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Whiteburrow’s hills rolled beyond the castle walls, dotted with pink flowers and little burrows where people liked to hide from the afternoon sun.
Its gardens were so large that even the palace staff got lost in them sometimes… especially during spring, when the flowers bloomed faster than the gardeners could keep track of them.
In short, it could be considered a kingdom that valued dignity.
Which was… rather unfortunate, because its princess had none of it.
Princess Emu of Whiteburrow was, according to official royal portraits, a perfectly composed young lady with bright eyes, elegant posture, and the graceful charm expected of future royalty.
Lies, absolutely shameless lies.
Emu was a whirlwind of bright laughter and an alarming tendency to appear in places where a princess should never be. Her white rabbit ears were permanently disheveled at this point.
But perhaps the most interesting detail about the princess was not her personality… It was her staff. Princess Emu had three personal attendants, chosen for different reasons and united by one shared trait: Black rabbit ears.
Of course, that was a biological truth of Whiteburrow. White ears belonged to the royal family only, and black ears belonged to basically everyone else.
The first of the three attendants was Tsukasa. Correct and very dramatic, that man carried himself with the behavior only someone raised around nobles would have.
Which was... technically, true. The Tenma family had once been part of the aristocracy, a respectable household with influence and reputation.
However, fortunes changed, positions shifted, and long before Tsukasa was old enough to care about it, the Tenmas had lost their standing.
Tsukasa, refusing to let something as small as reality affect his pride, had decided that working in the royal palace was simply the first step in his glorious rise back to greatness.
The second attendant was Nene. Unlike Tsukasa, she had grown up comfortably somewhere in the line between nobility and common life.
Her family owned a small but successful business in the city. Which meant that she had been raised with decent education, practical skills, and a strong appreciation for peace and quiet.
Unfortunately for her, the palace had very little of that.
It was VERY weird to see her ears completely up, since they seemed to give up and flop at the first minimal inconvenience, and her calm voice had become the closest thing the princess had to a voice of reason.
…Not that it worked very often, though. But still, if there was anyone capable of keeping the princess somewhat grounded, it was probably her.
The third attendant was Rui. He had come from the town just outside the kingdom walls, where people learned to solve problems creatively because they didn’t always have the luxury of solving them properly.
He always lowered one ear whenever something caught his interest, which happened… hm… every single day.
No one was entirely sure how Rui had managed to become one of the princess’s personal attendants. But if Princess Emu seemed so fond of this particular servant… maybe she saw something everyone else didn’t.
From the outside, the servants’ arrangement seemed unusual. But from the inside? Oh, dear, where to even start.
The three of them kept secrets that would absolutely cause problems if the wrong person discovered them. Or anyone, to be honest.
If I told you every story, we'd probably be here all day... I can recall a few interesting ones.
If there was one thing Princess Emu loved more than royal gardens, secret passageways, and spontaneous adventures across the castle, it was sweets.
And if there was one thing Nene Kusanagi feared more than complicated court etiquette… it was Princess Emu having unlimited access to them.
Which was exactly the situation currently unfolding in one of the smaller palace dining rooms.
The long table in front of the princess looked less like a royal meal and more like a festival stand. A very expensive one though, sweets were considered a luxury in Whiteburrow.
Tall plates of colorful macarons, stacks of cream-filled pastries, strawberry tarts, candied fruits, honey cakes, sugar biscuits shaped like rabbits, caramel sticks, chocolate truffles, and several dishes Nene could not even identify anymore.
The cooks had originally prepared them for an upcoming reception, but unfortunately, Princess Emu had discovered them first. Nene stood beside her with her arms crossed, staring at the table with a frown.
“Your Highness… this is an unreasonable amount of sugar.”
Emu blinked at her with innocent eyes while wiping the corner of her lips. “What do you mean?”
Nene gestured at the table with her chin. “This.”
“I know! Isn’t it wonderful?!” Emu wiggled her feet.
Nene’s rabbit ears dropped immediately (and probably permanently for the rest of the day). “That’s not the point… you should slow down, or you’ll end up getting diabetes.”
“But I want to taste everything⁓!!”
“That’s exactly the problem, princess!”
Emu rested her cheek in her hand and studied Nene thoughtfully, tilting her ears forward.
“You’re worried about me!” She suddenly smiled and claimed.
Nene immediately looked away. “I-I’m just worried about your health…! You know your stomach aches tend to be rather strong..."
“Because you loooooove me ♡!” Emu reached for another dessert, clearly enjoying herself far too much. “You look cute when you’re worried!”
Her servant, meanwhile, was struggling to even breathe properly. “Your Highness, just… hurry up and finish your food! You’re flirting while eating five different slices of cake!”
“But Neneeee,” she complained sweetly, “how else am I supposed to share the experience with you?”
“I don’t need to experience this, I’m supposed to serve you.”
Emu’s eyes suddenly lit up with a dangerous new idea. “Oh! I know!”
“...What,” Nene felt a sense of dread rising.
Emu tapped her lips thoughtfully, holding a small chocolate truffle between her fingers. “If I kiss you, you could taste the sweets too!”
. . .
“Princess... that is not how flavor works.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m certain.”
However, the princess leaned so close that Nene could see the sugar crystals clinging to her sweet lips.
“Let’s test it anyway, we’ll never know otherwise!”
Nene’s brain stopped working for approximately two seconds… which was unfortunately more than enough time for Emu to press a quick kiss against her lips.
A kiss that definitely tasted like sweet chocolate.
When Emu pulled back, she looked extremely pleased with herself. “See? Now you just tried the truffle!”
Nene’s face turned redder than a tomato, she even tried to hide it behind her lowered ears. “T-That experiment… was scientifically invalid…!”
Emu giggled again and popped the truffle into her mouth.
“Well,” she winked with a bright smile, “we can repeat it if you want more data!”
“Emu… not here.”
“Why not?”
