#⌇a disastrous royal affair ( 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤 / 𝙃𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙠𝙤 )

[distopea]

24 kissy kissy, Marlo and Hibiko

@royaletiquette

A kiss meme I forgot with a number I forgot too, so I kiss Hibiko the way I want!

“Uff! See! Again!” 

Marlo pointed at Hibiko’s outstretched lips with his clawed index, the curl of his smirk growing even wider on his features as he didn’t even try to hide his mockery. How they had started bickering over the fact she didn’t have a kissable face was a mystery certainly provoked by the fox deity, but it had been more than twenty minutes. Then they were facing each other like two toddlers ready to battle. Again, she tried to push away his scolding finger, but he was quicker and showed his tongue in the most childish display possible. 

“You look like a fish just showing your lips like that! I’m sure the Duck of Whatever finds it super cute, but it doesn’t compliment your cheeks nor your face. For Heavens Tails, it's not pretty...” He cocked his head aside, as he saw her visible anger blooming. It was always fun to tease her; he loved to do that. She was a lady with a certain temper, and he had developed a certain masochist taste for provoking her. Because yes, she had the power to make him cry and whimper when suddenly she was too harsh - and it was unfair! 

“Surely they need to show princesses how to be sensual whenever they want to kiss someone instead of those political lessons you’ll forget in five minutes. I’m not sure if I’m facing a creature ready to swallow my face or if it’s going to be pleasant…” He grabbed the little mirror by his side and exposed it in front of Hibiko. “Look at you!” He tried to show her, but the item was thrown away and he couldn’t help but giggle like a crazy fox. “Okay, okay, fine!” He sighed exaggeratedly and wiggled his ass to move closer. “I’ll teach you.” 

In his loooong life, he was able to kiss a lot of people. So far, he had never received complaints from his former lovers, but it was a gift he wanted to give her right now. After a few minutes of arguing, the atmosphere felt more comfortable for Marlo to eventually perform. Gently, he wrapped his fingers around her cheeks, observing her irises with passion.

"Ready to have your whole world rocked?" He was oozing with excitement, but he knew that she was potentially more the type of girl to prefer when boys were gentle. Nevertheless, he eventually pressed his lips onto hers, preventing his fox nature from claiming far more than what he had just earned right now. 

[distopea]

❛  stop being so stubborn. i'm trying to help you.  ❜ @Marlo

@royaletiquette

𝑮𝑹𝑼𝑴𝑷𝒀 𝑿 𝑺𝑼𝑵𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑬 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺.

Pain. Pain and sorrow. Agony! Disappointment! 

He was sitting on Hibiko’s boudoir, his fox ears picking through his red hair, his face expressing nothing but the biggest pout of history. He was losing his power for good, almost unable to take the look of an actual human, and he had - ALAS! - developed knots a bit everywhere in his fur. He was struggling with Hibiko’s hairbrush earlier, almost crying in despair when he saw that he couldn’t get rid of them. She had interrupted him in the middle of his tantrum. 

Sitting there, Marlo was looking at the ground, whining whenever she was pulling a bit too hard for his taste, his dramatic eyes falling back on her features. “It hurts!” He complained with a long sniff, quite exaggerating because he couldn’t help whenever he had her attention. She was careful, but the knots were simply too hard to undo. His fur was nothing like a real fox anyway, and its natural curves and knots were provoked by magic only. He could fight as much as he wanted, it only meant that he was about to turn back to his animal form. 

“Ouch! Ouch!” He voiced again and stared at her, before he tried to nib her wrist, which was immediately punished on Hibiko’s side. A stroke of the hairbrush right onto his nose was earned, and he folded his ears against his skull, like a scolded puppy. “I’m not stubborn!” He answered, even if he was right now profoundly immature AND horribly strong-headed. “You’re still brushing over and over in the same place, why are the knots still here?!” He stood back up and rushed in front of the mirror, before he stopped to observe his appearance. 

“Sweet nature, you made it worse!” He turned around and pointed his clawed finger at her, before he eventually folded it back against his chest, horrified by all the fur. He was used to losing his magic, but he was also helplessly scared to get back to his realm. It was the very first time in months, and he had just met her. He knew that perhaps he wouldn’t see her for years… Decades even! The princess would have forgotten about him, her life span dramatically reduced. It was only a matter of time before she would move on and it was breaking his heart in millions of pieces. 

