#ikemen prince gift exchange

[pondlilies00]

@alydra Here's your gifts for the Ikepri Gift Exchange! I hope you like it, Sariel defiantly needs a nap lol

Thank you @ikemenlibrary and @sunnyikemen for hosting this event! It's been fun participating ^^

#ikemen prince #ikepri #ikemen series #sariel noir #ikepri sariel #ikemen prince sariel #ikemen prince gift exchange #my art

[ikeromantic]

Read to Me

Chevalier asks MC to read some poetry to him, much to her surprise. She soon realizes a book of poems isn't as innocent as it sounds. Approx 1600 words.

Written for the Ikemen Prince Gift Exchange! This is for @aquagirl1978

Chevalier regarded the former Belle and future queen with a bland expression. She was still explaining her idea for a family picnic and how she might include everyone -

“I think it would be easy enough to convince Yves and Licht, of course, and Clavis would show up just to cause chaos but Nokto is so hard to pin down!” Her eyes were bright with determination, showing a glint of the steel in her soul. “I was thinking of putting some perfume on his invitation - not mine, of course! And lipstick?”

He didn’t care whether or not she held her picnic, though he had no doubt she would. And every one of his brothers would be there, because she knew how to ask them. She’d grown into her position in the palace. Emissary of the Brutal Beast. The King’s common lover. Keeper of his library, and his heart. Chevalier found his lips curling into a small smile.

“Did you think of something for Sariel? I can’t pull him away from his work for even an hour and -”

“Come.” Chev stood and held out his hand. When she took it, he still felt her warmth prickle along the nerves of his arm and speed his beating heart. He didn’t think he would ever get used to the love in her eyes nor the simple trust she placed in him. His calloused hand cupped her small, soft fingers gently as if she were blown glass. 

She said nothing as he led her out of the library and into the garden. Late summer brought out the riotous colors, every plant weighted with heavy-headed blossoms. But it was only when they came within sight of the rose-entwined gazebo that she made a noise. Soft, breathy. A sigh just on the edge of hearing.

Roses in scarlet and crimson twined about the wood structure, curling up the columns and hanging in vermillion boughs at every opening. The air was scented with their perfume and even the light took on a pink tinge within the confines of that place. 

Chevalier’s heartbeat faltered a moment as the sound she made brought back a tumble of memories. Her parted lips, heavy-lidded gaze, soft breasts in the glow of afternoon sun. The feel of her skin beneath him. Perfect recall was not always a strength, he thought, mildly chagrined. 

He led her to the wood bench beneath the awning, a hidden spot, a favorite place to go and read without being disturbed. “Sit.” 

She sat down beside him, her smile more beautiful to him than the curtain of roses around them. There was no blossom to compare. “Thank you for showing me this, Chevalier. I get so caught up in palace stuff that I forget to enjoy being here.”

His snort of laughter was soft and not unkind. 

She nestled into his side with a happy sigh. 

“Here.” He fished his newest acquisition from an inner pocket. The slim volume had no title painted on the leather cover, nor an author’s name. “Read to me.” Chevalier kissed her temple, inhaling the scent of her.

“Mmm. Alright. What page are you on?” She raised an eyebrow, expectantly. 

“I have not begun it yet.” Her little gasp of surprise pushed his smile wider. “I thought to save it for you. Something to share.” He could feel the way her pulse sped at his words. The effect of such a small gesture of affection. Chevalier loved her reactions. 

She opened the book, flipping past the title page and the list of contributing authors. Eager to get to the meat of it, so to speak. “Ok. Umm, this one is . . . Come Slowly, Eden? It looks like - poetry?” Her head tilted to better regard him.

“I like poetry. Sometimes.” He couldn’t help the slight, teasing tone to his voice. “Go on.”

“Right. So - 

Come slowly – Eden! Lips unused to Thee – Bashful – sip thy Jessamines – As the fainting Bee – Reaching late his flower, Round her chamber hums – Counts his nectars – Enters – and is lost in Balms.”

She paused, read back through it again, her eyes tracing the lines, fingertips light on the edges of the pages. “Chevalier . . . is this love poetry?”

“Is it?” He raised an eyebrow. “Continue. Your question is better answered by the text.” Chev pulled her tight against his hip, settling his arm around her shoulders. 

“I had no idea.” She laughed. “Love poems. And you’ll remember every single line?”

“Of course, simpleton. Stop delaying.”

“Mhmmm.” She was flushed slightly now, her cheeks warm. “Next then.” She flipped the page, scanning the text with her eyes. 

“Carnal apple, Woman filled, burning moon, dark smell of seaweed, crush of mud and light, what secret knowledge is clasped between your pillars? -”  She paused, scanning all the way down the page now, gaze flitting from line to line, lips parted in mute surprise before she mumbled - “Kiss by kiss I cover your tiny infinity, your margins, your rivers, your diminutive villages, and a-”

Her breath trembled as she read and re-read the text. “Ah, let’s - let’s pick a different one, hm?”

“You don’t like that one?” His fingertip traced the edge of her ear.

“Chevalier!” She threw him a glare, though she knew he could see right past her faux-outrage.

“Pick another, then.” He watched as she thumbed through the pages, her eyes going wider with each printed line of dark ink. She didn’t seem likely to stop on one. Her shyness, even after all this time, amused him. As if there were any poems in this book more erotic than the love they made. “That one,” he chose for her.

She squirmed a moment and then surrendered. “You don’t even know if you like this one.” 

“I will know after you read it.” He rested his chin atop her head.

“Whatever happens with us, your body will haunt mine—tender, delicate your lovemaking . . .”

Her breath was shallower than usual, and he could feel the pounding of her heart against his chest. How silly and precious she was, this lover of his. Chevalier eased her onto his lap, enjoying the solid warmth of her pressing against him.

“Mmm . . .” She gave him a look that said she knew all too well he was teasing, but that she planned to go along with it. 

“like the half-curled frond of the fiddlehead fern in forests just washed by sun.”

Chevalier let his lips find the edge of her ear. Brushing her skin lightly there, his breath ghosting across her cheek. 

“I - I can’t concentrate when you do that. I thought you wanted me to read?” She wriggled defiantly, knowing exactly the effect such a motion would have on him.

He bit back the breathy groan and gave her the iciest look he could muster. “Read.”

The slight curl of her lips told him she was well aware of her effect, noise or no. 

“Your traveled, generous thighs between which my whole face has come and come— the innocence and wisdom of the place my tongue has found th- there—”

Her stuttering was more the effect of his teeth grazing her neck, than the text, he thought. Her skin was salty-sweet, a slight bitter tang from her perfume, sweat, and the deliciousness of her. 

She tried to ignore his touch, but focusing on the sensual language was no help. Her voice quavered as she read on. 

“the live, insatiate dance of your nipples in my mouth— your touch on me, firm, protective, searching me out . . .” 

Her entire face was hot now, and she licked the corner of her mouth with the tip of her tongue.

The gesture made Chevalier want to kiss her. “Is that the last line?” He knew it was not. He could see the page easily enough and had already learned the words by heart.

“No but . . . Chevalier . . . it’s -” She gestured to the book helplessly. 

“Read it to me.” He spoke the words against her skin. His rasping voice sent a trembling pleasure through her and she bit her lip in rebellion to it.

Her expression was one of internal conflict. The desire to give in to his demands and her natural defiance. “Alright. Here, 

your strong tongue and slender fingers reaching where I - I -”

Chevalier smiled as she stumbled over the final lines. Her breath was thready with excitement, and her heart sped faster still. He loved seeing her like this, nearly undone by a few words and light touches. Her reaction had nearly undone him as well. Though he hid it well - no blushing or gasping breath for him - his pulse was racing too, and a certain tension coiled in him. “Go on.”

She cleared her throat, 

“I had been waiting years for you in my rose-wet cave—whatever happens, this is.” 

Her eyes read over the words again, tracing the ink with her fingertip.

He lifted her hand from the page and kissed the tip of her finger, his lips and tongue and teeth tasting her. From one finger to another, her palm, her wrist. Chevalier wanted to devour her whole. To strip her here, in this blossom bower and love her with every part of him until every part of her was claimed. He nearly shook with restraint as he let go of her hand.

“Chevalier.” His name said with equal parts love and desire. She turned to face him, her fingers traced the line of his jaw. Brushed his lower lip, satin on velvet. Then she kissed him, soft and hungry. 

His arms went around her, pulling her closer. Heat like an August sun beneath the ice of his exterior burst through him. The moment stretched, shared breath and the possessive tangle of limbs and lips, tongues and teeth. Sighs stained the close-held air, petal-soft caresses kept secret by the gallery of roses. 

Come Slowly, Eden by Emily Dickinson

Carnal Apple, Woman Filled, Burning Moon by Pablo Neruda

The Floating Poem, Unnumbered by Adrienne Rich

#ikemen prince gift exchange #ikemen prince #ikepri chevalier #chevalier michel #spicy #fanfiction #fanfic #otome #otome guys

[daegupaksu]

A Starry Tryst - Nokto X Noele (OC)

For @drachonia as part of the Ikemen Prince Gift Exchange! I hope you like it! Your OC is gorgeous and I had fun drawing her and Nokto as well.

Thank you to the hosts @ikemenlibrary and @sunnyikemen.

--

A/N: I love Nokto's 3rd anniversary outfit. But there's no HD pic of it so I butchered his sash design.

Excuse my excessive take on the sparkles. I'm a magpie 🐦‍⬛✨

Background inspired by Cybird

#aki's art #ikemen prince #ikemen prince gift exchange #ikepri gift exchange #art #nokto klein #ikepri #ikepri nokto #oc

[drachonia]

Here's my exchange for @nightghoul381 for the Ikemen Prince Exchange!

I'm beyond late with this one, because university and life decided not to wait for my slow ass. But..have a Silvio and an Emma.

#ikemen prince gift exchange #drac draws #ikepri emma #ikepri silvio #ikemen prince fanart

[tacogawa]

La Belle et la Bête

Pairing: MC x Leon

For the Ikemen Prince gift exchange, organized by the wonderful @sunnyikemen and @ikemenlibrary, my gift for @kokorokai ❤️

Thank you so much for organizing yet another exchange, and to @kokorokai, I hope you enjoy your gift, it has been an immense joy creating for you. I’m a huge fan of your work and this piece is especially close to my heart, as are the characters ♥️

#ikepri #ikepri mc #ikepri leon #ikepri gift exchange #ikemen prince gift exchange #myart #hhf7tdr7d7tfhigkhgr6w46w46iuhuogyigiugs4sf I love this #as always I prefer the sketch to the finished product. HOWEVER. the rare time I enjoy my art was this time #cause it’s Leon ofc #💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[ohtomatotome]

Getting There is Half the Fun

Word count: 6.8k 

Recipient: @violettduchess as part of the Ikemen Prince Gift Exchange hosted by @ikemenlibrary and @sunnyikemen

Characters: IkePri Keith Howell and MC (Emma), established relationship

Prompt: Something fluffy and lighthearted, maybe a trip together. It would be fun to see something not go according to plan and how they handle it. SFW, a little bit of spice.

Triggers: N/A

Content Warnings: Alter!Keith makes a couple of appearances, young children, kissing, depression, mention of sex (not depicted), mention of marriage. It is all fairly tame; just heaps of fluffiness.

Author's Notes are at the end of the story

“Isn’t this the most whimsical thing you’ve ever seen? What a vivid imagination this artist has!” 

Emma’s delighted tone caught Keith’s attention immediately. He came over to see the painting she was admiring. The couple were browsing decor in a shop situated near the crossroads of Rhodolite and Benitoite, filled with fine exports from sea-faring merchants. The framed piece in front of Emma was done by an artist who hailed from the border between Obsidian and Achroite.

Keith came to stand beside her and pointed at the painter’s signature, explaining, “I’m a little familiar with this man’s works. He doesn’t depict make-believe or fantasy. All his paintings are based in nature, and he paints them on site. This … oh, this piece is certainly not imagined…” 

His voice trailed off in a wistful sigh. She gave him a questioning look. She had never seen him go all gooey over art before. Stars and herbology, yes. But a painting? There was something special here, she could tell she was about to uncover another secret treasure buried in Keith’s heart. Emma nodded, encouraging him to continue.

The glimmer in his golden eyes sparkled brighter as he explained the natural phenomenon known as the Aurora. Astronomers theorized the shimmering ripples of bright green are waves of light bouncing off the particles in the sky, or maybe they are chemical reactions happening at the cosmic scale. 

“How I wish I could glimpse it with my own eyes, even if just for a moment.” The enthusiasm that had fueled his explanation soon was replaced by a tone full of yearning, his dreamy gaze on the painting once more.

“But why can’t you?” 

“The lights are only visible near the north and south poles of the planet. I would have to go many days worth of travel just to see even a smidge of them. And even if I was in the right place, I’ve heard the conditions have to be just right: low humidity, no clouds whatsoever, no wind, a crescent moon is best… in short, unless one lives in the perfect area and searches the sky every night of their life, seeing an Aurora in one’s lifetime is not likely. It’s like trying to hunt the rare and elusive white stag of Jadean legend.”

Emma waited until Keith was exiting the shop to secretly purchase the painting with her own money and arrange to have it shipped to the palace in Jade. Few things had ever made her lover’s eyes fill with the hungering ache she just witnessed. Even if he would never see the sight with his own eyes, this artwork would have to suffice.

Then she began to wonder: Why couldn’t he plan to see it in the future? What’s stopping him? What if she were to put the plan in motion herself, and surprise him?

—-------

An invitation arrived for the royal family of Jade, requesting a representative of the governing body to attend a special conference hosted by Achroite in the north.  As soon as Keith offered to go, Emma saw this as her opportunity to enact her plan. Skillfully, deceitfully, and delicately, she plied various tactics and reasoning for letting her accompany him. 

Keith didn't quite understand the motivation behind Emma's attempts at joining his journey north.  However, he wasn't going to deny her when there was such bold determination in her warm eyes. He was never any good at telling her 'no'.

Triumphant at her victory, Emma packed her trunk and bags with thoughts of dancing green lights in her head, only to be outshone by the spark in her prince's eyes when his wish was granted.

—-----

The fastest travel route was straight north through Obsidian. That also made it the most dangerous. Keith wasn't about to put Emma's life in danger to save a few days of travel time.  He planned a route northeast by carriage to the sea port in Benitoite, sailing north on a luxury cruiser, and then west by carriage through the mountain pass to Achroite.  

He looked over his map and itinerary one last time, a soft smile hiding the growing confidence he felt each time he examined his plans. It would be their first time traveling so far, and would be a test to how well they can bear the burdens of a long journey with limited resources. Keith had decided this trip would be the perfect opportunity to prove to Emma that he was capable, reliable, and could take care of everything.

His usual companions of gloom and self-doubt had been visiting more often during this year of peace. The period of calm also meant there was less necessity for Alter!Keith to make an appearance and save the day. However, that absence made it all the more poignant when Emma would cajole him out simply because she wanted to spend time with him. 

With lots of time on his hands, the anxious voices in Keith’s head ran rampant without an exterior distraction to keep them silent. But now? Traveling to the conference was just the thing to challenge himself and keep the depressing thoughts at bay.

He patted the side of the carriage before climbing aboard with a smile, "Easy travel, good roads, and plenty of time to relax along the way. Why, we could almost treat this like a vacation!"

—-------

Famous. Last. Words.

'Vacation' would have been the absolute last word to describe the comedy of errors hounding every leg of their journey. 

The first thing to go wrong was one of the carriage wheels broke as it hit a deep run left by the late summer rains. It happened right inside the Jadean border before stepping over to Benitoite. The only living souls around were all busy in the rye fields. After convincing one of them to put down his scythe long enough to talk, Keith discovered with dismay the small group of people he was looking at was the entire village. It was a very isolated place that relied on every able body to help with the harvest. That group included the wheelwright: Keith and Emma's only hope of getting back on the road before dark.

Keith offered to take the wheelwright's place in the field. The hardy villagers barely held their skepticism behind polite faces. 

"The wright can thresh twice as many sheaves of rye as anyone else.  You'd be taking one of our hardest workers. Besides, t’is no time to be gabbing about.  Lookit those rain clouds headin’ this way. Our work’ll have been wasted if we can’t get the rest in the barn before the drops fall. Beggin' yer pardon, but a prince ain’t no replacement for the wright."

Keith wasn’t about to take ‘no’ for an answer. Spurred on by necessity and the desire to impress Emma – and perhaps the bruised pride of being passed over without even a chance to prove his worth – he picked up a scythe and jogged to the row needing mowing. 

He shrugged off his coat and went right to work, speaking over his shoulder to the wheelwright, "I'll do your share here if you fix the wheel. And I'll pay you triple the usual amount. Do we have a deal?"

He never broke his rhythm as he talked, taking a broad arcing swing, smoothly slicing the stalks in front of him,  and moving forward with a quick grace rarely shown by the first prince of Jade. Muscles rippled across his back as each successive swing gave him more confidence. The villagers were shocked into silence.

"Y-Yes, your highness. Thank you!" The wheelwright touched the brim of his hat in courtesy, amazement on his face. Emma glanced sidelong as the villagers who now all raced to pick up their scythes and attempt to keep up with the prince. 

Tales of Keith's kindness and willingness to help commoners with even the most mundane tasks had spread across his kingdom long before this. However, the additional detail of how strong and muscular he was never accompanied the rumors. 'He sure showed them! Well, that ought to fuel their gossip through the winter," she thought giddily to herself as she headed towards the end of the field to help with tying the sheaves. Emma was pleased and vindicated on her prince's behalf, proud that his people had found new respect for him. 

—-------

After that encounter, it was supposed to be smooth sailing. Quite literally. Only … the mishap with the wheel and then the afternoon’s rain muddying up the roads put them far behind schedule. They missed the luxury cruiser. It disembarked from Benitoite the day before they reached the docks. 

With a sullen face, Keith booked their fare on a north-bound merchant ship. Emma knew that face too well: it meant he was disparaging and beating himself up inside. She knew it would do no good to convince him right this second that he couldn't control the weather.  She'd wait until they had a quiet moment together to soothe his nerves.

