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[yama-mochi]

Zhongli is the most ICONIC Genshin character and you can’t change my mind on this. Man gets sick of being a god so he fakes his death and then sees the random kid being accused of his own murder and is like “hey you wanna help me with the funeral arrangements” and then drags this poor kid along on the LONGEST shopping trip of their life, spending fourty minutes infodumping about ancient funeral techniques to each merchants trapped in the social interaction with him and then asking to buy everything they have he goes “money? LOL I have no concept of such thing” and ends up having someone else pay for him. He INSISTS on buying the absolute RAREST most EXPENSIVE things for his own fricken funeral and then makes the traveler climb up MOUNTAINS the find the rarest flowers in the world because “this funeral must be FIT for the greatest god of the seven uwu”. Then an ocean god tries to wipe out the kingdom and he just sits back sipping tea Kermit meme style as they fight for their lives because he’s “gotta see if these humans can handle themselves without him”. Throws an extravagant funeral for himself right afterwards and gives a two hour long eulogy about his own greatness. Absolute legend.

[yama-mochi]

I’m so sorry for the lack of content intern work has been absolutely torturous BUT winter break is starting next week and I am absolutely going to take advantage of it for fic writing and posting things at a more kinda consistent rate so that’s!! Happening!

[yama-mochi]

I think this new event solidified the fact that Klee’s family literally has the best events every time in Genshin they have never once missed

[yama-mochi]

the tale of Albedo and the failed experiment is a tale as old as time, of beings who oh so desperately wish to become human, to come into being, in order to feel the joy that comes with life

however, it still is a compelling tale nonetheless, and it was executed quite well

[yama-mochi]

YOUR TAGS ON MY SUNA FIC PLS I APPRECIATE YOU SM !!!! that was so sweet :((

AH OMG it’s the truth tho!!! I stumbled on your blog a while ago and all your stuff is just amazing!! You also just seem very kind!

[yama-mochi]

# through the storm !

✫ ft. suna x gn!reader

✫ synopsis: you just want to know how to get to the psych building and he wants to get to know you more.

"excuse me, do you know where the psych building is?”

you were supposed to meet a friend there 15 minutes ago to work on an assignment, but the bus was delayed due to the blizzard. so now, here you are, trekking across the snow-covered campus to get there.

hoping he heard your question, you look up at the stranger you asked, noticing his piercing green eyes. they widen slightly, and he takes a second to take off his headphones.

“sorry, what’s up?”

“no worries, i was just wondering if you knew where the psych building is?” truthfully, it was awkward to have to repeat yourself, but before you could feel an ounce of embarrassment, suna nods, pocketing his headphones in his winter coat.

“yeah, so you’re gonna head straight to the main quad, and then you’ll see a big white building. go past that and you’ll be at the psych building.”

his words went in one ear and out the other. his voice was surprisingly deep and smooth, and you couldn’t help but focus on the way he leaned down to talk to you. he used his hands to talk, which were adorned with silver rings and a simple bracelet.

“did you get that?” he asks, looking at you with a little smile. “or…” he trails off a little, as if he’s thinking about something, “i can walk you there. i’m heading to the main quad, so i’ll show you where to go from there.”

you simply nod, and he hopes you can’t see the slight blush on his cheeks (which is from the cold, of course).

you’re cute, he thinks. like a lost puppy.

“i’m guessing you aren’t a psych major,” he says, breaking the silence as you two walk on the pathway dusted in snow.

“no, no. i’m a chemistry major,”

“gotcha. i’m a philosophy major. i’m suna, by the way.”

and as you tell him your name, his eyes linger on your face. small puffs of air leave your mouth with each breath.

the rest of the walk is quiet until you reach the big white building he was talking about.

“see that gate on the side of the building? go through there and the psych building is on your right,” suna says, looking down at you to make sure you know what he’s pointing at.

“thank you so much, suna! it was nice meeting you.” and with that, you start to separate ways. but suna turns around and calls your name.

“uh, i’m gonna be here for the rest of the day, so if you want, wanna head to the dining hall after you’re done?” he asks almost shyly. he’s twisting his rings around his finger, and then quickly shoving his hands in his pockets.

and after you nod with that pretty smile on your face, he turns around and makes his way to a random building. he doesn’t know what hit him when he decided to tell you that he was also going that way, but now he has some time to kill before he gets to have dinner with you.

and little did he know that a year later, he’d be kissing you in the snow, holding you close as he walks you to your next class.

[yama-mochi]

i love all my team members’ plunge attacks 🙃

[yama-mochi]

Arataki Itto is one hundred percent the man who would so obviously be into you there’s no way you wouldn’t know. He is basically a golden retriever every three seconds it’s just “Hey wait!! Come look at this cool thing I’m gonna do!! Did you see the cool thing I did?? Wasn’t it cool?? Aren’t I cool??” Just Trying His Best if you say he’s strong or literally any compliment you better apologize to his gang because they will be hearing about it for the next two months nonstop

[yama-mochi]

Hoping I can win pity and then just save for Ayato since I won’t need Shenhe 🙏

Alright. So I’m suffering because I have soft pity and a guaranteed event five star and I’ve been building a Eula Main Comp but like. Arataki Itto is Like That™️ and he’s dumb as rocks which I love

[yama-mochi]

Alright. So I’m suffering because I have soft pity and a guaranteed event five star and I’ve been building a Eula Main Comp but like. Arataki Itto is Like That™️ and he’s dumb as rocks which I love

[yama-mochi]

hurts.

If arataki’s in game model does not have the fattest tits known to man and or is 7’5 then I am leaving Genshin Impact for good and committing myself to Cookie Run: Kingdom

[yama-mochi]

[3:48 PM] - VYN RICHTER

Vulnerability is something completely foreign to Vyn Richter. Vyn is a man whose entire persona is built off of perfection, and vulnerability is a weakness. Vulnerability makes him think of a naïve child, whose foolish desires gave way to equal punishment. It makes him think of an empty house and an even more empty father. Then he doesn’t think about it anymore.

But when he hears you murmur his name amidst the ringing in his ears as you raise your hand to feel his forehead, it’s all he can think about. For two days Vyn has been sick with a cold, and was unwilling to admit how truly bad it had gotten until he had collapsed while you had been at his home to review a NXX case. The most you have managed to do so far has been getting Vyn into bed, but the next step is figuring out how to actually help.

And if your small gasp was anything to go by, he was guessing his forehead felt as hot as the rest of his body. “Vyn, how long were you planning on working in this condition?” His heart tugs at the concern in your voice, guilty for forcing you to worry, but a louder part of him is relieved to hear the emotion in your voice.

No pounding silence. No closing door raising bile in his throat. Just your hand against his cheek guiding his mind away from his train of thought, so soft and cool he cannot help but lean into the affection so easily given. “Please take a break, I’m going to get some medicine for you to take, but you’re not leaving this bed, understand?”

He nods, despite only focusing on the way your brow furrowed in concern, how you looked upon him not with indifference, but true care. He is no longer a suave psychologist, always in control. His daedalian surface has broken, and yet all you care about is whether he has cold medicine in one of his cabinets.

To care and be cared for is a feeling so alien to Vyn it almost sounds like a myth. Fascinating and beautiful, but fictitious all the same. To experience it himself is a miracle that carefully brushes red across his cheeks with a artist’s gentle hand.

And when he calls out your name to come back into the room, body exhausted, hair messily strewn across his face, dusted with the color of the roses he loves so much, and asks you to stay, he realizes that maybe that barrier wasn’t just holding you back, but trapping him inside as well. Maybe some things were meant to be broken.

[yama-mochi]

I already have him, but wish everyone luck for those who want to roll for him

[yama-mochi]

mc mentioning that she’s cold during a nxx meeting and all of the boys quickly taking off their jackets to give to her before realizing they all are doing the same thing . glaring at each other like some cowboy standoff

[yama-mochi]

they are collecting secrets and talking shit

[yama-mochi]

✦ serendipity (my dear devil) | marius von hagen

the first thing you notice about him are his eyes.

vibrant lilac hues that thrum with amusement and mischief, as they focus on you, while you stand and stare, frozen in place.

the second thing you notice about him is his face. it looks something akin to a supernatural's ― beautiful in a way that can never be human.

a lazy smirk rests on his lips, as he continues to watch you, perched in the summoning circle you made.

the third and final things you notice about him are the horns, the wings and the tail, which sways about just as lazily, until it reaches out and curls tightly around your leg, but you can't find it in yourself to brush it off.

he looks nothing like the lower demon you were supposed to summon for the new assignment.

you're not allowed to rest in your thoughts and the incoming mental breakdown any longer, as his tail yanks you forward, and with a surprised yelp, you fall right into his lap, where he holds you prisoner, languidly wrapping his arms around your waist.

your senses come back to you, and you try and get away from him, but his strong grip locks you in place, and he leans in close.

he brushes his head against your neck, seemingly taking in your scent, before he returns and locks his eyes with yours again. he smirks once again ― and somehow manages to look even more attractive than he already did.

“judging from your eyes, i suppose i'm not the demon you intended to summon, did you, darling?”

he doesn't give you allow you any time to answer, and as his gaze sweeps around your home, he notices the different bags of ingredients that lay strewn across the floor.

“ah, darling, were you trying to summon an imp? you were supposed to use the roots from valerian, not the flowers.”

“thank you for the correction,” you say sarcastically, annoyed at the fact that he's not letting you talk at all.

“but could you perhaps let me know if you're planning on letting me go?”

he tilts his head at you, and smiles innocently, before speaking something in demon-tongue.

the translation flows right into your mind, like it was a built in demon-to-human translator.

“i'm sorry, i don't speak human-tongue, darling.”

“you know i can understand what you're saying since i summoned you, right?”

he looks surprised for a moment, then looks away and grumbles something under his breath, before he gives you a smug grin once again.

“well then, the answer to your question, darling, is no.”

“no what?”

“no?”

“yes, but what are you telling me no to?”

“oh.”

“i need to know since my mobility is at stake here, uh.. what's your name again?”

“first of all, my name is marius. marius von hagen, heir to austin von hagen, demon king of the second realm,” he glows with delight at your surprise with the mention of the words 'demon king'. “second of all, you never asked my name to add the 'again', darling.”

“....”

you ignore your astonishment and his snark comment in favour of looking at him with raised eyebrows, silently asking him once again, if he was planning on letting you go.

“no. i'm not planning on letting you go at all. you're stuck with me until you make a contract with me~”

“and why should i?”

“because i can't go back without you making a contract with me?” he gives you a look that says 'isn't it obvious? duh, dumb human.'

you feel your eyebrow twitch in annoyance.

“but that isn't my problem, marius von hagen. it's yours.” you emphasize on the yours, and he winces in mock hurt.

“ouch, full name already? i didn't even do anything, human.”

“yes, you have. you've done a lot in these past seven minutes.”

he leans in closer, almost expectant of something, of an answer he's probably received a lot of times before.

“oh, and what have i done exactly?”

“you've annoyed me more in that time than my least favourite teachers have by giving me weekend homework during all the years i've studied.”

he sits seemingly stunned at your answer, before pouting at you, and begins to whine like the brattiest kid you've ever seen.

