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「𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ⇀ 𝑲.𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐」

── ❝𝗜 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗪         𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗         𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜𝗡         𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 ❞

    〡𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒐 𝑿 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓〡

◉ ┅ ┅ ┅ ┅ ┅ ┅ ┅ ┅ ┅

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦

❀

Chapter Index:

❀ | ①    ❀ | ②   ❀ | ③  ❀ | ④  ❀ | ⑤ ❀ | ⑥ ❀ | ⑦

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦

𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 - 𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚 ı𝗹ıı𝗹ıı𝗹ıı𝗹ıı𝗹ıı𝗹ı ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮ 𝟬:𝟬𝟭 ─●──────── 𝟯:𝟮𝟵 ◁ 𝗜𝗜 ▷

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

○𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘰 ⇾ 𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦

❝𝑻𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖,❞

○[𝘠/𝘕] [𝘓/𝘕] ⇾ 𝐀𝐨𝐤𝐢 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦

❝𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.❞

❛𝑨 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈_𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒔❜ 月

❀

𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀

You write to me about roses, About roses opening as roses die. Always, you say, there are roses, So that people get used to them And cease to wonder. Now I am on a hilltop, Bare, with a few pine trees Twisted by an inexhaustible wind, By a wind that is never tired, A wind that passes and passes and is never gone. I cannot think what it would be like for the pine trees If there were no wind.

——

Your roses would not be happy on my hilltop. They would be scornful of my huckleberry bush With their plain, blue fruit.

——

They would not care for the white meadow-sweet That leans against a rock. Roses must have rich soil, And careful pruning. They must be sheltered from the wind and cold And have stakes to lean upon. They do not stand alone like the flames of vervain On my windy hilltop.

——

Roses are gifts for lovers. Lovers have always had much to say about roses. When you sent me a rose Folded in a letter, Did you know I would open it on a hilltop Where the wind searches me As it does the pine trees And my skirts are brushing The fine flame of the vervain?

—𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡

❀ | ①

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

The letter crumpled between your fingers, your grasp becoming too tight for the fragile thing. Your angered steps echoed through the empty hallways as you made your way to the main throne room, bursting through the door despite your butler's worried cries.

"What is the meaning of this?!" you seethed, waving the pale paper towards the two lone figures in the room. A heavy sigh resonated from your father as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"[Y/N], you are of age to be married. Of course we had to choose a suitable groom for you--"

"I know that!" you cut him off. "But that isn't what I'm talking about. Out of all the kingdoms we have alliances with, you picked this one?!"

"They made us an offer, [Y/N]. You know that we must do what we can to protect out kingdom!" your mother spoke next, furrowing her brows in worry. She glanced at her husband, who's lips were set in a firm, solemn line.

"And you must know that each of those six princes are utterly useless when it comes to ruling a kingdom! Why do you think none of them have been married off yet?"

"[Y/N], that's enough." your father stood from his throne, straightening his regal robes as he offered his wife a hand, carrying her down the set of high steps and heading for the door you had entered through, sweeping past you. You spluttered, the letter forgotten in your palm as you hardened your hold.

"But father--!"

"There is nothing else to discuss!"

The annoyed tone of your father's words hung in the air dangerously, like icicles waiting to drop.

"By now, one of the Matsuno sextuplets will have been chosen and is being sent here for twelve months. You will behave yourself and treat him as your future husband, and that, is, it. There is nothing you can do to change anyone's minds."

He turned to you, eyes full of stern resolution, locking onto your horrified glare.

"Am I understood?"

He didn't move an inch as you stayed silent, lowering your head as you spat out the words through gritted teeth.

"...Yes, father."

You burned holes through the ground as your parents walked away, the final closing of the doors telling you that you were completely and utterly alone. You grasped the letter between both hands, ripping it apart in a fit of bubbling anger, the fragmented remains scattering across the marble floors.

Storming away to your room, skirts raised above the ground so they wouldn't slow you down any further, thought after thought trickled to your mind, only serving to fuel the fire growing in the pit of your stomach.

Akatsuka Kingdom. Known for its power, as well as the rare phenomena that was the six princes, all identical sextuplets who were born into the royal family. Many thought they would assist the kingdom in growing stronger, using their princely wits and charms to raise their power.

Instead, they all became well known for their immense stupidity and lack of interest in becoming King and inheriting the throne from their parents, let alone marrying into a wealthy royal family, such as your own.

You slammed your bedroom doors shut, breathing heavily. Now, somehow, you were destined to marry one of them? Was this fate's cruel way of messing up your future? Slowly, you reached a hand up to the tiara resting haphazardly on your head, removing it and holding it to your eyes. The jewels encrusted into the gold linings reflected your scowl back at you, distorted and warped hideously.

From a young age, your mind had matured a lot quicker than your body. You were more interested in learning about how to be a perfect ruler than the other snobby royals and lords you had met over the years. You had always longed to find someone of the same mindset, in hopes that they would aid you in strengthening your own kingdom.

But now, everything was falling apart right in front of you, and you apparently had no say in the matter.

The tiara fell from your fingers, rolling across the ground with a clatter. You didn't care where it was. You slid down against the door, head cradled in your hands.

What would you do now? What now? What now? What. Now?

The answer seemed obvious, too obvious at first.

You raised your head, glaring at empty air, barely registering how dark the room had become. The setting sun glinted dangerously through your windows, lighting up your eyes in a raging fire that had suddenly exploded from withing you.

You couldn't cancel the wedding. But no one ever said that they couldn't. All you had to do was keep pushing, and pushing, and pushing, all the way to their breaking point. Then they would leave, and you would be at peace. You would have him gone no sooner than he arrives.

A malicious grin crossed your lips as you carefully stood up, picking up your tiara off of the ground. You twirled the headpiece between your fingers, the dark shadows in the dimly lit room casting a sinister aura over your form.

You huffed a silent chuckle. It was ironic, really. Your kingdom was known for its everlasting beauty, filled to the brim with flowers and greenery that attracted others like a bee to its nectar. However, it's as the old saying goes...

"Every rose has its thorns."

❀ | ②

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

You did everything you could to avoid meeting the prince when he arrived, but it seemed that your parents were expecting this, and had knights placed around every corner of the castle in order to escort you down to the main gates.

You kept your face a blank slate as you stood between your parents, hands folded neatly in front of you, just as you were always taught. Your eyes were trained on a carriage glinting in the distance, slowly approaching.

"I hope you remember your manners, [Y/N]," your father muttered, barely moving as he addressed you. You suppressed the urge to roll your eyes, replying flatly;

"How could I, father? Especially after that little talk we had yesterday. I know my place."

"Just don't do anything out of order."

"You can trust me, father." You briefly turned to him, flashing a bright smile that didn't quiet reach your eyes — not that he had the chance to notice that. "I may act rash, but have I ever gone against my word?"

He had no chance to respond, either, as the carriage had pulled to a stop in front of you, it's white horses shaking their heads with a huff. The driver of the carriage stepped off his seat, swiftly moving to the door and pulling it open with a bow.

"May I present Prince Karamatsu, of Akatsuka Kingdom."

Out stepped a man with a pale, rounded face and thick brows resting above his large eyes, his dark hair slicked back with a few rare streaks of royal blue running through the sides. His attire also had flashes of azure, fitting nicely against the white fabric. Except for the cape which he had draped over his right shoulder; it was covered in glittering sequins, practically blinding you all as it reflected the sun's light in multiple directions.

You hid your grimace well, though your brow twitched every now and then at his atrocious display. The man, Karamatsu, brought a gloved hand to his chin, eyes sweeping over your small royal family. His lips stretched into a cat-like grin, eyes lidded as he hummed triumphantly.

"It seems that I have arrived at my destination!" He pointed his hand towards the sky, posing dramatically. "Fate has led me down my destined path, yet it still stretches onwards! Where to, next? Our mortal minds will never know!"

His monologue was met with confused silence. You hated how the deep rumble of his voice raised goosebumps across your skin. Your fingers were gripping your palms in a white-knuckled grip, resisting the urge to pull out your hair. You hoped that now, your parents could see what kind of hell they were attempting to put you through.

