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“You know, I’m happy that you said yes.”
Nell looks up from the plants arranged alongside the garden footpath they walked. The statement comes unprompted.
“What do you mean?” In truth, Nell knew what she was referring to. Her heart beats just the same as when Diantha first proposed the two be something more than a hotelier and her guest of honor.
Nell had been more than happy to accept her invitation to the Parfum Palace gardens. As far as she knew, it seemed to be an invitation for a moment of leisure from their jobs, Nell having left her shift early at the Hotel Richissime and Diantha turning down an outing with her cast members. So Nell couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised when Diantha broke the silence with this specific topic.
“I just feel excited. Even with the given circumstances…” For a moment, her tone softens.
“You mean in regards to your fans and the media?”
The actress pauses, attempting a smile, and yet her concern is evident. “If it ever seems like too much…well, I’d understand…”
Nell gives a nervous chuckle. As rare as the occurrences are, she had already dealt with the occasional fanatic and nosy reporters at the hotel.
“N-no. I want to do this properly.” She smiles sheepishly, looking down at the footpath before them as they walk. “I must admit…you’ve caught my attention. I want nothing more but to see this through with you.”
Diantha can’t help but giggle lightly at the woman’s bold words. Only recently has Diantha managed to coax Nell into expressing more affection and abandoning that uptight demeanor she clings to. “Have I charmed you so easily, chère ?” She teases her lightly, seeking a further reaction.
In turn Nell feels her face flush, still unaccustomed to Diantha’s playful remarks. She stops in her tracks, the footpath in the garden having led them to an area adorned with roses, carnations, and other flowers. The sun casts a golden glow on the foliage and plants, a certain warmth enveloping the atmosphere and the two women. And in this warm light, Nell takes a moment to collect herself. “So…is that what you wanted to talk about?”
“Not quite.” Diantha stops alongside her, taking in their surroundings before a playful smile crosses her lips. “I’m also excited to see if those movie clichés hold any truth.”
A pause. The bubbling of the fountains in the distance fills the silence for a moment.
“...Pardon?”
Once more, Nell prompts a small fit of laughter from Diantha as she finds her expression endearing.
“Well, let’s see then…” She steps toward the center of the garden, her movements and tone shifting in a manner as if she were performing a scene, the garden their stage and the evening rays their spotlight, and Nell her captive, well, her captivated audience. “How cliché would it be of me…to offer a rose to you now?” She extends an arm to pluck a white rose from the garden, gingerly cupping the flower in her hand.
“Oh, terribly cliché,” Nell replies flatly, but once she sees Diantha approaching her with the rose, she begins to understand her intentions, taking it carefully from her hand.
“T-thank you…” She averts her gaze for the moment, twirling the rose stem between her fingertips. Her attention is back on Diantha when she hears her take a step forward, the actress taking Nell’s other hand in hers.
“Nell, if I may have this last request…” again, a shy smile graces her lips. “May I kiss you?”
The hotelier does her best to hide her surprise, but Diantha’s gaze is warm and patient, awaiting her answer. Even with the actress’s charm and gestures evoked in this small performance for her, Nell still felt assured that even if she refused, Diantha would wait. She would wait as long as needed.
“A kiss..? I suppose that would be rather cliché, wouldn’t it?”
Diantha can only chuckle, nodding, “Yes, I think it would be, chère .”
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