#midnightvalentine2k17

[midnightuglystepsister]

Midnight Valentine: SOULMATE SOIRÉE

Chapter II: The Flavor of Love

Part 2

Now, they say that opportunity only comes to those prepared for it.

Well, Alyn had spent two months for this. Gods be damned if that was not preparation enough.

And to be honest, it did not matter if he ended up finding her in the freaking clocktower. It did not matter if he would have to pry her away from Giles or Robert for whatever important meeting. And it especially did not matter if he had to save her from his brother. He would look for her and he would find her.

And he would try, without balking, to be romantic.

Alyn went down the stairs, a bit nervous now, careful to not make any noise. He could hear someone working in the kitchen, the sound of a metal pan being placed on the marble table and then the cupboards being opened and closed, as if someone was looking for something in haste. He tried to suppress a laugh; it was so typical of her to start cooking without having all the necessary items in place and sure enough, as  he took a peek, he saw her reaching into the farthest portion of the shelf above her before taking out what she needed with a relieved huff of breath.

Alyn felt the tension leaving his shoulders, cold dread and panic being replaced by something warmer, brighter, and he watched as she moved methodically, trying to scoop whatever it was on the pan with one clean swipe before transferring it into the bowl she had just taken out. Her hair was pulled back from her face, and her apron was a mess of splatters and what looked like a black singe but he did not want to think about how that happened although he could pretty much guess.

When it seemed like she was in no hurry to look up from where she was working, Alyn braced himself, gripping the gift with both hands, and coughed out loud.

Then he prayed that she would not shoo him away.

“Nico, for the last time, I told you not to -!” But the rest of the words tumbled back into her throat as she looked up and saw him. She froze.

“I’m back.” He said.

“You -! You told me you were arriving tomorrow!”

“It is tomorrow.” Alyn pointed at the clock and her eyes followed his fingers and she cursed under her breath. She looked back at him, biting her lip, her entire face scrunched up in worry and then it showed defeat at being found out.

She sighed out loud, raising her hands. It took everything in Alyn to not cross the kitchen in three steps and kiss her.

“I went up to your chambers and you weren’t there. ” Alyn said. He tried moving closer but just as he thought, she made waving motions with her hands and went to him herself.

“I’m busy.” She said.

“Yes, I can see that.” Alyn angled his head but she blocked his view with her arms. He raised a brow at her. “I can smell what you’re making. I saw all the books in your chambers and in the library too.”

“Goddammit.” She crossed her arms, paused, and then said, “Well it’s for tomorrow - I mean, later, and you have no business here.”

Alyn did not move. “From scratch?”

She opened her mouth. Closed it. Then gave in. “Yes.”

“And you fermented it and all?”

“Took me a freaking week.”

Alyn paused and she would not meet his gaze. “After all these years, you actually followed my steps? You’re making them from cocoa beans? Ground them and all that?”

“Whatever Robert says, I did not have him get them for me.” The blush on her cheeks was apparent now despite her rolling her eyes.

Alyn swallowed again. He badly wanted to kiss her.

“Souvenir?” She was looking now at the box in his hands.

Oh shit.

“It’s uhhh…” Alyn began to stammer and he mentally cursed himself. “I collected these for you.”

“You’re so cute when you’re like that.” She held the box as he gave it to her. She angled her head and they moved to the nearest counter as she began unwrapping the gift that had taken him hours to wrap. When she finally undid the last ribbon, her eyes went wide with disbelief.

“Is this what I think it is?”

“Yes.”

Inside the box was a leather-bound book. She gingerly extracted it, holding it delicately in her hands as if it contained the secrets of the gods. She looked up at him again and then back at the book. She opened it.

Her jaw dropped.

The book was a collection of different confectionary recipes taken not just from the provinces of Wysteria but from other countries as well; there were germanic symbols of the Steiner tongue, the italicized script of Fairmark and the kingdoms farther west, there were even some with the strange symbols used in the far eastern countries that Alyn had forgotten how to pronounce. She scanned the contents, her eyes darting back and forth.  Each and every dessert was carefully illustrated and catalogued and then translated into Wysterian, for her consumption.

For a moment, it was as if she was shaking.

“Is this why you were away all the time?” She looked as if the pieces were clicking into place inside her head. “Is this why you were always assigned at the borders?”

It was Alyn’s turn to avert his gaze.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Isn’t that the purpose of a surprise?” Alyn smiled now. “Happy Valentines, love.”

“Is this supposed to be as practically close to chocolate as you can get?”

“Yes.”

She laughed and threw her arms around him, snuggling against his chest this time. “Gods, Alyn, thank you! And here I was just ready to fight you this year!

“You would have lost.”

“That remains to be seen.” She laughed again. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.”He said, hugging her tighter still. And he wanted more. So much more than just this.

Alyn had had many attempts in trying to be romantic and these attempts had fizzled each and every time. He was extremely private after all, and more often than not, whatever tender words he wanted to say end up either left being unsaid, if not sardonic.

He really wanted to be romantic this time. He reminded himself that he had worked hard for this, had dreamed of it countless of times.

Grab it, Alyn.

The opportunity had just presented itself.

Just say it!

“I want to make it with you.”

She pulled back and looked at him as if he had spoken in a foreign tongue.

And Alyn, in turn could feel the blush on his own cheeks, the warmth inside him spreading all the way to his fingertips. He felt dizzy. Part of him wanted to turn around and walk away, to leave her and tell her he was going to look forward to her surprise after all. Besides, he had given her his gift anyway.

Except that was not what he wanted this year.

That was not what he wanted from here on out.

Don’t balk, goddammit. “I want to make the chocolate with you. I don’t want competition between us this year.”

“Are you still saying that I can’t make it on my own?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Because if you are, I swear to the gods Alyn Crawford, I - !”

“I’m not!” Alyn countered. “And that was not even in any of my sentences! Look,” He placed his hands on her shoulders. More to stop himself from shaking than it was to stop her from stopping him. “I just want to make it with you. I don’t care if we think differently about cooking. I don’t care if our views are miles apart. It never did matter to me then and it doesn’t matter to me now.

“I just want to... this year… all the other years too because…”

She was not moving her gaze from him and he could feel his cheeks getting warmer and warmer by the second.

“Because I just really want to do it with you.”

“If we were not talking about chocolate, that would sound so wrong and so forward and so unromantic.”

“Please give me a break.”

“Oh this is me being very easy on you.”

“Two seconds to get me into the mood and - ”

But the rest of his words were left unsaid. She had moved towards him, tiptoeing and wrapping her arms around his neck again. It took Alyn by surprise and for a few seconds he forgot how to move.

Then he heard something click.

“You’re so easy to distract, sheesh.” She drew back, a triumphant smile on her face. “Something for you whenever you go back to those godawful patrols. Except, please don’t go on them again.”

“Believe me, I’m not planning to.” Alyn looked down and saw a locket. The circle fit into his palm snugly and it was encrusted with what looked like small rubies around twin swords. He opened it and inside was a portrait: a smaller version of the painting Robert had done for the two of them during their first year.

“Heh. The gems matches your cheeks.”

“They do not.” Alyn said, pouting, closing his hand around the locket, his heart hammering in his chest, and knowing all too well that yes, his cheeks were matching the rubies.

“It was supposed to be for tomorrow - no, I mean, today. Was supposed to go with the chocolate.” She jerked a thumb behind her. “But since you’re here already, and you did give me my gift. Well… Happy Valentines too, love.” She smiled up at him again and Alyn could swear he heard angels singing in his ears. “And welcome back.”

Alyn could not help himself. He touched her face. “I’m finally home.”

For the third time, she hugged him and this time, Alyn did not tarry in hugging her back. The fact that he was practically starving for her touch hit him full on and he savored the sensation of her skin against his, of her weight pressed against him.

And for a moment, they stayed like that, quite content in each other’s arms, quite content to be able to feel the other physically present after such a long time of being apart. Alyn buried his face in her hair, taking in her familiar scent. She was sugar and cream and vanilla and -

“Is that… chili?”

“Ha!” She exclaimed, extracting herself from the embrace and almost bouncing back to the tables.

Alyn was confused. “You’re putting chili in the chocolate?”

“Yup.”

“Are you insane?”

“I prefer the word pioneering.”

Alyn was unconvinced, bordering on horrified.

“You look like I’m about to murder a lamb.” She clicked her tongue, straightening. “Isn’t it somewhere in the uhhh - recipe holder you got me?”

“No!” Alyn said, almost indignant.

“Shame.” She shrugged. “So. Are you gonna help me make it or am I going to just shoo you away again?”

Alyn hesitated. Then he shook his head with a resigned grin. “Lead the way through your aesthetic.”

