insurmountable | everybody's challenge turning into mine / and overcame adversity

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everybody's challenge turning into mine / and overcame adversity

[He knows he's going to get scolded by Prince Aether. He knows and he doesn't really care, that other knight really had it coming.

He'd had a little spat with one of the other knights in the keep, a little disagreement over dinner, at least that's what Childe would have called it. In reality, he'd started the fight, running his mouth and delighting at the visceral anger he'd caused the other knight. A few words were exchanged, a bone from a finished chicken wing was flung at the other, and that's all it took before he was showing off his martial prowess in front of the rest of the keep. The guy got one good blow in before he'd beaten him unconscious, having to be pulled off of him before he went too far. No alcohol needed for that mess of course, since he reveled in making scenes like that.

And he never regretted it, at least when it came to his reputation. Which, of course, wasn't great. He'd always had a chaotic side and people steered clear of him because of it. But those people really aren't the kind he'd hang out with anyhow. He had his own agenda, and if he's being honest, no one could keep up with him.

He's trying to get back to his own quarters now, a nasty cut right across his eyebrow where he'd gotten punched. He swears the other must of had a ring on or something, a knuckle shouldn't of made a cut that big. But it hurt, and he has to constantly wipe the blood away or else it would trickle down into his eye. He's a bit preoccupied with making sure he can see that he doesn't see Prince Aether round the corner and begin to walk towards him.

When he removes his hand from his face, there's blood all over it, and still some that bubbles up and pools in his eyebrow again.

That's when he spots the other. Drat, he's in for it now...]

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[It was an awful time, but Childe has to admit to himself that he did have fun regardless. As long as life wasn't boring, he was enjoying himself, and that was far from boring.

He grins back to Aether as they both walk back to find the king and the others, smiling apologetically as well when Elise voices her concern, keeping his mouth shut for the moment and letting Aether handle it. After all, one does not become a good liar in a few hours or so, and so it's for the best in case some daunting questions are asked. But when the king turns to him and addresses him, he feels his body freeze up, wondering if something had leaked, or perhaps he's going to question the blood everywhere...

But that doesn't come, the laughter of the king making him relax. He's really too much on edge today, maybe he'll sit in the bath for longer than normal to relax. Childe glances over towards where Elise is pointing to, and his jaw drops. On one hand, he's not surprised, but on the other.]

That's more game than even most of our seasoned hunters could do in a whole day, [he exclaims, impressed.] I must say, I have to concede to you, Elise. Prince, you should of told me your bride to be was so skilled. I would have tried a little harder.

[It's a joke, one that marks clearly that Childe would never hope to be able to replicate such a feat anytime soon. The knight is more than willing to make it at his own expense; anything to ease his nerves and make things seem normal, like he wasn't the one romantically involved with the prince.

He swears when they return to the castle, he is going to go somewhere with Aether privately and work all this stress out.]

What a feast we'll have tonight. We should head back quickly, before the meat spoils, no?

[Elise smiles bright with pride when she's praised and her father seems pleased as well. The nervousness evaporates from the atmosphere but Aether himself can only think about going back and taking a moment to relax.

The king nods.]

Yes, let us not waste time.

[And so they pack the meat on the horses and make their way back to the castle. Aether walks closer to Elise, chatting with her about her day, wanting to make sure that his father knows that he's not neglecting his bride. The princess seems incredibly happy, the smile never leaving her face and it's heart-warming to see her like this.

He hopes she'll always be happy here.

Upon their return, servants approach them, looking alarmed by the prince and knight's appearance. Aether reassures them that there's nothing to worry and asks them to prepare a bath for him and another one for Childe, as well as new sets of clothes.]

Father, we will attempt to get ourselves in order before the feast. [He announces and the king nods, before going back to ordering the servants to take the meat and deliver it to the cooks. Tonight they will dine like never before.]

[Childe accompanies his squire back, speaking with him brightly but sometimes in low tones to ask how everything went. Seems that he and Elise really had a great time, and she was the one that had killed all the game. Luke only rode the horse and rode her around to find her prey. It makes him laugh, and Luke sheepishly admits he'd asked Elise for archery lessons.

He finds it splendid, that at least that part of the arrangement is working out. One god, he thinks, likes him.

