Chapter Text
- "You came."
The sound of her voice pained her more than she thought. The princess finally found where was hiding her knight in shining armor. But under the weeping willow, it wasn't all shiny anymore but her eyes, them, were too bright for her to look at. Aya turned her head away, trying to hide the few tears rolling down her cheeks.
- "You left."
It stings, right through her heart, as sharp as her sword lying by her side. She was right and the two of them knew it. The culprit wanted to answer back, immediately, just like her oath would want her to do so for the family she swore to protect and serve. But right now, guilt is overwhelming; she couldn't properly fulfill her duty because she knew she was in the wrong.
- "I... There were plenty of other knights with you, it's not like-"
The princess clenched her fists, her gaze finally piercing through her knight.
- "I wanted you, not them but you Mitsuki."
Silence, a moment of absence that brought her back to the castle, earlier that day. Recalls of the reception, all the guests celebrating an union between two people. There she was, standing in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by nobles, dukes, and lords. No matter how hard Mitsuki tried to stay focused on her task, she simply couldn't. Everything led her to her princess, radiant among them. For long, she swore she was the most gorgeous thing she ever set eyes on. But the most beautiful flower of the garden was threatened by some unwanted weed.
A man, her potential future husband, was here. This reception was for them after all. Mitsuki knew she didn't have a word to say. She tries her best to keep it for herself; the way she felt when he was around Aya was unsuitable for a knight, or a girl.
She brought her fist to her heart at the reminiscent of the scenery.
- "I needed to get a moment to myself. Sorry if I failed my duty, I was sure you would be safe with them since we all followed the same training to serve the royal family."
A short laugh escaped the princess's lips as she rolled her eyes out of annoyment.
- "Don't start getting ironic."
She walks towards her to finally join her against the weeping willow trunk and have a proper discussion. Her dress, draped in frills and all sort of tissues, wasn't the easiest one to get comfortable into. Mitsuki stole a look at her doing, refraining a chuckle when she noticed how she was struggling.
- "I'm not, it's the truth. They are here to serve you too."
She turned her head but once their eyes met again, both were too embarrassed to hold in. The princesse brought her knees close to her chest and rested her chin on top of them.
- "That's not the point..."
She sulks a bit as she is starting to let loose of her previous anger. She wasn't that angry in the first place, it was more a question of... resentment. She felt hurt, abandoned by someone she held dear in her heart.
- "We talked about this before! You know how much I didn't want to be alone during the reception. Seeing you around was reassuring, even if we couldn't talk..."
Her fingers grasp the fabric of her dress, a detail that won't go unnoticed for Mitsuki. She felt bad for her, even if her little escape was a way for her to feel better. But she couldn't just explain the real reasons to Aya; this is the sort of thing she prefers to keep for herself.
- "But you left, leaving me with... with him! I had to fake laughs and maintain some sort of discussions with this moron! I swear he is the most uninteresting prince I ever talked to."
She could well imagine that by the way the princesse was so expressive over that exchange with him. Mitsuki laughed as she leaned closer, taking this chance to tease her a bit.
- "Language princess."
She pretended to be offended and slightly pushed Mitsuki's face with the tip of her fingers.
- "Don't language me, it's just us here. Allow me to be myself for a bit."
This was their special place, here under the weeping willow. A secluded haven in the royal garden, where only ducks and birds seem to take interested in. Branches cascading like a curtain covered them from the sun so they could enjoy a peaceful afternoon. As they gazed upon the sparkling lake, ripples lazingly moved along the falling leaves. It was so peaceful; all they could hear was some distant animals, foliage brushing against the wind and two beating hearts.
Aya glanced at Mitsuki who was looking at the surface of the water. For a few seconds, she got lost in her figure: her face, her eyes, her nose, then, her lips. Her heart clenched right there, forcing her to break the silence to ease her feelings.
- "Can you... call me by my name? When it's just the two of us. No one is around you don't need to be scared about getting dismissed..."
Mitsuki turned her whole attention to her. Her eyes drift toward the space between them. Their hands, they were resting so close to each other. But she wouldn't dare to pursue her futile thought. Was it a knight or a her thing? She didn't exactly know; in any case, it was preferable for her to take it off the ground.
- "Forgive me Aya, for leaving you there. I should have started with this as soon as you came here."
The way her knight was still acting so distant displeased her. To fix this, she moved closer and angrily rested her head on her laps; like this, she could directly look at her in the eyes. No way now for Mitsuki to avoid her.
- "You promised me to stay. I hate it, all of it, all of them. I can't play pretend anymore when I now need to get married to some prince my father chose. And on this day, the only thing I wanted was to have my..."
Aya tried to find her words in Mitsuki's gaze. She was holding her breath, waiting for her to pursue. But nothing came, except hesitation. The drumming in her chest was beating like crazy, forcing her to turn away to ease it.
- "...friend... my friend by my side."
The princess was battling against her worst enemy, herself. When she was around Mitsuki it always seemed like she was facing an internal conflict, over and over again, it irritated her.
Seeing her frowning like this could only make her knight smile a bit more.
- "You know, I already told you that a knight and a princess shouldn't be friends."
- "Don't you dare tell me otherwise..."
- "This is what I said but I don't always follow my own words."