Some would argue that cooking was a science.

There had to be exact measurements of things in bowls with clearly defined markings; there had to be counting of precise minutes, or else everything is going to burn; you had to carefully follow each and every step, unless what you were originally trying to brew was a disaster. There was a practical reason why you have to put cream first before the sugar, why you made sure the batter was smooth and not chunky, and why you should never try to fry anything that was fresh out of the water.

But some people, like her, would argue that cooking was an art.

It was not that they blatantly ignored basics. That would be insane, and she would agree with him on that. Only, cooking was an art because she saw the vast and expansive room for improvement. Why stop pushing when you could explore so much more options? Why stop trying new things just because a few old rules worked?

And as he and she bustled around the kitchen in their aprons, as they melted the nibs and weighed, measured and added the goddamn chili peppers into mix, as the aroma of her concoction finally drifted from the pot and filled the kitchen, Alyn seemed to finally understand what she had meant.

“Here.” She offered the spatula caked with the chocolate.

“You want me to taste this first?” Alyn was incredulous.

“Think of it as me.” She grinned. “Sweet but with a kick to it, ha!”

“More like death.” But Alyn took hold of her hand and licked.  It was sweet – of course it would be sweet – and as he continued savoring the chocolate there was a sudden spice. He brought a hand to his mouth and then said, “It’s actually good.”

She was all smiles, tiptoeing to kiss him.

Cooking was not exactly science.

But, it was not really art either.

And to be honest, he could not decide which outweighed the other. Not that it mattered at the moment because at least for now, as he watched her humming, pouring the finished chocolate into the molds, grinning up at him as she noticed him watching, the only thing that was definite was cooking with her was an experience.

It made him happy

Just as she did.

Just as she always will.

The end.

Original Character by @cyikemen

Written by @theempresskaizer

Illustrated by @midnightuglystepsister

[kakihoden]

based on @rimalupin ‘s Midnight Valentine: Soulmate Soiree story, \

Chapter 5: Chapter V: Chocolate for Two

part 1 || part 2

[rimalupin]

Midnight Valentine: SOULMATE SOIRÉE

Chapter V: Chocolate for Two

Last time (Illustrations inspired by Part 1):

Part 2 (Note: More illustrations will be uploaded by @kakihoden in a reblog post soon.)

Two weeks later…

Nico sighed as he lifted the last few bags from the carriage. He checked if he left any baggage on the coach before following King Byron and Albert into Wysteria Palace.

He tried to remain present and enthusiastic when Giles greeted them and led them to their rooms. He tried to stay calm and focused when Byron and Albert discussed the plan for the day. But as settled down in his room and unpacked his bags, he couldn’t help but think of the Princess. Although two weeks had gone by rather quickly, it seemed like months had passed since he had last seen her. He didn’t want to seem desperate, but he couldn’t help it: he missed her too much.

And today was the day that he’d tell her his true feelings.

Nico pulled a small pink box out of one of his bags. He tightened the red ribbon that sealed the box shut before putting it into his pocket. Byron’s voice called him from outside. With that, Nico stood up and left his room to join Byron and Albert in the hallway.

As they walked down the palace’s corridors, Albert reviewed their lengthy schedule. Nico zoned out while Albert droned out about their itinerary. All that Nico knew was that the cultural fair didn’t start until late afternoon, so he still had time to see the Princess before then. He placed his hand into the pocket where the box was resting.

Byron glanced at him with his uncovered eye. “Nico, is there something on your mind?” he asked.

“Huh?” Nico snapped out of his dazed trance. “Oh, it’s nothing, King Byron.”

Albert gave him an annoyed look. “Brat. If there’s something bothering you, then tell us.”

“You don’t have to be so worked up,” Byron lightly chided Albert. “But Al’s right.” Byron turned to Nico. “You can tell us anything, Nico.”

Nico’s eyes darted from Byron to Albert. After a slight hesitation, he finally started talking: “Well, the thing is, I-.” Suddenly, he saw a small, furry figure scurrying around the opposite end of the hallway. “Chirol?!”

Byron raised an eyebrow at Nico. “Who are you talking about?” asked a perplexed Albert.

But instead of addressing their confusion, Nico raced down the hallway until he reached Chirol, who stopped running around once he saw Nico. Nico bent down and the squirrel eagerly jumped into his hands. “Hey, buddy! I haven’t seen you in a while,” he exclaimed. “What are you doing inside the palace? Shouldn’t you be hibernating or something?” The squirrel merely looked at him with wide eyes. Nico chuckled, and then decided to ask Chirol something silly: “Don’t tell me: are you looking for the Princess too?”

To Nico’s surprise, Chirol abruptly jumped out of his hands and scampered away. “Hey, wait a minute!” Nico said as he got up and followed the squirrel. They ran through several hallways and passed by a few bewildered servants before stopping near a room at the end of the corridor. Nico placed his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. He looked at the squirrel standing before him. “What was that all about?” he asked.

“Did you say something, Leo?” a soft voice asked from inside the room. Surprised, Nico pressed his back against the wall. Chirol climbed up Nico’s shoulder as he listened to the conversation.

“Nope, I didn’t say anything,” Leo replied. “Did you, Giles?”

“No,” Giles said. “Perhaps you’re worrying too much, Princess. You should get some rest before the event.”

“I’m fine,” the Princess replied stubbornly. “I just need to figure out what I did wrong.”

Curious about the situation, Nico carefully peeked inside the room: the Princess was standing beside Leo and Giles in the middle of the kitchen. They were fussing over something vaguely familiar on the counter. Nico squinted his eyes in an attempt to identify what they were making. Hold on, he thought to himself, are those truffles? Nico hid against the wall again as he touched the box in his pocket. He smiled to himself. Looks like my present won’t be much of a surprise after all.

“Well, try to at least give yourself a break before everyone arrives,” Giles advised the Princess. “We don’t want you falling asleep during the fair.”

Nico guessed that the Princess rolled her eyes. “I’ll be fine, you guys. I’ll just make something else: these chocolates turned out to be a wreck, anyway.”

“You’ve still got some leftover chocolate. You could find a way to use that,” Leo suggested.

There was a moment of silence before the Princess responded, “You just gave me an idea.” Nico heard the Princess shuffle about the kitchen, moving bowls and other kitchenwares here and there.

Leo chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that. We’ll see you later then, Princess.”

“Good luck, Your Highness,” Giles added before he and Leo began to walk out of the kitchen. Upon hearing their footsteps getting closer to him, Nico rushed into the nearest room and hid there for a while. He waited for them to pass by the room, hoping that they hadn’t seen him or Chirol. When he was sure that Leo and Giles were gone, Nico slipped out of the room. Once Nico stepped back into the hallway, Chirol jumped off his shoulder and ran into the kitchen. “Chirol!” Nico exclaimed as he followed the squirrel into the kitchen.

~~~

Nico rushed into the kitchen, only to see the Princess talking to Chirol, who was standing beside a large bowl of nuts. “Hey, Chirol! I didn’t expect to see you here,” the Princess said as she offered him a walnut. The squirrel eagerly took the nut and stuffed it into his cheeks. She laughed as Chirol continued to shove more nuts into his mouth. Nico placed a hand over his mouth, trying to suppress a giggle.

The Princess gently stroked Chirol’s head. “You don’t happen to know where Nico is, do you?” she asked the squirrel. He simply looked at her with wide eyes and full cheeks. She smiled and continued to pet Chirol’s soft fur.

Suddenly, Nico’s voice echoed throughout the kitchen: “You were looking for me, Your Highness?”

The Princess jumped at the sound of Nico’s voice. “Nico! I didn’t know you were here!”

Nico walked to the Princess, his hand lingering in the pocket with the box. “Sorry I scared you,” he said. “I didn’t want to distract you from your work.” He gestured towards the clutter of bowls, kitchenware, and chocolates on the countertops.

“Oh, shoot. You weren’t supposed to see that.” The Princess sheepishly crossed her arms. “I was going to surprise you today, so I figured I would make the truffles we made last week. Unfortunately, they didn’t turn out so well.” She picked one of the rolled balls of chocolate. It seemed fine at first, but then it began to melt in her hand. The Princess let out a frustrated sigh. “See? They’re horrible.”

Nico raised his eyebrows. “You made these for me?” he asked, almost incredulously.

He swore that he saw the faintest pink spread across the Princess’s cheeks. “Well, yeah,” she said. “I wanted to give them to you for Valentine’s Day because, well, you know…”

“I actually had the same idea,” Nico interrupted. He fished the box out of his pocket and placed it in the Princess’s hands.

Her wide eyes darted from Nico to the little pink box. She then untied the ribbon and removed the lid. She gasped when she saw the chocolates inside. “Oh, Nico.” The Princess remained speechless as she pulled Nico into a warm embrace.

He returned the hug, stroking her hair affectionately. “I guess this means you like your present?” Nico asked teasingly.

She pulled away slightly and looked at Nico. “Of course,” she said, smiling. “That was so thoughtful of you.”

Nico pressed his forehead against hers. “Well, I’m always thinking of you, so there’s no surprise there.”

The Princess chuckled at Nico’s response. Suddenly, she pulled away. “Wait, I still haven’t given you your Valentine’s Day present. Why don’t you sit down while I finish making it?”

“Oh, uh…. Sure thing, Princess.” Despite his cheery tone, Nico was slightly disappointed that their embrace had ended so soon. But nonetheless, he was still excited for what the Princess had in store for him. While the Princess got back to work, Nico took a seat beside one of the counters. He watched Chirol munch on some almonds as he waited for the Princess’s surprise.