It didn't take long for his luggage to be taken into the palace, a surge of maids carrying uncountable amounts of cases to his new sleeping quarters. Your parents showed him through to the main hall, having a pleasantly one-sided conversation with the prince whilst you followed silently from behind. Your father cleared his throat after a moment, plastering a polite smile on his face.

"Well, Queen Koume and I must get back to our royal duties. I can assure you that our servants and knights around the palace are more than able to aid you should you need anything, Prince Karamatsu," he bowed his head lightly. Glancing at you, he added, "Our daughter is also quite the intelligent child. I'm sure she will be more than happy to assist her fiancé in any way she can." He pressed the last few words as he stared hard at you, lips thinning into a flat line as no response was given from you, not even a twitch of facial expression.

Your mother tugged gently on his arm, a warning look subtly sent his way as she smiled at her guest. "We shall see you at dinner later tonight, dear." With that, she led her husband away, disappearing round a corner and leaving the two of you alone. Instantly, the Prince was bowing low in front of you, almost comically so.

"I am truly blessed from the heavens above to be given such an opportunity to wed the most exquisite of flowers!" He took a gentle hold of your hand, bringing the back of your hand to his lips and placing a chaste kiss against your skin. You merely watched on with a slightly raised brow.

"Princess, I look forward to our future together!"

A moment of silence passed before you smiled softly.

"How sweet! I most certainly do not look forward to our time spent together, unfortunately!"

"Hm! As expected, my Princess is as kind as she appears! Soft and kind-hearted, you— ..I'm sorry, what was it that you said?" His tone fell from confident to unsure in a heartbeat. You slowly allowed you smile to fall away into a scornful glare, the man's lips now pulled into a timid smile, sweat beginning to accumulate on his temple.

"It seems that you can actually listen to something other than your own voice," you sneered, crossing your arms over your chest. He tilted his head, confused and slight hurt flashing through his eyes. "This whole set up for our marriage is one of the worst things my parents could ever do."

You took a few steps forward, standing chest to chest with him and pushing a finger against him.

"Let me make this clear, your highness," you spat, "I, just like many other princesses across the region, don't want anything to do with you and your kingdom. If you had any sense with you, then I would expect you to be gone by dinner today, and to call off this god forsaken wedding the minute you arrive back."

You turned on your heel, snapping your fingers as you walked away, a grin spreading across your lips. The look of disbelief on his face was enough to assure you that he would definitely be taking your kind token of advice.

Behind you, a servant you had summoned was busy trying to coax a frozen Karamatsu to his room, his eyes locked onto your back as you grew further and further away from him, eventually disappearing from his view.

You spent the rest of the hours till evening reading in the library, making use of your secret corner hidden atop the bookshelves to catch up on the handful of novels you had picked up. Your mind had stopped thinking of the so-called guest that had entered your home while you were distracted, only to be reminded of his existence when your butler came to fetch you for dinner.

"Tanuki? Where is the Prince?" You asked innocently as you were led to the dining room. Your butler hummed thoughtfully.

"I am sorry, your highness. I haven't seen him since his arrival this morning. As far as I'm aware, he should be joining us for dinner this evening."

'Oh, I'm sure he won't be,' you thought giddily.

A set of tall doors were pushed open for you, the long table filled with food beckoning for you to take a seat. Only, you were stuck where you stood. Your eye twitched dangerously at the sight before you, your lips trembling as you struggled to keep them shut so as not to scream in frustration.

He was sat there, happily chatting away with your mother as your father laughed at something he had said. His eyes locked into yours, the air stilling for a moment before his smile widened, gesturing for you to come take a seat.

"Good evening, Princess! I'm sure that the food will taste ten times better now that we have been graced with your presence!"

He winked at you from across the table as your chair was pushed in. The grip on your utensils tightened considerably. A voice in the back of your mind was becoming louder and louder, drowning out the talk around you.

You had underestimated him, it seems.

'No matter.'

You pierced a morsel of food harshly with your fork.

'This just means I can resort to harsher methods.'

❀ | ④

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

Delicate strokes to your hair woke you from your slumber. You grumbled, mind still disoriented. The hand sifting through your locks paused for a split second before continuing.

Blearily opening your eyes, you saw your mother, sat beside you on your bed, which you didn't remember getting into. She smiled down at you warmly, the crow's feet settled into the corners of her eyes adding a twinkle to her gaze.

"My daughter has finally awoken, I see," she chuckled. You squinted at her, not entirely hearing what she was saying, until you moved your upper body and rested your head on her lap. She laughed louder, allowing you to nestle comfortably against her.

"... time is it..?" You croaked, to tired to even bother forming a full sentence.

"Just past nine o'clock, dear. I'm surprised; usually you're up by eight." She raised a brow at you, but you ignored her, keeping your eyes closed. They felt sore and itchy, and most likely looked a soft shade of pink. You knew this.

"[Y/N], you need to wake up soon," there was a gentle nudge to your shoulder. "Your father has many things planned for you today."

You groaned loudly. That was the last thing you wanted. It was foolish to have it, but you had a small slither of hope left in you as you asked slowly:

"...Is he still here?"

A moment of silence, and then a sigh.

"You should have joined us for breakfast, dear. He truly is a nice fellow."

"No, he isn't." You sat up abruptly, turning away from her. A cold shiver ran through you as your arms became exposed. Glancing down, you saw you were wearing your night wear instead of your dress. It was then you realised your mind was on autopilot last night.

"[Y/N], please..."

"I'm not like you!" A stiff pause. "I can't see the good in people the way you do. So how do you expect me to see anything in him? A man who knows nothing of the world other than the fantasies he has been brought up with?"

You received no answer. Standing from your bed, you marched over to your dresser, pulling open the drawers. Something caught your eye, and you froze.

The vase you kept on your dresser was always empty. You came to dislike filling it with flowers, as the dying petals would always make a mess. It annoyed you to no end, how quickly flowers could wilt away. Too quickly.

But here, now, it was full. Fresh and vibrant hyacinths were placed in the vase, their petals bursting full of colour and life. They weren't leaning heavily to one side, like yours used to. They stood tall and proud, soaking up the sunlight just entering your room.

"Prince Karamatsu asked the maids to send these up to you." You flinched at the name.

"The only reason you cannot see the good in others is because you are always looking for the bad. If that's all you can see, then you will remain blind to the good." Your mother stood, leaving the room. Grasping the handle to your door, she looked back to you one more time, a smile still present. It looked all too familiar.

"He is not a bad person. Give him a chance."

The door shut behind her with a soft thud, leaving the room silent once more. You brought your gaze back to the flowers. They just had to be purple, didn't they?

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

"Horse riding?" you cringed. You eyed the horses with disdain, taking a step back as one of them shook their mane.

Your father came over to your side, hands on his hips as he smiled proudly at the selection of horses before him. Karamatsu was over by his own white-haired horse which had been brought over for him, busy patting its nuzzle with a fond smirk.

"But of course! The weather is perfect for it, don't you think?"

"No.." you grumbled under your breath, somewhat glad he hadn't heard you. Your father also went over to feed an apple to his horse, taking a brush and smoothing out its chestnut hair. You stood frigidly, unsure of what to do. You were desperate to walk back to the castle, but something was stopping you. And it was irritating you, how you couldn't figure out what it was.

Slowly, your eyes wandered around the stable, trailing over the golden hay scattered across the floor, to the resting horses, to the walls... then to him.

He didn't look any different from the first time you had met him. He looked so unbothered by the encounter he had with you last night, despite sending you those flowers. You found it unfair, how easy it was for him to hide his emotions like that.

Karamatsu felt something on him. He turned to you, his dark eyes connecting with your own and, for a split second, the world became still. There was no noise, no movement. Just the two of you, in a single frame. He nodded towards you, his smirk morphing into a smile.

"Princess—" You jolted, catching your surprised yelp before it could leave your throat. Your brow twitched as you turned on your heel, glowering at your butler.

"What?"

"M-My apologies!" Tanuki stammered, clearing his throat. "Your steed is ready for you, Princess," the older man bowed formally, guiding you out of the stable and onto the flat grassland. A black horse, a very strong looking one at that, stood idly before you, it's equally black eyes staring into nothing.

You grabbed a hold of Tanuki, pulling him to one side as you hissed into his ear.

