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The sophisticated girlish room, basked in the soft warm light that shown through the wide windows.
It was late afternoon and the sun was still bright.
The faint sound of the turning page of a book, with the continuous scratching against paper filled the space together with calm intakes of breaths of the two people residing in the space.
Vibrant ruby red eyes, meticulously scanned her appearance, following her every little move, like a hawk, going from his sketchpad, to the young woman sitting next to him.
Slender fingers grasped securely onto a halfway consumed pencil, that swiftly moved onto the whitish thick page of a sketchbook, placed on his right thigh.
Fast strokes of graphite came together to form a beautiful image of the sight before him. The only thing that missed was his immaculate signature, that was added shortly after the finalization of his drawing.
A smile graced the prince’s features as he admired his latest picturesque work, with an air of satisfaction.
Happiness was surging in his chest at the moment.
A content exhale escaping him, and he is once again reminded on how they don’t always need words to convey comfort.
They could just be doing their own thing, the most common scenario being the current one, where she would read and he would draw.
Lifting his eyes from the sketch he’d just finished, Callisto gazed at his beloved.
Penelope was nestled relaxed on the velvety red couch, legs tucked underneath her, the right arm resting onto a burgundy colored cushion, while the left one was placed on her lap, hands holding the new book upwards for her to read.
Occasionally a new page was turned.
The dim light from outside reflected onto her magenta curls, as if trapped, making the color look more vivid, and the wave of the curls appear more silky than it already was, giving the impression of a lovely cloud.
Those beautiful glistering emerald eyes, twinkled with merriment, most likely from the words written on those yellowish pages.
She was so captivating, the blonde couldn’t help but feel that he could look at her for hours on end.
Placing his chin in the palm of his hand, he sighed dreamily. The ever so endearing Penelope Eckart, truly put him under a spell, but he didn’t mind one bit, far from it actually.
And of course being so engrossed by her book, she didn’t even notice him staring lovingly at her.
Callisto liked peace, especially when he was with Penelope.
But he enjoyed teasing her more. It was actually in his normal routine and goal for the day to rile his little spitfire up every time they saw each other.
At the moment she was way too tranquil and in terrible need for him to ruffle up her feathers a little.
Suddenly an evil malicious grin accompanied by a mischievous glint in his eyes, took over his features, and he slowly scooted closer to her.
At last he attacked, after seizing the right opportunity, like a cat would do with its intended pray.
All of his weight was thrown onto her, knocking the book from her dainty hands, onto the floor.
She gave a surprised squeak, as her back hit the couch.
A frowning look was directed straight at the up-to-no-good bothersome blonde.
“Callisto! What are you doing?” A peeved Penelope inquired in annoyance.
His infuriating trademark cocky smirk flashed in response. “Well, my dear spitfire, I was terribly bored and thought you could use a break from that tedious book.”
“It is not tedious! For your information it’s actually very entertaining, you pretentious man! And reading is very educative. You should try it sometimes, it can do wonders.” The rebuke was spoken in a haughty voice.
As educative as smut can be. She thought slyly to herself afterwards. I would be no good if he found out what exactly she was reading so intently. He really had to intrude right when the good part began, not like she was gonna go into detail of what exactly she was reading.
He clicked his tongue, grinning down at her. “How rude of you to insult the Crown Prince of the empire. You’re such a scornful and insolent woman that knows no shame.”
The magenta-haired girl only glared further. “Oh my! Pardon my ways, Prince dearest, but I don’t really enjoy being disturbed while reading. And it so happens that I had just got to the best part.”
“Are you making fun of me right now?” He quirked a brow in challenge.
“Not at all! How dare I insult to his face, the Little Sun of our empire?” She huffed, voice dripping in sarcasm.
“Seems to me that you are begging to be punished. Should I discipline you a little on how you shouldn’t insult members from the imperial family?” He smirked arrogantly.
Her brows knitted together as a grimace appeared.
“Oh no! I’m quaking!” She snarked derisively.
“That’s it. You definitively need someone to fix that attitude of yours.” The blonde replied firmly, but the tinge of humor could still be heard.
“Oh? And pray tell, how are you planning on doing that, Your Highness?” A mocking response once again, was directed at him.
“You will find out very soon princess.” Chuckling mischievously, in a flash, he pinned her wrists above her head with his right hand, and with his left hand the blonde begun tickling her side. He remembered of her vehement hate for tickling, and was set on using that against her.
She shrieked in indignation, and started to wriggle desperately in his grasp to liberate herself from this apparent torture.
