Love

Rosamund spent the next few days happier than ever in his two lives. He just couldn't help it, everything was going so well. Or at least, in his poor, completely zonked brain it was. Alberic unfortunately learned Ekliptik is more important than he ever wanted him to know, but it was fine, really. He didn't think the Prince would try to harm them now. His father got the books and could focus on learning about the devil. Dorotea was nowhere near Lilac and from the news he was getting, he was getting along with the pirates. Well, getting along was questionable, but nobody died yet. That was better than he hoped for.

His work was going fine, nothing he couldn't handle now that he got completely revitalized. Nivelir started to behave better, Teodolit continued his pathetic dance around him to get his attention, Ekliptik was continuously bringing him news that let him know nothing was currently on fire. Everything was great. Everything was perfect.

Adanita needed to work. Just like him. She'd often leave for the city, while he spent most of his time in the office. But even if they needed to spend most of the day apart, it didn't mean they forgot about each other. Sometimes, he'd wake up early enough to get treated to her soft kisses before she needed to leave. Sometimes, he'd sleep in and wake up with tiny braids in his hair and think about her hands playing with his locks all day. There would also often be a bouquet waiting for him on his table in the office. She was so thoughtful and so caring, breaking in there without being spotted by his servants and guards ♥ He was running out of vases for all the flowers she was gifting him with.

He was completely head over heels for her. And he wasn't lagging behind her, either. Sometimes, whenever he felt like it, he'd send a special note to her. Just a simple 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊, with a few little hearts drawn on the paper. Once he even carefully placed one of her flowers between the documents he had to send her. She was so sweet and lovely, and she deserved to know she was on his mind all the time. He started cooking more often, too, positively giddy when preparing something for her to enjoy in the evening. If he was given an opportunity, he'd play violin for her, but his practice would often be cut short... not that he minded. It was all for a good cause, after all. The cause being his intense desire to be in her arms and kiss her more, of course. He was so, so happy. They'd spend the nights in each other's arms, gently kissing and caressing each other. Not yet fully there, but growing closer every night. She was incredibly patient with him, taking her time to get to know what he liked or disliked, and what made him really lose his mind. Careful not to cross his lines at all times, she made him feel like he was the finest man in the world, and took some time to let him know what she enjoyed in return. She much preferred to focus on him, so he allowed himself to enjoy everything she had in store for him. He'd then massage her in gratitude for however long she wanted, quietly chatting with her about their lives, the weather, and how they spent their days. He hoped he was good enough for her. She was overwhelming him. Every moment he spent away from her felt like a terrible waste.

He loved her.

And she loved him, too. How could she not? He was so sweet and so thoughtful. So gentle with her, so caring. His touch was soft, his kisses brought her incredible joy, and any time she got to spend with him became the best part of her day. The meals he made her were the most delicious food she ever had, prepared and served with utmost care. He enjoyed making her smile, seeing her laugh at his incredibly stupid wordplays and jokes, and making her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman in history. He would constantly compliment her, do little things that made her think about him for the rest of the day, and listen to her worries. She felt his overwhelming love in his every touch. It became harder and harder to leave the bed and his embrace in the morning. The world that she needed to face was cold, and his hands holding her and stroking her cheek were warm. She didn't want to leave him. She was in love.

She wanted to lose herself in his soft hair and never let him out of her arms again. Spend quiet days in bed with him, whispering in his ear and listening to his quiet moans and gentle laughter. She didn't want to let him go...

Even while she was working, she really couldn't get him out of her head. Mainly because she simply didn't want to. She picked some flowers for him and got notes and love in return, but she was worried she wasn't doing enough for him out of the bed. She got him a new ring with a brilliant pink topaz embedded in it, which she found after rummaging through her cabin. She got him a few books based on the titles that she felt might be entertaining enough. She didn't bother too much with learning about the content of them. If it was popular and if the cover was fancy enough, it had to be good. Right? She really didn't know much about this... He wanted fiction, and the bookstores had loads of those. He would surely enjoy at least one of the books she sent his way.

Unfortunately, that approach backfired terribly when he gently took her aside after one lunch and quietly explained that the book with a beautiful painting of a scantly clad woman covered in flowers was, in fact, an inappropriately erotic book. Even worse, it was really terribly written. She was completely red in the face, thoroughly embarrassed, and couldn't apologize enough for it, but he really took it in stride. In the evening, he made sure nobody was near his room. He made himself cozy on the couch, leaning on her and reading the book out loud while they both laughed along to phrases such as 'voluminous shaft' and 'galloping breasts'. She was glad he made sure they were alone, otherwise their laughter would've surely attracted attention. He was so sweet and so considerate ♥ She felt really bad about how casually she acted towards his interest. She should've been nicer.