"Tanuki, this is ridiculous!"

"I understand, but I am afraid there is nothing I can do, Princess..."

"Yes, there is! Take me to my study room!"

"Your father ordered me to keep you here for this activity, Princess," he sighed, eyeing you sympathetically. He gently coaxed your iron grip on his arm off of him, gesturing to the horse.

"You must brave through it."

He stepped away, just as your father and Karamatsu came out of the stables atop their horses, chatting away as they manoeuvred their beasts with ease. The twinge of jealousy you had felt before came back with full force, the burning fire of competition raging within you.

With new found resolution, you stepped up to the dark horse, stopping beside the saddle. You readied your hands against the leather, placing a foot in the small holster. Then, you paused. Then, you didn't move. Taking a deep breath, you willed yourself to push upwards and to sit on the damn horse, but your body wouldn't cooperate. The chatter from behind you had died down. Your brow twitched.

"My daughter, do you need some help?" You heard your father call, but you ignored him. You tried again with a huff, pushing up with all your might, barely lifting yourself off of the ground.

"Princess..."

"I don't need help!" You denied. You hated how your face burned in embarrassment. You felt like the court jester, making a complete fool of yourself. You knew this was a bad idea. How could your father have forgotten you didn't know how to ride a horse?

"Princess [Y/N]?"

"What?!"

You frustrated comments trailed off as a gloved hand was extended towards you. You followed it up, finding Karamatsu's kind face peering down at you.

"Perhaps it would be easier if you were to ride with me, instead?"

You were confused. What made him so different from everybody else? Why was he being so nice to you? You didn't need his pity, if that's what he was doing. You didn't need him to feel sorry for you. You didn't need him at all.

And yet, looking into his eyes, you saw no ill intent. Only a shimmer of hope. Hope for what? You couldn't understand. And you always understood everything.

You grit your teeth harshly.

With heavy reluctance, you grasped his outstretched palm, eyes widening by a fraction as he easily hauled you up to sit behind him, your skirts flowing off the side of his steed. Slowly, you placed your hands on his waist, not wanting to hold and be closer to him anymore than you already were.

"...Well, then," you father cleared his throat, stunned by what he had just witnessed, "Let's set off, shall we?" He tugged at his reigns, turning around and heading down the thin trail into the castle's forest. Karamatsu glanced back at you.

"Are you ready, Princess?"

"Just go already."

He chuckled softly in response, following behind the king. You wobbled in surprise at the sudden movement of the horse, gripping onto him just a tad bit tighter.

You peered around his broad shoulders, making sure that your father was out of earshot before you leaned up to his ear. You felt him shiver at the feeling of your warm breath hitting his skin. He tightened his hold on the reigns.

"Eh—?"

"Why purple? What do you have to be sorry for?"

❀ | ⑤

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

You had received no answer, much to your chagrin, and you were left to pout moodily for the majority of the ride. Your father rambled on and on about how well maintained the forest was. You were sure no one was listening.

The sudden fork in the faded trail was either a good or bad thing, there was no in-between. Pausing in your tracks, your father seemed to contemplate on something rather deeply before turning to you both with a large, suspicious smile. Your hands moved back to your lap quickly.

"It seems that we must part ways here," he caught your glare, and it was then that you knew he wasn't going to back down on this.

"No, we don't need to do that," you began hotly.

"Two horses, two paths. Each of them lead through the forest and back to the stables. It's only natural that we would separate here." He tugged at his steed's reigns, starting down the right pathway. "I'll take the shorter route back; the flat earth allows my horse to run along it faster."

You couldn't get another word in as he promptly sped away, a small dust cloud kicking up beneath the horse's hooves. You were left with the tree's aged silence, the twittering of birds and rustle of leaves keeping you grounded to the present.

"...I don't mean to add to your anger, Princess," Karamatsu started, guiding his horse to the other path, "but I was hoping that we could get some time alone like this."

"And why would you want that?" You huffed. Your brow twitched a fraction as you saw your hands had already planted themselves back onto his torso as the animal moved.

"So that I am able to answer your questions." He turned his head back to you with a smile, the sunlight filtering through the trees illuminating his upper face brightly. You were getting sick of the world painting him to be some kind of ethereal being. He was a good-for-nothing prince. Nothing more.

"Then answer them," you snarled without thinking twice about it. He nodded in agreement, turning back to focus on navigating his way through the earthy terrain, watching out for the large tree roots breaking through the dirt.

"What was the point of those flowers?"

A small silence came over Karamatsu as he furrowed his thick brows, ordering his frantic thoughts together. He wanted to answer the honest truth, but he also knew that your temper was akin to very fragile glass — touch too hard, even just a gentle brush, and the results could be shattering. Or, it wouldn't fall apart, and you wouldn't be frustrated. For a moment, his mind wandered to his younger brother. Your personalities were quite similar.

"Originally, there wasn't a point to the flowers," his words were slow and cautious, carefully putting them together as he finally came to a decision.

"I had heard in the early hours of the morning that you still hadn't awoken, and so I took a stroll around your palace garden. I've never seen such beautifully groomed blossoms before. Truly a spectacle, and I expected nothing less of this flourishing kingdom.

"It was then that I saw the hyacinths. In my kingdom, these flowers are already rare to find, and so upon seeing their vibrant colour, I couldn't help but be reminded of you."

You blinked owlishly at the back of his head.

"Rare beauty. That was my first impression of you when I first stepped out of my carriage. And, despite what you may think, our exchange under the moon's gaze did not change my perspective of you, Princess."

You were in disbelief. He must be more delusional than you thought.

"I had wanted to give you the flowers as a token to your beauty, until the one who handed me the flowers told me something interesting: the flower's meaning. I knew then that I had to give them to you, and hoped that you would understand."

...

"... You still haven't answered my question." Karamatsu stilled at your flat tone. Devoid of emotion. It was unsettling, hearing it from you. "Why are you sorry?"

"Ah, because.." he sighed heavily. "Because ever since I stepped foot here, I've caused you nothing but distress and despair. I have a feeling that you felt this way ever since our engagement was announced, too."

The forest ambiance had grown quieter. It was as if the birds had never been there at all. The sun still shone down from above, rays of sunlight lighting the way forward. The pathway curved behind the frame of a tall, wise oak tree. You were unable to see beyond it. Whatever lay ahead of you was a mystery.

"So, I apologise, Princess [Y/N]. For not being the man you had been waiting for."

"I still don't get it."

"..Come again?"

"I don't get why you're apologising. To me."

Your fingers tightened around the fabric of his shirt. Even through the clothing, you could feel that he was warm, radiating a subtle heat against your hands. You concentrate on that, hoping the tightness in your throat would go away.

"What's the point in you apologising when you haven't —" you bit your tongue, quickly rephrasing your wording, "—when you know, that nothing's going to change? Why waste your time trying to appease me?"

Rounding the large trunk, the trees ahead of you began forming a kind of leafy archway, leading to an opening out of the forest.

"I've always believed that people can change, no matter who they are," Karamatsu responded firmly. "Even though it may not seem like, the changes a person can go through can bring out such wondrous beauty. I wish to see it, if you will allow me to."

Light beamed down on the both of you as you broke through the forest finally, blinding you for a moment. Rubbing at your eyes, you slowly opened them up, sucking in a sharp breath at the sight around you.

Dazzling, bright Cala lilies flowed like a white sea with the wind, fields of them stretching for miles, as far as the eye could see. Amongst them were clusters of daisies, small and dainty petals that seemed to dance to an unheard tune.

You had never seen this field before. Never had you seen such an abundance of flowers blooming so elegantly like this. It was a sight that made your eyes widen in an almost child-like wonder. A part of you wished to jump off of your seat and run into the field, dancing along with the flowers.

"I've never seen these flowers before!" Karamatsu exclaimed excitedly. He had stopped his horse altogether, admiring the view with you. You tore your gaze away to look at him, his wide smile spreading from cheek to cheek, and his eyes sparkling in awe. He was practically glowing.

"What are they?" He turned to you.

"Cala lilies."

"I never knew lilies could take such a shape." He suddenly shifted in his seat, carefully swinging a leg over the side of the horse and jumping down onto the pathway. You watched as he strolled over to the flowers, a finger delicately stroking at its petals.

