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Chapter Text

One of Maxi's favorite and only pastimes while in her father's home was to seclude herself in the library, the one place she felt safe for a few hours in the day when her father forgot she existed.

In there, she devoured the Roemion poetry and novels collected over the years - especially the love stories.

(Her one semblance of peace in a nightmare that she thought she would never escape)

Maybe it was the melancholy nature she developed during those years, but Maxi always felt drawn to the tragic ones; bittersweet would be the happiest end. Even then, she also did enjoy fairy tales that ended with the knight slaying the dragon and rescuing the princess.

(In the back of her mind at night, when she said her prayers before bed, she wished for such a thing to happen to her.)

In such tragic stories, there was a disease that developed with those that had a hopeless love - 'flower disease' or called 'hanahaki disease' as it was called in the few books her father had gotten from the southern continent- said that a flower would bloom from one's breath, which was caused by what seemed to be unrequited feelings or feelings that they felt could not be shared in the open.

It sounded romantic, if not pitiful, but the descriptions were horrific. How the vines and thorns would tear at the pitiful soul's lungs and throat, blood and petals springing from their lips as they choked on their breath, clawing at their chest as if it would relieve the pain.

Choking on feelings, they were too proud to admit - death being more welcomed than rejection since the only cure was a confession: a release of pent-up emotions that were suffocating them. Even if they were rejected, there seemed to be a sense of freedom in that outcome, even if the one affected would rather die than experience such pain.

It was something Maxi never really understood. Then again, it wasn't like she ever felt such overwhelming feelings for someone else.

Emotional pain, as well as physical, was almost like a friend to her - a comfort. Never to hope, so no disappointments, and a part of Maxi, in her heart, felt she would never be able to feel such overwhelming emotions for another person anyway, so it never concerned her.

If Maxi wasn't loved or safe with the family that birthed and raised her. How could she expect such feelings from strangers? It's not like she would ever choose her husband, even if her father let her marry, so she never allowed herself to consider such things.

Even so, Maxi devoured such stories with ferocity.

Of course, Maxi knew this was just a metaphor about not holding back your feelings, even if you got hurt. So Maxi never thought it was based on an actual disease, even when she would find references in historical books. Still, it was always glossed over, a shameful disease to have like ones spread through intercourse outside marriage or infidelity.

(Though it was only after her wedding night that she even understood such a comparison)

Maxi never thought more of it, and it wasn't exactly a time in her life to wistfully wonder what ancient poets and writers meant in the over-romantic prose that captured her lonely hours at her father's castle.

That was until she got to Calypse Castle. Then again, everything in her life changed when she arrived there...with a husband who had been forced to marry her and forced to kill a dragon in her father's stead. After three years, she expected him to forget her, especially when the rumors started after news of Sketor, the red dragon that had been slain, that he would marry the princess.

Something her father made sure she knew and understood the implications of if she lost the once lowly pagan knight, now the hero of the continent if not the world.

But Riftan Calypse surprised her - staying faithful to vows that forced him to face inevitable painful deaths before the most ferocious monster. To everyone's surprise, he triumphed and came for her first thing, even though it angered the King even more than he probably already was to have his daughter rejected by the dragon slayer for the pitiful Maximilian Croyso.

Maximilian still wasn't sure what to think about that.

She lived in a dream these months after coming with him to Anatol. A husband who seemed to want her in so many ways she still was getting used to, let alone actually interacting with those who treated her with respect; even the knight's attitudes were preferable to the treatment she had at Croyso Castle.

(Let alone learn magic, despite Riftans' strange reluctance to let her study it, filled her days with wonders until Riftan would fill her nights with a different kind.)

Like all good things for Maximilian, that dream was shattered as her husband suddenly collapsed after they left for their chambers after dinner with the knights and squires. Everything she knew and understood of the world shattered around her as he started to cough - hacking almost like something was tearing his ribs apart to free itself.

It seemed like her strong husband, Riftan Calypse, was a man who could work day and night without rest. Who worried her to the bone with his careless ways of sleeping on frozen snowy grounds or working in the rain for hours at a time to come back only to embrace her in their warm room - and barely have a handful of hours to rest before rising again to work tirelessly around the estate all over day in and day out - though he did seem to enjoy himself mutterings she heard also seemed to confirm he seemed more content than ever.

(Maximilian wouldn't understand until much later what those whispers meant.)

