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"Can you take over the council meeting for today?"
Surprised, Céline lowered her teacup from pursed lips. The day was young, dawn's light streaming in through barely parted curtains beside her. It was habit to take her breakfast with Alfred as he dressed behind a screen, fresh from his bath after his morning runs and patrols. "…pardon?" she asked. "Is there a reason you cannot attend?"
Alfred stepped around the screen, dressed completely unlike the King he was. He was in comfortable riding trousers with boots that he clearly didn't wear often. Leathers were wrapped around his thights and squeaked a little as he walked to the table, adjusting the cufflinks on his thin gloves. The Avenir crown rested across his brow, the petals of the petrified flowers brushing his forehead in a familiar, comforting way. "Something's come up, that's all."
The sight of him, bright eyed despite the subtle bags that a ruler grew beneath their eyes, softened Céline's expression and posture. "I see," she said. "Lord Rafal is here, then?"
The sparkle in Alfred's eyes grew as he smiled broadly. "He is!" he chirped. "We're going horseback riding. Dolce needs to stretch his legs."
Around the rim of her teacup, brought back to her mouth, Céline smiled. "Of course," she murmured into the amber liquid. "I will finish my tea and freshen up before I attend the council meeting for you — but take care not to make this a common occurrence." After all…
The comforting scent of peach and apple blossoms wrapped around her as Alfred swung his arms about her shoulders. Used to this aggressive display of affection, Céline had already put her teacup down and out of harm's way. "Thank you, Céline!" Alfred cheered, right in her ear as he rubbed their cheeks together. "I totally owe you one!"
"Off you go then," she said, patting his back. "It's unwise to keep Lord Rafal waiting."
Long after Alfred darted from his room and Céline's tea grew cold, she remained. Gently she ran her finger around the rim of the cup, angling her head to watch the quick flickers of her brother run through the gardens with Rafal. The blossom scent remained a heavy perfume around her and tears burned at the back of her eyes.
After all… she wanted to stay Princess as long as she could. Practicing at being Queen was important, but the longer she remained Princess, the longer Alfred was around, and she wished it would be no other way.
"Dolce doesn't hate you," Alfred soothed, hiding a smile behind his hand as Rafal and the horse stared each other down. The electric animosity between them could be felt in the air, further fueling Alfred's laughter and shaking shoulders.
"That doesn't mean he likes me, either." Rafal combed his fingers through his hair, a little moist and rough at the edges. A product of Dolce taking a nibble. "He clearly does not want me riding him. Which is ridiculous, it is not as if I am completely unable to ride."
Alfred bit the inside of his cheek, glancing to the side. The elephant in the pasture was that Rafal had attempted in the past, at Alear's urging, to become a Great Knight with Revanche. A better way to conceal the fact that he was a Fell Dragon in a world that would probably rather stone him than hear him out, depending on where one was. Rafal was not good in heavy armor, even with Emblem Ike, Emblem Hector, or Emblem Leif giving him a boost. His foot got stuck in the stirrup, worse because of the spur on the back of the boot, and his flailing to "fix" it spooked the horse.
The way Rafal essentially flapped in the wind like a flag was a memory that had Alfred's shoulders shaking even more. Rafal fixed him with a sharp red glare; when Alfred met it, he could no longer hold back, letting his lips part as he laughed heartily. Rafal crossed his arms with a grunt, turning his head with a humph. Dolce echoed the sentiment with a drag of his hoof through the grass annd a snort before snacking.
"I will hold the reins and walk beside you," Rafal decided, his face crumpled into a frown.
Wiping his teary eye, Alfred shook his head. "No, you won't," he said, both hands reaching to tug Rafal's arms from his chest. "No one properly showed you how to mount a horse back on the Somniel." Mainly as Rafal had largely quit, stalking with a terrible limp to Anisse to grab a Second Seal and return to a more comfortable axe class — Warrior.
Alfred couldn't say he minded that change.
