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You're looking at your reflection. Surrounded by people trying to get you ready.
It's your wedding day.
Nerves are getting the best of you. How could they not? Of course you love Chevalier and can't wait to continue your life together, but this also means you'll become the queen.
Feelings of fear keep growing. The more they dress you and pull your hair the more you struggle to fight these worries.
Is it the corset binding making it difficult to breathe? You think hopefully that's the case and not your anxiety building.
Everyone is starting to blur together. And you're standing still in a sea of luxury you can't feel comfortable in.
A knock on the door brings you back to reality. Your eyes land on the most mischievous man you have ever met. Clavis Lelouch.
He's standing in the doorway with a bright smile.
Just seeing his familiar face helps you relax a little.
"I was hoping to have a moment alone with the bride." His request is immediately honored as all the help bows a curtsey for him before leaving the room.
You felt a bit of relief and breathed a little easier.
"I hope they gossip about us having an affair." He laughs
Your eyes widen as you try to stifle a laugh of your own. His ridiculous statement caught you by surprise.
"Clavis, please don't say such things. It's not funny. Have some respect for Chevalier."
His eyes narrow down at you with that smile still plastered on his face.
"Never" he responds.
He walks up beside you and looks you up and down. "You look lovely, truly, but that dress is way too concealing. Why not a slit at the very least?"
"This is not the type of occasion for me to show leg. I'm already under enough scrutiny. And besides..." You poke his chest and glare up at him. "... I'm going to be your queen now and you have better respect me!"
He laughs while your smile slips. You don't mean it. You hope he will never treat you any different just because you'll be queen.
"What is it you needed to see me for?"
He doesn't answer right away. Just walks around you.
The gentle touch of his hand is felt on your back. You feel yourself tense against his fingers, caressing down your spine until he gets to the loose strings of your dress. You feel him pull them tight as your eyes meet in the reflection of the mirror. His smile barely there.
He's helped you in the past when faced with difficult clothing. The first time he mentioned how his family had come from a long line of servants.
Always helpful. Always a gentleman. So why is your face feeling warm?
This feels almost intimate.
You feel his hand run up the fabric to your shoulder. His eyes filled with something you refuse to think about.
"Clavis?" Your voice almost a squeak, as you turn to face him. Your eyes pleading as you try to understand his unreadable face.
His smile comes back with a laugh that sounds almost bitter.
"I just needed to ask you something." His body is still close to yours. You're growing more aware of the placement of his hand gently resting on your hip. His other brushing a hair behind your ear. His hand lingers there softly outlining the shape of it.
You're too hypnotized by his golden eyes to move away. A sense of shame settling over you as you realize you don't want to.
"Is this what you want?"
You're not sure about his question at first. Believing he means this marriage although the look in his eyes feel like he's speaking of himself.
"Why are you asking me this?" A pang of guilt is felt as you ask a question instead of immediately declaring your want for Chevalier and this union.
He's silent for so long that you believe he won't give you an answer. There's a wonder for why you want his answer so badly.
His hand traces down your jawline as you feel the one over your hip tighten it's grasp.
His thumb moves over your bottom lip so lightly you almost lean into it.
Your mind snapping out of this trance alerts your body this is unacceptable. Not just the close proximity you are to the third prince, but the feeling that you're comfortable being this close.
You turn away from him. Trying to at least avoid the sight of those eyes staring at you in a way you must ignore.
His hand falls away. Leaving only the one over you hip.
Breathing rapidly and face feeling flush you force out your words in a hushed tone. "Clavis, what are you doing?"
Finally he speaks. "I'm letting you know you have options." His tone sounding joyous while you feel your heart sink.
You look back up to meet his handsome face and his smile suddenly upsets you.
How can he cause such a stir of emotions within you and be perfectly cheerful?
He lets out a laugh as if to further infuriate you.
You shout his name with more hurt than anger in your voice. "Clavis!"
