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He was seven when he first traveled to the Somniel.
His mother had needed to guide him then. Alfred was so weak he could hardly walk by himself, clutching to his mother’s leg on every stair until he reached the Divine One’s chamber.
It was then that he learned how to properly pray. The devoted were to fold their hands…
“...like so,” Queen Éve smiled down at him. “Then, you must acknowledge her place by placing yourself beneath her.”
Upon seeing his mother kneel, Alfred had tried to do the same before growing lightheaded and dizzy.
“Careful now,” his mother caught him to help him stand upright, “so long as your intention is in the right place, I am sure the Divine One will not mind if you simply bow your head.”
“But I want to pray just like you, Mother!”
“Shh, the Divine One is still sleeping, my love. Do not worry, when you are older and a bit stronger, I promise you will be able to pray just like your mother. For now, we should open our minds and hearts to her,” she kissed Alfred’s forehead, then turned back to face the bed.
Dutifully, Alfred did the same. After a quick peek to see that Mother’s eyes were shut and her mouth was moving, the blond turned back to the sleeping lady and closed his eyes too.
He was not entirely sure what to do at this point. Maybe if he moved his mouth like Mother did, he would get it?
From his side, the young prince heard Mother laugh.
He felt his face warm, his eyes flashing open as his head spun toward the queen.
“Oh, Alfred. I am so proud of your enthusiasm. The Divine One will surely adore you when she awakens.”
He did not feel very enthusiastic, but if Mother was happy, he would keep doing his best.
“When my mouth moves, it is because I am praying. Normally, I would speak aloud and tell the Divine One everything that is part of me in this moment. Because you are here, I am simply mouthing my thoughts.”
“Why? You can talk out loud,” Alfred frowned.
“No, my love. These things are between me and the Divine One, just as I would not ask you to speak out loud while I am here.”
“Oh,” he thought, “what am I supposed to say?”
“Whatever troubles you. You can ask for your loved ones to be protected, for better health, you can tell her what you have done wrong and ask her forgiveness. You can be thankful for the things you love or ask for the things you do not love to be removed from your life.”
There was so much to remember.
“Can I only pick one thing to pray for?”
“You can pick everything or just one thing,” Queen Éve closed her eyes again, returning to her prayers.
Alfred bowed his head once more, shut his eyes, and tried to think.
Divine One, my name is Alfred. I am the first prince of Firene, and Mother says my family has been praying to you for a long time. I want to pray too.
Now, it was time to ask for things, right?
No, his mother had given him an order for this when he had left the palace.
Thank the Divine One, ask the Divine One for help, then ask the Divine One for forgiveness.
Thank you for letting me grow up in the castle, thank you for finally letting me get out of bed, thank you for Mother and Sister and the things that make them happy. Thank you for keeping the people of Firene safe and letting our lands grow food and flowers and animals. Thank you for letting me have friends in Brodia and Solm, even though I have not met them yet. Thank you for watching over us, even as you sleep.
Please let me live a long and healthy life. Please let Mother and Sister and I be together forever, and please keep me from going back to staying in bed again. I don’t want to leave. Please let me stay with them. Please. And let the people of Firene also live happy lives with their families. Please let Mother have more time to spend with me and sister, too.
But what was there to ask forgiveness for? There was nothing off the top of his head he felt bad about.
…what was he sorry for…?
Oh.
Divine One, forgive me for being too sick to help Mother. I should have been able to take more of my lessons and get out of bed to become a strong prince. How am I going to protect you when you wake up? I should have gotten out of bed. I should have been able to go have tea with Sister and learn diplomacy with Mother. I promise, now that I am out of bed, I am going to do twice as much to make up for it. I can do all of my lessons and drink all of the tea and be the best fighter. That way, I can protect my family, and I can even protect you when you wake up.
There. That felt better, just like Mother told him it would.
“All done?” she asked.
Alfred opened his eyes to see his mother staring back at him. She had already risen to her feet, extending a hand to him.
“Remember to leave as soon as you finish; the Divine One still needs her rest after all. It takes time for our prayers to be answered.”
He nodded, taking her hand as she led him out of the pristine room. All the while, he looked back as long as he could at the figure with stark red and blue hair.
—
At eleven years old, Alfred loved praying.
It was the best part of each month. He was allowed to be alone and away from all his duties, finally free to speak to someone as a person.
