"Will you marry me?" April whispered into Donovan's ear with a short chuckle. Donovan choked on his own bloody spit.

"Y-yes, yes I would marry you any day of my life." Donovan said, his honey brown eyes shining blue for a second, frightening April and bringing her to the real world.

"You're a moon creature aren't you?"

April asked, voice unshaken. She wasn't afraid of the man standing in front of her. Even if he was naked and covered in blood.

"I was going to tell you- I was afraid you'd be afraid. I-I would never-"

"Relax, I kind of figured. I usually attract strange men but I've never met an emotionally weak man who could kill a deer with a rock so, I supposed I had some kind of clue." April said casually dusting herself off.

Donovan's whole chest felt like it was compressing. His head was spinning he was utterly overwhelmed by April's words alone.

"You're not afraid?" Donovan asked, voice cracking as he speaks.

"Of your weak ass?... try me." April said lifting up her knife to point it at Donovan's heart.

"Last I remember you were running away from a bird." Donovan said with a small laugh, his whole being felt an unfamiliar gush of happiness and relief.

"I was caught off guard, that thing was freaky. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking abou-" April's sentence were interrupted with muscular arms wrapping around her waist once more.

"Thank you for coming back." She says as She wraps her arms around the man.

"I'll always come back for you."

Donovan leaned in, and April turns her head. Donovan stares down to her lips unsure of whether he should go for it or not.

He gives into his own desires since April doesn't move away.

Donovan moves close enough for their nose to brush against each other and the heat of their faces meet.

April places a hand on his cheek, slapping him gently.

"It's gonna take a lot more rescues for a kiss." She whispered near his very close lips.

"How many more?" Donovan said.

"I'll tell you when you make the mark."

"That hardly seems fair."

"Deal with it loverboy." April says before walking away from him and towards the wall.

-

Guards watch as the king paced, he's nervous. They can tell and it's making them equally if not more anxious. The king isn't usually the kind of person who shows anxiousness. He's usually calm and collect during the worst times.

Throughout wars and drought their king has been calm and it's taking Akia moving back into her room after being hospitalized to bring him into a panic.

He had even tried to not show his angst, he had walked into the throne room with his shoulders high. he'd listened and answered the questions of the civilians in a relaxed manner as always but the moment the last civilian left the throne room doors. The king's shoulders had fallen and his breath had picked up.

It didn't help that Akia had refused to see him the entirety of her month in the hospital.

She had turned away from him, showing her king her back, which if a civilian ever did, they would stay alive long to tell the tale.

He started shaking since then, something inside him starts chewing at him. His magic curling inside him as the restlessness continues.

He doesn't want to force her although he could've have.

Juliet stifled watching him pace like this.

"Would you like some tea?" Juliet asked, from where she stood in front of the throne along with the other girls.

"It might help calm your nerves your majesty." Juliet said.

"I have this disgusting feeling at the pit of my stomach." The king said and took off his heavy crown.

He's never supposed to take it off in public but he does anyways. Every guard in the room turns away, not being allowed to see the king without his crown.

"Is this about Akia your majesty?" Juliet asked instructing the maids around the throne to turn around.

The king doesn't respond and Juliet sighs.

The king pouts and kicks his feet childishly. He flings the crown and it lands in front of Juliet.

"Get me another one, that ones too heavy." The king says and Juliet picks up the crown with both hands.

And takes it away with her.

Moments like these made him realize how truly alone he was.

He kicked his family out of his kingdom and now he had no one to confide in.

"Your majesty.. if I could make a suggest something." This time it was Clast who spoke, To the king's surprise.

Ever since Akia fell sick, the man had taken a vow of silence. He spoke to no one and ate alone, if he decided to eat that was.

"There's a girl, her name is Eleanor, General worships daughter." Clast said and the king lifts his shoulders.

"I'm not following." The king said and Clast continues.

"Eleanor has been Akia's best friend since birth. If you want her happy and comfortable, you have to bring her Eleanor." Clast said and the king thinks for a second.

"A pageant." The king says with such excitement that everyone in the room is surprised.

"I'll make a pageant for her." The king said, his worries drifting.

"Find Eleanor and bring her here." The king said as Juliet walks into a room bringing in a more slender crown.

