Trial ♥

Rosamund and Adanita walked down the road towards the city in peaceful silence. She wordlessly refused to let him go even after they got over his garden wall, keeping an arm over his shoulders. He had no complaints about it, wrapping his arm around her waist in return. Walking like that slowed them down considerably, but he wasn't in any rush.

She was warm. ♥

The road to the city led them downhill in a twisty path through the forest. The trees were far enough the moonlight could get through the leaves and light up their surroundings. They strolled slowly, just enjoying each other's presence and the nature around them. Adanita stopped them in front of a steeper slope. The city of Hipparcos was shining in white and gold from the cool light of the moons, surrounded by dark trees. Behind them, the view to the manor was hidden away by olive and fig trees, and bushes of blackberries and tall grass.

She was beautiful. ♥

He loved the way she silently looked towards the sea, lost in thought while she was holding him. He leaned his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. Just for a moment longer...

"Tired?" she asked him.
"No," he replied. "Captain Vervain, it appears I've fallen in love with you."
"How forward of you. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I feel the same."
"You love yourself? Indeed, that makes me very happy," he said with a smile.
"Rosamund!"
"If you think about it, it's another thing we have in common."
She laughed along, gently squeezing his shoulder.

If only it could last.

"Adanita."
"Mmm?"
"I think we should talk. All our cards on the table, just like the last time?" he asked. The night when it all began, when she told him all that had happened to her. She leaned her cheek on his head in silence as moments slowly passed. She didn't want to let go either...

"Aye."

Rosamund took a deep breath. It was just another case, wasn't it?

"First of all, I need you to understand that I in no way mean to pressure you into anything. Our cooperation regarding Hannau Cove will not be affected by your decision regarding this. If you turn me down, I won't use my position against you. You are in no way obligated to entertain my feelings of affection and I- I need you to know this. Same if we ever part our ways. I'm in love, but I refuse to be a cruel man."
"Funny," she said. "Such a thought never crossed my mind. You are a good man and I never doubted your integrity."
She meant it, she really did. Rosamund's heart was fluttering. She thought he was a good person. She never doubted him.
"And I hope you're aware the same applies to you. That all from you?" she asked.
"Ah. N-no. Sorry," he said, wiping his eyes. "There is... one more problem. Adanita, I am old. I am a broken mess of a man, you've seen it yourself how easy it is for me to completely fall apart. You- you don't need to have to bear with me. I don't want to be a burden to you. You are a beautiful, strong, competent young woman. I can't help but think that you can do much better than me. That... that's all."

"Rosamund," she said, tightly squeezing his shoulder. Not to the point of pain, but he could feel he upset her. "I am trying very hard not to start cursing at you. Please appreciate my efforts."
"I appreciate you," he said patiently.
"Good. That being said- how can you say that, you thrice-damned idiot?!" she exploded. "Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You are the sweetest man I've met in my life! You are good, intelligent, strong, patient, incredibly stubborn at times - not to mention annoying and frankly terrifying. And you are now trying to tell me that you're not good enough?! That's not fair. A-and it's not fair to bring up your breakdowns. As if I didn't cry in front of you. Se-sev-several times."
"Are you afraid of me?" he asked.
"Of course not. But my enemies are. What is there not to love about you? I- I don't care about your previous life. And it's not fair to call yourself a mess. I'm broken too! I cried around you more than you did around me!" she said again. She was shivering, and not because of the nighttime chills. He turned to her, giving her a proper hug and gently stroking her back as he waited for her to calm down. She was so beautiful, and so tall. He'd need to stand on his toes to kiss her. ♥ But not now, obviously. They were both a bit distressed, and that was alright. He patiently waited. He had all the time in the world for her. She hugged him back tightly and he closed his eyes, enjoying her presence.

She let him go for a moment to wipe her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was calmer.
"It's not fair. You have all this confidence, all this skill and knowledge, and then you turn around to tell me something like that."
"Oh, I know I am fantastic," he joked. "I just don't think I'd be much good as a lover. However, if nothing from what I said deters you, then by all means..."

"Hah!"
Rosamund tightly gripped the back of her shirt. Somewhat worried, somewhat afraid for her. Something was still wrong, something was wrong for quite some time. He was aware of it, but she didn't tell him so he didn't want to pressure her with asking. If it was finally coming to surface, then all he could do was wait and hear her out.

"How are you so fine with the fact I killed you...?"

Oh. Was that all?