~~~

A short while later, the Princess called for Nico. “It’s done!” she exclaimed. Giddy with excitement, Nico nearly fell off his seat when he turned around to face the Princess. Noticing this, she giggled before handing him a mug. “Here you go.”

Nico observed the milky-brown liquid in the cup, inhaling its warm scent. He gasped in surprise. “Is this hot chocolate?”

The Princess nodded and took a seat beside him. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said, lifting her mug.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Nico replied, clinking his mug against hers. They sipped their drinks in unison, occasionally glancing at each other over the rims of their cups.

When he way halfway finished with his drink, Nico gave the Princess a bright smile. “This is by far the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had,” he remarked.

The Princess shook her head. “Oh, now you’re over-exaggerating. It’s just hot chocolate. Nothing too special.” She looked down at her mug, which was now resting on her lap.

“But it is! The way I see it,” he said, “Is that if you think of someone when you make something for them, that makes the present even more special.”

The Princess gave Nico a soft smile. “Nico, that is so sweet of you to say.”

“Oh, thank you, Princess. But speaking of sweets,” Nico moved closer to the Princess. “You know, I can think of something much sweeter than chocolate.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” She inched closer to Nico, almost closing the space between them.

Nico smirked at her. “I guess you can’t wait to find out.” Still holding his mug to his chest, he pressed a soft kiss onto the Princess’s lips. She froze at the initial shock at Nico’s sudden actions, but she soon returned his kiss. Although it was short, their kiss was as warm and sweet as the hot chocolate they drank together.

When they pulled away from each other, Chirol hopped onto Nico’s shoulder, curious about what the couple was doing. They both laughed at the squirrel, whose cheeks are still full of nuts. Then, Nico placed his forehead against the Princess’s. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Princess.”

She closed her eyes, enjoying their closeness and warmth. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Nico.”

The end.

Original Character by @cyikemen

Written by @rimalupin

Illustrated by @kakihoden

[ythmir-writes]

Midnight Valentine: Soulmate Soirée

Chapter II: Flavor of Love

Part 1

Alyn Crawford had a plan. Part of that plan involved him trying to be romantic for the first time in his life.

He entered his quarters quite certain that no one had seen him do so. He had arrived back in the palace a good whole day just to ensure that. It was not that he was hiding exactly, only that for now he would rather not deal with any unnecessary questions with the box he was holding in his hands.

It was a hard find, this particular present, and he did not want anyone nosing around about it. Not only was it months in the making, it was also particularly damn hard to make and he did not want it spoiled or gossiped before he was ready to give it.

Alyn had had to come up a whole lot of unnecessary excuses just so no one would be the wiser with his frequent trips out of the castle. He was lucky that with the constant influx of bureaucrats into Wysteria, border patrols never ran out of style. And he had made the most out of that. Then again, even official seals of assignment had never stopped the Princess from asking anyway.

“Border patrols, again?” She had asked him the third time. He had only casually mentioned it during their training and her initial response had been to almost ram a knight with the shield she had in her hands. “You’ve been on them so many times already! Did someone die and Alder is invading again?”

“Nobody died.” He had answered. “And it’s just for five days.”

Although, the assurance had been more for himself than for the princess. He was never fond of the times he was far away from her, and he knew with absolute certainty that he never would. But at least on these particular excursions, he was away with purpose. However, she did not need to know any of that.

She had sighed, sheathing her sword and pouting. “Fine. Can’t be helped. Part of your job after all.”

“Don’t miss me too much.” He had added, trying to lighten the mood.

She had stuck out her tongue. “Shouldn’t it be me saying that?” She had tried appearing unfazed. But he knew the way her lips always formed a thin line whenever she tried hiding how she was worried. And back then, her lips were as thin as they could be.

The important thing was that he was done, he thought, as he placed the box on his worktable. He no longer had to go away to the farthest reaches of Wysteria,  no longer have to see her worry over him or watch her turn away just before he rode his horse, and more importantly, he no longer had to ride for days on end before he could see her. Now, all it took was climbing few stairs and some turns and she would be before him, with her smile and her coyness and her teasing smirk.

Gods he missed her smirk.

No, that would be amiss. Alyn missed everything of her.

As he took out the special ribbons he had hiding in his closet and began wrapping the present, Alyn made a mental note of turning down any assignment in the foreseeable future that meant being away from the castle. He was not sure he could take being apart from her any more than he already had. Every fiber of his being ached to touch her the moment he had crossed the palace gates. It was almost as if it physically hurt him to be away for so long.

Though he did have to stop himself from addressing the need to see her immediately. Alyn knew he had to go about this right, his timing had to be perfect. He had to be romantic about it.

So instead of racing towards her chambers, as he always did whenever he got back from an assignment, Alyn had dragged his feet towards his quarters, reminding himself all the while that he had to be patient. Just as he had been patient with collecting everything he needed for her present.

Some things could not be hurried.

And this was one of those things.

***

It was almost daybreak when Alyn finally finished.

He took a few seconds to regard his handiwork. He nodded, satisfied, and gave himself a mental pat on the back. Not bad. Wrapping things in pretty bows was not his strongest suit but he did a pretty decent job.

He smiled to himself. He hoped she would like it.

Realizing the thought made him suddenly self-conscious and he coughed uneasily.

Right.

Alyn tucked the gift under his arm and then proceeded to head for her chambers. It was a good two hours before she had to wake up. The chance of seeing her first thing in the morning made him smile to himself again.

There would be a whole lot of teasing to be done.

However, as Alyn turned the corner into the hallway leading to her room, the first thing he noticed was the startling fact that his two best men were nowhere to be found.

Alyn frowned. He had given them specific instructions to not have her out of their sight whenever he was away. What in the gods’ holy names made them disobey that?

He braced himself as he pushed the door and stepped into her room, hoping that he would find all three of them inside playing cards or something more sinister. The bedroom was empty. As a matter of fact, it seemed to have been unoccupied for hours.

Alyn noticed that the covers to her bed were a mess. Books were strewn from there all the way to the sofa, her favorite inks were on the floor, paint was smeared messily on the ends of a curtain, and, as he took a good look around, her best hiking boots, which she usually propped just outside her bath, were nowhere to be seen.

For a moment, he stood there, at a loss for what to do next. And for a moment, panic bubbled inside him and he tried to calm down by reminding himself that the mess he was surrounded by was just what she usually left in her wake.

He began picking up the books she had left behind, unable to shake the uneasiness he felt. When he was done, he wondered if he should wait until she got back and surprise her then. But if she did not return until after the palace staff had woken up, then it would mean that all his efforts would  be in vain.

Two months down the drain.

His near impeccable wrapping gone to waste.

He did not want that.

So Alyn made his way to her second favorite place.

She could be studying something or perhaps preparing for another speech or soiree. Probably with Giles and - he hoped not - with Leo. But as Alyn poked his head into the library, he found it dark and empty.

Still, as he took a good look around to make sure she was not tucked away in some corner and dozing off, he caught the whiff of newly snuffed candles. An inspection of the fireplace, and the attendant books haphazardly stacked on an armchair across it, proved his guess that she had been there recently.

So where was she now?

Alyn sighed and crossed his arms, suddenly remembering how it had been very difficult to constantly have to look for her during her first year as the Princess. Although she had mellowed the past few years, she still sometimes tried to wander off, and it was still something he would rather do without.

She’s not scaling the walls again. Is she?

Alyn shook his head.

No. She promised she wouldn’t again ever.

He imagined her sitting on the armchair, hair loose and legs folded underneath her. He imagined her looking up at him and smiling. He imagined her teasing him at being such an idiot because the clues were right there and he should have seen them and -

Ah.

***

If asked back then if Alyn would have fallen for the princess elect, he would have laughed and then said, “Who the hell falls in love with a wall-climbing hooligan?”

