Michellin

Wanderers

Kire felt his arm around her, and she realized she had held her breath for a couple of heartbeats, becoming aware of how close they were, of their breathing, her own heartbeat thudding in her ears. When, after the sky had gone darker, turning into deeper blues and purples, he broke the silence, she felt her ears go warm. “Yeah. Not the best idea,” she agreed, looking sidelong at him. “It’s getting chilly. Think we should head back now?” she asked quietly.

Wanderers

“Sorry. Forgot not everyone is an alcoholic like me,” Kire said, grinning back. Already she was getting excited at the thought of Ruli cooking something with Amrian cheese. “There’s a town in wine country, they’re known for making these famous wheels of cheese. Gods, so good.” She drank a little more from the bottle before setting it down. “Mountains and lakes. I wouldn’t mind a good hike. Any chance you came across a place with waterfalls? That would be a treat.”
Warm from the wine, the blanket, and from sitting close to Ruli, she sank into a contented silence, watching the sunset. She really wouldn’t mind more evenings like this.

Wanderers

Kire enjoyed seeing the flush on his cheeks, grinning at him as he spoke. “Thank you. Glad to know it’s still effective,” she said, taking the bottle from him. “And I’d love to show you around. I’ll make sure to take you to warmer places. Actually, prior to the war, the Palace grounds would have been lovely.” She sighed. “Especially the orchards. Whenever it’s flowering season, the whole place just smells like heaven. Then the fruits come in time for summer, and you’d have all the fruit you’d need for a dessert tart. Then before winter, the leaves turn and it has its own beauty.” She paused, thinking about places to take him to. “We have our own beaches, too. Oh! I could take you to wine country. Have all the liquor and cheese you can get your hands on.” She grinned gleefully at the thought.

Wanderers

Kire sat beside him on the sand, sitting close to him so they could share the blanket. She stared out at the water, smiling at the sight. She would never get tired of sunsets. Especially when preceded by a dinner like the one she had just had with him. At his question and remark about the dress, she nodded. “I noticed,” she said with a cheeky grin at him before looking back out at the sunset. “Yes, this would be more typical. I did mention before that I had more flamboyant outfits. But when you’re empress, you have to treat clothes like armor, too. The dress yesterday was meant to show off. The Empress is the matriarch of the nation, so she has to dress the part. Being attractive, sure, but untouchable. And the clothes I wore during the war council, it’s for days when you have to remind the boys who’s wearing the pants and shouldn’t be fucked with.”

Wanderers

Kire grinned, nodding, going back to her task to avoid him seeing just how red her face must look at the moment. She tried not to look like she was hurrying, even if she really wanted to finish cleaning as soon as possible. With Ruli’s help, though, it didn’t take too long for them to be done with chores. Afterwards, she took the bottle with them as well as a spare blanket as they made their way down to the shore again, sharing the wine between them as she walked barefoot, lifting her skirts so the hem wouldn’t get too wet as she walked near the water. When the breeze got cooler and her wet feet added to the chill, she walked away from the water, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders to warm herself.

Wanderers

Kire took the dirty cookware Ruli had put away and added that to the pile to be cleaned. She might not know how to cook, but she could at least do that. When he spoke, though, she paused in her task, then looked back at him. “You mean tonight?” she asked, a smile tugging at her lips. “I mean…unless it’s going to spoil, I could take it back tomorrow, instead. Stay here.”

Wanderers

Kire pushed the two dessert plates aside, crossing her arms over the table as she listened to him. When he explained why he reacted the way he did at the end of their last dinner, she sighed, understanding better where he was coming from. She chuckled at his last statement though. “I didn’t exactly exert my best effort to stay away, either. I’m glad I grew on you.” She smiled, bowing her head a bit, hiding a slight blush and trying not to feel too giddy about it. She cleared her throat after a pause. “I’ll clean the plates. And save the rest of the cake for the girls. They’ll go ballistic.” She took the dessert plates to wash.

Wanderers

Kire saw his mood shift slightly, his expression more thoughtful. She took his plate when he slid it towards her, picking at the icing as she listened to him. She was silent, thinking over what he had just said, though she couldn’t help but feel glad, feeling the flutters inside when he said he wasn’t as nervous about this as he had been before. “You’d be right about a lot of nobles, though. Not too far off the mark,” she began, finishing the icing on his plate. “As for your past, your scars—I’m the last person to judge. I know, when we first met, that I was wary of what you can do. But that was before I got to know you more. I at least understand why you were afraid to let me in. I can only imagine the leap of faith you’re taking with me here, given what had happened to you before. I’m far from perfect, but—I’ll try not to fuck up your trust in me.”

Wanderers

She imagined it as he listed off the possibilities, most of which she had thought about, herself, on several occasions. She leaned her cheek against her hand, lazily taking bites of cake as she listened. “A life without guilt…” she murmured, her voice trailing off. She glanced down at her scarred hand, the Ring on her finger. “Yeah. I’d really like that.” She met his gaze, looking at him with fondness. “And more dinners with you, for as long as you’re not sick of me.”

Wanderers

“Noooo,” she pleaded, shaking her head and laughing at the thought of stopping eating the cake and being sent to spar with Ysaryn. “Mercy!” She chuckled, going back to her cake anyway. She listened to his question, unable to stop herself from grimacing again at the thought of Ulrich’s brood. She pondered on it, leaning back again as she chewed.

“I do. I think. I’ve held off for decades, so it’s not like I totally don’t have the freedom to decide. But…yes. I suppose I do have more of it now. No more fathers trying to convince me I should pop out a dozen little heirs with their son’s help.” She smiled, looking wistful. “Huh. Imagine that. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.” She knew why, of course, but nevertheless, it dawned on Kire then, what it would really mean, not being empress. “I had a bit of a taste of it, this past year. Figuring out what I am without the crown on my head. It’s—a little scary, but exciting.” She looked at him, smiling, wondering where his train of thought was leading with that question.