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The halls of Lythos were decked in the bright colors and fragrant boughs of celebration. Holly branches threaded through cotton banners, and floral garland playfully wound around pillars and staircases. The scent of the upcoming feast had already permeated the air as preparations to receive victorious huntsmen busied the castle's denizens. In the midst of all the activity, representatives from all five countries contributed their hands to the day's work.
Prince Fogado tenuously balanced atop a ladder, fine silk in his hands. He steadied a nail and squinted at the section of wall his silk would drape from. By his estimation, the Divine Dragon would sit at the head of the table facing the open air, so most eyes would be drawn this way. Perfect. With the precision of an archer, he lined up his hammer and swung.
“Prince Fogado, I'm back! Oh, sorry to interrupt. I see everyone's still busy.”
Fogado's face lit up, and he eagerly turned to see the newcomer– only for his hammer to smash his own hand. He bit his lip and yelped, channeling every ounce of willpower into not showing his pain. The incoming visitor jogged over, and Fogado prayed to any god who would listen that the man hadn't seen his blunder.
“Prince Fogado!? Are you alright? Did you just–”
“I'm doing great, Prince Alcryst. Absolutely swell.” Fogado flashed a winning smile and casually rested his afflicted hand on top of his ladder. He could feel his fingers pulsing. “More importantly, welcome back! I take it the hunt went well?”
Alcryst slowed his gait and gave him a doubtful look. After glancing from Fogado's hammer to his silk, he seemed to let the matter go and let his excitement shine through. “Yes! Diamant and I downed a boar! Of course, Diamant contributed far more to its defeat than me, but I did fell a deer myself. Between everyone's game, there should be plenty of meat for the feast.”
“I'm salivating just thinking about it. You should see the storm Bunet's cooking up right about now. The guy threw me out of the kitchen! Can you believe it? Threw me out! With only a couple of taste tests! His butternut squash soup is excellent, by the way.” Fogado flexed his fingers, happy to find the pain receding. With all his bones accounted for, he sighed and lined up his next shot. This time, he didn't turn to look at the beautiful prince beneath him. Knowing Alcryst's sharp eyes were locked on him made him sweat, but he managed to to hit his target this time. “Everything look good from where you're standing?” His lip quirked upward. “Other than the handsome devil holding it all together, of course.”
“Oh– Y-yes! It looks great! I'd seen Solm's silks before, but this is my first time seeing one so luxurious.”
“Silk fit for a princess! Or so the saying goes. Either way, it compliments the mistletoe well. This variety is from Brodia, right?”
“Yes!” Alcryst hesitated. “Diamant thought it'd be prudent to contribute traditional Brodian decorations for the festival... so I thought mistletoe might be appropriate. But, on second thought, maybe that was a poor choice. Princess Celine brought garland, and Princess Hortensia brought such wonderful ornaments... My mistletoe pales in comparison.”
“Seems perfect to me. This whole festival is about sharing our countries' traditions, after all. You know what? I'm in a good stopping place right now.” A bold lie, considering his banner was obstructing half a walkway, but his hand needed a rest. “Why don't we take a break and exchange traditions? We can call it a productive intercultural exchange!”
“Ah, I'd like that very much!”
The shy smile Alcryst sent Fogado's way made his effort worthwhile. Fogado blew a lock of hair out of his face, helpless. After indulging in staring a second too long, he moseyed down the ladder and pilfered the most comfortable chair he could find from the banquet table. Even with minimal dishes spread across it, just looking at the grandeur of its decorations made him hungry. What kind of delicacies would be served? He'd always had a taste for Firene's herbs paired with Solmic meats...
“Let me see your hand.”
Fogado blinked and returned his attention to the prince beside him. Alcryst was staring him down with an intensity that made him freeze. In Alcryst's hand was a first aid kit. When did the guy get that? Fogado reluctantly offered the affected appendage, stifling his embarrassment. “When'd you figure it out?”
“When you hammered your knuckles. I'm not sure why you tried to hide it... but it looks like you really nailed yourself. Sorry, no pun intended! I'm just glad you didn't break bone.”
“Yeah, laugh it up. The great Cupido isn't as smooth as he makes himself out to be.”
“Why would I laugh when you're hurt?”
Fogado met Alcryst's concerned gaze– and giggled. “Are you kidding? This is textbook! My sibby wouldn't let me live this down for weeks!”
Alcryst snorted softly, his seriousness finally cracking. “I guess... it is a little funny... pfft.”
“There you go, laugh it up! If one of us is going to have wounded pride, then we might as well enjoy it together!”
“You're absolutely right. I'm so sorry, I should've read the mood better. Haha? Hahaha!”
Fogado choked and clutched his belly, his giggles expanding into full on laughter. Alcryst's quizzical, forced laughter slowly turned genuine. Alcryst shook his head incredulously and returned to patching up his partner's hand. While Fogado made a fool of himself, Alcryst extracted ice from a covered dish and wrapped the cube in gauze. When he pressed it against the a bruise, Fogado winced. “...Thanks.”
“It's no problem at all. I'm much better at this than being the Winter Envoy...”
Fogado raised an eyebrow. “Winter Envoy?”
“Oh, that's right! You're probably unfamiliar. The Winter Envoy visits the home of every child in Brodia and leaves them a gift for the coming year. Candy for younger children, and something more practical for those who've advanced far enough in training.” Alcryst's eyes grew distant, though the soft smile that marked his lips was unmistakable. “I received my first bow at seven years of age. Diamant received his at six.”