“oh come on! don't you find me the least bit attractive? even a little? not even this much?”

he places his pointer and thumb fingers together towards the end of his question, leaving only a tiny space in between them, as he looks like he's almost ready to cry if you say no one more time.

you shake your head at all his questions, being more and more amused at the way he seemed to deflate with each passing second, his pout growing larger.

it's not like you'd let anyone, especially a higher demon like he is, know that you find people like his type really, really, really attractive.

but damn, you'd really be lying if you said that you didn't want to tug on that choker and those necklaces, just to watch his reactions-

a low whine, one that sounds like your friend's cat when he's denied treats, brings you out of your thoughts.

marius, it appears, is currently having a mental breakdown over your nonchalant (not really) denial of his attractiveness.

you're just about to reach your breaking point, ready to burst into roaring laughter, when he snaps his head up and stares at you huffing, as determination for an unknown reason twinkles in his pretty purple eyes.

it appears that there's a lot of staring going on today, a corner of your mind helpfully supplies, and you snort at it.

it only appears to fuel his decision, the glimmer of his amaranthine eyes growing brighter and bolder.

“well, darling, count yourself lucky! it's not quite often that someone like me gets summoned so easily and there's not a lot of humans who pique my interest the way you do.

that's why i'll make a special contract just with you ― there's only one condition: if you still think the same about me after a month, i'll make any six of your wishes come true, no matter how ridiculous they might be.”

your intuition tells you he wouldn't leave you alone until you make a contract with him, and so, you decide to spare yourself the trouble and accept his offer.

“how do we make this contract, then?”

he smiles in cat-like satisfaction at your response, and you feel his tail brush against your shoulders, his grip seemingly becoming tighter.

“leave that to me, darling,” he purrs, as he takes one of your hands in his, and places feather light kisses along your fingertips, ones that send shivers down your spine.

he slowly makes his way up, reveling in the way your eyes follow all his movements, and finally, places one last kiss that seems to linger on the inside of your wrist.

the mark of a snake as the symbol of infinity appears on your forearm, and it glows just as perse as his gaze does. it rests on your skin, and tingles as a reminder of the pact that you made with the navy haired devil.

all of a sudden, your mind seems to want to tease him, and so tease him you do.

“alright, as it's all said and done, could you perhaps let me go now?”

he only nips at your hand in response.

true to his word, marius does his best to make you change your mind (not that it needs to be changed).

however, his enthusiasm and eagerness make two things very, very hard for you. one, for you keep up the act around him (not that he knows, not that you'd ever let him know).

two, for you to not stare every time he habitually tugs on one of his necklaces with his teeth (something deep down tells you that he does it on purpose to mess with you sometimes, and you're pretty sure that it's true because he smirks devilishly right after).

he accompanied you to your classes one day (he whined so much and threatened to hug you until you agreed to his demands) ― and while you did summon the lower demon you were required to summon for your assignment, and got perfect grades for it (because marius kept reminding you that you're supposed to root, not the flowers, but eventually decided to seize the opportunity and guided you through the process himself).

your teacher seemed to be very pleased and impressed with your summoning of marius, taking you as an example of advanced summoning for the rest of your class, as you watched on while trying not to burn yourself alive from embarrassment (marius seemed quite delighted to see you so embarrassed).

he immediately became one of your teacher's favourites, as soon as they learnt that he was a high ranking demon, the son of a demon king at that, and was soon granted permission to accompany you to all your classes in exchange for answering your teacher's inquisitive questions about the demon race (a little bit of tricking did come into play, although he'd never tell you that).

he's come along every day since ― he has a special seat right next to you in every single class, and his tail comfortably wraps around your wrist, right where his pact mark is, when you're moving between classes (though he's started to do it in class too, because how else would he show all the other demons and mortals around the both of you that you are his human?).

it's been half a month ― and marius has fully made himself a part of your routine (and a part of you wants it to stay that way, for him to continue being a part of your life).

the mornings are especially warm ― you wake up in his arms, as he sleepily gazes at you, and wishes you a good morning.

he sits on the counter as he watches you brush your teeth, and passes you everything from your skincare routine using his vast knowledge of enchantments, and it's now become a weekly occurrence for the two of you to do it together as everything floats around in the air (marius knows he doesn't need it at all, but the thought of spending time with you makes him so happy, he'd agree with anything you wanted to do).

your wardrobe is completely different from before thanks to the demon, who turned out to be super rich, and decided he wanted to give it a makeover (you're pretty sure he's also used a charm or two on the clothes ― because you've never felt this confident in every single piece of clothing you own before).

he joins you as you make breakfast for the both of you, and sets the table while using his magic to season the food when you're occupied with something else (it's comfortably silent when the meal is going on, but his happy expressions eating make it worth secretly practicing different recipes).

the rest of the day is spent the same way ― going to classes as his tail is wrapped around your wrist, him playfully bickering with you, and you replying with a witty comment that makes him grin wide, and retort with one of his own, then coming back home, playing around and finishing your work, ending with slowly falling asleep together as you talk about the most random of things.

you're starting to think you'd give anything and everything to let it be the same way, and for some reason, the thought doesn't scare you at all.

it's finally the end of the month ― and also the end of the contract you made with marius.

he's somber throughout the day, and when you try to cheer him up by making a sarcastic remark, all he does is smile at you sadly (and the lack of a tail wrapping around your wrist, feels cold).

the rest of your classmates are confused over his behavior ― he's always been so loud and exuberant that the change in demeanor worried them all. it does take a lot of reassurance from him to leave both of you alone, but they eventually disperse, throwing words of comfort over their shoulders for him.

the day seems to pass by painfully slow ― and all it does is make you more and more antsy, anxiety steadily clawing its way through your mind, slowly taking over your being.

the way back is so silent, silent enough that maybe, you're not the only one who can hear your heart beating out of your chest every time his fingers brush against yours, or when he subconsciously moves closer to you for warmth as a cold breeze blows by.

home doesn't feel like home, and all you want is for him to tell you that he's playing a prank on you like he usually does, or to come up to you and tease you about being clingy, but it never happens.

the mark on your wrist seems to fade, and it scares you enough to address the elephant in the room, as you notice him sitting by the window, staring at the pouring sky.

“marius?” you call out.

his pointed ears perk up at the sound of your voice, and as he turns around, you notice his lilac eyes are tinged red, like he was crying.

you open your mouth to say something, but are interrupted as he tackles you down, and holds onto you tight, tail once again wrapping around your wrist, sobbing quietly.

all you do is hold him in your arms as he cries, running your fingers through his hair, and when he finally raises his head, you wipe his tears for him, and he leans into your touch, finding comfort in the warmth of your hands.

“why are you crying, marius?” you whisper, for you fear that you would start crying too if you spoke a tad louder.

“i don't want to go. i don't want what we have right now to end, i don't want to be away from you ― i-i think i've fallen for you, and i don't think i'll ever love anyone else the same way i love you.”

you try to say something but he hugs you tighter, sharp nails digging into your shoulders, and it hurts ― but it's the last thing you can care about, not when someone like him is around.

“please don't say anything,” he croaks out, breathing uneven from tears. “please let me stay, stay with you, i'd do anything for you. anything, darling, anything you want.”

“marius,” you begin.

he continues rambling, and doesn't listen.

“marius,” you say again. he whimpers quietly this time.

“marius, you silly devil, will you listen to me now?”

he pauses for a heartbeat, but soon enough, nods against your shoulder, soft hair brushing against your cheek.

“i love you too.”

“what?”

“i said, i love you too.”

this time, he sits up straight and gently cradles your face in his hands, as he looks at you hopefully.

“do you really mean that?” he asks, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, and you smile at him.

“yes, i do. i don't want what we have to end either ― you've made yourself a part of my life, and i don't want it to go back to the way it was before. you've given me warmth, i don't want the cold from earlier anymore, marius.”

he breaks out into a large grin, and traps you in his arms for a strong embrace, one that leaves you smacking him so you can actually breathe and not die confessing your love to him.

“can i kiss you?” he asks, eager and happy.

“you can,” and it's all he needs to tug you in by your collar for a kiss, and you swear you can feel all his emotions through it ― maybe it's a demon thing, but hey, you're not complaining.

you tug at his choker and he jerks forward, nearly slipping. he sighs, and melts in your arms as his eyes narrow down like a cat's, to look at you, and only you.

he reluctantly pulls away, but that trademark teasing smirk of his returns to life as he knocks his forehead with yours and places a kiss on your nose.

“guess i really changed your mind, huh?”

“shush, shut up and kiss me again, you demon.”

“as you wish, darling.”

sure, he's an annoying idiot who annoyed you to the ends of the earth, but he's your annoying idiot now, he's your dear devil.

✦ notes; here it is! the amount of times i nearly changed the draft because ideas kept flooding in- anyway enjoy and lmk what you think, as for me, i think i'll go to sleep since it's 12:30 (am) now! ily all <3

- rine

© 2021 rine @artemstellation. do not plagarize or repost without due permission.

[yama-mochi]

Give and Take

Holy CRAP this took forever! ENJOY!!

Tears of Themis: Vyn x Rosa

Length: 16k words

Premise: Growing up in a glitzy world means you learn the dark sides. So it's difficult to let go of the genuine bright spots when you find them.

Note: There are numbers before each new section. Those are their respective ages so that the timeline is easier to track.

The first time he met her was when he was thirteen.

Vilhelm was already used to pretending to be the prefect child, standing still and silent to exalt his father in the eyes of attendees at every party, dinner, and casual event he was forcibly dragged to. He didn’t have a choice in the matter, and he only made the mistake of voicing his displeasure once. The sting still lingered across his knuckles, serving now as a constant reminder of what would happen if he stepped out of line again.

Rosa was the daughter of some prestigious scientists from a different country. Even as a child, Vilhelm could still tell that she was different from him. She didn’t seem to fear her parents, instead having no shame in discretely pulling her mother’s dress or stepping up to her father to hold his hand or ask a question. If he would do that, he’d get swatted for sure, but her parents seemed to have no qualms with her behavior.

Something in him envied that.

Silently, he made a wish that he wouldn’t have to see her again. But he should have known better by now: wishes never come true. If anything, they always backfired on him. This time proved no exception when he was left in charge of entertaining the ten-year-old girl while their parents discussed business elsewhere.

Of course, he’d put on a happy face, just like he was taught to, bowing his head in front of his father and lying by saying he would love to keep her company. His father simply looked pleased, not happy. Never happy. But pleased was better than mad, so Vilhelm had learned to accept it.

Ever the gentleman, Vilhelm extended his arm out for the girl to take. When she hesitated, looking at her parents for guidance, it became clear once again she wasn’t used to this world. After some reassurance, Rosa grinned at him and took his arm. “You’re like a prince from a fairytale,” she told him later.

He scoffed. A fairytale prince? Never in his life had he been compared to something so nonsensical. He knew his place as the son of a father with high standing, but that was all. However, one thing became abundantly clear to him: she did not belong here in this world. She was too innocent and naïve for that.

And he envied that so much that it was impossible for him not to hate her.

…

(16/13)

Unfortunately, that was not the last time he saw her. Far from it, in fact, much to his chagrin. Over the next three years, he was tasked many times with watching over her, seeing as their parents met frequently for what Vilhelm could only assume was business dealings. Sadly, this meant he saw Rosa at various events more often than not.

“You look miserable.”

At the voice he’d grown too familiar with for his liking, he turned his attention to the thirteen-year-old girl. “And you wear your expressions far too freely,” he snapped back, not bothering to smile. He was not in the mood for entertaining her tonight.

She sighed, looking put out. “Why do you only scowl at me? You were smiling with your dance partner before.”

She did bring up a fair point. Somehow, over the course of those last few years, he’d grown used to not forcing a smile around her. There was no other person he could get away with showing such behavior, and maybe he abused that fact. It spoke volumes to how he trusted her despite disliking her all the while.

And he despised himself for that realization yet had no intention to change.

When he didn’t answer, she sighed before extending a hand to him. “How about we dance? You can’t be mad when we dance.”

Said who? he inwardly snipped.

“Besides,” she continued with a grin. “Didn’t you say it was proper etiquette for a man to always agree if a girl wanted to dance with him?”