He was glad that he had not been asked. And he was glad that he had not given that answer.

If asked when it was that he thought he had fallen in love with the Princess, Alyn would not have laughed. As a matter of fact, Alyn would not have answered at all, being extremely private. But he would, if pestered enough, give you his first fondest memory of them together.

“When I outbaked her.”

When she was still a commoner and not yet the Princess Elect, she had a tutor most days and a confectioner on weekends, helping around in her neighbor’s bakeshop.  It was not a surprise to Alyn then that she knew a lot of things: from basic arithmetic and languages, to how to grow plants and clean a fish, guts and all.

What had been a surprise was that she almost did not know her way around a kitchen. She was a confectioner after all; surely it meant that she knew how to cook. But that was not the case.

“I decorated.” She had said.

She did know the basics though.  Except everything else seemed to dissolve into obscurity. Details, he remembered her telling him, which were unimportant.

“It’s all about the end product.” She had declared taking a bite out of the macaroon she had just made and then smiling at her success. “Cookbooks just get in the way.”

“Well, sometimes you can’t skip them.” Alyn had scoffed at her.

“They’re not the gods commandments, Alyn. Just guidelines. Besides, making sweets isn’t so simple. Otherwise everyone would just pop sugar cubes in their mouth. Where’s the fun in that?”

This, Alyn had found ridiculous. Cooking was definitely more of a science than art. And some desserts worked because they were tried and tested. But she had waved his teasing away with a determined smirk and the words, “I can outbake you.”

He had laughed, “That’s not even a real word.”

“Person who does a better chocolate cake gets the last say?”

Much to Alyn’s delight, and to her chagrin unfortunately, she had been unsuccessful in her attempt to ‘outbake’ him. Alyn’s cooking skills was one of his best kept secrets after all and she had been dumbfounded by it. She could do nothing but admit that his cake tasted better than hers.

That, and everyone else in the palace had taken better liking to his creation.

“I did outdesign you though.” She had said, unable to accept clear defeat, motioning to the perfect twirls of cream on her own cake. To which Alyn, and everyone else in the palace, could only agree.

Her specialty was confectionary after all.

She also still maintained that cooking was, first and foremost, an art.

Regardless, Alyn was glad he had taken her up on her challenge. And he was even happier that they had by some unspoken mutual agreement, in the years succeeding, would always try to outbake each other on that special day. That had been the thing where they found common ground. Just like him, she found cooking (or making sweets to be specific) as an outlet to relax. And it was as if they saw each other in a different light.

She no longer ran away from the sight of him, or tried to escape whenever he was the one assigned for guard duty. She no longer teased him endlessly with Leo, or purposefully avoid going to his general direction. She also was no longer much of a grouch when they rode together or when he taught her basic self-defense.

“Your areas of expertise are battlefields and kitchens. That’s ironic.” She had commented.

“Says the person who bakes but cannot fry a fish to save a life.” He had answered.

“Rude.” Then, she had been silent for a while. “I don’t really care much about any other kind of cooking to be honest. I will leave it in your capable hands. Although I want to try and make something that wasn’t Wysterian.”

“You’ll be needing cookbooks for that.”

“Or I can just wing it by tasting them.” She chewed on her lip.

“Your tongue has limits.”

“And yours doesn’t?”

Alyn had scoffed. “We can find out.”

She had started smiling a whole lot more too. She laughed more earnestly, was more enthusiastic even during simple tea parties, and somehow seemed more at ease in the castle than she had ever been.  There were even instances when she would voluntarily submit herself to his quarters, at times just to pester him because she felt bored or feed him something she had recently tried creating.

The only downside was that she always did shoo him away whenever she spent time in the kitchen, teasing him to be spying on her, or otherwise declaring him an outright enemy of the state.

“I have nothing to teach someone who doesn’t believe this is art.” She had said when he had tried to check up on her.

It had been nothing at first but as they days turned to weeks and the weeks turned to years, and as they became closer than Alyn could ever have imagined the first time he had seen her, it began to bother him more and more.

There was a glow in her that lit whenever she emerged from the kitchens, clothes still smelling of sugar and cream and vanilla, as if her very skin was sweetness and honey. She was radiant enough as she was but when she had something in her hands that she had made, she was positively beaming.

And Alyn, for all his quietness and privacy, wanted to be part of that.

End Part 1

Alyn Crawford by @cyikemen

MC @me (hi guys, theempresskaizer here)

[naughtilynicomeier]

Midnight Valentine: Soulmate Soirée

Chapter VII: Sweet Surprise

Part 2

Albert took the giddy, blushing princess in his arms and set her next to the tub. He turned on the faucet, letting the water run until it was warm while he discarded his jacket and shirt, now rumpled and dirty along with his slacks in the other room. He caught sight of the princess blushing at his body, admiring him as he checked the temperature of the water for her. He smiled softly, and kneeled in front of her, his hands ghosting over her knees. He leaned in and kissed her nose, his fingers swiftly slipping her out of her stockings and garter belt. When he checked the water again, it was just right, and he stopped the drain. Albert gathered the princess in his arms again, settling her in the warm water with a happy hum. He kissed her forehead, watching her eyes flutter shut in delight. Dropping the soap into the water to let it bubble up, he turned away. “I will be right back.”

        Returning to the princess’ chambers, Albert searched the wreckage of clothing and treats on the floor. He chuckled to himself, thinking of the mess of strawberries and other things the maids would never have explained to them. Albert searched the floor, and found the rest of the chocolates, salvaging the remaining morsels into the broken box and heading back to the bathroom.

        He found the princess dozing happily in the warm bubbles, the tub halfway full with water. Albert set the box of chocolates next to the princess, and reached forward to turn off the water. “Sit forward,” he asked, and the princess obliged silently. Albert settled into the water, his legs on either side of the princess. The bubbles rose up around them, just low enough so as not to spill over the porcelain sides. The water was hot, but Albert enjoyed the way it soothed his muscles and his still thrumming core. He leaned back, eyes closing as a heavy groan flowed from his mouth. He rested his arms on the edges of the tub, content.

        The princess leaned back into his chest, making a similarly pleased noise. The two sighed in unison, Albert pressing his cheek into the princess’ hair. The low lamplight glimmered off their wet skin, coating them in fine lines of orange and shadow. He dipped his hand into the water, taking handfuls of the suds and running them over the princess’ dirty skin. The princess hummed, squirming happily in Albert’s arms as he cleaned her of his mess. Albert pressed a kiss to the princess’ cheek, holding her close to his chest as he whispered, “Thank you for my surprise.”

        The princess grinned, blushing. “You’re welcome.” She turned to the side, seeing the box of stawberries, and covered her mouth shyly. “I’m sorry for ruining mine.”

        Albert laughed, eyeing the crumpled candy box and haphazardly piled strawberries. “Nonsense,” he said, reaching out with one dripping hand to pluck a chocolate berry from the box. “Who says you ruined it?”

        The princess smiled as Albert raised the sweet to her lips, and she bit into the fruit with a satisfied noise. “Wow,” she said, licking her lips. “These really are delicious.”

She continued to nibble on the treat from Albert’s fingers, making Albert smile. “I’m glad you like them,” he said, taking the strawberry away when only the stem remained. He reached into the box and grabbed another one, allowing himself a bite of the chocolate. “I have to agree,” he said, offering the half-bitten berry to the princess.

The princess cuddled into Albert’s arms, and gladly took another bite. The two continued to trade bites of the sweets until the box was completely empty apart from a pile of strawberry stems. Their bellies sated with sweets, the couple held each other beneath the warm bubbles. The princess curled into Albert’s chest, offering his jawline tiny pecks of strawberry kisses, and Albert circling his arms around the princess’ shoulders.

“Happy Valentine’s Day my love,” Albert said, pressing his lips to the princess’ forehead.

The princess nodded, her wet skin sticking to Albert’s chest. “Maybe next year we can celebrate it openly,” she said, a twinge of melancholy in her voice. She traced the water droplets on Albert’s chest, linking them together with her fingers and watching them trail back down into the pool of water.

Albert sighed. “You know we will,” he said, hopeful.

The princess sighed, sitting away from Albert. The water sloshed between them, moving into the gap her body created against Albert’s chest. “Giles still wants me to marry Byron.”

Albert stared down into the water, a pang of hurt in his chest. He knew the circumstances better than anyone; the princess needed to find an ideal marriage to link Wysteria and Stein together as allies, and Byron was the best candidate. He was strong, powerful, dignified, and respected. He was everything a princess should want to marry.

And yet, here was Albert. Sitting with the princess naked in his arms, holding her tightly and calling her his love. Albert often wondered how the two of them would ever be together.