“Because this is the palace, Emu! People walk through these halls! Guards, servants, the royal staff… and your parents.” That part, in particular, seemed like a very convincing argument to her.
Emu considered it for about two seconds before she shrugged. “They’re probably busy planning Father’s birthday party anyway⁓”
Nene inhaled slowly, trying very hard not to lose control of the conversation. She’s supposed to be the voice of reason, right?
“Princess—”
“Emu!”
“Emu,” she corrected reluctantly, “we can’t act like this in the middle of the palace's dining rooms.”
Technically speaking, the princess of Whiteburrow probably shouldn’t be secretly dating one of her attendants. Maybe, who knows, right?
But, instead of caring, Emu reached for a small honey cake, took a bite, and hummed happily while thinking.
“Okay… I’ll be careful!”
The servant’s soul returned to her body. “Good…”
“But first,” she added after swallowing, “sit with me!”
“…What?”
Emu patted her lap, causing Nene to freeze.
“NO.”
“But it’s way more fun if we enjoy the sweets together⁓!” Emu leaned forward and resorted to her last resource.
Her fluffy white ears dropped, and she tilted her head just enough to look particularly pleading.
“Nene…?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Pleeease?”
Nene crossed her arms. “Someone could walk in!”
“They won’t⁓!!”
“Emu, you’re not taking this seriously—”
Before Nene could finish her argument, Emu gently caught her wrist.
“Come onnnnn, just for a little while? Pleeeease? ♡”
…This was a terrible idea. Probably the most terrible Emu has ever had. And that considering she did A LOT of stupid things before.
After a long and exhausted sigh, Nene carefully checked the hallway one more time and then sat down on the princess’s lap.
“See? Much better!” Emu lit up immediately.
“This is still the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
Emu wrapped her arms loosely around Nene’s waist from behind and happily resumed her dessert exploration, occasionally offering bites to her as well.
A few minutes after, from somewhere down the hallway outside, footsteps echoed closer.
“Emu.”
“Mm?”
“Someone’s coming.”
Emu paused mid-bite. “Oh!”
Nene shot up from the chair so fast that the movement knocked over a plate of macarons.
“S-See?!” she whispered urgently, rushing to put them back there. “This is why we don’t do this here!!”
Just in time, the two other attendants opened the door. One of them was loudly explaining something dramatic while the other smirked with amusement.
That day, the palace of Whiteburrow was experiencing a situation that palace staff referred to with quiet dread as a royal visit.
More specifically, a visit from Princess Elle of the neighboring kingdom.
Princess Elle was an exemplary royal figure. She was elegant, composed, well-spoken, and perfectly capable of navigating every rule of noble etiquette without ever causing the slightest disruption.
In short, she was the exact opposite of Princess Emu.
But unfortunately for the palace staff… the two were cousins.
Which meant that whenever Princess Elle visited Whiteburrow, several things inevitably happened. First, the palace became a lot more formal. Second, the royal officials became significantly more nervous. And third…
…An absolutely unreasonable number of suitcases appeared out of nowhere.
No one knew how Princess Elle managed it. Her visits rarely lasted more than a few days, and yet she arrived with enough luggage to suggest she was relocating an entire wardrobe.
And two unfortunate attendants were currently tasked with transporting it.
Tsukasa, standing proudly beside the pile, cracked his knuckles with determined enthusiasm.
“This,” he declared loudly, “is nothing for me! HAHA!”
Beside him, Rui stared at the suitcases… reconsidering his life choices. “I-I thought I saw three or four when the carriage arrived…”
Tsukasa grabbed two large cases immediately, enjoying the chance to prove his physical capabilities.
“Come, Rui!” he announced. “A task like this is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate strength and reliability!!”
Rui lifted one suitcase, and then another that made him pause. What even was this weight…?
His ears tilted backward. “…I see.”
His companion, meanwhile, was already halfway down the hall carrying half the luggage like a victorious hero returning from battle.
“Move quickly, Rui! We cannot keep the visiting royalty waiting!”
Rui adjusted his grip on the suitcase handles and began walking after him with significantly slower steps. “Tsukasa… how heavy do you estimate these are…?”
The other didn’t even slow down. “Not heavy at all!”
“I believe that Princess Elle has packed an entire small kingdom, h-huh…”
“You exaggerate!”
Rui placed the suitcase down briefly, took a deeeeeeep breath, and picked it back up. Of course, Tsukasa noticed immediately.
“Come on, Rui, it’s just a few more…”
His golden eyes studied the luggage pile again. There were, by his most generous estimation, at least seven remaining pieces.
He considered several options.
Option one: carry them honestly.
Option two: pretend to faint.
Option three: …
…Yes. Option three was much more promising.
“The way you carry those so easily, your strength is quite impressive⁓…” his shoulders dropped as he smiled.
Tsukasa straightened immediately. “W-Well, naturally!!”
“Your training must be very rigorous, huh?”
“Of course it is! Physical discipline is essential for someone of my caliber!” He lifted another suitcase to prove his point, and Rui hummed.
“And those muscles are certainly proof of that… mesmerizing to say the least.”
“…My muscles?”
“They’re quite well-defined⁓!” Rui rested a hand on his own cheek, like a lovesick lady.
Tsukasa looked down at his sleeves as if seeing his own arms for the first time. “Well… y-yes, I guess they are!” He flexed. “Years of dedication!”
“I imagine lifting these must feel like nothing to you…”
“Indeed! For someone as well-trained as myself, this is merely a warm-up! Just check this!”
Tsukasa marched confidently ahead, now carrying a noticeably larger number of suitcases than before.
Behind him, Rui followed with only one.
The blond kept his proud expression for a few more seconds, until he stopped to look at the luggage. Then at Rui, and back at the luggage.
“…Rui,” he narrowed his eyes.
“Yes?”
“Why… did I carry six suitcases while you carried one.”