----

Upon reaching the castle, the servants rush off to prepare their baths, and Childe inclines his head for Aether to follow him in the direction of their much needed bath.

Once they are far enough away, he laughs, the day passing so quickly and they had gotten so close to being caught.]

Must I take a bath separately? You don't think the servants would mind if I joined you, would they?

[He can't help but tease, but if given the chance...]

[The redness hits his face instantly when Childe teases him like that. Aether tries to calm himself, not looking at his knight.]

We were supposed to keep it a secret, remember?

[They almost got caught once today... Doesn't Childe have enough? Ah, of course the other is doing that purely to get a reaction out of Aether. That's part of his chaotic nature.

At the same time, there is something enticing about that idea. The prince is not yet ready for it, but one day he'd definitely want to relax in the bath together with his knight.

For now though, there are other things they can do before the dinner.]

But once you're done with the bath... meet me in my chambers?

[They won't have much time, but it's fine. Just a small taste of what is going to come tonight. That's the kind of temptation he can't really resist.]

[Childe's eyes widen. Oh, that was not what he expected Aether to say, but he is beyond pleased with the concession he's made for not bathing with his knight.]

Now, I wasn't expecting such a...saucy response from you, Prince Aether.

[Using his full name and title to tease him a little further, enjoying the blush across his face. How cute, he thinks, that the prince gets so flustered by his direct advances like this. He'll just continue to do so until it doesn't work anymore.]

What plans do you have? Could I be privy to them? Or should I come up with my own creative ideas? Oh, how I'd love to know...

[Childe lets a finger play with Aether's braid for only a moment before he pulls it away, grinning like a little kid.]

[He's blushing more, trying to fight off the growing embarrassment.]

Just come. [The prince hisses and before anything else can be said or done (or before anyone spots them), Aether hastily turns around the corner and leaves. The path doesn't lead directly to his chambers or the bath prepared for him, but it's long enough so he could calm himself and look somewhat unsuspicious when he finally arrives for the prepared bath.

The servants seem to notice that the prince is not in the best mood, but they don't ask what happened, instead letting the prince be. Aether thanks them before they leave and not long after he sinks into the warm water in an attempt to relax.

Childe always teases him so much...]

----

[Once he's cleaned and changed into fresh clean clothing, the prince returns to his chambers and lies down on the bed. His hair is lose, falling all over the sheets as nervousness again pools inside his stomach. He's waiting for a knock on the door or any sound outside. He even made sure to dismiss the guards from patrolling anywhere near his door.

Will anyone suspect something? What if they come looking for them? Aether shakes his head trying not to think about it. A part of him really wishes he could enjoy every moment just like Childe does.

...Gods, he really is helplessly in love.]

[Childe's hand is set up on his hip in amusement as he watches Aether go, laughing to himself. He's a very deep shade of red, he'll have to apologize later for teasing him too much and make it up to him for what they'll be doing that night. Turning on his heel, he makes his way towards where he knows his bath is being set up, wondering if the rest of the knights are jealous that he gets the privledge of having such things set up personally by the prince.

Which is even better. He bets the looks on their faces will be grand once they find out he is getting even more special treatment.

Later that night, Childe's dressed himself in something casual, adjusting the sleeves of the soft white tunic he's worn for this occassion as he walks down the halls of the castle. It's not long before he arrives at the prince's door, knocking lightly before opening the door himself to enter. He doesn't feel it's good to linger long outside the door, quickly closing it behind him.

Childe gazes over towards Aether, his eyes bright in the dim candlelight of the room.]

Good evening, prince. I hope I didn't keep you waiting.

[He'd been excited all night to come visit him in his personal quarters, patiently waiting for the right time to slip in unnoticed. It was all he could think about during his bath, that he'd finally have his chance to be with Aether after all this time. And now he stands in his room, ready to drown the prince in all the pleasure he'd like to have.]

[Hearing the knocking and the door opening soon afterwards, the prince sits up, eyes wide, heart wild in his chest. He's been waiting for this moment and now they're both here, in the silence of Aether's chambers, illuminated by nothing more but candles.

The prince blushes faintly, before he stands up and heads to the door, hastily locking it.]

...Someone will surely come here to inform me about the dinner. I wouldn't want them to walk in...

[His voice is shaky as he explains, but then he turns around to his knight and grabs his hands. This will be just a prelude, a moment of selfishness, of weakness.]

