Chapter Text
Today marks the second change in the Monarch for the newly rebuilt Red Kingdom.
As Princess Cherri makes her way to the throne, her wings spread outwards in an (unintentional) display of pride, settling down carefully so as to not disturb her dress and tail. It feels strange yet vitalizing to be the Monarch.
Maybe it shouldn't be, seeing as she’s the Princess of Soluna; Cherri has sat upon a throne many a time now.
That’s always been as the Princess though, and not once as the Queen. Given the state of her Kingdom, she thinks being the Monarch might be the closest she’ll get to experiencing that for the foreseeable future (assuming her father is alright).
In an attempt to ignore any thoughts about Soluna’s future, the Princess distracted herself by looking to the right, taking in the sight of Ser Bek with her spear steady for protection. To the left was their Moon Knight Apo, much closer to the throne than what would ever be necessary, even for a Knight.
Cherri doesn't point it out, nor do they stop her; knowing that their Knight was so close to her was comforting. Instead, they state their first decree with the confidence the Knights bring her.
“My first decree,” they begin, “is that I don’t want to be the Queen. I still want to be the Princess.”
She holds onto the idea of having some more carefreeness in her life for a little while longer. Looking around at her people, her fellow citizens of the Red Kingdom, she feels more assured in this decision.
They're all so excited about the day. Even when they bicker, Cherri can feel the warmth in every action taken and words spoken. Her smile softens with the love of the Kingdom echoing back to her, tail curled and swaying in happiness.
Still, they want their Knight’s approval. “Is that a good first decree?” Cherri asked, in a not-quite-secretive volume as they glanced to their left.
Apo blinked at the sudden attention on her, still believing the Kingdom was to be addressed.
“No, yeah, that was a lovely first decree,” the knight appraised, gently bumping her spear against her chestplate as she spoke.
Cherri’s eye sparkled with delight at her approval. While her attention is swiftly swept away into writing in the Decree Book with Kitty’s advice, she still feels a warmth blossom in her heart knowing that she’s doing it right.
The rest goes easy. She steals glances at Apo often as they go through the letter she’d obtained, as they discuss more decrees, and leads everyone to the trading boat. It feels comfortable, everything settling perfectly into place as she goes along with it.
She doesn't register something she’d been doing during all of this until she trips into the water outside the Kingdom.
“Oh! I fell into the water!” Cherri exclaims, too distracted by an inquiry by Katie to notice the shifting levels of the ground.
Just as she does so, she hears Apo exclaim shock in sync with her.
At first, she assumes that her Knight is worried about their Princess falling into the water; two weeks ago, Cherri certainly would’ve been making a huge deal of it, so she wouldn't be surprised if they were concerned as well.
What she doesn't expect to see is Apo fallen into the water with her, their cape drenched and hair soaked from the splash they’d both created.
What is even more unexpected to see is her tail curling around Apo’s in a protective hold.
“What,” she can’t help but verbalize her confusion, face warm for a reason she refused to even try to begin to understand.
Apo jumped at the sound, meeting Cherri’s eye for a brief moment. They jump again at eye contact, their own eyes widening in surprise as they laugh awkwardly.
How did I not notice that happening? Am I stupid? They wonder, mind rushing with question after question. Why did no one point it out!? Did this happen before, if no one asked…?
Their tails slotted together so perfectly, intertwined with so much care even without Cherri trying for it.
It was so comfortable. She wondered if maybe this happened when Cherri asked for their approval the moment prior to leaving the Castle, and warmth bloomed in her chest despite how brief that exchange was.
Why did Apo do the same? Did they mean to? Maybe it’s just protection, or like, to know I’m there. Or something.
…Then why did they not move away yet? This water cannot be threatening enough to justify her needing protection right now.
Shaking off her racing thoughts, Cherri hastily pulled her tail back and consciously kept it closer to her as she made her way back up. She can’t let this interrupt what she intended to do; the merchant has important trades to offer, and Cherri has some new emeralds she’s itching to use.
“Take my hand!” Katie said once Cherri got close enough to the surface, fingers stretched outwards in offer.
Taking her support, Katie pulls her up from the water, and Cherri pointedly ignores the raised eyebrow and mischievous smile the squire sends to her as she does.
“Thank you, Katie the Brave!” The Princess expresses her gratitude instead of acknowledging anything else. Especially not any one thing in particular.
As she’d been hoping for, Katie took the chance to bring back up her question from before Cherri slipped. Cherri takes the distraction with practiced ease.
They ignore the way Katie’s gaze seemed to linger behind them. Cherri’s too confused and preoccupied to let themselves see how Apo might be looking at them right now. It wouldn’t be anything worth seeing, she reasons with herself. It’d only make a good day into a bad one to see how confused Apo must be.
With that in mind, Cherri carries on to the boat. The Red Kingdom is fast to pick up the pace, both in walking and in talking, and the conversation flows once again.
Although some issues happen on the bridge, everything goes generally well, and the Princess finds herself satisfied with the results of the day. Thankfully, Apo seemed to act normally too.
When Cherri returns to the castle, she’s still thankful for that. Even as they speak about Cherri’s ruling, the old ache to prove herself itching under her skin whilst they talk, Apo still acts fine and doesn't bring up what happened with the tails. In her own words, they have no issue.
Yet as she returns to their home to settle for the night, it starts to feel weird.
Apo has made it known that she can be different than some Knights have been – so many Knights have blind loyalty to their royals, never once questioning anything they do, yet Apo questions Cherri on a fairly regular basis, all things considered.
Cherri will admit that it is still different, because Apo is also more loyal than any Knight she’s ever met. The way they question and scold her has always been with endearment, Cherri had realized, even when they're concerned for her well-being too.
For whatever reason, this specific instance is still bothering the Princess a lot. More than it truly should be. But Apo isn't ever this calm when Cherri does something, not to this extent.
She decides to let it go for now.
If it won’t happen again, and Apo clearly didn’t think it was weird enough to talk about with her, then what's the point of bringing it up first? She’ll only be making an apparently normal situation into something weird.
Apo wearily blinks her eyes awake as Cherri settles into her bed. “Good night, Princess,” she said, voice trailing off with exhaustion.
Turning in for the night, she stares across the room at the bed of the Knight occupying her thoughts.
“Good night, Apo Kuna,” Cherri whispers back a few moments later.
It’s silent, aside from a soft hum in response. They can’t quite tell if it was an acknowledgment from Apo, or if the Knight is already resting and simply made a noise in her sleep.
Her chest isn’t rising and falling like someone who’s actually asleep, however. Cherri doesn't comment on it, as much as she really should; Apo’s too stubborn to listen the first couple times something like this is brought to her attention.
Cherri holds her tail by her chest, the refusal to let it go hidden beneath her wings. Apo’s own sways gently over the side of their bed, like it were aching for something to keep it warm. Cherri worries her lip at the sight.
Veering around, she faces the wall instead, and wonders if Apo will spend all night thinking about it too.