Akia is seated on her bed with Mina washing her feet.

"You really don't have to." Akia said trying to gently shove Mina away from her swollen feet.

"It's okay, I don't mind doing something like this for a friend." Mina said smiling softly up at Akia.

"Besides I know what it's like walking around with huge swallow feet."

Mina's soaked towel drifts down to her heel.

"Sorry I couldn't come visit you at the hospital. The queen wouldn't let me out of her sight for even a second."

"It's alright, I appreciated the time alone a lot."

"I thought you didn't like being alone" Mina said putting the towel back into the bucket of warm salted water.

"It was different, I mean- I could feel him." Akia said placing a hand on her stomach.

"You could?" Mina said with a wide smile on her face.

"It was surreal. One night I woke up from a bad dream and opened up the windows. There were fireflies everywhere and they surrounded me. It was like they wanted to comfort me. When they left I felt something more inside me, like it was reaching out for the flies. Ever since I've felt full. Fuller than I've ever felt in my life."

"Really? The queen has been feeling the exact opposite. In fact she eats as much as you do now." Mina said poking fun at Akia. Akia laughs softly.

"It's the baby." She says bashfully.

"I'm sure." Mina says and Akia blushes.

There was a knock at the door and Mina places Akia's feet in the bucket before going forward to open the door.

"Eleanor?"

Akia rose up so quickly that she stumbled out of the bucket tripping and falling right into the arms of her best friend. Akia kissed each side of Eleanor face and Eleanor does the same.

"What are you doing here?" Akia said and Eleanor responded.

"Can the maid excuse us?"

"Eleanor don't be-"

"I should go help with dinner." Mina said going over to pick up the bucket.

"You don't have to-" Akia said voice barely over a whisper.

"I shouldn't stay. Please sleep early My lady." Mina said before bowing and walking passed the two.

Once she leaves, Eleanor picked up a small bag from inside her dress.

She handed it to Akia.

"Your mother told me to give you this. She said to take it all at once."

Eleanor said giving Akia the bag.

"Oh?, thanks." Akia said stuffing the bag into her dress pocket.

"So you're like royalty now?" Eleanor said with a squeal jumping up and down in excitement. Eleanor gasp and drew a Akia closer.

"What was losing your virginity like?"

Akia laughs nervously.

"It was alright." Akia said not wanting to kill Eleanor's happy mood with the truth.

"Sleeping with the king was just alright?" Eleanor said rolling her eyes. "Stop holding back, tell me everything, forget all the elegant lady shit and let's get down to the dirty.

Is he big?"

" you've seen him haven't you?, he's pretty tall and wide."

"I meant down there!" Eleanor hissed.

"Down where?" Akia asked and Eleanor can't help but laugh her irritation with her friends childishness away.

"Down between his legs."

"Don't be so vulgar-" Akia said hitting her best friend's shoulder.

"You haven't seen me in months and that's the first thing you ask me." Akia said and Eleanor scoffs.

"Sorry that I'm interested in one of the only exciting things that have ever happened to you."

A moment of silence goes by,

"I never got a look but it felt like my insides were getting ripped apart."

Eleanor squealed.

"So do you and the king meet secretly or are you really allowed to just go into his chambers anytime you want?."

"We don't-"

"how many times have you done it? I bet you have him wrapped around your fingers huh?, he's even throwing you a pageant."

"What?"

"A whole pageant, a nationwide pageant. there's no way you're gonna win this time."

"Why?" Akia asked and Eleanor smirked. "You didn't ask for it?, you must really have him wrapped around your finger then."

Akia looks like she's in thought.

"Speaking off, can you do me a favor?"

"Anything" Akia said turning to face her friend.

"Remember Toby?,"

"Handsome carpenter Toby?" Akia said leaning closer to Eleanor.

"Yes, Incredibly handsome Toby. He wants to marry me but father won't allow it, could you maybe speak to the king about doing something about it? Maybe while you're warming his bed."

"I don't know Elle." Akia said moving away on swallow pregnant lady feet.

"I would do it for you a thousand times over." Eleanor insisted and Akia felt bad knowing she probably would with no question.

"I'll try."