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𝙰 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 & 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝙺𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

Synopsis: Prince Rafayel is tied down by politics and what is expected of him as the next ruler of Lumeria. But one constant in his life, his beloved Knight, is what keeps him grounded.

Warnings: MC is a female Knight, Tooth-rotting Fluff, AU.

Authors Note: Let me know if I should write other chapters!

The grand Castle of Lumeria was lit up by lanterns as the sun began setting in the sky. The Royal family was beloved, not only for their kindness to their subjects, but the power and safety they provided.

A young, handsome Prince was perched on top of a ladder in his study, painting a massive portrait. It was familiar past time for the young Prince.

As Prince Rafayel ascended the creaky ladder, his eyes fixed on the unfinished ceiling painting, the weight of his responsibilities seemed to weigh him down. A subtle shift in his balance sent alarm through his Knight, who stood vigilant below, her hands outstretched to steady the ladder.

"Be careful, Sir Rafayel..." She chided her young Prince, concern evident in her voice. Yet he, in his youthful naivety, only laughed it off, promising to be more cautious, all while not heeding a word of it.

Rafayel painted with enthusiasm, the colors from his palette swirling and merging with the strokes of his brush. He had grand ideas for his kingdom, ideas that he believed would help his people. The ceiling, however, was his canvas for an ode to his future. On it, he had painted the image of a knight and a prince riding a white horse, their bond of friendship and loyalty clear in the art.

His Knight watched with a small smile as the Prince painted. “You have been up there all evening. I think it’s time you come down.”

“I’m almost finished, I promise!” Rafayel replied with a grin, his focus still on the ceiling. “Just a few more touches, and then this magnificent piece will be complete.”

He continued to apply the final strokes, completely absorbed in his work. He wanted this to be perfect; there was a hidden meaning behind each detail in this painting. The knight represented him, the prince, and his knightly companion below was his beloved bodyguard.

“Did you hear the news about the upcoming masquerade ball?” He called out while painting. “I don’t want to attend, but Father insists I go, as the Crown Prince I cannot refuse. Plus, he wants me to find a suitable spouse…” His voice trailed off, and the sounds of his painting stopped for a moment.

The Knight felt her heart skip a beat but shook her head. “That sounds like the perfect opportunity, my Prince.”

Rafayel paused again, the silence a testament to the weight of his thoughts. "It is an excellent opportunity, truly. I could potentially find a spouse who could help me secure alliances. However - " his voice trailed off, "Father has already chosen them for me. It all seems so...forced. Love isn’t meant to be arranged or transactional." He sighed. "I want to find love in my own way. On my own terms."

Rafayel climbed to the closest peak to the ceiling with a thoughtful expression.

“But...” he continued, as if a flicker of an idea sparked in his mind. “What if... what if I did bring someone to the masquerade?” He descended from the ladder, a smirk on his face. “What if I brought you?”

The Knight nearly toppled the ladder over on her own, a tinge of pink spreading across her face. “My Prince that would be…highly inappropriate. Your Father would be furious.”

Rafayel chuckled, feigning the sudden feeling of being faint. He held his pallet and paintbrush tightly to his chest, his thin undershirt clinging to him. “Oh, my lovely Knight. Rescue me.” He chuckled, before throwing himself backwards off of the ladder.

His Knight gasped and released the ladder, barely managing to catch him in her arms, her knees buckling from his weight. “My Prince!”

The young Prince chuckled, holding the back of his hand to his forehead. “Oh, whatever would I do without you.”

The Knight stiffened her jaw but inhaled deeply. “Is this because I refused your proposal to the Ball?”

Rafayel held her hand gently, his eyes meeting hers with sincerity. "But think of it, sweet Knight, what better opportunity than this? We can disguise ourselves, not as our roles in the palace but as our true selves. We could dance, we could laugh, we could forget our responsibilities, even if just for a night."

He moved a little closer, his voice filled with youthful optimism. "Just imagine it, a night of freedom where Prince and Knight are simply two friends dancing the night away."

"And maybe," Rafayel continued, his voice soft, "I could even ask you something important." His eyes held a glimmer of hope, the unspoken question hanging in the air. He wanted to know her true feelings, to know if there was a chance that she felt the same way he did, beyond their roles and duties.

"My lovely Knight," he asked cautiously, "will you go with me to the masquerade as my dance partner? Not as Prince and Knight, but as Rafayel and his Beloved?"

The Knight wasn’t entirely sure how she ended up in this stuffy ball gown and fox-like mask over her face. The halls were crowded and only the finest fish were served, seeing as how Lemuria was a sea-side kingdom known for its Naval and Power.