Respectfully, the young prince ascended the stairs to the sanctum upon seeing Celine take her leave. She had reached the age where it had become acceptable for her to join them at the Somniel just a few months ago, but Alfred thought she looked too small floating down the polished stairwell.
The doors were closed behind him as he finally entered the room, passing by the same piano that always sat untouched. He would never deign to climb the stairs next to the Divine One’s resting place, instead opting to kneel just before them.
Folding his hands, he looked up at her, waiting for the proper words to come to him as his eyes glossed over her sleeping form.
“Divine One,” he bowed his head.
Alfred did not know her name. He knew she had one, and that it was not to be spoken out of respect for her title while she rested. He imagined it would be something pretty, like “Celeste” or “Aurore”.
Raising his eyes once more, he let out a breath, “This is Alfred. Thank you for letting me continue to work to make my country better, and thank you for letting me do it all away from my bed.”
This was his favorite part; being thankful for everything he had been given and remembering that things could always be worse.
“Thank you for keeping my mother and my sister safe, and thank you for keeping us together in the castle. I am thankful that you have blessed our lands with fertility, and that you have blessed my country with peace.”
He went on for another moment, detailing whatever flooded to his mind for which to thank the Divine One. He took solace in it before letting the warmth dim slightly.
“Please keep me healthy and allow me to strive further in providing for my country. I would like to serve them well for as long as I am able. Please let me have plenty of time to do so.”
Firene first. He wanted to be healthy for personal reasons, of course, but also for the people of Firene.
“I ask that you help Celine grow to be a strong princess, and that you make me strong too,” he continued. “Give me lots of muscles, so everyone knows how strong Prince Alfred is. That way, Mother and Celine will never worry about me going back to bed - I will be so strong that I could never be put down again.”
…was that selfish?
“I promise to use them to protect the people of Firene, don’t worry. A-And I can protect you too…if you ever wake up.”
There, that sounded better.
“Forgive me for being unhelpful. Sometimes I try to assist Mother in her duties to practice for when it will be my time to rule, but there are plenty of issues she says I overdo. I’m sorry I’m bad at being a prince. I can never remember the proper etiquette, and Celine is already much better than I was at her age.”
It’s probably for the best.
“I…”
Alfred hated those kinds of thoughts. They felt like giving up, both on himself and on his country.
“I’m going to be a better prince. I’m going to get stronger, but I need your help. Please.”
Did he go out of order? No, not exactly, but he did seem to be jumping around a bit.
That was okay, though. Mother told him all those years ago that he could empty his heart to the Divine One. That’s all he was doing, and he meant no disrespect.
One final time, Alfred bowed his head low, “Please keep me healthy and off bedrest, and may you awaken soon.”
Time to go.
“Divine One,” the blond looked at her once more before turning toward the doors.
He would be back in the coming months and in the months following those. He would be back whenever Mother asked him to come with her.
For now though, Alfred would do his best to fulfill the promises he made in prayer.
~~~
The month after his thirteenth birthday, the Firenese royals were not the only visitors on the Somniel.
Alfred, Celine, and Queen Éve had all made their way toward the Divine One’s chambers when they were stopped by a young boy. The child was only a few years younger than the prince of Firene and introduced himself as Clanne.
“Hello, Clanne,” Celine tilted her head, “are you lost? I do not recall your name from any of the royal kingdoms nearby.”
Clanne bowed, “No, Princess. I’m training to become the 33rd Steward of the Divine Dragon.”
“How lovely,” Mother smiled.
The boy rose, smiling at the queen.
“We are on our way to pray if you do not mind,” Alfred had already been smiling, a tactic he had begun to employ these past few months in hopes that his family would worry less about him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Someone is already praying in the sanctum right now, but I would be happy to let you in once they’re done.”
“I see,” Mother had replied graciously. “We are happy to wait.”
Alfred, on the other hand, was severely confused. He had thought that only royalty was allowed on the Somniel.
“Perhaps Vander is praying,” his sister guessed as they made their way to the seating area down below.
But he has never prayed at the same time as one of our visits. Mother said Vander prays in the mornings, anyway.
The queen of Firene quietly shushed her daughter, “We must let others have their time.”
A period of silence between the royal family stretched for what Alfred might guess to have been two minutes before murmurs of voices trickled into the room.
“...place to stay. I could imagine it was easy getting used to this view!’
“Yes…of course.”
“What do you think, my boy? Would you like staying up here?”
