at Fue, but before he could get anything past his lips; barely having had time to open his mouth, Yami spoke on top of him.

“Hairpiece toss?”

“Yes,” Fue nodded. “Since it’s… unfavourable to retrieve a garter in public, we’re opting to do a similar practice, but with her hair accessory.”

Yami looked at Solara without an expression.

“Mhm,” she nodded. “The hair comb with roses in it.”

Yami glanced at the accessory with large, red roses with a little gold dust around the edges of the petals. “Hm,” he uttered with an exhale, thinking to himself about how it’d suit Charlotte. Though, he couldn’t think of anything that wouldn’t suit Charlotte. And yet, the hairpiece, the roses and the faint glimmer of the gold dust which… reminded him of the way her eyes sparkles when the light hit them in the right angle.

Yeah… He couldn’t imagine it not looking good on Charlotte.

Solara turned her head towards Fue again, placing her other hand as well onto his arm. “Are we going to-, Hey!”

Her attention darted back to Yami, who was now holding onto the accessory with a thoughtful look in his eyes. The hairdo came undone, strawberry blond locks now flowing past her shoulders, down her back and framing her face. Her left ear was still visible due to a braid keeping it together, while the right side held volume.

“That was uncalled for Sukehiro,” Fuegoleon’s arm wrapped around Lara’s waist, pulling her close as he glared at Yami. And his tone… was cold.

It was cold.

Lara looked at him for a moment, and as she did, he pulled her with a faint motion, as if to assure her. As a result of which she pressed her forehead against his cheek, from where she made a rolling motion to look back at Yami without pulling away.

“You were going to take it out regardless,” Yami commented with a blank expression.

“That is the argument I was making. It is not your position to take it from her,” his jaw was tense, and she had to wonder if there was a growl in his tone. Or if she had just imagined it.

There was a pause as Yami stood there, seemingly wondering about what to say, or do. Until he waved his other hand in front of him. “Okay, well, sorry ‘bout that.”

Fuegoleon’s lips parted to reply as Solara leaned back, placing her hand onto his other cheek.

She pulled, every so faintly, guiding him to look at her.

“If he wants to get married that badly…” she uttered with a whisper, before pressing a kiss onto the corner of his mouth.

For a moment Fue’s brows stayed furrowed, as if trying to make a decision; until the expression melted away and settled into a much softer one.

“Alright,” he finally said, glancing at Yami. But the rest of the sentence was left hanging in the air; left unsaid. Not that it needed to be said.

Yami knew that he wasn’t ‘proper’, and didn’t behave according to the etiquette, because that just wasn’t the kind of a person he was. To him many things weren’t that serious, and life wasn’t meant to be enjoyed, the best one can. Because life would to well to serve problems regardless, there was no need to make it harder than it already was.

But he also knew when he had crossed a boundary. Even if without meaning to.

This was one of those moments.

And he might need to talk it over with Fuegoleon in some point. But that moment wasn’t now.

Nozel scowled at him, but that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. At least he had refrained from calling him as ‘foreigner’ with a that judgemental tone. Though it was more of a result of Nozel being married to a foreigner, and now having a sister-in-law, who was also a foreigner. The irony itself was a victory in Yami’s books.

“Easy there Braid Face. You’ll pop a vein in your forehead at this rate,” he said, directing the conversation elsewhere, or at least somewhat elsewhere.

“Mind your tongue, Yami,” Nozel retorted with the frost of winter time.

Meanwhile Lara locked gazes with Lena, who sighed.

“What? I’m just saying that getting this worked up over something that’s not about you, isn’t good for your health,” Yami remarked, with a point. But the reaction that he received from Nozel, was anything but receptive.

Fuegoleon sighed at the exchange, because people just couldn’t seem to behave while in the same room, even if for only one day. Though the day had already turned into evening, and soon night. But he supposed the many hours that had gone smoothly had merely lulled him into wishful thinking that no verbal back and forth would be exchanged.

Nozel’s lips parted to reply, but before he could, Lena tugged his hand, pulling him with her.

“Choose your fights dear,” she whispered, and gave him a glance that was laced with a tenderness. But underneath it all there was a hint of something playful, even if only evident to him. The mischievous, almost decadent veil that was hidden from everyone but him.