Rui tilted his head slightly, quickly trying to seem innocent. “Oh… did you really?”
“RUI. WHY AM I CARRYING SIX.”
“Well—”
“You were praising my strength the entire time! And—” A very slow realization dawned across his face. “…You manipulated me?!”
Rui placed one hand thoughtfully against his chin. “Manipulated is such an ugly word…”
“YOU MANIPULATED ME!”
“I merely observed that encouragement seemed to increase your motivation⁓!”
Tsukasa pointed dramatically at the luggage. “You made me carry all of those!”
“But you carried them very impressively…” One of Rui’s ears folded.
“From this moment forward,” Tsukasa announced with dignity, “I shall ignore you completely!”
“...You’re ignoring me?”
“Yes!!”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely!”
Rui walked beside him in silence for a few steps. Then, he tried again.
“…Tsukasa?”
No response, the servant in front of him just kept walking.
“…Tsukasa.”
Still nothing. Tsukasa looked straight ahead with a determination that made it clear that he was VERY serious about this.
Rui’s ears dropped. “…I see.”
After a bit, Tsukasa stopped hearing footsteps behind him. When he risked a glance to the side, he noticed Rui looked… smaller somehow. Like a sad street animal caught in the rain.
“…It seems,” Rui’s posture lowered, “that I have upset my partner… I suppose I deserve that…”
Tsukasa swore to himself: “I will not fall for this again.” But Rui continued.
“Still, it is unfortunate… I enjoy speaking with you. I guess now I’ll go back to being a sad, lonely man with nobody to love him… and I’ll die alone like I deserve…”
Tsukasa’s eye twitched and he sighed. “Oh, for the love of—!”
“Hmmm?”
“First you manipulate me into carrying half the luggage of an entire royal wardrobe, and now you stand there looking like a tragic abandoned puppy!”
“…Rabbit.”
“Dog, rabbit, whatever!!” He looked away with a huff, crossing his arms. But his tone changed in a matter of seconds. “…However.”
Rui’s ears raised in an instant.
Tsukasa glanced back at him. “If you wish to be forgiven, you must acknowledge something.”
“...And what would that be?”
“That recently,” he declared, “my so-called partner has been rather lacking in proper affection! I have been carrying luggage, performing duties, maintaining excellence in my responsibilities, and yet my supposed companion offers very little appreciation!”
“…Ah,” his golden eyes widened a bit.
“I believe that a certain level of affection would greatly improve my mood.”
Rui’s smile returned, dangerously amused. “I see…”
“Do not attempt to manipulate this situation again!” Tsukasa pointed accusingly at him.
“I wouldn’t dream of it⁓”
“Good!”
Rui stepped forward, caught Tsukasa by the wrist… and both disappeared behind one of the tall hallway curtains.
Inside the narrow space between the curtain and the wall, Tsukasa blinked in surprise. “Rui!”
“I thought you said we should address this lack of affection properly…”
“This is a hallway!! Requesting attention doesn’t mean you get to ambush me behind expensive curtains and—”
The sentence was left unfinished when Rui kissed him.
It wasn’t a long one, but, judging by the shorter servant’s reaction, pretty effective.
“…You—”
“Yes?”
“That was—”
“Was?”
Tsukasa tried to recover his composure. “…acceptable.”
Rui chuckled softly. “I’m relieved then⁓!”
“…However, I require more than just one to give you my forgiveness,” he finally let a smirk slide.
“I suspected as much..." The curtain shifted as Rui leaned closer again.
The royal library of Whiteburrow was one of the most magnificent places of the kingdom.
Tall shelves stretched from the polished floor almost all the way to the high arched ceiling, filled with centuries of books: history, diplomacy, architecture, philosophy, and several very serious volumes about royal etiquette that Princess Emu had never even made eye contact with in her entire life.
During quiet afternoons, the room had the peaceful atmosphere of a place that expected people to behave responsibly.
Which meant, naturally, that Princess Emu should not have been anywhere near the tall rolling ladders… right?
It was her turn to clean those old shelves today. The dust floated in the sunlight as she wiped the edges of one shelf after another, with a feather duster.
Nene brushed dust from a row of old volumes while quietly reading the titles.
“Treatises on Court Diplomacy, Historical Alliances of Whiteburrow… Advanced Royal Manners… that one should probably be sent to the princess.”
She was about to finish when she heard a wooden creak on the other side of the shelf. The servant walked in that direction and turned towards the tall rolling ladder positioned against one of the highest shelves.
And standing near the very top of it…
“E-Emu?!”
Emu, who had been reaching enthusiastically toward a book near the upper shelf, looked down with bright surprise.
“Oh! Hi Nene!☆”
The ladder tilted a little more.
“D-Do not move!”
“Okie⁓!” The ladder creaked again.
“A-Actually, wait—don’t say okay like that—”
The ladder shifted, and Emu’s balance wobbled. “—Wah!”
That was the exact moment Nene dropped the feather duster and ran. The princess of Whiteburrow fell directly into Nene’s arms… holding the book she literally risked her life to take.
“...Wow!” Emu gasped.
“Y-YOU ALMOST DIED!” Nene adjusted her grip slightly, making sure Emu was actually stable before setting her down.
“What were you doing up there?!”
“I was looking for this!” Emu proudly held up the book, and Nene took it automatically. She read the title: The History of Theatrical Performances in Whiteburrow.
“…You climbed a ladder that high for a theatre history book.”
Emu nodded happily. “It looked interesting, Tsukasa recommended it to me!”
“You could have asked him to get it for you, then!”
“Well… you caught me anyway!”
Nene placed the book on a nearby table with a frustrated sigh. Then, she picked up the feather duster from the floor and straightened the ladder.
“You are banned from climbing this,” she tapped it.
“Okay!” She didn’t seem pretty affected by that. Probably because she knows she’ll find a way to climb it again.