He turned his impassive gaze back to her, knowing she was right while ruing himself for ever teaching her that. To be clear, he had been obligated to teach her proper etiquette so she didn’t make a fool of herself at his father’s events, but he still regretted it.

When he didn’t respond quick enough, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Geez, what’s it going to take for you to agree to dance with me?”

He quirked a brow at her words. How demanding, like a child. Honestly, he’d seen a handful of people far older than her act similarly before, and it was only due to her age he would give her a pass. She’d certainly learn to quell that behavior soon enough or he would decisively not entertain her any longer.

However, a rather cruel part of him didn’t want to let the opportunity she’d given him go so easily. Caving into that desire, he smiled back at her, knowing full well it was a cruel grin. “That is the question, isn’t it? What are you willing to give me in return if I dance with you?”

That seemed to surprise her, her eyes going wide as she stared at him. “I don’t know,” she said. “What do you want?”

His amusement fell. She really was too foolish for this world. And once again, it fell on his shoulders to teach her. How unfortunate.

He extended a hand to her, which seemed to catch her off-guard once again. Yet, she took it with only minimal hesitation. He inwardly sighed. How many grave mistakes could this girl make in the span of a minute?

As the musicians prepared to play the next song, he led her to a corner of the dance floor before getting into a dance hold. Already, he could tell she’d been practicing; her form was much better than it had been a year ago.

“You owe me two things,” he said, the music starting up and queuing him to lead her around the dance floor.

“What is it?” she asked, slightly unfocused as she struggled to match his steps.

He shortened his stride to accommodate her. “One,” he began, voice firm. “You are never to accept a deal without knowing exactly what the other party wants.”

He watched with no small amount of pride as her face turned red with embarrassment.

“Two,” he continued, pulling her in close so she was forced to look him in the eye. Something in him preened at the worry that flashed across her entire expression. “Never make a bet like that with just anyone. You never know what they’ll want from you.”

She blinked up at him, her face staying beet red as she shyly looked away. “Understood.”

His grin widened, feeling smugly proud of himself. Maybe she’d stay out of his hair now. “Good. You don’t belong in places like this, so stop trying to pretend you do.”

For the rest of the dance, she struggled to follow his lead, and once it was over, she ended up leaving him for the rest of the night.

Which should have been a blessing. Yet a small, guilty part of him knew she was bound to wind up in trouble without someone watching her. And so, despite himself, he was still there, following her around to keep an eye on her.

What a bother.

…

(17/14)

Vilhelm could have gotten whiplash over how quickly things changed in a year.

The first time they met again after that dance, she had faced him with a new fire in her eyes. It made him realize once again how arrogant his words had been; she had no more choice than him whether she was in this world or not, and saying she didn’t belong in a world she’d been thrown into was just insulting. Yet, instead of balking and becoming a wall flower, she’d chosen to face him head on.

“If you think I don’t belong here, then what do I need to do to get you to help me fit in?”

He’d frowned when she’d said those words, thinking that she hadn’t learned a thing. But when he’d questioned her on if she’d taken his advice on asking for favors to heart at all, she’d produced a notebook and pen. “Well, it seems with you, I need to get things in writing.”

To say he had been surprised would be an understatement, but once the shock wore off, he’d actually chuckled. It seemed as though she was a quick learner. So maybe…

Normally, he stayed out of things that didn’t affect him. If he had no hand in it or if it served no beneficial purpose to him, he didn’t want to be dragged into it. However, the potential of amusement she offered was just enticing enough to make him take a chance and sign a little written agreement with her, one known as the “Give and Take” agreement. In simple terms, it stated that for everything one party gives, the other party must give something in return of equal value.

That agreement had led them here, with her near perpetually in his debt after he’d taught her every dirty secret he’d learned about the glimmering world they inhabited. Surprisingly, though, Rosa had taken everything in stride, making increasingly fewer missteps and mistakes as she seemingly burned every lesson in her mind.

Honestly, the fact she’d been so easily trained was too amusing to Vilhelm. It seemed that the saying was right: pets do improve the quality of their master’s life. It may have been cruel to think of it that way, but it was difficult to not think of her as a thing he’d trained.

Speaking of which, he got to watch said pet slip unnoticed through the crowd as she made her way over to him. She’d gotten so much more graceful in a year, too, on top of everything else.

He himself had finally gotten away from his own conversation by the time she had successfully made her way over to him. “Report?” he asked, unable to keep the smug grin from crossing his face.

With practiced movements, she unfolded her fan, blocking her mouth off from view of the ballroom around them. For everything she had learned, tempering her emotions had not been one of them, so he’d insisted that she learn how to use a fan in social settings to give herself a bit of privacy while speaking. “What do you wish to know first? Because I certainly have some fun information for you.”

His grin widened. How useful she’d proven herself to be. Due to the agreement, his lessons hadn’t come free, so how could a young girl with nothing of value pay off such a debt to a young man who had one of the highest social standings in the room?

By being his dog, of course.

Over the course of the last year, he’d trained her to retrieve things he wanted to know. Being only fourteen and having almost no social standing and consequently no value to nearly all the people here gave her the edge of invisibility he himself did not have. Therefore, with the exception of the staff, she was the one person who could slip around a ballroom relatively unnoticed while listening to every conversation in earshot.

And she’d come to be very good at her job, too. Within minutes, Vilhelm had the names of people who were trying to do business or make other sketchy deals behind his father’s back as well as those who saw himself as a potential marriage pawn.

“Anything else to report?” he asked, watching her fold her fan up and hold it demurely in front of her chest.

“Don’t drink the punch. It’s vile.”

He scoffed, amused. “My father would be insulted if he heard that.”

“Your father hasn’t touched the punch and wouldn’t dare. Why does he care what his little peons drink?”

He almost laughed but bit his tongue to hold it in. “Fair point. You’ve learned well.”

“I had a cruel teacher.”

“I do not coddle anyone.”

She scoffed. “Clearly.”

With a chuckle, he turned away, watching as the first dance ended and a second one began. He spared a glance over to Rosa, noting how she watched the dancers longingly. He bit back his grin. It had become clear that even though she was slowly growing skeptical of this glitzy, glimmering world, the one thing she still held on a pedestal was the ballroom dances.

“You wish to dance?” he asked with a knowing grin.

She sighed, which only made his smile grow. “I know that tone. What do you want?”

Again, he chuckled. She’d learned quick. “What if I offer it for free?” he tempted.

Her eyes shone with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “Really?”

With a bow, he extended his hand to her.

Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. Then he got the pleasure of watching realization dawn on her as he pulled her out onto the edge of the dance floor.

“Here’s a lesson for you,” he said, pulling her into the dance hold. “Nothing is ever free. ‘Free’ simply means ‘I’ll collect later’.”

She sighed, looking quite put out, but he knew her well enough by now to know she wasn’t mad at him but rather at herself for falling for his trick. “Understood. I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me when you’re going to collect or what you wanted in the first place?”

“Correct.”

“Lesson learned,” she assured with a tired pout.

“Good. I would hate for you to get caught up in something you could have easily avoided.”

“You don’t mean that,” she grumbled, looking away.

He could only grin. Later, he would spend hours agonizing over just how much he meant that statement. Because while she didn’t mean anything to him, he was forced to admit—but only to himself—that he really would find it bothersome if she found herself in trouble.

…

(18/15)

On his eighteenth birthday, he realized things were very different as a legal adult. Of course, he’d gotten glimpses of what the world of adulthood looked like—boring business deals and false façades glamorized by pretty parties, flashy fashion, and bubbly booze—but one key portion he’d only caught glimpses of finally came to life.

The sinful sex part.

He’d already been exposed to the arranged marriage talks and had more than once caught sight of couples sneaking away from various parties to go enjoy amorous activities elsewhere. He’d even caught people giving him lustful looks across a room before he was of age, but now, being legal was like the switch that opened him up fully to that vile part of this world. The number of women whose attention was on him tonight was overwhelming, and honestly, if he was approached by one more woman tonight—

“Vilhelm.”

Vilhelm turned his attention to the young lady that had made her way to his side. Ahh, scratch that. There was one exception. “Anything to report?”

Her fan was already open, hiding her mouth from view, but it couldn’t hide the daggers her eyes were shooting at a woman across the room. “Who’s the blonde lady in that atrocious blue dress over there?”

Subtly as he could, he glanced across the room, eyeing the woman in question. “Ah, yes. I know who you’re talking about and don’t care to recall her name. Daughter of some nobleman who’s spent far too much time kissing up to my father. Why?”

When her face turned red, Vilhelm suddenly got an inkling of what had been spoken about. “Well,” Rosa started, shyly looking away. “I won’t repeat what she said, but she was making comments of how confident she was in her ability to seduce you. And considering her body language, don’t be surprised if she tries to draw attention to her… very low-cut dress.”

He had to temper his sigh. It was far from the first time tonight he’d overheard a woman wanting his attention in a very ungentlemanly way. Worse yet, he was likely going to have to dance with that woman to appease both his father and her parents tonight. Honestly, what was wrong with these women? Didn’t they have any decency and decorum? Or was that just a mask, too.

“You okay?” Rosa asked, her gaze softening.

“Quite,” he curtly returned.

She sighed. “Vilhelm, I’ve known you for a while now. And while our relationship is mostly just this ‘Give and Take Agreement’, I actually do care if you’re exhausted.”

He knew she did. Frankly, he knew she cared about him far more than she should. Their relationship was based solely on what he could take from her, but she’d become… an odd sort of acquaintance to him. One he’d grown a bit of a soft spot for. But even then, he wasn’t willing to show her his weaknesses quite yet. “I’m fine.”

“Liar,” she snipped, snapping her fan shut and spinning on her heel. “I’ll be back with some water.”

He couldn’t help but sigh, doing his best to hide the small, tired smile that wanted to appear. She’d only grown feistier over time, and he quite liked seeing her true feelings with no mask covering them. It was a change to the normal: people all around wearing polite façades to get on his best side. He liked this honesty he’d found in her. Maybe that was why he’d grown such a soft spot for this young lady.

When she returned, two glasses in hand, they proceeded to chat about other things she’d picked up along the way. She’d become quite adept at eavesdropping, and he was proud of her for it. But there was a little part of him, one he’d shoved down deep within the dark corners of his soul, that was uncomfortable with the idea that he’d done this to her. Despite having been in this world for five years now, she was still so pure compared to… well, nearly every person in this room. If anyone deserved their freedom from this mess, it was her.

When the first dance began, he wasn’t surprised to see Rosa turn to watch. It was her favorite part of any event, and he knew she would eventually put herself in his debt just to get him to take one turn with her on the dance floor.

“So,” he began, readily taking the chance to tease her. “What are you willing to offer me?”

She turned back to him, her eyes locking on his and staring hard into them. While it did surprise him, he didn’t turn away and instead met her gaze head on, waiting for her to give.

“Well, actually,” she eventually drawled out, smug grin stretching across her lips. “You will be in my debt.”

At this, he quirked a brow. “How so?”

He could tell she was trying to look devious, but with her gentle and youthful features, the most she looked was a bit mischievous, like a fairy trying to steal a shiny marble that had caught her eye. “I take your first dance, and maybe your second, then steal your time for the night. In doing so, blonde lady in the blue dress that is a sin against fashion might get the picture you’re not remotely interested in meeting up in her room later tonight. So really, this time, you need me more than I need you.”

The longer he looked at that winner’s grin on her face, the more amused he was. She’d certainly thought this through, trying to get the upper hand on him. Scary thing was she really did present a good point. “You do realize you’re fifteen, correct?” he said, trying to poke hole in the only weak spot in her plan. “A little young for me, don’t you think?”

“We’re in an arranged marriage, and you’re waiting for me to come of age?” she offered with a shrug.