He waited in silence, gently petting her. It was fine, he had all the time to give her. She could let it out.

"Why is that alright? It shouldn't be. Why do I feel so horrible? Why are you fine?"
"It's alright, my dear," he quietly said. "See? I'm here. Nothing happened. Everything is fine."
"But i-it's not. You shouldn't b-be fine with it."
"And I am honestly telling you that I am. I can't be upset with something you didn't do. I know you lived through it, but I didn't. Whatever actions you made, whatever consequences they had - it didn't happen anymore. You were given a clean slate, a fresh start. I simply cannot hold things you didn't do against you. You are trying so hard to make things right- Adanita you saved my life multiple times. You are keeping my brother safe as we speak. I know it weights down on you, I understand you are upset and suffering but... I simply can't blame you for anything."
"Hah," she weakly said. "And you still expect me to hold your past life against you?"

Oh... well, when she says it like that...

He closed his eyes again as they both slowly started calming down. Gods, this wouldn't do. He professed his love to her and she said she loved him back! They can't be weeping about it in each other's arms. This isn't how these things should go. Well, he wasn't, he was fine. But she shouldn't be upset either, damn it.


"Goodness," Rosamund said. "My first time courting a woman, and she's crying before we even get to bed."


The sound of her laughter made him smile.
"Rosamund I swear to gods I'll throw you off the cliff! You can't make me laugh while I'm sad, I can't do both!" she said, holding him tightly.
"Then how about you laugh? I find myself enjoying the sound of it."
"Oh, you!" She undid the ribbon in his ponytail and tangled her fingers into his hair, gently and lovingly messing it up. A shiver went down his spine. He was falling apart from her touch, and quite enjoying it too. She could do whatever she liked...

He really wanted to kiss her.

She let him go, partially. Back into that half-hugging position they were in while walking. She mostly calmed down, but her arm around him was still slightly shaking. But that was fine. He wasn't in a rush.

He loved her so much.

She cleared her throat. "You mentioned you had a lover before, though?"
"James, yes. Only him, and that was quite literally a lifetime ago. This is all a bit... new to me, to say the least. However I assure you that I honestly love you." It felt nice to say it out loud. "However, considering the state we are in... I don't want to rush into things."
"What do you mean?"
"There are many ways a couple can enjoy themselves. I'd like it if we took our time. I want to have a chance to get to know you. And the things you'd like and dislike. Let's take our time with each other, dispel any doubts either of us might have... I fold from your touch like a towel. I'd like some physical intimacy, getting used to each other before we go all the way."
"Celibacy?"
"Hardly. I do intend to get there sometime. Just... not tonight."
"After marriage?" she asked.
"Gods, no. I am not proposing to you."
"Good. I would've turned you down on the spot," she honestly said.
"I am not a nobleman," he said. "Or at least, not fully. I want to sleep in the same bed with you, I want to spend time with you... I want your face to be the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning. I want to wake up in your arms. And we can work from there. All I ask for is a bit of patience, nothing more. I won't keep you waiting forever."
She nodded. "It takes two to have some fun. I feel safe in your presence and I hope you feel the same... if I ever do anything you dislike, or go too far, just tell me. I will stop."
"Thank you for understanding. I feel the same," he said. It was an honest bare minimum for love, wasn't it?

"I've had several lovers before," she said.
"Yes, I remember."
"And you don't mind?"
"No. But I would appreciate monogamy. I am simply not the type who can fall in love with multiple people at once. Is that asking too much?"
"I honestly don't think I could find anyone who could compare with you," she joked. "Of course it's alright. I think I'd prefer for no one else to have you, too."
Good. If she could make a joke, that meant she was recovering. Slowly.

"There are other, hm, issues..." she said.
He winced. "We can talk about those when we're both sober, I'd say. I had quite enough politics for a day."
"Aye, aye. That's all, then. Unless you have something to add?"
"Aye, aye," he teased. "You can't imagine how much I'd like to kiss you now."
"Oh? Is that all?"

A shiver went down his spine from her silky voice. He wrapped his arms around her neck as she pulled him closer, leaning down as he stood on his toes.

She kissed him.

And he kissed her back!

They locked their lips together, not letting each other go until they were both out of breath. Rosamund felt weak, and Adanita looked dizzy. He brightly smiled. He still got it~♥

Her smile turned into laughter as she picked him up with ease. She carried him for a bit, turning around as if they were dancing, before she let herself fall on her back into the tall grass by the road. He fell on top of her, perfectly safe in her arms, but he couldn't help but worry.