“It would probably be for the best. Keeping me away from everyone so they don’t have to bother themselves with me…b-but! I couldn’t - not while the Divine Dragon is staying here too!”
Turning his head, Alfred caught sight of a tall man with shock-red hair. He was accompanied by Vander and a blue-haired boy he would guess to be a year older than Celine.
“Ah, King Morion,” Queen Éve placed a hand on Celine’s shoulder as a cue for her to rise to her feet. Alfred followed suit.
“Queen Eve! What a wonderful surprise! And this must be Princess Celine and Prince Alfred.”
“It is a pleasure to see you again, your Majesty,” Alfred’s sister greeted.
The man let out a stark laugh, “You two have grown so much since I last saw you! I still remember the little princess hiding behind her mother’s dress.”
“This must be Alcryst,” Mother laughed along, albeit more politely, “How have you been, dear?”
“H-Hello. I’m alright. Sorry Diamant isn’t greeting you instead.”
“Nonsense. I am happy to see you.”
The young prince took a step backward and ducked his head. Alfred thought he must have been timid from the attention.
Everyone’s focus did not remain on Alcryst for long, however, as a subtle tapping sound descended the stairwell.
“Father, what have I told you about being so loud while others are praying?”
The crown prince of Brodia’s steps faltered once when his feet hit the landing. His composure was only lost for a moment more as he scanned the family before him.
“Oh, I was not informed you would be visiting. Forgive me for taking up your time.”
“Not at all. Celine, why don’t you head up first?”
Alfred watched his sister climb to the Divine One’s chamber, the whole room falling silent until they heard the small thud indicating the doors had shut.
“Well,” King Morion sighed, “now that Diamant is done, I suppose we should be making our way back to the palace.”
“It was good to see you all again. We should try to meet more often in the future,” Diamant added.
After a few royal farewells, the Brodian family allowed Vander to escort them off the Somniel.
It was strange. Sure, Alfred had known that other royal families were permitted to come here to pray to the Divine One. The blond had not truly allowed the full meaning of that to sink in until today.
Others were coming here just as often as the Firene royals were. Prince Diamant and Prince Alcryst were praying to the Divine One just as he was, telling her everything and probably asking for just as much.
“Mother? Do you think the Divine One prefers Brodia?”
The woman turned to him, “Oh? What gave you that impression?”
“Nothing, I just…I don’t know. I thought we came here the most often, but I forgot that the king and his family came here too. What if she wakes up and only cares about the prayers of Brodia and her people?”
“My child,” Mother approached him to pull him into a hug, “the Divine One is not like you and I. Her love is not limited. She is capable of loving all people of a country just the same as that of another.”
That wasn’t enough for the prince of Firene. He wanted Firene to be the Divine One’s favorite. He wanted to be the one she preferred.
“What if she likes Prince Diamant and King Morion better?”
“She is entitled to her own preferences, just as we are to our own. The best we can do is promise to stand by her side and wait to see if she wakes up. Remember, she has been sleeping for centuries. The last of our rulers to actually see her awake has long been gone. It is likely we may never come to see her in such a state either.”
Right. He supposed whenever he had seen her lying on the mattress, she looked like she would open her eyes at any moment. Perhaps he has been pledging his protection to her for no reason.
So when Celine came out of the doors, Alfred smiled at his mother and let her go first. He swallowed the feeling that bubbled up inside him, putting on the positive air that he had been trying to implement within himself for so long.
There was a time to ask questions and a time to remain silent; a time to stay and a time to move on.
~~~
“...Please keep me healthy and off bedrest, and may you awaken soon.”
Prince Alfred shifted off his knees, now fifteen years old. Standing, he approached the doors to leave the sanctum before hearing a rustling behind him.
His head swiveled around, locking eyes onto the Divine One’s form.
Her body was now lying on its side, one leg raised slightly above the other as she curled at the breeze drifting from the windows. Strands of stray hair flew about her head, the rest of her locks falling either onto her face or upon the mattress space behind her.
She had moved.
Rerouting to approach her, the prince faltered at the stairs to her bed.
“...Divine One…?”
Surely no one would know if he were to climb the stairs just this once, right? Besides, it couldn’t be comfortable to rest with hair tickling your face. Not to mention the trouble it might cause for her breathing.
“Please forgive me for this.”
One step into the next, he took a knee on the stairs’ upper landing - at the same level as the Divine One’s bed.