Because of which he sighed, letting go, for now, and followed her.

“Did you greet my parents already,” Lara asked, leaning away from Fue with the intent to move on.

“Briefly,” he replied, thinking nothing much of it.

She tugged him with her, away from Yami and the situation, towards her parents who were talking with Rory on the balcony. But as the couple approached, the conversation ceased and attention was directed to the two.

“Hi,” Rory raised her hand, as if to wave; more to Fue than Lara, since she hadn’t properly met with him yet, while Celeste and Arcturus gave them a nod.

“Evening,” Fue replied.

“I hope you had nice time,” Lara smiled, directing the statement to all of them.

“As nice it can be, with yet another daughter moving away,” there was a hint of a grin in Celeste’s tone, but there was a sense of melancholy that was more prominent. Because this was, although a joyous occasion, also an end of an era. There was sadness in that change, even if the change was a good thing.

“Mother,” Solara replied with a tone that tried to be a scold, but instead flowed with a grin.

“I know,” she said while taking a step forward and wrapping her arms around Lara, as if trying to shield her from the world for one last time. “[I love you, my darling daughter,]” she uttered, squeezing Lara in her arms one more time.

“[Love you too mom.]”

Celeste took a step back, giving Solara a smile before turning her attention to Fue.

She looked like she had something to say. But as seconds ticked by, it was as if she wasn’t sure precisely what it was that she had to say.

“Ma’am, we haven’t had the chance to converse quite as often as what would be considered favourable, but I know that you care for your daughters; your entire family, which-“

Celeste raised her hand, and cut him off. Because she didn’t need him to try and convince her of… whatever it was that he needed to convince her of.

“I know you’re a good man,” she said. “I just expect you to stay as such.”

Arcturus’ eyes closed as his lips tugged up into a smile. “Give the boy some slack,” he commented with amusement.

Fue glanced at him, and though he wasn’t exactly pleased with being called as ‘boy’, he understood the tone and the well-intentioned meaning behind it.

“He’s gaining our daughter and now he’s supposed to gain ‘some slack’ from me too?” Celeste mused with a glance to her husband.

“Fair,” he laughed, as Fue let out a hum that vibrated in his throat with displease.

“Look,” Celeste begun, thinking that Arcturus actually did have a point, and turned her attention back to the vermillion haired mage. “I don’t like the fact that she’s moving away. Yes, even if the portal makes it far easier to travel. Which creates certain risks.”

Fue did not like the possibilities where this conversation was going.

“Or the fact that Lara won’t be taking on the position she was supposed to, at least not as planned, which creates complications.”

He really didn’t like the conversation.

“Or the fact that she’s moving to a country which has currently no strong leadership.”

Hurtful, but Fue couldn’t exactly argue against. And it made him like the conversation even less.

“But…” she continued. “I do want her to be happy.”

Solara intwined her fingers with Fue’s and leaned against his side.

“And … emotions, when it comes to love, don’t look at these things.”

Fue could feel Lara giving his hand a squeeze, as if to tell him that it’d be alright.

“You two have… fought to be together, and I can’t claim that I could think of anyone more worthy of her,” she admitted, eyes down to the space between them. “But I still don’t like her moving out of Thea,” she added, glancing up at Fue.

“Understandable,” he nodded. Because it was. Moving to another country, wasn’t easy.

“You do have my blessing, to make it clear,” Celeste added.

“But you’d prefer us moving to Thea?”

“Among other things,” she nodded. “But. It’s also not my choice.”

He nodded to her. She was being reasonable. There was frankness in her tone, and the things she had listed, were fair. She was also honest with how she felt.

Celeste recognized that she would have wanted things to be different form what they were, but also that it wasn’t about her. Which was all that could be asked of her.

“Just make her happy.”

“Mother!” Lara scolded. “We’ll make each other happy,” she insisted, as Fue chuckled.

“I intend to,” he said, eyes turned to the side and to Lara, even if the statement was directed at Celeste.

“Okay, now I’m going to steal you away before Father has his turn,” Solara insisted, tugging him with her as Arcturus let out another laugh.

