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From the moment she first stepped onto the Somniel, Chloé knew she had been swept away into one of her beloved fairytales. Up so high into the sky that clouds swirl around them, away from any imposing threats, the sprawling lands below stretch as far as the eye can see as mist captures the magical blue above it. It’s as picturesque as any of the art shown in Chloé’s books.
In the daytime, the warmth and brightness of their surroundings energise her, and the weariness of battle seeps away as she soars into the skies with her Griffin without the need to watch over her shoulder. Golden hour brings an ethereal glow that she cannot quite muster the words to express.
Nighttime is a lot different yet the same at once. It’s no less magical, and perhaps even more peaceful, once her companions seek slumber.
Not all, however. As Chloé takes her walk through the Somniel during this peaceful night, up into the hills where few choose to sleep, the crackle of wood in a fire joins the quietness. Dancing flames warm the cool shadows of night. Next to it is an unmistakable figure that Chloé could spot from miles away should she need to. Céline might wear her casual attire, yet her breathtakingly long waves of hair settled on the ground around her is enough for one to look at the scene and think…yes, she is not only a princess, but also as much as one would recognise a princess from Firene’s whimsical stories.
Chloé takes her time when approaching. Her heart beats a little faster, that picture-perfect scene from a book the only reason she can pinpoint. It’s common for Céline to leave her like this. After all, Chloé is living out her own fairytale as the knight of a magnificent princess.
She holds in a sigh over the very thought. And when calmed, her eyes squint enough to make out Céline properly, and notice the frown on her face and brow fixed into a tense arch as she tends to boiling water above the fire.
“Is something the matter, Princess Céline?”
Céline hums, her voice seemingly responding faster than her mind. She turns slowly, then blinks, straightening up with a smile. “Oh, Chloé. Apologies, I was in my own world.”
The smile feels strained to Chloé. “Not to worry, although you did appear to have something troubling you.”
“It is nothing unusual, I assure you.” Céline lets out a sigh, setting her sights back onto the water. “Surely a pleasant cup of tea will calm me down, as it so often does.”
Although she no longer looks at Chloé, she has subtly shifted across the log she sits on, an open invitation for Chloé to settle down next to her. Up close, Chloé has to calm her heart again, watching the light from the fire illuminate Céline’s side profile. So elegant, yet adorable—a princess who is beautiful and graceful, yet has quite the endearing, softer charm.
She turns once more, her smile more genuine, and Chloé can feel some heat beneath her cheeks threaten to arise into colour. In fact, Céline appears to do the same, although it’s difficult to say how long she has sat in the fire’s heat.
Before she can speak, Chloé does so. “Calm you down? Did something happen today?”
“As I said, nothing unusual. However…there are times where the decisions I must make as Firene's princess weigh on me. I do not regret the choices I have made, and I would do everything again to protect our home and people. After all this, even so, I am still only human. It is human nature to feel something reminiscent of guilt no matter how much you accept the choices you must make.”
Céline lifts the now boiled pot of water, using it to pour into a teacup that has been prepared with carefully selected leaves. “I have a second cup, if you would also like some tea?”
“Yes, please.” Chloé watches her, a bittersweet smile on her face. “And I understand. I agree with all you do, and how sometimes, even the sweetest of souls must take action that others would frown upon. But I know that my understanding will not take away the struggles you face.”
“No, perhaps not take them away, and yet knowing you are here as my loyal knight helps me to feel less alone in what I endure.”
With two hands, Céline hands over a teacup to Chloé before taking her own. The two leave the cups to cool enough to drink safely. Left in a peaceful silence, they watch the fire, and Chloé wishes silently to herself that such moments will be there for them forever, no matter what emotions are there. She’s the knight to her precious princess. Standing with her through every hardship is something she would do without a second thought.
“Your tea as well,” Chloé jokes softly. Céline chuckles herself, shoulders relaxed as she looks down at her teacup.
“Yes. It is nice to have something I can enjoy this much, and find excitement through trying new types of tea. It allows me to feel more grounded… Less of a princess who has to make such ruthless decisions, and more of an ordinary woman without such blood on her hands.”