Your hands began to feel clammy. Sometimes, you cursed yourself for your expansive knowledge. An image of a textbook filtered into your mind, and you bit at your lip out of habit.

White Cala lilies. Daisies, too.

It was all just a coincidence. It had to be.

After all, you were too far gone to be given the chance to change.

Karamatsu - Lycoris Radiata

𝘠𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘪!𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶 𝘟 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

Dim. Yet warm. You figured that's how a forest would be during the summer.

With that thought in mind, however, it didn't help you whatsoever with finding the path you were supposed to be walking along. Of course you would lose track of where you were meant to be walking; wandering minds and feet aren't exactly a good pair.

Glancing upward through the mess of tree branches and leaves, you could just about make out the glimmer of stars above you. Looks like you missed dinner. Again. Was it really so hard for you to go for a relaxing walk in the woodlands?

Sighing, you rubbed your upper thighs. Sore. The blood pumping through them felt weird against the fabric of your trousers, thumping uncomfortably against your fingers. Tingling. Just... weird.

Tree trunks stood by attentively, waiting patiently for your tired figure to curl up against its' bark. And you did just that, groaning as you stretched out your arms and legs. Your arms fell with a thud to your sides, fingers absentmindedly caressing the cool grass beneath you.

...Now what? Were you just going to sit there for the rest of the night? A ridiculous idea, surely. However, it was the only thing you could do. It's not like you knew if anyone was nearby to help you get home and, even then, you didn't think you could just trust anyone you would meet in the middle of the woods at night.

Another sigh. You're good at those, aren't you? You tried to take a look at your surroundings, only to see the dark figures of trees and bushes (at least, you hoped they were bushes). Dark blues and greens, hues of black, absences of colour.

A flash of red. A stark contrast to the deep colours around you. A beautiful flower, you saw. Its' crimson petals clustered together in the centre, with numerous similar coloured stems curling upwards, swaying and dancing with the wind.

"A Spider Lily, huh?" you muttered. You reached out and grazed the tips of your finger against it, a small smile tugging at your lips. "You shouldn't bloom here, all alone like this..."

Your mind briefly wandered back to a conversation you had had with a friend at some point throughout the week. Being the flower enthusiast she was, you always allowed yourself to become subject to her seemingly endless rants about flowers, plants, herbs - anything that she had knowledge about. You remembered what she had said about these richly coloured beauties.

'If you see someone that you may never meet again, these flowers will bloom along the path.'

It sounded like a beautiful but tragic piece of poetry. You began to wonder where the myth had even come from. When was it first spoken? Was it based on true events? Was it really such a bad thing, not meeting someone again?

You knew, from experience, that letting people leave your everyday life was actually beneficial for yourself. Although it took you a number of years to realise it, you found that the kinds of people you attracted were a lot worse than they appeared to be. Deep down, they were monsters. Horrible people, who have the audacity to call themselves human.

Of course it was painful, but only at first. Now, it didn't bother you much anymore. Your soul felt lighter, if anything, indicating that you were getting better, not worse.

Releasing the flower from your ghost of a grasp, you leaned your head back, closing your eyes. That was enough for today. It was time to rest for a while. Breathing in, and out, slowly, ever so slowly, a feeling of slumber crept its way into your body.

Relaxing your tense muscles, you released a long, heavy breath. Sleep.

"It's dangerous to sleep out here, my dove."

"WHA-!!"

An unholy shriek escaped from your throat suddenly, and you pushed your body away from the tree you were leaning against, crawling rapidly across the ground. Whipping your body around, your wide eyes landed on the lantern that outlined the shadowy figure, who stood just behind where you were previously sitting.

"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, angel!"

The deep, husky voice that whispered into your ear became slightly higher pitched and frantic. You saw the figure step forward, causing you to flinch.

"Ah, do not worry, princess. I won't harm you..."

"That's what they all say!" you blurted out. A short silence followed before you asked:

"Who.. Who are you?"

The figure stepped forward, raising its' lantern to reveal itself.

It was... a man. Yet he wasn't human. His skin was pale, eyes surrounded by red markings. On top of his brown hair was a pair of glowing blue horns, which seemed to flow like fire. his clothing seemed old fashioned, covering his slightly built figure in dark robes of satin and ribbons. The lantern that he held also emitted the same coloured light as his horns, flickering before you.

"You may call me Karamatsu, my dear," he bowed slightly, a cat-like grin crossing his features. "I am but a humble spirit who spotted a wandering soul, lost and alone in a forest that humans should be cautious with. Perhaps some guidance is in your best interest?"

"I, uhm... You're not.. human?" A deep chuckle sounded, sending a shiver up your spine. It was echoey. As if, even though he was standing right in front of you, he was still so far away.

"I'm afraid not, flower. I am an Aoandon. But do not be afraid, I am not here to hurt you. I would only be a guilty guy if I were to leave such a beautiful woman alone in the woods, where anything could happen."

He reached out a partially gloved hand to your figure, still on the ground.

"Please, allow my light to guide you home."

You were sure that if you could see the words he spoke, they would be surrounded by flowers and sparkles. You never knew a man - or anyone, for that matter - to speak in such an overzealous manner.

However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It didn't make you feel uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, actually. You guessed that's why you reached up and grasped his unnaturally cold hands, allowing him to pull you upwards in a swift motion. He grinned softly down at you, making you realise just how short you were compared to him.

"May I ask for your name, love? Or would you prefer the names I give you?" he winked. You suppressed the urge to roll your eyes, in fear that he would actually hurt you if you got on the wrong foot. So he was a gentleman and a flirt? What an odd combination.

"[Y/N]..." you decided to not answer his second question. It was probably for the best.

"[Y/N]. A wonderful name! As gorgeous as the stars above! I am certain that they aligned to create a bridge just for us to meet on this special night!" Karamatsu's hands were waving around in wild, extravagant gestures. He looked ridiculous. What a strange character.

"I- .. Sure.."

For most of the journey, you listened to this... spirit, ramble nonsense about the scenery around you, or about your features that he found endearing. There were times where he would deliberately lower his voice into something he thought was sultry and enticing, peering into your eyes with a smouldering stare. You didn't mind the dip in his voice at all, not a single bit. It was just the way that the poor man was clearly trying too hard to make you fall for him.

'He clearly has never been successful with any woman before... How cute!'

You couldn't help yourself. You had just met him, and you already wanted to know more about him. Was that weird? Probably. Maybe it was the touch-starved part of yourself that was talking, longing to be held in someone's arms after being neglected by so many for so long.

"Watch your step here, my dear." His voice snapped you out of your thoughts, peering up at him to see this a pale hand was held out to assist you. You gladly took hold of it, fingers grasping his colder ones. Even as he helped you over a few jagged rocks in your path, you weren't willing to let go just yet. Although his skin was cold, his touch felt inviting and comforting.

You didn't want to let go yet.

And it seemed that Karamatsu was overjoyed by this, his eye glistening with a kind of happiness that you had never seen a human hold before.

"A-Are you afraid, sweetheart? There is nothing to fear, not as long as I am here by your side! However, if you wish to hold me tightly, I will never object you!" The slight tremor of nervousness in his words sounded so endearing to you.

"Good, because I wasn't planning to let go just yet."

You had never seen a human wear such a broad and satisfied smile, either. It was contagious, causing you to smile timidly up at him in return.

Eventually, though, your midnight stroll had to come to an end for the both of you. Karamatsu had led you to the beginning of the trail where, just a little further ways down, was a bus stop for you to get home.

"We have arrived, my angel."

"Ah... right," you mumbled, slight disappointment seeping through your tone. Karamatsu chuckled, his cat-like grin widening slightly.

"What is this? Is my fair maiden unwilling to let me go?"

"Something like that..." you mumbled, keeping your face directed towards the ground as you released your hold from his arm. Karamatsu's cheeks bloomed pink, a shade darker under the moonlight.

"A-Ah! Well," luckily, he was able to snap out of his surprised stupor, "Do not be so sullen, my moonbeam!"

'Moonbeam?'

"I'm sure the stars will align once again to reunite us as we journey through our lives together, and one day... One day, maybe..."