The trouble with that plan was that peace and quiet were impossible to find on that busy ship, not to mention privacy. They shared sleeping quarters with the crew’s family, swinging in hammocks at night and sitting elbow-to-elbow with eight noisy people below decks during the day. 

There was one moment of peace, though. It occurred above deck at night when the sea was glassy smooth and the crew wasn’t throwing mouthfuls of curses at one another. Keith hugged Emma from behind, whispering just a tad louder than the wind whistling past them, “I don’t know how I’d get through this ordeal without you. But at the same time I feel like the worst person alive for bringing you on such a doomed voyage. I'm sorry you’re with a jinx like me.”

She leaned into him, turning her head so the breeze wouldn’t snatch her words away, “Darling. There’s no such thing as bad luck. Where you go, I go.  And that’s that. I love being with you, no matter where it is or what is happening.”

—-------

Finally having landed just east of the mountains bordering Achroite, Emma thought they could relax at last. A coach was hired easily, and they were well on their way through the mountain pass. That's when they heard a series of muffled THUMPS behind them. 

Alarmed, Keith had the coachman stop the horses as he took a look at what made the noise. Almost every one of Emma's bags were on the dusty road, clothes strewn about.

"Wha….what happened?? How….?!" She felt like crumbling onto the rocks and crying.  How could this trip get any worse? She bit her lip to stop the wobbly tremble that threatened to bring tears to her eyes. 

The coachman came over and looked at the shredded leather casings of her bags, nodding, "Oh yah, this is old leather. It's no surprise that the salt air on your sea trip had weathered it and made it too brittle to withstand much more abuse. S'too bad, it is. But there's an expert leather worker just ahead."

They wearily gathered up her belongings and did their best to stuff it into Keith's luggage. His was supple, well-treated leather that showed no signs of damage from the sea voyage. Emma inner thoughts were cruel for the ride to the village, reminding of the gulf between their backgrounds, status, and financial situation. Feelings of inadequacy crawled angrily across her heart. 'Of course. Of course the poor little orphan girl has crap for baggage – why would someone like me ever need to travel? No one expects someone like me to ever go beyond her front door.’

Fortunately, the leatherworker was home. Unfortunately, he was forced to watch his young children because his wife was recuperating from a severe illness at her sister’s. He met them at the door bouncing a screaming baby in his arms while a toddler on unsteady feet clutched his pants leg. His face was apologetic, “I’m awful sorry, I am. But with the missus gone, I can’t leave the house. I tried keeping ‘em in the workshop with me one day to see if I could get any work done, and it was a disaster, heh.”

Clenching her fists in frustration, Emma took a deep breath while trying not to despair. “If you can’t repair my pieces, do you have any luggage completed that I can buy right now?”

He shook his head, “Nah, I don’t do my business like that, makin’ stuff that might sell ‘someday’, I only take on jobs that will pay me when the work is done.”

Both Keith’s and Emma’s faces were crestfallen. They knew they could buy luggage once they get to the capitol city, but it was still a long ways to go and her belongings were getting dustier and dirtier by the mile. They muttered their thanks, turning to go, when the leatherworker suddenly made a sound like he just remembered something. “By any chance is what yer needin’ is just the fastenings? Like the straps around the bags and such? Because I do have those ready-made.”

“Yes! Yes, that’s what broke. That’s all I need replacing!” Hope filled Emma’s voice and face and she stepped up the stairs again towards the little cottage. Emboldened by this promising possibility, she brushed up her prettiest smile and offered, “How’s this? I’ll watch your little ones while you repair my baggage, and we’ll pay you twice the going price.”

The man blinked, glanced past her to where Keith was still waiting by the coach, as if to silently ask ‘Are you okay with this arrangement, buddy?’ 

She turned around and gave him an optimistic ‘thumb’s up’ gesture with a big nod to encourage him t agree, “Right, my dear?”

Keith was gazing at his beloved with open admiration. He nodded, “Absolutely. That’s a wonderful idea.”

They sent the coachman off with enough gold to ensure he’d come back to get them later than evening. While the leatherworker took the ruined luggage into his workshop, Emma introduced herself to the children.  Besides the baby and the toddler she had seen at the door, there was also a 5 year old inside. Hours went by as the couple played games, told stories, and fed dinner to the kids. Both of them had wildly giddy sweet thoughts running through their heads of how capable and adorable the other one looked in this parenting mode.  It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say ‘baby fever’ had taken root that very day. From this moment on, Keith in particular was prone to falling into daydreaming about their future family.

—------

At long last they reached the Achroite castle without further mishap. As they unpacked, weariness settled in. The long journey and many unforeseen hardships were at last taking a toll on the young couple. Keith took a seat on the bed, resting his back against the headboard. He patted the space on that mattress next to him, gently calling “Emma? Come take a rest.”

“But I’m only halfway done with putting away my things…” is what she said, but her heart wasn’t in it. She was in the middle of pulling out another sweater from her bag when she felt warm hands glide from the top of her arms, down to her hands, freeing the fabric from her grasp. Keith set the garment on top of the luggage just as Emma’s shoulders slumped. She turned to face him and sagged against him with a sigh, while he bent his head to place a kiss against her hair. She gave no resistance when he led her to the bed.

The sky darkened as they lay on top of the crisp sheets, snuggled together in a drowsy heap. “We can’t fall asleep…” her drowsy voice was muffled against his shirt, “...or be late to dinner.”

“...we won’t…but, hmmm…” Keith’s lethargic murmur turned almost sour, “what if …  would it be the worst thing in the world … if we just stayed in bed?”

Emma squinted a bleary eye at his face, trying to discern if, in fact, Keith had already dozed off for a second and allowed Alter!Keith to slip into consciousness now. That reply sounded an awful lot like something the other one would say. Oh, what did it matter? She was too tired to really care which one was beside her at the moment; she loved them both equally. 

However … it would be rude of them to be absent at the first gathering of the conference. And then they’d have to make apologies to their host, which was not an attractive prospect. Prince Matthias didn’t seem the sort to forgive easily, no matter how small the slight. She didn’t want to be the cause of an international incident right at the beginning of their stay. 

“Nnghh… no,” She struggled to rouse herself into a sitting position, and jostled his shoulder in an attempt to keep him awake. “We have to get ready.”

Moody citrine eyes opened to give her a scathing look. Well, that made it clear who was at the forefront now. “Don’t ya think he’s earned a rest?”

Emma expected any sort of objection from Alter!Keith, but not this tactic. His words gave her heart a warm squeeze, just as they did any time he showed consideration for his other side. She also realized he knew about this weakness of hers. Was he trying to exploit it for the sake of a nap? She rolled away off the bed and went to one of her open trunks for a fresh gown.

“Tch. That’s sweet of you to show concern. But it’ll mean more trouble for us later if we don’t get moving now. Decide which one of you is going to be on the surface for this meal. It will be lots of socializing and politics.”

Suddenly deja vu from mere moments ago danced over her memories as a warm presence moved behind her and hands slid down her arms. This time, however, they belonged to a very handsy prince. His words gusted hotly over her ear, “Mmm, I’ll stick around long enough to help you undress. He really oughtta be present for the boring – I mean, important stuff.”

—-------

As much as they yearned for one another’s intimacy through the week, the conference schedule kept Keith busy all day, and social obligations kept the pair busy in the evenings. By the time they were alone and could have enjoyed one another in private, exhaustion demanded it was time to sleep. 

A few times Keith had asked Emma how she had kept herself occupied during the day, and received very predictable answers such as; visiting the town market, strolling in the conservatory and greenhouse, socializing with the other noble ladies. And reading, of course. She never went into detail of any of the sights she had visited or conversations she had had. Usually Emma was full of chatter about the things that had filled her day. Keith decided not to pry and merely attributed her quietude to the demanding schedule rather than her being evasive on purpose.

What Emma was actually doing was reserving a cabin rental and preparing for the most romantic and memorable viewing of the Northern Lights ever! The cabin would have the groceries stocked and firewood ready by the time they arrived. All they needed to do is show up and enjoy a few days' rest away from the hustle and bustle of the conference. This was the real reason Emma had begged to come along on the journey in the first place. 

After that hellish trip north, they needed a relaxing break now more than ever. Her chest warmed at the thought of being able to give her beloved prince a special memory like this. If only nature and the heavens would cooperate to give them a once-in-a-lifetime show, that would make it truly perfect.

The night before the conference ended, Keith heaved a sigh as he began to fold clothes to go back into the bags. 

“Darling? That was a rather heavy sigh. Is anything the matter?” Emma’s sweet inquiry washed away the layer of fatigue that had covered his soul. He paused to look over at the bed where she was flipping through a cookbook of traditional Achroite foods. With a book; in her natural habitat. Keith’s soft smile was full of adoration at this comforting sight. He often wondered how it was possible for the simple act of looking upon her in repose was enough to give him his own sense of calm. 

—---------

It reminded him of the first time he had encountered the odd phenomenon, on her first visit to the kingdom of Jade:

As he showed her around the palace, she asked to see his personal chambers. Worried had plagued him, thinking it would be awkward beyond measure and she’d find fault with everything. However, when he watched her step among his belongings, inquisitive fingers trailing over the spines filling his many bookshelves, eyes lighting up at seeing the keepsakes decorating his bedside table, he realized with surprise that his anxiety had been utterly unfounded. In fact, the sight of her in his room, among his things, gave him a deep sense of peace. 

A warm blanket of contentment and resolve settled around him in that moment, as if he was being told ‘this is right, this is good’. It felt so very natural to have Emma there at all hours of the day and night. Having her near was a balm like no other. He had mused on the mystery of it: If he was struggling with a letter at his desk or fretting about an upcoming meeting with bureaucrats, all it took was to look up for the fraction it took to see her with a book perched at his window seat or sitting on the couch. His heart was eased instantly. Her presence was a wonder drug to his perpetual paranoia. Wherever Emma was, that was ‘home’ for him.

He floundered without her presence. His soul required her like a tree needed sunlight. 

Alter!Keith was in the same situation, though for different reasons. He needed Emma to stick around because her deciding to stay sent the message that he was worthy of notice, of love. That he deserved to exist.

Neither side of him could never admit this to her, though. His reliance on her would only highlight his ignomy and patheticness. How utterly weak would he appear to her if he confessed he needed her just to get through a day without a panic attack? 

—------------

Her miraculous effect was the reason he hadn’t required much persuading to allow her to join him on this trip. Prince Matthias was an imposing figure whose presence in a room was nearly as oppressive as Prince Chevalier’s. Keith was glad to have his own personal ball of sunshine to help him survive the stressful conference. Without her warm kisses in the morning and her sweet voice at night, he was sure his nerves would have been frayed beyond measure before he returned to Jade. 

He basked in her soothing oasis a moment before answering her question, “It feels as though there hasn’t been a moment of true rest during this excursion. I realize it wasn’t intended to be a relaxing getaway, but it would have been nice to just have a day to spend with you. To sleep in and enjoy breakfast in bed, or stay up late trying to glimpse the Aurora, or have the leisure to browse their castle’s extensive library. And now we have to be back on the road tomorrow. At the risk of sounding petulant … it isn’t fair. I’m bone-weary, Emma.”

By the time her name was on his lips, she had gotten up and moved to stand beside him, small arms around his thick torso, forehead pressed to his broad shoulder. He soaked in her serenity for a few heartbeats, nearly crumbling under the immense gratitude he felt for her love and support. 

She broke the harmonious silence first, “Isn’t it a good thing, then, that we don’t have to go home just yet? We can extend our trip a little longer.” There was a playful lilt to her words, obviously inviting him to inquire into her meaning. 

Keith turned within the circle of her embrace to face her with a quizzical lift of his thick eyebrows, “Did the royal family invite us to stay past tonight? I hadn’t heard of this.”

She shook her head and pressed her lips together in a smile that was eager to burst forth with the news. Emma was determined to keep the surprise until the last moment when they arrived at the cabin tomorrow. Then she realized his anxiety might burrow needlessly under whatever cute evasions she gave now with a smiley ‘Just you wait! You’re going to love it!’. Wouldn’t it be less cruel to tell him now instead of risking him worrying himself into a fit? Why not give him the choice: divulge the secret, or be left in the dark?

She grinned impishly up at him, “Oh, we are staying in Achroite for a little while longer, but not as Their Majesties’ guests. Would you like to be surprised? Or shall I tell you all about it now-o-OHH!”

Keith had picked her bodily off the floor in a bear hug, squeezing her last syllable into an excited squeak as her feet left the floor. He laughed heartily as he spun her around with ease. “Emma! Give me all the details. Packing can wait!” 

Energy recharged as he held his beloved ray of light within his arms. He could hardly believe his amazing luck. Had she really planned something to help him relax before they started the arduous trek back home? He lowered her to the bed, brawny arms pressing down the mattress on either side of her, face bearing down on her with a smile sanguine and imploring.

She giggled at his lack of princely composure and laced her hands around his neck, drawing him down for a quick kiss, “You know the days I've been going into the market and village? That was to prepare for three days of relaxing at a cozy little cabin just an hour’s ride north of the castle. It’s stocked with food and firewood and everything we need. And the best part?” She paused to land a little peck on the tip of his nose. “It’s the perfect place to watch the Aurora.”

Emma paused, holding her breath for his reaction.

She finally had to exhale because he was silent for so long. “Darling? Keith? Are you not excited for the trip?’ A moment ago she was ready to dissolve into happy giggles, but his reaction now had her nibbling her lip.

“...You planned all this? By yourself? For me?” His questions were hushed, awestruck. 

With a slow nod, Emma resumed her smile, “Not just for you. For us. I’m going to be there as well, silly!” 

She finally giggled as she watched his face change from surprise to delight. The grin on his handsome face was dazzling, but she only glimpsed it a moment before he leaned down for a kiss, which she gladly returned. He trailed little kisses down her jawline, and she continued answering his questions between happy sighs. “And … you know, it wasn’t too much trouble to prepare. After all, I should get some practice, don’t you think? I’ll need to know how to plan much greater events … at some point in the future…” 

Keith caught her hint squarely in the chest, and was glad to have his face hidden in her neck so the blaze upon his cheeks would be unseen. Inwardly he berated himself for the thousandth time for not having the guts to clear the way for Emma, a commoner from Rhodolite, to become his wife and Queen of Jade. He couldn’t propose until he knew the path would be easy for her. Yet he wasn’t going to start the official process until he was sure that was what she wanted – that he was what she wanted. It was a catch-22 that was a sure way to spiral into despair if he thought about it too long.

Of course the two of them were madly in love, and they spoke in terms of ‘always’ and ‘forever’ when expressing their feelings. 

But they hadn’t ever sat down and plainly discussed the future. 

What Emma just said now was the closest either of them had ever come to a proclamation of their intentions for marriage. He couldn’t swallow the fact that he had been too feckless to say something before Emma. Now that she had been brave enough to be the first one to break the ice, he couldn’t hesitate any longer. But oh, how he loathed for her to see his face like this: sweaty, nervous, pathetic!

He moved his lips to her ear, giving it a quick kiss before whispering with a tone that flowed with love and hope, “It’s my dearest wish to put you in that position, Emma my beloved. I didn’t want to come across as presumptuous. Or … maybe I simply lacked the courage to speak to you about it before. Or … or –”

He was interrupted by her hands dragging his face up and her lips seeking his. She kissed him long and hard, not letting go until several seconds had passed, then huffed out, “Keith. I’ve felt you wanted to marry me. I could tell in every action, every look, every touch. But hearing you say this? Hearing that you want it just as much as I do, just as much as I always thought you did? It puts my heart at ease to know, with certainty, that you feel the same as I do.” 

She held his cheeks firmly as he tried to look away, forcing him to return her gaze. He saw nothing but kindness swimming in her eyes. She waited a beat longer, holding his gaze before continuing, “And that’s enough for now. You don’t need to rush into … well, anything. The wheels of monarchy creak along slowly. You don’t need to do it alone, though. I’m here to help, to support, in whatever way you need. And that’s all there is to it. Alright?”

The corner of his mouth quirked up in chagrin, already finding another fault in himself no doubt. But he nodded regardless because he believed her. A feeling of triumph and pride soon overtook his usual shame. This conversation was a true breakthrough! She wanted to marry him! He wanted to marry her! With elation, he leaned in to kiss her deeply, eliciting a moan from Emma. As his lips left hers and he began to nibble down her neck, he asked, “This cabin, you said it quite a ways from here? Does that mean it’s isolated? Not in a village? No neighbors?”

Fingers roved through his sandy hair as she gasped at his adventurous kisses plunging down her collar. She endeavored to think and answer at the same time, “Mm-hmm. I think so. I didn’t – hmm ah! – didn’t see any other buildings around.” 

She was about to follow up by asking why he wanted to talk about this now, when there were obviously other things the two were thinking about. But suddenly she felt Keith smiling against her cleavage, and he glanced up at her with a devastatingly hungry look, saying, “Good, then there will be no one close enough to hear us. We can be as loud as we want.”

—----------------

Their first evening at the cabin was full of excitement. The snug little building was cute and clean, if a bit sparse. There was a distinct sensation of ‘playing house’ for the couple as they went about getting the bedroom ready, cooking dinner, and getting the hearthfire going. 

While they ate, they talked over all the misfortunes the trip had entailed: Broken wheel, missed ship, horrible sea voyage, ruined luggage, lost time, and extra expenses. Yet when they remunerated all the bad things, they were able to point out good things that came out of each predicament. The rye was harvested in record time, Keith’s good reputation was solidly implanted in that village, the wheelwright was able to afford much-needed upgrades due to Keith’s generous payment, Emma’s baggage was now better than ever, the leatherworker was able to afford the expensive medicine his wife needed. 

There wasn’t anything positive they could come up with to say about the merchant ship, until Emma suddenly remembered, “There was that night you held me from behind, keeping me warm and whispering the sweetest things in my ear. Remember? On the deck? The night sky was full of stars. The steady sound of the prow sloughing through the sea will stay in my head forever, just as that memory will. I remember thinking: ‘It doesn’t matter if I’m on a floating palace or a rickety fishing boat. As long as Keith is with me, I’m content and I’m where I need to. All I need to be happy is Keith.’ And I don’t think I would have encountered such strong, resolute determination if I hadn’t been in that situation. The foul odiousness of that ship contrasted so starkly against the purity and strength of having you next to me.”