Carefully, the crown prince of Firene outstretched his hand, pulling the hair that had fallen into her face away and sliding it over her shoulder.
Her hair felt so soft and smooth, and the face he revealed looked so gentle.
Thin eyebrows furrowed to create delicate wrinkles on a face that appeared softer now that Alfred had been given a chance to see it properly. A small nose and soft lips…
“Beautiful.”
He really shouldn’t be up here. To have touched the Divine One, to have invaded her space and disturbed her rest even slightly…Alfred found it unforgivable.
Yet he could not help himself. He wanted to feel her fair, smooth, unblemished skin -
What am I thinking? What am I even doing ?
The prince drew his face back, clenching his teeth as though that would translate to any amount of restraint. He really should not be doing any of this. It felt wrong, but he couldn’t bring himself to back away. He had to know.
Coming to the conclusion he believed he could justify most if the Divine One awoke, but also one that allowed him to satiate his curiosity, Alfred picked up the sleeping woman’s hand. Gently, the blond brought it to his lips, kissing it just to know what it felt like.
“I love you, you know. You are like family to me. Out there, I have to be positive so no one fears for me, but with you I can be honest. Whatever you give me I will understand, and whatever you ask of me I will do.”
He brought her palm to his cheek, “I promise, just as I always have. I will protect you. You were so close to waking just now - maybe we will get to meet each other after all.”
Delicately, he rested her hand upon the bed again. After looking at her face one last time, he arose and backed off the canopy area.
At fifteen, Alfred touched the Divine One for the first time.
And he knew he loved her, but he couldn’t understand how far that love went.
~~
“Divine One.”
Already bent at the knee, already down on the floor; his legs had this position memorized ages ago. When it came to her, this was where Alfred needed to be.
He had turned eighteen just days ago. New responsibilities attended him now that he had reached the Firenese age of adulthood, but even as prince, Alfred would have none of it come over his devotion to her.
“I don’t know what you’ll awaken to become. Maybe you’re destined to burn the world and all of this is some terrible mistake. Even if it were so, I don’t think I’d be around long enough to see it.”
His chin lifted to her lying on her back in her pristine condition, the sheer curtains swirling subtly.
“That said, I accept. I had an episode a few weeks ago. Nothing new - just something to remind me that nothing can free me from this. Nothing was ever going to free me from this. It’s time I finally stop trying to run and start trying to fight.”
Though at this point, I’m not sure I know the difference.
“Please keep Celine in your heart. She, at least, should have a long and prosperous rule. I’ll love those around me while I can, but I hope there will be a cure for any others that contract this disease.”
Happy birthday to me. I wonder when your birthday is, Divine One.
“May you awaken when you are ready, though I still hope to be here when you do.”
It was time to give her one long look before approaching the door again. He had been praying every month since he was seven; for some reason, Alfred felt like it didn’t really matter. Nonetheless, he would continue to come pray. If he had nothing, and if he were to amount to nothing…even then he could continue a legacy of a nation that loved the Divine One. Maybe then when she did open her eyes, she would be partial to his successors.
It’s not her fault. I don’t blame her. This couldn’t have been what she wanted for me.
He forgave her, anyway.
“Divine One.”
~~~
“What the-? They’re here, too?”
Alfred watched as Boucheron cut down another one of those misshapen figures. The red glow emanating from them was especially unsettling.
“Prince Alfred! The castle!”
He had come to ask for Queen Lumera’s aid in dealing with these creatures. Unfortunately for Firene, it appeared the royal dragon was faring no better against them herself.
“We have to get inside! Etie, keep these things on the ground!”
“Got it!”
Painstakingly, the Firenese prince and his retainers fought their way through the cursed soldiers.
“Get out of the way! Lay down your weapons and none of you will be hurt!”
The only sounds he received in response were several wicked snarls.
“These things,” Boucheron grunted as he sliced through a warrior, “there’s no way they’re human.”
“If we can just get inside, we can rush through the hall. Not many have been making it past the front gate.”
What if that meant they were flooding in from some other entrance? What of Queen Lumera?
After a few more exhausting minutes of charging through the masses, they finally reached the gate. Just as Alfred had predicted, the hallway was open enough for them to rush through. He led them on his horse, always making sure he was still in sight of his retainers despite their lackluster speed.
Sounds of clashing steel, battle cries, and the woosh of magic were coming from the area ahead.