His bold tone suddenly simmered down to a gentle murmur, almost lost to the breeze if you weren't standing so close to him. A gentle smile was on his face now, his eyes glazed over in reminiscence of something akin to a far away daydream.

"I hope, one day, our paths cross again, my love."

His cold fingers caressed your own, lifting them up to press a chaste kiss onto your knuckles. It may have been brief, but the cold touch burned itself into your skin, lasting as he slowly, reluctantly, pulled away.

"Have a safe journey home, angel!" He grinned, saluting quickly before turning away, holding his flickering lantern before him to lead his way back into the forest he called his home.

You had no words left in you. They had all been snatched away by his comforting words and soft touches. His kind eyes, his dazzling smile. His glowing aura that led you through the darkness around you.

Ah, but good things never last long for you. You had to leave before you missed the next bus. You had leave this lonely, broken soul behind. Just like how he had no choice but to leave yours.

Turning away, you caught a glimpse of red from the corner of your eyes.

A trail of red spider lilies. Standing tall and blooming where he once stood a moment ago.

'Please... Meet me here again. One day.'

❀ | ⑥

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

Setting down his teacup with a sigh, Karamatsu's gaze didn't wander from the perfect view of the gardens just behind the large windows.

It had been a few days since he had gone on that magical horse ride through the forest with you, and ever since you had arrived back at your palace, it seemed as if you had been avoiding him. Which he found to be most unfortunate, as he had found the conversation the both of you had then was heartfelt and honest, and he even thought that it had brought you two ever so slightly closer together.

Alas, he was wrong. The words you had exchanged with him had only weakened your bond and any chances at becoming closer, it seems. Now, whenever you spotted him around the palace halls, you would swiftly turn the other way and scurry off before he could get the chance to speak. He would be left in the dust of your footsteps, a hand outstretched towards your silhouette and a frown on his lips.

Karamatsu wasn't sure what to do.

His words were true; he wanted to get to know you, bit by bit. He wanted you to give him a chance, despite his reputation as a stupid and unwise prince. Despite all his flaws and imperfections, he wanted you to take his hand and walk alongside him, if not as lovers then at the very least as friends.

Clearly, however, you didn't have the same thoughts in mind.

He sighed again, much heavier this time, his sorrow almost visible in the air around him. Karamatsu had no idea what to do. He had never been in this situation before — he had never even lasted this long inside someone else's kingdom! He usually would have been kicked out, literally, as soon as he opened his mouth to speak. Although you didn't give him the kindest of welcomes, you had at least allowed him to stay. He thought that to be very kind of you.

Resting his palm against his cheek, he cast his sullen gaze to the sky. No matter what he did, his mind would always fall back to you. He would like to think it was love, but he wasn't that stupid of a prince to truly believe that.

"Prince Karamatsu?" He startled at the call of his name, sitting up straight and turning to look over his shoulder to find your mother, Queen Koume, walking steadily towards him with a kind smile. He stood up from his seat, bowing low as his signature smirk worked its way into his face.

"Queen Koume! It is truly a blessing to be in your presence."

"Likewise," she chuckled, tapping his shoulder and gesturing for him to rise, "But I think formalities can be dropped for a short while, don't you agree?"

"If that is what you wish," he flicked his sparkling cape around him, the material elegantly twirling around him before settling along his back.

"I hope you have been enjoying your stay in our kingdom," she started, moving to take a seat opposite from Karamatsu's.

"Of course! I expected nothing less from the Aoki Kingdom — full of beauty as far as the eye can see!"

Queen Koume chuckled again, silently liking the flowery words that always seemed to flow seamlessly out of the young prince's mouth. He had quite a talent for it.

"And my daughter has been treating you well?"

"Indeed! She truly is a kind and soft soul, to treat me as gently as the flowers that bloom in her wake—!"

"Then why is she not with you?"

Karamatsu stilled, eyes wide and smile stiff. He glanced over to the Queen, and upon seeing her raised brow and the suspicious squint in her eyes, he deflated, sitting himself back down and tracing a finger around the rim of his teacup.

"How long has she been avoiding you?"

"...Almost three days, now..."

She sighed, her eyes falling to her folded hands in her lap. A few moments of silence go by, and she interrupts it with her soft voice.

"I would like to apologise for my daughter. She has always found it difficult to bond with those from outside our kingdom."

"No, no, I understand her completely." Karamatsu shook his head, a small smile on his lips that didn't quite meet his eyes. "I am a prince from the kingdom of Akatsuka. We are known for our unwillingness to become kings and our poor knowledge on royal duties. I'm not surprised that she wouldn't want anything to do with me... It is something that I have become used to."

"But it is not something you deserve."

He paused, slowly raising his eyes to meet hers.

"Appearances are a struggle for royals to upkeep, because it is the only thing that others are willing to look at. When I look at you, Karamatsu, I don't look at the failure of a prince. I look at the heart you wear on your sleeve."

Karamatsu's cheeks tinged a light pink, her knowing smile making it hard to look away.

"When others look at my daughter, they see a cold and silent girl, with her head full of pride and her eyes full of malice. But when you look at her, tell me, what do you see?"

"...What do I see...?"

He saw a beautiful girl with a heart that was closed off to the world in fear of getting hurt. He saw a girl who spoke her mind without the fear of the opinions of others. He saw a girl with a strong and matured mind with a young, caring heart, a weakness that she didn't want to expose. Because if it ever was, her world would crumble around her.

Queen Koume stood up, walking around the small table to reach Karamatsu, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her with wide eyes, akin to a child. Her fondness for him grew.

"Talk to her. She will try to run, but don't let her out of your reach."

With those words, she left him to his thoughts, disappearing around the corner. Karamatsu's mind was onto telling him one thing.

'I need to see her.'

He bolted from his seat, running down the hallways in an aimless attempt to find you. As he passed by the entrance to the gardens, he skidded to a halt, rushing over to one of the gardeners who was busy pruning a bush of purple and blue flowers.

"Excuse me!" He called, standing over them. "If you would be so kind, I need some assistance with a gift." He gestured to the flowers around him, his thick brows furrowed into a pleading frown. The gardener stared up at him in shock before relaxing into a grin.

"Of course! I have the perfect gift."

He clipped a hefty bunch of the flowers in front of him, grabbing a ribbon from his pocket and tying it around the stems into a neat bow.

"Hydrangeas. For anything that is sincerely heartfelt." He winked, handing them over to the prince.

"Wonderful! Thank you!" Karamatsu turned on his heel to run off, only to then back around with a sheepish grin. "Do you know where I can find the Princess?"

"She usually hides herself away in the library. But you didn't hear that from me!"

"Thank you!" He called again over his shoulder as he dashed off, coloured petals drifting around him as the wind carried them away. A woman peeked around one of the hedges, grinning down at the gardener.

"Playing Cupid, are we?" She chuckled.

"That's all on him," he shrugged. The both of them watched a blue blur run off into the distance, mentally sending him the best of luck before returning to their tasks.

Karamatsu ran as fast as his legs could carry him, barely making it down the right corridors until he came to a stumbling halt in front of a large set of double doors, the wood engraved with ivory stems curling around bookshelves. This was the place.

He took a moment to catch his breath, brushing his hair back into place with his hand and gathering the courage before opening the doors with a firm push, pausing as they revealed a vast library filled to the brim with books and rolled parchment.

He glanced around as he walked in, scanning every empty table and chair until he came across a set of stairs spiralling upwards, swallowing thickly as he ascended, one slow step at a time.

His heart was thundering in his chest as he reached the top, almost fit to burst as he finally saw your figure hunched over a pile of books that were opened up and spread along the floor, your studious gaze stuck the words on the pages of text until the sound of his footsteps made you look up in surprise.

Your eyes met his, wide and unsuspecting. Karamatsu's heart sped up, skipping a beat as he saw your skin becoming flushed in shock, his own cheeks matching the reddening tint that was spreading across your face.

Neither of you could speak, finding yourselves speechless. You always had something to say, but now, sitting there and peering up at the man you had been attempting to push away for days now, you found that your throat had run dry, and your lips slightly parted, searching for words that couldn't escape you.

You watched as he took careful steps forward, kneeling down in front of you on one knee to reach your eye level, his brown eyes never once leaving yours.

