The first rays of the morning sun arrived along with birds chirping in the warm breezes. Wolfram woke up in his own bed as he remembered deciding to not share a bed with the king as he usually would do because being too close would make his heart beat out of his already tight chest. His eyelids were still heavy and he turned around to face away from the light streaming in through the big window, after a while he felt more refreshed and he could open his eyes with more strength. Next to him laid a double-black sleeping in place of the empty space he'd expected, he nearly sprinted up which would have woken the other boy but instead carefully watched Yuuri's breath follow the motion of his chest, slowly moving up and down simultaneously with the breaths in and out.

His gaze never left the view in front of him, not that he wanted it to- since it was the first time they shared his bed and not the kings. He eventually turned to look up at the roof, a big smile growing on his lips and he put his arms to block his view as a method to calm down.

"Are you done watching me with that cute expression?" The words came in the form of a whisper as something reached for him and held on tightly. Wolfram removed his arms to see the other boy still half asleep and featured a subtle grin while being pulled even closer. Red cheeks escaped his control to the double-black's sudden gesture of intimacy but the warmth from the hug was too comforting for the blonde to ever want to leave. Alas had the cuddling reached its end when both were dragged out to perform their separate duties.

The cries of one royal adviser echoed down the many halls when the violet eyed male's patients for not being able to be by his majesty's side ran out. In fact, already the night before - when they came back - was his intention to grab a hold of the king's attention. His plans were hindered due to the boy's godfather getting in the way and claiming rest was required by everyone returning, including his majesty who had gone through more than enough the past few days. But when morning arrived he spared no time and went to claim the king for study- as well as some alone time. Yuuri had groaned more than once, not even paying attention to the information Günter tried to teach, the chattering flew into one ear and out the other while all his thoughts lingered on that endearing fiance of his.

Wolfram stepped into the room where a certain redhead had just finished an experiment on a rather exhausted looking Gwendal who left the second the scientist turned her head to greet the blonde by the doorway. He had been called to talk with Anissina to discuss the rose which she had been so excited to examine she had barely been able to stand still upon welcoming them back. The look in her eyes as she received the rose that could conjure up love told a story of a woman who was going to be up all night researching, and that was exactly what she'd done. Sleepless hours or not she still had the bright aura of enthusiasm flowing all around her and a confident grin plastered over her face as she locked eyes with the prince entering.

"Ah! My dear Wolfram, when is the wedding?" She said while moving objects around and passing glances onto the prince who almost choked on the sudden words and hid an oncoming blush by carefully coughing in his hand. "I heard some gossip about you and the king being all lovey dovey while you were gone and some of the maids were whispering about the royal couple sharing your room for the first time so I'm assuming he's accepting you? Maybe even confessed?"

"Confessed? Confessed what? His feelings are just an illusion caused by that rose, he'll go back to normal once the effect wears off and deny the engagement like he's always done" Harsh reality hit Wolfram and the urge to cry from the hurt of his own words were harder to suppress than he ever thought. Normally this would be where he'd go on a rampage or yell in response but his heavy heart prohibited any more words to come out, instead he rested his gaze on the ground waiting for some kind of reaction to his outed feelings. Anissina stood quiet for a short while before letting out a laugh, even having to wipe away a tear.

"Is that what you think? No wonder the mood dropped so dramatically when I brought up the wedding" The suppressed laughs still came as chuckles as she continued. "From my experiments I can reassure you that no feelings are created if you get stung by one of the thorns, rather the already existing feelings in a person get amplified. It gives you more confidence in what you feel and the effect is actually that the person acts out in response to the sudden amplification. I'll even let you in on a little secret since I ship the royal couple."

She leaned towards him to whisper in his ear.

"Really? Are you really sure?" Wolfram had no clue how to react. His heart bounced up and down, warming every fibre of his being. Yuuri had feelings for him? And thanks to the rose he was now aware of them, if that wasn't enough Anissina claimed that the effects had long since left the king and pretty much only been in effect for 24 hours meaning he must've been himself from around the time after waking up from throwing a fit and getting drunk. All the cute things he thought Yuuri did because of magic was actually something he did out of own validation and they had all been directed at Wolfram.

There were no words for how relieved as well as happy he felt as all feelings took over him at once and he lost the ability to give a reaction. He stood there, like a statue, trying to comprehend if this was real and not just some cruel prank that pulled his strings now but would eventually let go leaving him on the ground unable to move.

