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Clover walked into the room with uncertainty, biting her lips till she met the forest green of Cyrus, jumping up off his chair he met her, taking her hand into his own, grazing his lips on her knuckles. Aster and Basil stepped close behind, taking a good long look at the king who was their sister's soulmate. 

They both bowed and curtseyed, “your majesties,” they said in sync.  

Cyrus grinned, “Clover told me so much about you, I'm glad to meet you both.” 

Aster nodded stiffly, but Basil instead made his way to a chair, saying not a word of pleasantries, Clover frowned at her brother, then chuckled nervously at Cyrus. The three of them went to their seats quickly following pace with Basil. 

“Now I am surprised I had never noticed the two of you,” King George spoke coyly, his smile brightening as he eyed both Clover and Aster. Cyrus frowned as he kicked Goerge under the table. “A joke,” George chuckled, rapidly appealing to his friend. “It is of course a pleasure to meet the one who has stolen my dearest friends heart,” 

“Thank you, my king.” Clover said quietly. 

“Let us begin with the first course, shall we?” the blonde king smiled, waving his hand up, signalling they were ready, as the footmen came out with plates. 

Clovers eyes lit up as well as Asters and Basils, there was hardly any talking as the three tucked into their meals, the splendour of the food was delicious, and none could get enough, roasted duck and chicken stuffed, with steamed season vegetables, soaked in suckalant sauces. 

By the third course a steady conversation grew between the five. “I do not think it hardly rains,'' King George laughed, taking a sip from his glass of wine, telling the siblings how hot it was in Spendia. 

“It rains enough to sustain crops,” Cyrus muttered, 

“I thought i was going to die in the heat, i remember when i was a boy practically walking around only in my breeches, whilst you,” he pointed at his friend, “you, went around with a bloody coat on complaining how cold it was.” 

“It was cold,” 

“Yes, if you call the desert cold.” the king sighed, “well, i suppose there's a reason it is called the forever summer kingdom,”

Cyrus rolled his eyes, “better than having freezing winters.” 

“I feel bad for you, never knowing the joy of a snowball fight, or building a snowman, or ice skating..” 

“Oh woe is me,” Cyrus mocked. The two broke out into laughter. 

“I am sure your beloved will very much enjoy the warm weather.” 

“Of course she will,” Cyrus grinned, looking over at his beautiful soulmate, “as will her brother and sister,” courteously he smiled at them. 

“There will be so much to show you, the dunes are breathtaking, as well as our cities, oh and you will love the sea, my palace is placed right by it, it will only be a short walk to the beach. I already have everything set to leave tomorrow and-” 

“Tomorrow?” Aster speaks, 

“Yes,” Cyrus answers weary, “is that a problem?”

“It’s a bit short notice, isn’t it?” 

Cyrus gulped, retreating back into his chair, not at all liking the way Aster looked at him, the room suddenly filled with a chilled air as the warm spring temperature was chased out. 

“I had just thought the sooner I took you back home with me the better, I mean a wedding isn't going to happen itself.” 

It grew silent in the room, king George stared at his friend with amusement. 

“Wedding?” Basil broke in, his otherwise uninterested voice was dark, the candle lights flickered and a howling grew silent in the empty space above them. 

“Oh well-” 

“Why wouldn’t there be a wedding? We’re soulmates.” Clover cut in, confused by her brother and Sisters reaction.

“Because you hardly know each other yet, i hardly think we should be rushing into things,” Aster gave her sister a pointed look, that Cyrus thought there was more meaning in then he was reading. Clover visibly backed down, shrinking into her seat, a dimness taking hold of her features. 

“I mean to court your sister properly, till the wedding.” 

Aster sighed frowning, turning to glance the king's way, “how long will this trip take?” 

“Only a few days.”

She gazed at her brother both sharing a look, as if having a secret conversation. 

“Oh look, dessert is here,” George cheered, ignoring the crackle of tension. The footmen placed the plates of iced cream, with fruits, and chocolates, in front of each of them.

“What is this?” Clover asked, looking down at the dish puzzled. They hadn’t had much that night that she was unfamiliar with but the bowl of cold frozen white cream was new to her. 

“It is ice cream,” Cyrus answered, “it is one of George's favourites.” 

Clover jabbed her spoon cautiously into the ice cream, taking a spoonful and placing it in her mouth, instantly she moaned as her mouth and brain froze. She spat it out onto her servetet, coughing, as she downed wine down her throat to warm her up. 

“You're only supposed to have small amounts at a time, it's too cold to eat in chunks.” Cyrus informed her softly, 

George chuckled, “I have never seen someone do that before.” 

Cyrus passed his friend a glare, but George only smirked carrying on to eat his ice cream, Clover happily picked the chocolates and fruit off instead, vowing to never try ice cream again. Basil and Aster were both uninterested in dessert, staring down their sister's soulmate. It was far too quick and soon to be talking about marriage and they hardly trusted how eager he was to make Clover his wife as soon as possible. 

One thing was for sure Cyrus had won no points from Basil and Aster that night.