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"—lady?"
A voice.
"Milady, wake up"
Oh.. It's Mikhael's voice.
"Milady." Harumi's eyes fluttered open, body jolting awake as he sat upright. He turned his head and looked to his side. Mikhael Chase, his personal knight. It was he who had woken him up.
"Milady, are you alright? You were shaking quite awfully and muttering in your sleep." Mikhael's tone was of genuine concern. 'Did I.. Have a nightmare..' Harumi looked around, glancing at every corner and inch of their room.
Everything's fine. They're not here.
You're fine.
Fine..
"..Were you by my side.. The whole time?"
"Yes, Milady."
"Oh.."
....
....
Deciding not to pry further into the nightmare thing, incase the princess is uncomfortable, Mikhael speaks again. "Milady, if you keep dawdling, you'll miss breakfast. Shall I assist you with your bath?" Mikhael reached a hand out, helping Harumi get out of bed. Harumi took his hand, their face bright red, flustered. "N-no, it's fine.." Stuttering, his words barely came out audible.
"As you wish, Milady."
"He's so serious all the time.." Unintentionally staring at the knight. "The only time he showed any other expression was when i chose him as my fiance.." Harumi got lost in thought, thinking back at the recent event, their coming-of-age ceremony and picking their fiance out of numerous suitors.. Finding a suitable person who can care for his children, is quite difficult. After all, Haruka and Natsume are actually the children of the former head chef in the royal palace. Then adopted by Harumi due to neglectful parents.
With Harumi so deep in thought, they didn't realise they've been staring for a little bit too long at their knight, hand still in hand.
"—Milady?" They paused, finally snapped back to reality. "You've been staring for quite an awful while there.." Mikhael concerned, staring to feel a bit flustered to the staring.. Harumi's blushing intensified, pulling their hand back. "U-uh! I-I'll get ready now!" Harumi ran to his bathroom, the sound of the door opening and closing.
Falling to the floor, a sigh of relief escaped their mouth.
Knock knock.
Harumi's body jumped up.
"Milady? You forgot your towel."
"A-ah.! R-right.." Harumi slowly opened the door, head peaking out. Their hand reaches for the towel and Mikhael hands it over. In a split second, Harumi grabs the towel and closes the door, locking it behind him. "T-thank you!.."
"My pleasure, Milady."
"AAHHH!! I can't believe this handsome gentleman is both my knight AND my fiance!!" Harumi squeals internally, seemingly a bit too excited about this..
In a hurry, Harumi quickly washed up and got dressed. With their knight outside their room, obviously. The door opens just as Harumi finished putting on accessories on his hair. Some star clips here and there with his pretty tiara. Harumi turned his head, seeing Mikhael.
"If you're ready, allow me to escort you to breakfast, Milady." Extending his hand to Harumi while bowing, the princess blushed. He's not quite used to such kind gestures.
"O-okay.." Harumi took his hand.
Walking down the stairs, hand in hand with his knight. The knight's expression was still as serious and solemn. They both arrive to the dining area. Shockingly, the King and Queen are there as well.
"M-Mother, Father.." Harumi spoke, nervously. While Mikhael drew the chair back, waited for the heir to position himself, then eased it forward as he sat. Mikhael then stood still in the corner but staying close to Harumi. Clearing his throat, Harumi spoke again "It's rare for the both of you to have a meal with me.." Harumi brazenly states. Most of the time, Harumi ate his meals alone.
"You are of age now. You are the heir to the throne, the crown princess." The Queen narrowed her eyes, looking straight at Harumi. "So, have you chosen a suitor?" The Queen questioned.
"Well-"
"-Your future husband, should be capable enough to lead this kingdom. He should be wise and ruthless. I hope you kept that in mind." The King interrupted, leaving no room for uncertainty or jokes.
".. Yes, Father."
"Good. Now who is that you have chosen?"
Harumi paused. He looked nervously at Mikhael, then looked back at his parents. ".. Mikhael Chase. My knight."
Harumi sighs "Ah.. I got scolded and grounded again.." Walking down the halls, a bit saddened.
"Well, Milady, I am just a personal royal knight, bound to a duty to keep you safe at all times no matter the cost. I was not your suitor at all yet you still chose me. I question why." Mikhael walking alongside him.
Harumi looked at Mikhael "Hm.. Well, I guess I wanted someone who can take care of Harukacchi and Natsumecchi, no matter the cost as well. You seem like the person who would." Harumi stopped by a room.
Opening the door, revealed a children's room. And there was Haruka and Natsume, playing with the maid with the fun toys they had. The sound of the door opening could be heard, Haruka and Natsume turned their head to that direction. Eyes lighting up, the children runs to the crown princess.
"Mommy!" The children hugged tightly, and Harumi put both his hand on the children's head. Playing with the hair and out a small chuckle. "Did you have fun with Miss Lianne?" "Yes! We played princess and knight together!"
"Ooh, sounds fun" Harumi smiled softly, glad that his children are acting their age and having fun like normal child. He glances at the maid and nods to her. The maid immediately understanding, got up and quietly left the room. But then, Haruka looked beside the crown princess. A man in a suit, looking serious but a bit awkward to children. "Mommy, who's that?" Haruka pointed out. Harumi got down and lifted Haruka up in their arms. "This man right here, is my own personal knight. And also, your father"
"E-eh.. Eh?!"
Clearing his throat. The knight bends down a little, whispering in the crown princess' ear. "Milady.. That's still a bit early to decide. I cannot be your husband as I am only bound to the duty of protecting you."
Harumi looks at the knight, not pleased at all. His face expression showed a bit much of that. "These children deserves a father who can actually care for them. You can do that, can't you?" Harumi whispers back at him. Going back to Haruka and Natsume, "So, you two, what do you think of this man?" The crown princess smiled.
Natsume looked really realllyy closely, almost as if analysing the knight's face. Then, "Hehe, come play princess and knights with me!" Haruka gets off on his own from Harumi's arms, then went to the knight and dragged him by the hand. "W-whoa. Careful there" The knight lets himself be dragged and forced to play knights with two kids. Harumi watched it all with a smile.
"How cruel, Milady.. I was forced to play knights with children for three hours straight.." Mikhael fake sobbed, walking beside Harumi. "It was necessary. You did a good job, playing the part of a father for them." Mikhael looked at the crown princess. Staring intently.
Almost distracted by their soft features, Mikhael didn't realise there was a table in the way and bumps into Harumi. Causing the princess to fall and Mikhael instinctively reaching out to catch them.
BAM
Harumi was against the wall, Mikhael's hand on both his hand and beside them. The princess blushed like crazy.
"W-what... This kind of thing.. It's like that one scene in [][][][] when the man pins the woman to the wall due to his possessiveness..!! AAAHZHDHSF"
The crown princess reads too many romance novels for their own good.
"M-Milady.. My apologies, I was not focusing on where I was going. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Harumi stood there, not moving out of shock. His mind going haywire. "Milady? Your face is so red.. Do you have a fever? Ah! Your nose is bleeding! Please, allow me to assist you."
"PLZ KISS ME"
"A-ah, FINE! I'M FINE!" Harumi yelled, flustered. He pushed the knight away, "J-just uhm.. Leave me for a moment!" Harumi bolted away in a second.
Well. That just happened.
The knight stood there, stunned and taken aback. "Milady.."
Quite a lot has happened for a life of royalty, all in one day.