Now, here he was, on his hands and knees on the stone floor of the castle hall as servants and knights surrounding them, and Maxi knelt frozen beside him. In one moment, holding his arm as he whispered in her ear -warmth creeping over her body - only to feel like a bucket of ice water was thrown on her as he fell to the ground - which brought her down with him. Maxi knelt by him, hands shaking as they hovered over his body stunned in not knowing what to do or even starr as he began to dhake violently fom the coughing.

"R-R-Riftan..." her tongue twisted more in such a situation, but Maxi clenched her jaw to give herself a moment as her heart pounded painfully against her chest. "Riftan!" She gasped her chest bursting as she saw this man as impenetrable as a fortress now in his knees and blood covering his hands.

Blood covered his chin and the floor - strangely littered and covered in blue petals. It was like she was being pulled into a deep cave as she looked at Riftan and saw what seemed to be horror or even fear for the first time that was etched onto his handsome features. His dark, almost black eyes looked up at her face , and he gasped for breath as his calloused hands shook as they grabbed her wrists, pushing her away. It was then that Heberon and Ursuline lifted him.

Maxi slowly stood, her hands hovering out as if he would fall again - like she could catch him despite the fact his large body would only pull her down with him with him once more. She knew all too well that she was too small and he was too large, but her heart pounded in her ears. All that mattered was he didn't fall again.

"Maxi..." he coughed again, "don't come any closer." His voice was rough and pinched like something was squeezing his esophagus.

"B-b-but!" She trembled. He had only just gotten back from the goblin raid. Her gray eyes were wide as she searched him, worry and confusion clouding her mind as she moved closer, fighting the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes as her hands softly touched his arm. Before pulling away at the shock of how he was covered in sweat and his body was hotter - not the usual comforting warmness she had come to desire and enjoy.

Then she felt someone grasp a hand on her thin shoulder; Maxi whirled her head to see Ruth standing behind her. His face was even more pale than usual as he pushed past her to stand before Riftan.

"Come, what are we waiting for? Take him to his room." Ruth's voice was more authoritative than she'd ever heard, almost like he was the commander of the knights. Heboran and Ursuline followed, helping Riftan up the stairs as Maxi trailed behind them helplessly.

"W-W-What is w-w-...wrong?!" Her eyes stung as her chest burned, watching as the strongest knight in the realm spit out blood and....petals; Maxi clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the obvious sign. Before she knew it, everyone was standing outside the large oak doors of her and Riftans bedchambers. Maxi had fallen behind, but she pushed her way through the knights, not caring at that moment what they thought of her.

Maxi grabbed his arm with shaking pale hands, causing Riftan to stiffen before looking at her, black eyes staring at her warily, and somehow, he looked shameful. He shrugged her off before she could say anything to him; a chill went through Maxi at the rejection, but the pounding of her heart and the cold sweat building on her skin didn't register it. Her large gray eyes stared at Riftan, her hands out again before clasping them over her chest.

"I... don't want her in....here." Maxi's eyes widened at that moment, her clenched hands pressing against her beating heart. His voice was rough, dragged over thorns as he stared at the door before pushing off of Hebaron, slamming the oak door open, and walking in, his arm clenched around his chest like he had been injured there. "Damn it.....get in here, Ruth!"

Ruth looked back at Maxi and gave her a nod and a reassuring small smile, "It'll be okay, my lady. That man...."He stopped his lips tight, "You have nothing to worry about;  he can survive anything, trust me." Before entering and closing the door, leaving her alone with Hebaron and a few other knights and servants that had followed.

Maxi stared at the oak doors, biting her lip, her fingers clenching the velvet fabric of the skirt of her dress. Her mind swirled with what was happening around her ears, barely picking up the murmurs around her.

"I thought he had gotten over this after the campaign ended?" murmured Gable to Heberon. Maxi stiffened, then her gray eyes widened as she quickly turned to look at the two men who seemed to forget she was still there.

Hebron, usually so talkative, just sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. His green eyes stared at the doors with a sense of wariness. "You know how the Captain is." His voice is more serious than she's ever heard: "The wizard is probably giving him an earful in being reckless. The man hates showing any incilation of that illness." He clicked his tongue before realizing Maxi was staring at them. Large gray eyes were wide and teary as she tried to process the implications of this conversation, and as hot anger began to burn in her chest.