I was thinking you could keep me company until the preparations are completed... and after the dinner I will be happy to... continue.

[He clears his throat, feeling that his face is getting increasingly warmer. But what else can he do? He knows full well what he's offering and what they both want. Tonight will be nothing more but pleasure, until morning makes them part ways for another day, only to be reunited in the night again.

Every part of Aether longs for it, which is why he leads Childe closer to the bed, gesturing for him to sit down. Once he does, the prince joins him, gaze fixed on the blue of the other's eyes and he touches the knight's face with care. It's almost as if he's trying to recreate that moment, all those days ago when he treated Childe's wound but so heartlessly rejected his feelings. Tonight there will be no rejections.

Aether inches closer, leaning into the warmth of the other, then gently brushes his lips against Childe's.

Tonight he will love his knight like he always wanted to do.]

[Aether's hands are warm, soft against his calloused ones. Not that a prince doesn't use his hands, but Childe spends his days constantly training, ever relentless in his quest to grow stronger. But tonight will be a break from that, following along as he's lead to the bed. Childe says nothing of the blush that paints the prince's face, sitting down and looking at him expectantly. It seems that his prince has plans already, and who is he to get in the way of those?]

You did summon me here, after all. It would be my pleasure to keep you company for the time being...Aether.

[His face responds to Aether's touch, tilting his head just so to let the other's hand cup his cheek, locking his gaze upon the replendant gold of the prince's. Confidence, care, and need reflect in those deep-blue oceanic eyes, shuddering as Aether's lips brush against his own.

But there's no need to be patient anymore, having him in his presence so privately and free to do whatever they please within the confines of this space- so Childe presses a needy kiss to his lips, the contact making him light-headed and breathless. It's as if his dreams were finally coming true, where he has everything he wants out of life, and more if he's to think on it further.

Thinking can come later though, Childe's hands taking the lead to snake into the back of Aether's hair and kneading fingers into his hip. The knight only breaks to breathe, staring back into the eyes of the prince.]

[It makes him happy to hear his name spoken so naturally by Childe, without any titles attached to it. Their roles don't matter in this space. Nothing matters. They're just two people in love, wishing to be together. Aether's heart swells in his chest as his knight leans into his touch. The blue of his eyes seems to be pulling the prince in, making him want to drawn in the endless ocean of Childe's gaze.

Soon they're lost in a kiss with Aether melting into the affection easily, pushing his weight more onto his lover to get him to lay down. He trembles under each simple touch, surprising himself just how easily he's affected by everything. It's like he's never wanted anything else, but to feel Childe's affection.

They part from the kiss eventually. The prince stares right back into his knight's eyes, his gaze soft, loving but clouded, too. The colour is prominent on his face, but right now Aether doesn't care. He lines their foreheads, then runs his hand against the other's face, carefully brushing away strands of red hair.]

Childe... [He whispers, leaning close to the other's lips, closing his eyes.] If all of this is just a dream, then I hope that I can always live this dream with you.

[He kisses light first, before slowly deepening it and prolonging the moment for as long as possible. All his wishes and hopes are poured into the affection, making it feel an oath at the start of the new chapter of life. And yet, this is just a moment of respite, before their final duty of today - the dinner. Once they survive that, only then they'll be truly able to enjoy one another and unite their hearts and bodies as the castle slips into the peaceful darkness of the night.]

[It's easy for him to let himself be pushed onto his back, a smile on his lips through the kiss as the prince takes the lead. He wonders, how hard Aether had been fighting his own feelings towards him, to sink into him with such want and need. The knight obliges him, letting his hand slip down onto Aether's behind, kneading his fingers into him there just to let him have a quick taste of what's to come later that night.

Tingles and whites lines of heat seem to follow wherever Aether's fingertips touch on his skin, face flush, but he doesn't seem to mind. He wants him to know how he feels, how much he enjoys the intimacy he'd been denied for so long.]

I didn't know you were such a hopeless romantic, haha.

[The kiss is answered with passion of his own, drinking the prince in as much as he can before he knows they have to part. He wishes that they didn't have to break for the dinner, but what comes after, well- that's worth waiting for. And he has all the patience in the world to wait for it.

