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Clover and Cyrus strolled between the treeses, coming to a clearing, the guards and servants had already set up a pinanic of sorts, with ruggs laying on the grass ground. There was a fallen tree log by the end of the clearing that the king directed Clover to. They sat down, Cyrus placing his jacking down so Clover would not have to feel the roughness of the trunk. She smiled and blushed at the act, sighing as she took in the sights around her. 

“I’ve never seen a forest before,” 

“So you have always lived in the city?” 

Clover nodded, “it’s so bright here and-” 

“Green,” Cyrus added with a chuckle, 

“Yes,” Clover burst with a grin, “and green!” she cheered, “it’s wonderful. By the goddess, why do we live in cities when nature is so pretty.” 

Cyrus couldn’t help but grin at her words, shuffling closer to the girl, “let me guess you would prefer to live by the trees and rivers, and dance naked in the rain.” 

Clover giggled, “and howl at the moon,” 

“Let us not forget, to sleep beneath the stars, with all the ants and bugs crawling over your skin.” 

Clover smiled widely, shaking her head, “I like bugs, you know, so I wouldn't mind that.” she paused after a moment, grimacing at her words, “i mean i’m not as scream-ish but,” she faked a shudder, “the thought of spiders, beetles and ants crawling all over me-” she shook her head, “maybe nature isn’t for me.” 

Cyrus looked at her thoughtfully, “then I suppose you will not be too pleased to see my insect collection at my palace.” 

“Insect collection?” She tried not to sound too excited, trying to put a bit of disgust into her voice, but she could not help the thrill that filled her with the words. She knew that high ladies did not spend their time with insects nor hide them as pets, but she grinned at the thought of finally being able to walk into a boutique as many court ladies did, and perhaps not being able to keep her pet spider Reginald would not be so bad. 

“I have a terrarium room, full with glass boxes, for my insects. My sister isn’t too fond that i have a whole room for them.” he chuckled nervously, avoiding Clovers eyes, rubbing his neck, “i’ve always been fascinated by them, i have journals and journals desiccated to observations and findings, we have so many variations of bugs in Spendia, it’s taken me nearly half my life so far to collect just the beetles.” 

Clover broke out into as big a grin her face could manage, taking his hands into hers, “that's amazing! I was scared you’d think I was unlady like if I told you how much I love incets.” 

“I would never. I love my insets,” 

Clovers eyes lit up, “i guess this is what they mean by soulmates,” 

Cyrus creased her fingers, “yes, i never thought i would find anyone would like them like me. My court knows how scientific I am, but how much of an entomologist I am.”

Clover gave him an odd look, he chuckled, “it's the title of a person who pursues the study of insects.” 

“Oh,” Clover bit her lip, she didn’t even know such a thing existed. 

“It was my dream profession when I was a boy till I realised that I was going to be king.” 

“I guess you’d have to be well read to be an entogo-” 

“Entomologist,” Cyrus finished for her, “and i do not think it matters,” 

Clover looked dimly on the floor, there were so many things she hadn’t needed to know before, she frowned, not liking the trail her thoughts were taking her, if she didn’t know anything then she would just have to learn. She snapped her face back to Cyrus, deterimated. 

“Tell me everything about your scenti-” 

“Scientific interest,” he finished. 

“Yes,” she hated how tongue tied she got to those words. 

Cyrus grinned, her determination was aimable as well as cute to him, “well i have always been a man drawn to science..” he began…

“...anyway that is why the force of gravity keeps us grounded and not floating in air, as well as why the pursuit of flight is such a difficult one..” as he ramblers on, Clover listened to his words with interest, smiling at how animated he had become at the subjects of his science projects. “....I have been meaning to try it out on a large scale but my advisors think it is too risky, especially since I wish to test it myself, but I hardly think it a risk since the smaller ones have worked so well…” he sighed, his cheek resting on his knuckles. “Science is pure, it is knowledge and-goddess . I do not know how to put it into words. There is no cheat or spelicatity, it is why i despise magic.” he grumbled darkly, Clovers smile faded as Cyrus began to rant on not paying attention to how pale Clover had become, “they need not slave over the completcations, it just happens for them, going against all the laws of nature, and teleport themselves to farest part of the content in a blink of an eye. Not to mention their thirst for power. The academy is a den full of them, waiting to spread their dark powers onto the world.” he frowned, 

Clover gulped, “all magic can not be bad,” she whispered. 

Cyrus shook his head at her innocence, of course she did know the darkness of magic and how evil it could be, it was chaos, and knew no bounds, he had seen it himself take what was most precious to him, and all because they had not seen the dangers of it. 

“I had thought that when i was boy, confused by why we banned it, i thought it was enchanting till-” he stopped, no he couldn’t say the words not then, “magic only brings death, it is why it is outlawed in so many of the kingdoms, well almost all.” 

“You truly hate it?” she quivered,

“Of course,” he spoke without hesitation, “I'd not hesitate to kill any magic wielder who steps foot into my kingdom, they’d only do harm, kill our crops, cause pestilence, all for gold and power.” 