Nene turned back to the shelf and resumed cleaning, dusting the edges of several books while keeping one suspicious eye on the princess.
Behind her, Emu clasped her hands together with sudden excitement. “Nene!”
“Yes, princess?”
“You saved me!”
“W-Well, you almost fell from a ladder that is taller than two Rui's combined…”
“Yes,” Emu nodded brightly. “And you caught me like a knight in shining armor!”
She paused mid-dusting. “…What.”
Emu raised one hand dramatically. “My bravest knight⁓☆! You rushed forward, caught the falling princess, and prevented a tragic death in the royal library! You should be rewarded!”
Nene’s ears twitched. “…Reward.”
“You deserve something special!”
“H-Hey, no, I know where this is going!"
“But—”
“No!”
“You haven’t heard my idea yet!”
“I don’t need to, I know you!"
Emu stepped closer anyway. “But you saved my life…!”
“That does not require a reward, it’s my job to serve you… h-hey, no, step away—!”
The princess smiled sweetly before leaving a gentle kiss on her lips.
The moment their lips touched, Nene’s rabbit ears dropped straight down in less than a second.
When Emu pulled back, she giggled. “Oh! They went down because of a kiss this time, not exhaustion!”
“T-They did not—!” Nene tried her best not to stutter.
Emu laughed softly, clearly delighted with this discovery. “That’s so cute!!”
“Nobody is supposed to be observing my ears, even you!” Nene turned away quickly, grabbing the feather duster again and returning to the shelf with determined focus.
Which was a bold strategy… but Princess Emu did not believe in normality.
Behind her, soft footsteps approached and two arms wrapped gently around her waist. She felt the princess’ head resting against her back, clasping her fingers together just above her stomach.
“E-Emu, we’re still in the library…”
“...I know.”
Nene tried very hard to focus again on the bookshelf in front of her… in vain.
“You’re not telling me to stop,” Emu noticed.
She swallowed. “...I guess not, huh.”
Emu squeezed her gently, a little playful pressure around her waist. “You’re so warm⁓…!”
Truth, Nene wasn’t actually trying very hard to get out of the hug anymore. Her hands had stopped moving, letting the feather duster hang at her side.
“You’re… so unfair all the time,” something in her eyes softened.
Finally, she turned slightly in Emu’s arms. Nene loved this girl so much that her chest hurt just by looking into her eyes.
“…Come here,” she muttered.
Before Emu could ask what she meant, Nene leaned forward slightly and pressed a kind kiss to her cheek. The princess' white ears shot straight up.
The kingdom had a long-standing tradition when it came to royal celebrations.
Whenever a major event approached, the palace staff would prepare invitations for nobles, merchants, officials, guild leaders… and anyone else important enough to attend.
Normally these invitations were delivered through formal couriers. However, occasionally the palace administration made decisions that could only be described as creative.
Which was why Tsukasa and Rui were currently walking through the central streets of Whiteburrow with a large stack of elegant envelopes.
The invitations were sealed with golden wax bearing the royal crest, and each one was carried in a leather satchel slung across Tsukasa’s shoulder.
“This,” Tsukasa declared proudly as they stepped out of the castle gates, “is a task of great responsibility!!”
Rui glanced sideways at him. “Delivering invitations?”
“Yes! The birthday celebration of His Majesty the King is a grand occasion! Naturally the most reliable attendants must ensure the invitations reach their recipients!”
“I believe the palace couriers usually handle that…”
Tsukasa waved a dismissive hand. “Ahh, shut up, that’s a minor detail!”
Rui glanced up. “…It appears likely to rain.”
“I-Impossible!! The gods watch over Whiteburrow, they would never allow rain to interrupt an important royal errand!”
The tallest considered the sky again. The clouds looked… very committed to their current plan.
They continued down the main street, stopping at various shops to deliver invitations.
Tsukasa knocked proudly on a tailor’s door. He had made a lot of dresses for Princess Emu before, so it was natural for him to get invitations like this.
“Invitation for Master Elridge!”
The man accepted the envelope with polite surprise. “That old man’s celebration? Already?”
“Indeed!” Tsukasa nodded grandly. “Your presence is requested!”
The second stop was a bakery. The baker accepted the invitation while dusted in flour, thanking them enthusiastically before immediately offering them two small pastries. But they were both too busy to stop for a meal, tempting as it looked.
Then the bookshop, the apothecary, royal guards’ families… then Rui paused briefly near a mechanical toy stall, examining a small clockwork bird that chirped when wound.
“Interesting construction..."
Tsukasa tugged him away. “We are on official business, don’t get distracted!”
Suddenly… Rui felt something falling from the sky right on his forehead.
Within seconds the streets of Whiteburrow transformed into a dance of heavy rain pouring from the gray clouds in thick sheets.
And, standing in the middle of the street with a satchel full of royal invitations… Tsukasa panicked.
“THE INVITATIONS!” He clutched the satchel protectively against his chest like it contained the kingdom’s entire future. “These are sealed documents of royal importance!!”
A single drop of rain splattered onto one of the wax seals, and he squeaked in horror.
“NONONO—!”
He spun around dramatically, trying to shield the satchel from the rain with his body. Unfortunately, the rain was falling from every direction.
“You betrayed me, divine forces!”
When he realized, something had landed over his head and shoulders.
Tsukasa blinked. Or actually… tried to, because the weight made his ears flop down directly in front of his eyes.
“…Huh.”
He moved them out of the way to find Rui standing beside him, without the vest he had 0.5 seconds ago. He was only wearing his shirt and gloves, both quickly growing darker with rainwater.
“…W-What are you doing?”
“Preserving the invitations…” the taller chuckled.
“Rui, you are getting completely soaked!”
“...Oh, I guess I am.”
“Rui, you shouldn’t just—agh!” The ears flopped in front of his eyes again. “MOVE!!”
The two of them retreated under a long wooden awning attached to a closed storefront near the edge of the market square. It was a bit dusty, but… hey, dry floor, yay.
