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“My liege, a letter from your acquaintance the youngest Prince of Pine has arrived.”
Atsushi raised his head from the book he’d been reading, placing the bookmark back in and setting it to the side. The letterboy went down on his knee as Atsushi stood, and extended the hand holding the letter.
“Atsushi,
Thank you for the mail you sent in January. The pressed flowers you sent were absolutely lovely. They do not grow in my kingdom; trust me, if they did, my brothers would have showered the Fish Kingdom’s Totoko with them. Where do these flowers grow? I would love for you to take me there sometime. If you are available, please do meet me at the meadow due east of the ravine which separates our kingdoms on the night of the next gala.
I hope to see you soon,
Todomatsu of Pine
A side note: Please do not visit the horse stables before you arrive. I know you all spend a lot of time grooming them, but the stable itself smells foul.”
As soon as he had arrived, the letterboy was gone, leaving Atsushi alone with the letter in his hand and the thoughts swirling around his mind. He and Todomatsu hadn’t seen each other in person for some time now, but that was to be expected with the situation they found themselves in. Todomatsu’s father had forbidden their correspondences at the request of the royal advisory, as had Atsushi’s. Not only that, but Atsushi’s father, the king, had doubled his efforts to find Atsushi a wife.
“You’re the heir to the throne, Atsushi.” He’d said. “When I die, this entire kingdom will be yours. You don’t want to deal with it all alone. Even with the royal advisory to help you, even with all of the horses to ride, you’ll want a wife who you can talk to. And when your time is up, you’ll want a son to pass the throne to. How can we ensure the safety of the kingdom without a heir?”
At these events- debutante balls, some called them- there were, admittedly, many beautiful young women. Most men would be overjoyed to even have a possibility with them, but Atsushi couldn’t have been less interested. As he danced with them, all he could think of was Todomatsu. What would it be like if Todomatsu danced with him like this? If he could hold Todomatsu close and press a hand to the small of his back, leading him in step and number? Thinking like this was the only way he could keep himself sane during these parties.
The galas held in junction by the kingdoms weren’t nearly as bad. They were one of the rare moments Atsushi and Todomatsu were allowed to meet, though anything past the normal formalities and chatter would garner some looks. At these, Atsushi’s father was much more occupied with the status of the kingdom as a whole and keeping relations healthy than nagging Atsushi to socialize with the women more. This was likely the reason Todomatsu had asked to meet during these. There were so many people, so many responsibilities for the kings, that it was easy for them to slip out or just not attend at all.
Atsushi entered the main hall of his castle, where a ‘mapestry’ hung. (On a visit to the kingdom, Todomatsu had accidentally combined ‘map’ and ‘tapestry’ when talking about it, and Atsushi had found it so endearing the name stuck.) Horse stables dotted the expansive fields, and horse trails in various colors created a network across the landscape. The meadow Todomatsu had mentioned fell inside of the Pine kingdom, and getting around the ravine without alerting the royal guards stationed at the bridge would be difficult. He’d likely have to take the long way around, but that was for the better, as it led him directly through the patch of land in which he’d found the flowers.
“I’d love for you to take me there sometime.”
* * * * * *
Though the gala wasn’t meant to start for a few hours now, Atsushi knew if he didn’t leave soon he’d be late for their meeting. He was already lucky enough to have a path to the meeting place that wasn’t too popular for travelers, meaning it was unlikely he’d be caught. From what he could see on the mapestry, Todomatsu had a bit of a riskier path, and that was only complicated by his nosy brothers. Atsushi was surprised he’d manage to evade their suspicions thus far, but he assumed Todomatsu had been doing something to keep them at bay.
Atsushi’s luck didn’t stop at the path he would be taking. He also was fortunate enough to have a small stable of his own; one that didn’t “smell foul”, as he took diligent care of his horses, even more than the professional breeders and trainers the kingdom was full of. This saved him an encounter with anyone who could tattle on him for ditching the gala.