Clover felt herself shake in fear, holding back the tears burning in her eyes willing them not to fall. Cyrus glazed at Clover, he held her cheeks, “i am sorry my love, my words have frightened you.” Her lips trembled, she closed her eyes not trusting herself to speak to, “I shall never allow anything to hurt you,” Cyrus spoke furiously, not reading that her fear was not of magic but of him. He kissed her forehead, and cradle her close, “i shouldn’t have said that i-i-” he cursed under his breath, he pulled away, “i will get us some wine to share, perhaps it will lighten our mood, then we speak of happier things,” he gave her a hopeful look then climbed of the log making his away over to the many who were enjoying their meals. 

Clover wrapped her arms around herself, tears rolled her eyes, she’d ignored Basils and Asters warnings, she could not believe that her soulmate would regret her for such a reason that was so innately a part of her. It was so perfect, she wished she could sob, but that would gain attention and she knew now that she could not have that. She did not understand why the goddess could be so cruel, years of her yearning and wishing, dreaming of her fairytale and now stuck with a man so wonderful, and kind but would kill her without thought if he knew the truth. Yet she knew she could not leave him, despite being but two days, she couldn’t, she already felt the subtle connection between them, an echo of emotions that weren’t hers. Their souls were already beginning to become one, and leaving would break her. 

As she sat alone, she felt something grazed past the back of her neck, a tickle, soon, the feeling rushed around her, she looked up, seeing something perched on her shoulder, a bright small thing, human in shape, but bright as a buttercup, it had small dragonfly wings attached to it’s back. Clover knew instantly what it was, it was a sprite, a fairy folk, there were more, around her, pulling on her hair and gown, trying to drag her with them deeper into the forest. She knew she shouldn’t but curiosity got the best of her. She followed. 

The sprites sang in the air as they travelled through the wood, they were cheerful things that brought a smile to her wet cheeks. They were trying to cheer her up, bring flowers and berrys to her, placing arrangements into her hair, and she laughed at their antics. 

“Thank you, but there's no need.” they were disheartened by her words but compiled. They showed her all their favourite spots, and tried to play games with her. Clover was so happy, that flowers bloomed where she stood, the sprite grew even more excited at the sight, zooming around her feet to look at the flowers. She understood their fast chatter, which sounded like the chirping of baby birds. They spoke all at once, over one another, and argued with each other constantly, it assumed Clover. Even the woodland animals gathered to her, the squirrels gathered their nuts and acorns, by her, as a welcoming gift, and bunnies curled up nicely in her lap. The foxes played with sprites trying to catch them, and the deer grazed majestically on the grass by her side. 

Clover forgot why she felt so bad, and immersed herself into the joy of the sprites and animals, all viving for her attention, 

A nervous badger walked to Clover, looking up, trying to figure out where Clover was. The sprites laughed and chuckled at the poor creature, and Clover frowned at them. 

“Be kind to Mr Badger,” she scolded, they quickly apologised to the animal, Clover petted the badger contently. She sighed, closing her eyes. She didn’t know how long she had been there, nor did she notice the shadow approaching behind her, as the animals backed away nervously. She felt the quaking on the bunnies in her lap, opening her eyes glancing questioningly at it, “whats-” 

“Clover, love. Do not move,” Cyrus cautions behind her, his eyes narrowed on the sprites who had frozen at the sight of him and his two guards. One that hid in Clover's hair moved rustling a lock of hair away revealing it. Cyrus locked onto it and without a second to lose, lunged down and captured it within his hands, it struggled trying to get free. Clawing, and biting at his fingers, Cyrus hissed at the pain of small creatures' attacks. All the animals and sprites quickly chased away. 

Clover turned looking at Cyrus who squeezed the poor sprite in his hands. He looked Clover frantically up and down trying to find any damage. He sighed in relief when he found none. “Thank the goddess, when i saw you missing-ow!” he hitched, glaring down at the sprite that caused him pain. “You evil little-” 

The sprite began to speak it’s language, cursing Cyrus, cutting off his own foul words, unknown to the three men, Clover understood every word and winced at every curse it swore. 

One of the guards walked to Clover pulling her up to her feet, “i am glad we found you when we did, who knows what those creatures could have done, sprites are known to lure people into the woods and-well-” 

“Murdering them,” the other gaurd added, 

“Yes, it is a spell they say that has you in a trance, sometimes they lure you to a river or lake and drown you, other times, they say they make a feast from the people they capture.”

Both guards shook their heads in pity, Clover felt sick, and was that truly what people believed of those innocent sprites? Before she could say anything, she watched as Cyrus began to grapple with the sprite's head, heaving up. She was paralysed as she saw the head tearing off it’s head, as dark green substances began to soak Cyrus’s fingers. He tossed the decapitated head onto the ground, as well as the body. Making a face of disgust at the green blood on his fingers bringing out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe them on. 

Clover could not speak, she cupped her mouth trying not to wail in agony. The poor poor sprite…