Keith wanted to cover his face with his hands to hide his blush. He really couldn’t stand the way she heaped compliments upon him, and had the audacity to say it with such a sincere smile! He quickly turned the conversation back to reflect on her merits. “You were amazing with those children. I would never have thought to strike a bargain like that, nor could I have done that all by myself. You’re a natural. I loved watching you holding the baby…” he cleared his throat and barreled on, switching the subject, “That just goes to show that you are the one who cares about helping people, and are resourceful, and reliable, and kind, and capable. And everything I wish I was.” 

With a self-deprecating smile, he reached across the table to hold her hand. She squeezed his, ready with a rebuttal to help buoy his self-esteem, “Darling. You are all those things. Hasn’t this trip shown that? Together, we can overcome anything. I couldn’t have done any of this on my own.”

Keith had to admit that he was only able to jump into action when the wheel cracked because he was intent on keeping his Emma safe. In fact, the desire to prove himself capable in her eyes was the driving motivation for enduring all the mishaps on the trip. If he had been by himself, there’s no telling how well he would have fared. But with Emma there to support him and be the reason he needed to ‘man up’, he knew her words were true: together they could overcome anything.

They had decided to go to bed early and wake up a little after midnight because the locals had said that was the best time to view the Aurora.  Due to the odd hour, it was Alter!Keith who unexpectedly awoke in the middle of the night. He walked to the door that led to the balcony and looked through the window at the sky. Grumbling, he let the curtain fall closed again and climbed back into bed. Emma stirred awake at the movement, sleepily calling out, “Keith? Is it time to go outside?”

“It’s me, not him. And no, there’s nothin’ worth looking at. Whole damn sky is covered with clouds. If it had been the right conditions, I woulda let him switch over because I know he wouldn’t want to miss it. But ...” He moved closer and wrapped an arm around her hips to pull her flush against him as he continued in that gravely sleep-soaked voice, “I think I’ll let him sleep a little longer. You, though, aren’t gonna get much sleep tonight, sweet cheeks.”

—-----------------

Long after the sun had risen, the couple slept late to thoroughly enjoy the laid-back schedule. Keith was first to arise; he noticed the new pink marks the other man had left on her skin in last night’s pleasures. He sighed regretfully, more for having missed the chance to enjoy her himself than for missing the Aurora.

That night they resumed the same pattern as before, with going to bed early and planning to wake up after midnight in hopes of seeing the dancing lights. Luck was on their side that night! The humidity and wind were just right, the sky was clear of a single cloud, the moon was just a tiny sliver. Keith excitedly woke Emma, then wrapped themselves in thick boots, hooded cloaks and then in more blankets before settling on the bench outside on the balcony. The mountains were visible on either side, and the broad flat valley and its bubbling river spread out before them, creating the perfect stage for the heavens to put on an unforgettable performance. 

“Oh. My. Word. It shimmers like a magic trick!” Emma breathed the words, mesmerized.

The couple sat transfixed, silent for nearly twenty minutes as the bright green glow warped into misty shapes, faded, and lit up again as vertical shards of light wavered across the sky. 

She snuck a peak at Ketih’s face, which was awash in the verdant hue of the Aurora. His eyes sparkled, a childlike look of wonder writ across his features. He noticed her staring, and looked her way at last with a wry smirk, “You’re supposed to be watching the lights, my dearest. Not me.”

“I’ve got two eyes. I can keep one of them on you while I take in this amazing sight.” She grinned and snuggled closer to him, to which he responded by wrapping an arm around her waist to impart more body heat.

“It would be a shame to waste even one of your precious eyes on me. You can look at me any time. But this rare phenomenon is something you may never see again.”

Her cheek nuzzled his shoulder as she gazed skyward once more, letting out a contented hum, “We could always come back here? This would make a cozy spot for our honeymoon.”

Keith’s hand flexed tightly around her hip at the word ‘honeymoon’, mirroring the way his heart was squeezing. He softly muttered, “Or sooner than that,” as his thoughts drifted to the little jewelry box stowed away in one of the shelves of his dresser back in Jade. 

It contained his great grandparents’ rings. They were originally part of the collection of family heirlooms, but had never been treated like the great ornate pieces of the crown jewels because they were not that impressive. There were modest gold bands with a few small green gems. Their unassuming beauty and elegance reminded him of Emma. His grandparents had had a fairytale romance full of joy and love, a rarity for royals.  Ever since he had decided he needed Emma in his life, he had hunted them out of the collection, tucking them away for the eventual proposal.  Keith hoped that maybe just by wearing them, his grandparents’ legendary luck in love would rub off on him and Emma. He pictured himself sitting out on this balcony in the near future, with a ring in his pocket, waiting for that perfect moment. 

He had been a standstill for too long, fettered by indecision.

Soon it would be time for him to finally take action.

(This is the daytime view the couple would have had from their balcony in Achroite)

Author’s Note: This story was partly inspired by my own recent failed attempts to watch the Northern Lights with my husband, lol. With Keith’s love of astronomy I thought a rare cosmic phenomenon would be on his bucket list, especially being situated so far away from either of the globe’s poles. I had the entire story outlined and was well on my way with the narrative before Keith’s route was released. Of course I started reading it the say it was out, but I was only on chapter 20 at the time I finished writing this, so if anything is wildly OOC for him or Alter!Keith, I apologize. However, it is very satisfying to see that as I got that far in his route, most of the inner thoughts and outer reactions I wrote for him were things I later on saw in his route. Yay! It’s so nice when that happens. I really hope @violettduchess like this. Thank you for asking for Keith; he is a true treasure. I had so much fun taking on this assignment for the exchange.

#ikemen prince gift exchange #ohtomatotome #ikepri keith #ikemen prince keith #keith howell #ikepri mc #ikepri emma #ikemen prince fanfic #my writing #my fanfic

[randonauticrap]

Ember Glows the Heart

Pairing ~ Leon Dompteur x MC/reader

Word Count ~ 1.5k

Author's Note ~ I was able to write some Leon fluff for the lovely @myonlyjknight during the Ikepri Gift Exchange hosted by @ikemenlibrary and @sunnyikemen !! Thank you so much Jane, for your note about not stressing and having fun, and thank you for giving me such freedom with this fic! I hope it meets your expectations and you enjoy it, because I had an absolute blast writing it. 🥰

Warnings ~ None, unless you count open flames near roses; just some fluff! Albeit, some sensual fluff 👀

“Alright, let’s set ‘em down here!” Leon grunted happily as you both plopped your newly picked pumpkins down on the grass in front of the settee on the palace grounds. You settled in with your tools: two large serrated knives from the kitchen, two pencils, two large spoons for the seeds, and an entire ream of towels Leon snuck from a maid’s cart when they got home. However, dusk was swiftly approaching, and there was one thing you didn’t have. 

“Leon, how are we gonna see out here?” you asked, gesturing to the darkening sky. Leon’s smile lit up your heart as he looked down at you and winked. 

“I’ll go grab some candles from inside. Back soon!” and before you could open your mouth to answer, he had darted away, dashing back towards the castle. You let out the breath of air you had intended to use to respond and looked around, suddenly very aware of how alone you were… and how dark it was. An owl began to hoot in the trees above you, the wind got chillier, and your decision was made.

“Hey, Leon!” you called, turning on your heels to run after him. “Wait up!”  

You and Leon collected as many of the beautiful white taper candles as you could, along with several large candle holders, and brought them back to your spot with you. “Here we go!” Leon said, lighting the first candle. Once you were both bathed in the soft, ethereal glow of the warm flames, you turned your attention to the task at hand. “So, what design will you be carving, Leon?” you asked, reaching for the closest knife. But your breath caught in your throat when Leon’s hand covered yours, his warmth radiating into you, hotter than a flame could ever be, and you looked up to meet his eyes. He was smiling at you, mischief and adoration in his steady golden eyes, and your heart nearly stopped. Awash in the rouge of the dancing fire around you, his beauty was immeasurable. In that moment, you were certain that you had never seen a man more handsome in all your days, and all light, casual conversation vanished from your mind as he held your gaze.

“If I was a more talented man, I’d carve your face in this moment, with those lovely eyes staring up at me, but I don’t think I’d have a chance in hell of capturing beauty like that.” Now your heart did stop, and your lips parted ever so slightly as a hot flush crept up your face.  

The owl hooted above you seconds later and the trance was broken. Leon let go of your hand and went to grab his own tools, and you cleared your throat, unsure if you could even speak after what he had said. “I think I’m gonna go classic, triangle eyes and nose and a big smiley mouth.” Leon chuckled, his body rumbling beside you. You were too aware of him now, how the muscles in his arms and back rippled every time he moved, and how warm his body was, pressed up against yours on the grass. 

“I’ll - ahem - I’ll do a scary face, I think.” you croaked, moving to grab your tools and draw a design on your pumpkin. 

“Oh, are you trying to scare me away?” Leon teased, nudging you.

“No!” you answered, apparently too quickly, because Leon’s smile grew even wider, and he leaned close to you, his lips so close to your ear you could feel the wind as he spoke.

“Don’t worry, it takes a lot more than that to scare me off.” 

A breathy giggle escaped your lips, bubbling up from the butterflies taking flight in your stomach as his warm breath tickled your neck. The realization of just how ridiculous you must have sounded hit you and you cleared your throat forcefully. “Ahem. Good, yeah. Good. Cause I can be pretty scary sometimes.” you tried your hand at humor and grimaced inwardly; your awkwardness was not improving. 

“Oh yeah, I can totally see that.” Leon chuckled, moving back over to his side of the blanket and picking up his tools to begin cutting his pumpkin open. 

“Wait, what?” you looked at him suddenly, surprised at his answer. But his barely concealed smirk gave him away, and you shook your head. “Quit it, Leon.” you muttered quietly, picking up your own tools. 

You both fell into a comfortable working silence after awhile, the only sounds in the night air the crickets and the distinct sounds of cutting, scraping, and shaping. A pleasant warmth had settled in your chest, and you found yourself content, if not a little giddy, to be so close to Leon for so long. The task was menial by nature, void of much complication or meaning, but with Leon's leg pressed up against your own, his even breathing matching yours, you found yourself thinking about how special it felt. You smiled to yourself as you shaped up your jack-o-lantern's right eye, soaking in the unmistakable feeling of safety and happiness that came with the 4th Prince's presence. 

'Almost there,' you thought to yourself, carving away at the mouth of your creation, so close to the end product, when Leon's voice brought you out of your focus. "Hey, Emma." He called out to you and you turned your head to find a silly jack-o-lantern face staring back at you from where Leon's head should be, and you burst out laughing. 

"How do I look?" The silly face Leon tilted "its" head to look at you inquisitively and you tried to bite back the rest of your laughter. 

"You look positively dashing, Leon." You answered with a teasing voice and patted the jack-o-lantern on the top of the head. The 4th prince laughed heartily from inside the gourd, the sound warming you from head to toe. 

He gestured to your jack-o-lantern. "Are you finished with yours?" 

"Yep, just about!" You hurried to smooth out the rest of the edges and then plopped it over your head like Leon had his and turned to look at him through the cuts you made. It was his turn to burst out laughing this time.  

"Wow!" He exclaimed, his voice still full of laughter, but now sounding like a faraway echo, only reaching your ears through the openings you'd carved; a sort of fishbowl effect, almost, and you laughed. "You really did make a scary face!" He reached forward and traced the lines of your jack-o-lantern in admiration, and you couldn't be more grateful that your face was hidden by a giant orange gourd, because the flush that had risen to your cheeks had undoubtedly colored your skin a deep red hue. "This is really good." He murmured, his hand still exploring each cut you made as if he was memorizing them to use later, and you giggled softly, the sound barely reaching his ears. 

But it had reached them, you decided, because he retracted his hand only to pull his jack-o-lantern off of his head, showing you his stunning smile, before reaching over to you. You felt your own jack-o-lantern being pulled upwards until you were able to see all around you again. Leon placed it down beside his and turned them both to face you. "They make quite a pair, don't they?" He chuckled, adjusting his posture to sit closer to you. 

You laughed, nodding. "They certainly do." You replied, gazing at them mirthfully. 

"Just like some other people I know." Leon murmured, his voice so much closer than before that you nearly jumped out of your skin. 

Turning your head, you saw how close he was, but you were tired of being the only one who was affected, so you continued to turn your head until your nose brushed his. Sparks erupted through your face, all of your dancing nerves on end as his breath tickled your nose. "And who would that be?" You murmured quietly into the prince's mouth, his golden eyes keeping you delightfully trapped in their deep gaze. 

Leon leaned forward ever so slightly and you found yourself closing your eyes, anticipating what was to come, but to your surprise, his lips didn't meet your own, but rather your neck near the base of your ear, and he sucked there gently before pulling back to whisper softly in your ear. "I wonder." 

Your entire body was on fire when he pulled away to cast that heated gaze on your face again, and you both stared, enraptured by the other so intensely that the night around you faded in color. His fingers found yours by feel alone and threaded through them, pulling your hand closer to his body as your heartbeat thrummed through the pulse point in your wrist when his own wrist met it. "Leon," you muttered breathily, hardly audible above the roaring in your ears. 'He's really going to kiss me this time.' The thought hit you with the force of a freight train and the rest of the thoughts in your brain scattered as he moved towards you again. 

Whoosh

The wind raked across the rose garden and snuffed the candelabras out, plunging you both into sudden darkness, and it would have frightened you, had the strong arms of your prince not been wrapped firmly around you, and had his soft plush lips not been pressed against yours in a heated, claiming kiss that could drive any darkness away.

~

Tags for the Lovelies: @rhodolitesroseforclavis @aquagirl1978 @ikehoe @queengiuliettafirstlady @maries-gallery @veervers @nightghoul381 @judejazza @xbalayage @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @alvieeru @aria-chikage @tele86 @leonscape

#ikemen prince gift exchange #ikepri gift exchange #leon dompteur #ikepri leon #ikemen prince #ikepri #ikemen prince leon #leon dompteur fluff #halloween ikepri #ikemen series

[ikemenlibrary]

Bookmarked Dialogue (Ikémen Prince)

Pairing: Keith Howell x July (OC) Summary: Keith finds solace within the walls of a tiny bookstore, reveling in the love of the shopkeeper. This is their story.

Word Count: 4.5k

Warnings: Self deprecation on both sides

A note from the author: I had the privilege of writing this for @queengiuliettafirstlady for the Ikémen Prince Gift Exchange hosted by @sunnyikemen and myself. What started as a small cute fluffy fic blossomed into way more, and I enjoyed writing every second of it! I hope you enjoy this Julie! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explore July and Keith's wholesome relationship!

“Can you read me a story?”

It started long ago, before either of them knew how deeply their feelings would expand over two countries. Keith was a visiting prince in Rhodolite, and July was managing a bookstore in town run by her uncle. 

She had noticed Prince Keith right away. As a citizen of Jade, she had heard stories of the gentle prince; so kind that even his maids gave him gifts randomly to thank him for his hospitality. From across the town square, with a fountain between them, Keith’s soft golden eyes met July’s green, and from that moment forward, she was a goner. Her heart panged harshly in her chest as his eyes followed her every move and July made sure to take her time arranging the flowers she had bought in town for the pots outside of the bookstore. She wanted to spend more time away from the inside, she wanted to use that time to admire Keith’s gentle smile as he shopped around the square, and only when he hopped in a carriage with the official Rhodolite crest - headed back to the castle, presumably -, did she return back inside for the rest of her duties. 

He had approached her the next day, bowing graciously as he entered the small and cluttered bookstore, leading July to curtsy awkwardly in the small space. With Keith’s giant form inside, there wasn’t much more room left for July to move around, much less greet the Prince with a proper welcome. He apologized profusely for the intrusion, a gentle blush on his cheeks as she brushed off his concerns with a warm and welcoming smile, introducing him to the bookshop.

Nevertheless, he offered her only kindness as he asked for book recommendations on the history of Rhodolite, and he found solace in her bright smile as July relaxed into her specialty, talking his ear off about all the various things she’s learned about since coming to help her uncle in the little bookstore.

In their short time together, they learnt a lot from each other; Keith learned that July had come from Jade, and was here out of the kindness of her own heart to help her elderly uncle, and in turn, learn more about herself. July learned that even though he was royalty, Prince Keith was as kind and courteous, if not more, than she had ever heard around town within the gossip mills.

“I enjoyed talking to you today,” Keith bowed once again, this time gently grasping July’s hand in his own as he kissed the top of it in a farewell. “Thank you for your company. Maybe next time, you could read me a story?” And then his eyes widened, and he rushed to cover himself. “But only if you want to, of course! If it’s any sort of intrusion, please just forget I asked you! I’m sorry.”

“It’s no problem at all, I’d be happy to. What kind of story, Prince Keith?” July fought to keep her silly grin off her face, the giddiness of that prospect almost ridiculous in her mind. 

“Your favorite book,”  for a moment, it seemed as the prince’s eyes darkened slightly, his soft smile dipping into an almost imperceptible smirk, but the moment July blinked, everything was the same as it was before. Maybe a trick of the light, or maybe she had just imagined it, but it was enough to have a chill run up her spine. Nonetheless, she curtsied to the prince once again, and sent him on his way with well wishes, his arms piled with books she insisted he take back to the castle with him, 

July spent that whole night scouring the meticulously organized bookshelves of her favorite stories, hoping to find one that Prince Keith would find interesting enough to grant her one of his comforting smiles that had her feeling weak in the knees. She had decided on a book of folklore from a country overseas, and tucked it away behind the counter so when - and if - the prince decided to come visit once more, she’d have it ready. 

***

Prince Keith returned a few weeks later, a bundle of blooming pink roses in his arms as he ducked inside, grimacing slightly and apologizing to July - or the door, she wasn't quite sure -  as he hit his head on the doorframe.

“Sorry, that was rather dreadful of me. I should’ve been more aware of my surroundings. That’s what happens when you’re a big lump, you always bump into things.” And before she could reply, he apologized once more. “And now I’m oversharing. Geez, I’m sorry.”