He blinked, once then twice. Honestly, that was a perfectly reasonable explanation she’d come up with so quickly off the cuff. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised at her wit now, yet he still was.

Suddenly, she extended her hand before him. “Hurry up,” she quietly spoke, grinning all the while. “She looks quite determined marching over here.”

“I don’t have time to ask what you want of me, do I?”

“No.”

With an amused sigh, he took her hand, bowing before her. He stole a glance over his shoulder, watching as the blonde they’d been talking about suddenly seemed to pause at the scene. With a grin, Vilhelm decided to push the boundaries and press a kiss to the back of Rosa’s hand before making a grand show of leading the now blushing fairy girl onto the dance floor.

He stole one last look at the blonde, looking rather ruffled now, stomp away in a huff. He grinned. That had worked quiet well.

Once on the dancefloor, he pulled Rosa into the now familiar hold. “Well? What is it you desire of me?”

Her cheeks remained red, which caused him immense pleasure. It made the cost of whatever she dare ask of him one he was more than willing to pay. And when she managed to pull her composure together, slightly taming her blush in the process, Vilhelm was impressed. She’d been terrible at tempering her emotions before, so this was certainly a start.

“Why would I waste such a valuable opportunity?” she asked, a playful lit to her voice. “After all, what I ask for should be directly proportional to how much of my time you use tonight. That, and you really owe me for using me to make a show like that.”

Good grief, she’d really just played him by his own rules, hadn’t she? The worst part of it was that he couldn’t even find it in him to be upset about it.

After the long night had finally come to a close, he realized just how great of a debt he’d found himself in. She’d given him so much of her time that night, and she would undoubtably take what she could from him. Likely, she would hold onto it for more dances at events like this, but she also might surprise him. She had proven herself capable of doing so, and he found himself almost hoping she would.

“Hey, come with me for a minute, okay?”

He quirked a brow at her. “What for? Is this your take of our deal?”

“No, actually. I have other plans for that. For now… just trust me this time, okay?”

This was a break from their usual, as well as a break from their agreement. Normally, he would coerce compensation out of her, but this time, he found his iron-will faltering. She knew their agreement well enough by now, knew the ins and outs of it, and he believed she probably knew him well enough by now to know he lived by that agreement. So it was unlikely she’d forgo their contract without good reason.

Had it been anyone else, he would have asked what they were going to give him in return. But it was Rosa, the girl who could honestly say she was a picture of purity in this world full of façades. So he found himself caving to his curiosity, deciding to indulge her this once and agree to follow her.

He allowed her to lead him out into the back gardens behind the venue. The moment they stepped outside, the chilly night air struck him, and he couldn’t help but think that she might be cold, seeing as she was in a short-sleeved dress. Yet, she didn’t seem to let it bother her as she wove through the garden, out to a gazebo that had been decorated for pictures earlier in the evening. However, she stopped before reaching it, bending down to dig through a flower bush.

“What are you doing?” he questioned, looking around to ensure no one was watching her make a fool of herself.

“I know there was a table for your gifts,” she said, voice strained as she continued her search. “But—ah-ha! There it is—but I didn’t want to put it there to get lost in the crowd.”

She stood again, holding a small box that fit in the palm of her hand. “Here, Vilhelm. Happy birthday.”

To say he was shocked was an understatement. He found himself frozen, staring at her. This… she’d caught him completely off guard. Her words, her gift, her smile; those were all genuine, unlike that entire ballroom full of people with practiced pleasantry and false well-wishes.

And the warmth in her actions was almost too hot to touch.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her expression falling.

No, no, don’t. His immediate thought surprised him, but he didn’t have time to think about it as he took the present from her hands. “Nevermind me,” he said, holding the small, purple box tied up with a little white ribbon with more care and attention than he’d given a gift in years. “Thank you.”

Her smile came back, and he found it easier to breathe. When had his chest become tight?

“You’re welcome,” she said. “I also wanted to say thank you. I know that our agreement is give and take, but you’ve taught me so much about navigating… this. These parties and events and things that every normal person only wishes they could attend. So, thank you, Vilhelm. For everything. I know the gift is small. I wanted to get you more, but it was the only thing I thought you’d really like, so…”

She trailed off, but Vilhelm hardly minded. Honestly, he wouldn’t know what to do if she kept talking. She was the one person in his world that he actually could believe when she said things like that. Because, unlike the dozens of people who had filled an entire ballroom just moments before, she was the one who actually meant it.

Looking down at the gift in his hands, a warmth filled his chest. She’d specifically gotten this for him, thinking not about what she could get to impress him, but rather thinking of what he’d care to receive. It burned in his hands, hurting him while also being the most precious thing in his world.

He looked back up at her again, only to notice her arms crossed as she curled in on herself. Before he even realized what he was doing, he slid out of his overcoat. She didn’t have time to say a word, even though she clearly had wanted to, when he draped his coat over her shoulders.

“It’s chilly tonight,” he said, situating the coat around her.

Gradually, a soft smile appeared on her lips, and she looked away from him. “Thank you.”

As he pulled his hands away from the jacket, she grasped the edges to keep it solidly around her. However, neither said a word.

To cut the silence, he flashed her a smile. “May I open it?”

Surprised, she sputtered. “Ah! Y-yes. Please.”

As carefully as he could, he undid the ribbon, letting it drape over his fingers as he gently pulled off the lid of the small box.

He blinked at the gift inside. “Gladiolus seeds.”

She smiled. “Call me naïve when it comes to flower language, but I learned they mean ‘sincerity’, and I thought you could use some of that in your life.”

Her words pierced him, burning him like a flame to the point they hurt. But at the same time, he didn’t want to pull away. On the contrary, he wanted to cling to them. Let them burn him; it was the most he’s felt from another person for as long as he could remember.

Carefully, he replaced the lid of the box, then wrapped the ribbon back around it, tying it back up with a rough bow. And when he smiled at her, it felt almost foreign. Had it really been years since he’d actually genuinely smiled like this? Very likely. “Thank you. I’ll treasure this.”

And for once, he actually meant those words at face value.

…

(18/16)

She was sixteen and garnering far too much male attention for Vilhelm’s liking.

He knew Rosa wasn’t one to be swayed by pretty promises; she not only had a good head on her shoulders and the ability to recognize false flattery, but he’d been sure to train her to not accept such. However, there was an ugly feeling that boiled within him whenever a man’s attention lingered on her too long.

Leave her alone. The thought bubbled up far too often in the last hour since the party began. It was a fiery burn that wouldn’t leave as he watched the fifth man walk up to her and strike up a conversation. Though she’d tried to get away, the man hadn’t let her. And when he leaned forward, causing her to take a step back and try to use her fan as a method to put distance between them, Vilhelm could no longer stand idle.

Excusing himself from the conversation he was in, he marched over to where she was, keeping a sharp eye on the man who seemed intent to get far closer than decorum allowed.

“Rosa,” he called out, forcing a smile all while his eyes narrowed at this new man.

“Ah, there you are,” she returned with a grin, gladly sliding over to his side and wrapping her arms over his elbow. The fiery anger in him subsided slightly as she tucked herself close to his side, but the tightness of her grip fanned the flames of protectiveness instead. “I was looking for you but assumed you were with your father.”

“That I was,” he said. “Forgive me for having to leave you alone for so long.”

“Nonsense. It was important,” she assured, making a show of patting his arm as though placating him. She then turned back to the other man, false smile on her face. “Thank you for entertaining me until my date arrived. It was much appreciated.”

Vilhelm’s own smile turned sharp. He wasn’t sure whether to be proud of her passive-aggressive response or not. Maybe he would let it slide this once, as he would be thrilled to see this man tuck tail and run, but he hated that such this lovely young lady had to sully herself by employing such a sharp tactical façade.

The man seemed to spare one look at Vilhelm before bowing and taking his leave. Good. Maybe he will have gotten the hint to never touch Rosa again.

“Get me out of here,” she hissed through a strained smile. “I don’t even care what I owe you. Just please.”

He hated the pang of pain that pierced his heart at the upset undertone in her voice. “Don’t I still owe you from my birthday a few months ago?”

She sighed, shifting her grip on his elbow. “Seems I was wise to hold onto that favor. Because I think I’ll cash it in now.”

“What do you have in mind?”

The grip on her elbow tightened as she pondered over her words. This time, he felt sick to his stomach. He knew her long enough to know her expressions, and he could practically feel the nervous energy radiating off of her with every movement she made.

Gently, he laid a hand over hers, causing her gaze to rise from the floor to meet his. “Rosa,” he quietly spoke. “If they’re bothering you, then inform me, and I’ll gladly take care of it.”

His words seemed to have surprised her, yet that expression relaxed, hinting at resignation as she nodded. “Don’t go overboard, though,” she asked. “I don’t know if I can afford being in that much debt.”

“Consider this free.” The words rolled off his tongue almost before he could register it. Even when he did, he didn’t regret them.

However, Rosa seemed to not know how to process his statement leveling him with a skeptical look. “Since when is anything with you free?”

Ahh, there was the regret. Suddenly, he rued the days he’d spent teaching her that nothing was ever free. “I would like to add an addendum to our agreement.”

Rosa stopped her walking, forcing Vilhelm to spin on his heel to face her. When he met her gaze, the skepticism held within her eyes cut him deep. But what did he expect when he taught her how to be jaded? For the first time, he realized he might have ruined her more than he’d realized, and the white petals of this rose he’d come to admire might be rotting on the edges due to his own actions.

“You’d be willing to add an addendum?” she asked dubiously. “Since when do you like the rules being changed?”

Since when, indeed? That was the question. Yet, instead of answering, he asked, “What if I was willing to change the rules for you?”

She couldn’t hide her surprise even if she wanted to. The way her eyes widened, now sparkling under all the brilliant lights in the room, made her seem so innocent, like the young girl he’d known instead of the young lady she was growing into. It settled him a bit, knowing that she still did have that lovely, pure part about her. He just had to be careful not to taint it any more than he already had.

Eventually, she scrambled her composure together, looking away from him just as a blush bloomed across her cheeks. “I…”

He gave her a smile, even though he knew she couldn’t see it. “This is for your safety,” he gently explained, thinking it a perfectly reasonable counter. “Should you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe with a man, then please find me. Agreement or not, I do consider us friends of sorts, and I will not have you falling prey to a man willing to take advantage of you just because you are hesitant to ask for my help when truly needed.”

Finally, she looked back up at him, a new hope twinkling in her eyes. “You think of us as friends?”

He choked on air for a second, realizing her disbelief hurt him a lot more than he’d expected. “I do.”

A smile gradually picked up the corners of her lips. “Vilhelm Richter, the impenetrable iron mask who never lets anyone get close and trusts no one actually considers me a friend?”

He sighed, unable to do anything but resign himself to her teasing. “I do.”

“I’m shook.”

He huffed a weak laugh. “Well… I suppose I deserve that.”

“You do,” she said, stepping closer to his side so their shoulders now touched. “But… thank you.”

Warmth spread out from her touch through his entire body. Automatically, he pulled his elbow in, tucking her as close to his side as possible so as to keep her safe. It calmed him in ways he didn’t care to examine too closely. “You’re welcome.”

“I do have a question, though.”

Somehow, that lightly playful lit in her tone worried him. “And that is?”

“How do you know I won’t just be taking advantage of this supposed clause to get you to do my bidding?”

“I feel confident in your inability to take advantage of me, from the standpoint of both of your good heart and my knowledge of your personality I’ve gained over the past six years.”

“…That’s not fair. I can’t even argue with that.”

He chuckled, relieved that the tone of their conversation had lightened. Only then did he realize just how uncomfortable he’d been talking so seriously with her.

