Neutral Territory
Poppy Estate
Poppy Castle

Zora didn't know where to start. Lady Prospekt waited and didn't force to him to speak. Sighing, Zora said, "There's someone who confessed their love for me. He's my friend and colleague. We didn't start out with the best first impressions, but we've come to respect each other over the years. And when he told me, he was suffering from the Unrequited Love Flower Curse, and there was no way that I had the same feelings, so I rejected him."

"Mmhm," hummed Lady Prospekt. "And yet, you two remained friends, though it was awkward?"

"Yeah," said Zora, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "But then something happened on our last mission together that's got me up in knots."

Lady Prospekt said, "Which is?"

"Have you heard about the Clover Fairy Tales," asked Zora. He didn't even pause because he knew she knew. "Well, we ran into this witch, Tuccia, who put Kirsch under a curse, where he was in some sort of sleep."

"Ah, yes, the True Love's Kiss, I'm aware of it," said Lady Prospekt, nodding knowingly. "I never taught you those stories, did I?"

"Back then, I wouldn't have listened to such stories," said Zora, waving her concern off. "So, you can infer what happened next and now, I feel extremely guilty for doing it. It wasn't fair to him, especially how I know he's a romantic at heart and takes things like that seriously. I don't want to hurt him."

Lady Prospekt smiled, gently and said, "Zora, sweetie, I think you're misunderstanding."

Zora stilled because she hadn't called him so affectionately in a long time. "What?"

"Such a thing as True Love's Kiss only works if the feelings are mutual," she stated. "Though, it's a bit of a misnomer to be called it, I would say that it should be Mutual Love's Kiss and not True Love."

"I'm sorry, what?" Zora felt his face getting warm. What did she mean that the only reason that the kiss worked was because Zora felt the same way? He wasn't in love with Kirsch. He couldn't be! Zora never had romantic feelings for another person. Romantic love and such relationships were beyond Zora's emotional capabilities. He barely handled having friends and a found family. This was making him nervous and uncomfortable. It didn't helped that Sal had essentially said the same thing to him in Grimmtowne. "I'm not…?" He fell silent, because maybe he didn't understand his own feelings for Kirsch?

"Zora, it's okay," she said. "Let's talk this out, and we'll work it out together."

"How did you know you were in love with your husband," asked Zora.

Lady Prospekt let out a brief laugh. "It's different for everyone, but I shall tell you. After you had left my father and my care, I went on a journey as all members of my family do at a certain age. Growing up here, I am a bit strange to others."

"Meaning you're a diplomat in nature and diffuse every situation easily," said Zora.

"Hmm, yes, I suppose," she replied, "Anyway, some months into my journey, I was in the Diamond Kingdom and I had stopped at a tavern there. Fights among drunkards happen and I had gotten in the middle when the local constable showed up and put everyone in their place. I got scolded for putting myself in danger. This was the first time I met my future husband. I kept going back to that town time and time again, and each time ran into him. Before I knew it, I was staying weeks in that town just to see him and then I knew I loved him."

"You just knew? Is it that way for some people?"

"Yes," she affirmed. "And for others, it's harder to come to terms. I have only one question for you, is he just your friend or is your relationship with him special in comparison to your other friends?"

Zora frowned. He thought about it. His friendship with the members of the Black Bulls were familial in nature. He had good friendships with Sal, Mimosa, and maybe Mereoleona. His colleagues in the Magic Knights were treated with disdain because Zora had high expectations. Then, there was Kirsch and it was different, wasn't it? Kirsch was his equal, a person that can be considered a partner. And Zora worried after Kirsch way more than everyone else, especially when Kirsch was hurt or injured or too optimistic for his own good. Kirsch was bright and beautiful and Zora was proud of him for changing for the better. And Zora didn't want Kirsch to marry someone who didn't love him for who he was as a person.

"Oh." Zora put his hands on his face and groaned. "I'm an idiot."

"You hadn't been equipped to handle such feelings," Lady Prospekt said. "Say it out loud, it'll make it more real and I don't think this something you can run from, Zora."

"This is terrible," said Zora. He sighed, as Lady Prospekt stared at him expectantly. "I think I'm in love with Kirsch." Zora was never going to live this down once Sal and Vanessa found out.