“That’s quite alright, Prince Keith!” July exclaimed, dropping into a curtsy. She had practiced in her small bedroom, watching her form in the mirror before bed every night. She wanted to be sure if the First Prince of Jade visited her bookstore, she would be able to properly greet him this time.

“It makes me happy to see you welcome me so warmly, but please, no need for formality. I couldn’t live with myself if I knew you went out of your way for me.” Keith bowed in return of her curtsy, and it brought a flush of heat through her body as she watched his hair flop over his eyes as he stood himself back upright. “I’m sorry if I gave the impression of otherwise, July.”

She rushed around the counter, drawing herself nearer the gentle prince, and bowed her head. “Of course you didn’t! Please, stop apologizing. I just wanted to make sure you felt welcome coming to visit once more.”

“I’m sorry I keep apologizing, I’m sure it’s dreadful listening to it.” Keith’s eyes were downcast, and July’s heart yearned to have her envelop his larger hand in his own to dissuade his worries. But, she was a mere commoner, that would be very unsavory to touch a prince like that in any setting that wasn’t unwarranted. “I wanted to apologize for taking so long to visit as well. I was away at the palace for some time with some duties. Oh, gosh, I did it again, I keep apologizing.” If his head could hang lower, it dropped at that admission, and July was quick to reassure him with a smile.

“It’s quite alright, Keith. Please don’t worry! It gave me time to select my favorite book to share with you.” She didn’t tell him that she had been waiting anxiously day by day, drumming her perfectly manicured fingers over the aged book cover, hoping that every time the bell rang, it was the Prince coming in to make good on his promise to return. 

“Oh, you found your favorite book to show me? That’s a lovely idea, I can’t wait to see what you decided on.” Keith had a gorgeous smile that lit up his face, his tawny brown eyes sparkling with interest.

“Well - yes. It was your idea after all.” July said, once again ducking behind the counter to grip the thick and heavy book, holding it up triumphantly.

“It was?” Keith’s eyebrows furrowed, before his eyes widened in shock, scrambling to cover up his confusion. “Yes, sorry. I remember now! I asked for you to show me your favorite book. And now I see it! Let me see… ah, folklore. I’ve heard good things, but haven’t read much.”

July looked at him, a glint in her eye as she continued explaining their last meeting. “I suppose it’s a good thing you asked me to read to you then. At least I didn’t find something you’ve read before.”

Prince Keith shook his head, his beautiful smile back on his face. “Nonsense. Even if it was a book I knew by heart, I’m sure it’d be even better coming from your beautiful lips.” He glanced down at his arms, cradling the bundle of roses he entered the bookstore with, and he held them out to July, clumsily pushing them into her embrace. “I almost forgot. I got these for you as an apology, since I was away from your shop for so long. I saw these in the town, and they reminded me of your lipstick. But now that I’m saying that out loud, I feel weird. Please accept my generous apology for coming off rudely.”

July hugged the de-thorned roses to her chest, the stems of the flowers matching the color of her dress - Keith noticed -, and she inhaled deeply, her eyes sparkling with happiness as her green gaze met Keith’s, and his heartbeat sped up as she smiled at him. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you Prince Keith.” As to prove her point, July took the partially wilted white roses out of the vase on the counter, laying them off to the side as she replaced them with the new, fuller and blooming pink roses.

Keith cleared his throat, anxiously pulling at his hair in front of his eyes, almost as if the harder he tugged, the more he could hide behind his thick and shaggy hair. “I wanted to ask you something. If you’re available to step away from the bookstore, would you be willing to walk around town with me? Maybe we could stop by a patisserie and you can read me some of the folklore you wanted to show me? But obviously if you’re not feeling up to it, or you’re busy, please just forget I asked!”

Before Keith could talk himself down a rabbit hole, July interjected. “I’d love to join you, Prince Keith. If you could just wait a moment, I can close the shop down for a bit while we go out together.” 

Keith breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping as the anxiety eased out with that singular exhale. 

He waited patiently as July flitted around, shelving the last few books and turning the open sign to the closed side. Keith’s eyes never left her beautiful form, and he felt ashamed for noting how her dress perfectly hugged her curves, following her bodice down to her waist. She was gorgeous, and whenever she sent a smile his way, he felt his hands grow clammy. 

At last, she turned towards Keith, a bright smile on her face. “I’m ready to go, let me just grab my shawl.” And before he could offer her his cloak, she grabbed her shawl, and opened the door to the tiny bookshop. “Make sure to duck a little this time, I don’t want you to hit your head again.”

Keith thanked her gratefully, and that one little smile he gave her had her yearning heart aching. He was so kind, so generous, and incredibly good looking. All the rumors she’d ever heard of the first Prince of Jade was true, if not an under exaggeration of his character. 

Keith led her to a pastry shop he knew about, and before July could even question it, he explained to her that Prince Licht and Prince Yves of Rhodolite had taken him there before, and it had some of the best macarons he’d ever had. When July heard the mention of macarons, she had exclaimed that those were some of her favorite sweets, and when Prince Keith offered to share a few of them between the two of them, she graciously accepted, finding a secluded table tucked into the back of the patisserie while he went and placed an order. 

“They said they’d bring out the macarons in just a few moments, as well as some tea that would nicely compliment the flavors.” Keith said, hunching his shoulders as he slid into the other chair - which looked ridiculously small compared to him. “Sorry to make you wait, thank you for your patience.”

“Don’t worry about it, thank you for ordering some stuff for us to enjoy together!” July exclaimed, her hands moving to subconsciously trace the title of the book she had placed on the table. 

Keith’s eyes followed her movement, motioning over to the book. “What book did you decide to share with me?” 

July blushed, worrying her lip between her teeth as she flipped between all of the pages, only looking up at the prince once she had made the silence stretch long enough that it felt awkward on her end. But she knew it didn’t matter, Prince Keith was kind, and he was patiently awaiting her response, the curiosity sparkling in his eyes. “I brought something that had been transported across seas. I had to translate it to be able to read it… but I thought you’d enjoy that.” She responded, spreading her hands over the book cover, almost to protect from any sort of negative reaction from the prince.

“You were able to translate this book?” Keith asked, sitting up and seemingly forgetting about his large stature on the smaller chair. At July’s nod, he rested his hand on top of hers, a tender smile gracing his lips. The touch, combined with his tawny gold eyes searching her face, had July’s heart beating in her throat, and she fought the urge to pull away from him to protect her heart from any hurt that was inevitable to come with falling for the prince, instead giving herself into his touch. “That’s amazing. I don’t think I’d have enough patience to sit and learn another language, let alone translate a book in my free time.”

July smiled, pleased at the praise Keith was instilling on her. “Well, when you work in a bookstore, this sort of thing is what you do when there’s no customers around.” Keith’s gaze never left her, and she cleared her throat to try and brush off the prickles on her skin. “Would you like me to read you one of the stories? They’re short, they only take about five minutes each.”

“I’d be honored if you’d be willing to dedicate that time to me, July. Thank you.” Keith graciously bowed his head, and at that time, the waitress came over to deliver their treats to the table and the prince thanked her profusely, only stopping once he noticed the flushed and awkward look on her face. “Ahem, sorry. Thank you once more, have a great day.” He ushered her off after that, and July bit her lip to keep the giggles bubbling in her throat to escape. And then they settled in, Keith bringing his chair closer to July, a shy smile on each of their faces as their shoulders brushed when July opened the book. Keith found her voice calming as she spoke, reading each line in the strange language before tracing her neat handwriting on the side of the book, reading the same line in English afterwards. July forced herself to keep her voice even, and her eyes forward. She could feel Keith’s gaze following her every move as she continued to read, but she kept going, the warmth of his shoulder pressed against her own urging her to continue reading. 

The story was one that always intrigued her, about a woman who showed up in a town one day who was a hard worker, and worked on a farm in exchange for a place to stay. Everyone liked her, but some thought she was odd because she was kind to everyone, yet stuck to herself. One day, she was invited out late in the evening by the farmer she worked for, and instead of accepting she declined - like she’s done every time. The farmer was so curious about where she went instead of going out with people in the town that he followed her, and she led him through the woods, to a cave where he discovered there that she had a whole other life as a queen of elves. The ending of the story changes depending on the author, but this one ended with her accepting the farmer as one of their own, and having him join them in an elven celebration.

Keith hung onto July’s every word, his heart beating in his ears as she spoke. It was as if she understood him, this story telling her more about Keith than he felt he could ever tell her himself. He wished he could tell her that he related to the story, but once she finished, all he could muster up was a shaky smile. “That was a very interesting story. What was it that intrigued you to begin with?” 

Keith watched as July reached for a rose macaron, her pink lips about the same color of the treat and he licked his lips, unsure if it was because he was hungry or because he watched her plush lips brush against the baked good. She chewed and swallowed before responding. “I just liked the idea that it was okay to show someone who you trust completely the real you, and to be accepted for all that you are, even if it’s more strange than anyone could imagine.”

“I think that’s a really good way to think about it…” Keith said softly, sipping on the herbal tea. “I’d like to find someone who I can share myself completely with some day.”

July’s eyes met his own, more intense than any other time before. She was completely serious when she responded, “I would like that too, Prince Keith.”

***

During his time in Rhodolite, Keith continued to visit July in the bookshop, dousing her in flowers and perfumes and all the sweets he could carry in his long arms. Over their time together, Keith found himself missing her when they were apart, and July felt the same, her heart speeding up every time he walked through the door, ducking so he wouldn’t hit his head like the second time he came to visit. 

They exchanged countless book recommendations, and bonded over the books they grew up reading in Jade. He always accompanied her on her half day break, treating her to a small lunch and tea. She always insisted on paying, but the prince always brushed her hand away with a kind smile, and she never had the heart to fight him on it because he always seemed so pleased when she accepted.

Over their time spent together, July had found herself absolutely smitten with the gentle prince, every moment that passed when they were together only confirmed the feelings she felt for that man, and even though she knew they could never be, she spent her time away daydreaming about what it would be like to hold him in her arms and press kisses on top of his thick, shaggy hair.

“July, were you listening to me?” Keith’s voice broke her out of her trance, and she shook her head, a bashful smile across her face. “That’s alright. I was just saying that I brought you my all time favorite book, and there was a line I wanted you to read, and tell me what you thought.” He handed her the book, and she thumbed at the pages curiously, opening up to the page that was bookmarked. “The 17th line down, it should be a line of dialogue.”

July used her finger to count down the lines, and sure enough, there was a line of dialogue, lightly underlined with ink, right where Keith had said it’d be. “‘And sure enough, I realized eventually that I was in love with you.’” She read out, her voice breathless as she glanced at Keith.

Before she could continue reading, Keith continued the line of dialogue on his own. “‘And I realize that it may be too late, but I couldn’t let you go on without knowing.’”

July’s eyes filled with unshed tears, unsure if he was just referring to an incredibly romantic line in a book because he knew she loved romance novels, or if there was deeper meaning in his - the book's - words. “Prince Keith?”

Keith stepped closer, his eyes soft, a serious expression on his face as he cupped her cheek stroking gently under her eye with his thumb to catch one of the tears that had managed to fall. “July,” he breathed out. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Another tear fell, this time from her other eye. Keith couldn’t brush it away, yet his eyes followed it as it tracked down her gorgeous face. “Tell me what?” She whispered, her green eyes almost a stormy gray with the tears filling her lash line.

“I didn’t know how to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you.” Keith responded, now cupping her face in gloved hands. He wished he had taken his gloves off, but he’d never been one to think things through to this extent. He wanted to feel her soft face against his bare hands, hands that didn’t deserve to hold someone as gently as he was. “Say something, please.” He pleaded. 

July let out a shaky sigh, and finally felt like she could breathe once more, his confession hanging between them like the oxygen they were breathing together. “You could have anyone you wanted… you’re so gentle, and kind. And yet, you chose a weirdo like me. You chose a commoner.”

Keith leaned in, pressing his forehead against her own. “I chose the most wonderful, and kind woman I’ve ever met. You’re anything but common to me. If you’re a weirdo, then so am I.” He laughed slightly, and that sound warmed July’s heart. “There’s no one I’d rather be a weirdo with than you. I love you.”

This time, there was no mistaking it. He was confident in himself, and professing his love to her, his sweet breath fanning over her face with every word he spoke. “I love you too, Keith.” She replied, and before she could say more, Keith closed the small gap between their lips. It was awkward and clumsy, probably one of his first - if not his first - kisses, and even though their noses bumped together, July could feel Keith’s sincerity in the way he was breathing in the air she exhaled, like she was his living life force and if they separated, he simply couldn’t bear it.

He loved her, and she loved him back. 

Although there’d be tribulations to get to, they both knew that they’d get through it together, because they had each other.

***

Keith’s shoulders were slumped as he walked into his and July’s shared bedroom. He had been busy, since Jade was hosting a union ball with Rhodolite, the first prince was stretched thinner than he normally was, and he was ready for a night away from the princely duties bestowed upon him.

July was laying in bed, a book nestled on her lap, the oil lamp burning bright in the otherwise dark night. Keith had to squint; he wasn’t sure if she was asleep, or just resting her eyes, but when he sat on the edge of the bed to take off his shoes, she stirred, rubbing her eyes sleepily. “Hi darling,” she greeted him, scooting over in the bed so she could wrap her body around his upright one, her chin resting on his shoulder. “Another late night.”

Keith kissed her forehead, a little hum of appreciation leaving her lips at his affection. His second boot was toed off, set near the edge of the bed, and he was ready to wrap her in his arms and enjoy some quality time with July. “Yes, there won’t be many more before it’s over, my love. Did you fall asleep while waiting for me?”

She shook her head, knowing her lover was going to start beating himself up if she didn’t dissuade his worries. “No, just resting my eyes. I had a headache, but I wasn’t sleeping.”

Keith startled at that, quickly pulling off his gloves to feel at her forehead. There was no fever, and his shoulders dropped in relief. “If you wait right here, I’ll go and mix you an herbal tea that should help and–”

July tugged at his hand, stopping Keith in his tracks. “I don’t need any tea. I just need to rest. Come, darling, and lay with me.” Her pleading caused Keith to relent, allowing her to guide him under the covers, his newly washed pajamas soft against his skin. He had been working all day, and his back was aching from sitting hunched over documents, yet when he wrapped July in his arms, it was like every bad feeling from the day had left his body. It was quiet between them, their breathing had lined up, and everything felt back to normal for the both of them. “Keith,”

“Yes, love?” He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head as he responded.

“Could you read me a story?” Her voice was small, and her eyes were closed, the prince noted as he looked down at her. He had picked up the book that was laying in bed with them, and with a fond smile, he picked up at the bookmarked page, starting the 17th line down. 

“‘And sure enough, I realized eventually that I was in love with you.’” Keith read out quietly, and July smiled, nuzzling farther into his embrace as he continued. “‘And I realize that it may be too late, but I couldn’t let you go on without knowing. Meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me.’ Tessa spoke with tears in her eyes. She watched forlornly as the prince boarded his carriage, headed back to the castle far away. In that moment, Tessa was heartbroken, staring after the retreating carriage. Little did she know, the prince was also heartbroken inside the carriage, yet his hand in marriage was devoted to someone else, and he refused to start something with the love of his life before he broke off the engagement with the princess of the country his parents were trying to align with.”

Keith continued to read the book as July’s breathing evened out, and although she was asleep, he continued to read late into the night, the hopeless romantic in him not wanting to stop until the pair was reunited. Only once the prince and the commoner found solace in each other's arms, did he lean over and turn off the dim burning oil lamp and snuggle into the loving embrace of his lover. 

Keith couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard it was for the Prince to stay away from the woman he loved, even if she was a commoner. If he had to give up any moment of finding solace in July’s green eyes, Keith knew he wouldn’t be able to pull himself away from her. One tremble of her perfect lips would have him cupping her face and wanting to soothe away all her doubts.

But that was Prince Keith, a weakling. And he only wished one day he could be as admirable as the prince in the book, and set an example for the rest of his country about what true love should look like.

Unlike a book, true love has no bounds, and at least that’s something that Keith can always promise to July. He may not yet be a role model to his kingdom, but the citizen’s of Jade will always know that their First Prince followed his heart, no matter what direction it may lead.

#ikemen prince gift exchange #ikemen prince #ikemen prince fanfiction #ikemen prince fanfic #ikepri fanfic #ikepri fanfiction #keith howell #ikemen prince keith howell #ikemen prince keith #ikepri keith howell #ikepri keith #ikemen prince keith fanfiction #ikemen prince keith fanfic #ikepri keith fanfiction #ikepri keith fanfic #my writing

[aquilapolariz]

in business, in life (silvio ricci x oc [hyacinth])

Event: Ikemen Prince gift exchange hosted by @ikemenlibrary and @sunnyikemen || Hugehugehuge thank you to these two for being such amazing organizers and guiding me through my first-ever gift exchange <3

This was written for the lovely @tacogawa ! This is something I wouldn’t normally write, so I hope I did your OC and Silvio justice- i had so much fun and inspiration writing this, plz enjoy!!

Summary: Silvio claims he’s the best businessman in all of Rhodiolite and Benitoite combined. After finalizing an investment plan with his fiance in her bookstore, she challenges that claim in a series of business competitions!

Notes/Warnings/Tags: Established relationship (Silvio and Hyacinth are engaged) + Found family with Leon, Clavis, Jin, and Nokto aka some of the other princes that were requested + my attempts at humor + fluff at the end; EXTREMEEELLYY minor spoilers for Silvio’s backstory, it’s only there if you squint!

Word Count: ~2.7k

“There’s one last thing I need to show you,” Hyacinth declared, close to finishing up the tour of her bookshop. She stopped right in front of an unassuming door that said STAFF ONLY.

“I don’t need to see your supply closet, Hyacinth,” Silvio said brashly.

“But-”

“I trust that you know how to spend your money on cleaning expenses and your facilities.”

“Oh,” she blinked. “Why can’t you ever give a straightforward compliment?”

“It’s like you always say: I’m hopeless.” A ghost of a smile could be seen upon Silvio’s lips.

