✶✶✶

Clover curled up on the window, staring out into the night, a cat laid soundless sleep on her lap. She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her. She bite her lower lip in an attempt to let them wobble, her eyes burning with the need to shed the tears in her eyes. She blinked them away, crying anymore wouldn’t do her any good. The candle light beside her flickered, speaking in words invisible to everyone's ears but Clover, Basil and Asters. 

She shook her head at the flames words, “leaving would be too painful,” she answered, it flickered again, Clover sighed, “there's no winning either way. I’ll just be suck being-” she paused looking over at the door, “miserable,” her words were glum, she groaned, '' I always thought love was supposed to be wonderful, but it’s nothing but pain. Pain and longing, endless longing.”The candle light flickered in agreement with Clover, “being a cat would be so much simpler, all i’d have to do is sleep and eat, and hunt and-” she let out a small smile, “sleep,” she stroked the slumbing cats head, she looked out her window once more. “Answer my prayers Goddess, please don’t let my love go to waste.” 

“Sadness is making you poetic,” Aster spoke, as she walked through Clovers door, 

“Here to gloat,” Clover grumbled, frowning, not meeting her sister's eyes. 

Aster sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, “how many times must i say that i don’t like that i was right about this,” 

“Well you were,” 

“Clover, you don’t have to keep your distance from him, if it’s making you this miserable.” Aster said as she sat next to Clover. 

“I thought that was what you wanted,” 

“I-” she grunted, “i may not like the royal fool, but i want you happy, and your happy when your with him, and well-” 

“It doesn't matter, I can't ever truly be with him, you were right, hiding who I am is impossible.” 

Aster gazed mournfully at her sister, “Clover, only because you have to hide something doesn't mean you can’t fulfil what you want.” 

“How?” Clover began to cry, “it’s hopeless, he hates it, and he’ll hate me, and i can’t bare that.”

Aster pulled Clover into her embrace, “it’ll be alright, he’s too inlove to notice anything anyway,” she chuckled, which made Clover giggle a bit, “besides we’ll come up with a plan, something.” she held Clover's face, stroking her tears away, “i won’t ever let anything happen to you.” Clover nodded numbly at Aster words, “now then,” Aster spoke standing up, holding onto Clover's left hand, “go find that king of yours, and do whatever loved up couples do together.” 

Clovers eyes lit up, her lips tilting into a smile, she wiped her face with her arm, “i don’t think you want me doing whatever loved up couples do together,” she smirked. 

Aster rolled her eyes, “I'm going to bed, night.” 

“Night,” Clover called after her sister as she made her way out and towards her own room. 

It was just then that there was a knock at her door, Clover walked out opening it. Her eyes widened in surprise, seeing none other than Cyrus. She was about to speak when he stopped her, “wait, before you say anything, put on this blind fold.” he held a piece of fabric in his hands. 

Clover gave him a confused look, “why..?” 

Cyrus looked sheepishly at her, as if nervous, “it’s a surprise.” 

Clover grinned, “a surprise? For me?” 

“I wouldn’t go and surprise Fin now would go.” she smiled that charming smile, that made Clover go weak at knees. “Don’t you trust me?” 

“Of course,” she said without hesitation. She immediately allowed him to tie the piece of fabric around her eyes, he took hold of her hand, his thumb creasing softly along her palms, leading her gently along to wherever he had placed the surprise. 

A few minutes later, cyrus came to a stop, “okay, just stay still, my love,” 

Clover giggled, “i can’t wait to see it,” 

Cyrus chuckled, “patience,” eventually Cyrus undid the blindfold, pulling her gently into the room. 

Clover was speechless as she gazed around, they were in a greenhouse, with exotic plants and flowers, so many she had never seen before, and everywhere she looked fireflies buzzed about, it was beautiful. She glanced over at Cyrus who was watching her expectantly. 

“You did this for me?” 

Cyrus strode up to Clover, his right hand cupping her cheek, his thumbing brushing circles along the soft skin. “I would do anything for you.” he began to chuckle lightly, “which is crazy, i’ve only known you two weekends, yet i can not imagine my life without you.” 

“Me too,” Clover whispered, 

Cyrus pulled back, taking hold of her hands, “come here,” he gestured with his head behind himself, revealing a woven carpet and on top a picnic basket, a lamp stood at the centre of the carpet, along with two goblets and a bottle of wine. 

They sat down, and Cyrus poured their wine, “thank you,” Clover murmured, biting her lips as she accepted the goblet. 

“And look,” Cyrus beckoned with his hands, as he opened the picnic basket. Inside laid nothing but cream puffs, cakes, and fruit tarts, all the deserts she loved. 

Clover grinned, reaching into the basket to have her pick of the treats. Cyrus laughed, “you should leave some for me, it was hard work setting this up,” he teased as Clover stuffed her face with cake, groaning in delight. Once she had gulped down her cake she gave Cyrus a coy look, 

“I thought this was my surprise.” 

Cyrus smirked, “I can already tell you’ll be a demanding wife.” 

Clover went scarlet at the words, “no i won’t,” she mumbled quickly. 