“I hate this!” Marlo pouted again before he turned into a fox, feeling at least slightly better under that form. He rushed out of her room, trying to find a new shelter somewhere else, perhaps in the kitchen… At least there was food there…

[distopea]

Ⓐ 👀 duh

@royaletiquette

send me ⓐ and my muse will rate yours

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

worst kisser ever || terrible || bad || awkward || just okay || alright || pretty good || good || makes me moan || excellent || exciting || oh god they’re good || I dream about it || fucking amazing || absolute perfection || we haven’t kissed

[distopea]

The princess had been reading a small collection fantasy books geared to young teenagers in preparation for the authors visit. It was sure to be a tense dinner with their glorification of magic and the kingdom's damning of it, so it was Hibiko's job to keep it light. But studying the topic reminder her of questions she liked to ignore, instead stay front of mind. "Hey Marlo?" A quiet voice spoke up in the library, eyes already pointed in his direction as she waited permission to continue.

"What um, what are you? Is that an ignorant way to ask?" Something she feared the answer to for quite some time, yet for some reason decided now was the right moment to bring to the table. "You're not . . . you're not human, right? Because I know there's some magic strong enough for looking like an animal but," this somehow didn't feel like the case.

@royaletiquette

When he overheard his name being called by Hibiko, he immediately looked over his shoulder, almost caught red-handed, his free hand coming to his face so she wouldn’t notice - perhaps - that he had been stuffing his mouth with cream puffs he had stolen before the arrival of the guests. He was easily back to his thieveries whenever he knew he would have to hide while Hibiko would entertain more guests, so he was ready to wrestle and spit if she ever dared to scold him, but she seemed serious, her eyes gazing at the pages of her book before she looked at him again. 

Good, he had enough time to swallow the last proof of his prior mischief, before he eventually came right in front of her and sat on the floor, folding his legs together. He liked whenever she was curious, even more when the topic was about him. Well, nothing was entirely selfish these days, he could feel it. He was eager to let her know everything regarding his state of mind, while on his side, he was pleased to observe her and learn through her demeanors and her attitude. She would be a great queen one day, he was sure… She was… Following all the codes after all, getting herself ready to be like her mother. And she was sweet to him. 

“Oh…” Marlo cocked his head aside, as he didn’t know why the question was hurting him. Maybe because it was her tone, or the fact she seemed unsure about what he was. He had observed over time that humans could only love humans the same way and no other creature. “I don't really know, in fact.” He said with a gentle smile, his fox ears folded against his skull while he wanted to prove and show how much of a human he could be.

“My mother was like yours.” He paused, as he knew he had to be a bit more explicit. “I mean… I heard she was a queen too? There’s a forbidden book from where I come from, with the memoirs of my father. He wrote that she was from the same realm as you, and had hair just like me. She was human, but my father, he was a Fox God, for the gifts and deceptions.” 

He patted his chest, feeling in the mood to continue sharing his story. He didn’t know why he was sad. “It’s strange, but I feel that I have two homes. My father… He didn’t really educate me, he had other children, from people just like him, so their magic was better. They won’t age or die like me, so I was never his priority. Here, in this realm, I feel closer to your emotions, people can show them, experience them… But they are all afraid of me… I didn’t know humans could die so quickly too…” 

He paused and looked back at her, unable to resist the need to nuzzle closer from her leg. “I don’t really have a name for what I am. I have their appearance and the power of wishes too, but my heart is human. It drums like yours.” He squinted and looked up. "I'm not an animal though! Don't say that! I'm not!" He added, hiding his sadness by a little pout.

[distopea]

A small fire burned in the princess' room in preparation for her eventual arrival. With her shoes already removed, Hibiko tossed her purse on the couch that caused a yelp came from fox accidentally being hit with the bag, and then one from the surprised princess. Rushing over to kneel on the floor in front of the couch, "Oooohh, I'm sorry!" She whined with a laugh under it, rubbing where she assumed the bag him. "I told you not to wait for me, I thought you would be gone." Hibiko made it clear she would be gone until late with friends, multiple of them, not a date.