As the orchestral sounds of a lively waltz filled the air, Rafayel extended his hand towards his Knight, a boyish grin on his face. He was dressed in a regal blue outfit, his mask adorned with feathers and jewels, a perfect counterpart to her fox-like mask.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" He asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. There was something so thrilling about being here with her, without the usual constraints of their roles, able to simply enjoy each other's company.

While he had the chance, he whispered in her ear, his warm breath on the cold metal of her mask causing a shiver to run through her, "I have yet to tell Father my decision about who will be my spouse. However, I would love to hear your thoughts on what I should do."

His grip on her hand tightened slightly as he maneuvered her around the crowded ballroom with grace, his eyes locked on hers, filled with unspoken feelings. This might be the perfect night for them to express all the things they'd never dared to before.

The Knight always considered herself to have two left feet. She stumbled a little, but Rafayel was a patient teacher.

Seeing her little stumble, Rafayel couldn't help but smile fondly. "It's alright, we can take it slow." He reassured her, moving with her at a pace that she was comfortable with. "Just follow my lead," he added softly.

He loved this, being able to guide her, to help her, to watch her smile as they danced together amidst the grand spectacle. His heart beat a little faster with the realization. Could tonight be the night he would finally be brave enough to confess all that he felt for her?

"Tell me," he urged, leading his Knight into a gentle twirl, "what would you do if you were in my shoes?" His question was open, leaving it up to her interpretation whether she thought of it as the prince, or as someone with difficult choices to make.

It was Rafayel's way of seeking her opinion, hoping to gain some insight into her heart, to see what she thought he, as a person, should do. After all, they had agreed to this night as an escape from their roles, to just be Rafayel and herself.

The Knight avoided his beautiful purple eyes. “I have to thoughts on the matter, My Pr-I mean Rafayel. I have sworn myself to celibacy as your protector. Love is not in the cards for me.”

Rafayel's hand, still intertwined with the Knight’s, gave a small, gentle squeeze. "You're here as my friend tonight," he reminded her, a soft smile on his face. "And as a friend, your thoughts on what I should do would be greatly appreciated."

As the music continued to play, he leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "Besides, what if... what if the one I want to be with has always been here, right by my side?"

Rafayel's eyes searched hers, hoping to catch a glimmer of understanding. This wasn't just about the decision anymore; this was about them, a chance for them to explore their feelings.

"Let us forget about duty and obligations for a moment," he suggested, leading her towards the grand balcony that overlooked the kingdom. The night's cool air blew gently, carrying the scent of the sea and the laughter from the ball. He looked at her, a sincere smile on his face. "Would you tell me what you truly feel, My Knight? Tonight, as just two people."

As they stood on the balcony, Rafayel's heart was nearly pounding out of his chest. His eyes never left hers, waiting for her response. All around them, the party and its obligations seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, just Rafayel and his Knight.

"You're someone I trust deeply, someone who has always been there for me," he confessed, his voice low and filled with emotion. "But these feelings... they are different. I can't help but wonder if you feel them too. So, My Beloved Knight... what do you say?"

The Knight looks at the Prince, sees the desperation in his eyes. “My Prince, my feelings do not matter. My family have been servants of the Kingdom for generations. We cannot….”

Rafayel's face fell slightly as he absorbed her words. He knew about their history, of course. His heart, however, refused to give up so easily.

"My Heart, I'm not asking as your Prince," he insisted, stepping closer to her. "Tonight, I'm asking you, just as a person, if you see a possibility for us, beyond our titles. Love can transcend duty, can't it?"

He was aware of the potential complications, but he was beginning to believe it was worth fighting for.

"I can't deny my feelings for you. They've been burning inside me for so long. I don't know if it makes sense, but all I know is that when I look into your eyes, my heart leaps and feels so full."

His eyes were pleading as he gently took her hands in his. "I'm not asking you to betray your family or your duty. I'm simply hoping for an understanding. You're not just my protector, you're.. everything to me."

His voice wavered with emotion. "Can you... can you give me any hope?"

Rafayel's breath hitched as he leaned in closer, their masks nearly touching. "My Beloved..." he breathed, almost inaudibly, holding her gaze firmly.

He was on the verge of crossing a line, one that could change their relationship forever. It was a risk, but the connection between them was undeniable. And right now, all that mattered was her.

"Please tell me you feel the same..." he whispered, his voice laced with emotion. "Please, please let me know that my feelings aren't one-sided.”

#read for later #morgana rambles #reblog

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