“I’ll have plenty of time for that,” he joked bidding the two off.

Solara tugged Fue towards refreshment, under the disguise of getting a drink, without trying to make it too obvious that she was pulling him along.

“Sorry, about… my parents, it’s…”

“They care about you, my love,” he mused with a faint chuckle.

“Even so, they shouldn’t… I mean it’s…”

“Your mother is… stern, yes. But her arguments are valid,” he told her as they reached the table. “Two of her children have moved abroad, leaving behind duties they were supposed to undertake, which leaves them to figure out how to distribute those duties to others. Even if you’d be able to partake to some of it. It requires more work. And Clover is, at the moment, in a rather unstable setting due to Julius’ disappearance. Her concerns are valid,” he picked up a chocolate covered strawberry from the table.

“But her comment was out of place,” she replied.

“Not as much as you think, beloved,” he held the strawberry in front of her mouth. “Because I am intent on making you happy.”

Her eyes shifted between the strawberry and his gaze which cascaded over her like the gentle rays of the evening sun; bringing her comfort, warmth and security.

“Go ahead, take a bite,” he encouraged.

She shook her head in amusement; the corners of her lips tugging up into a smirk. After which she took a bite.

The juicy fruit gave in under her teeth, and her lips wrapped around the treat for a moment; her eyes looking into his… Until the piece was in her mouth, dancing over her tongue as she chewed, it, up.

Air flowed out of his lungs with something that resembled a content chuckle and a huff, while not being fully either. After which he placed the rest of the strawberry in his own mouth, the sweetness coating his tongue for a while.

“Another?” He asked, making Lara chuckle while shaking her head.

“People are watching,” she replied, glancing for a fraction of a second towards a small group, who were watching the exchange.

His eyes followed, making the same observation before turning back to her with a slow blink. “True,” he agreed. “Perhaps we’ve been scandalous enough for the day.”

“Everything can be scandalous,” she noted. “But the strawberry was perhaps the most one of it all.”

His lips tugged up into a smirk, along with a faint chuckle as a spark rose to the corner of his eye. “What is a man to do when he can’t taste the very sweet heavenly thing he wishes upon his wife’s lips, but to quench it with a poor substitute of a succulent berry?”

“Oh go bite a strawberry,” she told him with a grin.

To which he laughed, eyes gathering a deep undertone of purple velvet. Something rich, heavy, and soft against one’s skin.

Light trickled in through the curtains, landing onto Fuego’s eyelids, making them flicker open. His body felt light, despite the sensation combining with the feeling of having sunken into the mattress.

He couldn’t remember when he had slept this well last; when had felt this rested last.

His head turned to the left, where he saw the still sleeping form of his wife.

My wife…Wife. He thought as a smile crept onto his lips. My beautiful wife… he rolled onto his side, and pulled her closer.

“Mmm..ue…ive more…inutes…” she mumbled, making him chuckle.

“There’s no rush, my beloved,” he leaned over, placing a kiss onto her cheek.

His fingers traced her hairline, tucking a lock behind her ear.

“There’s no rush to anywhere. Not anymore,” he murmured against her skin, sending vibrations down to her neck; making her tickle. “Never again…”

“That tickles!” She giggled while wriggling in his embrace.

“Oh?” He grinned, burrowing his face into the crook of her neck.

“Hey!” She laughed, rolling further away from him, now wide awake.

“Mhm,” he followed her movements, rolling on top of her, without putting his entire weight on her, but still feeling her naked back against his chest.

“Well, aren’t you frisky,” she teased.

“How could I not, when you’re there?”

“Aha,” she chuckled. “Usually I’m more eager.”

“I believe we agreed to take turns.”

“We did,” she agreed pushing her hips back. “Well?” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m all set, and it feels like you’re too.” The grin in her tone was something else. Almost as if she was daring him to go.

And it did nothing but stroke his ego.

“I am,” he agreed, lining himself with her, and pushing in.

She buried her face into the pillow under her head, and moaned into it. Which only made him lower his head, next to her ear, while rocking into her.

“I want to hear you,” he purred, nearly growled.