"What sort of books do you usually read?" she asked.
"Oh, I don't mind the genre as long as it is entertaining. Anything is fine, really. In fact, whatever line of thought had you pick this book certainly made my evening. Feel free to bring me more terrible literature, I am sure we could both have a few more laughs." He stretched out to kiss her on her cheek.
"I'm sorry I didn't ask you about it sooner. I shouldn't be so nonchalant about things you like..."
"I think it's more than fine for us to have different interests," he said with a smile.
"Aye, but it's not fair. You should give me a list of books you like the most, I'll try to read them and see if I can find anything you'd be interested. Or, give me a list of books you want, or something."
"There is really no need to stress over something like this-"
"I'm not. I'm just not used to showing affection in this way. I care about you a lot, I want to get you something that you'd like. It's not fair if only you get to pamper me."
"I already love you in so many different ways, there's really no need to try and make me fall for you even more." He was now teasing her, with his hand on her leg and his breath on her neck. If he keeps it up, he might just end up finding himself on his back. And thoroughly enjoying it, too. "I think we might both be a bit worried we're not doing enough for each other... so I have a suggestion."
"Hmm?"
"Whenever we are in bed, allow me a bit more time to make sure you are enjoying yourself," he said. His perfume was such a nice, soft scent... She loved it so much. "You do so much to me and I absolutely want you to keep going like this... but let me reciprocate a bit more. And as for you, you can get me something else. I love the ring, it matches my pin and your hair, and I get to think about you all day just by wearing it. Or perhaps you could get me something I can use to make you happy. Spices or ingredients you want me to cook with, or some salts and soaps we could both enjo- mm..."
She pulled him in for a kiss and didn't let him go for a long, beautiful while.

"What sort of books did you read in the other world?" she finally asked, when she managed to catch her breath. He was so handsome, it took her active effort to keep her hands off of him. She wanted him, but she really wanted to know more about him, too. What a conundrum.
"Ah... You are stubborn. I enjoyed some really witty comedies, some science fiction and murder mysteries... A few more philosophical books, too."
"Romances?"
"Like this one? No, not really. I've been missing out, it seems. But there was one book that combined philosophy, comedy, and romance. It was called Master and Margarita. It was... extremely profound. I'm not ashamed to say some of my deeply rooted beliefs came from it."
"Such as?"
"Well, that cowardice is the greatest sin of all, for one..." he said. He seemed to stray towards some bad thoughts again, so she gently squeezed him closer to her. He gave her a bright smile, deeply grateful. "The book is about a devil king who visits a city during a really terrible time. He is there to throw a ball for the damned souls, and he mocks bureaucracy, ponders humanity, and his entourage makes a hilarious mess in the city. Meanwhile, Margarita is in love with Master, and he went missing, so the devil offers her to bring him back if she would host the ball with him. And the devil says that stories all must have a happy ending, and that if they don't, you didn't reach the end yet. And I... want my happy ending, I suppose."

She really didn't know what to say to that, so she hugged him instead. It was not the most concerning thing that came out of his mouth, but it felt like there was something else hidden under those words. She wanted to fix it, but it seemed he was perfectly capable of handling himself. He leaned on her and hugged her back, warm and content.

"Are you happy right now?" she asked.
"Incredibly," he said. "But the story isn't over yet, is it?"

She will make sure it ended well, then.


She went to work with newfound determination and even finally gathered enough courage to finally visit the Earl and the Countess, to let them know what was happening. Because it mattered to him.

Her worrying about it so much was somewhat contagious, Rosamund was also getting concerned they might disapprove of a temporary fling. But their reaction took them both by surprise and he felt his migraine flaring up.

"Damn it!"
"I called it. Pay up," the Earl said, calmly filling up his pipe.
His mother battling with deep annoyance over losing a bet, and genuine happiness for Rosamund.
"I am happy to hear my love life is a source of your entertainment," he bitterly said.
"Oh, not only ours," his father lightheartedly said. "We learned about this from Baroness Mayberry months ago, and it is not as if we are blind. She has been enjoying this little opera, by the by. You should send her something nice for those collar pins she sent you."
Rosamund felt his brain shorting out, this was just making him exhausted. Adanita wrapped her hand around his elbow, which made everything better.