In his arms, he carried clusters of hydrangeas, swirling colours of blue and purple, and your heart jumped. It startled you; it was if it had leapt up your throat.

He held them out to you, a determined glint in his eyes.

"Princess [Y/N]."

His words were firm but gentle, enough to get you to stay, and enough to tell you that there was nothing stopping you from leaving. Even so, you found yourself unable to move.

"These flowers are for you. I hope these will suffice as a gift, in exchange for a chance to speak with you."

❀ | ⑦

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞. 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.

╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

Hugging the flowers to your chest, you attempted (quite poorly, if you were being honest) to hide your flushed cheeks and pouty lips from the man before you, stuffing the lower half of your face into the petals and taking a deep breath. You couldn't deny the heavenly smell of the blossoms, your vision now slightly obscured by a mesh of various blue hues, the colour that you could only now associate with one person.

Karamatsu couldn't help but to watch you in silence, his dark eyes admiring the way your petite hands clasped themselves around the cut stems, your shoulders and clavicle exposed to the soft light filtering into the small space your dress, though now they were covered in dainty petals as you pressed the bouquet closer to yourself. His mind began to fill with all sorts of ways to describe your elegance and beauty, wanting to remove the white cloth covering his fingers so that he could run his bare fingers over your skin and tresses.

Clearing his throat quietly, he rid his mind of these thoughts as best as he could and licked his slightly dried lips, preparing himself to speak.

"Princess--"

"You--"

The both of you froze, Karamatsu's cheeks darkening at the sound of your voice chiming in alongside his, as did yours, though you were grateful you had the flowers so that he couldn't see this. With a small gesture of his hand, the prince urged you to speak first, to which you shifted uncomfortably in your place, eyes stuck on the flowers bunched in your hands.

"...You didn't need to bring a gift to speak with me, you know," you began quietly, the usual bite behind your words gone as you avoided your original sentence for the time being. "We're not the kind of royals who demand items in exchange for words."

"I am aware," Karamatsu smiled softly, hoping it would encourage you to keep talking with him the way you were doing so now. "Even so, I felt it was necessary if I am to convey these words to you."

"Which are...?" Oddly, your heart began to thud against your chest in anticipation, watching the way his hand moved to run lightly over his coloured streaks of hair before settling it over his chest, looking into your eyes with his rich brown orbs.

"I would like to become closer with you."

The words tumbling from his lips left you in surprise, eyes widening as he continued.

"The same way we did that day we travelled through the forest on horseback, I wish to do that again with you. I must admit, it felt nice to be able to bond with someone after facing so much rejection from other royals I have briefly acquainted..." A quiet huff of laughter left him at that.

"However, I understand that you do not wish to go through with this engagement, and I do not want to force you into yet another unfortunate circumstance," His words became softer, the smile on his lips becoming solemn at its corners as he lowered his gaze, hand pressing firmer against his chest. "So, even if we do not become close as husband and wife, then at the very least, having you as a friend would still warm my heart nonetheless."

Though his heart ached, he knew it would be for the best. Cutting things off earlier into whatever relationship the two of you had begun to form would be much easier, even if it was still painful for Karamatsu to do such a thing. Truthfully, he didn't want to leave, he didn't want to have to give up on you, but if it was something you wanted, he couldn't force anything. Love and friendship are delicate things, preciously moulded by the hands of those who are willing to move forward, and you...

"I don't want you to leave."

Karamatsu's head snapped up, mouth slightly agape as he questioned whether he had heard you correctly, or if he had imagined your words. The crimson staining the tips of your ears and dusting your shoulders told him otherwise. You couldn't meet his eyes, pointing them down towards the few books still laying open and your eyes catching onto the delicately coloured sketch of a baby pink larkspur, the layers bunching together like the skirt of a ball gown.

"I don't... want you to leave," you breathed, squeezing your eyes shut in hopes that it would help you concentrate on what you were saying and not on Karamatsu's twinkling eyes. "I'm sure you've realised this by now, but I'm not used to having such conversations anyone, not even my own parents... Vulnerability has made me weak in the past, and now I believe that becoming hostile towards others is just second nature to me."

A small lull in your voice came and went, ears sensitive to his quiet breaths, and you wondered if he was even breathing at all as he hung onto your every word.

"I know I can't hide away like this forever. I look like more of a coward than anything else, at this point," you sighed. "I know I don't deserve it, but if... if you could..."

This feeling inside of you was so foreign to you. It made you hesitant, made you scared, made you want to back out at the last possible moment, but you knew if you did such a thing you wouldn't get a chance like this ever again - and that thought hurt you more than you thought it would. Swallowing your shallow pride, you forced the words out of your mouth, ignoring that snide voice in the back of your mind telling you to give up already.

"If you could find it in yourself to forgive me for my actions... for what I've said to you... then maybe we could start this over. I want to be patient with you, the same way you have been patient with me."

"... As friends?"

Karamatsu may have been too hopeful, but he wanted to hear it from you nonetheless.

"... Wherever it goes, I don't think I would mind as much." You tried to stay nonchalant about it, though the sudden flush of heat over your skin at the sight of Karamatsu's broad and genuine smile made you fumble, and once you locked eyes, neither of you could bring yourselves to look away. Feeling bold, the prince raised both of his hands and placed them around your own, surrounding them with warmth, the sensation of his gloves brushing against your skin sending a shiver up your spine.

"Thank you, princess." He breathed quietly, the soothing baritone of his voice low for your ears only.

"F-For what?" you responded just the same, the fragrance of hydrangeas now surrounding you both, intoxicatingly sweet.

"For giving me a chance."

Floriograhy [Walter C. Dornez x Reader] Oneshot

Summary: Walter surprises you after dinner.

The room was quiet, you were setting the table while Walter was finishing the food. You two often dined together, discussing various topics, from the gossip around the organisation, like how Pip tried to flirt with Seras today, to the deepest thought that ever crossed your mind. He truly had a great intellect, he sometimes was like a human encyclopedia, something that you admired greatly, like how he takes care of everything, how good he looks doing the chores, how his voice is like a melody-

“(Y/N), are you with me?” you looked lost at the butler as he chuckled, “You seem to be lost in thought again, what is it this time?” you remained silent as Walter placed your plates on the table, only speaking when he stopped and looked at you “Nothing, just something from work. But it’s insignificant anyway,” he could tell you were lying but decides to not to press further knowing you were going to tell him anyway, so he changes the subject to your newfound interest, floriography. 

 The dinner went as normal, just that Walter seemed more smooth and relaxed than usual, almost like he tried to seem so. Whenever you tried to bring up this, he quickly dismissed you. As you finished and began cleaning, the butler motions you to stop with a soft smile on his lips.

 “Do you mind waiting a little?” he asked with a cheerful, yet demanding tone, “I got something for you”. You looked at him, intrigued by his request, “Sure.”

 He left the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts. What has gotten into him? So that’s why he acted like that during dinner? When he returned, your breath caught in your throat. Walter stood before you, holding a large bouquet. Their perfume quickly took over the room, invading your senses with such intensity that you could say they were in a battle, one that you lost.

  You went to Walter as he handed you the bouquet, “I hope you’ll like it, I made sure to leave a secret message for you to decoy with your newfound interest”. As those words left his mouth, you analyzed the gift, blush roses, cornflower, sweet william and honeysuckle. Blossoming romance, hope in love, gallantry and devoted affection. Your heart began to rise as your face started to look like the flowers. A bouquet for courting. Was Walter really doing this?  Your legs were going dizzy and you couldn’t even speak, the only thing you could do was to look at the butler. He was standing there, with a proud and satisfied smile, clearly enjoying your reaction.

 “So, (Y/N), what do you say? Do you like it?” he said, already knowing the answer. “Yes… but do you really mean it?” you respond with a shaky voice, “Of course, my dear.”

 And with that, he had you completely. Walter had you wrapped around his finger and you didn’t mind.

Look at this beauty. This flower makes me fold in half and squee into a pillow because it's so beautiful and perfect. I would go so far as to say this is the equivalent of cherry blossoms in the spring. Allow me for this TED talk.

This flower, 彼岸花, higanbana (or 曼珠沙華, manjyushake) is so dear to my heart and every time anyone asks which flower to see when in Japan I point to this one and say go at the end of September despite the summer swelter still lingering.

