Archive of Our Own

The prince is not surrounded by courtiers. At least, not yet. Maybe he will have time enough to talk to her and leave before someone notices it. He doesn't want to drag her into his notoriety.

His knight greets him even from afar, but Angela acts as if she isn't even seeing him even when Rayburn stops in front of her. She just blinks nonstop. He hates attention, he always hated it. Even more, after his bloodlust fame began. But the lack of hers makes his temperament sour.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. She has been like that for some time. I don't know what more I should do to wake her."

Wake. Indeed, she seems to be dreaming. But, on which occasion, her eyes have been less than dreamy?

With the point of his fingers, Rayburn lifted her chin until he could look right at her eyes. "Angela."

His heart stumbles, it has done that every time he says her name. It's hurtful and that pain makes him want to keep repeating it. But he doesn't need to say it twice. At the sound of his voice, all the fog in her gaze gives place to her usual candor. "My Prince!"

Angela beams. Her attention then is fully his. It's unsettling how much it delights him.

Rayburn wants to ask her why she is like that and what she is thinking about.  He would like to be sure no one has been bothering her in the castle. He wishes to know if she would agree to visit the place they first meet. He has so much to say that the words get entangled and trapped in his throat. He fears he would become a breathless mess if he tries to undo that knot of words. And that is something he wishes her to never see.

"Stunning roses." He says simply.

Surprised, Angela looks down at the flowers as if she hasn't even realized there was something in her embrace.  She blushes deeply and stumbles in her words. "Tha-tha-thank you! I must go now, I'm so late!"

Without another glace to him, she storms out.

Mano seems as lost as him.

***

Still troubled, Rayburn keeps in his course. If he wants to protect his people he couldn't run away anymore. Certainly not if he desires to keep Angela safe from the Chancellor.

At some point, the Duke notices a small group of knights walking along his side. There is a green wall between them, which should not be enough for guards of the Imperial Palace to let be misled, but it seems it is.

Although he is glad that their distraction could grant him some more instants of peace.

"Geez. She is so cute! I should have given her red roses instead of yellow ones."

Yellow roses. A clear image came to his mind, the sweet curve of Angela's smile being framed by bright flowers. Rayburn doesn't intents to pry in their conversation, but the words hook his attention.

"What is it him talking about?" A younger second voice asks, he is the most distant one to the green wall.

And then someone older, in the middle of the tree, responds. "This guy gave a bouquet of roses to the Antenna Scholar and said they couldn't match her loveliness. Now he thinks he has a chance with her because she got all shy and red."

Rayburn stops. She has been frozen because of that. Because of him.

The duke hears his gloves squeaking under his grip and wonders how the knights don't. They obviously aren't good at their job. Perhaps they should be transferred to other posts, such as those at the Empire's borders.

"She blushes so beautifully!" Rayburn walks again. Perhaps he should make his presence noticed and so shut them up before one of them say something he would regret letting Duke Espelind hear.

"Wow. Sunbae-nim is so cool! Every time she is close by I got so clumsy."

"Well, newbie. When somebody finds a person as enchanting as her, they have to make an effort before some else takes her away."

They are almost there.

"But the Antenna Scholar serves His Grace and you serve His Highness, how that relationship would even work?"

Just a little further.

"Well, maybe she would leave the Duke and join the Crown Prince's party for me? What? Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you think I'm worth it?"

The young knight hiccup. "Yo-yo-your Grace!"

Just then the loudmouth turned to face him. They all have reaches the point after the green wall ends.

For a brief moment, the Duke stares at loudmouth's eyes. Take her away, he has said. Worth, he has thought.

Never.

Rayburn turns their back on them and leaves.

Undoubtedly, being considered intimidating is problematic. Yet he would be lying if he says he has never done it deliberately.