"Dolce will be good," he insisted, softening his voice to a soothing lilt. "I'll be riding with you."
Rafal was ready to die of mortification.
As if the first time trying to ride a horse wasn't bad enough, he now had another unfortunate situation to try and explain away. Alfred, seated in front of him, seemed blissful as he guided Dolce into a gentle trot through the Firenese Castle countryside.
He didn't mention the obvious issue pressing up against his back as Rafal did just best not to hide his face like a bashful child. His arms remained firm around Alfred's slim middle, hands crinkling the edges of his riding suit whenever Dolce snorted and tossed his head a bit. He could feel every breath from Alfred's lungs, could feel the vibration of his humming across his whole body from his palms to his core.
"See," Alfred said, leaning his head back to bump gently against Rafal's. "I told you Dolce would behave."
Dolce snorted, tossing his head in response. Rafal grumbled something under his breath, unintelligible. Laughing joyful, Alfred turned his head and let his lips brush the soft skin of Rafal's blushing cheek. "Don't worry. That happens to everyone."
"E-Everyone?" Rafal echoed, before meeting Alfred's joyful expression with a scowl of his own. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
Alfred's gloved hand moved from the reins to one of Rafal's own. He laced his fingers between Rafal's, causing heated annoyance to stir in the dragon's gut. Did he wear gloves on purpose-
"Do you trust me?"
Alfred's softspoken words broke into Rafal's train of thought, sending it crashing off the rails. "What an asinine question," he huffed. "Of course I do."
The smile that broke across Alfred's face could rival the brightness of the sun. "Then hold on tight!" Rafal's brows furrowed, but instinctively he listened as he felt the practiced motion of Alfred's hips and thighs against him.
Rearing back with a cry not heard since the war, Dolce broke into a gallop.
As evening fell with its soft blue blanket around the castle, Céline wore her much more comfortable evening dress. It was reminiscent of what she wore on the Somniel, adorned with her crown and a few extra butterfly clips, as the evenings were growing more humid.
"Lily is waiting for you," she said, turning her head to glance at the shadow that lurked nearby. His name was Deen, violet haired and a veteran of the war, but named for one of the important companions of Emblem Celica's story and journey. "I think I will be fine going to the stables myself."
The acknowledgment came in the form of a grunt. Céline and Deen both knew that he was not the only one with eyes on the Princess anyway. Somewhere else behind a pillar or even out in the blatant open in peripheral, Louis also lurked with his keen gaze.
When Céline resumed her stately walk to the stables, she did not hear Deen's accompanying feet behind her. It made her smile; she hoped Lily would meet him in the gardens, where once Alfred and Rafal had stumbled upon them while trying to find their own moment of privacy.
"Oh, Your Highness!" A stable hand scrambled to his feet, nearly knocking his dinner to the floor. "Let me get the door for you!"
She raised a brow. "Awful loud, aren't you?" she quipped. The bashful expression on the young boy's face belied the obvious blush at being called out. Inside the stables, through the open windows, the pair picked up on a clatter and muffled laughter. An annoyed snort from one or two of the horses, and another barely muffled swear that was obviously from Rafal.
Dolce probably kicked him.
"Never mind," she said with a shake of the head and wave of her hand. Alfred's barely contained laughter grew louder. Though she did not spend much time around Rafal — with or without her brother — Céline could clear imagine the scowl on his face as he tried to keep his dignity. "Please tell His Majesty," she raised her voice for this, "that I need to meet with him soon. We have important state matters to discuss."
Not waiting for a response from the stablehand or from her silly brother inside, Céline turned on her heel and headed back toward the side entrance she had left from. Louis shifted as she passed by him, tilting his head inquisitively. In the low light of fading sun and glowing stars, he clearly saw the smile on her face and the relaxed slump of her shoulders.
"What's a few more hours without worries?" she reasoned as Louis opened the door for her.
After all… seeing Alfred so happy, hearing it, was just one of many small joys that Céline didn't want to part with.
Not yet.