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“How are you feeling today, my prince?”
Orcelito smothers a yawn with one hand, rubs at his eyes with the other.
The house that they’re in is very cozy, warm during the summer months.
Belca asked him for help in this area. Asked, instead of ordering him as is his right. Orcelito suspects that his brother has actually colluded with Kiriko on this matter, the two of them not very subtle in their motherhenning ways regarding his health. But Orcelito is grateful, for being allowed this. For being allowed the time to continue living, working towards a healthier life. For being allowed to help shape the world into the peaceful paradise he sincerely believes it could be.
Orcelito smiles as Kiriko slowly draws the curtains to let more of the sunlight in.
For being allowed to have a companion, in this tranquility.
“I told you to drop that,” Orcelito says instead of a ‘good morning’. “What is for breakfast, Kiriko?”
The older man is always very capable and it saddens Orcelito to think that the other has turned down other more lucrative uses of his talent. Kiriko—despite Eco being present—is still the heir to house Lagen, after all. He has the pedigree, the talent, the charisma to do so much more. Even Belca, who’s never had the best of relationships with him, acknowledges Kiriko’s strengths.
And yet, Kiriko seems content to spend his days like this, waking up an hour early so he can prepare breakfast, acting fussier than a handmaiden, sticking close to Orcelito even though the peaceful times mean that there isn’t any danger of assassinations on Orcelito’s side.
“I have attempted one of the recipes that Francesco has sent over,” Kiriko says with a small frown on his face. “His notes insist that it must be served in bed, so please wait here, Orcelito-sama.”
Orcelito has an inkling that Eco is teasing Kiriko, once again, but he is also curious about it. Eco’s been travelling all over the country, his songs as a bard spreading the light and happiness that is being nurtured by the people of this world, the real meaning behind the Records, and the promise of peace and prosperity. Belca is a bit lonely, Orcelito knows, that his friend is busy walking the earth instead of joining him, but with how often Eco sends them packages and letters about the discoveries that he makes, it’s almost as though the bard is just a very busy neighbor next door.
Orcelito sits up on bed and only coughs once while waiting for Kiriko to make his arrangements. He carries in a silver tray that has enough portions for two people – something that Orcelito’s insisted on, since they’ve started living together in this cottage. Having meals together is Orcelito’s main condition for allowing Kiriko to turn down the Governor post that had been assigned to him – he’s not about to treat Kiriko as a servant. More than co-conspirators who trust each other with their plans – Orcelito’s grown to think of them as friends. The way Kiriko gently holds him tells Orcelito that the feeling is mutual.
Though perhaps…
“Eco said that these are called ‘pancakes’, Orcelito-sama.”
“They look tasty,” Orcelito pokes one of the berries placed on top of the fluffy-looking golden-brown dough. “Shall we eat?”
“Yes,” Kiriko agrees, though Orcelito can see that he still looks mildly confused as to Eco’s insistence about it being served in the bedroom.
Orcelito, because he’s heard about Eco’s tendency on favorite topics to tease about, already has a feeling about this. He’s considered himself friends with Kiriko, so he’s not exactly bothered by the idea of becoming something more… intimate. Still, there’s a little bit of thrill in him, as he plucks one of the ripe berries from the top of his stack of pancakes, and presses the fruit against Kiriko’s lips using his fingers.
Kiriko’s much taller than him, but with both of them seated on Orcelito’s bed, the height difference isn’t so bad. It allows Orcelito to peer up at Kiriko’s expression, observing how his eyes burn with an intensity not unlike when they promised to be each other’s accomplices using a blood pact.
“…Have you thought this through, Orcelito-sama?”
Ah. As expected of his co-conspirator, he catches on quick.
Orcelito takes another bite of the pancake. It is delicious. “How about you, Kiriko Lagen? Are you certain about this?”
Kiriko shakes his head and completes their ‘trade’ by taking one of the berries from his own plate and pressing it against Orcelito’s lips using the pad of his thumb. Orcelito licks the lingering juices away as he meets Kiriko’s stare head-on.
“It is a bit disgruntling,” Kiriko starts, “that Francesco was aware of this, despite being so far away.”
“Perhaps he’s already created a song about us,” Orcelito says with a shrug. There is a little bit of embarrassment, that someone out there is aware about his personal affairs, but Eco is a friend and an observant one at that. There is no shame to be had in being predictable in these matters. There is no shame at all, when it comes to being tied down to Kiriko, even if House Lagen might have a ton of opposition about this. Then again, once Kiriko has properly taken the seat as the Lagen Head, then that becomes a moot point.
“That would indeed be like him,” Kiriko says with a sigh that’s a mix of resignation and fondness.
“Perhaps we should give him material for his song,” Orcelito suggests with a sly grin.
“Perhaps,” Kiriko agrees, and sweetens their new deal—to work and live together—by sealing it, this time, with a kiss.