Confession

Rosamund was quietly enjoying his time alone now that he finally had the chance. He worried for a bit that his tonight's display will reignite the rumors, but he could handle it when it happens. This was fine. He just wanted to be by Adanita's side for a while, and she was, and he was happy about it. Perhaps he should take her for a walk. A stroll from his manor to the city was just about long enough for a conversation. He will tell her he's in love so she can decide on what to do about it. He hoped she wouldn't just leave... He hoped he wouldn't frighten her to that point. She knew she wasn't in any danger from him, right?

Or perhaps... she'd return his feelings?

HAH! Fat chance. He could see the scene already. 'Hey sugar, how'd'ya like to date an old man?' Many people fell for him during his second life, but who would willingly enter a relationship with a man who was nearing his nineties? He had to keep it real.

At least she seemed to enjoy his company and having him close. She said they can dance whenever... which will probably be rescinded with her rejection. Damn it all.

In either case, he had no regrets. He spent a positively lovely evening in her company, he made sure she had fun and stayed in good company, and that was more than enough for any good man. He was satisfied with this much, and he will enjoy their continued friendship. Hopefully.

There was a knock on the door and he got up to unlock them. He could hear quiet snickering and his heart skipped a beat. Adanita?

"Lord Governooooor~!"

Mislav very literally threw herself at him and he caught her at the very last moment before she could fall. The awkward half-hug was absolutely embarrassing. Adanita was laughing and he was too drunk to deal with this- Mislav wrapped her arms around his right arm.

"I got him, Nita."

Before he could react, Adanita stepped in and grabbed his other arm. She awkwardly closed the door with her foot and the two women dragged him towards the couch.

♥ This was kidnapping! ♥

⊹♥⊹ He was being kidnapped! ⊹♥⊹

They sat him down, Mislav holding him in place and firmly ignoring his lighthearted protests and laughter while Adanita fetched two more glasses. There was not a single sober person in this room, he realized. He recognized the industrial cleaning agent they've been drinking, too. No wonder they were completely out of their minds.

And Mislav brought her blueberry juice with her, too. He watched with abject horror as she poured some in her glass before mixing it with his high quality brandy.

Absolutely sinful.

Mislav sat down on his right and Adanita on his left, both women snuggling up to him with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces. This was...

...really comfortable. Decently sure he was completely red in the face, Rosamund leaned back and put his arms around their shoulders.

"Are you alright? Did we overdo it?" Adanita asked with a bright smile.
"I am quite fine, Captain. I see the two of you were having fun."
"We just thought you might be lonely," Mislav said. "It would be a shame if you were left to yourself after everything today."
"Oh, so it didn't occur to you that I might be tired."
"You go to sleep two hours past midnight," she shamelessly replied.
"We can leave if you want us to," Adanita said.
"Absolutely not. This was your idea, so now you shall bear the consequences."

"And what would those consequences be?" she whispered in his ear.

He tightened his grip on her shoulder, trying to recover from her presence. "Hm. Prison."
The women burst into laughter. His face was still red, and probably perfectly visible under the dim light of the lamp on his table.

But this was fine. If he was sober, he'd probably be more annoyed. But he wasn't. He was tired and tipsy, and to be frank, this was flattering. Two beautiful women in his arms? He wasn't made out of stone. They were warm, cozy, and comfortable. Mislav was engaged and more than a decade younger than him even by his current standards, so there was no danger from her. And as for Adanita, she'd never do anything to him. And considering he was in love, he'll be damned if he was going to waste these few precious moments he had to hold her. He was happy and safe, fully at peace.

Mislav was shorter than him, so she had no trouble leaning her head against his shoulder and holding her hand on his. Adanita was, meanwhile, slowly sliding down in her attempts to make herself comfortable on him, before she gave up completely and placed her head on his lap.

♡ ♡ ♡ Even better!!! ♡ ♡ ♡

However, seeing how she was taller than the whole couch was long, and the fact Rosamund was sitting in the middle of it, the end result had her legs hanging over the armrest.