“I guess I’ll have to bring my notebook so we can rewrite our agreement,” she said, cutting into his thoughts.

“We can simply add an addendum at the bottom of our respective copies and initial it with a date.”

“I suppose that works,” she agreed. “Do I need to get tonight in writing, too?”

“Normally, I would encourage it, but I hope we can strike a verbal agreement tonight.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t trust that, but I’ve come to know you well enough to trust you on keeping your word tonight.”

“Wise.”

She grinned. “I learned from a very cruel teacher.”

“I do not coddle anyone.”

She scoffed, getting a grin out of him. “Clearly. However, I can’t deny it’s served me well over the years. So, I do thank you for that.”

“In your eyes, I would understand if the words I’m about to say seem laughable, but I’d like to fancy myself a gentleman.”

She huffed a mirthless chuckle. “They do, in one sense. But frankly, I’ve never seen you any other way.”

He hummed, her words almost disappointing him. “I could easily identify my younger self’s failures so as to prove you wrong.”

This time, her smile was genuine amusement. “I think I’d agree with everything you’d point out now, but younger me didn’t know any better. Besides, I think you’ve grown into a fine gentleman.”

There was no other way he could respond than to thank her automatically and drop the conversation. He still didn’t feel like a gentleman when he thought of his behavior towards her over the years. But then again, his world had turned upside down almost a year ago now when she’d given him that gift. He’d since started evaluating his behavior more closely, wanting to prove to her that he’d been worthy of her gift. But not only that, he’d been craving her company more as of recent and enjoying their interactions more. It was as though she’d broken a piece of him that he was now trying to repair.

That was unfair. It was more like she’d made him realize there was a broken part of himself, and he wanted to repair that part of him for her.

To call it ‘love’ was overkill, and to call it ‘romantic’ was off the mark, too. ‘Affection’ seemed to fit well. But if he was being honest with himself, tonight made him realize ‘possession’ seemed to fit better. He’d come to realize she’d opened up to him. She’d proved she cared for him. And part of him wanted to be the only one she did that for. He’d found a treasure in her, and considering the greedy, demanding world he grew up in, he hadn’t been taught extensively about the concept of sharing.

“I seem to recall,” he began as he noticed the band beginning to set up, “that on my birthday, you determined one of the best ways to save me from overly-assertive women was to steal my dance card.”

She looked up at him, only to turn away with a resigned grin when he realized what he’d been implying. “Are you going to steal my dance card tonight?”

“Not to brag,” he said, giving her a winner’s grin. “But no man here is going to try to steal the lady of a man whose status trumps theirs.”

The chastising look she shot him was dampened by the grin she wore. “Careful. I can see your head doubling in size.”

“It’s not arrogance when it’s true.” With that, he extended a hand to her. “So, may I have this dance?”

She wouldn’t say no. He knew it. She loved dancing and would gladly take any opportunity she could. And considering her position now, there was even less of a reason for her to say no. So when she put her hand in his, his smile widened.

“Alright, since you insist,” she playfully relented.

He gladly led her to the dancefloor, electing to move closer to center than he ever had before. Tonight, he wanted to show her off. Let everyone know that this vision in violet was taken.

This is mine, he thought, as the dance started. He stole glances around the room, wondering just who was watching her tonight and feeling proud whenever he caught a forlorn or frustrated expression aimed his way.

Yes. He thought, his heart burning with a pride he’d never felt before. This is mine. And no one else can touch her.

…

(20/17)

It was some time after she’d turned seventeen that he really could deny it no longer: he was more than just a little infatuated with her. Some might say it bordered on inappropriate, with him being twenty and she still technically a minor, but he would beg to differ. There was only a three-year gap between them, which in the grand scope of things was not overly large, but he would concede it may seem large considering their current ages. However, he would argue that there was nothing more than a friendly relationship between them now, and furthermore, he would not act on his feelings, whatever they might be, for the foreseeable future. Because she was seventeen, talking about her future and what it could look like, and he wouldn’t dare interfere with her plans to fly no matter how much he wanted her to stay. So, as it was, it was in her best interest he kept his mouth shut, and therefore, because he wanted the best for her even if it conflicted with his personal interest, he would.

And if that sort of love was inappropriate, he would kindly tell whoever disapproved exactly where they could go.

But as for him, at the moment, he would gladly listen as she told him about her future plans.

“I’ve already applied to universities,” she explained. “Now, I just have to wait until they respond or not.”

“You’ve settled fully on being a law major?”

“Yes,” she answered with a smile. “I have.”

“That is good to hear,” he said. And he meant it. She would do well, and he would be proud of her. “Will you be living on campus, whichever it might be?”

“Yes. I won’t be close to home no matter what university I am accepted into, and the dorms would be best for my first year there.”

“True. Does this mean you will no longer be accompanying your parents to these parties?”

She froze, drink glass halfway to her lips. He grinned, knowing he’d been on the mark in believing she had not quite realized just how much her life was about to change. Which was understandable. He had started up university already, but he still attended these things. Partly because he was using his father’s influence and money while in school, and the other part was, frankly, for her. She had become the only reason he remotely cared about these events. It wasn’t as though they saw each other outside these times, which was something he did wish to remedy while also unsure how to even ask for such a thing.

Slowly, she lowered the glass again. “Yeah. You’re right. Which, I guess from one standpoint is good. No more of these stupid façade games. But…”

“You’ll miss the dancing,” he teased. “And the fashion, and the food.”

She glared at him. He hid his growing grin behind his drink glass.

With a huff, she turned away.

Cute, he thought, keeping his glass up for a moment longer so he could school his features before lowering it. “I’ll listen.”

He waited for her to say whatever had been on her mind, but she didn’t. “Nevermind, it’s nothing.”

The hint of pink on her cheeks told him all he needed to know. “Now, that would be a shame if one of your dearest friends intimidated you into not speaking your mind,” he prodded, his grin not going away any time soon.

“I hate you.”

He chuckled but didn’t say anything.

Heaving a sigh, she turned away. “I’ll miss you.”

There you go. He inwardly preened at her nearly inaudible words. He didn’t let them go to his head, though; he knew full well what she meant with those words. It was clear they’d become friends. Close confidants, even. His hope for her meaning any more than missing him as a friend was right where it should be: very, very low.

“I’ll miss you, too,” he admitted. “These events would be an utter bore without some form of entertainment.”

She scoffed. “Glad to know I was just your toy all these years. Wait, that came out wrong.”

“I knew what you meant,” he quickly assured, watching her wide-eyed panic dissipate. “And thankfully you said that quietly enough that I don’t believe anyone could have heard and misinterpreted what you said.”

She regarded him with a guarded expression, but that only lasted a moment before she turned her attention back out to the couples dancing.

“I see that look in your eye,” he said, already reaching out to take her nearly empty glass.

“I see someone’s given up trying to hold it against me,” she returned with a grin, handing over her glass to him. “Shocking considering how much he doesn’t care to dance.”

“Is that what you’ve thought all this time?”

Her expression shifted to one of amused skepticism. “Was I wrong?”

After handing off the glasses to a nearby waiter collecting empty drinks, he turned back to her and offered her both his hand and a smile, pointedly not answering her question.

Rolling her eyes, she took his hand without hesitation, and he led her out onto the floor just as the next dance was about to begin. They easily settled into the familiar hold, then waited for the first notes of the song before moving along with the current of other dancers. Rosa had improved so much over the years, and now, he could say she was the best dancer he’d ever had the pleasure of leading around the dancefloor. At the very least, she was his strongly preferred partner.

“I hate hypocrisy,” he finally said.

“I do know this,” she returned. “But what does that have to do with…”

He smiled wistfully down at her. “The way you didn’t finish tells me you know the answer.”

She sighed, her expression clouding with resignation. “I do. Ballroom dancing at parties like this…it’s a contract, in a way. You agree to lead each other around the floor for show, which makes it hard to enjoy the act of actually dancing.”

He gave her hand a squeeze. “Yes. But that is not you and me. So please, keep your chin up. It’s not like you to not enjoy a dance.”

She blinked up at him, her wide eyes making her seem vulnerable in that moment.

Don’t look at me like that, he inwardly begged, knowing his heart couldn’t take such an endearingly innocent expression. But don’t let anyone else see you that vulnerable. Only me. Only ever me.

Outwardly, he gave her a smile, waiting for her to return it before he whispered, “That’s my girl.”

He would pretend he didn’t see the blush just as she would pretend she hadn’t heard his words. And he would further pretend he didn’t say them in the first place.

“Do you think you’ll ever make time to come back?” he asked, steering them away from their awkward moment.

She blinked her long eyelashes up at him. “Do you want me to?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation, surprising himself. But he held that in. He was good at hiding his expressions by now, even from her.

Though, she was the hardest to hide everything from. And when she squeezed his hand back, giving him the smallest, wistful smile, he couldn’t help but hold her tighter in return.

“I’ll try.”

“That’s good enough for me.”

…

(20/18)

There was no event on or around her eighteenth birthday, meaning Vilhelm had no reason to see her. But that didn’t stop him this time. Instead, he invited her as his fake date to a made-up dinner.

He’d gotten her parents’ permission first, of course. Though their daughter was now a legal adult, it may have seemed strange, even borderline inappropriate, to them for their main investor’s son to ask their daughter out for a private, seemingly intimate date. However, even before he explained it was a simple birthday dinner for her in return for the gift she’d given him on his eighteenth birthday, they seemed to be okay with the situation. They confessed they’d become comfortable with their daughter being with him considering how they watched the two interact growing up.

While relieved, he also didn’t want to break the faith they’d placed on him. So he’d told them his whole plan, from where they were going to the times he would pick her up and return her. While they agreed to the itinerary, the only thing they asked was for this made-up event to take place the day after her actual birthday so they could spend the day as a family. He would kick himself later, for it had never occurred to him that families like hers would actually spend the day together, but he easily agreed to the perfectly reasonable terms they’d set.

And so, here he was, waiting in front of her house for her to come out.

“This is when I threaten you with a gun, correct?” her father quietly teased.

“If you must,” Vilhelm good-naturedly replied.

Amused, her father patted him on the shoulder. “Please, just take care of her.”

“I promise I will keep my word,” he assured. “And I’ll make sure you’re informed of any unlikely itinerary changes. Thank you for allowing me this time with her.���

Movement from the top of the staircase called their attention, only for Rosa’s mother to make her way down the staircase. “She’ll be right out,” she said, giving Vilhelm a smile and a wink. It had quickly become apparent to him where Rosa’s personality had come from.

“Thank you, madam,” Vilhelm said, returning her grin with a genuine smile of his own. “For letting me abscond with your daughter for the evening.”

Her smile softened before she patted him on his shoulder. A strange custom to Vilhelm, but they must be used to physical affection in this house. It was warm, like Rosa.

“I’m coming!” Rosa soon cried from the top of the stairs.

“Take your time,” Vilhelm told her, watching as she quickly made her way down the stairs, holding the railing in one hand and a fist full of fabric in the other to keep her dress hem away from her shoes. “Don’t injure yourself.”

“I’m fine,” she said, hitting the bottom of the steps before making her way over to him. “Sorry, I misplaced my wallet and was scrambling to find it. Hopefully, I didn’t keep you waiting?”

“Not at all. Shall we?” He extended his arm to her.

“We shall,” she agreed, looping her hand over his elbow before turning to her parents. “I should be back by ten, but if not, I’ll call you. You know how these dinners work.”

Her parents nodded in agreement, perfectly playing along with her assumption that this was a dinner and she was his fake date for the evening. As far as Vilhelm knew, Rosa was also under the assumption that her parents only agreed because he was the son of one of their biggest investors and therefore had a hard time saying no to him.