“But it so good,” she mewled, turning her head to him.

“Mmm…” he pressed his head against hers, feeling her tighten around him.

“Harder,” she encouraged.

A request to which he answered, doing just that; keeping the tempo as it was, but thrusting harder into her.

Her body tensed under him, as she kept repeating his name, along with encouragements. Time and time again, until she drew her lungs full of air, tensing for one more time, before coming undone.

And he, thrusted in one more time, closing his eyes as he allowed himself to climax, knowing that his wife did too.

His wife.

His. And only his.

Whose hair he could brush to the side, before leaning down to kiss her. Just like now.

Who he could pull into his embrace, just like now.

Who he could watch undress, as well as dress, just like now.

Whose life he could share, just like he was, right at that moment; as they were dressed, although only lightly, and merely existing in the same room.

There was still some wine left over from the previous night, which was why they poured themselves a glass, despite it being only eight in the morning. But it’d be a shame to waste good wine, and so, they decided to have that glass while waiting for breakfast to arrive, and open at least a couple of the wedding gifts.

“Which one do you want to open?” She asked, going around the room, and looking at the gifts that had been supplied to them. But a coupled of them stood out; to her, that being one that was accompanied with an envelope, rather than a gift tag.

Fuegoleon let out a thoughtful hum as he saw one of the cards have slightly darkened edges, as if it had been burned. Even if only for an artistic touch. He picked up the package and looked at the tag.

“Who’s it from?” She asked, having chosen one already.

“My sister. And miss Chartreuse,” he replied turning around and making his way to her. He sat onto the love seat, holding the package in his hands, and feeling amusement from the card. “I suppose that she couldn’t help but put her… input into the card,” he mused.

“She made it her own,” Lara smiled, placing her hand onto his arm.

A puff of air left him, flowing out with tenderness of the crackle of fire in the fireplace, which kept them from remembering how autumn was soon upon them. And he smiled. He smiled a warm smile.

“Come on, open it,” she encouraged, enthusiasm seeping through the syllables.  

He glanced at her for a moment, allowing his smile widen before looking back at the package. “Whatever my queen desires,” he uttered as he started unwrapping it.

And inside there seemed to be a blanket, only that the roll was much heavier than one would expect a blanket to be. So, he started rolling the bundle open, to reveal a bottle of wine.

“Mereo took part into the gift,” he commented, but there was a smile on his face.

“Mhm,” Solara hummed as her fingers traced the dark red blanket. “There’s also a monogram on the blanket,” she noted, making him turn his eyes to her hands, and the letters she was tracing, which depicted the initials of their first names.

“So it seems,” he uttered with a whisper.

“We could… curl up on the balcony once it’s proper autumn… maybe light some candles and open that bottle of wine and just.. look at the stars…”

“Does it entail holding you close?” He smirked, leaning closer to her, his hands trailing along the crimson fabric, until he could lock the tips of his fingers together with hers.

“And as many kisses as we count the stars,” she leaned closer.

There was a pause, as his gaze flickered between her lips and her eyes.

“I would rather spend the energy to kisses than counting,” he commented.

She blinked, and looked at him. After which she pressed her forehead against his shoulder and laughed. She laughed, feeling how she might run out of air.

And he… He smiled.

He smiled because she laughed, and that sound, the melody, the tune to which he could almost feel their souls dance… It was almost too good to be true. To know that they were finally there, was almost too good to be true.

“You’re adorable,” she pressed a kiss onto his cheek, making his smile only widen as she pulled away, eyes radiant as ever.

“Which gift did you choose?” He asked, glancing to her hands and to the small box, and an envelope that she held.

“Miss Canty’s and Lord Faust’s,” she replied, handing him the envelope.

He let out a hum while taking a hold of the envelope. There were still mixed feelings when it came to his opinion on Miss Canty, even if Solara seemed to have made friends with her. Up to the point where they were… at least on first name basis, if not nicknames already. Though he supposed that he had called her address Josele as Joey, once or twice, now that he thought about it.

But to him, there was still a… hint of apprehension. Which he did want to shake. Because of, both, his own sake as well as hers. She wanted to be better, and he wanted to believe that she was better, while recognizing that he had made a mistake back in the day, which had resulted into her harsh words.