Was he sick? This whole time? Why had Maxi never realized? Why didn't he tell her? Was she so useless and insignificant that he wouldn't tell her about his health?!

Especially as she looked down at a blue petal in front of the doors, so much like the petals of the flowers he had given her in that first week. They sat dried in her chest with the red dress thankfully preserved by Ludis . Maxi chewed on her fingernail, something she hadn't done in months, not caring who saw her.

"I-Is Riftan...s-s-s...." she swallowed, giving herself a moment, "s-sick?" Her tongue twisted over the words as her eyes felt dry because she couldn't stop staring at those doors of their bedchamber.

"Ah...My Lady," Gable came closer to her, bowing slightly, "Please do not worry. The Commander is fine. The Mage knows what to do."

Maxi felt herself stiffen, her eyes narrowing as she ls looked at him sharply. Gable's eyes widened slightly at the look. She was tired of being treated like a child. Maxi was the lady of Anatol; she was Riftans wife! She should have been the first person to know if he was sick.

"S-So he is i-ill," Maxi murmured as her hands clenched the skirt of her dress again. She knelt then, picking up the bloodied petal in the palm of her hand before clasping her fingers over it.

Maxi looked over at them, her eyes taking in these large men who always looked irritated in her presence and now looked uncomfortable. They knew their Lord was keeping this from his wife, something he seemed to have for years.

"Tell me...w-w-..." she clenched her teeth, willing her stiff tongue to move. "What is wrong...with m-my husband."

Maxi wasn't an idiot; she may have been a stuttering fool, and she knew they didn't trust her. Maxi understood this, but her body felt hot, and her heart pounded against her chest. None of that mattered at that moment. The man who had been so kind to her now was sick. It would be unseemingly to act like she didn't care. Especially when she did, greatly to her own surprise, that she pushed back to deal with later.

A flower disease born from feelings that Riftan thought he could not divulge. A sickness that is usually was born because of romantic feelings unknown or unrequited by another person.

She was a fool to even slightly think that he had no one else in his heart before their forced marriage. He was a handsome man, and she was a pitiful woman only married to him out of pure luck for her father's cowardness. Just because he rained affection down on her didn't mean it was genuine in such a sense.

This wasn't a fairy tale. Maxi was too old for such foolishness. But they were married now, and Maxi had become greedy of the warmth he had filled her with, and she refused to let go of it, even when she knew in the future he would grow bored and tired of her. At least for now, she could do something.

As she stepped towards the door, ignoring the flustered voices of the knights trying to becan her back, that at least was something she wanted to believe.

------
"You oaf."

Riftan sat on the edge of his and Maxi's large bed. He glared up at Ruth, who stood before him - arms crossed and irritated like he had been interrupted by something ridiculous.

Riftan himself also believed it was ridiculous, so he didn't blame the man.

"I'm fine." His deep voice was scratchy like he hadn't drank anything in months. It hurt to speak, but compared to pain he had experienced before, it was barely above a bee sting in annoyance. "I've been careless, I admit." He looked to the side hating the shameful feeling coming over him and hating even more that whatever lecture he was going to receive was deserved.

He had been careless, drunk on having Maximilian finally in his arms. Waking up every morning with his arms around her and ending at night with her arms grasping around him, nails digging into his skin that he realized that pain also was pleasurable - at least by her hands.

Every day was like a dream. Riding around his estate with her, watching her care for the kittens he had found in the barn. Wearing the dresses and jewels he had bought for her - especially the ones bought in denial years ago.

"This is more than careless, Riftan." Ruth clicked his tongue as he stepped closer, "Take your tunic off." As he held out his hands waiting so he could begin healing. Since internal wounds responded better with skin to skin contact.

With a huff, Riftan slowly moved the muscles around his ribs tense as he breathed slowly as he could, so the sharp pains running through his torso were slightly bearable.

Ruth sighed as his light eyes took in the scene before him red lines - like vines - traveled around Riftans chest, usually this appeared at the end stages of the disease. Ruth wasn't sure how it had progressed so drastically in these last few months.

"Did something happen between you and Lady Calypse?" This was going to he like pulling teeth out of a heated wyvern, but if there was nothing else between Ruth and Riftan. The Mage always seemed to get the information he wanted out of the knight, especially since the end of the Dragon Campaign.