She was ready to cuddle him back to health before "Wait wait wait- I need to change," and popped up to hide behind a screen. To put it gently, she was toasted. But to put it frankly, Hibiko was drunk. "I snuck you box of chocolates in my purse. But don't eat it as a fox! Foxes can't eat chocolate." It was tiny little box, unable to hold more than a few pieces.

Soon, with her hair still done and wearing makeup, but in sleepwear at least, Hibiko threw herself on the couch next to Marlo. "Now you may tell me about your day, darling. Do you like the chocolate? It's from," a pause, not long enough to properly think before rolling her eyes and waving a hand, "somewhere else, but I really liked them!"

@royaletiquette

A yap left his throat the moment he felt an object falling onto his fur. The sleepy fox’s head picked from the cushions and blanket, giving Hibiko a suspicious and annoyed look before he eventually understood that she was here to pamper him, and not demand the fox to leave her alone. With a yawn, he extrated himself out of his cocoon, extending his furry legs to get rid of the numbness. Of course he wouldn’t be gone! She was out with friends - she didn’t lie, right? - and she had left him all by himself, abandoned, cold and desperate! He was ready to be pampered in apologizes and other caresses, but before he could earn his well deserved hug, she giggled and disappeared behind her screen. 

Marlo huffed and eventually used his magic to switch back to his human form, even if it meant using a lot of his power for that. When Hibiko was back, wearing her sleepwear even if she was still having her hair done and her makeup on. He squinted when she dropped by his side, the smell of booze and other expensive wine tickling his nose; he even sneezed. "Heavens, you’re completely wasted! I thought you forgot I was here!” He gasped but immediately laughed, finding amusement the way her guard was down and her attitude far less serious than usual. What a beautiful change!

He observed her with passion, love, and deep interest. 

He welcomed her by his side, sliding away even if he rolled his arm around her shoulder. She smelled funny but it wasn’t bad. He was more interested in the box of chocolates presented in front of his eyes. He couldn’t refrain the blush invading his features - because she thought of him, she was gifting him something, for him - while he placed a soft kiss right on the top of her hair. “Ah... Food…” He whispered with a content giggle and immediately opened the box. In two bites, all the chocolate was gone and his lips were tainted in shades of brown. 

“Mpf… I had better. It’s not very good.” He said while he tossed the box away and nuzzled against her side. It was actually decent, but he wasn't delighted she had received that gift from someone else. He slowly caressed her hair, as he felt so loved, so adored because she was giving him attention. “I napped and I waited for you… I might have stolen food from the kitchen, but I bet they didn't see it. Your mother required some duck and veggies for tonight's dinner... Then I wandered around and I picked flowers. I chased a few naughty chicken for fun... I came back here because you promised to be home early. But you weren't! Your date with friends was long and I was bored... But I’m happy because you had a good time, even if I wasn’t here…”

He opened his palm, a golden wind moving inside for a moment before more chocolate appeared out of nowhere, crafted by his magic, covered in a copper powder, along with almonds, nuts, and other dry fruits. “Here, when I traveled the world a long time ago, I ate these chocolates. It’s better and richer on the tongue.” 

He sighed and felt comfortable enough. “I like you so much, sweet princess. So much I would let you break my heart.” Marlo purred lovingly.

[distopea]

Perhaps because it was later in the evening, and her lights along with the rest of the home are put out by now. Whatever it was that drew Marlo to the princess' room this time, she seemed prepared for it. "You ripped my dress?" Hibiko stepped out the closet once she heard him enter, quick to make the accusations known as she tossed the garment at him. Not that it made it very far, but it's presence was clear. There didn't seem to be care for the time from an ever cautious princess, her voice uncharacteristically raised. She was angry, confused, vexed.

"What, you saw it and thought if you sucked in your gut hard enough, you would fit?" Yelling at the taller man, far more animated with her speech than usual. "Do you know how embarrassing that was for me to see that when getting dressed? Maids talk, Marlo!" An almost crack in her voice, unused to the strain. "It only takes the two that come in the morning for it get back to my mother by the end of the day, insisting I should update my measurements. You shouldn't have put me in the position to have to lie for you! A doctor would be here in a matter of hours to treat me for poisoning or something if I had said that this stupid dog-man comes to bother me every so often and apparently tries on my clothes when I'm not looking."