"Good for you," she said. "Now, what are you going to do?"

"He's getting married," said Zora, blankly. "He's a royal, you know, a Vermillion. And I already rejected him. And what if I tell him how I feel and we get together and it's not a love meant to last? He'd ruin his life for me and I can't have him to do that."

She hummed. "Alright, forget about that now. Do you think that you could feel this way about another person, though it a bit different of ways?"

"I don't know." Zora never dated or responded to flirting from anyone, so he didn't know. Wow, he was really under-prepared for things like this. He really was a bit of dumbass. Yes, Kirsch loved him now, and told Zora that his feelings were not going away, but what about Zora? Was he just responding to that love given? "You made this worse."

"The greatest love stories are the ones that you don't ever hear about," said Lady Prospekt, smiling. "Love isn't easy, it takes work from all involved. I'm afraid that the rest is up to you, Zora, sweetie."

Knowing that Kirsch was meeting his betrothed for the first time probably at this very moment, Zora knew that he just didn't want to confess to save Kirsch from that horrid woman. Clarity's stories made Zora very worried. Zora knew full well that if he said to Kirsch "don't get married," Kirsch would take it to heart. But wasn't that cruel? Kirsch was grown. Zora had no right to interfere in the other man's decisions.

He needed to figure his own feelings out before talking to Kirsch, lest this hurt them both.

Because when he confessed, Zora wanted to do it in a way so that Kirsch knew how much he was loved.

Clover Kingdom
Noble Realm
Esmond Estate

After supper, Kirsch and Lady Prudence were all but shoved out the door to walk around the Esmond Estate gardens. At least, the gardens were pretty and Kirsch enjoyed such things. Lady Prudence was close to him in height, though she was trying to make herself seem smaller as she held on to his arm. Thankfully, she wasn't clinging too much.

The gardens were very beautiful under the sunset glow. Lady Prudence knew the grounds well so she led them to an area that had a large fountain with a statue of the Wizard King some benches surrounding it. They didn't sit though, as the fountain came to life as a waterfall.

He understood why he'd be chosen for her match as they made a striking couple in the same way his parents were when they put effort into remembering that they were married. Lady Prudence was a stoic woman, though she had no underlying warmness that Kirsch could see when he looked into her eyes or how she acted. Supper was interesting as she controlled the conversation with her parents and siblings (though she completely ignored Clarity).

As Kirsch was never one for the lack of words, except when it came to Zora and Mimosa for very different reasons, he knew that he had to be polite and gentlemanly. "So, Professor Esmond, you are a professor of philosophy, what drew you to a career in academia?" It was best to ask about another's career or interests and not focus on oneself.

Lady Prudence released his arm and moved to stand face-to-face to him. She was unimpressed and straight-faced, as she said, coldly, "Let's not do this, Lord Kirsch."

"Do what," Kirsch asked, wondering what she was going to say.

"I intend to marry you," said Lady Prudence, bluntly. "You need not attempt to butter me up with small talk as if we were on a first date like children. We are adults and we both agreed to the engagement."

Kirsch felt a spike of annoyance, but he said, politely, "A husband and wife should know each other well. How else are we going to learn about each other if we don't talk?"

"You are a clearly a fool," said Lady Prudence. Then, she went on what equated to a rant, though she didn't raise her voice or emote in any way, "Marriage is a contract. We do not need to be friends. I don't intend to ever see you as more than a means to an end. When we marry, I expect you to quit your job as a Magic Knight. I won't have my husband getting killed on a missions, especially when our two future children will need a parental caretaker. And I'd rather have a house-husband attend events at the University with me than a Magic Knight. It's an embarrassment that you dirty yourself with service as a Magic Knight as a royal and I will not be embarrassed at the University."

"Excuse me," asked Kirsch, all pretenses of politeness erased from his mind. He was many things, but a push-over was not one of them.

"Are you stupid too?"

When he told this story to Levi later, Kirsch knew he would be teased for going full Vice-Captain Lecture Mode on her.