Childe is a playful lover, indulging in the prince's kisses but feeds into it in his own way, purposely touching Aether so as to leave proverbial marks on his skin, invisible ghosts that linger there long after they'll have finished. He doesn't want the prince to forget what's in store for later, and better yet if he can make him think about it through the entire dinner. Surely, the look on his face would amuse him.

The knight breaks the kiss to do the same with his mouth, running a line of kisses down his neck until he reaches the crook between neck and shoulder, nibbling lightly to not leave a true mark, but to make sure he's kept in mind.]

[His head is already spinning when he feels those hands on him and there's not much he can do to stifle a moan that forms in his throat. The heat is rising between them and his skin is tingling in the wake of every touch. Childe is right that the prince was fighting himself tirelessly for a long time, going so far as to even forbid himself from thinking how it would feel to be with his knight. But now all his feelings break lose from the restrains and there's no end to the passion and love that Aether has in his heart.

His eyes are just barely open as he looks at Childe. The bright blush on the other's face makes Aether smile, proud and fond. He laughs weakly, almost breathlessly at the remark.]

Then there's so much more you don't know yet.

[The kisses continue on and each touch makes him more reluctant to ever leave his lover's side. His body almost aches for more as Childe lets him taste the affection. Just how is the prince going to survive the dinner without imagining what they could do if they stayed in his chambers, sinking into one another? How can he not think about the night that awaits them?

Maybe it's for the best that he's too busy to dwell on that problem now.

Aether shifts slightly as Childe's mouth travels down his neck, breath warm against his skin, nibbling light, but the affection is craved deep into his heart. The prince sighs, enjoying every single moment. His hands move down to his knight's chest, touch curious and determined to find the right spot. He's lacking experience, but he's eager to please.

Plus... it's not fair if only the prince will struggle during the dinner.]

[Those words alone spark a fire within him that wants to take Aether right here, skip the dinner and indulge in him the rest of the night. He wants to know. He wants to find out every little secret that Aether has, every nuance to his love, discover every place on him that he can touch to elicit moans just like the one he's let out.

It's unfair that he has to stop his assault on Aether's senses to go to the dinner later, enjoying how the prince responds to him so eagerly. Not as if it's not reciprocated- the hand down his chest feels like a lifeline between himself and the prince, and he wishes for it to continue down further until he reaches the place that Childe only dreamed of Aether touching in this way.

But it's as they say, patience is a virtue and he has plenty of it.]

Mmmn...

[A small moan bubbles up out of his throat, pleased with Aether's touch. He reaches up to guide the prince's hand down farther, letting it go as it reaches his stomach. He would never force him to do anything he didn't want to, but Childe makes his intentions known.

And it won't help that he continues to kiss across his jaw, lining it with soft, affectionate pecks, trailing up back to his lips to take him in once again. Childe's mouth opens slightly, to coax Aether to do the same, smiling into it. It seems that the prince might also be leaving his own mark on his mind, as the knight's thoughts swirl with Aether and Aether alone. The dinner would certainly prove to be a challenge of his self-restraint, but there's something about knowing that he's not alone in that that still gives him satisfaction.]

[It's so easy for him to get lost in the passion they share and continue on with touches and kisses. He doesn't resist when his hand is led down, body trembling with excitement when he realizes what his dearest knight wishes him to do.

Something clicks in his mind though. A fibre of self-restrain, that reminds him that they can't go too far right now. It will have to wait until after the dinner. Instead, he chooses to trail his fingers over the muscle, carefully studying how well-built the knight is, before his hand slips to the hip and only then goes further down, resting on the thigh.

Just how much longer will he be able to resist the temptation? Childe treats him so kindly and the prince melts under his affections. He moans softly into another deep kiss, heart hammering in his chest. The dinner will be truly unbearable because of all the marks they leave on each other's minds.

Maybe they could ignore everything and everyone and just--

A knocking to the door suddenly disturbs the silence and startled, the prince sits up. He's dizzy and scared both, heart beating so fast in his chest that he can't hear anything else.]

Um... prince? I came here to inform you about the dinner.

[The voice is Elise's.]

[Childe wishes so much that the hand that trails down his body would move just over to the side a little more, as he can feel himself raising up with every inch close that Aether's hand gets near him. He's almost afraid that he'll have to wait a moment before he's even able to get dressed later, as his pants are not exactly the loosest...