Hyacinth playfully rolled her eyes at him, “At least you’re self-aware.” She gestured to the door, “This is not my supply closet, though. It’s, well, let me just-” Slowly opening the door, she walked inside the room and turned on the light switch. Silvio followed closely behind.

His eyes scanned the room which was filled with rows of display cases containing gems of all colors and sizes, reflecting light from the chandeliers dangling overhead. Some were unrefined, but many of them were polished, placed within jewelry as the center stones of rings or hanging onto necklaces and bracelets. “Not bad,” he said. He held some unrefined sapphire in his hand and squinted. “These are…Obsidianite, aren’t they? All of them are.”

Hyacinth nodded.

“How did you manage to obtain these?”

“Remember how my parents were Benitoitian pirates? I still have some connections, some old friends who provide me with a…variety of goods, some would say.”

“That’s one hell of a way to stimulate the economy.” Silvio ran his hands along the display cases, “Always full of surprises, ain’t ya?”

“I just thought you should know now since you’re actually planning on moving forward with investing,” Hyacinth explained. “If, somehow, I get caught, I don’t want you to be in hot water too. Not as a prince of Benitoite.”

He snorted. “Is that really why you haven’t told me about this? If I’m investing, there’s no way you’d get caught, and even if you did, I’d bribe them into silence.”

Hyacinth let out a breath of relief. “So, really, this is okay?”

“Business is business. Though, this ain’t the way I’d do it.”

“Oh yeah?” Hyacinth crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame as she watched her partner walk through the room. “How would the great Prince Silvio do it?”

“First of all,” he picked up a necklace with a sparkling light pink diamond, laying it on his palm to see how it would reflect the light. “I would store these better. The light and humidity here can degrade some of them over time.”

Hyacinth sighed. “I know that. You think I have enough money to get full-scale climate control here?”

“Second of all, the reason you’re not making enough money for that is because this is a bookshop,” he continued, ignoring his fiance. “I would auction these off instead of running this store underground. You’re not gonna reach the right audience by selling these here.”

“I’m not trying to sell to rich strangers. I like forging personal relationships with my buyers. I want these gems and jewelry to go to the people who will take care of them.”

“You’re not making any money like that.” Silvio put the diamond necklace around Hyacinth’s neck and whispered into her ear. “This is why I’m the better business person out of the two of us.”

Hyacinth stepped forward and turned around to face Silvio. “No way!”

Silvio smirked, ignoring Hyacinth’s words while admiring how beautiful she looked with a diamond necklace that matched the engagement ring he gave her.

“Silvio, you are not checking me out right now!”

He merely shrugged.

“Okay,” she paused as the gears turned in her head. “I challenge you to a barter battle,” she said, pointing her index finger at him. Hyacinth’s eyes flitted around the room. “Whoever can trade up to the most valuable item-“ her eyes landed on a pencil next to Silvio. She grabbed the pencil from the table and shoved it towards Silvio “-from this pencil, is the better businessperson.”

He took the pencil from her, unimpressed. “Y’know you’re talking to the number one negotiator in all of Benitoite and Rhodiolite, right?”

“Do you accept my challenge or not?”

He sighed. “You know you’re gonna lose, right?”

“We’ll see about that,” Hyacinth replied. “Okay. If we’re doing this, though, we need to do it properly. We need a third party to determine the value of our final goods.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, “Ah, yes! Jin and Leon should be in town later in the evening. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

“Those two aren’t qualified to judge-”

“You’re scared to lose, aren’t you?” Hyacinth asked, taunting him.

“As if, woman. Even with their biased judgment, I’ll still win,” he smirked, flashing a cocky smile.

“May the best businessperson win!” Hyacinth exclaimed triumphantly.

+++

“After our long deliberation,” Jin started, “we are now ready to declare a winner.”

Hyacinth couldn’t stand still, the air around her was charged with anticipation. Meanwhile, Silvio stood still next to her, his arms crossed with a cocky smile on his face.

“Before we do that though, we just wanna say that we thought both of you did a great job and that the final monetary value was very high from each final item, much more than we expected,” Leon stated cordially. “The winner of this barter battle is Hyacinth!”

Silvio’s jaw dropped momentarily, stunned into silence.

Hyacinth grinned, “Aw, thank you so much, guys. Not for choosing me as the winner, but for taking the time out of your busy schedules to do this.”

“Of course, Hyacinth! You’re family, we’re glad to do anything we can. Plus, we haven’t been able to see you as much ever since Silvio took you away,” Leon teased.

“Yeah, it’s not fair that he gets to have you all to himself now,” Jin frowned. “He better be treating you right.”

“Absolutely. He treats me like I’m royalty.”

“How did Hyacinth win? What was her item?” Silvio asked in disbelief.

“Given that his brothers are also royalty, then I don’t think that’s a good thing,” Leon laughed, ignoring Silvio.

“Um, he treats me like a queen?” Hyacinth tried correcting herself.

“His mother was a queen, remember? That didn’t pan out well,” Jin added.

“I’m right here, dammit!” Silvio exclaimed. “Hyacinth, what the hell was your item?”

A soft smile painted her lips, “Let me show you.” With everyone following her, she opened the door to her bookshop. They walked past shelves and shelves and arrived at the back corner. Silvio was met with a deep purple rolled-arm sofa, one that was definitely not here before. Its arms were gilded in gold and the velvet was fit for royalty. “I managed to get some seating for the space. I’ve gotten so much customer feedback about having a more comfortable space to read, so I managed to trade for this.”

Trying to hide his pride in Hyacinth, Silvio opened his mouth to speak but then closed it.

“Yeah, we ultimately decided Hyacinth as the winner even though your item had a larger estimated value. It’s because she keeps her customers in mind. We thought that was the most important aspect of business,” Leon clarified.

“I knew I traded to the highest value,” Silvio retorted. He turned to Hyacinth, clicking his tongue, “I could’ve just bought you a sofa. As many as you wanted. As many as your customers wanted.”

She shook her head. “These sofas are actually from a customer’s family. They’re priceless.”

Silvio only sighed as Hyacinth stared at the furniture fondly.

Jin let out a hearty chuckle, “Your business strengths complement each other well. You make up for each other’s weaknesses. The two of you are great business partners and life partners.”

Hearing Jin’s words, Hyacinth grinned widely at Silvio. He couldn’t help but smile back at her.

“Thank you for being our entertainment for the day, we were able to kill two birds with one stone! While we followed the two of you around, we were also observing all the townspeople and places today. Rhodolite feels like a major trading hub whenever Silvio’s in town,” Leon said. “Thanks for that.”

“Money follows me wherever I go,” Silvio said smugly.

“The results of our competition tell me otherwise,” Hyacinth mumbled under her breath.

Silvio’s eye twitched in irritation and laughter erupted from Jin and Leon. “Take care, you two. We gotta head back to the castle. We’ll see you soon,” Leon said, bidding the pair farewell.

Silvio and Hyacinth watched as the two princes of Rhodolite walked away. “The only reason you won is because they’re softies! Jin and Leon don’t know business,” Silvio complained.

Hyacinth hummed dismissively. “You said you’d still win despite that though.”

“I traded up to the highest value item. Is that not winning?

“Not to Jin and Leon. And to me,” Hyacinth snickered. “We could have a rematch if you’d like, say, with Clavis and Nokto as the judges. A new challenge, perhaps.”

“Those judges know commerce a little better. What would this new challenge be?”

“Whoever has the most sales in a day wins. I’m sure you’re an investor in some other nearby bookstore. Be an employee for the day.”

He scoffed, “My days of working for someone else are behind me.”

“Well, do you have any better ideas? You’re not scared again, are you?”

“Again? Since when was I afraid of any business challenge? I never was and I sure as hell am not now. I accept.”

“Great! Clavis and Nokto could monitor us to see our customer interactions as well. They can determine the winner holistically,” Hyacinth said cheerfully.

+++

Silvio approached the sign that said ROSE PETAL PAGES. The urge to kick the door down was raging through him, but he thought about what Hyacinth had always told him: “What if you break the door? It’s gonna be other people that pay for it…not everyone has money to throw away like you.” He sighed and glared at the door. Begrudgingly reaching for the doorknob, Silvio shuddered at the rare feeling of having to open a door.

The disgust on his face stayed. “Prince Silvio?” the merchant at the sales desk greeted him. “H-How are you doing? We have a new shipment of the finest books from-“

“I’m here to sell, not buy. You can take the day off, I’ll do your job for ya today. I’ll pay ya too.”

“W-What?”

“I’m here on important business. Take the day off or risk losing your top investor.”

“Y-yes, Prince Silvio.” Hurriedly picking up his bags, he rushed out of the door.

“Are all your investees this scared of you?” A voice asked from behind a shelf.

“Clavis,” Silvio greeted the purple-haired prince dryly.

“A little birdie told me you’d be at a bookstore in town.”

“Yeah, and that same birdie told me you and Nokto would be better judges than those other brothers of yours.”

“Indeed, business expertise does fall more under the domain of the foreign affairs faction. Hyacinth did mention that you felt last week’s challenge wasn’t being assessed objectively.”

“It wasn’t,” Silvio replied curtly as he walked behind the sales counter to evaluate the money box.

“Did you try to bribe Jin and Leon into naming you the winner? Prince Silvio of Benitoite begging at the feet of Rhodiolitian princes — what a headline!”

“Hyacinth bribed them with attention before I could get to them with money,” Silvio grumbled.

“Well, I can’t blame them. She seems busier than us these days. Luke always complains about her lack of presence these days.”

Silvio was always aware of Hyacinth’s relationship with the princes, all of them acting like her older brothers. He sighed, “How’d you know I’d be at this bookstore?”

“Just because you’re investing in private businesses doesn’t mean that information is private,” Clavis smiled slyly.

“Fair,” Silvio replied as he opened the money box and dropped in some money for the worker he just told to leave.

“It seems you’re paying that man more than three times his daily wage,” Clavis observed.

Silvio scoffed as he shut the money box, “What sort of patron do you take me for?”

+++

“Good morning, Hyacinth. What lovely books are you selling today?”

“Nokto, it’s been so long! Thank you for indulging me and judging these silly business games.”

“I’d indulge you anytime,” he said with a wink.

“Uh huh,” Hyacinth deadpanned. “I have a book just for you.” She grabbed a tattered book from under the desk, some of its pages falling out. “It’s been gathering dust, waiting for you.”

Nokto’s face instantly turned sour as he looked at the cover. The almanac’s title was Growing Bellpeppers: From Planting to Harvest. “Ugh, I think I’m gonna throw up.”

Hyacinth laughed, “Go throw up outside then!”

“Please, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“But you’re gonna drive away all of the female customers,” Hyacinth whined.

“Or I’ll bring them in.”

Hyacinth stared at Nokto in mock disgust as he grinned back. The two of them almost immediately erupted in laughter.

“Don’t mind me, I’ll just watch you work as I lounge on your new, luxurious couch. Jin and Leon told me about the look on Silvio’s face when they said you were the winner. I’d love to see it myself.”

“Silvio and I expect you to judge us fairly,” you said, giving him a pointed look.

“Sure, sure,” Nokto replied as he put his arms behind his head, sinking comfortably into the sofa. “Anything for the future princess of Benitoite.”

+++

“For his shrewd marketing and patronage of his businesses, Nokto and I have declared Silvio as the sole winner of this…little game of yours,” Clavis announced.

“As expected,” Silvio acknowledged.

“No! Don’t tell me it’s because I showed Nokto that book,” Hyacinth feigned offense.

“Unfortunately, no. It was actually because you hurt my feelings, saying I would drive all the ladies away. Oh, how you scorn me,” Nokto replied sarcastically.

Hyacinth just shook her head with a smile. “As much as Hyacinth is a great communicator, Silvio just had more sales. He was very clever, using his princely status to draw in a larger crowd.”

“Ah, nothing beats the prince privilege,” Hyacinth noted in defeat. “If only I had that.”

Nokto shrugged, “Maybe, but you could’ve used your future princess privilege to draw in a crowd. I’m so sad that you couldn’t take my hint.”

She sighed, “I guess you’re right. Silvio actually won this one fair and square.”

“Damn right I did,” Silvio replied.

“At least I lose with grace!”

“The two of you complement each other well. Silvio is savvy with negotiations and the handling of money, while Hyacinth is incredibly attuned to her customers’ needs and efficient in organization,” Clavis concluded.

“Leon and Jin mentioned something like that too,” Silvio mumbled.

+++

“Thank you, my love, for entertaining these games of mine,” Hyacinth said as she leaned into Silvio’s shoulder, wrapping an arm around his torso where they sat next to each other in the moving carriage.

“It was my pleasure,” Silvio said quietly as he ruffled Hyacinth’s auburn hair. “You held your own against me, I’m impressed.”

“We’re tied, one to one, I think I did more than just ‘holding my own.’”

“Headstrong and savvy,” Silvio observed, “This is why I’m gonna marry you.”

“Ah, so you’re just marrying me because I’m a good business partner?” Hyacinth teased.

“I’m marrying you because you’re my life partner. You make up for everything I can’t even imagine doing or being- not just when it comes to business,” Silvio said sincerely. “Sure, you push me to be a better businessman, but you push me to be a better person too.”

“I love you,” Hyacinth muttered into Silvio’s chest, inhaling his salty, metallic scent that always reminded her of her childhood — the sandy ports of Benitoite, filled with barter and brine.

“I love you too,” Silvio replied as he ran his forefinger across the engagement ring that found its home on Hyacinth’s finger. It wasn’t made with the finest Obsidianite minerals, despite how easily Silvio could’ve obtained them. Instead, its band was filled with the sand of Benitoite’s beaches, and the center stone was a modest light pink diamond, exquisitely carved into a Rhodiolitian rose. It symbolized not just a union of allied nations or trading partners that helped each other, but that of a Rhodiolitian citizen and a Benitoitan prince. A union of two people — two lovers — who vow to cherish and support each other in business and in life.

#silvio ricci #ikemen prince #ikepri #ikemen series #ikepri fanfic #ikemen prince gift exchange #iz writes

[aquagirl1978]

It took me a while, but here is the masterlist for the Ikemen Prince Gift Exchange. Thank you to everyone who participated - I will be reblogging all of your stories and art over the next few days.

Beach Date | Clavis Lelouch x MC | by @alixennial for @callmeevaig

Moonlit Waves | Leon Dompteur x Reader | by @aminiatureworld for @violettduchess

Gestalt | Gilbert von Obsidian x Reader | bonus story by @atelieredux

Sunset Drinks | Gilbert von Obsidian | by @aquagirl1978 for @alixennial

Simpleton | Chevalier Michel x Reader | by @aquagirl1978 for @tiny-wooden-robot

A Prankless Week? | Clavis Lelouch x Reader | by @chaosangel767 for @toloveawarlord

Sweeter than Sugar | Yves Kloss x Reader | by @ikehoe for @bubheart

The Morning After | Jin Grandet x Reader | by @ikemen-prince-writers-posts for @xxsycamore

Royal Affair | Gilbert von Obsidian x OC (Ihana) | by @queengiuliettafirstlady for @ikemen-prince-writers-posts

A Midsummer's Night Scream | Chevalier Michel x F!Reader | by @scorchieart for @ikehoe

The Perfect Getaway | Jin Grandet x Reader | by @tiny-wooden-robot for @annebrontesrequiem (@aminiatureworld)

Of Roses and Stars | Chevalier Michel x F!Reader | by @thewitchofbooks for @chaosangel767

Summer Treat | Yves Kloss x fem!Reader | by @toloveawarlord for @bespectacledbun

Summer | Leon Dompteur | by @violettduchess for @scorchieart

Milk and Honey | Luke Randolph x f!OC (Julie) | by @xxsycamore for @queengiuliettafirstlady

#ikemen prince gift exchange #ikemen series #ikemen prince #ikepri #jin grandet #ikepri jin #chevalier michel #ikepri chevalier #clavis lelouch #ikepri clavis #leon dompteur #ikepri leon #yves kloss #ikepri yves #luke randolph #ikepri luke #gilbert von obsidian #ikepri gilbert #masterlist #ikemen fanfic #ikepri fanfic #otome #otome games

[toloveawarlord]

♥ Pairing: Yves Kloss x fem!Reader

♥ Event: Ikepri Gift Exchange hosted by @ikemen-prince-gift-exchange

♥ Giftee: @bespectacledbun

♥ wc: 1k

♥ a.n: Pure summer fluff with the fifth prince! I hope you enjoy this little slice of bliss, Naga! I had a fun time writing this!

"Do you plan to sleep all day?"

Yves had returned from his urgent business swiftly, only to find that you still hadn't gotten yourself out of his bed. He grabbed the covers and yanked them off your body. "Get up this instant!"

You groaned at his loud voice, exhausted from the previous night's activities. "Please, just let me sleep in a little longer." You curled up, gathering as much warmth as you could. The bed was too comfy, impossible to part from its cushy clutches.

"Absolutely not. I planned a perfect date, and I will not let you sleep through half of it!" He'd even taken the liberty of picking out a summer dress for you to wear, shoes that matched and were stylish yet comfortable for the trip out. Honestly, he'd done all the work. All you had to contribute was being conscious.

"A date?"

This was the first you'd heard of it. You recalled him mentioning needing some of your time today, but he'd brushed it off so lightly that you assumed it to be assisting cleaning the office or something.

Yves straightened at your tone, a hint of pink on his cheeks. "Well, yes. That is what I said, isn't it?" He hadn't outright said those words, but you should have understood him better! "Unless you don't wish to spend the day away from the castle, just the two of us."

"No! Of course, I want to go!" The adrenaline woke you out of the haze you'd been in. Both of you were incredibly busy, so a chance to go out without an agenda of work... "I can be ready in five minutes-"

At least, you could have been. Yves, however, spent an hour on your hair. Brushing, prepping, styling. He wouldn't sacrifice a single second to rush. You had to admit that he always managed to choose a style that complimented you.

Finally, after he approved of everything, the two of you set off from the castle. The forest surrounded you for a quite a while, birds chirping pretty melodies, and the occasional small critter scampering away as you continued onward.

Until the forest opened up into a wide, long field of sunflowers, all reaching for the warm sun above. It stretched out to the base of a hill where a single, large oak tree sat atop as those the king of the forest, itself.

