Sleep didn’t come easily that night. In fact, it didn’t come at all. JiYeong laid in bed, already changed into her nightgown. She’d been lying there for the better part of an hour. The guilt of running away hit her as soon as she was alone. As much as she wanted to, JiYeong knew she couldn’t go back so soon. He would want to know why she’d run, and her feelings were too jumbled to try and make sense of it.

Eventually, she rolled out of bed, huffing lightly. JiYeong slowly walked toward the library. Tonight was a rare night where she wished Piers wouldn’t be in the library. Trying to explain how she was too afraid of getting closer to his brother wasn’t something she was too keen on doing.

If she couldn’t sleep, JiYeong figured continuing the census was a good way to spend her time. She’d just gotten comfortable, book in her lap when the sound of the doors opening brought her eyes up.

Piers was the face JiYeong had been expecting, so she was surprised to see Shiloh heading towards me instead.

“What are you doing awake so late?”

Shiloh rose an eyebrow. “I could be asking you the same thing. Deciding to get some late-night reading in?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” JiYeong confessed sheepishly. “Too much on my mind.”

Shiloh held her hand out, and JiYeong obediently handed over the book, unsure of what to say. Shiloh went to return the book to the shelf. “It seems you and Lord Mathieu are in the same boat. He couldn’t sleep either.” She looked back at JiYeong. “Care to explain?”

JiYeong opened her mouth to respond, promptly closing it again. How could she explain running away from Mathieu? It seemed silly when she thought about it.

“If I may speak freely.” Shiloh returned, kneeling down in front of JiYeong to catch her attention. “Lord Mathieu is a good guy. He may seem a bit...tough at times but as you can imagine he doesn’t form very many meaningful relationships in the profession he’s chosen. As such he tends to hold everyone to a safe distance, his own mother and brother included. With you though, you’re different. You say he’s tough on you during practice but I can assure you he treats you with a warmth I have not seen from him since he was a boy. If there was any doubt in your mind that he cares for you, or that you feel something for him let me quell that.”

“But this can’t work.”

“Can’t it?”

“Mathieu is a Lord Knight. I’m meant to be the Champion. How can it?”

“Neither of those mean you two are doomed to be alone forever. You’ll never know unless you try.” Shiloh stood, sweeping her hair behind her shoulder. “He is in the kitchen.”

JiYeong watched as Shiloh walked away. Of course, she couldn’t admit her deepest concerns. Even if she and Mathieu tried to make things work, JiYeong didn’t belong in Allumia. Despite the fact that she’d more or less given up on looking for a way home at the moment, that didn’t mean it was impossible. She could very well find the answer I was looking for. What would they do then, if she could return to Earth?

The other worry was they didn’t know if everything that was happening would lead to a fight. It wasn’t guaranteed that either of them would make it out of this alive. Was it really worth it?

After mulling it over for far too long, JiYeong eventually padded down to the kitchen, not at all surprised to see Mathieu in there as Shiloh had said, a cup of water on the counter he was leaning against and a cup of what looked like chocolate pudding in his hand.

“Mathieu?”

He turned, looking at her with a soft smile. Any thought of fleeing was dispelled at the sight, her heart fluttering in her chest. “Oh. Good evening.”

JiYeong sucked in a breath. He didn’t seem like he was upset at her running away from him. She wrapped her arms around her waist, stepping fully into the kitchen. “What are you doing?”

“Eating pudding.”

“Why?”

“I could not sleep. I was too worried trying to figure out what I could have done to cause you to look so afraid of me.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. I shouldn’t have run, I just... I’m sorry.”

“JiYeong.” He said. He was looking down into his cup, and it was the first time she had seen him look unsure of himself. “I normally try to stay away from relationships. They are distracting and give my enemy something to go after. Not only that but with my duties as not only a Lord Knight but a Prince that does not lend me much time to cultivate a relationship. I will admit it is unclear when my feelings for you became something more than mild annoyance.” He paused, finally looking at her when she was unable to stop her gasp. She wasn’t expecting him to confess so bluntly. “You feeling the same was never a worry for me. I had no intentions of acting on these newfound feelings. But...well you are not the most subtle person, JiYeong.” Mathieu chuckled. “It was getting harder to ignore the way you looked at me when you thought I wasn’t paying attention. Or the way you react to my touches. I am unfamiliar with these feelings, and I am afraid of what could happen but if there was anyone I would rather try this thing with, it’s you.”

It was JiYeong’s turn to cast her eyes down. She didn’t know how to respond to his confession. His directness shouldn’t have surprised her, Mathieu wasn’t one to sugarcoat anything, and yet she still found herself at a loss for words.

One thing she was now certain of though. She wanted to be with Mathieu, regardless of the obstacles. “I...er...I’d like that, too. To try this, I mean. With you.”

Mathieu laughed loudly, startling her. That wasn’t the reaction she had been expecting.

“Very well said, JiYeong.”

“Well I mean what else can I say? Clearly you already know how I feel!” She could feel the heat radiating off her cheeks. Mathieu’s laughter increased.

With a frown, JiYeong reached for his cup, sticking her finger in the pudding and smearing it on his cheeks.

“Hey!” He was still chuckling though now there was a look of disbelief on his face.

Her laughter at his face was cut short when she suddenly found her wrists bound.

Before she could protest, Mathieu had her pinned to the wall holding both her wrists above her head.

“Ahh! Mathieu don’t!” He’d lowered his head, rubbing his cheek against hers, eliciting more giggles. “You’re getting me all sticky!”

“You did it to me first!” Mathieu retorted, laughing as well. He pulled back, laughing all over again when she pouted up at him, cheeks now coated.

“I’m gonna have to take a bath again.”.

“I can help you with that.” Before she could question him he leaned down, licking her face.

“Oh ew! Mathieu that’s gross!” JiYeong yelped, struggling against him as he continued licking the pudding off her.

He finally slowed to a stop, chuckling lightly when she frowned at him again.

“You’re a jerk.”

“You are adorable.” He replied, his voice quiet. Her face reddened from the sudden compliment.

There was a moment of silence.

“You really like me?” JiYeong couldn’t help but ask as the silence waned on.

There was a smile again, and Mathieu let out a chuckle, his voice equally as quiet as he responded, “I truly do.”

When she tilted her head towards his, Mathieu’s hands moved from gripping her wrists to lacing his fingers through hers. He began leaning down until his mouth was hovering just over hers. He paused. “You’re not going to run from me again, are you?”

“Obviously not.”

He smirked before closing the gap between them, his mouth touching down gently at first, hesitant. But JiYeong stood on her toes, pressing her mouth harder against his. He lowered one hand in response, wrapping his arm around her waist and simultaneously pressing her further against the wall and pulling her flush against him.

Mathieu pulled away for a breath, his forehead resting against hers. She made a small noise of protest, not wanting the kiss to end so soon. Her now free arm went around his neck, fingers going through his hair as she stood on her toes again to press her mouth against his. They stayed like that for a moment.

His fingers skimmed down her thigh, brushing against the edge of her nightgown. At her shiver his eyes flickered to hers, dark and filled with something that made her stomach clench. “Tell me when you want me to stop.”