“You know I’ve already chosen you,” the princess said, reading his thoughts. She cupped his cheek, her hand warm from the bathwater, and Albert laced his fingers with hers. “I just need to find a way to convince everyone that we can be just as beneficial to Stein and Wysteria together.”

Albert closed his eyes, and pressed a kiss to the princess’ open palm. “Princess,” he said, meeting her eyes. He released her hand, then reached out and pulled her waist on top of his. “I swear to you,” he said, running his hands over her cheeks and staring into her eyes. “I will tell Byron about us, and I will convince him to allow me to wed you in his stead.” Albert took the princess’ fingertips in his, kissing the tips as he vowed. “I will take you as my wife publicly, so that everyone across the kingdoms will know I love you. I will make you mine.”

The princess smiled, wrapping her arms around Albert’s shoulders and pulling him to her. Their foreheads met, their noses bumping sweetly, and they both smiled. “Al,” she whispered, “I’m already yours.”

Albert’s heart leapt, and he tugged her down into a hug. “Princess,” he said, nuzzling the crook of her neck. “Hearing you say that… it’s a better gift than even the most expensive chocolates.”

The princess chuckled, pulling away to cup Albert’s face. “Say it again,” she said softly. “What you said that first night.”

        Albert threaded his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck, and whispered over the princess’ lips. “I love you, princess.”

        Their lips met in a deep, meaningful kiss. “Albert,” the princess breathed, their hips moving together between the water. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

The End

Original Character by @cyikemen

Written by @midnightcindy

Illustrated by @naughtilynicomeier

[harajuku-cookie]

Midnight Valentine: Soulmate Soirée

Chapter VIII - The Sweetness of a Promise

Part 2

Reaching the door, you took a deep breath before knocking. The door opening swiftly. Looking up, you eyes immediately made contact with the cool, cornflower blue that you had missed so dearly.

Without saying a word, he pulled you flush against his chest, arms wrapping around you. It was a fairly simple gesture, yet it made your heart flutter all the same. “You’re here,” you breathed, hand momentarily tightening around the box behind his back.

“I am,” was his only reply, but when you looked up, you could see him smiling. Gazing into the calm oceans of his eyes, you noted the gentle ebb and flow of emotions within his irises. The waves of his beauty hit you repeatedly, crashing against you in time with the pounding from deep within your chest. Brushing a stray lock of hair away from your face, he whispered, “please, come in.”

Inside, you both barely sat down on the sofa before Nico entered, bringing tea with him. “Good afternoon, Princess, m’lord,” he wore a tiny smile as he poured your tea. Surprisingly, it was Rayvis who spoke up.

“Nico, thank you for helping to arrange for me to come here, I really appreciate it,” he nodded in his direction.

Once Nico had left, Rayvis took hold of one of your hands in his own, lightly brushing his thumb repeatedly across the back of your hand. The movement happened naturally, both of you easily fitting against each other without any awkward pretence. Sipping your drinks, you basked in each other’s company, letting the silence cocoon you as the gentle sunlight caressed your skin.

Turning to press a quick kiss on your temple, Rayvis got up. “I’m afraid that I must admit that there was a reason for my late arrival last night, and it wasn’t only due to the weather.” He retrieved something from the desk, “it was because I was… preparing something for you because of today.”

“Oh, really?” This was a surprise to you, considering it was not common for men, especially a man like Rayvis, to also give something on Valentine’s Day, but you shook the thought out of your head, keeping your surprise chocolates hidden from view. He returned to sit beside you, holding a large box in his hands.

Reaching out, you took it from him, a wide smile on your face as you unwrapped your gift. However, once you did so, astonishment passed over your features. “Rayvis-” inside the box, was what clearly seemed like a chocolate cake, what?

“As per Valentine’s tradition, for a man to give their cherished one handmade confectionery, I made this for you. It pains me to admit, but I ended up running behind schedule while making it.” A slight sheepish smile graced his refine features, causing a small giggle to escape from you. The ‘perfect’ man who normally had everything planned out running behind schedule, of course you could tell it bothered him.

“Rayvis, my love… this is beautiful, it even smells amazing. I’m so happy that you made this just for me! I wasn’t expecting to be surprised like this!” ♡(*◜ω◝*)♡

“Really?” He seemed shocked, “but this is Valentine’s tradition, why are you surprised?”

“Because, I think there’s a slight difference in our traditions.” Lifting up your box, you handed it to him. You watched as he opened it up to reveal you heart-shaped assorted chocolates. He blinked rapidly, trying to assess the situation, before smiling, causing you to mimic his expression. “And,” you spoke hesitantly, “to receive something sweet like this from you is an even bigger surprise…”

“I see that is the case,” he spoke with fondness in his voice. “When I was younger, I remember Father giving Mother chocolate-related treats whenever Valentine’s Day came around. I recall waking up in the middle of the night and going to spy the kitchen, because he would always be there, making something to give to her in the morning.” Taking a deep breath, he stared you right in the eyes, “I wanted to do the same thing for you.”

You flushed slightly at his sweet words, I suppose that the tradition was reversed in Bergenia, you figured, as you explained to him that in Wysteria, it was tradition for a woman to give chocolates to her loved one.

“I understand now,” he smiled sweetly once you had explained. He picked up one of your many chocolates, turning it gently in his fingers. “Instead of surprising the other person, we both ended up getting a surprise ourselves.”

“Indeed,” you nodded, staring down at the cake in your lap. “Well, either way, it would be a shame to let them go to waste :)))”

“Quite right,” he took the cake and placed it onto a plate, but instead of handing it back to you, he placed on the table and did the same with his chocolates too. Turning to look to him in confusion, you were met with the slight pressure of his lips against yours. You inhaled sharply at the immediacy of the kiss, sweet tremors flowing through your body.

He wrapped his arms around you, one hand resting gently against your cheek as he placed the other on the small of your back. The feeling of his body flush against yours warmed your skin much better than the sun did. Lips moving in sync, arms wound round each other, you savoured the perfect moment.

Eventually he broke the connection, “as sweet as the chocolates may be,” he spoke in a hushed voice, “they are nothing compared the sweetness of your actions.” Cheeks flushed, you lowered your gaze from him, pressing your hands against you face. He chuckled when he saw that, placing a finger under your chin, raising you face so that he could press one last peck against your mouth.

“These look delicious, my princess, thank you,” he plucked a chocolate from the box and took a bite. As he did so, a sound of satisfaction spilled from his lips. Those same lips that had been on yours just moments ago-

Shaking your head, removing both the dizziness and the thoughts plaguing your mind, you reached out and took your cake. Smiling brightly, you began to eat the homemade treat that your other half had made, his feelings of love saturated each bite. As much as you had been surprised initially, you weren’t one to lie. Being able to eat the chocolates that Rayvis himself had made was definitely a lovely benefit of originating from two completely different countries.

The End

-

Original Characters by @cyikemen

Written by @destinedatmidnight

Illustrtated by @harajuku-cookie

[nami331]

Midnight Valentine: SOULMATE SOIRÉE

Chapter XI: The Land of Flowers

Part 2

Half an hour later, the boat docks in Carallia.

Almost immediately, the country’s reputation of being “prosperous”, “relaxed” and the “land of flowers” becomes very apparently true. Everywhere, there are bundling markets, thick crowds of shoppers, and both townspeople and nobles seem to be integrating with each other as if the social gap isn’t there in the first place. As far as can be seen, people are laughing, chatting, walking with each other and relaxing, from couples to families to workers.

And along with this, everything, everything, is consumed by flowers.

The princess stares in awe, eyes circling around her gradually. Roses line the lamps up the streets, and wreaths of flowers are strewn over anything and everything. From the stalls selling varieties of items to the fronts of shops, colourful flowers have been hung, draped or tied to all things possible, creating a lush, inviting, breath-taking paradise of natural beauty. Even in the midst of the town, it doesn’t feel like it, with stretches of fertile, jade grass separating roads and shops.

The town has very obviously taken Valentine’s Day seriously, as well; as Sid and the princess stroll through the streets, holding hands tightly, they can see couple after couple meandering, wandering aimlessly in a blissful haze of love and complete relaxation. Here, promise rings are bought, loving gazes fixed together as they’re fitted onto the fingers of their owners. A little bit away, a young couple both turn to one another, hands behind their backs. At once, they produce bouquets of twelve roses each, their cheeks flushed but grins blindingly bright. They fall about with kind laughter, accepting the mutual gift from their other half, before they set off down the street again.

By this point, the princess is absolutely glowing. Sid’s almost in pain with how hard his heart is pumping, insides churning and clenching at how elated she looks. Her palm is warm against his, fingers curled around his own tightly, almost clinging onto him.