Yves had brought a basket packed full of tiny sandwiches and far too many desserts for two people. The view from the top of the hill was spectacular, magical, like something out of a fairy tale.

"Here, try this one."

You giggled as you opened your mouth to let Yves feed you another fork full of a new cheesecake he'd made. The picnic cloth was covered with miniature versions of various desserts. A gentle breeze swept through the field below, racing up the blades of the grass of the hill to where the two of you enjoyed the warmth of the summer day beneath a large oak tree, who's shade made the sweltering heat bearable.

"Why are you laughing? This is serious!" Yves chastised, turning his head away in a huff, but he licked the remnants of the cheesecake off the fork gracefully while pouting. He wanted an honest opinion, so who better to ask than you, one who couldn't hide your reactions.

You enjoyed the bite for a moment longer before answering. "You've nothing to worry about. All of them are delicious, Yves. I honestly loved them." Delectable treats. Some flavors you hadn't heard of before. "Passion fruit? Which one was that?"

His mood lifted swiftly, reaching for the passion fruit cheesecake to swipe another fork full for you. "This one. I quite enjoy it, as well. It was imported through Benitoite. The fruit itself is very tart." He had experimented with it in various ways before finding that it suited a cheesecake well. "The sweetness of the cream cheese balances out the raw tartness."

"This would be perfect for someone who doesn't like how sweet cheesecake can be but wants to enjoy it nonetheless." You adored how passionate he was about his baking. A surprising trait in a prince, mostly because you couldn't fathom how he found the time to spare honing this skill between all his other work. It was inspiring, really.

"Yes, exactly my thoughts!"

The conversation drifted to each dish, tasting each one again until you were both incredibly full. Yves packed away the leftovers, moving the basket away to remove the barrier between the two of you. Laying back against the soft cloth, you watched the sunlight gleam off the leaves fluttering on the limbs.

It wasn't often that Yves had the time to spend away from the castle. You either. Work never stopped for royals. Once one problem was solved, three more arose. One festival ended and the preparations were beginning for another.

Yves laced his fingers with yours, simply enjoying being with you, alone. No brothers barging in and interrupting, trying to steal you away from him. It was quite annoying to deal with them each day. This was incredibly relaxing. His eyes cracked open when your warmth left him. "Who said you could get up?"

"I was going to go pick some flowers." You stood, but he hadn't released your hand, nor had he budged a single inch from the spot he occupied on the cloth.

"Absolutely not. I won't allow it," Yves said, easily knocking you off balance with a gently tug, bringing you back down to him. His arm snaked around your waist, flipping you onto your back, beneath him. "The flower can't have you right now."

You gazed up into crystal blue pools as his lips found yours, capturing them in a gentle kiss. The taste of the passion fruit cheesecake on his tongue.

"I want you to stay with me." He'd made the error of not being forthcoming with his intent of bringing you out on a date, a mistake he wasn't going to make now. No matter how much his cheeks burned as he said it. His heart needed you to hear him.

You reached up to brush your hand through soft, blond locks of hair. "Always. I'll always stay with you-"

He stole another kiss, deeper this time. Yves wasn't skilled in speaking exactly what he wanted to say. It mostly came out all wrong. But his lips etched onto you what his voice couldn't, the love that he held for you.

#ikemen prince #ikepri #ikepri yves #yves kloss #a cute tsun #ikemen prince gift exchange #ikepri exchange

[violettduchess]

A/N: This is my gift for @readerinsertfanfiction 💜 The moment I saw Cyran on your list, I was thrilled. I hope you enjoy!

A huge thank you to @ikemenlibrary for her support and friendship and for being a generous, caring host 💜

Prompt: A servant, someone who knew Cyran from before his time in Rhodolite

Cyran x AU Emma

WC: ~4k

Obsidian: the Past

She runs across the cracked, sunbaked cobblestone streets, her treasure wrapped in a cream-colored tea towel and held protectively against her chest. Her worn leather shoes make a pleasing thunking sound against the stones as she hurries past dusty shop windows and faded porches, carefully dodging people on the street.

“Langsam, Emma!” someone yells as she flies past but she doesn’t listen to their warning. She can’t slow down. She has somewhere to be.

Finally she reaches the edge of town and takes a sharp left, leaving the cobblestones behind for a ribbon of dirt road that winds its way along tired hills covered with sparse sage-green grass and dotted with scraggly yellow dandelions. Another turn onto an even smaller path, a faint thing that meanders through the knee-high growth and then, finally, the faded barn comes into view. 

She smiles, pumping her young legs harder, willing them to swallow the distance faster and faster until she reaches the peeling, splintered wooden doors and haphazardly flings one open.

“Cyran? I’m here!!”

The boy, just shy of fourteen, turns away from the wooden beam he has been faux-sparring with, lowering the dull, well-worn practice sword he is so proud of. His hair gleams like fire in the hazy sunlight that shines through the pocked roof. 

Emma hurries over, gulping down huge breaths of musty air as she grabs his thin forearm.

“C’mon. I’m dying to see how they taste.”

Cyran laughs, struggling to sheath his sword as she drags him over to the blanket thrown over the hay in a cozy corner of the barn. This is their favorite place to meet, an escape from the outside world they discovered several years ago while exploring. It is here that Emma sometimes reads to him from one of her treasured books. She’s even shared stories she’s written, romantic tales of princesses and dragons, knights and monsters. Cyran is always the hero, the knight who slays the monsters and rescues the damsel in distress. Emma will change her roles in the stories. 

Sometimes she needs rescuing. 

But sometimes, she is the dragon.

Often they sneak treats to each other, hard biscuits or smoked meat or, if they are really lucky, sweet berries brought across the border from the lush neighboring country of Rhodolite. Cyran’s neighbor is a servant for some of the merchants that make the risky trips over and when he’s lucky, she manages to tuck away a few treasures just for him.

He settles himself down on the frayed checkered blanket and pushes his bright hair away from his forehead, eagerly watching as Emma drops down next to him, laying the tea towel down. Her face is flushed from her run and from the thrill of what she’s managed to bring him.

“Ready?”

He nods, enthusiastically motioning for her to unwrap it already. He has hands that are too big for his young body, growing the way many boys do at this age, in odd fits and spurts. 

Emma leans forward, pushing up the sleeve of her too-big dress and carefully pulls back the edges of the tea towel.

The smell hits them first, the warm spice of cinnamon, the tang of nutmeg, the slight bitterness of the cloves, the unmistakable scent of ginger. It wafts up towards them, exotic and tempting. Cyran breathes in deeply and then sighs happily as he looks at her, eyes bright and admiring.

“It smells so good.”

Cyran had carefully been saving up the exotic store of spices, some of them gifts from his neighbors, others decadent purchases made at the market from his meager earnings made mucking stalls and chopping wood. He knew that Emma would be the one who would create something special with them. Young as she was, she was a talented cook and baker, able to make the most fantastic treats out of the simplest ingredients. And now that she had been given such a treasure trove to work with, she had spun pure magic.

The spiced biscuits are dappled dark brown and gold. When she hands him one, it is with a reverence that echos a priest giving communion or a child receiving a shiny new toy at Christmas.

Their gazes meet and she nods.

“Together.”

He returns the nod, staring into the warm depths of her soft brown eyes.

“Together.”

They bite into the cookies at the same time. Emma breaks into a proud smile as Cyran closes his eyes, savoring the medley of flavor and even better, the knowledge that she made them just for him.

“It’s good, isn’t it?" she asks, grinning. She sees the look on his face, the way he is practically melting with enjoyment.

He lifts his shoulder in a casual shrug, feigning indifference.

“I guess……”

“What?!”

He takes another bite, leaning back on one hand. “I mean, they’re ok. But you know, Hilde’s biscuits are also really good–OOF.”

She’s tackled him, throwing herself at him with all the force of a frenzied feline, her nimble fingers scratching at his sides. Cyran breaks into laughter, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and tries to squirm away from her.

“Ok ok Brown Eyes, enough!”

Emma lets him go, sitting back on her heels with a glowing, triumphant smile.

“Never say that about Hilde’s cookies again.”

He pushes himself up, heart pounding furiously in his chest. Only some of it is from laughing. He tears his gaze away from the unsettling beauty of her eyes, traveling up to her hair.

“You’re a mess. You got straw in your hair and your braid is a disaster.”

Emma turns and scoots until she is sitting in front of him. “Since it’s your fault….you fix it.”

Cyran heaves a sigh he doesn’t mean and then settles himself into a comfortable position, reaching forward and with a tenderness and care far beyond most boys his age, begins slowly picking the straw from her messy plait.

Emma’s eyes drift closed as she revels in the attention he’s giving her, the gentle way he untangles her braid and then very slowly begins brushing his fingers through her soft, chestnut-colored hair.

It feels comforting and safe.

It feels thrilling.

It feels like the early evening has come to a standstill and they have all the time in the world.

But their time together is like a rose slowly losing its petals.

A petal falls as he tells her, wide-eyed and shaken, that his neighbor has been killed in her own home, throat opened in the dead of night and left smiling its ghastly red smile until she was discovered hours later. Emma rubs his back, not knowing what else to do. This is not the first death in their village as of late. And it will not be the last.

A petal falls as they lay, side by side, on the blanket in the hay, staring up at the patches of starry sky visible through the holes in the roof. “My parents are scared,” she whispers. He turns his head to stare at her profile and knows it isn’t just her parents who are frightened. “I’ll protect you,” he whispers, voice fierce with youth’s naïve promise. Her gaze remains on the silver stars but she reaches out, taking his hand and squeezes it.

A petal falls as she comes to their favorite spot, face pale as bone, to tell him that her family is leaving. Her father has contacted distant relatives that live far to the north, as far from Rhodolite and the dangers it poses as one can get. Cyran feels like his young heart may break right there in his chest and he will be forced to live the rest of his life with its pieces rattling around inside of him. Though filled with dismay, Emma’s eyes are as beautiful as ever. They shine with tears, rivaling any star they have ever spent time gazing at.

A petal falls as she rushes through the dark, on the night before her family is to leave, her throat burning with feelings she can’t quite name, waves too strong to try and understand for fear they will sweep her away. She bursts through the barn doors and finds him already there, his hair dark as garnet, damp with sweat. He has spent the entire day doing heavy labor, removing heavy wooden beams, hauling ancient and broken equipment, sweeping the dusty, straw-strewn floor. Several lanterns placed around the interior bathe the space in warm, yellow light. The barn is as clean and inviting as he can make it. He wanted to give her one more memory, something beautiful, that she can take with her on her journey away from here. Away from him.

Emma is frozen in place, soaking in all he has done, before finally stopping on the young man at the center of it. He’s breathing hard, his chest rising and falling unevenly. Already his shoulders carry the hint of what manhood will bring him: strength and breadth. Arms that with training will turn hard and sculpted, legs that will lengthen until he is taller than most. He is the faint beginning of what he will become. Emma wonders wildly if she will ever get the chance to see the finished masterpiece.

“Emma,” he says, his voice raw and rough, deeper than she has ever heard it.

She sets down the bundle she is holding, the one she carried so close on the way here, leaving it on top of a weathered wooden barrel.

“Cyran,” she answers, her muscles tense, like a fawn when it hears a crunching in the underbrush.

He starts forward, one hesitant step and that is enough. She flies towards him, throwing her thin arms around his neck and buries her face in his worn linen shirt, clutching him to her. There is power in her small frame, something fierce and bright, a hurricane in crystal. Cyran holds her close, his eyes closing as he breathes in her familiar scent. He’s been teased his whole life because of his last name, but she is the one who reminds him of a rose, who always smells so sweet.

The anticipation of loss that has them clinging to each other slowly ebbs and something else, something that has been burning low and quiet in every laugh, every touch, every glance begins to emerge. She is suddenly aware of the press of her chest against his, of how much taller he is, the earthy smell of his skin. She leans back to look at him and sees the same awareness mirrored in his dark eyes.

Outside a rooster crows, loud and discordant.

Cyran turns his head toward the sound and Emma, sparked by the frantic knowledge that she must leave, grabs his chin, pulling him back to her and rises onto her toes, pressing her lips to his.

It is a sunbeam bursting through gray clouds. A spark breathing life into a pile of dried leaves. It is hope and promise and wonder.

And heartbreak.

With a stifled cry, she steps away, turns and flees the barn, not wanting to see the look on his face as she leaves, not wanting that to be her last memory of him.

Cyran watches with a thundering heart as the door swings shut. Flooded with helplessness and misery, he notices the bundle she left behind. Tenderly he lifts it, undoing the sky-colored ribbon. It’s her favorite handkerchief, white with pale blue forget-me-nots painstakingly embroidered along the edges, and nestled inside are several of her spiced biscuits. His favorites.

Rhodolite: The Present

Rhodolite is so much MORE than she expected. The streets are wider and cleaner and lined with greenery, more trees and flowering bushes and grass than in the entire garden of the palace in Obsidian. There are more people than she expected too, many standing under awnings and lampposts, peeking through windows and around doorways, watchful eyes in beautiful faces following the royal procession as it makes its way towards the palace. 

When she had been told by the Head Chef that they would be accompanying Prince Gilbert and his entourage to Rhodolite, Emma had felt a familiar ringing through the cockles of her heart. Rhodolite is where Cyran was rumored to have ended up. Whispers from the south had traveled her way, over the many years since they parted. He had joined the army when he was of age. He had left Obsidian for the verdure of Rhodolite. He was employed by one of the Princes there. Crumbs of information she had managed to gather, hoarding them tightly like precious drops of mana. 

He may not even be here, she reminds herself as her tired gray mare plods along down the street. She and the other servants are at the end of the procession and most of the people have turned away, not interested in anything but the dangerous Prince Gilbert with his sharp smile and blood-red gaze. 

Still, Emma finds herself scanning the crowds as they pass, looking for any head of red hair. She spots a few but they are never him.

As the overwhelming elegant palace suddenly rises towards the heavens before her, she draws in a sharp breath. 

We’re here…….

…….Is he?

The palace looms closer, a breathtaking monument of pale beauty.

And if so….how in the wide world will she ever find him?

Cyran runs a hand through his thick mass of russet hair as his long strides make quick work of the pathway towards the training hall. It’s late evening and the young, freshly-minted knights are at the end of their training and he needs to make sure everything went well without him there. He knows Lucian is more than capable of leading them through their drills but Cyran has a responsibility to make sure. They are all under his charge.

Entering the hall, he sees several of the knights laughing in a corner. Some are sitting and catching their breath, others are pushing the heavy sandbags they sometimes train with back into their storage room. What he sees reassures him. They look tired and sore, yet satisfied, faces bright with the feeling of accomplishment a tough training session will leave behind.

He’s about to go look for Lucian, expecting a full report when he notices several of the knights standing by the wooden table at the far end of the training circle, the one usually covered with straps for shields and rope and other odds and ends. They’re smiling, far too widely to be discussing anything so mundane as weaponry. Several are chewing. He approaches the table, greeted by his men with smiles and respectful nods. Immediately he notices the tin: it’s round and black, covered with decorative golden swirls. 

“What’s this?” He glances towards the first knight at his left, a tall lad with sandy blond hair.

“They were brought here by an Obsidian servant. She said they were a present for us.”

Cyran frowns, a skeptical look on his face as he reaches inside the tin for one of the golden brown cookies.

“And you didn’t think to–” He was going to ask if they thought accepting gifts from strangers was a good idea when the scent hits him, cutting through the sweat and musk of tired men.

The warm spice of cinnamon, the tang of nutmeg, the slight bitterness of cloves, the unmistakable scent of ginger.

He goes still, the breath knocked from his lungs.

Could it be…..

Something in his face hushes the men around him. They watch, curious as Cyran lifts the cookie and takes a bite. 

The man who sees everything, ever watchful, closes his eyes as he chews and the knights are transfixed by the absolute stillness that has overtaken their leader.

And then those eyes open and something in them has begun to burn, bright and alive.

The other half of the cookie falls to the dusty ground as he turns on his heel and, practically jogging, exits the training area, leaving behind the half-eaten biscuit and a slew of surprised faces.

The rose gardens are somehow even more beautiful in the twilight of evening. The red petals seem to have darkened, shedding their bright rose-red for a sultry scarlet. Shadows emerge from the trimmed hedges, stretching across the winding stone pathways, giving a visitor like Emma glimpses of hidden benches and secret dirt paths leading into clandestine corners of the gardens.

She has taken several of these more narrow, less-trodden paths, not at all afraid of getting lost. Her heart is a bird, flitting between dark branches, full of a nervous, tightly-wound energy she can’t quite explain. 

As the sky darkens to a deep navy blue and the first stars open their eyes, Emma pauses in front of a gray stone fountain. Two swans, nuzzling their beaks together, bodies curved towards one another as a blossoming flower rises above them, water spraying outward in celebration. She tilts her head, the romantic in her sighing at the way the two swans perfectly mirror one another, two halves of a whole, two souls in perfect harmony. So enchanted is she by the fountain that she doesn’t hear the footfall on the path, doesn’t notice the man who has stopped several meters away from where she is standing, the sight of her freezing him in his tracks.

“Emma.”

She jumps at the deep voice, her eyes wide and dark as she turns towards the sound. The owner of said voice is standing, half in shadow, at the place where the small path to the fountain begins, beneath a shadowy arch of crimson roses. She is so startled, she doesn’t even register that he has said her name.

“Oh….s'il te plaît, excuse-moi,” she says quickly, doing her best to remember the phrases of the common language spoken in Rhodolite. “J'espère que ça va…” She trails off, trying to remember how to say she hopes she is allowed to be here but the man takes another step closer, leaving the blanket of shadows and stepping into the fading light.

Even the dusky hue of evening cannot hide the red of his hair.

A gasp as soft as the flutter of a bird’s wing escapes her. The young boy she knew juxtaposed against this tall, broad man before her sends her heart into a tailspin. Her hand flies to her mouth as she takes him in. She sees the same bright light of recognition and admiration and overwhelming emotion plain as day on his beautiful face.

“Cyran?” The word is a whisper, a breathless repetition of the name she has kept in her prayers for decades.