Wolfram got pulled back into reality by a double-black king panting heavily beside him, gripping a hold of his wrist and dragging the blonde out of the room. Yuuri shifted his hold to interlocking fingers and practically dragged the prince out of the room while running to find a place where Günter wouldn't find them. Eventually they reached the greenery of the green house, sunlight lit in through the large windows warming up the humid air. They both rested while catching their breaths from running around, the smell of fresh roses filled the room.

"Yuuri?!.. What are.. you doing?"

Yuuri didn't answer, instead his countenance turned red as he was fidgeting with his fingers. His head hung down while words seemed to want to escape him but nothing managed to get out. He scratched the back of his head so often it would soon become bald. His glance shifted around the room but never got contact with the emerald in front of him. But the second Wolfram opened his mouth, all the words came out.

"Oh.. well I.. missed you and saw an opening to escape from Günter... I didn't have much time to think so I just ran around looking for you. Sorry if it was unexpected but I have something to tell you. Um. Look, it's like this.. I.. like you and not as a friend but.. I mean I do like you as a friend, you're like one of my closest ones. I meant I like like you.. um like roman-" The rambling maoh was cut off by the touch of soft lips pressed against his own. The strawberry scent was stronger than ever, he melted into the sensation and closed his eyes before pressing himself further into the contact.

Wolfram felt how the flapping of butterflies made his knees weak. Once he came back to his senses did he realise that he just pushed himself on Yuuri, what if he ruined the moment or the feelings weren't mutual after all. He quickly broke the kiss and met with Yuuri's dazed gaze, though he turned away the second their eyes met. The blonde was about to say something when two hands on his shoulders turned him back and he was hit with the warmth of another kiss. His mind that had been overflowing with thoughts and emotions turned blank as he leaned in, putting his arms around Yuuri's neck.

This time the connection wasn't broken until they both had to get their breaths back, and their eyes looked deep into one another as they both smiled with flushed cheeks. Wolfram couldn't help wanting to embrace the warm feeling within him by hugging the double-black while putting his face on the shoulder, inhaling the sweet allure.

Stern steps could be heard walking towards them from outside the door. The faint sound of someone crying out his majesty's name was getting more blatantly louder as the steps continued to close in. They grabbed eachothers hands and ducked right in time for the doors to open. Entering was Günter, but so his immense disappointment had the room appeared empty of any life except for that which was green. Hiding behind the bushes growing beautiful white roses sat the two quietly until they were the only ones left, they started giggling like little children.

The thrill of almost getting caught stayed with both of them until the afternoon when, along with an entourage, they went for a walk downtown. Keeping a slight distance as to not reveal the progress their relationship had taken, Wolfram felt displeased by the situation. In his mind, not walking too close to each other was one thing but simultaneously having to witness countless citizens trying to sweet-talk the king with him being in their presence had his blood boiling hot.

But this time jealousy wasn't going to suppress every other instinct he had, as it always did whenever someone would act in a manner exceeding what he deemed reasonable as friendly actions. No, this time he knew that what he felt for Yuuri was being met with the same affections, he felt an intense infatuation of ardour just by looking over at the messy hair Yuuri got from the wind blowing. He was set on fixing it when a couple of younger ladies approached him and started chatting about his appearance. Complementing his soft blonde locks, mesmerising green eyes and neat blue outfit. He wasn't opposed to the attention given to him, though there was someone else's recognition he craved more at the moment but he kept up a fairly good act in front of the kingdom's people.

Yuuri on the other hand noticed while engaging in some light conversation with the people that had taken their precious time to greet him, that some were flocking around Wolfram as well. At first it didn't pose as much of an issue but then one of them put their hand on his fiancés shoulder, acting all sweet with someone that wasn't theirs to begin with, he pushed aside those who were in his way and walked towards the blonde. Bumping into the girl standing closest while also taking the spot next to Wolfram. He excused them both and grabbed Wolfram's hand to walk away from the people that now engaged in gossip about the adorable royal couple leaving hand in hand.

"I'm the one that's supposed to be by your side, not someone random" he pouted, resting his head on the shoulder touched by others.

Wolfram turned red up to his ears. His loved one really knew how to be cuter than anyone he knew, in return for the heartwarming gesture he leaned against the double-black. Holding a tighter grip around each other's arms, they could feel the shared warmth between them.

"I don't want someone by my side unless it's you" Wolfram whispered as they alongside one another walked back to the Blood Pledge Castle. They walked with smiles on their faces and butterflies flapping their wings along the melody of happiness deep inside their hearts.

[End]