“Through this door, right?” he couldn’t stop moving. There were other halls that led around the castle, but Etie knew the layout of this castle better than he did at the time his mother sent them for aid.
Thankfully, she was quite sure of herself.
“Yes. This is the one.”
“Then let’s go,” Boucheron nodded.
The royal burst through the door, steadying his horse to survey the scene in front of him for a moment -
It was her.
It had to be her standing there, right? No one else possessed that hair, and her outfit remained familiar…not to mention Vander, Framme, and Clanne’s presence here…
At the age of 21, Alfred met the conscious form of the Divine One.
Her group didn’t look to be gaining much ground though. Whatever they were trying to do, they needed help.
“Made it! And not a moment too soon…”
But she was just staring at him. Did she not remember?
“The Crown Prince Alfred of Firene is here to help. Let me at ‘em!”
What is actually coming out of my mouth right now? Let me at ‘em? Did I really just-
“Prince Alfred of…Firene, you said?”
Right. She was still staring at him with those wide, curious eyes.
Maybe it wasn’t her.
No, that didn’t make any sense! Perhaps it was best to ask directly.
“Could it be-?”
Too formal. You know each other - nothing has changed.
“Are you the Divine Dragon Alear? You finally woke up?”
Please, please, please be real.
“I did, yes.”
“That’s amazing! You know, I’ve waited ages for this to happen. There’s so much to talk about.”
The castle is under siege and this is all I can think about?
He supposed it could be considered one of the most important events, if not the most important event, of the century.
“Later, of course. After we’ve taken care of these scoundrels. Who are they, anyway?”
“We’re not sure. They attacked so suddenly.”
“Well, let’s do this quickly - pin down whoever’s in charge and get some answers.”
Her pretty red and blue eyes shifted just past him.
“Oh, these are my retainers, Etie and Boucheron. From now on, consider us at your disposal.”
She nodded, sizing the three of them up and then turning back toward the enemy lines.
“Lead the way, Divine One!”
“Thank you for your help.”
~~~
“I’ve been visiting you in the Somniel since I was a boy. I think of you as…a friend. A very, very old friend.”
Well, he couldn’t just come out and say he thought of her as family. She should already know that - he remembered mentioning it a few years ago.
Wait a minute, did I just call the Divine One old? Stupid, Alfred, stupid!
“I appreciate that. Actually, I can’t remember anything from before I fell asleep.”
“Nothing?”
Nothing?
Well, what did that mean? Did she remember anything from while she was sleeping, or was her first memory the moment she awakened?
Did Alfred just spend all those days…months… years …praying to someone that couldn’t even hear him?
They continued talking to one another, but he wasn’t there. How many generations of his family had wasted their time at her bedside? How many private thoughts had been confided to her, only to have been lost to the open air?
Or did she know what happened while she slept? Did the Divine Dragon remember every piece of what was confessed to her? He wondered whether she cared; truly, there must have been countless royals with endless prayers. Not that she would have had much else to do in her slumber, he supposed.
There was no time to talk now. He would ask her about it once they both found some free time. No need to bring such an issue up in front of all these people.
~~
Months had passed in their war, and although he had gotten Alear alone several times, Alfred never felt he was ready to bring up the question.
The truth was that at this point, he had no need to ask whether she had heard him. Ever since she woke up, it seemed she had been fighting for the future of his world and his country. The two of them had begun to grow closer, though she had always been warm to everyone she met.
She hadn’t been able to do anything about his prayers while she was asleep. Now, she was doing everything for which he could ever imagine to pray to her, yet he never had any need to ask her for favors aloud.
Then, he believed he had been following through with his own promises. Alfred had been happily putting his life on the line to protect and aid her since the day she first laid her eyes on him.
Her bright, wide, captivating eyes. They shone so brightly, filled with life and determination and such human emotion. Alfred didn’t know why he believed she would turn out akin to Lumera. The late queen had always been so serene and void of passion.
“Alfred?”
“Ah, yes, Celine?”
He had forgotten where he was for a moment.
The blonde princess clicked her tongue, “You have been like this ever since we went on that mission last week. You would let us know if you had been hit on the head rather hard, right?”
“N-No! I mean, I would, but nothing like that happened to me. I promise.”
“Hmm,” his sister took a sip of her tea.
“Um…was there a question you wanted me to answer, or…?”
“Honestly, I doubt you were paying attention at all. You know conversation is a fundamental part of any decent tea party, yes?”