“Sid,” She finally breathes out, sounding almost like she’s choked up with emotion. “This is amazing. It’s so beautiful. It’s incredible.” She turns to him, her gorgeous eyes shining with a thin layer of tears. “Thank you. I know I’ve already said it, but I’ll say it again. I’m so grateful for this. It’s perfect.”

A wave of satisfaction, and another, slightly less powerful, boost of pride washes over him. He’s glad, admittedly a lot more than he ever thought would be possible, that she’s enjoying herself so much and loves Carallia so obviously. He’s wanted to bring her here for a long time, but he had to build up his trust with Giles, Leo and Alyn before they would allow it. He worked hard, putting in much more effort into his own work as well as palace business, in order to do so.

Now, though, he realises that it’s all worth it. He’d do it again and again, a second and third time, a fourth and a fifth, forever. To be able to see such pure happiness in her and know that he’s the reason why she’s feeling such joy… it’s the most gratifying thing he’s ever felt in his life.

He squeezes her hand lovingly, rubbing the pad of his thumb over the knuckle of her own. “Yeah. I’m glad you like it. You’re welcome.” Glancing around him again, he smirks in satisfaction, musing, “I’ve wanted to bring you here for ages. Giles wouldn’t let me without an escort, so I had to be real nice to him to convince him.” His gaze returns to her, and he can feel his own skin flushing, just like her own. “But it was worth it, right?”

She nods fiercely. “Yes!”

He grins again, eyes honing in on his second surprise for her. “Good. Come on.”

Laughing at her surprised squeak when he tugs her forward, he leads her through the crowds, heading straight for a large stall full to the brim with flowers. The man and woman running it spot him approaching, and immediately, they start to speak to each other excitedly, expressions animated. Sid stops before them, the princess confused but curious at his side.

“Hey. Here to pick up my order.” He tells them with a nod. The man’s head bobs up and down, and the woman looks delighted, eyes flicking back and forth between the princess and Sid.

“It’s all ready for you. Oh, my. You’re such a beautiful couple!” She focuses on the princess, gushing, “You look absolutely beautiful, Miss! Your dress is stunning!”

The young monarch’s cheeks tint with a rosy dusting, but she laughs lightly, responding, “Thank you so much! The flowers here are amazing! The colours are so vivid and bright.”

The man, having stepped behind the stall momentarily, returns now. His hands are behind his back, and he practically bounces over, chirping, “There’s a lot of technical nonsense like keeping them in the right conditions, but most importantly of all, you have to love the flowers. If you don’t treat them with the utmost care and respect, it’s impossible to produce flowers in their most beautiful condition.”

Sid lets go of the princess’ hand now, instead raising it to clamp it over her eyes. Her strangled shout of shock earns laughs from the two at the stand, but the man swiftly hands the bouquet behind his back to Sid, who takes it with his free one. The collection of flowers, all in perfect condition, stand out from the rest. They’re a collection of blue flowers, since she told him a while ago that she’s come to love blue a lot more as a result of being with him.

Shifting so the flowers are hidden inside his coat, he removes his hand from her eyes, taking her right one again. She blinks up at him, still seemingly processing what just happened, but he just smirks and gently pulls her away from the stall; he’s already paid for the flowers, but he doesn’t want to give her them out in the open like this.

“Thanks.” He tells the two store venders over his shoulder, giving them a grateful nod. “I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome! Have a lovely day together!” The woman replies kindly, almost looking in awe at the two. The man tucks her under his shoulder, waving.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” He calls after them.

“Thank you!” She says, mimicking the wave with her free hand.

Sid guides her through the town again, using the quickest route to get out of the thick of it. They eventually come out of the town and into a more forested, hilly area, where Sid navigates his way up a fading path. The trees, flowers and vegetation are lush and vibrant around them, rich in colour and life, untouched by human hands. The smell of bark and moisture is deep but somehow soothing to him, and once they move further in, the noise of the town fades into a distant murmur. Eventually, all that’s left is the chirping and singing of birds on branches, and the wind whispering around the leaves.

Finally, he reaches his destination. They break through the trees, coming out onto what is a steep hill that used to be a cliff, the face of it nearly overgrown with plants but still visibly made of rock. It’s high up, and when they walk to the edge, it’s possible to see all of Carallia stretching out below them. The princess looks out in amazement at the town they just walked through, then to the side, toward the area of town they didn’t get to. Carallia Palace is visible in the distance, bright and gleaming in the sunshine, and the sea embracing the city spans out before them, still and calm with the gentle weather.

And when they look behind them, through the trees, they can see the rest of the region. Another country is vaguely able to be seen a good distance away, in a flatter part of the land.

“Hey.” Sid murmurs, the flowers now hidden behind his back. He lets go of her hand once more, lifting it to cup her face, fingers holding it tenderly. He gives her his trademark smirk, but his eyes are twinkling with a loving kindness, and a rare, sweet shine, one that takes her breath away every time. She beams up at him, the joy in her face as clear as day. He leans down, kissing her forehead very tenderly, in a moment of more muted affection. Then, he pulls back, finishing, “Happy Valentine’s Day, princess.”

He brings the flowers around now, handing them to her. She gasps quietly, staring down at the collection in awe. Just that expression alone is enough to make his insides warm pleasantly. He points to each type of flower, explaining what they are. “There are bluebells, globe thistles, lupine and perennial geraniums. Flower language and meanings are fiddly, but when you pick the nice ones, bluebells mean delicacy and loyalty, globe thistles mean patriotism and heroism, perennial geraniums can symbolise gentility and elegance, and lupines show imagination.”

“Sid… they’re beautiful. How did you find them all?” She asks incredulously, fingering the petals of the globe thistles very gingerly.

“I’m an information dealer. Finding out stuff like this is a breeze.” He answers dryly, but he’s smirking. He narrows his eyes, studying her body language and coming to the solid conclusion that she’s happy. “You like ‘em?”

Her head bounces up and down, features all but glowing with happiness. “I love them, Sid. They’re so beautiful. Tha-”

Before she can say it again, he dips down, taking her face in his hands. She stops short, then releases a muffled sound of confusion when he kisses her deeply. He breathes in her scent, savouring her warmth and the feeling of her mouth against his, all the while holding her gaze. Both of their eyelids are partially closed, further enhancing the love and passion in their eyes. He pulls back slightly, just enough to murmur against her lips, “This is the second surprise. There’s one more after this.”

She blinks. “Another one?” A very, very slight frown appears on her face. “I only have one surprise for you.”

He finds himself laughing at how worried she is over something so silly, planting a hand on her hair and ruffling it playfully. “Hey, don’t make that face. I’m spoiling ya this time, since you’ve been working so hard and doing so many hours lately. Stop worrying, will you?” When she huffs, cradling the flowers against her chest, he rolls his eyes. Bending over to rest his forehead against hers, he swallows back his pride, admitting, “Anything from you means a heck of a lot to me, so stop sweating it. I’m happy seeing you happy.”

She swiftly finds her smile again, but it’s more teasing now, and he can feel him skin warming once more. He straightens up and turns to stare out at the city, and she steps up beside him, leaning into his arm. He curls it around her waist instinctively. She laughs softly, the sound like a tiny piece of heaven to him. “You’re such a softie, Sid, behind all the tough bravado.”

He pinches her side lightly, drawing a yelped shriek from her. He snorts. “Watch it, princess.”

The next few hours are spent with the two touring the town, taking in all of its sights, from landmarks to shops, to restaurants and flower fields. Soon, the sun is dipping toward the horizon, nearly ready to kiss this side of the earth goodnight, the sky a blazing war of amber and indigo around it. Sid takes her back into the middle of town, escorting her to the town square. There, couples are gathered, many talking excitedly and animatedly, hands clasped or arms around each other, some in tender embraces.

It’s so open and blatant, it takes Sid aback just a bit. He was told that people here are “relaxed” and that affection was a common sight on Valentine’s Day, but this is something else.

Still, he carries on, not stopping until he reaches the centre of the crowd. Now amongst the many bodies stood in the square, they’re anonymous, just two faces in a sea of many more. He nods to himself, glancing down at the princess. She’s still studying the people around her intently, apparently just as surprised by the displays of intimacy as he is. He grins at her wide eyes, then brings a hand up to cup her face. Her head swivels around, and she seems to realise that she was spacing out, blinking.

“What’s going on? Is this some sort of festival?” She asks, voice both curious and incredulous. He strokes his thumb over the soft skin of her cheek, explaining,

“It’s a tradition here. During the day, the couples will go around and shop together, although they have an emphasis on buying flowers since that’s the main industry here. Then, when sunset hits, everyone gathers here and waits for the sun to touch the horizon.”