Higanbana is usually seen in the red colour in particular for anime and in general associated with death because they're seen lining headstones. But that's because they protect those buried or offerings from pesky moles, mice, and any other creature or bug that try to desecrate the place. It is a highly poisonous flower in all its glory.

They're beautiful, misunderstood, glorious, silent defenders of the dead.

Then there's the flower meanings (which depending on the flower color have slight variances - red, white, yellow and even more rare, orange) and they're all just. Beautiful.

"Passion." "Independence." "Reunion." "Giving up." "Sad memories." "I love only you." "Until we meet again."

If that isn't beautiful, I don't know what is.

Please, if you're ever in Asia/Japan, I know summer is big on fireworks festivals (which are beautiful in themselves), but I implore you to consider, if you're there at the end of September, to put seeing these beautiful flora on your itinerary.

「 ephemeral red spider lily 」

💖

I am not very smart at electronics so it took me a very long time to figure out how to do this, but here is a link to the actual spreadsheet of my floriography chart! I'll tag everyone who asked to be tagged previously below.

Google Docs

Floriography

Sheet1 "Meaning","Flower Meanings: The Language","Flower Meanings",Kirkby,Begay,"Hanakotoba - Meaning" Abatina*,fickleness Abutilon,meditat

@books4evermorr @lark-spurned @greatwillhunting @ares-enjoyer @january-glooms @arbutoideae @lorieninksong @wingedcat13 @melodiesblue @benign-virus @montaguethelorekeeper @incense-and-iron @mimisoft64 @propa--gandhi @kuzka @overly-distressed-mouse @exhausted-snek @bloggedanon @chaotic-child-changed-blogs @jaz-the-bard @definitelynotshouting @splashdragon @hawkheartedlion @nixnereid

Stardew Valley: Bachelor flowers and headcanons!

Disclaimer: These are just some of my personal headcanons that I like to think about from time to time!

*(More bachelors under the “read more” section!)

Alex

Flower: Sunflower. Sunflowers symbolize adoration, loyalty and longevity.

Cooking skills: Good cook! Knows all the staple home recipes from his grandma.

Height: 6'0"

Around 22-23 years old; second youngest of the bachelors, with Sam being the youngest. When with the bachelors, he seems to be the most childlike as they consider him pretty innocent or naïve for his age. This comes across as quite endearing as the bachelors help him feel more at ease with them and himself.

Worked out not just to prove his worth to his mom, but also to his grandparents. He wants to be strong so he can protect the only family he has left, and this includes the friends he ends up trusting along the way.

Isn't 100% white. Could be part / half-Filipino or half-Mexican, or anything similar. Reflected not only in how his fair porcelain skin tans from sun exposure, but also his tendency to stay close to family even as he grows older. In relation to this, he's bilingual! He may not be the most intelligent bachelor, but he can switch both languages easily. He shares this trait with Sebastian.

The person (farmer) he ends up falling for brings him great comfort. He likely sees his mom in them and doesn't want to mess this up. As a husband/bf/fiancée he is insanely doting and never misses a chance to say he loves them, or thanks them for the joy they share together. This is something he never got a chance to do for his late mum.

Initially he hung out with Haley because that's what he thinks boys should do; hang out with pretty girls and be a "manly man"! Eventually, he finds comfort with her as they seem to share similar youthful vibes. Alex is actually pretty socially awkward and often looks up to Haley and Emily, and he admires how confident they are about themselves. He tries to emulate this but ends up sounding self-absorbed instead.

Elliott

Flower: Red rose. Red roses symbolize love and romance.

Cooking skills: Good cook! Actually learning new recipes through cook books and cooking shows.

Height: 6'2"

Around 28-34; the second eldest of the bachelors, with Harvey being the eldest. When with the bachelors, he loves being the flamboyant dad figure. He could come across as the embarrassing dad, but he really does look out for the well-being of the group.

Knows French. Either he IS French, or he loves learning the “language of love” to add more flair to his writing. Willing to bet the former.

Owns a mermaid tail he wears on occasion. Jas once mistook him for Ariel and he decided to go the extra mile for her. He's even learned how to swim in it, though Harvey had to save him a couple of times from nearly drowning. He eventually resorted to swimming in the river for practice when nobody's around. Because of this, he probably wrote Secret Note 21 after swimming at midnight by the river as a note to himself never to do that again.

Related to above, he LOVES dressing up and roleplaying. He claims it helps him get the mood better for his writing. He especially loves playing the prince, but is actually good at playing any part. Beautiful singing voice too; he took voice and piano lessons as theatre play is his passion.

An extroverted introvert. Because of his flamboyant nature and desire to delight the people around him, he may come across as forward and crowd-loving. In reality, he just loves appreciating the beauty of the world around him and is eager to have a companion who sees the world the same way he does. Leah comes close to this, so as older marriage candidates they bond over their love for the wonders of nature.

Harvey

Flower: Gardenia. The gardenia is a flower that symbolizes purity and gentleness.

Cooking skills: Best cook of the bachelors. Probably took culinary classes at one point!

Height: 6'4"

The oldest of the bachelors, around 35-40. Despite being often shy and soft-spoken compared to most of the group, he does take pride being the eldest. Being a doctor only gives him more authority to watch over the others alongside Elliott; such as advising Alex not to eat too much eggs, or regulating everyone else's diet for a healthier lifestyle.

He initially wanted to be a pilot because of his father. His father used to be a flight instructor for many young aspiring pilots, and in one of his sit-ins, he was convinced that he wanted to be a pilot too!

It never happened. He has bad eyesight and a fear of heights when his dad took him out for a quick ride, despite all the safety protocols taken. He did however become a doctor because of his desire to help people; for a time, he became a doctor in the same workplace as his father before he got assigned to Pelican Town.

Has difficulty keeping up with aerobics in a group, but it's actually helped increase his stamina and strength. When hiking in the mountains, the bachelors would expect him to stay behind to catch his breath, but they're taken by surprise when they find out he has the same stamina as them! Sometimes he even moves faster because of caffeine and the others have to catch up to him... only to find he'd 100% crash in exhaustion when the campsite is finally set up.

The reason he closes up his clinic early is because of how little medical emergencies the town seems to have. Aside from taking care of paperwork for another roughly two hours before and after the clinic closes, he also wants to spend some time on a safe spot outdoors where he can watch the planes go by and reminisce his dreams.

Sebastian

Flower: Lavender. Lavender flowers represent purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace, and calmness.

Cooking skills: Trying. He's a pro at brewing 3-in-1 coffee though.

Height: 5'7"

Older than he seems to be letting on; he's around 23-25. He may appear young and socially awkward, but his emotional maturity is actually pretty developed. He just doesn't know how to express this healthily as he feels isolated; this changed when he befriended Sam and Abigail though. In the bachelors' group, he seems to be the voice of reason. He only ever speaks when he feels like it, though, and is often very passive.

Bilingual. Maybe even multilingual. Half east Asian, so his dark hair is actually natural. Could be Japanese and could explain why he loves sashimi, as it reminds him of his youth when he and his extended family would have sashimi dinners together. On the other hand, he could also be Korean and secretly loves KDramas and takes fashion/aesthetic advice from KPop.

Scared of horror movies. He grew up watching Disney films as a kid to help cheer himself up and it was Sam and Abigail who introduced him to scary movies later on.

Loves frogs because they were his companions as a child when he got stranded in school because of the strong rain. Because of them he realised that rain wasn't as scary as he thought it was, and he played in the rain with them while waiting for Robin to pick him up. He was soaked and got a cold, but that time spent with frogs was one of the happiest memories he cherishes. As an adult, he loves the rain and he goes outdoors to hang out with frogs. He can sometimes be heard croaking back to them. Only Sam heard him do this and Seb made him swear not to tell anyone, especially Abigail.

Sometimes when he works, he wears non-prescription blue light glasses. His vision has yet to worsen despite his job since he has an eye care routine he follows strictly. This is also why despite not being an outdoors person, he goes out to look at the greenery of the valley. When his hair gets a little longer (covering most of his nape) he wears a tiny ponytail on occasion.