And how Aether tastes on his tongue, it's a delight all upon itself. Childe's kiss is greedy and wanting, for he's waited far too long to indulge himself in the prince's body, his heart beating quickly when his mind starts to race as thoughts of intimacy beyond a passionate kiss invades, pushing past any other logic or reason. Though he knows they can't now, why he's stalled his hand on his thigh, so he tells himself to wait. Just enjoy this moment, go to dinner, and pull Aether right back into bed again so he can have his way with him and...

The knock on the door gives him a start, almost jumping off of the bed for fear of being caught. But a second later, he remembers that the door is locked, and that there was no reason to fear. On top of it, the sound of Elise's voice carrying through the door is a relief. One of their allies in this.

Looks like he gets to keep his head for another few hours or so.

Childe stays silent, not to tip off that he's in here unless Aether lets Elise in, sitting up and tucking his shirt back into his pants to make sure he's at least presentable. His hair is beyond saving though, as it's already tousled enough normally. It's a vain effort on his part to try to make it look normal, maybe a quick wash might be in order...]

[Aether is still trying to recover from the initial shock. His face is madly red, breathing still too fast, hair loosely spilling down his shoulder, clothing in disarray. Shakily, he stands up from the bed and tries to get to the door. Everything is spinning.]

Elise...? [His voice sounds strange, so he fakes a cough and clears his throat.]

Oh, goodness! Did you catch a cold? Should I call for a doctor?

[Even though the princess can't see him, Aether frantically shakes his head and puts his hands on the door.]

No, no! I'm completely fine! I... I only got out of the bath... I need some time to get dressed and then I'll head for the dinner!

[There's a moment of silence, but Elise doesn't argue or tries to question anything. Even though the prince doesn't need to hide anything from her, he's too embarrassed to admit to what has just happened.]

Alright. I shall go find Sir Childe then and let him know about the dinner.

[Aether responds quickly:]

T-there's no need for that! I-I mean... I'll tell him!

[More silence follows and Aether could've sworn he heard a long "ooh" from the other side of the door. His cheeks brighten far more, his face feeling like it's on fire.]

I-I see! Of course... I apologize then! Please take your time and I'll see you at the dinner!

[And with that said, the prince can hear her running away. Aether's legs suddenly give away under him and he sinks to the floor, head resting against the door.]

...I swear, we're being tested today.

[As the two of them speak through the door, Childe comes up and stands next to Aether. It's a bit tempting to interrupt this by letting his hands wander over the prince's body, since there is no need to worry for being caught if it's just Elise. But he restrains himself, for the time being, because he can cause plenty of chaos later in Aether's life without doing this right now.

It takes quite a bit of willpower not to laugh at how nervous Aether is, stumbling through even the easiest of people to have this conversation with. Poor Elise, being sent to fetch her husband-to-be only to discover that he is with his knight instead, if that little "ooh" is any indication that she's already figured it out. Perceptive, he'll give her that. It's a good trait to have.

He watches Aether sink to the floor, laughing quietly at his misery. He can't help it, squatting down himself and giving the prince a kiss to his cheek.]

Hahaha, you might want to work on your impromptu deceiving skills a little. I'll need your help to pull this all off, you know how some particularly direct questions might throw me off guard.

[Like that isn't going to cause problems in the future.]

Come, let's get ready for the dinner. I need to fetch Luke myself, he's supposed to attend as well since he will be Elise's protection in my wake. I hope he wears something appropriate...

[Childe offers Aether a hand to stand, smiling at him- poor prince, what a situation the knight has put him in.]

[He can feel Childe standing right there and it makes it even harder on him. Thankfully, the knight has mercy on his poor soul and doesn't try to touch him. The small kiss that Aether gets once Elise is gone still sends jolts up his spine. It's like his skin is suddenly awfully sensitive.

The prince averts his gaze, hand covering the cheek as if to shield himself and hide the heat rising in his face. Obviously, that does nothing. He has no doubts he's completely defenceless when faced with Childe's charm.]

I... I'll do my best to practise. [He's well aware how bad he is at deceit. Up till now he never had any real need for such skill. Other than lying to himself about his feelings, that is. But fooling yourself seems easier than trying to convince others that your lies are truth.

Sighing, Aether finally accepts the hand and stands up form the floor.]

Be careful out there, okay? And I'll see you later...