“Don’t worry, sweetie,” her mother dismissed with a grin. “We know. It was very kind of you to accept Mr. Richter’s request.”

“Bring her back by ten, please,” her father said, giving Vilhelm a good, stern look that he knew the man didn’t mean.

Vilhelm nodded solemnly. “It is not my intention to stay any longer.”

“Good. Now, hopefully, you enjoy that stuffy event.”

“We’ll make the most of it,” Rosa assured before allowing Vilhelm to lead her out the door to the awaiting limousine.

“Swanky,” she playfully commented as Vilhelm opened the door for her.

“I must keep up appearances,” he dismissed.

“Let me enjoy the luxury without you having to wave it off like it’s normal,” she sassed.

He couldn’t help but smile. “Understood.”

When they got to the venue, he assisted her from the limo before escorting her inside. However, as he suspected, it didn’t take long for her to suspect something was amiss. And when they arrived at the reserved room, she finally confronted him. “What is this?”

“The secret is out,” he said, amused. “There is no dinner.”

“I see that,” she said, looking at the single table in the room which was decorated with candle lanterns and flowers as per his request. “So, what is this?”

“Happy birthday.”

She froze, her eyes going wide enough to reflect the flickering glow of the lanterns. “Wait…” she trailed off, voice now soft as she looked over the venue again. “You… did this…”

“I’ve never forgotten what you did for me on my eighteenth birthday,” he admitted, his heart jumping when she turned her endearing gaze back to him. “I’ve wanted to return the favor for a while now.”

“Vilhelm…”

“And your parents are aware,” he assured her. “They gave their permission to let me do this for you.”

“That makes sense, then, why my mom pushed me into my favorite dress…”

Once again, he looked her over, taking in the scarlet dress she wore, one with off the shoulder sleeves and an A-line skirt that flared from her trim waist. The color suited her, and the dress design gave her a mature air. “You look lovely in it,” he said. “Truly.”

He watched her cheeks turn pink as she shyly looked away. “Thank you.”

The pride that bloomed in his chest knowing he was the one who caused that reaction was a powerful drug. He’d fallen for her too hard despite knowing he shouldn’t have. “Shall we enjoy the dinner, now?” he asked, redirecting his thoughts. “It would be a shame for it to go to waste.”

Never in his life had he enjoyed a meal as much as he had this one. There were no façades today. No forced pleasantries, no small talk, and no pressure to perform in a certain, expected manner. Instead, he got the honor of seeing Rosa in a different light. Never had he seen her so unfiltered, so bright and warm as she was today. But that was because, he realized, they’d never met under private conditions like this. For sure they had slipped away from parties and events for private moments before, but they were more chances to collect themselves before preparing to face the chaos once again.

Now, they were free.

It was a dangerous thing, having been granted the opportunity to see her like this. Because it made him want more of it. The warmth he’d never known paired with the assuredness that all their actions were genuine… it could become very addicting. This little glimpse was enough to strike the possessive nerve he thought he’d tamped down. Clearly not considering those embers burned hotter in him the longer he stayed with her. He didn’t want anyone else to see her like this: so clearly in an intimate setting. He wanted this privilege to be his and his alone. He was the one closest to her, and he wanted it to stay that way.

At the end of the dinner, Vilhelm excused himself for a minute, going to grab the two boxes he’d hidden behind a large vase in the room. He returned with a grin, unable to remember the last time he’d been this genuinely excited. Maybe as a child, but he still couldn’t pinpoint an exact time.

“This one first,” he said, handing over the smaller of the two boxes. It was white, tied with a thin, pink ribbon.

Her eyes lit up with joy as she took it from him. “You didn’t have to.”

“What a stupid thing to say.”

She giggled, holding the present to her chest as though it was a treasure. “Still, thank you.”

“You don’t even know what the gift is.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll open it.” She pulled the end of the ribbon, unwinding it from the square box before flipping it open. Then slamming it shut and staring at him with wide eyes. “You did not.”

He chuckled, far too amused at her genuine shock. Before he could even answer, she opened the box again to stare at its contents. Quietly, he got up from his seat to round the table and stand behind her, looking over her shoulder at the gift he’d spent hours agonizing over. Compared to the ostentatious world they lived in, this was almost considered small and plain, but he thought the delicate silver pendent suited her.

“It’s a gladiolus,” she realized, turning to look up at him. “Isn’t it?”

He grinned. It had been impossible to find, hence why he’d had to have it hand-crafted. In the end, he was convinced that it was worth all the hassle. It was a pendent shaped as a trio of gladiolus flowers on a thin silver chain. It wasn’t overly large, maybe only two centimeters in length, but despite its small size, the detail of it was impeccable.

“That it is,” he confirmed.

Her attention turned back to the pendent, and she ran her finger down the cascading line of flowers in a reverent motion.

His heart swelled with pride knowing he’d done well. “May I put it on you?”

“Oh! Y-yes.”

He could see the blush on her cheeks but decided to ignore it in favor of taking the pendent from the box. Before he could drape it around her neck, she pulled her hair over her shoulder, making it easier for him to clasp it without it catching her hair.

“There.” The delicate chain slid off his fingers, landing softly on her neck. Walking back to his chair, he got the privilege of watching her admire it to the best of her ability. It was short, the pendent hitting just below her collarbone, so the best she could go was rub her thumb over the flowers.

Then, she raised her gaze up to meet his, allowing him to catch the twinkle in her eye. “Thank you. So much.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said, his heart warm and happy. “It looks lovely on you.”

Her hand fell away, allowing him to take a second to fully admire it on her. He regretted it, though. His thoughts went to places he wished they never would before drifting to darker, more insecure places in his mind that wondered if any other man would get the chance to stare at that necklace and admire the skin on which it landed. Maybe it wasn’t an appropriate gift after all, but it was too late for second guessing. Not when she clearly loved it.

“I have one more thing for you,” he said, forcing his mind away from such thoughts and worries before handing her the larger box to open.

And when she did, delight lit her expression. “Please tell me you baked this!” she begged.

“I did,” he confessed. “You’re the only person I would make such a dessert for.”

“I feel special.”

“You are.” From hidden behind another arrangement, he pulled three sparkler candles he’d found for the occasion and arranged them in the small cake. He then stole a candle from the arrangement and used it to light the small ones on the cake. “Now,” he said, returning the candle back to its holder. “I believe this is the time in which you make a wish.”

The candles crackled and sparked, but her gaze was fully on him instead of the cake before her. “You’ve changed.”

The words surprised him, coming at him seemingly out of the blue. “What do you mean?”

In her eyes, he watched the flickers from the sparkling candles twinkle in them, but beyond that, they held a gentleness to them that warmed his heart. “You’ve grown… softer.”

The candles still crackled away, being the only sound to fill the space for the span of a few heartbeats. Lost for words, he looked down at the shrinking sparklers. “They’re going to go out before you have a chance to wish on them.”

It was clear she didn’t like the change in subject, yet she didn’t protest. Instead, she paused, lip between her teeth before she blew out the candles.

I wish it comes true for you, he thought, not even caring how his wishes never come true. But maybe, if it was hers, she’d be luckier. As for this secret wish of his own, of him wishing for her happiness, he’d keep that down, not wanting to jinx her, all while determined to do what he could to see it come true.

They lingered a while longer at the venue, just enough to finish dessert and chat a moment longer before he took her home, arriving at the appointed time.

“Thank you,” Rosa said as he assisted her from the limo. “Really, I had a wonderful time.”

“I’m glad,” he responded, giving her hand a squeeze. And when she smiled, squeezing his hand back in response, he felt his heart squeeze a little, too.

Like a proper gentleman, he escorted her to the door. But when they arrived, they stopped, him waiting for her to enter yet her not making a move.

“Vilhelm,” she finally said, turning to face him with a curious blush on her cheeks.

Before he could inquire as to why that was, she suddenly stood up on her toes and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. “Thanks again.”

Rendered speechless, Vilhelm couldn’t so much as move as he watched her quickly unlock the door to her house and scurry inside, leaving him flustered, his own cheeks tinted red and burning with heat.

…

(22/19)

Things weren’t quite the same for him after she’d shocked him with that kiss on her birthday. No matter how desperately he tried to convince himself the gesture was innocent and chaste, that she had no other intentions beyond expressing her gratitude, he couldn’t. He hated himself for it.

Since then, he’d had to pretend he’d forgotten about it or, at the very least, had brushed it off whenever he saw her. As a curse and a blessing, they’d only crossed paths a few more times before she left Svart for Stellis to attend university there. Due to the distance, she hadn’t been able to make his last birthday, and he hadn’t been able to make hers, either, due to his own conflicts. The most they could do was keep in contact over phone and mail, but their connections were few and far between. And so, while he’d come to terms that there might well be a falling out of touch, he couldn’t just let it go so easily quite yet. In hope that she might be able to attend his twenty-second birthday as well as an act of friendship, he sent out an invitation to her once again. Part of him prepared himself for the inevitable disappointment.

However, when she appeared in a dusty pink dress, his heart soared. Forget talking with anyone else, he practically hurried over to greet her. And when he did, she graced him with a smile he hadn’t seen in far too long.

“I got lucky on the dates,” she’d commented. “I don’t have class on these days, so I arrived today and will leave tomorrow first thing in the morning. After all, I didn’t want you to make you suffer through another horrid birthday party alone.”

He’d been thrilled, honestly. He hadn’t seen her in far too long, and the ache in his heart proved just how severely he’d missed her. The last time he saw her was Christmas last year, and while he’d wanted to celebrate her birthday, he regrettably hadn’t been able to take time away to see her.

“However,” she had warned, playful spark in her eye. “As per our agreement, you owe me, now. Considering I flew all the way here for you.”

“I’ll gladly pay the price.”

And he would. It was such a thrill to see her that nothing sounded too large to give up in return.

He’d kept her by him most of the night, further putting him in her debt as he insisted it was to keep the all too eager women away from him. For her part, she was the perfect fake date. She’d done it so many times already that it felt natural for both of them by now.

Eventually, they both grew weary of the party, and not even the dancing and music could convince them to stay. So, despite being the guest of honor, Vilhelm slipped outside with her to meander around the garden, given an ethereal glow under the blue moon.

“You’re about to start up your doctorate degree early, aren’t you?”

He scoffed, a half-smile flashing across his lips. “I am. Part of me regrets not leaving the country to start it up, but I’ve gotten to the age I see the benefits of my current position.”

“And heaven forbid you give up an advantage when you have it.”

“Precisely.”

“So you’re going to bear with it?”

“Just a while longer.” He could admit that here and now, considering they were out in the privacy of the gardens with the party still in full swing inside. “Once I get my degree, I’ll leave.”

She gave him a supportive smile. “I know you’ve wanted to leave for a while now. I think it will be good for you. Knowing you, though, my guess is you’ve already thought quite a bit about where you’d escape to.”

She knew him too well, as she was correct in her assumption. However, his heart did a weird flip in his chest as he confessed, “If I said I wish to move to Stellis, what would you say?”

Clearly, that caught her off guard, but after a moment, she quirked an amused brow at him. “Because?”

Admitting his true reasoning was not something he could do, hence why he’d been careful to come up with a cover reasoning. “It is both close enough to Svart to allow me to come home should the need ever arise while being far enough away to offer me space and freedom. The climate is similar to here, meaning I know generally what to expect. Furthermore, the city is more developed, meaning more opportunities, and the projected job market for psychiatrists is promising.”

Her expression only grew more amused. Yes, he could still see a hint of skepticism in her gaze. “Is that all?”

“You do not believe me?”

She hummed. “Sure. I suppose I will.”

He smiled. She did not believe him for a second. But it seemed neither were going to continue down that conversation path any longer.