If he stepped closer, she was just as reactionary and step back. Pointing a finger at him, as if he would dare try and pass the blame, "You owe me an apology: for abusing my trust," she started counting in her fingers, "for not telling me, for the embarrassment I created for having to ask the dress maker to fix your mistake." There was more, but she stopped; she couldn't think of any other reasons, just knew they existed.

A heavy sigh like she tired herself out, looking down at the victim of Marlo's carelessness still on the floor. Seeming to notice something, Hibiko's face softened, then morphed to sadness, a tonal shift in her voice taking a familiar whine. "Oh my god, you ruined the cute flowers at the neckline too?" ((you can't just put this in my head and expect nothing from it)

@royaletiquette

The moment he had heard the dramatic rip of the dress, he had understood that he was fucked. While he was so detached to material things in general, he knew that it wasn’t the case with most humans and especially not Hibiko. Sharing was truly not their nature, and the more they had money and privilege, and the less they were inclined to give what they could to those who might need it. Even for the basic things, they were so reluctant, watching with disgusted eyes those who couldn’t even have food or decent clothes. It was a notion that Marlo couldn’t understand, this lack of love and help for another being in need; weren’t they all from the same species? Why then, were they so attached to things that wouldn’t last?

Hibiko was furious, and Marlo could only listen to her plea with his ears flipped against his skull, each wave feeling like a stab in his heart. He only wanted to try out her dress! She had dozens of them in her wardrobe, and some of them she had worn just once! ONCE! How could she be so heartless? Marlo huffed and crossed his arms, vexed as well to be scolded for something so shallow. He was shallow himself, but still! That was unnecessary! All that drama! He felt that he wanted to cry, and surely, he was close enough to let a sudden waterfall of tears fall down his wet eyes.

BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T LOVE HIM! SHE DIDN’T WANT TO SHARE!

He gasped in front of the audacity of her plea!

“Heavens! Everyone talks all the time; you just have decided to make a fuss about it but it’s only a dress! You have so many of them! Do you know how many people outside of your precious castle can’t even see what you call a doctor?” Marlo eventually answered, as he didn’t want to apologize, AT ALL! She truly had never grasped the way she would be forever stalked and judged by them? She was the constant subject of their gossip, and yet, she was blaming him! She would be their target! He only wanted to protect her and love her! And well okay… Perhaps testing her clothes… “None of them wants your happiness anyway! Whether you decide to rip a dress, to gain weight, to dance the way you want, or to eat food, you would be despised nonetheless because they all want to control you! And you let them! You always let them crush what YOU want! It’s sad! I hate it!”

He was very much furious but he knew that he should have said something rather than trying to hide it. He had observed that she was very materialistic, but he had never tried to echo with that. She was sensitive, perhaps childish yes, but at least she was the only one he could rely on in this world. Marlo looked back at her, his heart squeezed within his chest when he saw how much she was disappointed.

“I still have my magic…” Marlo said, moving his feet around like a scolded kid, but still in the mood to please her. Because if he didn’t have her anymore, then his heart would be forever broken. “I can fix it, if you want.” He observed her from the corner of his eyes, feeling those ugly tears slowly invading them. “Because… Because I don’t want to lose you!” He eventually whimpered and kneeled in front of her. 

“I don’t want to hurt you either…” He looked back at her and sniffed. “I’m sorry…”

[distopea]

@royaletiquette

❝  do you like me?  i think you care about me but.  do you like who i am?  ❞

IT’S  ALL  ABOUT  THE  YEARNING (accepting)

There’s a doubt floating on Marlo’s features. He cocked his head aside while she asked her question, before he eventually smiled. Ah… He could guess that she wanted to be reassured. That all of this mess was something driven by affection and liking, and she wished to know the truth of his intentions. Behind his shenanigans, she felt there was more than just mockery. There was a furious passion. A sordid devotion. Ah! She could see it finally! She was not that blind in the end.

“I do… like you.” He said while he extended his fingers, only to ghost her hand, without touching her. Usually, he would shamelessly invade her space, somehow pushed by that everlasting need to be seen, to be loved, to witness the way she might reciprocate this adoration. But from her heart, he wasn’t sure. His games were not matched, his love wasn’t something she understood.