Céline lifts the cup to take a slow sip with closing eyes. Her eyelashes dance with a butterfly’s grace upon her rosy cheeks, blooming from the joy of her beloved tea. Chloé’s movements feel stiff, unlike she's the one moving them when she takes her own sip, too enthralled by Céline to properly notice the delicate taste on her lips. For a moment, she questions how Céline’s lips would taste instead, startling her enough to almost choke on her tea.
Clearly, she has thought of one too many fairytales of the princess being swept off her feet and kissed by her knight, causing her to get carried away once again.
“I’m unsure if this will mean much to you, Céline,” Chloé says, murmuring at first, but then gaining the courage to raise her voice. “But you would mean the world to me either way.”
It must be Chloé’s hopeful mind rather than reality which makes her spot the blush appearing on Céline’s face—either way, both their smiles grow, even when Céline asks, “No matter if I cannot be the same as the princesses you adore so much in fairytales?”
“Well, many of my beloved fairytales have sides some would deem darker, while others only see that as part of the beauty.” Placing her teacup to one side, Chloé instead takes Céline’s hand in her own, giving it a squeeze. “I know I also get swept up in those tales everyday. You, however… The fairytale we’re weaving together is real. I would throw all those stories away if only to see you smile, my princess.”
This time, there is no denying the reason behind the colour in Céline’s face, or Chloe’s own. In their fixed gaze, realisations sweep down on Chloé, realisations telling her that perhaps there truly is more to her feelings than loyalty. Perhaps she is not so different from the romantic tales after all.
“Your smile also brings me joy, and I love to spend time with you,” Céline answers, still not pulling her hand away. “In fact, perhaps the moment the war is over, we could travel together… I could seek out new tea leaves, and you bizarre new foods. Goodness, perhaps there is even some strange tea out there, something for us both!”
Chloé laughs heartily at that, whilst her mind is simple: oh, she thinks, I believe I really do love her after all.
“I do love the sound of that. I love—”
She stops herself, her mouth clenched shut. No, she couldn’t possibly say…that, even if she truly does mean it, and Céline’s eyes look up at her hopefully. Nervously. Perhaps considering if Chloé would approach her, wishing for her to do so more than merely hold her hand as silence takes over all but for the crackling of the fire and distant coo of an owl.
Again, Chloé thinks of those lips, and how they might taste.
She thinks of the only way she wants the next chapter of their fairytale to begin.
Fighting her nerves, she steadily leans in; before her eyes close, she sees Céline’s do the same, an invitation for Chloé to bring their lips together. It’s as soft as she imagined. How has she imagined it so many times, and only now realised what it means? Perhaps it doesn’t matter—only these mere seconds matter, before she backs away from her fear of overstepping, no matter how eager Céline also seemed.
“I apologise, Princess Céline,” she says. “I couldn’t—”
She’s interrupted, this time Céline kissing her, both hands on Chloé’s face. The surprise lingers only for a moment. Chloé’s eyes are quick to close, and she pulls Céline in closer by her waist, eager for the contact. She can hardly believe her luck that life has taken her to this moment. Her life was already a dream, and now their kiss deepens, bodies relaxing as nerves fade, proving that there was more awaiting her.
This time, the kiss breaks naturally, both of them backing slowly. Once Céline’s half-closed eyes open fully, her nerves seem to return and she laughs shakily, turning away and dropping her gaze to the floor.
“I must have been caught up in the moment,” she says, “as I even dropped my teacup!”
Chloé laughs too the moment she sees it, almost feeling sorry for the—thankfully unbroken—floral cup lying abandoned on the ground, liquid spilling from it. “So does this mean…”
“Yes. I do love you too.” Céline’s head snaps up, and the colour in her face now is almost impressive. “I-if that is what you were meant to say.”
“It was. Of course it was.” Chloé takes both of Céline’s hands this time, held between them. “I think I’ve felt this way for a long time, but I only properly accepted it now. You… I cannot thank you enough for how much you have changed my life. I would have been happy to live only as your retainer, but,” she licks her lips, swallowing, “if you would have me, I would be honoured to be so much more.”
Chloé needs only that smile, and another kiss on her lips, to be given Céline’s answer.