Ruth had his suspicion on why Riftan had become agreeable - at least in Ruths view compared to when the man was sixteen, it was like getting candy from a baby.

Ruth started to bandage around his chest. It wasn't exactly nessacary, but Riftan did not want Lady Calypse to see anymore or how bad this....affliction had become. If Ruth knew anything about Riftan, and he knew more than he ever wanted, that the man wouldn't allow her to know the cause of his death until he was cold and rotting in the dirt.

Not like Ruth didn't understand why he wouldn't want his wife to know he had a one-sided love disease. But it wasn't like the two were married out of love to begin with; but since they returned from the Dragon Campaign and the months that have passed had given the mage a sinking feeling about the relationship between his Commander and his Lady.

And who exactly the source of this affliction was.

A forced marriage isn't exactly a cure, especially since Riftan had been suffering from this for years. Only managed by his own stubborn repression of feelings and Ruths magic and knowledge he had from Nornui. But if Ruth was even a smidgen right in his suspicious, then this is much sadder than longing after a girl that gave him a flower wreath.

Since the girl was so much closer now but for all the wrong reasons.

It's was then there was a bang on the door; like someone was trying to force it open. Riftan just sighed as he laid back after Ruth finished bandaging him as one arm lay across his eyes. Ruth turned and looked at him, ignoring the pitiful pounding of the oak doors.

"You can't hide this forever, my lord." Riftan shuddered at the sarcasm that dripped from his title out of Ruths mouth. "Women don't take too kindly seeing their husband's suffer from one-sided love - even if they are the source."

Riftan removed his arm and turned his head to look at Ruth. His black eyes wide and burning with anger.

"If you say anything." His voice was rough and raw, but before he could continue the threat though, it was something Ruth had heard so much that it was like taking a toddler seriously who claimed he was Wigrew.

The door finally pushed open before either could start sniping at each other. Both men looked toward the door, and a shared irritation etched on their features only turned into surprise to see who it was.

Lady Maximilian Calypse, who was huffing and red-faced and cheeks wet as she stared at them. He could see Gable and Hebaron hovering in the back, unsure if they should pick her up and leave or not because one equal death and the other just a harsh training in the morning.

"Riftan...C-calypse." Her soft faint voice echoed through the room as she took a deep breath, "W-what is g-going on?"

"Maxi, please."

"I-i am your wife." Her voice firm as she walked in and tried to ignore the blood on the floor or their sheets. "S-s-so please e-ex-explain this." Her tongue twisted, but she pushed forward something Riftan had begun to admire about her even more as he stared at her clenched hands watching it unfurl to reveal the bloody petals.

Whatever God there was really did seem to have it out for him as he looked up his dark black eyes connecting with her light gray eyes - like the sun shining on a frozen winter lake a burning he never seen before but wanted more off.

But before either could begin, Riftan started to cough.

It would be a long night.

Chapter Text

The tension was palpable as Ruth stood between the Lord and the Lady of the castle. His light eyes flickered to the door, where he saw a few of the knights standing, Hebaron and Gable at the forefront of them, their expressions frozen in uncertainty. They couldn’t exactly pick up Lady Calypse and get away from her husband, their commander at that.

Especially with this situation finally being revealed to her in the worst possible way. Sometimes, Ruth regretted his choice in leaving the World Tower as he sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. The moment he met Riftan Calypse, he had not known a day of peace. As he opened his eyes then and glanced at Riftan, his mouth tightened together as he took in the paleness of his tanned face as blood dripped from the corners of his mouth and chin as the man finished coughing.

Prickling a memory in the back of his mind that was so long ago, but at the same time, it wasn’t in the grand scheme of things. A young boy on the verge of death and an illusion that once brought him back from that brink, now seemed to be what was leading him to it now. Though this time it was through that infuriating stubbornness of his Lord instead of a rare drake.

“Leave, Maxi.” Riftan’s voice was hoarse as he refused to look at her. Ruth’s eyebrows rose slightly at how his voice almost sounded like he was pleading with his small wife. He then looked over and felt somewhat amused as the Lady’s mouth twisted in a frown and her large gray eyes narrowed at her husband. Ruth knew how this confrontation was going to end but couldn’t help the amusement swell in his chest at the situation since it had become very clear to him the last few months that his Lady could give Riftan a run for his coin in stubbornness.