He tips her chin up and to the side, so that she’s looking toward where the pier is. In the distance, a monument stands tall and proud, a large orb with a gap in the centre. It’s laden with all types of flowers and decorations, and inside the circle is a silhouette of what looks like two angels, their wings spread wide, hands joined. The space under their joined wings and above their entwined hands, a diamond of vision amidst the black, allows them to see the sea and horizon. The sun is very gradually falling toward it.

He leans down, murmuring into her ear, voice low and rumbling out of his throat. “When it touches, you’ll get your last surprise.”

He could get drunk on her scent alone, the smell of rose and vanilla perfume almost driving him insane. When she visibly trembles before him, his body flushes with despite, and his voice drops to a low purr while he simultaneously attempts to keep his thoughts – and words - clean. “Legend says Carallia was created by angels, and that they bestowed the gift of fertile land on it before they left the earth. The country has never once experienced a drought or problems with growing things.”

She gives him a shocked look, tilting her head. “Is that really true?”

His lips twitch into a smirk. “Don’t know. That’s what the locals say, at least.”

“That’s amazing. It’s such a wonderful story.” She breathes out, staring off at the angels before the flaming sky. Then, she jerks around, gasping out, “The surprise! I almost forgot!”

He snorts, watching her reach into her bag, where her bouquet is propped up inside. “You only just remembered?” He ruffles her hair playfully, only finding himself more amused when she sends him a half-hearted glare. “That’s my girl.”

“Shush.” She huffs, pulling out a long, thin box, all black with an indigo ribbon wrapped around it, forming a silk bow in the centre. She holds it out to him, a beaming smile appearing on her face. “Here. This seems like nothing, considering everything you’ve done, but-” Seeing his look, telling her to stop apologising, she sighs lightly. Then, she shakes her head, carrying on in a firmer voice. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Sid. I’m glad I got to spend the day with you.”

Something in his chest aches at the sincerity and kindness in the way she says it. There’s so much love and adoration in her eyes, it’s almost unbearable. He could stare at her all day, every day, just watching the expressions she’s capable of. There’s never a moment when she’s not breath-taking.

Realising that he hasn’t responded yet, he lets a real, genuine smile grace his lips, features shining with rarely expressed joy. “Thanks, princess.” He places his hand over hers around the box, feeling the warmth in her flesh despite there being a breeze. His natural teasing side makes a swift return, and he briefly leans down to whisper, “We can give each other all sorts of surprises later, in your room.”

“Sid!” She cries out, mortified. He howls with laughter, straightening up and taking the box from her. Tugging the ribbon lightly, he removes it, then takes the lid away to peer down at its contents.

He expected chocolate, simply by logic, and he’s right.

At the same time, he’s completely wrong.

The chocolates have all been made, somehow, to be in specific shapes and have certain features. He can’t stop himself from gazing at them in amazement, studying the one that looks exactly like Jess, albeit without the white of her fur. Another looks like a wine glass, one resembles a crescent moon, a heart shape here, a star there… all seemingly crafted with a precision tool by hand, each tiny detail carved into the chocolate with the utmost care.

His stomach clenches, and love rolls through him once more.

Every time I think she can’t get any more amazing, she goes and proves me wrong again.

“You made these?” He asks, still staring down at them, but he’s smiling now. She nods mutely, and immediately, he sees that she’s nervous. Plucking the heart one from the box, he seals the lid with the ribbon again, meeting her gaze with his own intense one. “They’re amazing, princess. Seriously, I’ve never seen chocolates like this before.”

She grins, eyes lighting up with pride and joy. She takes the box and put it back in her bag. As soon as she has, he slides his hands around to cradle her face, the sun now millimetres from the horizon. The chocolate is still pinched between his finger and thumb, but she doesn’t look like she has even noticed. He rests his forehead against hers, his smile tender and loving.

“Thank you. I don’t know how, but every time I think I can’t get any crazier for you, you go and prove me wrong again and again. I love you, so damn much. I swear, sometimes it hurts, how much I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Her lips part, eyes swiftly moistening with elated tears. She brings her own hands up to hold his face just as gently, uncaring now of everyone around them, oblivious to them all.

“You’re welcome, Sid. I love you too, so, so much.” A peal of beautiful laughter escapes her. His heart twinges. “It hurts me as well, so we’re the same. Let’s spend forever together, and then we won’t hurt anymore.”

Forever, with the girl that I’m in love with. I can do that.

“Deal.” He nods, glancing to the side. Cheers and shouts of excitement sound all around them, almost deafeningly loud.

“Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six!”

The sun’s reflection inches toward its own position in the sky, just about touching, the slightest connection between the heavens and the earth finally made. Sid places one side of the chocolate between his teeth, offering the other to her. Her cheeks burn, just like his, but she copies him and allows her teeth to close around the sweet. Her eyes close. His follow.

“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!”

The pair bite down, each taking a piece into their mouths. The taste of chocolate, different to anything they’ve ever experienced, blossoms out on their tongues, sweet and rich but slightly creamy, then curbed with the slight sharpness of alcohol. The taste, mixed with the burning of liquor, is intoxicating, and just one piece sends pleasure washing through them both, so strong and sudden that it’s almost overwhelming.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!”

The second they’ve swallowed the chocolate, their lips come together, hard and fast, passionate and raw with the intensity of their emotions. Love swells between them, swirling and enveloping them like the taste of the chocolate, and for a long for seconds, all they can sense is each other. The screaming of other couples fades away. The buzz of excitement in the air is numbed, lost to the molten heat coiling in them. The breeze cases to exist. All they can feel is the other in front of them, their skin touching, their bodies so deliciously close.

They don’t even notice as petals are release by couples around them, fragments of colour and life flowing around their blissful oblivion.

All of this happens in mere seconds. When they have to break apart to breathe, they’re both flushed crimson, but they don’t move away from each other. They don’t move a muscle. The princess gazes up at him with lidded eyes, swirling with want and adoration. “I love you.”

He smoothes his thumb over her jaw, returning the deep stare with just as much desire. “I love you too.”

The rest of the night is lost to a haze of chocolate, alcohol and dancing in the town square. The flame of their love doesn’t dwindle once, not even when they return to the palace and stumble into her room.

The sun may have set their hearts alight when it fell into the fire, but it continues to scorch them both, the embers always simmering away into their forever.

The end.

Lloyd "Sid" Grandier by @cyikemen

Written by @deathbymidnightcinderella

Illustrated by @nami331

[leorysxi]

Midnight Valentine: SOULMATE SOIRÉE

Chapter IV: A Truly Special Valentine’s Day

Part 2

The next morning, Giles woke up happy with the events from the previous day. He knew that the Princess was excited about the announcement, but today was Valentine’s Day and he had to get started on the gift he was going to give to her.

Giles walked to the Princess’s room and quietly opened the door to make sure she was still sleeping. He saw her sleeping peacefully, getting the rest that she deserved. Giles wanted desperately to crawl into bed with her and get some rest himself, but he had a plan to attend to.

He walked to the kitchen and looked for some sort of recipe to make chocolate. Giles mentally scolded himself knowing that he should have been better prepared since he realized that he had no idea how to make chocolate. He gave up on looking for recipes and decided to just wing it. Giles grabbed some random ingredients that he thought would work and started preparing. He grabbed anything he thought would work, baking powder, salt, sugar, water, cream, and anything else that he could find and started mixing them together, having no clue what he was doing.

“What on Earth are you making?” A low voice said as Giles jumped at it. He turned around to see that the voice was Alyn who now had a look of disgust on his face and Nico who looked like he was trying not to burst out laughing. Giles replied coolly “It doesn’t concern either one of you, so I suggest the two of you leave now.”

Nico peeked over Giles and started to bust out laughing saying “What are you trying to make? Poison?” Giles just rolled his eyes and ignored him as Alyn also looked to see scattered recipes and smirked asking “Are you trying to make some chocolate for the Princess since it’s Valentine’s Day Giles?”

Giles slightly blushed and looked away saying “So what if I am? Don’t you two have something better to do then bother me?” Nico looked at Giles and genuinely said “We can help you Giles! I mean at least help you get started, we don’t want you killing the Princess with your cooking!” Alyn nodded in agreement as he helped Giles get some cocoa powder, milk, butter, and flour to make chocolate and said to him “But Giles, I thought that you were fond of sweets? How can you not know how to make them?”

“Just because I enjoy eating sweets does not mean I know how to make them… But thank you both for helping me.” Giles said to Alyn and Nico as they finished getting all of the ingredients out and ready. Alyn smiled and Nico beamed saying “Of course! I feel so bad for the Princess, she’s so stressed out that she forgot about Valentine’s Day. But this is a great idea Giles, I bet she’ll really appreciate it!”