"So, you two were betting on... what exactly?" she asked.
"Whether or not you'd say yes to him," he said.
"I thought any sane woman would run away screaming," his mother said jokingly.
"And to that I say, you said yes to me," the Earl mercilessly replied. "So, let's get the most important questions out of the way. I will need to speak with you after that, Captain Vervain. First things first, do you plan to marry?"
"No," Adanita said. "This is a temporary arrangement. We just wanted you to learn about it from us, and not from possible gossip if we ever get found out."
The Earl nodded, completely neutral. "If a child happens-" He dangerously frowned at their vocal reaction. He had no right to go there, but he continued nonetheless. "Settle down. If it happens, and you choose to keep it, the child will be an heir to the Alsop en la Dale house and name. Rose, you are aware of the responsibilities we have. If you choose to legitimize them, I will have no choice than to treat them as a member of the family and the future Earl. Or Countess. And if you choose not to, Captain Vervain might suffer under the stigma of a bastard's mother. If anything happens, I need both of you to think of the consequences before you start doing something truly idiotic."
"The kinder way to phrase that would be to point them both towards Doctor Soxhlet," his mother said. "She was the midwife caring for me while I was with Lily, before I sponsored her full education. Perhaps have a chat with her, Captain Vervain. And one would do you good too, Rose."
"Noted," Rosamund said, trying his best to keep his calm. They meant well. It was none of their business, but they meant well. Adanita seemed grateful for his mother's recommendation, at least, so it wasn't all bad. If this conversation helped to keep her happy and healthy, then fine. He could get over their incredibly nosy meddling if she was fine with it.

Rosamund needed to leave and Adanita needed to stay and speak with his father. He gently squeezed her hand to reassure her and she felt quite a bit better for it. She took it and gently pressed his knuckles against her lips, enjoying the soft blush on his face. She absolutely adored him ♥

The Earl took her to his office and started flipping through some truly ancient books. She stood at a distance from him, letting him work uninterrupted, and looked at the gardens outside.

Spring was coming to the Capital. A light rain was showering the early pink blossoms on the peach tree below. Blooming, almost in spite of how early it was in the year, and the chilly bite left in the air. She hoped there won't come more frost later, it would be a shame if such lovely flowers were ruined...

"Captain Vervain," he called. "Are you listening?"
"Sorry. Got lost in thought," she said. "What is it?"

The Earl tiredly rubbed his eyes. "As I was trying to say," he said. "I would like you to be aware of how much of a positive influence you've had on my son. I don't think I've ever had the chance to see him so honestly happy and relaxed, and I'd like you to bear in mind that he is a very fragile person. As a new person of significance in his life, you need to share a portion of our work to ensure he continues to be stable in his daily life."
"Who are 'we'?" she asked.
"Karin, Lilac, occasionally Nivelir, and I. Rosamund is a very sweet man who wants to help everyone around him, but if he gets overwhelmed, he needs our support. Either by helping him in his work, or by reassuring him when his confidence takes a dive. We are, as he likes to say, his support net. If he falls, we need to catch him and help him stand. Do you understand?"
"Of course. I want to help. And protect him."
He nodded.
"In fact, I must admit I was worried you'd be against my presence in his life," she said. "I didn't expect this sort of a warm welcome."
"You think I'd ask him to get rid of a woman that made him the happiest I've ever seen? Don't be ridiculous. I wouldn't be against it if he found his joy in the King Consort Himself," he said. "I don't care how long it lasts, either. Just keep in mind you can tell him to leave whenever you want without breaking him in half. I don't know if I could fix it if you did something like that, and then you would have to die."
Hah. "I understand," she said. There was no need to respond to that threat. She could let his rudeness slide, just this once. As if she could ever even dream of doing something to him... "I'm not some floozy stringing him along. I love him."
"Good. Now, back to the topic."

He found what he was looking for: a new piece of paper that was stuck between the pages of the aged book he was flipping through. He handed it to her.

"You are the one who lost your soul," he said. "So it is on you to take responsibility of the devil running around. Fetch me these ingredients and I will have some new tools for you to handle it. Hopefully before it hurts anyone further."
"Do you think it is difficult for me to find these?" she asked, looking at the items.
"You tell me," he said. He picked out a small notebook, too. "This has instructions on how to safely store the ingredients before they reach me. I expect you to follow them to the letter."
"Understood."
"Dismissed," he said.

Oh, was that all? What a rude man. He truly was a noble to the bone, although he was much more flexible with his beliefs than someone like Nivelir. No matter, she was quite alright, and he was helping her out of the goodness of his heart. There really was nothing else to think about.

Her process of leaving the manor was halted by Countess Karin, who was waiting for her just outside her husband's office. She gave her a friendly smile and gently tugged at her sleeve, to have her come along. After a moment of confused hesitation, Adanita decided to follow her.

