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She shifts in her sheets, brown hair coiling over silky pillows that just make her huff in irritation.
Ochako knows that it's obscenely late at night, and she knows that she should be hours into sleep by now - but the elusive thing just won't find her, no matter how hard she fights for it.
An idle thought tells her to go find someone, but she ignores it. She'd hate to be the reason someone else can't sleep, no matter the boredom.
But, wait; perhaps, just maybe, that shuffling hasn't been the wind all along. Ochako glances at the gas lamp that sits on her bedside, engraved with golden water lilies that shine in its own flickering light. She sits up, takes it in hand, and grins.
She hopes that her adventure doesn't go awry.
The stone is cool beneath her bare feet, and she shivers as she makes her way to the door. It's a cool autumn night, just before the winter suns kiss the horizon, and Ochako lets her breath fog the dewy air with a satisfied glance.
She's always adored the cold. Her butler, of course, has always called her ridiculous.
The locks on her doorway aren't extravagant by any means, but there are many, and she huffs lightly to herself as she lets her fingers, quickly numbing, clumsily fumble with the locks. When they finally swing open, a gust of wind slams into her face, brushing her bangs back and then forward once more, brown hair dropping into her eyes.
Swapping the lantern from one hand to another, she manages to clear her vision, and continues on its quest. With the sounds echoing off of the expansive walls of the hallways and shifting location constantly, Ochako almost wonders if she'll be wandering the whole castle before the dawn crests.
The libraries are empty, although she does scour the books for something nice to read - nothing catches her eye. The kitchens, marbled and delightful to the eye as they are, are a similar story, as they've already been through their nightly cleanings and she would hate to disturb the hard work of her family staff.
It's only when she nears the entrance to the rose garden that the sound gets louder, and more clear; Ochako eagerly speeds up, rounding the entrance and pausing right in the middle of the rose arch.
Chiffon gleams through the thin panes of the windows, moonlight streaming down the elegant stone and the side of Himiko's face as she dips, brushing her gloved fingers along the petals of a withering rose. It seems to preen under the butler's touch.
Ochako's breath hitches. It shouldn't be so striking, so pure, shouldn't make a princess want to trail her hand across her butler's cheek - but oh, does she long.
"My lady," Himiko drawls, flashing a fanged smile. It's fleeting, but Ochako doesn't miss the tender ache that lingers in the corners of her lips. "You should be in bed, silly! You may get sick!"
"I could say the same for you," the princess blinks, lowering her lantern onto the seat of a nearby bench and sitting down beside it. The empty space that resides beside her is left open, an invitation that the blonde happily takes. "Whatever are you doing out here?"
Himiko sighs wistfully, then winks. The golden of her eyes flares in the lantern light. "Somehow, I want to ask you the exact same thing. I thought you were put to bed?"
"Don't avoid my question!" Ochako refutes with a pout. "But, since I'm so gracious, I'll answer yours - I simply couldn't sleep."
"Liar," the butler snorts, tilting her head with a raised brow. "C'mon, be honest! I'm legally bound to keep your secrets!"
Thoughts, unbidden but burdening nonetheless, flood her head. Blonde hair, glimmering in the morning sun; a smooth palm, pressed against hers; gleaming nails that press into the leather of her favorite armchair, leaving the imprint that she finds herself running her fingers over when stressed.
"I must admit," Ochako states slowly, her cheeks flushing a vivid pink that loses its color with the pallid moon. "That I find myself devoted to another in the late nights, and it's hard to stop thinking of them."
"Is that so?" Himiko chirps, leaning in subtly with bright, unassuming eyes that make Ochako lose all of the bravery she'd been building over the past few weeks. "Oh, do tell! It's so rare for you to admit any adoration of yours!"
Well, Ochako muses. That would be because my affection lies with you.
"I can't say. It would be far too telling."
"Which means I know them!" the butler croons, reaching over to pluck a rose and, with delicate fingers that leave aching, lingering trails of tender stardust on Ochako's skin, tucks it behind the other's ear. The thorns snag lightly on her hair, but the pain is shockingly grounding - and the only thing that keeps her from leaning into the touch. "I'm sure you'll gather the confidence to tell me eventually, so I'll leave it for now... but I do want to hear more of this later!"
Ochako purses her lips and then sighs softly, a smile blooming. "I will," she promises. "I always do."
The other hums in response. "Yes, I suppose you do. You've always been one to keep your word."
Her heart flutters in her chest as she struggles to breathe. The gas lamp is still going strong, casting a warm glow over the garden and roses. It swathes her heart in ribbon, ties it tight, and tosses aside its scissors - she'll tell her love eventually.
Yes, eventually.
By the time she gathers the courage to turn back to Himiko, the butler is already watching her with an unreadable gaze, eyes crinkled at the corners in the way Ochako so adores.
"Is there something on my face?" she tries to ask, but all that comes out is a whisper.
Himiko studies her for a moment more, and then stands. "No, of course not," she smiles. The princess takes the hand that the other offers her, letting the butler pull her up and pretending that the heat in her face is simply a shadow. "Perfect as always."
It is sheer luck, and sheer luck only, that Ochako manages to make it back to her room without stumbling. Stupid smile painting her lips and her palms sweatier than before, Ochako is asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow - and the morning next, she'll pretend as though she said nothing.