Cyrus hummed, “i think i might be right,” 

Clover frowned, “then i know you’ll be a cocky husband,” 

Cyrus raised his brows as his lips quivered in a silent laugh. His smile fell though as he watched Clover laid on the carpet, enjoying her cakes, and sipping on wine, all her expressions fascinated him, and made him commit everyone to memory. 

“What?” Clover asked, noticing his staring, clocking her head sideways. 

“Perhaps your goddess reborned,” clover blushed at his words, “how else can someone be so perfectly beautiful and so-so-” he shook his head chuckling, “i hate that there is no word to describe how incredible you are,” leaned over closer to Clover, which made her freeze. She suddenly remembered that dream from all those months back, just after she left the temple. She held her breath in anticipation, as Cyrus’s own brush warmly against her face. 

Slowly his face inched closer and closer to hers, till their noses touched, and their lips a feathered touch away. 

Cyrus captured those lips, with a need he had never known, he wrapped his arms around her waist so she was flushed up against himself. The kiss was light at first, hesitant and curious. Clover's head was wheeling, dizzy wanting the innocent kiss to turn into something. He pressed his mouth firmly against her pulp lips , trailing along the edges of those pink flesh whispers of a kiss, sucking and nibbling, which made Clover gasp, pulling herself closer to Cyrus’s body. Till eventually, positioning her on his lap, straddling her on his lips, the bulge in his breeches throbbing painfully at the action. Cyrus dove his tongue into Clover's agape mouth, as she panted in hot breath after breath. Startled Clover didn’t know what to do, except to follow in his pace, and copy each stroke his tongue did against hers. They soon flowed into a rhythm, exploring in earnest, delirious with pleasure, as they both moaned and hungered after each other. Cyrus’s hands roamed over Clover's body, as Did clover's hands latched onto Cyrus’s  shoulders, pinching his skin hard. Cyrus groaned, Clover had begun ever so slightly thrust against him, each hump made it harder and harder to talk himself into turning this kiss into something more. Clover didn’t know what she was doing was tourcing poor Cyrus, only knowing how much she enjoyed his hands grasping her body, and her thighs between his. Cyrus pulled away from Clover's lips, which had her whine in protest but soon replaced with heavy breathing and moaning as he kissed her, moving his hands up her torso, towards her chest. 

“I should stop,” Cyrus panted into her neck, stealing quick kisses on her soft flesh. 

“Don’t,” she spoke breathlessly. 

Cyrus pulled his head away looking down at the flushed clover, “I must, otherwise, I do not think I can stop.” 

Clover bite her lower lips, looking down away from Cyrus. 

“I want to court you properly, I want to treat you like a goddess.” he tips her chin up back to him, “so, as much as i want to do all manner of things to you, i shalln’t, because you mean too much to me, for me to rush this all too fast.” 

Clover silently nodded, Cyrus placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, lifting her off his lap and beside himself. They carried on with their midnight picnic, enjoying each other's company, sharing childhood stories, and laughing at each other's ridiculous imaginations. 

✶✶✶

Clover felt as if she were floating as Cyrus easorted her back to her room, placing a kiss on her hands and bidding her goodnight. She sighed as she closed her door, leaning against it. It was so easy to forget everything to believe that everything would be alright. 

Clover walked deeper into her room, not noticing the figure sat on the chair by the empty fireplace. 

“Took you long enough,” Fin yawned, 

Clover jumped at the voice, nearingly screaming, her heart pounded. She turned to see Fin, having no idea how to react to his presence. 

“Fin? What are you-” 

“I’ve been waiting a while, so i’ll cut down to the chase,” he cut her off, his legs were crossed and he sat regally his eyes trained on her. “There is no easy way to say it, so here it is. I know you can do magic.” 

The world went silent, clover could do nothing but stare at the man, she began to tremble, her eyes wide, frightened and confused. 

Fin sighed, frowning, “please don’t do that. I am not going to do anything. I just want you to know I know.” 

“Is-is this a threat?” she asked quietly. 

Fin grimace, “no,” he shook his head, standing up off the chair, “i wouldn’t do that, i know we hardly know each other, but Cyrus does nothing but gush about you in his free time, well his every free second to be more accurate,” 

“Then why-” 

“Because, i want you to know i will keep your secret till you decided to tell Cyrus,” 

Her eyes went wild, “I can't! I-” 

“Not tonight, tomorrow or the next day, just at some point in the future. You can’t hide it forever.” 

Clover gulped, “why? Why keep something like this? Isn’t this treason?” 

Fin shrugged, looking to the side, “I care about my king's happiness, and no matter what anyone thinks, his happiness is you.” 

“It won’t be when he knows.” 

“He can be stubborn in his views, but trust me, he’d rather betray them than give up on you.” 

Clover stared shocked at Fin's words. “Thank you,” she whispered and it was only think did Fin releasing she was crying. He pulled out from his sleeves his handkerchief, 

“Here,” he handed it over to her, “i am on your side, besides being Cyrus’s manservant means i know everything about him, so don’t be shy to ask about any dirty details.” he winked at her. 

Clover giggled, Fin left her room, happy that his confrontation didn’t go too bad, now the only problem is keeping the whole thing from Cyrus, he may be a loved up fool, but he knows when something is up.