"Are you sure this is comfortable, Adanita?"
"I don't think I could ever be uncomfortable like this," she sleepily replied.

Well if she liked it like this, who was he to tell her no? Happy. He was happy. She was tiredly smiling up at him. She was a beauty. She raised her hand and gently pressed it against his cheek and he closed his eyes, leaning his head on her. This was perfect. She didn't need to let go.

But she did, unfortunately. She tucked a stray hair behind his ear and let him go, turning her head to the side.

They needed something. A light topic to distract him before he does or says something incredibly stupid and ruins this beautiful moment. He kicked his tired brain into gear, forcing himself to think.

"So, Captain Verlice. How did you meet your fiance?" he asked.
"It's a thrilling tale of swashbucklery and pirates," she said dramatically.
"Really?" Adanita asked.
"No. I was in Madol on official business, but that doesn't sound nearly as fun. They were at the same event as I was and we chatted for a bit. They summoned me to the palace a few times, both for official matters and for just spending time together and... I like them. They're very sweet and cute. It's hardly some daring tale of them sweeping me off my feet, but I'm still in love."
"I suppose that means you will be moving there?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'll be honest, it's a bit scary. Especially since we already had a massive incident. Sarmia threw a fit about me leaving, considering the name I've made for myself. It was ugly. They had to step in and threaten the pearl and coral trade, and that was when she stopped."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."
"Don't be ridiculous, you were busy with dying and running the colony. And besides, it's over now. I'm leaving."
"Are you afraid?" Adanita asked.
"Of course. Who wouldn't be? I am terrified of settling down after being on the sea forever. I feel as if it calls me, as if one day I will simply pack up and leave..." she trailed off. "They are beautiful, powerful, and I can't for the life of me figure out why they'd love me. But they do. And they want me to start an institute for studying hydrography and oceanography, and I'll do the best job in the world."
"I'm sure you will," he said. "The future is uncertain, decisions are always difficult. I wish you all the best. I believe it will go well."
"Mhm. They have a harem, did I mention that? Two other consorts. One of them is a professional thief and he kissed my hand when we met. Stole my diamond ring, too."
"And you just let him?" Adanita asked.
"You would too, if you saw his face. The man has more charisma than Rosamund. If for any reason I don't marry the Prince, I want that man."
"Now I'd really like to meet him," Rosamund mumbled.
"You are acting fatherly again, Lord Governor."
His face was red and that's alright. He refused to be embarrassed. "You do know you can count on me if you ever need anything, right?"
"Of course."

Adanita lifted her head and turned over on her side, with her back turned to him. Well, if that was going to be the new pose, and it looked only marginally more comfortable than the previous one, that meant he could lower his arm from the back of the couch. He placed his hand on her shoulder and she froze up for a moment before putting hers on his knee. Tacit permission from both of them, then? It seemed that way.

"Princess Consort, Mislav Saudeleur..." she pondered, looking at the rings on her hands. "Do you think it suits me?"
"I think you're the only one who can tell," he said. "But I like the way it rolls off the tongue."
"Mm... I think I could get used to it..."

She looked down at Adanita and up at him before placing her head back on his shoulder and looking out at the full moons outside. Adanita's eyes were closed. He started gently playing with her soft magenta hair, combing it with his fingers and caressing her. His heart was beating loudly as a silent shiver went down her spine. She squeezed his leg in return, smiling and enjoying herself.

"Rosamund?" Mislav asked.
"Hm?"
"What is Hannau Cove like?"

"A city like any other," he absentmindedly said. "With cobbled streets and painted houses, and bakers that spread the scent of fresh bread. With people shouting and talking on the streets, with springs on little tucked away squares where the children play, and potted plants and herbs that grow on windows. And the sea breeze that cools the hot afternoons when ships dock and unload cargo..."