Tsukasa carefully set the satchel down on a nearby crate and checked the invitations again.
“They’re all dry…” he let out a sigh of relief while pressing them to his chest.
Beside him, Rui leaned lightly against one of the wooden posts supporting the awning.
Without the vest, his shirt was thoroughly soaked. Damp strands of purple hair clung to his face, and droplets of rain still slid slowly down his sleeves.
“…You got really wet because of me,” Tsukasa frowned with a weight on his chest.
“Rain tends to have that effect⁓”
“Don’t play dumb now!! You’re asking the other servants for a warm bath once we get back because I say so—!”
Rrrrrr.
He blinked and slowly turned his head. “…Rui.”
“Yes?”
“Was that your stomach.”
“...No.”
As if it was the universe threatening to humiliate him once more, the stomach growled again right after.
Rui folded his hands politely behind his back.
“…Okay. My body appears to be making a statement.”
Tsukasa gestured dramatically at the empty street. “Right, we have been walking all afternoon! Of course you’re starving!!”
“I am perfectly capable of continuing, don’t worry—”
Tsukasa’s extremely loud sigh interrupted him.
“Stay here.”
Rui blinked. “Pardon?”
Tsukasa shoved the satchel of invitations into Rui’s arms. “Guard these and stay here! DON'T YOU DARE get them wet."
Before Rui could ask another question, Tsukasa turned and ran straight back into the rain.
“Tsukasa—!”
…Too late. He was already sprinting across the street, disappearing into the curtain of rain.
A familiar voice shouted through the rain about ten minutes after that.
“RUIII!!!”
Tsukasa burst back into view, running through the storm with heroic determination. His hair, his sleeves, his shoes, the entirety of his existence was now as soaked as Rui.
But in his hands, he carried a small white bakery box covered with the vest.
“…Success!” He raised it with pride. “I acquired provisions.”
Rui looked down at it. “…Provisions?”
“Open it!”
The tallest lifted the lid to find several small, colorful cupcakes, decorated with bright swirls of frosting. Whiteburrow’s famous honey cupcakes.
“You… ran through the rain for pastries?”
“They are not pastries, they are cupcakes!” Tsukasa pushed the box closer. “You were starving, they’re… all yours.”
Rui picked one up carefully, even if the guilt on his expression was pretty obvious, and took a bite.
“...So?” The blond tilted his head.
“They… taste the same as before.”
“Huh? Before?”
Rui leans on his shoulder to give the cupcake another bite. “…I tried these a few times when I was younger.”
“The cupcakes?”
“Yes,” he swallowed, lifted another one from the box and studied it thoughtfully. “Perhaps two or three times, when they were given away during festival days.”
He took another bite.
“They ran out very quickly though… and my family never really bought things like this. They were a little expensive for us. So… festivals were the only time I tried them.”
Tsukasa looked down at the box of cupcakes. “…Only two or three times. That sounds ridiculous.”
“…Does it?”
“They are cupcakes, they should not be considered rare life events! I ate these every single noon for dessert, I got so sick of them I can't ever eat them again without feeling nausea!"
Rui chuckled warmly. “I suppose perspective matters…”
Tsukasa leaned back, clearly irritated by this information. "That will NOT happen again.”
“Oh?” he raised an eyebrow with his mouth full.
“Yes,” Tsukasa pointed firmly at the cupcake box. “If you want these again, you will simply say so. You witnessed how quickly I can cross the market square! Therefore the next time you desire cupcakes, you will inform me, and I shall acquire them immediately.”
You’d... do that for me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?"
“…Thank you,” he leaned to him and kissed his cheek. Tsukasa’s ears shot straight upward.
“Do. Not. Say what I know you're about to say,” the blond warned.
Rui burst out laughing, a very rare sight. “Okay… I’ll shut up.”
Tsukasa’s ears remained stubbornly upright for several seconds before slowly relaxing again.
The rain gradually began to fade, or at least fall a lot lighter than before.
Slowly, life returned to the streets. And both of them reacted instantly to that, shifting away as if the other had the bubonic plague.
Rui cleared his throat politely. “Seems… it’s time for us to resume our task.”
“I-Indeed!” Tsukasa grabbed the satchel of invitations. “Let’s go, companion!”
The palace looked completely different at night, especially on nights like this one.
Servants hurried through corridors carrying trays, musicians tuned instruments somewhere in the distance, and the grand ballroom downstairs buzzed with the voices of arriving guests.
The King’s birthday celebration was one of the largest events of the year. Which meant, the castle had been transformed into a storm of preparations.
And in one of the private dressing chambers near the royal wing, Princess Emu stood in the middle of the room while Nene tried very hard to remain professional.
The dress alone was already extremely unfair.
Layers of soft white and pale pink fabric flowed down from Emu’s shoulders like petals, embroidered with delicate silver threads that shimmered in the candlelight. The skirt moved lightly whenever she shifted her weight, and the ribbons woven into her hair matched the colors perfectly.
Even her white rabbit ears had been carefully brushed and decorated with tiny pearls near the base.
She looked exactly like what the Princess Of Whiteburrow was supposed to look like.
Nene adjusted the last ribbon near the back of the dress with careful hands. “Focus”, she told herself. “This is a simple task. Assist the princess, prepare her for the royal celebration, and maintain professional composure.”
“…There,” she tied the final ribbon.
Emu spun around immediately, with sparkly eyes. “How do I look?☆”
Nene’s brain attempted several responses. Professional, polite, even safe ones… the problem was that Emu was standing right there looking at her with bright, hopeful eyes and the smile that made honesty extremely dangerous.
“You look…” her ears twitched as she exhaled. “...Perfect.”
Emu’s smile softened so much that Nene immediately regretted having functioning eyes. “Really?”
She looked away instantly. “Y…Yes.”