And… she had made a formal apology. So, perhaps he was being too hard on her.

His eyes turned to look at Solara, who was trying to untie the ribbon around the box.

Her fingers pulled onto the ribbon, but the box refused to open willingly. So, she extended her mana skin to her nails, creating claws, and cut through the red piece of fabric. The box itself was blue, and the lid could simply be pulled up, which she did, to reveal something that resembled a pendant.

“Just one?” Fue asked, looking at the box.

She hummed in thought picking up the item from the box, or intending to do so, but nearly dropping a part of it.

The blue box tumbled onto the floor, but in her palms, she had managed to capture not one, but two pendants. One was a solid heart, made of a stone that had a faint pink hue to it, meanwhile the other, seemed more like an outlining of the very same heart, but still was of a heart shape itself. But the larger one, was made of stone that was of lavender hue.

His eyes scanned over the pendants, not thinking much of them, other than there was a faint, barely unnoticeable flow of mana. “A… heart warming gesture,” he commented, quietly wondering about the purpose of the mana.

“There’s a letter too, right?” She asked, looking at the envelope in his hand.

His reply came in the form of a hum, after which he opened the envelope to indeed find a letter, which he begun reading out loud.

“Congratulations to the both of you Lady and Lord Vermillion, on this joyous occasion.

We wish nothing but peace and love on the journey you’re undertaking as a couple, but since the world has shown each of us, that life is not without trouble, we wish to bestow a small blessing onto you.

The box holds two pendants, crafted of different stones. The smaller one that bears a faint pink hue and some darker red spots, is made of strawberry quartz. It’s believed to be calming and soothing, but also a stone of self-understanding. While the other one is made of lavender quartz, and is said to aid in time of doubt and bring a sense of security into oneself and their capabilities. However, we wished to extend our wish further than mere symbolism of the stones, and embed them with magic.

Strawberry quartz and lavender quartz are both receptive in similar ways as rose quartz, which is a stone of healing. It channels healing magic, as well as stores it, much better than any other type of material Nacht has been able to find, which is why we felt this to be the best fit for the two of you.

The pendants are embedded with healing magic that charges itself on your emotions. But due to the nature of the stone, and the emotions we wish upon you, they respond only to the feeling of love, may that be the love you feel for each other, your friends or your family, the pendants respond to it and store mana into themselves. And this mana will then be used to heal you in time of need.

Sadly, the potency extends to only small cuts and bruises, but sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.

We wish you all the best on this journey you’re taking. May it be filled with love and laughter.

Best wishes,

Josele and Nacht”

She smiled, and looked at the pendants in her hand. “I think it’s a lovely gesture,” she uttered, leaning her head against his shoulder.

“It is,” he agreed. Though he wasn’t quite yet… over what she had said to him once upon a time, he couldn’t deny, especially after hearing this well-wishing, that she was a much better person than what that one ‘assessment’ would have led to believe.

“So, which one do you want,” she asked, holding out the pendants. “The lavender one matches your eyes.”

He smiled at the words, and looked at the pendants. In a way, he supposed, that the larger one was a depicting himself, meanwhile the smaller one reminded him of her.

“It does,” he told her, taking a hold of the larger pendant. “But… I think it would suit you better.” He pulled away, just enough to turn to her, and opened the lock of the chain which held the pendant.

“Reminds me of you,” she half said, half corrected, while turning around and brushing her hair to the side.

“Among other things,” he admitted while putting the pendant on her.

“Mark me as yours?” She teased.

“Perhaps that too,” he leaned forward and placed a kiss onto her cheek.

“Hey!” She laughed. “Hold on with the love until we can get a pendant on you too,” she cooed while turning around and wrapping her arms around him, to place the smaller pendant onto him.

“Perhaps I’m eager,” he suggested.

“And perhaps the ten seconds it took, wasn’t too long,” she smirked.

“Almost,” his lips parted and he leaned closer, as if beckoning her to do the same.

“Hmmm… Almost you say,” she grinned, staying still.

“I do,” he inched closer. Forgetting for a moment that the loveseat was narrower than the imagined, which made him tumble onto the floor.