Sam

Flower: Yellow tulip. Yellow tulips represent happiness, cheerfulness, and hope.

Cooking skills: Like Sebastian, non existent. He's a pro at flipping instant pancakes like his skateboard though!

Height: 5'10"

The youngest of the bachelors at around 20-21, just a year or two younger than Alex. He seems to be a little more emotionally mature due to being the eldest son in their household though. No matter what group he's in, he's a true extrovert and his energy is contageous that it drives the mood of the group most of the time.

Highly empathic. He is actually more mature than he's letting on; despite appearing rather naïve. Unlike Alex, he could easily read between the lines; he can tell if someone is hiding their true feelings and knows how to act accordingly, which is one of the reasons why Sebastian found comfort in him as a close friend.

This doesn't mean he's no trouble maker. He LOVES being one; it's one of the things he couldn't seem to get out of his system! Sebastian thinks this is rather charming as he never really got to express himself the way Sam did. However, Sam does seem to know if he's gotten too far and sincerely apologises, if ever. This mostly applies to people he actually cares about.

Got a part time job in JojaMart mostly because of the free soda perk every shift. The rest of the job is boring though, so sometimes he drags Shane in some mischief. Shane used to be vocally annoyed but he has since resigned to his fate as Sam's partner in crime. It actually gets lonely when Sam isn't around to use mops as makeshift guitars.

A huge fan of Dragonball Z, no secrets there. So much that he styled his hair like a super saiyan. He and his little brother Vincent also make time in their schedules to watch it together, as quality time between brothers. They could never achieve the super saiyan body though, so sometimes they ask Alex to flex some time after befriending him. Sometimes the three can be seen pretending to be super saiyans right around Dusty's pen.

Shane

Flower: Cornflower. Cornflowers can mean delicacy and elegance, and in some cases also symbolizes positive hope for the future.

Cooking skills: A pro at cooking instant food and simple dishes to complement your (his) beer (aka "pulutan" in Filipino)

Height: 5'5" or 5'6"

He's younger than Elliott by a year or two but older than the three young bachelors; around 28-33. When with the bachelors, he seems to be the weird or cool uncle depending on his mood.

He got the idea of raising blue chickens from Jas' late parents. They used to raise cornflowers in their garden and gave some to him for good luck in finding his soulmate, as cornflowers were also known as "bachelor buttons". He's always loved chickens, though. So the blue chicken breed is a testament of his undying bond with them.

Surprisingly good at singing; his singing voice is a little husky. When drunk he tends to have voice cracks as he doesn't care much with vocal transitions anymore. Related to this, sometimes he sings lullabies to Jas when she can't sleep.

Taught Sam how to get some food from Joja that isn't in their perks. Turns out it wasn't as difficult and sometimes they eat pizza together at breaktime when Morris isn't looking. Shane often looks at Sam in disgust when he drinks Joja cola so happily, claiming "that sh*t tastes like carbonated dishwater". Sam is shocked Shane knows how dishwater tastes like.

Found a common ground with Alex because of gridball. Alex is an aspiring pro and Shane used to play in the varsity; sometimes he even agrees to coach Alex when they're both free and willing. With video games, he is also a pretty good gamer even without cheats and this helped bridge the connection further with the younger bachelors without him even meaning to. Sam looks up to him for cheat codes and pro gamer moves.

Something I think about a lot is how as a kid, I picked a bunch of wildflowers for my mom.

I didn’t know what they were, just that they were tall and dainty, and pretty, not to mention they were everywhere.

I knew when I was little that something was very wrong between her and my dad, but seeing me come in, with random bits of dirt on my face (and somehow in my ears too) and all over my hands seemed to make her light up for a moment. She’d even scold me a little when I would bring in a bushel so thick our usual vases and glasses wouldn’t fit them. Even in spite of me picking the yard of our house clean of flowers, those dainty purple stalks would pop back up within weeks like I hadn’t just overharvested what me and my parents thought at the time were random lawn weeds.

Now that I’m older and a bit wiser (and don’t cause a wake of biological destruction in my path), and I know what was actually happening in that house, I think it’s funny. Especially since I’m really fond of flowers and floriography.

I was giving her blue toadflax. That especially looking back on it now is painfully ironic. It’s not a typical bouquet flower, but it does have a meaning.

It’s been a long while since I found the site that listed one of its meanings, but it symbolizes protection, and was said to ward off curses and hexes, or even land stewardship. Others said it symbolized joy and vitality. Emphasis on the protective aspect, and it being a stubborn, determined pioneer plant- you can probably argue resilience too.

I was giving her a fucking protection charm and neither her nor I even knew it. Not until I was like fifteen and saw the flowers again and was like “hmm I wonder what these mean, I used to give them to my mom all the time.”

Damn it if the universe ain’t a petty poetic bitch then what is it even?

Piece for a gallery show recently! The outfit is pretty boring since it was just stuff from my dorm room but also it’s on theme for the work since my face is supposed to be the vocal point

It’s ridiculous how much I procrastinate…does anyone still care about valentines day???

And thank you to everyone for liking/commenting/reblogging my Ed Edd n Eddy stuff! I’m very reserved, so I tend not to reply often, but I’m hella grateful and humbled by the amazing fandom. ;w;

Well…who says you can’t do both?

BEHOLD

And totally because I’m not like a nerd or anything

✨🪷 Floriography Flowers ✨🪷

Clematis: Represents both ingenuity and cleverness (which I feel like you exempt through both your art and how you engage with fellow tumblrs. Like you are so polite and healthy that is absolutely refreshing to read your asks)

Foxglove: Meaning riddles and secrets (because I genuinely can’t get a read on you and your stories + work always leave me incredibly stunned because MAN I did NOT see that coming)

Anyhoo, 👉🏼😅👈🏼 I hope this doesn’t come across as love bombing or anything and makes you feel uncomfortable, just really admire ya respectfully and you inspire me, so…ya…🧡👊🏼

Telling On Yourself: Pt. 1

//Feeling super "FLUFF-Y"--

...Ohmygosh-- I need to draw this ridiculously intimate or love-y thing-- IT'LL BE WONDERFUL--!!!💜💜💜

//Starts sketching--

...But what if--

//Chooses different pose-- Character is now solo--

...Okay, I can still--

//Adds a toothy grin or smirk-- Expression becomes intimidating--

...Alright, maybe just--

//Adds battle scars, wounds, blood, etc.-- Stares at canvas--

...

...MAN--

Ok, so this picture was so incredibly wholesome that I HAD to try and redraw it because it legitimately made me cry. I had to no joke pull over because I was getting teary while on the road.

This picture means a lot to me for two reasons: #1 I’m 5ft 8” and on the heartier side of things, so usually I’m the tallest/ biggest or one of the taller folks whenever I engage in with company. So to imagine having one of my favorite characters just pick me up and cradle me like a child made me A: incredibly flustered and B: it did something funny to my heart.

I don’t necessarily have an emotionally safe relationship with my pops at the moment, so it makes it hard to accept hugs from him. And not to mention, because I’m again the “bigger friend”, I’m usually the person giving hugs. I don’t get hugs. Especially those good Dad Hugs. So imagining getting a hug from Sprout…well…it definitely filled an empty part of my heart. So @intotheelliwoods thank you for this. I…I kind of needed it so it meant a lot.

Also I drew myself with my arm sleeves because I wanted to match Poptart. I really struggle with picking my arms due to a skin condition that I have, so I wear my arms sleeves to try and prevent that. I guess just another reason why I relate to these guys.

I’m also a nerd who loves Floriography, or the Victorian Language of Flowers, so I wanted to include a little something extra to show my thanks. Honeysuckle to show how much I adore 2 Arms Left; it’s got a sweet little spot in my heart. And Sweet Pea to just keep cheering y’all on and to say thank you for everything. Literally.

And then of course my signature orange heart to represent warmth, friendship, and care.

It’s a lot of words, so thanks for reading. Just know this. You made my week a little better by just being your sweet self. I know life is hard and hurt can be heavy, but I promise you. You’re making a difference. Thank you for existing. 🫵🏼✨🧡🫂🌎

AHhh so many hugs and so little time! <3

And thank you so much for your message @theanonymousninja247 it really made my week! 🥺