“But it’s just you and me.”
“Alfred!” she frowned, “Are you saying you do not find me interesting enough to listen?”
“Of course not!” he defended, “I just meant that two people…it doesn’t really seem like a party.”
“Should I have invited the Divine One? I am certain that if she were here, you would be paying attention. Or perhaps not, seeing how distracted she makes you.”
“Celine,” he hissed.
“Oh, you think you hide it well? Please . I am not so ignorant as to fail to connect the dots. You began with your strange behavior the day that ‘Pact Ring’ came into the equation.”
“I…have?”
Celine’s eyebrows rose, “Are you not yet aware of it yourself?”
Well, he supposed he had been thinking about her rather often, lately. He would seek out her smile whenever they passed rather than just walk by her. All of that was not to mention how he would make excuses to wake her up after her rest.
His sister’s eyes softened, though he barely caught the action from his place so deep in his thoughts.
“Alfred, why not tell her how you feel?”
“What? I could never do that - Celine, she’s the Divine Dragon. She shouldn’t tie herself down to some human prince. Besides, I…you know I don’t have that much time left. I’ll be lucky to reach thirty years old; she was sleeping for a thousand years. That’s not even one percent of her lifetime.”
“And what about what she wants?”
He paused, looking at her with nothing to say.
“What if she does not know about your lifespan? What if she cannot help you because she does not know something is wrong? What if she wants to spend the rest of your life with you to get the most time she can because she cares about you?”
“I don’t want her pity, Celine. You know how I -”
“But you do want her love, yes? Who is to say she does not want yours as well?”
I…
She had a point; who was he to say who she could and could not have? She was the Divine Dragon, he was just offering her the choice, and she could always say no.
But was it presumptuous of him to even offer? Was that an insult to her? Although he was one of the few actually allowed on the Somniel - as far as humans go, he thought himself a somewhat suitable candidate.
That was what Celine was saying, wasn’t it? It wasn’t his choice to make. Alear would tell whether he was suitable for her.
Now, the prince took a sip of his tea, “How would I even go about that? I…kind of told her I wanted to be her close friend.”
Celine nearly choked on her pastry.
Alfred waited patiently as she recovered, dabbing at her mouth with her napkin.
“Okay…and how often did you bring this up?”
“...a lot...”
He heard her push air through her nose.
“Well…all the more important that you be the one to confess to her.”
“But how?”
Celine’s brows knit together ever so slightly, “First, whatever you do, do not bring up friendship. You can say something like how you’ve been close for a long time, but do not make anything platonic. This way you avoid confusing her.”
Alfred nodded along.
“Speak clearly. Make sure you are talking about her specifically, and make sure you are specific on what it is you are asking for. Be honest, which you have never had any trouble doing, and make sure she knows you are serious.”
“Got-”
“Oh! One more thing.”
Setting her teacup onto her plate, the princess reached into her pocket and delicately pulled out a folded piece of silk. Unfurling it carefully, she revealed the quilted square hidden within, setting it on the table atop its silk covering.
“How did you bring this here?”
He recognized the cloth, of course. It was an essential part of any Firenese crown royal’s marriage proposal. That intricate fabric…he still remembered the day Mother explained it to him for the first time.
“Mother told me you might be needing it. Even so, I am not certain she would ever believe you might offer it to the Divine Dragon of all people.”
“Why you , though? How come she didn’t give it to me?”
“Alfred, just a few moments ago you were clueless about your emotions. What’s more, you seemed to only be making things more difficult for yourself with each conversation between the Divine One and yourself.”
Quietly, he groaned, “ Please don’t remind me.”
“There is one way to fix it,” Celine sang, gesturing at the cloth.
Cautious as to not spill anything on it, Firene’s crown prince took the piece into his hands, refolding it and placing it away gently in his pocket.
Smiling, his sister began to clean up their meal. Alfred tried to help, only for her to tut him in response.
“I would get going if I were you. It would be a shame if someone like Diamant were to propose first.”
“ What? ”
“She is quite the popular bachelorette, would you not agree?” she lilted her voice, urging him with a smile, “Go.”
Needing no more reason than that, Alfred ran off to find Alear.
Honestly, what would he do without his sister?
~~~
“Good morning, Alfred,” the Divine One greeted, ”Is something troubling you? You look a little upset.”