“You’re wearing the necklace,” he commented instead. “Did you wear it to humor me or because you enjoy it.”

Her gaze shifted downwards, her eyelashes fluttering as she did. “I actually wear it so frequently I barely realize it anymore.”

That most certainly caught his attention. “Oh?”

She shrugged, reaching up to toy with the pendent. “It’s like… well, you don’t believe in good luck charms,” she dismissed, shooting him a soft smile. “But I like it. And it’s kept more than one man away from me, so it’s as though you’re still there for me, keeping up your end of the agreement.”

He smiled, honestly happy to have his gift have left such an impression on her. Furthermore, the spark of possessiveness in him roared to life knowing that she wore it so frequently, thinking of him all the while. However, there was one thing that didn’t quite make sense. “How so? Does it keep men away from you? It’s just a pendent.”

At that, she blushed scarlet, looking shyly away. “I tell them it was a gift from my… long-distance boyfriend.”

His heart thumped in his chest almost painfully before something darker cheered in the back of his mind. Mine. She’s mine, he thought. And soon enough, he couldn’t help but press closer to her, grinning like a satisfied cat. “Oh? Long-distance boyfriend, you say?”

She shrugged. “It works.”

“Seems as though you’ve been using me without my knowledge,” he teased. “Would that mean, per our agreement, that you’re in my debt?”

She blinked up at him, looking a little like a deer in the headlights before she glared at him. “No fair! You never would have known without me telling you.”

“But you used me for your gain, anyway,” he smugly countered.

She sputtered for a second before pointing a finger at him. “The savoir clause!” she cried. “You know, the one where I can use you to escape uncomfortable situations without being in your debt. So ha!”

He frowned, cursing himself for letting that slip his mind. And yet, her brilliant winner’s grin made it worth it.

“You look very disappointed,” she teased.

Before he could respond, an alarm went off on her phone.

“Is that your alert to go?” he asked, now truly disappointed.

She nodded, looking quite put out herself. “It’s already late. By the time I get back to the hotel and actually get into bed, I’ll probably have five hours before I have to get up to go.”

“Then I shouldn’t keep you any longer.” Even though he desperately wanted to. “At least let me see you to the exit,” he said, extending a hand to her.

With a smile, she took it, allowing him to wrap her hand over his elbow before escorting her back through the garden. “Before I forget, can I abuse the ‘you owe me’ privilege?”

“What for?”

“A picture of us,” she answered, already taking out her phone. “You know, to prove I actually do have a fake boyfriend.”

Though amused, he sighed. Honestly, the request hurt more than he could have guessed, but saying no to her wasn’t an option for him. “All right. Let’s find a place with a little more light.”

And so they did, finding an empty corner of the venue to take a picture in. While she asked if he could pretend to be a doting boyfriend, he hardly needed to act. Holding her close and regarding her lovingly, like a true boyfriend, was a simple feat, though one that caused his heart to race nevertheless. She still commended him on his acting abilities, saying how they actually pulled off loving couple quite well.

“Thank you,” she said as they made their way to the exit. “And before I forget to say it, it was wonderful seeing you again.”

He smiled, heart warm again despite a certain chill lingering knowing she was about to leave him very soon. Too soon for his liking. “It was an honor to be graced with your presence on my birthday.”

“I’m glad I finally could. I kinda missed you.”

This woman needed to stop giving him hope, but he couldn’t fault her. She didn’t know she was breaking his heart. “And I, you.”

“I’m the only thing that makes these events interesting, right?’

He chuckled. “True,” he quietly admitted.

“Soon, right?” she asked. “Before you can leave these events? You only have… oh, how long does it take to get a doctorate? Two years?”

“On average.”

“Then another year and a half for you,” she said with a wink. “And you’ll be free. And if you really are coming to Stellis, then you are required to come see me.”

There she went again, fanning that hope, along with his determination. “Noted.”

“And I see my car,” she said with no small amount of disappointment. “It really was good seeing you again, Vilhelm. Sorry I didn’t bring a gift on such short notice. I couldn’t find anything I liked that I could bring on the plane, so you’re just going to have to settle for having seen me as your gift.”

The idea flashed in his mind, and while he knew it was not the best of plans, he wished to push his luck, anyway. “I have an idea what you can give me.”

She quirked a brow. “And that is…”

She trailed off. Understandable, considering he gently tilted up her chin without any warning. Her eyes went wide, and while he relished her animated expression, the last thing he wanted was to keep her on edge. So, he took what he wanted, bestowing a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Thank you, for coming,” he whispered before pulling away, glancing out of the corner of his eye just in time to watch her taxi arrive. “I shall let you go, now. Go, get some rest.”

She was speechless, and that fact made his pride burn with a passion. He’d done that to her. That was him who had affected her so. And he loved it.

“Good bye… Vilhelm,” she finally said, heading unsteadily to her awaiting car.

“Until we meet again,” he said, uncertain if she heard him or not. But no matter. Because he was now determined to make it happen.

…

(22/20)

They kept in close contact after that night. She made sure to message him frequently with updates about school and life in general, and he was happy to return the favor. It was as though something had changed between them, and because of it, they’d become more connected than ever before.

Am I reading this wrong? He’d wondered more than once. Or is this…

It was almost impossible to prevent himself going down that thought trail now. And eventually, he landed on an important realization; what was stopping him from pursuing her now? Before, he’d had plenty of excuses, including their age and the different paths they wanted to go down. But now… even if he wasn’t in Stellis yet, he was fully planning on going there to start his practice. And so if she was open…

Could their fake relationship turn into a real one?

He had two purposes for flying to Stellis on a weekend, one being to look around the city to get a feel for the place he wanted to settle in, and two being to celebrate Rosa’s twentieth birthday.

He’d learned enough about her schedule and habits over time, carefully prying for information when needed, which allowed him to show up right outside of her last class on a Friday to surprise her with a bouquet of flowers.

At first, when she saw him, she did a double-take, almost passing him by. But the moment she realized it was him, her expression lit up like the sunrise, her hands shaking with excitement as she proceeded to run over to him. “Vilhelm!”

He had expected her to come running towards him, but what he hadn’t expected was for her to throw her arms around his neck and hug him tightly. He had to catch himself from tumbling backwards, his heart suddenly pounding and stomach twisting in knots at the unexpected yet not completely unwelcome greeting.

While it took him a moment, he did return her hug, a peace settling over him as he did. At this point, anyone looking on would assume they were lovers. Heck, not even he had expected such an enthusiastic greeting. Part of him wondered if she did it because there was someone she wanted to get off her back, but another part of him wondered if this was what she was like beyond the glitzy and glamorous world they grew up in. A girl who was vibrant and radiant in her own right when she didn’t have to be stifled by polite society. Which, considering the little glimpses he’d seen over time, he would be apt to believe.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, sliding slightly out of the hug, only leaving her hands on his shoulders as she beamed up at him.

“Happy birthday.”

Her eyes went wide with wonder. “You did not come here just for that!”

He smiled down at her, warmth already blooming throughout his chest. “And if I did, what would you say?”

Nothing, apparently, considering she fumbled for words while her cheeks grew redder by the second.

He was close to bailing her out, giving him his other reason for being here, but he decided to bite his tongue. What would she say? While he shouldn’t have been shocked by his own curiosity, he still found himself surprisingly desperate to know the answer.

“You didn’t have to,” she finally said, squeezing his shoulders. “I know your busy.”

“But it seems you were quite happy to see me.”

Again, her blush turned brighter, and she couldn’t look him in the eyes. Something swelled within him. Pride, he realized. That was most definitely pride.

“Wait, he was real?”

Vilhelm barely spared the voice a glance, only to catch sight a man with his jaw nearly on the ground in shock. But the longer his gaze lingered, he began to realize that this man’s tone paired with something in his gaze and stature proved this man to be angry. And when Rosa grabbed onto Vilhelm’s jacket, calling his attention back to her just as she ducked her head away from the man, an unsettling chill washed over him.

Standing tall, Vilhelm wrapped a protective arm around Rosa’s waist to pull her close. She settled into his embrace, but her clenched fists did not let go of the fabric of his jacket. “What do you mean?” Vilhelm challenged as he glared this man down. “Are you inferring that she had reason to lie?”

Technically, it was a lie as he wasn’t her boyfriend. And whether that would or wouldn’t change in the future didn’t matter. Right now, all that mattered was protecting this precious treasure of his.

The man looked furious, but he didn’t approach. Instead, he shot Vilhelm one last glare before marching off.

It was only the gentle tug on his jacket that brought him back to reality. Slowly, that chill over him began to thaw, and that was only because her warmth was so close. “Come,” he whispered, already guiding her away from the scene.

“Thank you,” she weakly responded.

Even though she gave him a small smile, it was weak. Dim. It was as though her warmth had been toned down, and he hated it two-fold. One: this lackluster light she emanated just didn’t suit her, and two: he hated that he wasn’t closer by to protect her more frequently.

She reached up to toy with something around her neck. The necklace he’d gotten her, he quickly realized. And there went the fire in his chest, raging wildly. She really did wear it often. And even now, her action seemed so automatic to the point she hadn’t realized she had done it, meaning that his gift was on her mind constantly.

This information was dangerous to him.

By the time they stepped off campus, a bit of her light had returned, along with a bit of sparkle in her eye. “There’s a little café nearby,” she said, giving him a smile that didn’t quite seem as bright as normal but still was an improvement over the one she gave him moments ago. “Can I get you something as a thank you?”

“Absolutely not.”

She blinked in surprise before he grinned down at her. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I let a lady buy my drink?”

Behind him, a couple girls twittered excitedly, but he barely noticed. A slight blush had hit Rosa’s cheeks, along with a little sparkle in her eyes, and that was far more important in his world. “I suppose I’ll let you.”

And so, they went, spending nearly two hours there chatting and catching up before realizing the time had flown without either being conscious of it. They took their leave, only to wander around the city until nearly dusk, at which point they found a place to have dinner at.

Before either knew it, it was nearly ten at night, and Vilhelm had walked her nearly all the way back to her dorm.

“It was… such an amazing surprise to see you,” Rosa said, beaming up at him. Her light had fully returned, and his only regret was having to bid it good bye so soon. “I’m shocked the day disappeared before we knew it.”

“And what a shame that is,” he returned, smiling back at her. “But I’ll be in town tomorrow, and I would love to take up your offer of showing me around.”

“I’d be glad to,” she said. “But for now, I… should get going.”

“Yes, get some sleep.” With that, he leaned in, daring to kiss her cheek.

While she leaned up, ready to kiss his.

And in the end, they froze right before their lips touched.

His heart was pounding, and his face might as well have caught on fire. He pulled away first, only to lock eyes with Rosa, who was blushing brightly, too.

Clearing his throat, he pulled away further by taking a step back. “Good night.”

“Good night,” she returned.

He forced himself to stay just long enough to watch her retreat into her dorm room before he himself practically ran back to his hotel.

…

(23/20)

“Vilhelm, what are we?”

It was an awkward question but not one that was too out of the blue, if he thought about it. The snow came down outside of the venue, which was decorated from floor to ceiling in gold and silver to ring in a new year.

Much to both of their surprise, Rosa had managed to slip away from school due to winter break to attend the event. The moment he learned she would be coming, Vilhelm had managed to schedule his own schoolwork around attending this party. This was the one time he could have told his father he couldn’t make it to an event, if schoolwork had been the reason, but he had more reason to be at this event over any other if Rosa was going to be here.

“I think your father suspects something,” she commented, staring out the window of the private section of the venue they had hidden away in. “He glared at me when I walked in.”

Vilhelm sighed, his face warming uncomfortably for a moment as he recalled his father warning him to keep his trysts more discrete. However, she didn’t need to know about that. “Pay it no mind,” he dismissed, forcing on a smile.

