Chapter Text
Prince Oswald had impetrated a meeting with a foreign retired general, whose leadership & ability to train an excellent army was worth acknowledging. In order to gain favour from him to strengthen the regional army to conquer other lands, the general had proposed one condition. To test out if the Prince truly was capable of being a worthy competent for being the next ruler.
Prince Oswald seemed pretty indignant as he sat in his room. He had already reached to terms of agreement despite the general's unresolved proposed condition. On fulfillment of which, he had promised his loyalty to the prince.
The moon light streamed through the patterned up window & gave a silver hue onto the Prince's face. His fingers pinching his temples as he leaned onto the ergonomic, velvet sofa.
“African Marigolds… If you can offer me a bouquet of them grown in this very continent, I’ll accept and decide what’s best in interest for the army”. Putting his hand down on the armrest, he gazed outside the window.
A honey skinned woman with a thick fur coat was tending the plants. It wasn’t cold enough for snow to reside and accumulate on the land, but it was cold enough that some flakes had collected on her cloak.
“He should have rejected if he wanted to make a fuss about it, even more so when I was promising him riches as a token of gratitude,"
He murmured, annoyed and feeling as if he had been belittled. But suddenly a thought occurred to him. Yang Shuang, the honey skinned women who also expertised in everything related to plants and herbs, harbouring a deep passion as a botanist, solely to preserve these verdant lives.
If he were to call her, and ask for a flowerbed brimming with Marigolds, even in the extremity of the biting cold. It was inevitable that she would return within a month granting him the finest of Marigolds in existence. Soon he made a call for her presence in his chambers. After making the call, he knew that this was either one of the worst or best decisions he had ever taken.
Despite her demure hobby, she was boisterous and a suave charmer who excelled when it came to somehow creep into even the secluded thoughts of his, including his heart—though rarely did the secondly mentioned occurrence took place.
Knock, Knock, a sound echoed through his room, as he shifted in his seating. Lacing his voice with a facade of disinterest, he commanded, “Enter”. Obediently, she made her way towards the sofa he sat on as a throne—a metonym for being a prince. As she knelt to the ground—a humble expression rarely granted by her.
Just as he was about to go on with his request, his eyes darted towards her face , tipped upwards followed by a dashing smile which revealed a hint of sharp canines. Her eyes were crescent shaped and ember with a feline touch to it further more with a glint of defiance in contrast to her humble form. It was enough to caught him off guard but he regained his prior indifference, coughing and clearing out his throat. He finally let her know about his order to her then.
"Within a month?" She gaped but quickly masked her concern due to the sheer impossibility of what he requested for. "Why? Shall I ask for within a week then?" He cocked his brow as a mocking smile tugged as his face. With those dresden green eyes embedded as eyes and those fawn locks which cascaded till his waist like silk bound to prostate it's holder, his smile looked less like a gesture of mockery and more like a form of seduction.
That is, when Yan Shuang realize that it wasn't the time to back up, rather it seems to be as if nature had bestowed upon her this blessing that she could use any of her pick up lines which would leave the prince completely bewildered.
"Then, If I bring to you, those Marigolds within a week-which is basically accepting your challenge, what will I receive as a reward?" She inquired. "Maybe, one day by your side would suffice..." She chuckled before she further added in a relatively hushed tone, "Including your chambers?"
Despite the lowered frequency of voice, it was still audible enough for him to hear it and comprehend and surprisingly so, it only took one sentence for his heart to betray the sardonic attitude he decided to adapt towards her. A rosy shade had dusted the very top of his ears, warmth radiating through his face.
He extended his shoe covered foot - A shoe worth thousands of dollars, sleek and polished which screamed opulence. It was settled right on her shoulder, trying to ground her, reminding the place she belonged to. He shifted forward on his sofa and applied force as to push her back. If it were up to her - if it were to not severe the dignity of the prince - she wouldn't have even budged despite all the force he manifested into shattering her smugness.
Though she herself recoiled, inclining herself, propping her upper body with extending arms. He glowered at her, voice laced with faux contempt, "Dont . Test . Your . Luck"
He made sure to make every syllable sharp enough that it would drill through her stubborn self. This made her chuckle, as she slowly but deliberately grabbed his ankle pulling him to the edge of the sofa. His adrenaline rush suddenly peaked, defiant to his pleas to obfuscate it. Seeing her grip tighten around his ankle, as veins surfaced made her look impeccably strong.
He swiftly snatched his ankle away, backing up and rolling his eyes, "Get out!" he ordered , though it lacked the bite he wanted to impose. "Hmm..." she grinned as she stood up, dusting of her pants and making her way towards his highness. His eyes followed every step as she inched towards him, further entrapping him by putting her hands on either of the armrests.
The proximity made him shudder as newfound heat coiled within his stomach as his heart refused to co-operate with his brain, making him anticipate for her next move. He glued his eyes shut save for the embarrassment he had to undergo by locking his eyes with hers.
Just take me already.
Phwooo~
A gentle blow caressed his ear as a feather dropped down on his lap. "Your highness, there was a feather in your hair..." she informed. He opened his eyes and indeed, she wasn't lying about it. "But your highness, it seemed as if you were expecting a kiss right now, or am I mistaken?" she gazed at him with wonder filled eyes, reflecting superficial innocence. His eyes shifted to the feather and then her face. Then again to the feather and then her handsome, cunning, awe-worthy face.
His brows furrowed, palm fisting as his irises quivered with disdain. "I SAID GET OUT," his eyes rolled exasperated. Her body trembled as she erupted into an unrestrained sea of laughter as she tried to conceal it by palming her mouth. "Y-pfft..Yes, yes, your highness...but before I go, I noticed that you are quite fond of rolling your eyes at me. Want to invite me in your chambers so that I can make then roll higher?" she teased with a radiant grin before her face was met with a red velvet cushion thrown at her with full force though she reflexively caught hold of it.
The moon shone on him like he was the only one in the room worth giving spotlight, his pupils were dilated as his lean frame looked as if he was about to pass out by this mortifying conversation. His long, lustrous hair draping one armrest as her leaned towards it, waving a hand. "You...you are dismissed." Despite the plea like order, his face was dyed red at this point. And oh, he looked extremely breath taking...
"Sure..." she accepted, dazed, feeling a pang of guilt as her heart rushed seeing him like this...