The princess spun slowly in place again, watching the skirt move around her legs. “The dress feels so nice and fluffy! Do you think everyone will like it?”
Nene glanced back at her, up and down. “...They’d have to be blind not to."
Emu finally sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for the final call to the ballroom, and swung her feet a little.
“Hm.”
Nene was across the room, straightening the last few things on the dressing table that no longer actually needed straightening. A hairpin, a ribbon, a perfectly aligned brush… anything to keep her hands busy.
Because if she looked directly at Emu for too long, she was going to lose the fragile grip she currently had on her composure.
“Do we still have time?” Emu asked.
Nene glanced toward the small clock near the mirror. “…A few minutes.”
“Good, that means I can be with you a bit longer⁓!”
She exhaled slowly and walked towards the princess.
“...You’re doing that thing to me again,” she frowned.
“Huh?”
Without wanting to fight back anymore, Nene leaned down, rested her hands on Emu’s jaw and kissed her.
Emu blinked in surprise, but melted into it immediately. Her hands came up to rest on Nene’s arms.
When they pulled apart for a moment, Emu looked up at her with bright, delighted eyes.
“Nene.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re kissing me before a royal event!”
“I’m… aware.”
Emu giggled softly, and Nene leaned down for another, wanting that one to be longer. The princess’ hands slided from Nene’s sleeves to her shoulders as she followed the movement instinctively.
The servant couldn’t bring herself to care about the rules anymore. She kissed her again, again and again. Emu laughed quietly between them at one point, clearly enjoying the attention far too much.
“Hey, I’m trying to be serious here…!” Nene’s ears dropped, embarrassed.
“You’re the one who can’t stop!”
“That’s because you look like this, how could I ever think about stopping?” Nene kissed her cheek, the corner of her mouth, and then gave her another quick kiss on her lips.
Emu leaned back on the bed while Nene carefully hovered over her, clearly abandoning any attempt at restraint.
In her eyes, the princess looked… dreamy. It was hard to believe she was real.
“You look very satisfied with yourself, huh” Nene’s gaze became gentler.
“I am!” She winked.
Nene gently took one of Emu’s hands in hers. Her fingers were warm, delicate, and the thin rings she wore caught the candlelight as Nene turned it.
Slowly, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it.
“Nene…” Emu’s breath caught.
Nene lifted her head again. “...You are the most beautiful thing my eyes had the honor to meet.”
Both of them froze at the sound of footsteps approaching, until they were right outside the door. A firm knock followed.
Of course, they separated like the other had suddenly become contagious, and Nene stepped away from the bed so quickly that the skirt of Emu’s dress rustled a bit.
Emu, on the other hand, sat up straight with her hands folded neatly in her lap.
Tsukasa stepped inside with the confidence of performing an official duty.
“Princess Emu!” He stopped near the door and bowed respectfully. “The celebration is about to begin. His Majesty requests your presence in the ballroom within ten minutes!”
Emu smiled brightly. “Thank you, Tsukasa!☆”
Tsukasa nodded proudly. “Of course! The entire court has already gathered. It will be a magnificent event!”
He glanced briefly around the room, checking that everything is okay, and then nodded again with satisfaction.
“Please, proceed when ready,” he turned, stepped out into the hallway, and closed the door behind him.
Both ladies’ eyes met again, and Emu’s smile returned instantly.
However… the playful warmth from a few minutes ago had disappeared from Nene’s gaze. She seemed distracted.
“...Nene?” Emu tilted her head.
Nene looked up. “Y-Yes?”
“You’re acting weird…”
“I’m… not.”
“You are!” Emu slid off the bed, not caring if the fabric of her dress wrinkled, and walked closer. Her ears dropped a bit. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She reached out and tugged at the sleeve of her uniform. “Nene!”
…That desperate tone always worked.
“…I overheard something earlier,” Nene finally confesses.
“What?” Emu blinked.
“I… heard your parents talking. They were discussing… candidates you could meet tonight. Princes and… hm.”
Emu studied her face carefully. “…So you’re jealous?”
Nene’s ears twitched, and her arms hugged her own body as her voice cracked a bit.
“...I’m as jealous as can be.”
“Nene…—”
“I heard them talking about noble families,” Nene continued, trying not to crumble. “Princes from other kingdoms, alliances… and political advantages.”
She glanced toward the window.
“It sounded… very official. So I guess it’s only a matter of time before someone shows up at the palace with perfect manners and a perfectly ironed royal outfit… and suddenly everyone decides he’s the ideal husband. And I’ll be expected to stand there politely while the kingdom celebrates how convenient the arrangement is.”
Her eyes blinked a few times, trying not to let out anything compromising.
“I… hate that thought so much.”
Emu stepped closer. “Nene.”
Nene shook her head slightly. “It’s stupid, just ignore me…”
“Why would it be?”
“Because I’m jealous of people who don’t even exist yet!”
Nene lowered her gaze again like the floor had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the room.
“…I know it’s ridiculous. I know that’s how things work, princesses marry princes, kingdoms form alliances, and everyone smiles and calls it destiny.”
Her fingers tightened against the elegant fabric of her sleeves.
“So… I tried not to think about it. But when you asked if we still had time, and you were standing there looking like… like that, I realized… I didn’t want you to go downstairs. That’s why I kept kissing you. I thought that if I just… kept you here a little longer, maybe the ballroom would disappear. Or the princes would forget to arrive, or the whole celebration would somehow be cancelled…”
She let out an embarrassed laugh.
“…I know that’s so stupid.”
Emu stepped closer. “Hey… it’s not—”
“I-I wasn’t trying to be dramatic or selfish!” Nene rushed to explain. “I just… I hate the idea of them looking at you like that. Like you’re some prize they can win. And I hate even more the idea that one day someone will decide everything makes sense…”
There… Emu suddenly smiled warmly.
“Nene.”
“…Eh?”
“You’re very silly!"