“I do like you when you believe I don’t. I do like you whenever you wear those masks and play pretend with the crowd to amuse them, to be the star of the show, the princess among the princesses. When you’re just a puppet for your kingdom, spoiled, full of demands. I do like you when all of them will despise you.” He bowed for her and sighed lengthily. Alas, alas! She couldn’t see it. She couldn’t feel it. She kept her guard up around him, and she didn’t let her heart sing.

“But my dearest princess, how could you understand how much I like you when you don’t allow yourself to be liked in return? You don’t understand me. You don’t see my love and my yearning. You play with my soul, you spite, you cry, you yell… But your heart is cold with me. For me.” He looked up at her, kneeled in front of her. It was all about drama, but Marlo was born to be a comedian. Only his performance could perhaps remove those curtains in front of her eyes. 

“But don’t worry… Even though you’re cruel, I will still care for you.”

[distopea]

@royaletiquette

A hairbrush was whipped across the room at Marlo as soon as she spotted the book in his hands, followed by barely coherent whines of disbelief as Hibiko stomped over. She snatched his arm and proceeded to drag him as far as she could from the scene. "You don't go through a girl's bedside table for one, nor do you put it upon yourself to start flipping through her diary," she punctuated with a slap of his arm. "Bring something to entertain yourself with if you're that desperate."

"You are horrifically asinine, have I told you before?"

A yap of surprise escaped his lips while he was avidly reading something he knew – somewhere very deep inside of him – that he shouldn’t. Curiosity was a nasty flaw for sure, and Marlo was the living incarnation of those who couldn’t control themselves. He was aware that Hibiko despised his impossible urges to respect her boundaries and privacy, but truly, provoking her was the most delightful nectar. At least, she was living! Marlo thought it was the same as pushing someone into the river when they were afraid of drowning, a little gasp, a bit of fighting, and then freedom would be earned! At least it was the vision of his world.

“Tshehehe, your highness, I’m caught red-handed!” He chuckled devilishly, barely hiding the fact he was truly mischievous in his attitude. His fox-like laughter continued to echo in the air, while he braced himself from Hibiko’s wrath as she stomped closer. He wondered if she would dare to slap his cheek. It would quite a show after all! All that rage! All that life! He was proud of her reaction, eyes gleaming with deep cheerfulness, following her while she dragged him away from her awful little secrets.

“Ouch!” Marlo gasped while she slapped his forearm, dramatically rolling it against his chest, as he massaged the top of it, only to pretend he was so deeply hurt. She was a raging tempest, and he must say, he adored her even more in that state. Not because he wanted to be a pain in her life, but because she was able to expose so many sides of her personality, embracing her nature; allowing herself to exist! She was as true as the lines he had forbiddenly read from her diary, and deep down, oh he knew, how much it was worth it.

“Ah…! Agony! Asinine!” Marlo fell on his knees, for the love of drama and theater, his face twisted by the fake emotions of his supposedly hurtful feelings. One smile could be enough to win. Would she forgive him? Would she? Ah… He loved her enough to try everything for a little smile cracking the anger of her sweet loving face. “Princess Hibiko! Your highness! How could you stab my heart so violently? Calling me a fool? Me? Your humble and devoted servant?” Marlo sighed, then gripped the bottom of her dress and rolled his face right there. 

“Dear princess, you are nothing but my endless source of entertainment!” He looked up, golden eyes gleaming with an almost real pain, before he cocked his head aside, a little smirk curling the corner of his lips. “I promise I won’t repeat what you wrote about Prince Miko and his elephant ears…” He patted his chin, thoughtful. “Even if I must say I would have emphasized that ugly flaw of his.” He pressed his palm against his mouth. “Ah, pest! With those ears he might hear us!”

And before she would be able to slap him again, Marlo chuckled and disappeared in soft pop, the echo of his laughter fading in the royal room. 

[distopea]

@royaletiquette from here (x)

Of course, Marlo was very much aware that his lack of privacy was something quite annoying for the human beings he had encountered before – but the princess made it even harder. He could perceive a few cracks through her mask of disgust, something far more interesting than her usual spoiled attitude, but deeply, her nature was far too bonded to her traditions. The price of her freedom was hard to understand, and whether she would like it or not, it was for this very reason why Marlo was still obsessed.