"Are you alright? That fall-"
"Rosamund I've never been better in my life. Cmere." She pulled him closer into another kiss and he closed his eyes. This felt so right. And then her hands slid down his arms and held him by the wrists. A playful bite on his lips to distract him, and she used his moment of shock to turn him over on his back and pin him down, climbing on top of him.

He didn't need a mirror to know his face was completely red. His heart was beating in his ears as she leaned in with a smile, holding him in place for another kiss. She was breathtaking. He couldn't think straight, he didn't even notice her undoing his cravat and a few buttons of his vest. She kissed his cheek and slowly made her way to his neck. He couldn't help it. He let out quiet moans as she toyed around, not letting him out of her grasp. Not that he wanted her to. He never felt better, he never felt as much as himself as now. He was alive. His whole body was on fire, and every place her lips touched was left with a new sensation.

"Hmm~♥ I knew I noticed something from you. You like to be held down, don't you?" she whispered into his ear. Her breath was tickling him, making him dizzy. The starry sky above them danced in his eyes. She was completely unraveling him and there was nothing he wanted to do about it. He couldn't even answer her... "I like the noise you make. I hope it doesn't go away when you get used to me."
"It- it's involuntary," he barely managed to say.
"Even better," she purred.
"A-ah~"

Nothing was safe from her. She held his arms above his head and used her free hand to fully undo his vest. She gently caressed him and kissed his collarbone, his shoulder, his neck, until he practically begged her to let him kiss her back. He wanted to make her feel the same way, but it seemed her form of entertainment was teasing him. Not that he minded it at all, quite the opposite. He was melting under her touch. She could do whatever she liked, really. And she knew it, but she still made sure not to go too far.

He loved her so, so much.

She let him go, but didn't move off of him. And he refused to let her, tightly hugging her now that he could. She leaned closer, allowing him to kiss her cheek before properly kissing him one last time. She looked at him dreamily, clearly enjoying herself as she gently caressed his cheek with the back of her hand.

"I like this. I like the way you look now," she said.
"I- I love you," he said. He still didn't recover from this and maybe he didn't want to. Never stop...
"Good. Otherwise this would've been quite embarrassing."
It was his turn to laugh and she kissed him once again as a reward. He loved that the most, it was an opportunity for a proper payback and it left her looking the same way he was feeling. Dizzy and softly blushing. She was perfect.

"I like your eyes," she said dreamily. "I didn't like them when we met, I didn't like how you were looking at me and the way sun reflected in them. They looked dull. But at night they glow like the moons. It's nice. You are handsome."
"You are beautiful," he tried. He was left completely out of it, he could barely speak. He wanted more...
"Mhm... What a way to leave you speechless. Did I overdo it?"
"N-no." A horrifying thought crossed his mind- what if she decided to get up? That couldn't do. He held onto her shirt, he couldn't let her go. "I'm fine."
"Then I assume you wouldn't mind more," she teasingly said, coming for his neck again.
He brightly smiled, tangling his fingers in her beautiful fluffy hair. "M-mercy- ah!"
"Really, Lord Governor?" she hummed into his ear. "I seem to recall something about an unconditional surrender. In fact..." She tucked her hands under him, lifting him up without having him let her go. Rosamund clumsily wrapped his arms around her again as she picked him up. "The Pirate Queen demands your presence on her ship!" she brightly said. "You may officially consider yourself to be kidnapped! ♥ "

What a way to sweep a man off his feet! Who could resist an invitation like that? The time it took them to get to the city and to her ship passed in a flash. She greeted the few people stationed on Vivienne while he was hiding his face with his hand, unrecognized and ignored by her crew members. She locked the door of her cabin and he used the opportunity to sneak up to her, too. She shivered when he slid his hand under her shirt and held her waist, proving to him once again she was ticklish. What a beautiful piece of knowledge he had for a later date, he thought as he stood on his toes to kiss her on the neck. She quietly sighed, leaning against the door and enjoying herself for a few moments, before she took over again. Rosamund was left to her whims, pressed against her bookshelf as she teased him more.

"L-let's not overdo it, please," he gently said, and she immediately let him go. He hugged her, so she wouldn't think she needed to leave. So comfortable...

"I am very tired," he admitted as she started plucking little leaves and blades of grass out of his hair.
"Me too," she quietly agreed. "Let's go to bed."


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