Should I collect some flowers on the way to bring to him? he wondered as he mounted his personal favorite horse, a white purebred. It was a twin born from a mare his father had hand raised, something not all royalty could claim they’d done. Though twins were somewhat common in the residents of the kingdom, in horses they were much less common and far more likely to result in a stillbirth. That fact alone made the horse all the more special, but the reason he liked his horse so much was that it reminded him of Todomatsu. It shared its features with its sibling, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. The other twin had gone to Atsushi’s younger sisters to share, and it was a sturdy and obedient thing. Atsushi’s horse was fickle, just as full of personality as any person he’d ever met.
As if it knew now was not the time to act up, though, the horse allowed Atsushi to ride it without problem for the trip to the meadow. For its cooperation, upon his arrival at the meadow, he gave it an apple from the bag he’d brought with him. Among the apple inside the bag was an assortment of other items, including a weaved ribbon made from dyed silks. He’d also brought along a small wooden charm for luck, something he almost always kept on his person. Todomatsu had given it to him when they first met, and he’d held onto it ever since. It was fashioned in the shape of a pine tree; the Pine Kingdom’s family crest.
“Atsushi?” A familiar voice rang out, distracting him from his thoughts. He quickly finished tying the horse’s lead to a nearby tree and briskly walked into the meadow opening, where he found Todomatsu waiting for him. Subconsciously, his hand gripped the bag as Todomatsu hugged him tightly, grabbing onto his free hand and interlocking their fingers.
“I’m so glad you could make it. I had a bit of trouble getting out of the castle, Osomatsu was onto me at first but I managed to distract him long enough to leave. Once all the ladies started showing up, he was a goner.” Todomatsu explained, pulling Atsushi along to sit on an ivy-laden bench someone had built here long ago. Atsushi sat, and Todomatsu sighed, laying down in his lap as best he could on the small bench. “It’s been so troubling now that my father forbade us sending letters. I don’t think he’s onto us, though, I think he was just scared of what our royal advisor would do if he didn’t listen.”
Atsushi nodded sympathetically. “I… I’m afraid I can’t say the same for my father. He’s started hosting more debutantes, trying to find me a wife. I do think he is a bit suspicious of us.”
At this, Todomatsu’s eyes got wide. “Is he going to… I dunno, do something?”
“I don’t think he can. Our kingdom only allows women to rule temporarily, and I’m the only son and therefore the only heir. Even if he wanted to exile or execute me, he wouldn’t because then there would be no heir.” Atsushi said, running his hand through Todomatsu’s hair. “Don’t be afraid, I’m sure everything will work out.”
Todomatsu smiled up at him, sitting up and patting the bag Atsushi carried. “And you, don’t think I didn’t notice this. What is this? Is it for meee?” Atsushi laughed a bit under his breath, unclasping the silver and gold clasps which fastened it shut. He pulled out the ribbon.
“It is for you. I had this ribbon specially made for you soon after your letter arrived. Originally, I was going to hand-weave you something from horse-mane, but I figured you would be upset if it smelled.” He smiled coyly, much to Todomatsu’s chagrin. He placed it in Todomatsu’s hands, closing the other’s fingers around it. “If you’re wondering what it’s for, I have somewhere special to take you. Have you ridden a horse before?”
Todomatsu, who’d rapidly gone from teasing to grateful to embarrassed, now looked somewhat concerned. “Only once when I was little. Karamatsu pushed me off and I chipped my tooth.” Atsushi couldn’t help but laugh a bit at how horrified Todomatsu looked, and Todomatsu gently hit his shoulder. “I’m serious!”
“Okay, okay, well, you’ll be safe with me, okay? I won’t push you off, I promise.” Atsushi reassured him, standing and holding his hand out to Todomatsu. He took it, pulling himself up. “You can sit behind me and wrap your arms around me.”