He sensed that he had captivated her attention with his words. She was slightly upset when he mentioned her lack of dancing for the evening, but surely, he hoped a princess like her was good enough to prove she was the most graceful persona of the evening. Otherwise, well, the boredom he had experienced would be extended to that side of her personality. Ah… yes, yes, he was egocentric once again. But when things weren’t about him and his games, they were usually so dusty and dull. He was only there to polish their nature and reveal their most beautiful traits, according to the fox.

“But I got you at some point.” Marlo pointed out, while he decided to focus only on the interesting words of her sentence. She was on his side, for a little while, and it was enough to fulfill his ego with a bit of satisfaction. It could also tickle his greedy generosity, but so far, he decided that she was too much of a spoiled little girl to earn his gifts.

“Bless your spirit, princess Hibiko!” He said while he extended his clawed fingers, and then, withdrew his hand quickly. “Oh, I beg your pardon. I must present myself at my best for a dance with the most coveted person in the room.” He almost wanted to say that he was talking about himself, but he thought that she wouldn’t appreciate the joke. Instead of that, Marlo morphed into his total human form, dressed properly, with his hair combed for once.

“Your Grace." He bent down politely and extended his fingers once more, any form of mischief totally gone from his attitude. “I’d like to waltz with you.” And for once, he waited for her approval. He only straightened himself back up when she would slide her fingers into the palm of his hand.

[distopea]

@royaletiquette

❝ why should i trust you again ? ❞ (Hibiko/Marlo)

Prompt list - angst edition (accepting)

The question Hibiko asked was full of resentment and mistrust, and surely, her goal was to probably hurt Marlo’s ego, but instead of that, there was a smile curling his lips. He rolled on his back, always in such a dramatic way, looking with his golden eyes to the face of the princess. For once, she asked the right question. She was widening her vision of this world, and Marlo, right there, was blessed by it. All that potential… 

He eventually rolled back on his feet; his canines exposed as he stepped closer from Hibiko. He loved to invade her personal space, probably because he had a lot of fun reading her emotions and the rhythm of her heart. How to blame her for her lack of trust in him? He was a god of many mischief after all, and his riddles were often quite misleading for anyone playing with them.

“Why should you, mmh~? That’s a good question.” He extended his fingers, brushed the length of her hair. Soft. He liked it. As much as he was growing fond of her. She could resent him for his attitude, yes, but at least, she didn’t try to outsmart him either. She was just curious… and wary. “Honestly, I have no answer to give you. Trusting me is quite a mistake. Didn’t you see how much of a manipulator I am, Hibiko darling? I’m faking my way to be a servant of this palace, while I’m here every day and night to pester the princess herself until she would ask me favors. Or more? Naughty, if our little secret ever reaches ill-intentioned ears.”

He chuckled and then captured her hand, brushing the top of it with his lips. He then abandoned his grip – he sensed she was not happy with his attitude. Marlo smiled, and then cocked his head aside. “Hibiko, no one shall be trusted in the world you live in.” He said, slightly more serious than before. “You were born to carry the burden of the royal blood, and today, whether you wish to be free, whether you decide to trust those who surround your life, none of them will be trustworthy if you ever decide to stop playing their games.” He placed a hand on his chest. “But me, my darling, at least I don’t pretend that my intentions are only for your well-being. I’m quite honest in my deceiving attitude.”

He moved around and then sat back at the edge of the bed, almost alluring her. “Hibiko darling, it’s in mankind's nature to trust and betray. I have observed you long enough to know that it’s very much the fuel of humanity.” He rolled back on her bed, laid there, while he kicked his boots off his feet. “I should return the question. One day you might be the one betraying me, when you’d consider that it’s better for your own selfish design. I don’t blame you, princess. I embrace it.” He looked back up, licked his lips. 

“Come on… Right now, we’re having fun. Would you really want to spoil it when you act with me the way you have always desired? You’re free, around me.” He patted the bed, as if Hibiko would suddenly decide to join and cuddle. “This is my very first gift to you.”