She covered her mouth with her hand in surprise, even until he locked his gaze with hers.

“This is what happens if I don’t have you, my love,” he smirked, and let out a faint chuckle.

She laughed, lowering down onto the floor, on top of him. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Anything you see fit.”

“A dangerous thing to say,” she purred.

“You say, as if I would give in so easily,” he cooed with feather light syllables and cupped her face between his hands.

“Mhm,” she lowered down, her lips hovering over his. “And you-“

There was a knock.

The door opened.

“Sir, breakfast is being-“ The maid froze, glancing at the two, and holding the tray.

There was another maid, holding another tray. Who also froze in place.

Fuegoleon and Solara looked at the two in return.

“You can put the trays down,” Fuegoleon commented with a faint nod.

And the maids did before hurrying out of the room, nearly slamming the door shut on their way.

A few seconds ticked in the air, after which Fue sighed, and Lara laughed.

“Great timing,” she chuckled while sitting up.

“It is nine in the morning,” he said, perhaps trying to reason with him. “It is the latest I’ve had breakfast in a while.”

“So, they did give us time,” she cooed, finding amusement in his faint frown.

“Mhm,” she smirked while rolling her hips, still sitting on his lap.

“The breakfast will get cold,” he commented with a flicker in the corner of his eye, as his lips tried to tug up into a smirk that he tried to hide.

“Not if we’re quick,” she suggested, nearly pouted, with a taunt.

---

Nozel made his way back to the bedroom, intending to bid her off on his way to work, but instead found the bed empty.

The bed wasn’t made, but that was fair considering how he had told the staff to keep out until breakfast was being server. The only exception being the servant who did his hair in the morning, but for that purpose he entered a dressing room, instead of staying in the bedroom itself.

His eyes scanned around, but as he felt a flow of mana, he turned around to see Selena emerging from the bathroom.

She was wearing a dark blue sating robe, and her hair was down. Only brushed but otherwise free, which made it flow with her movements.

“I’ll be going to work,” he told her, looking at how the hem of the robe swayed around her, while the rest of it hugged her body. And how her hair, platinum, almost white, framed her features.

“Oh?” She uttered standing in front of him.

“Oh?” He repeated with a slight frown.

“Mhm,” she hummed, while placing her hands onto his chest, and playing with the feathers of his cape. “You see, I’m going to do something that you’ll hate me for.” There was a faint coo in her voice, speaking of something far less dire than the words itself might have implied.

“[Heaven’s sent] I do need to work. It’s not our honey moon,” he noted.

“Not necessarily,” her hands glided over his chest, the fabric of his shirt, as if looking to bury themselves under the cape as well. “Considering how it’s only the day after the wedding, people aren’t expecting everything to be back in full swing.”

“Which is why I need to be there,” he replied. “I’m required to take care of duties for today in place of Fuegoleon as well.”

“His squad can run by itself for a day,” she retorted, leaning closer to him. “And I’ve distributed your duties for the day to Rob. The ones that can be distributed I mean, and your schedule wasn’t that filled to begin with.”

He paused for a while, taking in her statement. “You distributed my work forward?”

“Mhm,” she hummed. “And I’ll help you complete what the other’s cant take care of. Tomorrow.”

He let out a sigh. Despite there being a certain… allure in the situation.

“And Rob just agreed to this?” He looked at her, not yet quite sure how to take it.

“Well…” her eyes averted for a while as her fingers fumbled with the collar of his shirt. “He wasn’t exactly eager to tell me no either. Considering how I am your wife.”

She had a fair point. He couldn’t, not really anyways, blame his underlings for agreeing to a request coming from his wife.

“And I might have promised him an extra day off for his troubles.”

He sighed again. “I can’t say that I’m particularly happy with being walked over when it comes to assigning my duties forth,” he told her. “But I don’t hate you for it.” He continued. Because he didn’t hate her. He couldn’t hate her.

“So… are we good?” She asked, placing one of her hands onto his cheek.

A faint smile rose to his lips as he looked at her. “Don’t make a habit out of it.”