That’s not how he wanted to appear. He was so happy and excited…but he supposed that could translate to nervousness when it came to something like this.
“You could tell, huh? I’m dealing with a lot of emotions right now. You know me - I act, then maybe I think. Not the other way around.”
Not today, Alfred. Today, you think through every last word.
“Yes, I’ve noticed that in you. Once you have an idea, you run with it.”
“But for the first time in maybe ever, I’m dragging my heels getting something done. This time, if I act without thinking, I might end up destroying a perfectly good friendship. Plus, I’d be going back on my word.”
Wait a minute. He messed up. Didn’t Celine just tell him not to bring up friendship?
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when I said I wanted us to be plain ol’ friends?”
What did he just tell himself? Shut up!
“Don’t tell me you’re back to feeling unworthy of my friendship again,” Alear frowned.
“...I’m the crown prince of Firene, I can’t be a coward when it comes to this of all things.”
Did he just say that out loud?
“Plain ol’ friends isn’t going to cut it with me anymore, sorry to say.”
…at this rate, Celine was going to kill him if he didn’t run a blade through his own heart first.
Stop mentioning friendship! Is it so hard to follow the literal first rule your sister gave you? Why even ask for advice if you’re not going to take it?
He needed to get back on track, or else he was risking messing up what felt to be the single most important part of his life.
“Divine One? I want us to be closer than that.”
All she responded with was a small breath of surprise.
It was her decision in the end. So why did that sound make him feel the need to defend himself?
“I said I’d stop going overboard when it comes to you, but I can’t help myself. I even brought you this. See what I mean?”
Flustered, he pulled the fabric out of his pocket and held it out to her. Hopefully, she understood what he was saying.
She’s been asleep for a thousand years, Alfred. There’s no way she understands why you’re giving her a scrap of fabric!
Nonetheless, it seemed she was able to appreciate the piece for what it was worth.
“The embroidery on this is exquisite,” she gasped, ruby and sapphire eyes widening in awe.
“It’s an old Firenese tradition to pass down embroidered clothes through the generations,” he explained. “This royal piece has been re-sewn so many times, it’s taken on a completely new form. Still, I have it, and I’m supposed to give it to someone important to me to show I care.”
“Wow…” she breathed.
Come on…
“Thank you so much. I will happily accept your gesture.”
“Oh! Gosh,” the prince exclaimed without thinking, “You’re sure? It’s not too much?”
Alear gave him a bright smile, lifting her eyes from the fabric to finally look at him, “No, it’s perfect. I feel the same way about you.”
Yes! Thank you, Celine!
“Thinking back, I’ve felt that way almost as soon as we met in Lythos Castle.”
The statement took his breath away. That long ago…? And he had probably felt the same for her at that time, too. How much time had they - well, they had been at war, he supposed.
It didn’t matter. What precious time they had lost, Alfred would ensure he made up for tenfold.
“Now I have something for you. Please, may I see your hand, Alfred?”
Slightly puzzled, the blond held out his palm. She took his rough hand into her own, placing something inside and closing his fingers around it.
Once he felt the shape, Alfred didn’t even have to look.
“The Pact Ring?”
A slight nod was given in response.
“We’re going to be inseparable. I look forward to the journey ahead with you.”
“Thank you,” he finally allowed himself to smile in full.
No, that wasn’t how he wanted to respond. She reciprocated his love, and now he felt safe to fully express his adoration for her.
“I’m done holding back my feelings,” Alfred slipped the ring onto his finger, enchanted by the way it shifted form to fit perfectly.
Alear’s eyes were also drawn to the ring before the crown prince found his courage. He stepped forward, taking her hands into his own.
“I love you. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
Raising one hand to cup her face, he searched her eyes for any hesitation or doubt, waiting for her to move next.
“I…”
Her eyes were growing wet. She shut them tightly, catching the blond off guard by launching herself into his torso.
Alfred staggered back for a moment until he regained his balance and realized she was hugging him. Tightly.
“I can’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right now! I’m so happy you feel the same way I do. I just…I love you so much!”
His smile grew impossibly bigger as he squeezed her back. In a flash, he had bent down and hugged her waist to lift her off the ground. He looked up into her eyes.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you!”
Their laughter complemented each other. It filled their ears like the sound of ringing bells.
Alear bent her head down as Alfred tilted his own upward, their lips finally meeting after a war’s worth of waiting.
However long he had left, Alfred swore he would spend every minute he could at her side.