“No,” her voice trembled slightly, but Maximilian’s body felt like it was burning as she watched her husband’s eyes widen. Finally he was looking at her when before his black eyes were looking away from her which surprised Maximilian since he never had any issue in speaking his mind and looking at her in the eye.

Maxi grimaced slightly at his pallor and the blood dripping down from his mouth and smearing on his chin as his large hand moved up and rubbed the back of his hand on his mouth. “L-like I said…I am y-y-your wife.” She licked her lips trying to will her tongue to cooperate for once in her miserable life, “and I m-must…no n-need to know what is wrong with my….h-hu-husband.” She felt her face flush slightly at such a declaration but this is what it meant to be a wife, so she kept her gray eyes steady on his refusing to break the stare despite the sweat building on her brow.

Despite the kindness he had shown to possess and seemed to care for her there were times Riftan, to Maxi, could be still intimidating even though such things were becoming less of an occasion, but such things are hard to break.

Maximilian willed herself.

She watched as he frowned at her, mouth tightening in hesitation as he looked from her to his men in the doorway and then to Ruth. The mage just looked at him with his arms crossed in front of him and his eyebrows raised with an amused expression on his own pale face as his eyes flickered between Maxi and then back to Riftan.

The damn mage was obviously taking amusement in the situation Riftan had found himself in which made Riftan clench his teeth. This was not the time for such games.

Riftan refused to let Maximilian to see him in such a state or to learn of this damned illness that refused to leave no matter the time that passed.

The impossible was required to make it leave, and Riftan refused to ruin what was developing between him and Maxi now; old feelings brought by an illusion were not worth damaging the real moments with the actual woman he now held in his arms at night.

Riftan opened his mouth slightly, but what he was going to say was lost to the wind as he began to violently cough. Blood and damned blue petals falling from his mouth and it felt like vines covered in thorns wrapped around his windpipe and heart and it was hard to breathe.

It was then he felt a strange warmth spread through his chest, causing his deep black eyes to snap open and widen to see in the minutes he was preoccupied with coughing, Maxi had gotten herself close to him and was trying to heal him. Her soft hands touching him which caused him to tense before melting into her touch for a moment before lifting his arms that felt as heavy as concrete and grab her shoulders.

It was like some kind of sick joke.

Her gray eyes widened in surprise as she looked at him, their eyes connecting as his jaw tightened and Riftan wanted to bite his tongue so the words that rolled off would not make it to her ears.

But like with everything in his relationship with Maximilian, he chose the worst option.

“I do not need your help.” His voice was scratchy and low in a whisper, it was like being strangled by vines. “Leave, Maximilian.” And she blinked in surprise, then her gray eyes searched his face to see if what she was hearing was right; as her eyes burned, but she held the tears back before standing up and letting his hands drop from her shoulders and standing before him her lips quivering.

Her mind raced before giving him a glare and her head dropping to turn around and walk out of the room, the knights at the door parting like the sea.

“You can’t avoid telling her forever, you know?” Ruth’s voice rang out as Riftan glanced over at him, obvious disappointment in his eyes, but Riftan just closed his eyes and lay back on the bed, his feet still on the floor.

“I know.”

---------
Maxi paced the library room as she chewed on her thumbnail. Her mind raced with possibilities of what was happening.

Her husband very well could be dying.

What did that mean for her? The thought made her heart sink at the very real possibility of being sent back to her father, with no male child to show from her failed marriage and forced into a new, unwanted marriage.

One with an actual unkind man, Maxi wouldn't be so lucky twice.

Maxi swallowed as she shook her head her teeth nibbling on her nail.

Why was she thinking of herself in such a situation? A part of her resented this part of herself that fought for survival. The one that was suffering right now was Riftan, but even now he refused to share anything with her. Anger boiled in her chest wresting with the cold fear of his death and what it could mean.

All the while knowing she was ignoring the cause of his illness....that there was some woman out there he yearned for. Maximilian scoffed as she crossed her arms as she stopped in front of the fireplace. She had to remind herself that no matter how affectionate and kind Riftan was to her....he still was also forced into this unwanted marriage, just like her.

Her mind raced in what she should do, some deep horrible jealous part of herself wanted to dig her fingers into his skin and mark this man as her own and no one else's. To remind him that he was her husband, no one else's.

The creaking of the door stirred Maxi from her plummeting thoughts as she looked over her shoulder at the interruption.