However, right now, Kirsch was having none of this, tranquil fury running through his veins, as he put his hands on his hips and he said, "I don't know who you think you're talking to, but respect is a two-way street. This is absolutely unacceptable behavior coming from a member of a noble house of the Clover Kingdom. Do you have no manners? Do you think you are so much better than everyone else that you have no empathy? I'm going into this agreement with good intentions to be a proper husband, not a brow-beaten trophy husband. I, Kirsch Vermillion, am no one's trophy husband, do you understand me, lady? And children? We will not be having any children, if you intend to use them as props for the advancement of your career. You need to take a hard look at yourself and ask if you are okay with who you are, because I find you utterly despicable."

Lady Prudence's eyes were wide in shock and she nearly gaped at him.

"What? Nothing to say now? Have you never gotten scolded for your unacceptable behavior," asked Kirsch, still very furious.

She didn't respond.

Kirsch stared at her.

The silence was deafening as they both started back to the house. Kirsch wondered if he just ruined this engagement. Not that he was looking forward to marrying this horrid woman, but it'd bring trouble to the Vermillion House. Still Kirsch didn't regret scolding her as if she were one of his subordinates.

Entering the house, the Esmond parents were expectantly waiting with Kirsch's parents (who were bored out of their mind, though still being polite). To his utter shock, Lady Prudence said, in a simpering tone, "Oh, Father, Mother, Lord Kirsch is a most wonderful man and I cannot wait to marry him."

Kirsch tried to not show surprise, as he glanced over at Lady Prudence. As the Esmond parents were distracted with cheerfully shaking hands with Kirsch's parents, his future wife gave him a smirk and the look in her eyes told him that she was on a mission.

She moved closer to him and whispered, so softly that only he heard, "I'm going to crush you under my heels, Lord Kirsch." She moved away so quickly to hug her parents in fake cheer and enthusiasm.

Jaw set, Kirsch realized that he just entered a very dangerous situation, one more dangerous than the one with Tuccia earlier that week, and he was exhausted already.

Clover Kingdom
Forsaken Realm
Black Bulls' Headquarters

Zora returned with Finral sometime after sunset at the Black Bulls' house. They entered the house, which was quiet. Magna was busy throwing a blanket over Vanessa, who had gotten drunk early today, and Charmy, who was in a food coma. "Hey, guys, how was your trip?"

"Good. Where's Finesse," asked Finral about his girlfriend/future wife.

"She went to bed. Asta, Noelle, and Gauche got sent off on a mission. Grey is hiding in her room. And I don't know where the others went," said Magna. "There's leftovers for once."

"Wow, surprise, surprise," drawled Zora, who hadn't seen leftovers in this house ever. "Is Charmy sick?"

"Don't think so," said Magna. Magna, Finral and Zora sat at the table and split the leftovers. "Did you get your answers, Zora?"

"Sort of," said Zora, taking a bite of the pork brisket, the tangy barbeque sauce made him cringe.

"What Zora means," Finral said, "is that he's more confused than ever."

Magna snorted, "Well, that's not good. What do you intend to do?"

Zora shrugged, "I don't know." Finral and Magna traded looks. Zora wanted to smack their heads together. Other than Asta, these two idiots were his closest friends in this squad. And Zora told them things that he would never even talk, except maybe with Kirsch. "What?"

"Did you figure out your feelings?"

Chomping on a biscuit, Zora debated telling them. He figured that since Finral was in a successful relationship and Magna was surprisingly good at advice, he should say something. "I'm pretty sure I'm in love with Kirsch."

Finral choked on some food, as Magna patted the spatial user's back. Magna grinned, "So what's the problem?" It took some time afterwards, but he eventually told Finral and Magna that Kirsch had confessed that fateful morning when Levi came to get him. Zora knew that everyone in the squad figured it out, but knew better than to ask.

"What if I'm just imagining it? I ain't never had someone like that before," said Zora, grimacing as he ate more meat. "Geezus, Charmy, why can't you put less spice in here?"

"Zora, why don't you go on a date with someone that you're compatible with, before confessing to Kirsch to see if you can connect with someone else in a romantic way," asked Finral, deep in thought. "A group date wouldn't work for you, but I'm sure there's someone that'd go for you, other than Kirsch!"

"Insulting," said Zora, deadpan.

Magna said, loudly, "I know the perfect person!"

"What," Zora and Finral asked shocked.

"And she won't get upset if doesn't work out, this is perfect."

~to be continued