His eyes never leave her, almost as if he has the power to hold her there with his gaze, to keep her from vanishing into the realm of his dreams where she has lived for so long. Slowly, he reaches up and loosens the laces at the top of his tunic. His hand slides inside and when it emerges, he is holding a small square of cloth. As he slowly opens it, her heart falters.

It’s white, with pale blue forget-me-nots embroidered around the edges.

He holds it out to her, his chest rising and falling with every deep breath he takes. That handkerchief has lived next to his heart, in an inner pocket, one he has sewn into every shirt he has ever owned since the day he watched her leave.

“I think…..this belongs to you, Brown Eyes.”

She chokes back a sob, unable to contain the thunderstorm of emotion coursing through her and runs to him, falling into his arms as naturally as a willow bends to the wind, tears falling freely down her cheeks. Cyran wraps his arms around her, sheltering her, holding her the way he has imagined a thousand times. His throat burns with all the words he has ached to say, all those sleepless nights spent remembering the lilt of her smile, the music of her laughter, the bittersweet taste of her kiss.

Emma squeezes her eyes closed, breathing in the scent of him, at once so familiar and yet so strange. Her arms wind around his waist as she presses herself against him, drinking in the sensation of his body on hers. 

This is Cyran….her Cyran…..her….

A thought pierces her heart as she suddenly steps away from him, eyes wide, still so beautiful as they glimmer with the remnants of her tears.

“Oh…I…I didn’t mean…..you could be married. I shouldn’t have-”

His laughter is coarse, rough with emotion, a roll of rushing water as it careens over the lip of a cliff.

“As if I could ever love anyone else.”

Love…..

As if summoned by the very word, the moon itself parts the soft gray clouds, flooding the small section of the garden with silvery light. The tinkling of the fountain fills the momentary silence. 

Cyran’s cheeks suddenly flush, a hot mixture of embarrassment and panic overriding the elation of the previous moment.

“I…..I don’t mean to presume of course that you feel the same. It has been a long time and…..” He trails off, wincing. Fluster is such an uncharacteristic state of being for Cyran. “Ah, shit. I’m sorry. I–” 

His words are cut off as Emma launches herself back into his arms, hugging him fiercely.

“Please, don’t apologize.” She tilts her head up to look at him, still in awe of how she sees the young man he was and the handsome man he has become in his beautiful eyes, in his exquisite face. “It has always been you.”

Cyran drags air into his lungs, hardly able to believe he isn’t dreaming. His rough fingers capture her chin, his thumb running over the sensitive skin just under her lower lip. 

Slowly, he leans down as she stretches upwards, eager and nearly trembling with emotion. 

He kisses her, his hand still cupping her face. Gently his mouth moves over hers as he tells her a wordless story of longing, of a bruised heart that learned to somehow keep beating. 

He kisses her, a strong arm pulling her closer, his lips and tongue weaving the tale of a young soldier who never forgot the girl with the tender heart and radiant spirit. The soldier who dreamed of her face during his darkest nights and longed for her laughter on days of sunshine.

She meets him, kiss for kiss, stroke for stroke, sliding her palms along his broad shoulders, clutching him as she answers his tale, confessing without words how he has never left her heart. How his smile was her light in times of worry and despair. How seeing him again has been her northern star from the moment of parting.

Only the moon knows how long they stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms, lost in each other’s yearning.

When they finally part, Cyran rests his forehead against hers, still keeping her tightly in his embrace. He may never let go again.

“You’re….in the employ of Prince Gilbert. I am here.” He frowns ever so slightly as he brushes several loose strands of hair away from Emma’s charmingly flushed cheek. “This could get complicated.”

Their gazes meet and she nods.

“Yes…..but we’ll figure it out.”

And suddenly he is carried back in time to an evening when her eyes shone just as brightly, just as excitedly, a young girl with something to give a young boy, a homemade cookie, an offering of love.

“Together.” 

Her voice echoes across the years, that word wrapping itself around his battered heart, a balm, a blessing.

He returns the nod, staring into the warm depths of her soft brown eyes, tenderly stroking the silk of her hair, and answers her now as he did back then. 

“Together.”

Tagging: @xbalayage @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @aria-chikage @redheadkittys @tele86 @dear-mrs-otome @olivermorningstar @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @ikesimpleton @namine-somebodies-nobody @cellophanediamond @whatever-fanfics @justpeachyteastea @chirp-a-chirp @got7igot7family @kookie-my-little-sunshine @mastering-procrastinating @portrait-ninja @queen-dahlia @themysticalbeing @nightghoul381 @whitelittlebunny @chi-the-idiot @bubblexly @wordycheeseblob

#ikemen series #ikemen prince #ikepri #ikepri cyran #cyran rose #ikemen cyran #ikepri cyril #cyril rose #ikemen cyril #my ikemen valentine gift exchange #ikemen fanfiction #ikemen fanfic #otome fanfic #violettwrites

[keithsandwich]

A Sweet Taste

Pairing: Silvio/MC (Emma)

Word Count: ~2.5k

Warnings: Swearing, bickering, a brief mention of seasickness.

Summary: During Silvio and Emma's first voyage together, Silvio decides to make her a surprise for Valentine's. However, nothing can stop her curiosity.

Notes: Written for @goustmilk for the My Ikémen Valentine Gift Exchange, hosted by @ikemenlibrary. This was my first time writing for Silvio, and I really hope you like it, Dani!!

Emma was getting used to the sway of the waves and the creaking sounds of the ship. They didn’t disturb her anymore while sleeping, especially when Silvio made a habit of enveloping her tightly in his arms every night. They were heading to another continent where her lover had business to attend to, and he had decided to take her with him for a little adventure of their own. She couldn’t be happier; their days were always filled with new lessons as they sailed together on the open sea under a bright blue sky, the sun unusually warm for February. And their nights were always filled with love, and now also with rest, since she could fall into a deep sleep in his arms until morning came, finding herself still within his grip as she woke up.

Emma let out a groggy sigh that morning, anticipating the warmth of his presence, ready to tease him about being as needy as a puppy for cuddling her all night long. However, to her surprise, there were no arms around her this time.

Emma turned quickly in bed, patting his side of their bed, but the sheets were cold, and there was no sign of Silvio in their quarters. Emma sat up straight, frowning; it wasn’t like him to let her sleep in without even letting her know he was leaving. He knew she would be worried, and if it weren’t for the gentle swing of the ship and the peaceful sounds outside — the closest semblance of silence within the ever-noisy wooden vessel at sea — she would be downright alarmed. Still, she wondered what could have been so urgent that made him leave without his typical, brazen, yet sweet “Oi! Sleepyhead! I have business to take care of, but you stay and sleep some more”.

Emma dressed quickly before emerging from the captain’s quarters. The door creaked softly as she stepped onto the deck, her eyes squinting against the sunlight. Her gaze swept across the deck, searching for her lover, but she saw no trace of his pale-blue hair being tousled by the sea breeze, a perfect match to the sea waves. There was no jewelry shining under the sun. No haughty voice giving off commands to the crew, no jangling sounds. She bit her lip, growing more anxious to find him. Moving towards the nearby navigator’s area, she slowly pushed open the door and scanned the room for Silvio. As she did, her heart clenched. There, between maps, charts, compasses, and astrolabes, she could only find Carlo behind the desk, absorbed in his work.

“Good morning, Carlo…” she announced her presence with a gentle knock on the door, which she was still holding.

He seemed startled by her voice and looked at her apologetically.

“Good morning! Ah… I’m sorry I hadn’t noticed you there, I was too caught up with calculations, and…”

“That’s okay, really,” Emma waved her hands placatingly. There was no need for apologies or explanations — especially when she still couldn’t understand his work entirely — and she wished he could focus on her words instead. “I was just wondering if you know where Silvio is.”

“I-I-I… he…” Carlo stuttered, looking around as if searching for something — maybe his words. “Actually, he asked me to tell you to wait for him here. He’s… taking care of something important below deck…”

Emma couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows suspiciously. Carlo was hiding a secret, that much was obvious. Silvio was up to something, and he was covering up for him. But what could he possibly be conspiring in a ship?

“I see.” She nodded in agreement, but in her mind, she was weighing two possibilities: either let it go and wait for Silvio as he intended, or... “Below deck, you say?”

“Lady Emma, you don’t know the passageways well; you’ll get lost if you go after him,” Carlo moved from his desk to dissuade her from her intentions. “I can show you how... how to use the astrolabe if you please. Or we can discuss any matter you would like.”

It was too late, however.

“I’m sorry, Carlo,” it was her turn to smile apologetically, although Emma didn’t truly regret her decision. She set herself on the move, knowing full well Carlo was exasperatedly following her steps. “If I am to become familiar with this ship, I must also learn the ways my lover has of being secretive with me here. Or did he honestly expect me to sit still and wait for him?”

Granted, he would whine about it, but Silvio knew her. And he wouldn’t love her so much had she been obedient to his whims.

.

The recipe had been carefully written down on paper by Emma’s favorite confectioner. Silvio had made sure to pay him a visit the last time he went to Rhodolite. How Silvio managed to keep that recipe a secret, as well as his trips to the palace’s kitchen to practice under the guise of attending business meetings, remained a mystery, and he was proud of his deeds so far. Spending their very first Valentine’s Day together on the ship would be necessary, but he was determined to make that day special for Emma. Since cakes would spoil during the trip and chocolate boxes would melt in the storage room, the best option was to learn how to bake and do it himself in the galley.

She used to cook and bake for him all the time, and he felt good doing the same for her — although he would never say it out loud. But was Silvio still feeling confident now that he was covered in flour and ingloriously trying to beat the batter while double-checking the recipe and attempting to ensure the oven was at the correct temperature all at the same time? His grumbled profanities revealed a man far less confident than he was while conducting his tests in the palace. But a full kitchen with a steady floor was different from a galley swinging along the sea waves; and having a considerable amount of time was different from trying to rush things out to surprise Emma before she woke up.

Asking Carlo to stall her in case she did — because she definitely would look for him first thing — and trusting he could actually do it were two different things. For all that was worth, Emma was stubbornly obstinate and couldn't behave for shit. The thought of her irritating antics made Silvio blush. Unbeknownst to him, his eyebrows furrowed, and his lips formed a little pout. He beat the batter harder, causing it to spill all over the place.

“Cazzo!” Silvio couldn’t help but shout angrily, leaving the whisk in the bowl as he made an indignant hand gesture.

He sighed heavily, looking down at the chocolate batter in the bowl, its sweet scent a harsh contrast to the salty sea air. Silvio’s haughty expression softened little by little as he remembered why he was doing this, and soon he took the whisk again and resumed beating the mixture. “The more you beat it, the fluffier it’ll get after baking!”, the confectioner had said. “And Miss Emma loves fluffy cakes,” he added.

Fluffy, sweet, covered in sugar that melted in your mouth. The thought of Emma’s delight warmed his heart and brought a smile to his lips, the silly rush of emotions making his cheeks warm with a blush again.

Good thing no one was there to see it.

.

Emma navigated through the narrow passageways of the ship, with Carlo trailing closely behind. While she was aware of what lay below the deck — the crew’s cabins, the galley, the storage rooms — most of it remained a mystery to her. Despite her limited familiarity, there was one place she felt more comfortable with than others. Although it didn’t make any sense for Silvio to be there, her feet naturally guided her right to the galley.

“Lady Emma,” Carlo persisted, trying to reason with her. “If Prince Silvio doesn’t want to be found, don’t you think it's better to wait for him on deck? I'm sure he has a good reason…”

“Carlo, let’s make a deal,” she said, slowing down and turning to him. Her voice was hushed, mindful not to reveal their presence in case Silvio was nearby. “Just show me where he is. All I want is to know what he’s up to. We can return to the deck before he even notices us.”

Suddenly, the faint scent of salt and dried fish in the air was overtaken by a sweet aroma. Emma inhaled deeply, confused by the captivating scent she wasn’t expecting to encounter there. Was it... cake? Could it be that Silvio was baking her a cake? She threw an inquiring glance at Carlo, as if she had voiced her doubts, and he looked back at her with a conflicted expression.

“Porca miseria!” Silvio’s frustrated curses echoed from somewhere nearby, dismissing the need for Carlo’s guidance. Emma’s heart quickened with anticipation as she followed the source of the sound and that amazing scent, her senses guiding her through the labyrinth of corridors of the ship.

With Carlo never leaving her side, she rounded a corner and saw Silvio surrounded by flour-dusted surfaces and the warm glow of the galley’s oven. His brow furrowed in concentration, his hands a flurry of activity as he wrestled with the batter before him. She halted and took a step back, almost colliding with Carlo in the process. But she had promised him she wouldn’t let Silvio know they were there. The image of her lover working with such dedication made her smile uncontrollably, though, and she wished she could let out a giggle.

“Can we head back now?” Carlo whispered urgently.

Emma hummed softly while considering, peeking from behind the corner to watch Silvio struggling to put the batter in the baking pan while the ship swayed more forcefully. “Why is he baking a cake, though?” she murmured to herself.

“Don’t you know?” Carlo whispered a little louder in surprise. “Oh, right, sorry. You must’ve lost track of time here. It’s Valentine’s Day today, Lady Emma.”

“Is it?” Her whisper was even louder, and she immediately covered her mouth, hoping Silvio hadn’t heard her. “You should’ve let me know; I wanted to do something for him, too.”

She had believed they would have already reached land by the 14th, but apparently, she had miscalculated the duration of the trip when Silvio told her about it. She had been so excited and touched by the sight of Silvio baking her a cake, but now she was starting to feel guilty for not doing something special for him too.

“He had mentioned he wanted to do something for you this time, since you’re always doing so much for him. Not in those exact words, of course, but I know him well enough to understand.”

Emma knew exactly what Carlo was talking about, and it only made her heart race faster for her lover. “Carlo, I’m sorry, but I have to go there.”

“You told me you wouldn’t…”

“I know, but I have to. Besides, he seems like he needs help, and-”

Emma turned to peek at Silvio again to check how he was doing, but what she saw was the glistening gold of the necklaces on his chest. Really close. She raised her eyes sheepishly and met his annoyed stare.

“Who the hell told ya I need help?” Silvio stood with his hands on his hips, chocolate smudges staining the fancy fabric of his clothes, telling another story. “And you? Thought I told ya to keep her away from here. How come you both ended up like damned rats nosing around and chattering in my galley?”

“You left me without saying a word!” Emma retorted boldly, matching Silvio's assertiveness and cutting off Carlo before he could start apologizing. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “You couldn’t possibly have expected me to sit still! Besides... you’re obviously in need of help,” her eyes roamed from his messy clothes to the messy galley.

“You’re impossible, woman!”

They pouted at each other, forming a pair of stubborn, hot-blooded fools. Their cheeks flushed even more by the second as they engaged in a stare-down. The moment Emma’s gaze wavered and she looked away from Silvio’s sea-blue eyes, he felt a pang in his heart. With an unintelligible mutter, he shook his head.

“Fine! Damn it! It’s Valentine’s Day, so stop spouting nonsense and come help me already!”

.

Emma was getting used to the sway of the waves and the creaking sounds of the ship. Silvio noticed it in the way she danced around the galley completely undisturbed, mixing the batter with light movements, taking care of the oven, and ensuring the cake pan was ready before pouring the batter into it. She moved as naturally as she would in the palace's kitchen, quite the evolution for someone who had experienced seasickness like Valerio usually did during her first days at sea.

She really was amazing.

As it turns out, his first attempt didn't go well. The batter got stuck in the pan, and the cake didn't rise, so she was working her magic to ensure that they would have something for the day. And for as long as he wished to do that alone, helping her out while she baked felt like they were already celebrating Valentine's Day together. Good thing Emma decided to stick her cute little nose in his business, and that he decided to let her in. Carlo politely left them alone — he definitely didn't want to be involved in their mess in the first place. And now, everything felt in the right place.

Except for her lips, when, after they placed the pan in the oven, she suddenly leaned in not only for a simple kiss but also for a tiny lick on his cheek. The surprising sensation made Silvio shiver and blush uncontrollably, flinching away from her touch. Emma giggled shamelessly at her bold actions.

“There was still some batter on your cheek, and I wanted to taste it,” she explained nonchalantly. “Silvio, you taste so sweet right now, you know that?”

“Sh-shut up!!” He spat, frowning at her, but her annoying behavior, and the way she glowed brighter and warmer than the oven in front of them, were simply too endearing to him. The fact was that he loved her, and she was the only person in the world who could evoke such feelings in him.

As suddenly as she kissed him, Silvio wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed their bodies together. His kiss was on her lips, stronger, with a hunger no cake could satisfy. When he rendered her breathless, Silvio broke the kiss and smirked at her.

“Now, you,” he murmured, his fingers gently brushing back a lock of her hair behind her ear, tracing a delicate path through the strands. Her beautiful eyes shined in anticipation, and he smiled honestly. It was Valentine's Day, and there would be no real celebration if he wasn't true to her. “You taste sweet all the time…”

Taglist: @bicayaya @queengiuliettafirstlady @olivermorningstar

#my ikemen valentine gift exchange #ikemen prince #silvio ricci #silvio/mc #silvio/emma #ikepri #fanfic #tw swearing

[pondlilies00]

A Trip Away

My gift for @maeko-kun for the Ikemen Valentine Gift Exchange! I couldn't come up with a good background for where Nokto and MC would vacation so I've drawn them about to go on their trip instead. Where they're going is a secret just for them

Thank you @ikemenlibrary for hosting this event!

#my ikemen valentine gift exchange #ikemen prince #ikepri #ikepri nokto #nokto klein #my art

[bicayaya]

how to take care of a sick mc

for the my ikemen valentine gift exchange i did this drawing for @pillowpillowillo 💚

altale, you suggested “taking care of each other” for a fic, but i found it cute and tried adapting it in an artwork. my idea was that MC got sick, so both keiths are taking care of her (in their own way, hahah). in the end, they ended up falling asleep together! i hope you’ll like it 💞

thank you @ikemenlibrary for hosting this adorable exchange 💗 i had a great time joining it!!