Suddenly, a knight came in the kitchen and looked at Alyn saying “Sir, we are having some issues with border patrol and we need your help sorting it out.” Alyn nodded to the knight and looked at Giles saying “Looks like I have to go. All you have to do is stir the ingredients together and then let it set. See you later Giles.” Giles gave Alyn a smile and said “Thank you for all of your help Alyn.” And with that, Alyn and the knight left, leaving Giles and Nico alone in the kitchen. Giles then turned to Nico and said “I have a task for you Nico. I can finish making the chocolate now so I need you to make sure that the Princess doesn’t come into this kitchen okay? If she asks where I am, tell her that I’m in my room doing work. Got it?” Nico smiled giving Giles a thumbs up saying “You got it! I’ll make sure she doesn’t see you in here. Bye Giles, good luck!”

When Nico left, Giles felt much more confident and finished stirring the ingredients together. He then choose a mold where he could put his gift in for the Princess. Once he finally finished preparing his chocolate for the Princess, he went to his room to change into his best outfit and then went to the Princess’s room.

Giles knocked on the door to the Princess’s room and a soft “Come in” came from the inside. Giles took a deep breath and entered the Princess’s room to find her seated on her sofa reading a book. She turned to Giles and gasped seeing how dressed up he was and said “Giles, you look lovely! But why are you so dressed up?”

He smirked as he walked over to the Princess, his chocolate for her hidden behind his back. “Do you still not know what day it is Princess?” Giles said playfully to the confused Princess. She gave him a puzzled look and asked “No… Is there something special going on today?” Giles sighed and told the Princess “Look at the calendar Princess.”

The Princess’s eyes went wide when she saw that it was Valentine’s Day and she had completely forgotten about it. “Oh my, I guess that I was so stressed out that I forgot about Valentine’s Day. I need to start making chocolate now!” The Princess said as she stood up only to be stopped by Giles who held a hand up to halt her. “Giles? What is it?” The Princess asked as she noticed that Giles was holding something behind his back.

Giles smirked and said to her “Well, since you always make chocolate for me on Valentine’s Day, I decided to treat you this year.” He pulled out the chocolate from behind his back and watched as the Princess looked at it excitedly. Giles presented the chocolate in front of the Princess and said “Happy Valentine’s Day my dear Princess.”

The Princess happily accepted the treat and gave Giles a hug saying “Thank you so much Giles! This was so kind of you to do for me. I seriously can’t believe that I forgot about Valentine’s Day… But this is so wonderful!” Giles smiled down at her and stroked her cheek asking “Well aren’t you going to try the chocolate? I made it myself you know.”

“Oh! You made it yourself Giles? Now I can’t wait to try it!” The Princess said as she giggled and broke off a piece of chocolate to try. “Mmm it’s delicious Giles! It’s the best chocolate that I’ve ever had.” The Princess said contently a warm smile formed on her lips. Giles noticed that she had a little bit of chocolate on the corner of her mouth and licked it off of her.

“G-Giles! What are you doing?!” The Princess asked becoming flustered at Giles’s action to which he only replied with a playful smile. “What Princess? You had some chocolate on your mouth and I wanted to help you get it off.” He then noticed the Princess’s fingers had some chocolate on them as well and he grabbed her hand, bringing it to his mouth and licked her fingers seductively. The Princess was blushing deeply while Giles only laughed with her saying “You’re such a tease Giles!” But she then started laughing as well.

The Princess then noticed something from inside of the hollow chocolate sparkle. She picked it up to see a ring and looked up to Giles asking “This ring is beautiful! But why is it inside the chocolate?” Giles smiled and took the ring from her and placed it on her ring finger saying “It’s an engagement ring. Since we can finally make our relationship public, I figured you needed something to show everyone how much I truly love you.”

Giles looked into the Princess’s eyes and noticed tears starting to form and with a worried tone, he asked “What’s wrong Princess? Do you not like it?” Without answering, the Princess embraced Giles, tightly holding onto him saying “It’s perfect Giles. Thank you so much. This is the best Valentine’s Day ever.” He smiled at her and held her tightly to him and kissed the top of her head.

“Well you know, the day isn’t over yet, let’s spend the rest of the day together Princess.” Giles said to her. She smiled and nodded at him as Giles wiped her remaining tears away. “I love you so much Giles, thank you so much again for everything.” The Princess said as she reached up to kiss Giles passionately on the lips.

Giles returned the kiss as their mouths perfectly fit each others, he reached to pull the Princess closer, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She moaned softly at his action as she wrapped her arms around him to deepen their kiss. The two had to break apart to catch their breaths, Giles smiled at her saying “I love you too Princess, more than anything in the world. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

The end.

Original Characters by @cyikemen​ ​♡

Written by the lovely @sailor-wallflower​ ♡

Illustration by @leorysxi​ :3

[incorrectmidc]

TEASER (OF SORTS? LOLOL)

Sid: You're in Slytherin.

MC: Your point?

Sid: You're always welcome to Slytherin my bed.

Sid: ;)

MC: Avada Kedavra

[incorrectmidc]

Teaser part 2 [Sid x MC for valentines]

Sid: Tell me something I want to hear.

MC: You're a statuesque god of sculpted chocolate thunder.

Sid: [smirks] Well, something I didn't already know?

MC: I have a sweet tooth.

[oh-my-otome]

Midnight Valentine: Soulmate Soirée

Chapter III: Fixation

Part 2

There was a knock at the door and then it opened half way, Giles leaning forward to peer in.

“You said to come get you when the band was ready to play again,” said Giles, addressing the princess as if Leo weren’t even there.

“Thank you, Giles. On time as usual,” she returned, not at all surprised to see him, as she slipped one foot after the other back into her pumps. She said nothing to explain Leo, sitting with his jacket open, shirt several buttons undone, on her bed, as if it were only natural that he belonged there.

Before heading back into the hall, Giles’ gaze slid over toward Leo. He looked pleasant enough, but once again his eyes said something else, “so sorry to interrupt you this time.” 

Leo knew he wasn’t sorry at all.

Back in the ball room, the princess’ break over, Leo lead her through one last spin as the final waltz of the evening came to an end. There was a raucous round of applause for the band and Leo turned to the princess, giving her a deep bow as he swept up her hand and placed a kiss upon it.

When he straightened, his gaze returned to her lips once more. He fought the desire to kiss her right there, in front of everyone, as she mouthed the words “meet me in my room.”

To Leo’s great surprise Alyn, of all people, sidled up to him before he could leave the ball room. 

“So?” Alyn asked jovially, clapping Leo on the shoulder, “how did it turn out?”

“I was interrupted by the nanny,” Leo mutter, narrowing his eyes at Giles’ back as the chamberlain talked to someone off to the side.

“What?”

“What?” Oh! Right, the baking. Pull it together, Crawford. Leo cleared his throat and started again, “I mean, it turned out fine-- the cupcakes.”

“Yeah...” Alyn said, giving his brother a quick dubious look. “I told you it would be good, didn’t I? I found the recipe in this old book in the library. Actually, it was one my men who suggested to get it from there. You see, he’s into baking too. He dates one of the maids and she said...”

It had been awhile since Alyn and Leo had a real conversation, and not just the occasional grunt of acknowledgement that the other existed, so this was certainly another of the evening’s surprises. Apparently, the gateway subject to get Alyn talking with him like the old days was baking. It was so stupidly obvious, yet it had taken him so long to figure out. 

He looked across to where the princess was still standing, a gentle smile on her beautiful face, as she curtsied elegantly, sending off the party-goers with a cheerful expression. He shivered involuntarily as he remembered how she pushed him down against the quilts, the taste of her kisses still lingering at the back of his mind.

Leo was happy enough to listen to his brother prattle on about something that interested him. He wasn’t usually this talkative, especially to HIM, and Leo was grateful that it was at least about something he could halfway relate to. 

But not right this second. He would listen to him later, even initiate talking about it, but for right now, he had somewhere to be.

“You had some batter left, so I made a couple myself. Not enough to make a full pan, though. ‘Bout enough for a midnight snack. Want to come to the kitchen with me?” Alyn asked, adding another clap on his shoulder.

Leo turned his attention back to his twin, hoping that Alyn didn’t notice how distracted he was. He nodded toward the door, Alyn catching his meaning, and the two of them headed out of the ball room.

“Not tonight,” Leo called over his shoulder, giving his brother a friendly grin, “I’ve already saved some for later.”

The End

Part 1 here.

Leo Crawford, Giles Christophe & Alyn Crawford by @cyikemen

Written by @oh-my-otome

Illustrated by @aquisces-arts