“I’m not planning on,” her other hand burrowed away from under his cape, and onto fur lining of it instead. “But you need a day off. And since you refuse to take one for yourself-“

“I do take time off,” he protested with a veil of amusement in his tone.

“Not enough.”

A scoff that tried to not be a chuckle, left him. Because, even if he wouldn’t admit it, he thought that she was… more right than she was wrong. He wouldn’t take this much time off; had he not been married. And though he could use this time to get ahead of his rival, spending it in other ways was far more enjoyable.

Perhaps life ought to be more enjoyable.

“Mhm,” she hummed with a lingering tease. “But that’s not what you’ll hate me for.”

“Oh?” A grin tried to climb onto him, but he snuffed it out. Because even though the taunt in her tone gave away the meaning of the statement, he should wait for her to elaborate.

But she didn’t reply. She merely wore a wide grin on her face as her fingers twirled his braid.

“Well?” He asked, trying to still contain his own grin from coming to surface.

She took a hold the hairclip at the end of his braid, keeping it between her thumb and index finger to the side, as if to peek behind it.

“You can’t get away from replying with a smile,” he told her, this time failing to give her a glimpse of a smile; telling her that she could get away with it, if she wanted to. With him, and about silly little things such as this, she could.

If she wanted to.

But the thing was, that she didn’t want to get away with it. Which was why she pulled the hairclip off, tossing it onto the floor before running her fingers through the hair of his braid, opening it. And the fingers of her other hand joined in, ruffling his hair, before combing it back.

His eyes widened, locking in with the hair clip before she tossed it away, only to find their way onto the expression she wore, while his settled into a frown.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she grinned.

His eyelids fell under his furrowed brows, in a slow, careful manner.

“And your hair is so smoo-“

He lowered down, hoisted her up, and carried her to the bed, tossing her onto it. Which made an amused yelp leave her lungs.

“Oh my,” she mused as he pulled his cape off, and tossed it onto the floor.

He leaned forward, hovering over her, before crawling onto the bed, on top of her.

“You did not just go through all that trouble to ruffle my hair, did you?” His tone was low, and quiet. It tasted like a warning, and sounded almost like a growl. But in fact, was neither of them.

“And what if I did?” She teased.

His eyes closed again, but this time there was no frown; only sheer, amused disbelief. “Unnecessarily difficult,” he commented looking at her.

“I don’t think so…” she cooed while wrapping her arms around him, over his shoulders. “And besides, now I know you’re not leaving for a while.”

“That, my dear, is called blackmail,” he noted, now unable to shake the smile from his lips.

“Mhm,” she hummed, but didn’t sound convinced. “What exactly am I withholding from you?” Her grin only widened as her eyes flickered between his eyes and his lips.

“You’re being … naughty,” he corrected, making her laugh.

“Oh? So now my sentence is reduced to being naughty,” she joked, sinking her fingers into his hair.

“Yes,” the reply flowed past his lips, as he lowered down, closer to her.

“And what if I don’t surrender willingly?”

“It will just prolong the process…”

“And what if that’s what I want?”

“I see…” he smirked before pressing his lips against hers; holding onto hers, caressing hers.

He should, perhaps, been more adamant on working regardless. Just to show that he couldn’t do as he wanted out of a whim. Just to show that he was dutiful. He should have…

Maybe. Just maybe.

But he didn’t want to think about it; about what he should be doing. Because what was in front of him, under him… within his reach, was far better than the piles upon piles of paperwork on his desk… And, if he was honest, there had been so many days, during which he had, while sitting in that chair of his, in that lonely office of his, just stared in front of him, into the depths of the mahogany surface of the desk before him, and thought about doing… her, on it, instead of his work. How he had been thinking about her, still mostly clothed but dishevelled, sitting on his desk, as he’d pound into her.

He swallowed. At the thought. At the touch, that wasn’t a fantasy.

It’d be unprofessional, and ungentlemanly of him, to suggest such a thing. Let alone do such a thing.

But so was this.

Her hands, having undone his pants, during workhours. Her robe, open, and her neck bare, before him.  

Perhaps I did die in Spade and went to heaven, he thought while pressing himself against her. Letting his lips dance over hers, as if she was air and he was drowning.