[As much as he would want to hold his knight's hand, Aether forces himself to let go and then he turns to unlock the door. Now that he begins to calm down he can still feel the phantom of his lover's touch all over his body, making him crave for more.

It will be a very long dinner.]

[Childe sets his hand on his hip as Aether unlocks the door for him, grinning. He can see how flustered his prince is, and that makes it all the more sweet for him. He surely appreciates those rose-colored cheeks, positive he'd accomplished what he set out to do before dinner. He'll make sure he looks fantastic tonight, just to make matters worse for Aether.

Childe reaches out to brush his palm and fingertips along and then under Aether's jaw as he begins to walk out the door, letting the tip of his middle finger softly flick off of the prince's chin as he passes.]

Oh, you needn't worry about me. I'll be just fine. We're going to have a splendid night tonight prince, I assure you of that.

[He turns his back, waving a hand as he walks away. Ah, he too, can feel the trail of heat down his chest still from when Aether's hand wandered down it. Won't it be a fun night after all.]

Save a seat for me next to you. I won't want to be far. In case of an emergency, you know.

[That emergency being his impulse to run his hand down Aether's leg during the dinner to make him shudder beneath his touch, or other equally as devious things.]

See you soon, prince.

[It's obvious his knight is not going to make it easy on him. Even the way he says goodbye, with fingers gliding alongside the prince's jaw, he makes sure to leave Aether flustered and annoyed that they can't just skip the dinner.

The remarks are adding to it, because Aether is well aware that Childe is plotting more chaos... As if today wasn't chaotic enough!

The prince shoots him an embarrassed glare, then shoos him away with a wave of a hand.]

"Emergency"... You really are tempting fate today. Just go already.

[And he shuts the door as fast as possible once the knight leaves. Aether sinks to the floor once again, trying to clear his head but his mind keeps on spinning towards Childe over and over again. The prince remains like this, unmoving for a moment longer, before he can finally start preparing for the dinner.

The red hue is firm on his cheeks, the touches long gone echo along his skin and the taste of kisses lingers on his lips. There's warmth seated deep inside his chest. Someone loves him, treasures him, wants to be with him no matter the cost... Even amongst the chaos and fate trying to ruin their plans, Aether feels happy like he never did before.]

----

[The prince hurries for the dinner, clothing neat and elegant, hair in his usual braid, expression composed, but friendly. Aether made sure to look as normal as possible. Focusing on meeting his father and the princess helps and so he greets them both with a soft smile when he spots them. Elise looks as charming as always, but when she looks at him her cheeks dust with bright pink, which in turn, causes the prince to blush slightly as well. Upon seeing that, Elise's father grins brightly, wrongly assuming that the two have fallen for each other but are shy about it. Delighted, he urges them to link their arms as they walk towards the dining room.

The two soon-to-be-married royals quietly do as they're told and take a seat right next to one another. Aether leaves a space open by his other side for Childe to join and Elise leaves an open seat by her side as well. They smile to each other knowingly and relaxing, finally take a look at the wonderful feast that was prepared with the meat they brought today.]

[This time, the knight is not late for dinner.

In tow, Luke follows Childe sheepishly to the dining hall, having worn his best outfit that he could muster, along with a few accessories Childe has let him borrow for the occasion. The knight isn't short of money, his outfit looking splendid even among royals. If he was going to show up to a dinner officially as Aether's right hand man so to speak, he would make sure he looks the part.

Greeting the royal family with a bow, both the knight and the squire take their seats next to their designated royal, Childe looking ever confident while Luke gives a polite smile to Elise. The knight flicks his eyes over to the two of them, before settling his gaze on Aether, smile bright and not devious at all.]

Ah! What a fine night for a feast. The chefs have done wonderfully with the prizes we brought home today. Say, you two, [Childe says as he leans over to regard both Aether and Elise,] how have you two been settling in now?

[He gives them both a wink, and Luke looks nervously over to both the fathers as they chat with each other, wine in hand.]

Settling well, I hope. I think we're going to have a lot of fun tonight.

[As Childe and Luke enter and take their seats, Aether looks towards his knight immediately, but makes sure his gaze doesn't linger. Childe definitely looks good and the air of confidence boosts his charm-- No, no. He can't think about it now. He needs to focus on the dinner, on Elise... even if Childe is right next to him.