"We very consistently keep missing a chance to chat," she brightly said, stopping them in a quiet hallway. "I apologize. The life of a Countess is busy, I have no doubt you were struck with newfound duties too."
"Is there anything you need from me?"
"I just wanted to take a moment of your time to see how you are doing," she said. "Are you feeling well? Meeting Duchess Almukantarat must've been a very painful experience for you, all things considered."
"It was," she quietly said. "I... didn't like having to be in her presence at all. But I got somewhat distracted from her with other matters."
"Good. Distractions are fine," she said. She carefully reached for her and carefully placed her wooden hand on her cheek. "Take some time for yourself, though. There are so many things happening all at once, and it's easy to get overwhelmed or to want to run away. And I think, if you did something like that, that you might deeply regret it." That... wasn't a threat. That was concern, almost motherly in nature. Adanita was left speechless as the Countess took her hand off of her. "Keep my sons safe," she quietly begged her.
"I will. I promise, nothing will happen to them."
She gave her a smile. "Thank you for taking some time to reassure an old woman. You must excuse my ramblings, I think I might just be tired..." she quietly said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Forgive me. I am simply so happy that Rose finally found someone he can love. And that you returned his feelings. You both seem so happy, I hope it goes well for you. Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
"Yes, if it's alright. Do you think I should pierce my ears?" Adanita tried. She found herself liking the woman, she didn't want her to be upset. If distractions were a good thing, then she might as well use them.
The Countess gave her a laugh, enjoying how obvious her attempt was. "Oh, right, you are a noblewoman now. Well, I suppose it depends on your preference. We pierced Rosamund's ears when he was a child, but he was never interested in wearing earrings himself. Some nobles like to flaunt their riches by wearing extraordinary jewellery, perhaps you might enjoy something like that yourself. But it is rather unnecessary, I would say. You are beautiful either way," she said. "If you pierce them, you will signal to people that you see yourself as one of the Bretonian nobility. Considering what you want to do, it might be detrimental when speaking with diplomats from foreign countries, but it might elevate your social standing here. However, the people who hate you will try to find flaws in you no matter how well you change to fit their image of a noble. I would say it is honestly your choice."
"Thank you for your advice, Countess."
"Any time, my dear. If you ever need help, you can always come to see me or Baroness Mayberry. I suppose Viscountess Kuplung might be a more risky choice, but I'd say she likes you to some degree. Use them as your allies. Ansatz has some interesting connections I am not allowed to speak about, and Lady Kuplung is an incredibly sharp woman."
Adanita nodded, taking it all in. She had friends. She had allies. She had a lover ♥

Rosamund...

"Do you think Rosamund would like it if I bought earrings for him?" she asked.
"I think the only way to tell is by trying," she said with a smile. "But perhaps stick to something small and discreet. A simple pair of little hoops, in gold or in silver perhaps. Aside from your cravat pin, you might have noticed he really prefers more subtle jewellery."
"I did. Thank you again, Countess, really."
"No need to be so formal, dear. You may call me Karin, and I'd like permission to call you Adanita."
"Of course... Karin."
"You are such a strong woman," she said with a smile. "I admire you greatly. Keep it up, please. If you falter, we will be here for you, too. So be fearless and be confident. You aren't alone this time." The Countess gently squeezed her hand before finally letting her go.

She was thinking about it all for the whole rest of the day. She thought about him and what earrings would suit him the most, about other ways to make him feel happy and safe. She thought about how much better she seemed to be ever since they first kissed. A lot of the intense emotions she had been feeling for a while simply melted away under his gentle touch. He was so soft, so tender and careful with her that she felt fully at ease in his presence alone. He was so beautiful... in fact, thinking about him while she was penning a letter only made her want to see him, so she simply got up and headed for his office for a momentary kiss. She caught him by very enthusiastic surprise. The moments wordlessly turned into minutes, and minutes melted away into nearly an hour of kissing him on the couch while he massaged her back. She returned to work completely dizzy. She couldn't wait for the time she would pin him down and have her way with him. His sweet quivering under her touch, his quiet moaning and begging for more... But she had to be patient, no matter how difficult it was to think right now. He was worth the wait ♥

She somehow managed to get herself to finish the letter and stuffed it into a bottle before handing it over to Ekliptik. She was well aware that the dark clouds in her mind weren't gone forever. Much like Rosamund, she was now waiting for something to cause her next crash. But no matter what happened, she felt as if she could handle it. She had so many people supporting her... she had to be fine. If she stumbles, others will keep going for her. Things will work out as long as they don't stop going forward to the brighter future.

After taking a bit longer to sort herself, Adanita got up and headed back to Rosamund's office.

This time, she ♥ refused ♥ to leave without him, and he ♥ insisted ♥ he had work to do. With her work delightfully cut out for her, she made him continue with whatever documents he had while she distracted him. The things he'd normally have finished by seven were only done ten minutes after midnight. He was thoroughly shaken from hours of her teasing touch and her quiet promises of what was waiting for him when he was done with work. All the servants had already gone to sleep and they were free to move to his bedroom completely unnoticed, Adanita happily carrying him on their merry way, while he used the opportunity to kiss her neck and shoulders.

Few could handle a man like that ♥