“Let me go, you big oaf!” She kept on squirming desperately underneath him.
“Absolutely not! Keep the insults going and I won’t stop anytime soon.” Grinning smugly, he continued his playful assault.
“Unhand me right now Callisto!”
The prince only snickered. To annoy her more and elicit another reaction, his hand moved higher, nearing her chest.
“Callisto!” Her emerald eyes widened as she cried out in disapproval.
“Oh I love how you scream my name, love.” He laughed in mirth.
The suggestive taunt, made her fruitless attempts to escape cease, while her face took the complexion of a tomato. “You can’t just say things like that, you shameless man! And I know for a fact that you’re a virgin, for crying out loud!”
Cackling, he got off of her. “I guess that makes two of us. It can be arranged very quickly if you’d like.” He winked in her direction, wiggling his brows suggestively, as she got up resuming a sitting position. Her face heated further.
“Thank you for you kind offer but I think I’ll pass. We wouldn’t want one of my family members or the servants to find out.”
“Is that so? It can be sorted immediately. Say the word, and we’ll be going at the imperial palace in no time.” His teasing continued.
Penelope swatted his arm, clicking her tongue in disapproval. “Tsk- get your head out of the gutter!”
“But it’s so much fun provoking you.” Callisto neared his face to hers.
He was enjoying her discomfort and flustered demeanor way too much, and Penelope always liked to have the last word and upper hand.
Her eye twitched.
How about I give you a taste of your own medicine, you arrogant minx.
Snaking her hand near his waist, she proceeded to tickle his side.
A giggle escaped him. It happened all so fast that if you weren’t attentive enough, you might have missed it.
As soon as it happened it stopped. Penelope wasn’t even sure she heard right, but his hands snapping loudly onto his mouth, with a horrified expression to match, was all the proof she needed.
“Did you just giggle?” Wide eyed herself, she asked.
His eyebrows arched in trepidation and irritation. “No!” Was his muffled response, due to his hands still covering his mouth.
Pointing her forefinger at him, she started laughing. “You just giggled!”
He shook his head violently, but she was not having it.
“Yes you just did! I can’t believe I made the almighty Crown Prince Callisto Regulus, fricking GIGGLE like a little girl!” Penelope threw herself back on the couch and only laughed harder, tears of exhilaration starting to descend down her cheeks.
She slowly slid on the ground, still cackling, holding a hand onto her stomach, while the other was used to support herself from face-planting into the floor.
He frowned in distaste, wrinkling his nose.
“Hardy har har. Fine you got me. Now get off the floor and stop laughing.”
Rubbing the corners of her eyes, Penelope seated herself on the couch again, still chortling in the process. “Not so funny when you’re the one on the receiving end, huh?”
“Yeah yeah- but you must promise to not tell anyone about this.” Turning his head away, he harrumphed.
“Alright I won’t tell anyone, but I can’t promise I won’t poke fun at you from time to time. That was just too cute.” She patted his arm lightly, grinning toothily.
“Please refrain from addressing me with such cheesy words, princess. I am anything but cute.” The tips of his ears reddened, and a soft blush dusted his cheekbones. Still avoiding her gaze, he pouted slightly, albeit involuntary.
At his small child-like gesture, Penelope beamed. “But you are cute! You are even pouting right now!”
Callisto’s eyes widened, and he turned his face away. “I am not! You must be seeing things!”
Rising from the couch to place herself in front of him, Penelope cupped his cheeks lightly, turning his face in her direction. “Aww, you’re blushing. You’re so adorable!”
Bending down slowly, she placed a soft, delicate kiss onto his forehead, and smiled while keeping eye contact.
The blonde prince stared at her, open mouthed, gaping like a fish, his face becoming so red that it almost matched his eyes.
For the first time after a long while, Callisto Regulus was rendered speechless.
His brain simply decided to take a vacation and stoped working altogether. All coherent thoughts and witty remarks came to a standstill.
“Now, how about I go and bring us some refreshments and snacks? You just wait here, I’ll be right back darling!” The magenta haired girl gave him another quick peck on top of his hair, and left.
Callisto nodded numbly, still gawking.
Penelope tried with all her might to keep a straight face. And she succeeded, but only until she exited her room.
After stepping into the hallway and shutting the doors, she covered her lips with her hands to muffle the snickers that escaped her.
Shaking her head in amusement, Penelope made her way towards the kitchens of the duchy. She was so gonna hold this over him.