“I'm gonna assume both of those are impressive.”
“Yes, well... Father would always make a grand ceremony out of the event. After a ceremonial hunt, a royal is usually expected to play the role of Winter Envoy. I'm afraid that role may fall to me this year, and I don't know if my heart could survive it.”
“I'd love to see it. Any excuse to laugh with friends is worth the effort.”
Alcryst peeked at Fogado through his eyelashes, that soft smile touching his lips again. Gods, Fogado wasn't going to live through the day. “...You're right. I'm sure Solm has all sorts of lively traditions, too.”
“Boy, do we!” Fogado flexed his fingers under the cool, covered ice, grateful for the cold's relief. “We don't celebrate the Divine Dragon's birth, but we hold a festival that lasts for weeks! To herald in the new year, we celebrate the pilgrimage of the legendary princess who founded Solm. Story goes, she journeyed to Lythos and tested the Divine One's wisdom. After answering many riddles, the Divine Dragon was gifted silk from Solm. The princess had just secured a source for it, but it wasn't yet seen as valuable back home.”
“So she used the Divine Dragon to advertise..?” Alcryst tilted his head quizzically.
Fogado met his question with a prideful smile. “Bingo. With the Divine One wearing her gifts, by the time she returned to Solm, buyers were lining up for her silks! Everyone wanted the beauty of divinity. From her newfound wealth spawned the trade alliances that make up Solm and its prosperity today. Wearing silk during the princess's festival is said to bring good fortune in the coming year.”
Alcryst's eyes turned toward the abandoned silk banner haphazardly draped over Fogado's ladder. He giggled. Fogado jumped, looking between the inexplicably laughing Alcryst and his shoddy handiwork. “Hey- Wait, it'll look much better, soon! It might not live up to the tale now, but just you wait. It's not my fault I'm wounded!”
Alcryst's laughter died down, and he met Fogado's eyes so sharply, the Solmic prince thought he'd stop breathing. “You're right. It's mine.”
“You- what? No, not at–”
“You were distracted by me when I walked in. It's alright; I'm often distracted by you, too.” Alcryst's gaze was unwavering. Fogado swallowed thickly. “You know, I had a selfish reason for choosing mistletoe, too. I didn't think I'd have the courage to look your way without a suitable excuse, but you've made that impossible. You're captivating even when I completely lack courage altogether.”
Fogado plastered on his most charming smile, doing his best to hide his internal screaming. Woah, woah, woah, woah. Alcryst was always straightforward with him, but this was dangerous. Between the hands wrapped around his iced injury and the gaze that pinned him in place, Alcryst was very close. The guy's sharp eyes were those of a huntsman, alright. “What're you... trying to say?”
“Do you know the Brodian tradition associated with mistletoe, Prince Fogado? Ah, sorry, I shouldn't assume either way...”
“If it's a tradition from your country, I'd love to hear it.” Anything to distract himself from the soft breath on his hand.
“Well...” That cute side glance again. Divine One take him, Fogado wasn't going to live to see the feast. “If two lovers are caught beneath mistletoe, they're supposed to kiss.”
Ah. Yeah, of course. If two lovers are... Fogado frantically looked at the banister above them. Sure enough, mistletoe hung right above the spot where Fogado'd dragged his chair. Oh, LUMERA, he was done for. Why was Alcryst so smooth at the most unexpected moments!? Fogado returned his eyes to the man in question... and relaxed. Alcryst watched him attentively, inquisitively, but made no move to advance forward. Instead, the guy was waiting for Fogado's... reaction? Permission? How considerate.
Really, Fogado had been a fool all along. He laughed at himself and relaxed, reaching for Alcryst with his free hand. “Why're there so many things to like about you?” This time, Alcryst didn't flinch at the compliment, instead accepting Fogado's touch. Fogado brushed the prince's messy bangs from his eyes, noting all over again just how striking they were. The guy was observant, and it served him well. Too well, really, if the hammer incident was anything to go by. Fogado leaned forward, willingly throwing himself into the gravitational pull of those lovely eyes.
“HO HO HO, DIVINE ONE'S GREETINGS!”
Fogado jolted back and turned toward the new, loud voice invading their space. King Diamant of Brodia stood at the entrance of the hall, dressed from head to toe in red and white. A false beard hung from his chin, and children clutched at his pant legs like a mock entourage. Every reservation fled Fogado's head in favor of pure mirth, and he burst out laughing. “So that's the Winter Envoy, huh!”
Alcryst glanced from Fogado to his brother and eased into a chuckle of his own. “Yes, that's right. Thank goodness... It looks like it won't fall to me this year. Diamant makes a much better envoy in every respect. Look how many children he's gathered! If it were me...”
Fogado bumped his head against Alcryst's, grinning. “If it were you, you'd attract one big kid right here! False beard and all.”
That gentle, heart-rending smile lifted Alcryst's cheeks all over again, and Fogado was reminded just how hopeless he truly was. There was no escape from those attentive hands or observant eyes, and that suited him just fine.
Lips pressed against his own, and Fogado released a startled noise. As quickly as he'd come, Alcryst pulled away and glanced at Fogado shyly. Why didn't the guy ever play fair! Fogado's heart was in shambles, and he doubted it'd ever recover. Really, he didn't mind if it never recovered again.
“Merry Dragon's Eve, Prince Fogado.”
“And a happy Princess's Pilgrimage to you, Prince Alcryst.”
The pulsing in Fogado's hand faded away with the scent of boar, the vibrance of silk, and the sound of laughter.