#my ikemen valentine gift exchange #ikemen fanart #ikemen #ikemen prince #ikepri #ikepri fanart #ikepri keith #keith howell #ikepri keith fanart #🖍️: bicaya draws

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

The gentle stag Rewrites the stars  

The gentle stag Rewrites the stars  

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Keith x MC

Part of : Ikemen Prince Gift Exchange hosted by @ikemenlibrary and @sunnyikemen

Gift for @ridiculouslly-ridiculous, I really hope you may like it 🤗

Tag: Slow burn Mutual pining Party Stargazing Realization of feelings Confession of requited feelings First Kiss Fluff

Word Count : 3.962

Author’s Note: The so very friendly and not at all romantic relationship she has with Keith begin to get more intimate when he invites her over to a ball held to celebrate his birthday.

Pleasant occasion turn the ball into a stargazing date, where they realize the feeling they have for one another and couldn't hide any longer, for nothing resist to the almighty power of Love. 🥰

Side Note: All the images were found on Pinterest-Google and I was unable to find the source, please if any of you know the owner tell me and I will provide to give the artist the credit for the image.

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess @atelieredux @klutzyroses @randonauticrap @thewitchofbooks @princess-pray-a @judejazza @itsmyara

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

“It isn’t a date.”

What I hoped to be a confident assertion of my plan for the night did nothing but elicit giggles and knowing smirks from all the princes, sat around the round table.

Leon was the first to break the ice, or as well melt it with the warmth of his smile.

“Alright then, if you say so we believe you, it's true guys ?” 

I hoped they would have listened to him … but in vain, as I noticed seeing Jin smirk as he spoke breezily.

“Of course darling, an invite to a party, in his country, really sounds like a casual stroll to me.” 

I sighed as much as I hated that impression he was right, and yes I may have been getting my hopes up a little bit, but he was such a wonderful gentleman, and it was impossible not to love him. 

“Be careful out there.” Licht hidden kindness melted my heart, I met his eyes melting at the sight of a soft light smile curling his lips, I didn’t shy away from requiting with one of my own

“I will, thanks for the advice.”

“Remember to pay attention to your outfit,  and don’t dare look sloppy on your date.” Yves' warning makes me smile with gratitude, of course I should avoid it or else the nobles will mock me, easily ignoring the fact he called it a date,

“Thank you I will, don’t worry.”

“As if.” his haughty attitude didn't change a bit but the slightly more relaxed smile curling his lips told me another story.

Truth to be told, Keith's wicked side intrigued me like his soft one, the fact I was the only one in Rhodolite to know of his birthday and of his sides maybe made me special to him somehow, or at least I hoped so.

I turned at the sound of a scoff, coming from the head of the table opposite to Leon, in time to see a little smile play on Chevalier’s lips before he resumed his usual stern expression. 

If even he didn’t  believe me then it was useless to hope someone else would, if even he saw our meetings as dates I can only imagine what kind of rumors had spread around the courts about us.

“Dearie me. Who could have imagined you would have been conquered by him of all people?”  I glared at Clavis, ignoring his amber eyes gleaming mischievously, immediately backed up by Nokto,

“He certainly played his card right little lady, you got to admit it.” the foxy grin on his smile tickling on my nerves, pushing me t to give him a piece of my mind

“He isn't my lover.” I declare in a futile attempt at dissuading them from a truth everyone saw but me.

“Not yet.” 

“As much as I am fascinated by Keith.” I do my best to ignore the accomplices smiles Julie and Luke kept giving one another as they look up at me, mentally slapping my face for pronouncing his name, like we were intimate, we are a bit, but still, I sigh heavily, great now everyone knows what I feel for him, confirming things they already thought on their own anyway. 

“Prince Keith is only a friend. I know my place.”

Or at least, I should have known my adoration with him would have done nothing but hurt us both. Everyone knew it but him, blissfully unaware and careless of the supposed forbiddance of that feeling while our meetings became more and more similar to romantic trysts than mere strolls.

“As you desire sweetie.” a playful smile curled Julie’s lips glimmering in her bright green eyes, knowing her fondness for matchmaking I am sure she saw straight through my lies, but it was the best I could offer to fool myself with a non-existent distance between us.

“Thank you for listening to me.” I took advantage of the courtesy to calm down my heart beating furiously in my chest, with measured steps I walked toward the door, my hand was on its knob … when a crystal clear voice reached my ear.

“Enjoy your rendez-vous alors.” a Cheshire cat grin danced on her lips, receiving only a hearty chuckle as answer to my glare.

Once out of the door I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding in until now, affection swelling in my heart at the thoughtfulness they had for me, even though someone showed that better than others, and with a spring in my step I direct myself toward my room, basking in the excitement filling my heart at the prospect of that night party.

The afternoon flew by in an instant, my effort to study was useless, since the only thing in my mind was him. Love was forbidden between a commoner and a noble or, at least, was a lot more difficult than how I read it to be in countless fairytales … but how can you rule the unruly, govern the ungovernable, put rules to emotions, and oblige the heart to follow them?

Brief answer: you can’t. 

I sigh heavily, pushing aside the book I was reading, yet another way to cram my head with etiquette and rules that I should have followed to disguise myself as a noble, hoping for it to be enough to earn my place by his side  …  if only Keith, too,  would have been so crazy as to favor love over politics regarding marriage matters. 

Wondering if our love was starcrossed or written above the stars, I looked to them beginning to twinkle in the early evening sky, still colored with the warm hues of the setting sun in search of answers to questions that kept me thinking all through the day, especially after a totally casual and not at all romantic meeting of ours.

The ever present mantra of not getting too close to him flew out from the window the instant he appeared in my mind, making a jolt of blush spread across my cheeks as I adjusted the tiara on my curls in front of the mirror, mindful to adjust every detail to perfection, running my hands over the soft jade velvet of the gown, a color I chose thinking of him alike the nature themed accessory completing my outfit.

The carriage ride to Jade took longer than expected but I didn’t pay any attention to it, too lost in the admiration of the flourishing countryside scenery out of the window. 

The drumming of my heartbeat only got louder as I caught a glimpse of the Royal palace, dazzling bright like a gleaming Jade stone surrounded by a thick forest amidst the blue velvet of the night sky, embroidered with stars, that so many times Keith and I looked at  together.

I ran my fingers nervously over the richly decorated envelope, an official invite to his birthday party, sighing dreamily I caressed his signature, a flamboyant calligraphy I would have recognized amidst thousands.

A celebration he always felt no need for, but everyone insisted on celebrating as he confessed albeit shily to me only a few days prior as we were having tea together … and not that too was not a date … perhaps ? 

Nervously I stir my fingers on the gown adjusting invisible crinkles, before rushing to take a mirror pocket from my pochette to check out on my makeup and straight the tiara on my curls, to distraction myself I pick up the coins he gifted me rolling it between my thumb and forefingers, letting out a sigh to dispel my anxiety, smiling fondly at the memory of how he taught me how to make it dance in my palm, even though I was not even good enough as him I liked keep playing, reminiscing all the times we spent together, swelling my heart with all the love I and for him and was doing my best to forget but in vain.

The palace got bigger at each roll of the wheels on the cobblestone mixing with the horses’ hooves as the rhythmic undulation of the carriage slowed as we approached the gates, trailing off in a path surrounded by a rainbow of flowers and foliage billowing in the wind greeting the guests. 

My heart beat so loudly almost drowning the music coming from inside, I place and hand over it overwhelmed by a rush of anxiety mixed with excitement as the carriage came to a halt in front of his entrance.

I slide off as gracefully as possible letting the excitement for the night that awaited for me lead the way, pushing away all my nervousness as I smile, concentrating myself to not fall from my high heels keeping a straight composure as I approach the throne placed on a mezzanine floor, with the windows on their back.

I catch my breath at his sight I didn’t know it was possible but he looked even more gorgeous than ever in his formal clothes shining like a Jade under the light of the moon, shaking my head I focus on my courtesy, after the attendant presented me as the daughter of a Rhodolite noble, a surge of pride swelled in my chest at the small satisfied smile playing on his lips.

I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding in until now, meeting his amber gaze as I rose from my position, smiling at his thoughtfulness at the sight of him descending the stairs to come greet me.

“You looked really beautiful tonight, as ever.” His compliment makes a surge of pride swell in me, as I unconsciously bow to him, sliding my fingers over the front of my gown, letting the softness of the velvet under my fingers calm me down a little bit.

I lower my head bashfully to hide my blush behind the fan gazing at his heart melting expression, a tender smile curled on his lips, radiating acceptance and kindness glimmering in his golden eyes as he took my hand in his leaving a gentle kiss on my knuckles, enough to set my skin on fire, I tried to refresh fanning myself but in vain, for the warmth of his hands still lingered on mine even after he retracted it.

“Thank you so much for coming, it made me so happy to have you here today.”

My heart jumped in my chest at the honesty in his voice, so different from the shallow lies of the nobles I got used to during my time at the palace.

“It was my pleasure and honor to meet you, Prince Keith. May I wish you a pleasant and mirthful birthday.”

"It is now that you are here with me." the earnestness of his heartfelt confession bring a smile to my lips as he tucked a rebel curl behind my ear, ignoring the way my heart raced out of control at the warm contact of his fingers brushing on my cheeks, while an hint of sensuality flickered on his honeyed eyes for a brief second, enough to make me yearn for more.

There was a hint of shyness in his smile as he gazed back at me, while a soft rosy blush crept up on his cheeks making my heart swell with love I held for him, enhanced by the tenderness I saw reflected in his golden eyes as he leaned to me, his breath fanning on my cheeks distracting me from everything else, moment I savour to the fullest revelling in the little touch of his chest brushing against my breast, as my heart galloped wildly in a frenzy from his allure.

“I would like to show you something.” He bit his bottom lip, fidgeting with his own fingers before raising his wide doe-like eyes to look at me with such a heart melting gaze I couldn’t deny anything to 

“Do you want to come with me ?” his almost pleading tone pulled at my heartstring, I tenderly placed my gloved hand over his own.

“Of course, lead me.” The sun dawned once more on his features brightened by such a pure soft smile I stared in awe at, I would go with you anywhere if you asked me a secret wish I keep to myself.

I bask in his manly warm hands engulfing mine as he lead me to a secret passage directed to his personal astronomy tower that only he would grace his presence upon, since he kindly explained to me that the astronomer was too engrossed in a deep discussion with the librarian to ever notice or care about the falling stars scheduled for that night to happen.

“I see well it’s cute that is happening today. It's like a gift from the universe.”

I sense him smiling as he gently squeezing my hand in his,

“Moreover I hope you will like my present when you open it, I left it at the entrance with the others.” 

“Trust me, your presence here is the best gift I could ever receive from you.” 

his soft voice dripped with tenderness as he squeezed my hand, turning around to give me a heart melting smile, so bright to shine even through the darkness of the corridor.

Once arrived there I follow him out on the balcony, my breath catch in my throat, mesmerized by the view of the Kingdom stretching before my eyes, shrouded in darkness almost a continuation of the night sky, with the stars sliding down to play hide and seek from clouds to the towns’ houses, a sight so beautiful to entrance me completely, smiling at the pleasant contact of his masculine forms hovering over next to me while his pinky finger ever so shily crawl on the railing to overlap with mine. 

I looked up at him but he simply smiled, enraptured by his handsome features I smiled back at him, squeezing his hand as he engulfed mine in his once more.

“It is so … beautiful.” I manage to murmur as I stare in awe at the sight, sliding to look back at him, the light of the lanterns dancing on his alluring features

“I am so happy you like it.” 

“Look out there for the falling star, don’t forget to make a wish-” 

“-And it will be granted.” I continue smiling at him, revelling in our shared knowledge.

Curiosity and hope got the best of me and before I know it I had my eyes glued to the sky feeling his pinky finger ever so slowly crawl to entwine with mine as I look briefly at him, seeing a soft smile plastered on his lips as he feigned innocence staring at the stars, reflected in his golden eyes.

I bask in that intimate contact hoping from the bottom of my heart the darkness could conceal the red blush of my cheeks, the same shade of rose I saw dusting over his as I softly squeezed his fingers, he ever so softly entwined with mine.

A bit of time passed by and nothing was in sight, so much so that I was thinking that maybe the towns’ light overshine over the stars … when suddenly I saw it.

A comet rushing amidst them all, burning bright, like my love for him, piercing through the clouds near the moon.

Unable to stay still I beam brightly pointing out excitedly at the sky

“I saw one, there.” I smile at him, unable to look away from the galaxy reflected in his gaze as the lights of the lanterns and the moon danced in the golden pool of his eyes.

“You seem to be lucky tonight, I have yet to see any.”

“Don’t be upset. I am sure you will see one too soon.”

“Have you expressed your wish?”

“Yes.” I confess bashfully 

“But I don’t know if it became true.” I trail off, looking down at the towns’ below, wondering if maybe I could belong there too, a wishful dream I brush off shaking my head from the bittersweet thought of what could have been … if only I would have been a noble but I wasn’t and so I was forced to see my love off with another, I clutch my fingers on my heat to calm the painfully tug at the thought.

“Why not ?” His tone dripping with concern as he leaned next to me, brushing his thumb on the back of my hand, managing to calm be it for a while my racing heart, making my focus shift back to him

“It … too strange that is.” I looked briefly up at him, in time to see surprise in his widened eyes, while a sympathetic smile played on his lips.  

“I am sure it will.” 

His support warmed my heart as I squeeze his hand before going back to gaze at the sky, doing my best but failing at forgetting the love I felt for him, or else this would have led us to our downfall and the mere idea of hurting him was unbearable to me, desiring from the bottom of my heart for him to be happy.

A bit of time went by and I kept my eyes open for any sign of a falling star, ready to indicate that to him and gave him the chance to make a wish too, all that to earn that bright, tender smile of his that never failed to make my heart swell with love and affection for him.

I had just thought that when his gentle voice shook me from my reveries

“I saw one too.” 

“You made your wish Keith ?” I leaned over with curiosity, I know well it was forbidden to tell it but a part of me wondered what he used it for … but with great astonishment he shook his head, his tone unusually serious as he looked straight at me.

“Wishing upon a star? What for when I have everything I could have wished for and more right there, in my arms.” 

His masculine brawny body engulfing me in his hug, I looked up at him seeing affection glimmering in his amber gaze, glimmering like molten gold at the warm suffused light coming from the lanterns of the balcony.

It was too good to be true, he was a prince and I was … well I a commoner faking to be a noble even though he knew of it this didn’t changed the difference in our status

“Keith please.” I beg, half hoping he wasn’t joking for my heart would have not take too well the delusion of my feelings being teased so openly 

“It is not a lie” his words filled my heart with hope, as it began to race out of control in my chest so much I was sure he could hear it too. 

“But your duty …”

“Is to follow my heart and that is what I am doing.This always has been the best thing to do for us in Jade and I am no exception.” This statement took me off guard, I always assumed Royalty everywhere married off just for duty and alliance but he proved me wrong and no one knows how much I was immensely grateful for it.

“But who can love someone like me.” My insecurities speaking up before I had a chance to shut them up, I bit my lip trailing my gaze on my fingers curled on his chest,

“I will.” his sturdy fingers cupped my face, raising me to meet his gaze, unwavering, loyal and honest like I came to know both his sides to be.

“I am not tricking you, please trust me.” a plea dripping over his tone pushing me to let down my guard, as I always did around him looking back into his gaze

“I love you.” the brightness of a thousand suns glimmering in his honey eyes, pouring over his tender smile.

“Oh Keith I love you too.” 

The sensation of his lips on mine was nothing like I expected it, it was far better, it really felt like we were melting into one another, it was shy and a bit clumsy I felt his hands curl on my hips to help me remain on my feet as I  get swept off by the soft movements of his lips savouring mine, while I grip my fingers on his shirt, afraid he may slip off if I loosened my clutch … but there was no need to, as he proved wrapping his arms around me holding me close to his chest.

Reluctantly he pulled away leaning his forehead to mine, brushing his thumb on my cheeks, before trailing it over my sensitive bottom lip, a dreamy sigh escaped my lips immediately robbed by his lips landing once more on mine,it was a brief kiss but enough to let me desiring for more, enhanced by his warm breath fanning over my swollen lips.

“Please grant me the honor of being my fiancé.”

The honest affection filling his golden eyes mesmerize me, driving me in further into that golden pool I wished to swim in with him … and now finally could after week spent wishing and dreaming to become his lover,

“Oh Keith. Yes.” the diamond on the ring glimmered in the sheer light of the moon witness of that peculiar engagement as he ever so gently slide it on my ring finger, unknowingly setting my heart ablaze with indescribable happiness and swollen with love, racing in my chest with all the affection I held for him, I hoped to convey tip toeing to leave a tender kiss on his soft cheeks, revelling in his rosy blush.

Surely he would have had a lot of things to explain to the court sooner or later, like I should have to after all …  but for now all that mattered was us, alone on his balcony sharing a promise with only the stars as guardians of our love.

I welcomed the softness of his lips melting once more on mine in a sweet, tender kiss, robbing me of any coherent thought as he embraced me ever so strongly swallowing the ever soft whimpers escaping from my lips as he deepened the kiss, while my fingers dived in his soft grey curls and his own tightened around my hips as he hold me close to him.

Reluctantly he pulled away brushing a gentle kiss on my forehead as he took my hands in  his, placing a gentle kiss on their knuckles looking straight at me 

“I love you my little bunny always and forever.” his heartfelt confession moved me to the core, I did my best to reciprocate.

“I love you too, my stag, all of you, so very much.” 

He placed his head on mine, pulling me in a slow improvised waltz on the balcony floor, I eagerly followed, leaning my head on his chest, hearing our hearts beating in sync like one, like the soulmates we were destined to be.

The princes of Rhodolite were right since the beginning this was a date, and no one knew how much happy it made me to have been able to finally confess that feeling I held secretly hidden in my heart until that moment 

Love was a gift, I always believe in that, but no one of all my books prepared me for this, to love and to be loved was pure bliss, it filled your heart with affection and happiness, a passion smoldering as the sun and ten fold as bright, inexplicable to describe and I was grateful to all the universe for making that possible, bringing us together as written above the stars since the beginning of the universe and for all eternity.

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