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"That was fun." Said Kanade walking with her knight at her side, "It only remains to wish our best wishes to the couple at the ball tonight and we can return."
"Prince, maybe you should lighten the load you know?" Mizuki pointed to her entire body.
Kanade, not understanding what she was referring to, followed the finger closely. She was covered with flower crowns all over her body. Gifts given to her by the nation they were visiting for the wedding of the future kings. The ministers had forced her to attend in order to establish an alliance with a strong nation. The Empire was not so powerful and did not have a strong reputation, sealing a union with a strong nation would lessen their chances of being attacked. For this visit, she only requested Mizuki as her personal guard. It was a choice guided by her selfishness, wanting to spend time alone with her, and because Mafuyu could take command while she was away.
Her knight reached over to remove the flowers that nearly covered her face laughing at the sight. The prince's small body was completely filled with all kinds of flowers and she walked on as if they were weightless. They were both in some hallway of the palace, on their way back to their room to change into the attire they had chosen for the gala. The wedding was held during the day in front of the village and, at night, a moonlit ball in the garden for members of high society only. Kanade was nervous about this celebration, her ministers made her repeat over and over again the correct way to interact with different aristocrats, but she could not stand the tense, almost suffocating atmosphere of the galas.
"We have arrived, Flower Prince." Mizuki, with a smirk, opened the door with a bow.
"This room is much bigger than ours, perhaps we should upgrade for the next kingdom celebration." She muttered walking straight towards the wardrobe, but was stopped by her knight who grabbed her from behind from the waist. "Is something wrong?"
"The flowers, Kanade, you need to get all this off before you change." She nodded and they both began to free her body, Mizuki gently laid the gifts on top of the bed. "I wonder how we'll get it all to the Empire. Maybe Mafuyu would like to have some for Ena."
Kanade nodded, opening the wardrobe. She began to change in front of the mirror so she could button her clothes properly. The ministers thought that wearing the traditional clothes of the host nation would be a good way to show their respects. That's why her outfit was different from what she usually wore, something much simpler. Mizuki laughed when she saw her frustration as she adjusted the collar of her shirt and tried to adjust the necklace with the figure of the sun in the middle. She walked up behind Kanade and began to do so as she looked at herself in the mirror. She smiled wider as she noticed the prince's red ears.
"Is that right?" She nodded. "Look at you, you're totally ready to conquer all those ladies."
"The goal is nothing more than to create an alliance with the Sun Nation, there won't be any arranged marriages or anything similar." Mizuki sighed, confusing Kanade. "Is something wrong, Mizuki?"
"Kanade, why do you think the aristocrats perform dances or get close to each other? The ministers have hopes that you will find a betrothed here because there is good value among the guests. Our home is still defenseless, rumors about our army ruin the reputation that the former kings created, plus we have problems with our neighbors. There is a gold mine here and they are waiting for you to take advantage of it.”
She hadn't thought about it. Since she had discussed matters of state with the heiress of the Tenma kingdom, she had completely forgotten that she had yet to choose a wife or the ministers would act by calling a contest for her hand. They were right to hope for something stronger with the number of recognised dukes and some princesses from distant countries. It must be because they also chose an outfit that Mizuki called sexy when she saw it the first time. She tried to look at herself from every angle. It was true that it made her look attractive, though she felt embarrassed to say so, but she didn't feel it was the time to commit herself. They were at a wedding celebration. Besides, if she married before she could take the throne, her whole plan would fall on the wedding night.
She sighed despondently. Her whole life could hang in the balance if it came to that. She also didn't want to drag Mafuyu, Ena, Honami and especially Mizuki with her. She got scared as she felt a grip on her waist, her knight looked at her with a kind smile. She could always read her so easily that she was envious. Kanade wanted to be able to understand Mizuki just by looking at her eyes. All her accumulated emotions due to her confused behavior would disappear immediately.
"Mizuki, I don't want to commit myself until after I take the throne." She shook her head to the side, Kanade held her hands tightly, "Because when I can rule freely, when we are the ones who are on top of everything, I want Mizuki to be my wife."
Mizuki averted her gaze with a face red with shame. The prince could be quite deadly even without trying. She didn't know how to escape the situation, maybe it was her chance to get the flowers accumulating in her stomach out, she just needed to accept the prince's warm gesture. It was her moment. She knew she kept Kanade waiting so long that she was surprised she was still looking at her the same way.
"Prince, I hope you've stopped playing on the streets and are ready!" They parted the instant the doors opened revealing one of the ministers, a red-haired old man with the same horrible temper as the others. He raised his eyebrow looking at Mizuki who was still red faced and turned back to Kanade smiling arrogantly. "I see our outfit was so good that it managed to make Captain Akiyama fall in love. Then it is more than enough to succeed in elevating the Empire to the greatness that its former rulers bestowed upon it."
They both looked at each other discreetly and chuckled. Most of the ministers had a rather frustrating demeanor for anyone trying to have a quiet conversation. Neither was bothered because it was usual to have conversations pushed to a later time. A secret moment between the two away from public or social gaze. Alone in their hidden garden enjoying the night above them. Mizuki sighed frustrated. They were abroad, they couldn't meet where they always did. They couldn't use some of the areas inside the palace either because they might cause an unnecessary scandal.
The minister finished his monologue and left the room saying that he was waiting for her in front of the hall to introduce her to the daughter of a militarized kingdom. The doors closed leaving the two alone again in a silent atmosphere. Mizuki looked at Kanade. This was her last chance to do something before returning home. The prince started to walk out after putting on perfume, but was again stopped by a hug from behind. Mizuki grabbed her waist, turned her around and brought her hands up to Kanade's cheeks. She looked at her in confusion, the knight only responded with a smile before kissing her lips. She cried out internally. She had wanted so badly for this moment when the two began their courtship game. She didn't want to break away. She wanted to kiss the prince as much as Mafuyu kissed her wife in front of her. To show her all her emotions. They separated without looking away from each other.
"Then don't let any woman come near you, Prince." Mizuki said, giving her another quick kiss then walking to the door. "I'll see you in the living room."
Though she knew she was going to be scolded for leaving Kanade with another escort (one of the soldiers who was walking the halls), it was best for Mizuki to walk away or she would succumb to pushing into the flower-filled bed to cuddle until she had to return to the Empire. She leaned against one of the walls trying to calm down. Her heart was about to explode in her chest, she felt like she had discovered a new addiction more pleasurable than in her imagination and her face burned with shame. She needed to scream into her pillow for her reckless act. She wished Mafuyu was there to soothe her in her own cool way.
It was going to be difficult to attend the dance without remembering the kiss when they saw each other.