The princess giggles softly, before giving a reassuring smile to Luke. The quiet moment is interrupted when Childe speaks again, his smile charming, but Aether knows what is hiding behind it. Especially when the other leans ever so close, winking and talking of the night ahead.

The prince tries to keep his breathing calm and steady, even if his entire being seems to tremble. Truly, the knight is a demon with a death wish, continuing to play a dangerous game and tempting the prince at every turn. The princess also realizes the implications and her face brightens, but instead of shyness she leans to Aether, close but barely touching.]

Sir Childe, I have to admit I am starting to feel at home here. [There are no lies in these words. Elise truly looks happy and she steals a glance at Luke as she smiles fondly.

But she has to continue playing the bride in love.]

Thank you for your kindness. I am happy that prince Aether has someone like you by his side. [Aether blushes bright but the princess continues, a sparkle of mischief in her eyes, her words softer, like a little childish secret just between the three of them.] Make sure to take good care of him.

[Oh gods, Aether thinks to himself, he had one living chaos in his life and now there's two of them!]

[Childe's face comes to rest on a closed fist as Elise leans over, not being able to help the sly smile that forms on his face. He keeps his eyes on her, as to not draw any more suspicion than necessary, the light in them gleaming at her words. Oh, he knew they were going to get along well- and this just proves it. The mischievousness in his own eyes matches Elise's, and already Childe is coming up with plans of his own to really make life a lot more interesting for himself and the prince.

And she's absolutely going to help them.]

Oh, there's no need to fear. I'll make sure the prince is well cared for. I'd never let anything happen to your fiance.

[Under the table, Childe runs his hand across Aether's thigh right to the inside of his leg, letting his hand massage it slowly. And yet, his eyes gaze over to Luke now, to address his frightened squire.]

Luke, you'll do the same, yes? Make sure Elise's needs are met.

O-Of course, [Luke stammers, but he too now leans close to Elise to hiss back to Childe.]

Sir Childe, what if they hear you-!

[He cuts Luke off with a finger held up to his own lips, winking again. He then steals a glance at Aether, just to see his reaction. This is too much fun.]

[It takes all the willpower he has to not shiver or make a sound when he feels that hand. The heat still hits his face bad and Aether grabs his knight's hand, giving it a firm squeeze, trying to keep it away from his leg. Embarrassed, he shoots a warning to Childe, but he's sure the other will think nothing of it.

Elise blushes bright when she realizes the two of them have their hands under the table and she covers her cheeks with both hands.]

Childe... [Aether hisses, before turning to Elise. He never gets to say anything else as the king clears his throat calling for their attention.]

Is Childe teasing the two of you? [He sigh, giving the knight a disapproving look, but there's something more to it.] My son, come here, sit next to me. Princess, I would be honoured if you could also take a seat closer. [He points the chair right on his left side and then another next to it.

Aether and Elise glance at each other, then give Childe and Luke an apologetic look, before relocating. The king smiles, pleased with this new arrangement.]

Perfect. Now, I believe this diner will be an excellent occasion to make some more plans. Like the date of knighting Luke... and the marriage date. Yes... I think there's no need to wait with the marriage.

[Aether straightens in his seat. It's... so much sooner than he expected.]

[That's not a look that the knight really wants to get from the king but at least teasing isn't illegal. Childe inwardly pouts when Aether is taken from sitting next to him, and Luke finds himself in a somewhat similar position, a little surprised at himself for being so attached to Elise already. The knight pokes at his food as the two of them relocate, ever the petulant baby when he doesn't get what he wants. Though Childe calms himself quick enough, looking towards them as the king makes the announcement.

The knighting of Luke brings a smile to his face, quickly shooting his squire an excited grin, but he wasn't expecting the second half of that announcement. Not that it matters much to him, the marriage was going to happen anyway and he knew it. But why move it up?]

Your Majesty, I don't mean to intrude, [he begins, his mind jumping to what would be the worst and best outcome all at the same time.]

Is there a reason for this? Usually, a wedding of this magnitude holds more than one special significance. [He lowers his voice a little, so those who do not need to hear don't.] Our kingdom...is not in peril, is it?

[Because this wedding would unite their two nations- and give them reason to have more military power too. Which means a war, which means Childe is about to have the time of his life.]

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