And Aya knew it better than anyone else. Wherever it was around a hallway, in the garden, at the training fields, in the royal court, they would always search for one another's presence.
Was it curiosity that brought the princess to talk one day to a knight of the court?
Or, something else?
Was it devotion that pushed a knight of the court to serve at the princess' side?
Or... something else?
No matter where they were, they would always end up together at the end of the day. Because they enjoy... well, rather love each other's company.
- "You don't choose who you befriend. That's not something you can control."
Aya's words unsettled her. She knew what she meant, what she really meant.
- "I know..."
Out of the corner of her eye, Aya was looking for a reaction, a sign that would give her some answers about how Mitsuki really felt.
She wanted to understand but even she couldn't put words on it, their relationship, her feelings.
- "You are a knight, it's an oath that binds us, you and my family. I know it's your duty to protect us or listen to our orders. But I never saw you like that, you know... it's like..."
- "It's like?"
Mitsuki was waiting for her to continue; she could act like she wasn't that much interested but she wasn't the best at hiding it. Aya could feel her gaze upon her; she was trapped, and she was sure if she turned her head, her heart could stop at any moment.
- "I can't find my words!"
She was kicking her feet out of frustration. But a light touch, a warm caress on her cheek was enough to calm her thoughts. She moved at the subtile contact, a gesture that she yearned for so long from the girl filling her vision. A certain warmth was starting to rise, from her heart and ascending through her whole body.
- "What is it... ?" she asked in an exhalation, waiting for her next move.
Mitsuki didn't notice her sudden red face but once she did, she understood she may have stepped out a little... She removed her hand, as if she had touched a burning surface.
- "Your cheeks, they were still tears on them... Sorry I shouldn't have..."
We could think we were in a heat wave if we took a look at the redness of Aya's face. But it wasn't the sun or anything else; it was embarrassment at its worst. She immediately got up and tried to cover her face to cool it down.
As for Mitsuki, she looked away, scratching her cheek as a shade of light pink started to appear. A blush, not as extreme as the princess sitting next to her but it was still one. None of them dare to break the awkward silence but Aya was already feeling vulnerable. Maybe she could... dare to talk, to finally be honest about what was racking her mind.
- "Please Mitsuki, stay with me. Don't leave my side, now or even if I get married. I'm begging you."
Her shoulders dropped as her fists unconsciously grabbed some twigs. There she was, summoning up all her courage to face her. The knight wasn't prepared for something like this but she didn't see any issues in her request, not at all.
- "Well, you already said my duty is to serve you, so I think being by your side counts in, don't you think?"
She took another look at the princess back, a nostalgic smile crossing her face.
- "And... even if I wasn't your knight, I would have accepted to stay with you. It's not duty that binds us, don't ever think it is."
Upon hearing her word, Aya turned around hastily, leaning towards the girl that was messing with her heart.
- "Then what is it?"
She was waiting for her answer, impatient at the idea that maybe, oh maybe it will be something she wanted to hear.
-"Fr-"
- "Friendship?"
She cut her short, deception notable in her voice. Even she didn't believe it anymore. But for a knight, this way of thinking was absolutely prohibited; she couldn't even see their relationship in any other way.
- "It can only be this."
That's why she was so sure about it, but not Aya; she won't fall for it.
- "But we don't fit in."
Mitsuki looked at her with genuine confusion. What would she possibly mean? If it isn't friendship then... what could it be?
- "Sorry I... I don't really follow you."
The princess's heart stopped for a second; was she messing with her like she always does? She was used to the teasing but here, it didn't feel like it. She pushed herself, closing the gap so she could see right through her eyes, somewhere Mitsuki could hide.
- "I don't like you calling it only friendship! Why would we even need to name it? I care for you, like you do for me. Can't you just... focus on that, please?"
The proximity, her demand, everything felt blurry right now. She was afraid to acknowledge it because it was wrong; that's what she repeated to herself over and over again.
- "We should head back to the castle."
Without looking at her, she pushed her away and got up. Seeking a way out in the castle standing at the distance.
- "Mitsuki wait..."
- "You're gone for too long, people will start looking for you. Your fath-"
- "I said wait!"
Her body stopped on itsown, just as she was about to pick up her sword. The princess was glaring at her, this only should dissuade her from leaving her alone.
- "You don't need to remind me of all this, I knew it all too well. For now, all I ask is for you to stay a little longer with me. I order you, Mitsuki."
- "It's..."
She nodded firmly.
- "An order, yes it is."
With a small pat next to her, she invites her to sit back. Mitsuki couldn't argue; the princess tricked her, and there was nothing she could do about it. She let out a long sigh before accepting her command.
- "Well... I'm in no place to refuse now..."
Shoulder against shoulder, the princess was feeling hesitant, her fingers gently scratching the grass underneath.
- "And take off your glove... It's too cold to hold."
Mitsuki nodded in silence, reached for her gauntlet and slid her hand out. She offers it to her princess who grabbed it delicately. A grasp, to make sure it was real, she smiled and finally let herself loosen up.
The Weeping Willow.
Their special place.
A simple spot, hidden by the falling branches of a majestic tree.
Somewhere away from the castle, away from the kingdom.
Where they were no longer a princess or a knight anymore.
But only Aya and Mitsuki.
―✧˖° ⚔ °˖✧―