She quirked a brow at him, proving she didn’t believe his words. “Vilhelm,” she began, her voice laced with warning. “I have officially known you ten years now. You are a good liar, but I’ve learned your tells well.”

The smile he gave her was resigned, uncertain what else he could do knowing she’d called his bluff. “I meant what I said; pay it no mind. My father has… misunderstood our relationship.”

“Your father misunderstands a lot of things,” she grumbled. “But don’t divert from the question.”

When he looked at her again, he could see the spark in her eyes he loved so much. She’d grown and changed over the almost 2 years she’d been out of this world, and yet, she always managed to slip her way back in flawlessly. He’d come to recognize the mask she donned for this world, and he’d come to hate it with a burning passion. Never had he cared so much before, but now, he had reason to. Because the woman on the other side was so beautiful on her own that he just couldn’t stand seeing her hide her vibrancy and life she carried in the name of presenting herself as some demure, proper lady.

“What do you think we are?” he questioned.

She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t pull that psychology whatever on me; I asked you first.”

He hung his head, not bothering to hide his amused grin. “You’ve gotten good at reading people.”

“A certain someone taught me well,” she returned. But then she fell silent, her expectant expression making it clear she was waiting for an answer.

There was no way out of this for him. He had to confess to her, no matter how badly he didn’t want to. If their relationship fell apart due to this, he’d never recover. So, he took his time, mulling over his words carefully. “I’ve long since come to realize that I’ve befriended a truly incredible young woman,” he began. “And I’ve also come to realize that I rather like when that woman is close by my side.”

She pouted. “That’s a very you way to put it.”

“It’s the truth.”

Her eyes never left his, and he felt like if they lingered much longer, she’d see right through him. “My turn to ask you,” he said, desperate to divert her from her intense search. “How do you see our relationship?”

That burning gaze slowly softened, reflecting the flickering lights all around them in their private corner of the venue. “More recently, I’ve come to see glimpses of you behind your façade. And the you beyond the world of waltzes and parties and false pleasantries… is a very interesting man.”

The grin he gave her felt a bit bitter, and he knew he really only had himself to blame for that. “You’re no more forthcoming than I am,” he lightly chastised.

She shrugged. “I’ve picked up a thing or two from watching you.”

“How troublesome, indeed.”

“Don’t look at me; look in a mirror.”

“Touché.”

Another silence lingered in between them. One that lingered just long enough for him to realize he would have to gather his courage and face the music if he wanted anything to proceed further between them. After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, he turned to face her. “This may seem difficult to believe,” he began. “But I don’t remember who is in who’s debt at this point.”

She paused, the hint of confusion on her face making it clear she hadn’t seen this change of topic coming. Yet, she still answered, “I feel like we’re both in each other’s debt, and we’ve each been trying to save up our ‘takes’ from the other.”

“I think you’re right,” he said, steeling his courage. Despite his fear, he was hardly a man he could be proud of if he kept acting a coward like this. She’d already given him just enough hope to be ready to take this risk, and yet it could all come crumbling down if he’d misread any of it. All he could do now was hope he’d been reading into everything correctly. “In which case, I’d like to redeem my favors from you.”

She quirked a brow. “Now that seems a little unfair to you, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t you prefer to just nullify everything? Or are you determined to not use a favor to cancel out each other’s debt?”

“You’d give up the chance to have favors hanging over my head?”

She paused. “That’s a good point,” she admitted before turning away from the window to fully face him. “I’ll tell you what: I’ll listen to your demand. And if I don’t like it, I’ll cash in my favors to nullify it.”

“A fair trade,” he acquiesced.

“All right. Then I’ll hear it.”

“I want to steal your first kiss.”

If he’d misread anything, this could all come crumbling down in an instant. And he would hate himself for it. Making a mistake when it came to her was unforgivable. The last thing he wanted to do was lose her, but he also knew there came a time when risks had to be taken to move forward, because he would lose her anyway if he didn’t.

He watched her expression carefully, waiting for her to be offended or appalled, but those expressions never appeared. She was definitely surprised, and her cheeks grew rosy, but she didn’t back away nor did she look repulsed by his request.

Her mouth opened, as though she wished to say something, but then she bit her lip, brows knitting together in uncertainty and proving her to be at a loss for words. He gave her time, but when the silence grew powerful, he decided to throw her a lifeline, even if his heart hurt to do so. There was a limit to how much he could keep her on edge like this, and he’d crossed it. “Forgive me,” he said, leaning back on his heel as though to give her space all while inwardly cursing himself for making such a poor judgement he’d never recover from. “For crossing a line—”

“It’s not that!” she cut in, panic flashing across her expression.

He froze, words dying in his throat.

She took a step back, turning her head away as she wrung her hands together. “I just… surprised,” she whispered, words barely audible. Shyly, she looked up at him from beneath her long, lovely lashes. “Hey,” she started up again, her voice still warbly but stronger than before. “Does that mean… do I get to steal yours in return?”

The question had caught him off guard, but the longer he thought about it, the happier he felt. Even though his heart was racing, all the tension he’d had was leaving his body. It left him feeling so weak he had to steady himself against the nearby railing lest his knees give out on him. “I haven’t given it out if that’s what you’re implying.”

She nodded, eyelashes fluttering as she struggled to keep her eyes on him and not the floor. “Then we’re back to nullifying everything. If you cash your favors to steal mine, and I cash in mine for yours.”

“Then…” Mustering up his courage, he took a step forward, then another, placing him right before her. Gently, he hooked a finger under her chin, slowly tilting her head upwards and causing her to look at him in the process. When her eyes met his, warmth flooded his chest, and he could not recall a time he’d ever been so happy. So this was what love did to people. “I will gladly accept this exchange.”

The smile she flashed him was bashful, yet it was genuine. He leaned down slowly, giving her ample time to pull away should she desire. Instead, she leaned closer, her hands coming up to rest on his shoulders. He couldn’t help but smile right before their lips met in a gentle touch.

Fireworks quite literally exploded somewhere off in the distance, surprising each of them enough to pull away to face the sound. Outside, they watched the colorful explosions go off, illuminating the night. From beside him, Rosa giggled, and just as he turned his attention back to her, she leaned fully against his side. “Happy New Year, Vilhelm.”

He smiled warmly down at her, wrapping his arm around her back to pull her in closer. “Happy New Year, Rosa.”

…

(27/24)

Everything had changed the day he left Svart. The day he graduated was decisively his last day in his home country. He’d slowly been packing everything and had already scheduled the move out right under his father’s nose. Most he did was leave a note explaining everything so he wouldn’t have to face the inevitable disapproval.

And so, at twenty-four, he had become free of the world he hated so much. The best part was that he had a lovely woman waiting for him on the other side. She’d even caught him off guard by waiting for him at the airport and nearly knocked him off his feet when she came running up to hug him.

Honestly, he would not have minded if she had.

Moving to Stellis was the best decision he’d ever made. Within a year of arriving, he had quickly and fully settled into his new life, more than happy in his profession and, as expected, making quite a name for himself.

A new name, too.

Vyn. It had been a conscious decision on his part to further distance himself from his old life as well as give him a more common name in Stellis’s language compared to his foreign one. Only one person continued to call him Vilhelm, and considering just who that person was, he was perfectly okay with that.

A close relationship was quite different than a long-distance one, but it was definitely a welcome change. Actually being able to pick her up from school or take walks with her around town or getting together for meals was a joy. Being able to touch her, hold her, kissher was even more so. It hadn’t taken long for Vyn to come to the realization that there was only one direction he wanted their relationship to go, but that was a step he couldn’t yet take. A step he wouldn’t take until after she’d graduated university.

But once she had, he’d barely waited a week before popping the question. She’d cried, and even he got a little misty-eyed, but when she’d said ‘yes’, the world seemed to all settle into place around him. He was so relieved and so very happy.

It wasn’t long after that she found a job at Themis Law Firm and soon began settling in there. All their free time was spent planning a wedding. They’d decided early on that it would be best to have a small one, close friends and family only. They’d found a quaint outdoor venue to hold the event, but honestly, that was about all Vyn could tell you. Because not only did his heart stop watching her walk down the short aisle in a lovely, lacy white dress while holding a bouquet of gladiolus flowers, but she was wearing the silver pendent he’d given her as well. She was so beautiful on that day that every other detail seemed to pale in comparison.

Once they’d come back from their honeymoon, Vyn had moved into her apartment since his lease had been about to expire and she still had a few months left on hers. At which point, they knew it was time to start house hunting. They’d looked around a little before the wedding, but things had simply been so hectic that they’d had to stop. But luckily for them, it hadn’t taken long for them to find a house they both adored and put in an offer. Within five months, they had moved into their new home.

Now, two years later, Vyn would contentedly call his life perfect. He had a beautiful, wonderful wife who was blossoming in her own career as an up-and-coming attorney, and his practice had practically exploded. Vyn would dare call them quite the power couple.

“The problem with being a power couple is I miss the days I could sneak unnoticed around a ballroom like this,” Rosa grumbled from his side, mouth hidden behind a fan. It was an old accessory, one he’d given her years ago, but it matched her new lavender dress quite well. She’d volunteered to come on behalf of her law firm, which was convenient considering she already had to come as Vyn’s plus one for his own personal invitation. It was a win-win despite neither truly caring for the event. But if they had to go, play nice, and strengthen connections, they were more than capable of playing the game.

He grinned, the scene reminding him of those days ten years ago when they were used to attending party after party with her being his little information retriever. “As much as I do miss those days, I quite like the position we’re in now.”

“That’s because instead of being at the bottom of the barrel, we’re cream of the crop.”

“And we worked hard for that privilege.”

“Careful, Vilhelm,” she said, eyes sparking with something so sharp it extended to her warning smile. “You look a little too arrogantly proud of that.”

“Should I not be?” he playfully challenged.

“Just don’t show it if you don’t need to,” she returned with a wink.

His amused grin widened before he leaned close to her ear. Automatically, she shifted her fan to hide him from view. “Let me let you in on a secret,” he whispered. “When you’re at the top, it doesn’t matter because the sharks will still be fighting for your attention regardless.”

Rolling her eyes, she snapped her fan shut, using it to smack him lightly in the chest. “You’re terrible,” she teased, quickly opening the fan again to hide her grin.

“I would only be terrible if it wasn’t the truth.”

She subtly shook her head at him. “What am I going to do with you?”

He glanced around the ballroom, noting the small orchestra preparing to play. Well, it seemed he had his answer. “Dance with me,” he said, giving her a smug grin as he extended his hand to her.

She looked at his hand before glancing across the room to the band. With a grin, she closed her fan then took his hand. “It’s been a while, hadn’t it?”

Vyn led her into the midst of the crowd, one full of couples also taking their place for the first song. “Do you remember the steps?”

“Of course, I do! How dare you insult me,” she teased. “I had a teacher who wouldn’t let me forget. But, even if I did, I’m sure I have a partner who remembers how to lead a lady well enough to get me though.”

He chuckled, pulling her into a close dance hold. “Of course, my love. As though I could fail you.”

“So arrogant,” she playfully chided, gladly settling into his embrace. She squeezed his hand right before the music started. “But I suppose I’ll let it slide for tonight. Besides, it’s rude to critique my dance partner.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

When the music started, the steps almost felt foreign even though his body moved with practiced ease. However, he quickly settled in, the world around him gradually fading away. Instead, it soon became just him and his wife, twirling across the dancefloor in a way they hadn’t in years. He’d missed this, dancing with her like this. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do this more often, just in the privacy of their home. As long as they were together, that’s all he cared for.

But for now, he was determined to wring as much enjoyment out of this event as he could, something he could only do with her by his side.