"Mm... Sounds beautiful," she said quietly.
"It is," he agreed.
"You seem to care a lot."
"I do."
"In that case... you will have my support. I promise. I want to see you happy, too. You deserve it."
"Oh! Thank you!" Adanita said, suddenly awake.
"Thank you," Rosamund said.
"Just, please be careful. I don't want my next visit to be a funeral," she said.
"You should visit more often, then," he jokingly said.
"Hm... We'll see about that," she said with a smile. She yawned. "I think I'll call it a night, I can really feel the alcohol hitting now. You two have fun."
"Goodnight, Mislav," he said.
"Night," Adanita wished her.

Mislav gave them both a smile and tiredly left them.

Alone.

Should he move to the end of the couch so she'd have more space? He didn't think he could. The way she held him didn't seem like she'd want to change her current position. And that was fine, too. He had plenty of things he could do like this. He picked up a longer lock of her hair and started braiding it. He understood she was too tired after the party to place her golden beads in, but he missed them nonetheless. She was beautiful without them, but she was radiant with them, like the day when they met. He loved her so much... when did his feelings get so overwhelming? How did he not notice it sooner? And she was shivering under his touch, now fully wrapping one arm around his legs and half lying over on her stomach.

Was this really alright? They both had a few drinks...

Was she, perhaps, really in love with him too? Considering the way she reacted to simple petting, was his coldness and aversion to touch accidentally making both of them suffer? He didn't mean to... He wanted her happy, too...

He placed his hand on her back and slowly started to move it up and down her spine. The way she twitched when his fingertips touched her neck gave him an extremely valuable piece of information he stored away for later: Adanita Vervain was ticklish! ♥ And even better, what a way it would be to pay her back for her relentless teasing. Two could play the game, after all. Tragically, he got distracted by her sitting up. Fortunately, she did it so she could wrap her arms around his waist and bury her face in his chest in an even more uncomfortable pose for her. Rosamund was hugging her back gladly with one arm, but he needed to use the other one to hold onto the back of the couch to support himself without falling over.

"Adanita," he gently said.
"Hmm?" It seemed she didn't want to look up at him, and that was fine too. He tangled his fingers in her hair again.
"I'll fall like this."
"You smell so nice..."
Ah, damn it. She did too. He was feeling drunk and by this point he was certain it wasn't the alcohol. But he had to try again, before she noticed how fast his heart was beating. ...who was he kidding, she knew already. The was no way she couldn't feel it. "Hey," he tried anyway. "Let's go for a walk."
"It's the middle of the night, though."
"I feel a bit dizzy and I'd like to clear my head. What better way is there for that?"
"Mmm... but then I'd have to let you go."
"Not if we go together. Let's sober up a little, hm? I want to spend more time in your company, and if we fall asleep here it won't do us much good."
"I don't want to let you go..." she quietly said.

This was becoming really uncomfortable. Not the hugging part, that was great! But the awkward half-lean he was in. He refused to lie down on his back, it would just not be right to do. He carefully started pushing her into a more proper sitting position, making a point of never letting her go and hugging her back tightly once they were both sitting.
"See? Still here," he quietly said. "I'm here."
"Mhmm... Where would you like to go?"

Well, they were both wearing common clothes now, although his were made from finer fabrics. They could go wherever they liked, really.

"Let's sneak out," he said.
"Oh?"
"I will need your help with getting off the balcony, though. And getting over the wall. But we could take a stroll to the city, if you'd like. The moons are out, we don't need a light. And you have me to keep you safe," he joked.
"Hmm... Who is saving who, again?" she asked, standing up. She leaned over him and wrapped her arms around his back and his legs. He let out a small gasp as she picked him up with ease and put his arms around her neck to make it easier for her to carry him. She took him outside to the balcony, holding him tightly as she carefully climbed over the railing.

"Hold on tightly," she whispered to him. She let go of his legs and used her free arm to hang off from the balcony with absolute ease. They were only one floor up from the ground, far less now that they were hanging from the balcony. He wasn't afraid, not even when she let go. They landed with a quiet thud, straight on his pansies, perfectly unharmed.

And she didn't let him go.


This was a kidnapping...
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