Nene wiped her own eyes. “H-Hey, I just told you I’m terrified of losing you, stop bullying me!”
“But you forgot something very important!!” Emu raised her arms. “My opinion!”
“Your… opinion?”
“You said someone might arrive with perfect manners and a perfect outfit… and suddenly everyone will think he’s the ideal husband, but that’s the problem!”
“…What problem?”
“Imagine talking to someone like that all day!” Emu puffed her cheeks slightly. “Good afternoon, Your Highness. The weather is agreeable today.” Then she straightened stiffly, imitating a different noble voice. “Indeed. The clouds appear quite dignified.”
Nene couldn’t help the chuckle that left her lips. Even here, she was still as ridiculous as ever.
“I don’t care how perfect they are, Nene! I don’t care how many kingdoms they rule or how impressive their manners are.”
Her fingers squeezed hers lightly.
“Because the person I want to be with… is the one who panics when I climb ladders. The one who scolds me when I eat too many sweets, and the one who just admitted she tried to delay a royal celebration by kissing me repeatedly!”
Nene’s face turned red again. “T-That was not my official strategy—”
Emu giggled. “But it was very effective!!”
From somewhere far below, thev sound of music began drifting through the palace corridors. The celebration was beginning.
The princess sighed softly. “Well… we probably can’t cancel the entire royal birthday tonight.”
Nene huffed quietly. “I… figured. It’d be too much to ask.”
“But, that doesn’t mean we can’t make it shorter!”
“…Shorter?”
“Yes!” Emu nodded eagerly. “We’ll go downstairs, I’ll greet everyone like a proper princess, talk about the weather and the clouds and all the very dignified things!”
Nene raised an eyebrow. “And then…?”
She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice as if revealing a secret. “Then we escape to my room again!”
“E-Escape?” her eyes widened.
“Mhm! Just for a little while, after the important parts! Father gives a speech, the guests clap, someone probably tries to introduce a prince or two…”
Nene grimaced slightly. Ugh.
“And right when everyone is distracted, we disappear!”
“You are describing abandoning a royal celebration…”
Emu smiled proudly. “Correct!!”
“That’s… extremely irresponsible, Emu! If anyone notices—”
Emu suddenly leaned forward and kissed her again. When she pulled back, Nene’s ears had dropped halfway again. Gods, she has her wrapped around her finger.
“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t stay too long…”
Nene’s entire expression softened. “…Let’s go before I decide we should skip the ballroom entirely.”
Emu laughed, slipped her hand into Nene’s, and together they headed towards the celebration waiting below.
The ballroom had been transformed into something dazzling.
And somewhere between trays of wine glasses and very polite conversations about trade agreements… two servants were doing a very poor job of pretending the other did not exist.
Tsukasa stood near one of the serving tables, holding a tray of filled glasses with a perfect posture. His uniform had been freshly pressed for the evening. The dark coat fit neatly over his shoulders, and golden buttons catched the chandelier light whenever he moved. His hair had been carefully brushed back, his ears looked a bit fluffier too.
In short… he looked pretty respectable, anyone could’ve guessed he used to belong in aristocracy.
Across the ballroom, Rui noticed. Unfortunately.
He had been assigned to circulate among the guests with another tray, politely offering drinks with his usual relaxed composure. His own attire was a little less rigid, but just as carefully arranged. His longer hair had to be tied back this time, imagine if a noble found a purple hair on his food... Gods.
However, both looking elegant meant that every few seconds, one of them would look up and find the other already looking.
The first time it happened, Tsukasa quickly turned his head so fast that one noblewoman nearly lost her glass.
The second time, Rui pretended to be extremely interested in a decorative flower arrangement. The flowers sure were interesting, right?
And the third time…
“Refreshments?” Tsukasa offered with professional confidence to a group of aristocrats.
One of them accepted a glass. “Thank you, young man.”
He nodded proudly and stepped away again.
Three steps later, he glanced across the room and made eye contact with Rui again.
He looked away so abruptly that he walked directly into one of the tall decorative pillars.
“…Impressive maneuver,” Rui murmured quietly when he passed nearby a moment later.
Tsukasa stiffened. “I was avoiding a collision with a guest!!”
“With… the pillar?”
“Yes!”
Rui hummed thoughtfully. “Very noble of you, Tenma.”
Tsukasa glared at him briefly before remembering they were in the middle of the ballroom and straightening again.
“You should be focusing on your duties!” he whispered sharply.
“I am⁓!” Rui replied calmly, offering a glass to a passing noble without even looking.
The noble took it with a nod. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome!” The moment the man walked away, he glanced sideways again. “…Your hair looks softer tonight.”
Tsukasa froze. “My—”
“You brushed it differently.”
“…I brush it the same way every day!”
“Hmm…”
“That is a normal brushing pattern!”
“I never said it wasn’t.”
“…Focus on your tray, you’ll drop something and I’m NOT covering you like last time!” Tsukasa rushed to get as far away as possible.
As the evening progressed dinner time arrived, and all guests sat down.
At the far end of the grand table the King himself sat with dignity, engaged in conversation with several visiting nobles. Around the hall, servants positioned themselves along the walls and pillars, alert for the slightest gesture that might require assistance.
Including Tsukasa… of course, who else?
He stood near one of the marble columns with his hands neatly folded behind his back. His posture was so straight that he could have passed for a decorative statue… if statues occasionally frowned at people across the room.
A few seconds later, a voice murmured quietly behind him.
“Your posture is admirable tonight.”
Tsukasa almost jumped out of his skin.
“RUI—!” He caught himself at the last second, lowering his voice dramatically. “What are you doing here?!” he whispered furiously.
“Serving the guests~!”
“You abandoned your position, you lazy hare!”
“Hare? That’s the most offensive thing you’ve ever called me…” he seemed about to fake-cry again. “No one seems distressed about me not being in my position.”