Only to be met with a very tired and annoyed looking Ruth. Her gray eyes widened as she picked up her skirts and rushed over.

"W-what has h-ha-happened?!" Her voice shook in her vulnerability. There was no way Ruth would come searching for her if Riftan had not taken a turn for the worst. Cold sweat formed on her body as she searched his face, the mage's hands lifted in a defensive move.

"Fear not, My lady." He sighed as she stepped back, "Nothing has changed." His frown deepened, "but I thought it best that I check on you after your husband foolishly threw you out." He scoffed as he walked over to their usual table and sat down, his head in his hands.

Maximilian watched him with some sympathy and gratefulness but in that moment nothing else mattered.

"A-and R-riftan is o-okay?" Her tongue stiffened and stuttered more than usual at this moment, she wanted to bite it in punishment as one would smack a baby's bottom when they were in temper.

"As well as one could be after almost coughing his lungs up full of petals." Ruth shrugged before grimacing as he looked at Maxi's paler that usual face at his words.

"I apologize, my Lady. Seems in my tiredness is have lost some of my tactfullness" Maxi did everything in her power not to roll her eyes in that moment.

"W-who is it?" Her voice was soft than as she pressed her torn nails into her soft palm. Maxi swallowed but she could not lift her eyes from the carpeted floor.

"Who is what, my Lady?" A genuine confusion was laced in Ruth's voice in that moment that made Maxi look up.

"T-the wo-woman that R-riftan l-l-l-...." she stopped taking a deep breath through her nose, "cares for so deeply?"

Ruth blinked.

"Isn't it obvious?"

Maxi wanted to scream in that moment before the door was opened by Ludis.

"My Lady, the Lord is asking for you." She sounded breathless as she straightened her headdress from rushing so fast. Maxi swallowed before nodding as she pretended to smooth the creases in her skirt and nodded at Ruth with a poor smile on her lips.

"Thank y-you." And walked towards the door and left with Ludis.

Ruth stood watching the door still, the feeling that he did something he shouldn't have weighing on his chest.

--------

Maxi stood outside the oak door, her heart pounding in her chest as her hand clutched the green fabric of her dress that was over it.

Just hours ago he was whispering sweet things in her ears and would, as usual, be in his arms right now both sated.

But as she blushed at the memories, the words that Ruth implied (well she more or less filled in the blanks) weighed on her mind.

'Isn't it obvious?'

What did that mean, exactly?

Was it truely Princess Agnes Riftan yearned for but was so honorable he kept his vows towards her. Maxi's thumbnail pushed against her plush bottom lip as thoughts rushed in her head.

Was those heated words and glances in their lovemaking actually for her? Or was he picturing another woman?

Could she even call it lovemaking? Even though that is what he called it instead of their marital duty?

Was it really just that, a duty? To have a child? Would he push her aside if she birthed his heir no need to share her bed anymore?

Let alone if she birthed a girl. Maxi knew too well how men reacted to that particular failure.

She could feel the tears build up in her eyes in that moment. Maximilian really felt like a fool....tricked by honeyed words and sweet kisses.

As she stared in these thoughts like a cauldron the door suddenly flew open causing her to let out a small scream only to be met with her husband's gleaming bronze chest.

"Maxi!" His voice rasped as his dark eyes shown something she never could place, relief was it? "I thought Ruth was keeping you or something had happened." He coughed then making Maxi's heart stir.

Never once has she seen this man so weakened but as she raced out and touched his chest, her fingers tracing over the areas his heart and lungs were she felt a determination fill her.

Slowly she moved her hands up and around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.

Riftan didn't hesitate for a moment in returning the kiss.

Why was she buring herself in such thoughts? He chose her didn't he? Even if it meant his health would be impacted....Riftan Calypse still chose the stuttering, foolish Maximilan. For reasons she probably would never understand.

Maximilian pulled back first, her own lungs burning as she panted and cheeks flushed as she watched his own blush cover his cheeks up to his ears.

She couldn't help but smile then.

"There it is." He whispered, her large and calloused finger moving to pinch her cheeks between them making her lips resemble a ducks bill.

"R-riftan!" She mumbled as she placed her hands on his wrists but didn't try and push him away.

When he pulled away a laugh left her lips as her heart pounded seeing the smile on his own lips.

There was no way she would let this hope he built in her have a tragic, or bittersweet end.