After coaxing Todomatsu onto the horse, he untied the lead and climbed up as well. Immediately, Todomatsu’s arms were locked around him, and his cheek was pressed up against Atsushi’s back. “If I fall off of this horse I swear I’m not going to send you mail ever ever again.” Todomatsu mumbled, though it was significantly muffled by Atsushi’s clothing.
Fortunately, the horse seemed to have appreciated the apple earlier and didn’t fuss during the trip. The trip was rather short, too, though it may have only seemed shorter because he was with someone he loved.
“You can open your eyes, we’re here.” Atsushi told him as the horse came to a halt. Todomatsu opened his eyes, looking around himself a bit before he sat upright in shock.
“This... is beautiful.” He said simply as Atsushi helped him down. “This has to be where you got the flowers from, right?” Atsushi only nodded, leading him to sit down in a patch of grass in the middle of all of the flowers.
“It is. Most of these are gardenias. They don’t normally grow in the region, which is why you don’t have any in your kingdom, but a merchant’s bag of gardenia seeds split open in this location a long time ago and they’ve thrived here, since it rains a lot in this forest.” Atsushi explained. “There are also tulips, w-”
“Atsushi.” Todomatsu cut him off, and Atsushi looked at him in surprise. Without hesitation, Todomatsu pulled him in for a soft but sweet kiss, cupping his rapidly reddening cheeks. “I love it, and I love you. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Atsushi found himself frozen for a moment as Todomatsu pulled away, searching his eyes. “I love you too.” he whispered. “The ribbon is for these… You can pick some and take them back with you.” He explained, a blush prominent on his cheeks.
Todomatsu smiled at him. “I will when I go, but for now, I just want to be here with you.”
Atsushi smiled back. “I’d like that.”
* * *
“...and so, that is how Osomatsu managed to ruin an entire gala by shouting ‘boobs’ in the courtyard.” Todomatsu finished his story, his head once again in Atsushi’s lap. “I was so mad, because he was standing right next to me when he did it, so everyone thought it was me!” He puffed.
“Everyone?” Atsushi echoed. Todomatsu nodded. “And then, when he realized he messed up, Osomatsu blamed it on me! I mean, our voices don’t even sound alike… Do they?”
“They do not.” Atsushi confirmed. “I absolutely adore your voice.” He smiled, but soon his face fell. “Ah, speaking of galas…” He pulled his Nuremberg egg from his shirt, checking the time. “The gala will be ending soon enough.”
Though the words were few, they both knew that they meant their time together would be ending shortly. “We still have about… about an hour, but it’ll be safest if we head our ways sooner.” Atsushi murmured, running his hand along Todomatsu’s face. Todomatsu sat up, shifting his position to face his lover and pressing his forehead against his chest.
“Please, don’t leave.”
Atsushi kissed the top of his head, gently rubbing circles into the small of his back. “I have to. We can meet again soon, alright?”
Todomatsu sniffled ever so slightly, wiping his eyes on Atsushi’s shirt. “...promise? Do you promise?”
“I swear it to you.”
With that, he pulled Todomatsu back from him, pressing a kiss to his lips. Todomatsu’s hands found their place along Atsushi’s jawline, pulling him closer into the kiss in a soft embrace. For a while, they stayed like that, inseparable and surrounded in the fragrance of those flowers which meant so much. It was as if they were in their own world, but soon enough those barriers would be broken, and everything would return to normal. Their affections would have to be hidden once again.
“When I’m king, my first decree will be to allow marriages between two men or two women.” Atsushi said, a bit breathless, when they eventually ended the kiss. “And my second decree will be that these couples may also adopt to keep the royal lineage intact.” He smiled down at Todomatsu, kissing his cheek. “Of course, that’s only if you wish to.”
Todomatsu closed his eyes, a small tear escaping from the corner. “But what about my kingdom? Your decrees won’t change the law here.”
“You’re always welcome in my castle, Todomatsu.” Atsushi reassured him, brushing the solitary tear away. “Now and forever.”
“Now and forever,” Todomatsu repeated, smiling up at him. “Now and forever.”