“That is not the point!” Tsukasa crossed his arms tightly. “You are supposed to remain where you were assigned! What if someone requests wine?”
“There are at least twelve other servants…”
“Why did you come here anyway?!"
“Remember… you said that we had been lacking in proper affection lately?”
That made Tsukasa’s shoulders drop a bit. “…Yes?”
“I’ve been thinking… about it since then.” Rui’s smile returned. “And I believe you were right.”
He blinked again. “…Excuse me?”
“We haven’t had much time for ourselves lately.”
Rui’s golden eyes flicked toward him.
“Between palace work, royal preparations, and tonight’s celebration…” He gestured towards the long banquet table. “…our opportunities have been rather limited.”
Tsukasa’s ears slowly tilted downwards. “…Why do I feel like this conversation is leading somewhere problematic.”
“It is, actually~! I’ll get to the point, we should leave.”
The other froze. “What.”
“Mhm, leave!”
“Leave… the banquet during the King’s birthday celebration.”
“Yes.”
“That is an outrageous proposal, Rui! You should be ashamed of yourself!!”
Rui looked thoughtfully toward the tall windows lining the ballroom.
“Technically speaking,” he said calmly, “we have already completed most of our duties for the evening… and did even more than we had to.”
Tsukasa straightened, clearing his throat with desperate dignity.
“…P-Please excuse the disturbance,” he said to no one in particular. The idea had started to affect him already. "Do whatever you wish..."
He then felt a tug, and suddenly they were both moving.
“RUI—?!”
The next second they were both slipping between two pillars, crossing the edge of the ballroom, and pushing through one of the tall side doors that led into the palace corridors.
Rui tugged his hand again. “Come on.”
“Come on where—?!”
But Rui was already pulling him down the hallway, where they broke into a run.
Tsukasa’s perfectly arranged hair began to get messy almost immediately, and his coat flared behind him as they ran.
“Rui!” he hissed between breaths. “This is completely irresponsible! Running here is forbidden!!”
“I agree~!”
“THEN WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?!”
“Because it’s more exciting this way!”
They turned a corner too quickly and nearly collided with a decorative statue. Tsukasa grabbed Rui’s arm to steady himself.
“This is exactly the kind of behavior that leads to royal scandal! And disciplinary action!”
“Possibly.”
“And—”
Rui glanced back at him while still running. “...Are you not enjoying this?”
Tsukasa opened his mouth to deliver a very serious response. But instead, against his own will… he laughed. A bright, surprised laugh escaped his lips before he could think about it twice. He rarely ever laughed that way.
“…There it is,” Rui grinned.
Tsukasa blinked. “W-What?”
“That sound.”
His face flushed faintly. “I laugh regularly!”
“Not like that…” He squeezed Tsukasa’s hand lightly. “I missed it.”
The blond huffed, trying to recover his composure.
“…You are a terrible influence.”
“Thank you~”
Rui glanced to the side, and raised his eyebrows. “…Ah.”
Tsukasa followed his gaze. Along the wall, heavy velvet curtains framed the tall windows, gathered slightly where the fabric pooled toward the floor.
“…Rui.”
“Yes?”
“That look concerns me.”
Rui stepped closer to the curtain, gently pulling the thick fabric aside just enough to reveal the narrow space behind it. “Fascinating architectural feature…”
“You cannot be serious, here again?!”
Rui simply slipped behind the curtain, dragging Tsukasa as well.
The space behind the curtain was narrow, barely more than a shadowed pocket between the wall and the heavy fabric.
Rui leaned lightly against the wall as Tsukasa ended up very close to him. Very.
“…This is not a proper location for—”
But the tallest kissed him, once again, interrupting his monologue about manners. Tsukasa’s hands grabbed Rui’s coat without thinking. That kiss deepened... rather quickly.
“…You ambushed me again!” Tsukasa complained while recovering his breath. But instead of pulling away out of frustration, he kissed him once more.
When they pulled away, Rui reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair away from Tsukasa’s face. “You look gorgeous tonight.”
Tsukasa’s ears twitched. “Uh… naturally!!”
“I mean it…”
The blond's hand slid from Rui’s coat to the back of his neck. “…You’re so stupid.”
“And yet you keep kissing me.”
Tsukasa, proving his point, did exactly that again. The curtain shifted faintly as they moved dangerously closer together.
The music from the ballroom faded the further both ladies ran.
Emu’s dress was… absolutely not designed for running, though. But of course, that didn’t stop her at all.
“Emu—!” Nene whispered urgently behind her. “Slow down, you’ll trip on your own dress!”
“I can’t!” Emu giggled breathlessly, lifting the skirt just enough to keep from tripping. “Someone might see us!”
“That is exactly why we shouldn’t be sprinting through the royal wing on the first place!”
When they paused to catch their breath, Nene tried to fix the slightly crooked ribbon at Emu’s shoulder.
“…If anyone saw us leave the ballroom—”
“They didn’t!” Emu chirped confidently.
“You don’t know that!”
“I do!”
“How?!”
“B-Because I just know!!” Emu only grinned and grabbed her hand again. “Come on!”
“Emu—!”
The princess’ steps slowed down as they reached a longer corridor. Tall windows lined one side, and the moonlight spilled across the floor in pale silver strips. And between each window… heavy velvet curtains.
Emu’s eyes lit up immediately. “PERFECT!!”
Nene already knew that tone. “…Not here.”
“Yes!”
“No!”
“That’s perfect!”
“Emu, absolutely not!”
Before Nene could argue again, Emu pulled the curtain aside and slipped behind it.
“See? This is perfect because—”
She froze, immediately forgetting what she was about to say.
Two silhouettes were already there, absolutely tangled. Rui leaned back against the wall with his usually neat hair slightly disordered, and Tsukasa was the one pushing him against the wall in question.
The four pairs of ears dropped at the same time.
If anyone asked them today, still none of them four would admit to being behind that curtain.