"Oh sorry, I haven't explained myself properly. I felt compelled to offer to rescue you before making the worst decision you ever could make. I'm a gentleman after all."
You're left stunned. You know his feelings towards his brother, but he also knows that Chevalier makes you incredibly happy.
Your face twists as you look down at the floor. Unsure of how to speak to him at the moment.
He lifts a hand to your chin, raising your gaze to him with his gentle fingers.
Tears are building behind your eyes. There's too much rushing through your head all at once. What does he mean by rescuing? Is he asking you to run from this wedding, the relationship or run to him? Is there more between you two than you were aware of? Are you putting too much thought into his words? He's always trying to cause trouble. Maybe this visit was another source of entertainment he wanted to create for himself.
His face moves closer to the point that you feel his breath against your lips.
Your eyes close. Fear for what might happen next floods your mind. Along with anticipation and another feeling you don't want to admit to yourself.
There's no way you can allow this.
You turn your face to the side and feel a light graze of his lips against your cheek, just at the corner of your mouth. The feeling is electric. You fight every urge you have to experience what the full effect of his lips could do. Your eyes are still closed. Now out of embarrassment. For Clavis and yourself for allowing this to get too far.
His face is still close to yours. You can hear his breath. He's not moving away, but neither are you.
"What do you want, Clavis?" You fight the words out. Eyes finally opening you try searching for something to stare at away from him.
"Isn't it obvious?"
This was supposed to be a joyous occasion.
Tears of frustration threaten to fall as you try to hold them back. Deep breaths trying to calm yourself down before speaking to the one responsible.
"Why are you doing this? Why now?" Your voice is shaky as you try to meet his wavering eyes. "Clavis! Answer me!"
His hand comes up to wipe away a tear you didn't know had fallen.
"Please don't cry in front of me." His voice sounds like velvet as he paints a smile over his unreadable face. "You know how much I love that look on you."
You turn your head away from his touch. Angry at how inappropriate he's being.
"Stop." You speak just above a whisper.
His eyes are still on you. You can feel his stare. You always felt it. How often did you just ignore it?
"Trust me, I wish I could stop."
This doesn't make any sense to you. Clavis was the one who fought for your relationship to begin in the first place.
"If it wasn't for you we wouldn't be here. Getting married."
The plastered smile he wears looks like it may finally crack. He slowly turns away from you.
"Maybe I am a fool just like he always says."
"Then why did you push so hard for us to be together?" You step towards him. Not ready for him to get away while you need answers.
A knock sounds at the door as it bursts open. One of the maids stand there looking awkwardly at you both. Her gaze lowers as she announces the time and that you are needed now.
Panic wells in you at the thought of not getting more answers from Clavis.
So lost in your own thoughts you barely hear Clavis thank and dismiss the young woman.
"I wanted Chev to suffer for once. To feel heartbreak. Trust me when I say that I didn't intend for this." He speaks low, still turned away from you. Making you question if that's really what you heard.
You didn't expect him to answer. His voice sounding rushed. He's faltering. Something inside hurts to see him like this.
Without thinking you reach out to grasp his hand.
He turns his head to look down at your connecting hands. Finally he looks up to meet your eyes again.
He steps closer and leans in until his breath is felt on your ear. A chill runs up your spine.
"I never thought you would be of any significance to me. Just another woman I could play with until she broke."
You freeze in place at the sting of his words. Such an awful thing for him to say, although you know he's only being honest.
He pulls his hand away from yours, bringing it up to your cheek, cupping your face. His touch bringing you comfort.
You pull away in frustration. How can you stand here with Clavis touching you so easily. What felt so certain hours ago seem to be less so now. This should be easy.
Should you spend more time trying to figure things out with Clavis? Everyone's waiting on you. You should be asking him to leave and make your way down the isle.
What do you truly wish to tell him now?
You turn around only to find one reflection in the mirror. He's gone.
He's left you exactly how he wanted.