Previously

Unfolding from his magic was a dress unlike any I had ever seen – the color of the seafoam, intricately embroidered with shimmering threads of gold on the cuffs and waist danced in harmony beneath the soft sunlight. The fabric appeared delicate as a moonbeam, yet as I felt it, there was a surprising strength resonating beneath its soft surface. It was nothing short of artistry, a masterpiece created for the wearer to both command and complement the room. Its elegance and mystery seemed to mirror Loki himself.

Eyes wide and jaws slackened in amazement, we turned to glance at the three sisters who had been momentarily forgotten amidst the surprise appearance of Loki and his unconventional gift.

To say that they were observing our interaction would be an understatement. The sisters had paused in their activities; the room, once bustling with whispers of steam and the gentle clinking of glass bottles, now lay still in gaping silence broken only by Loki's distinct laughter.

Ingrid, her hands still clasped around the plush rosy towel she had been folding a moment ago, stared, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. Beside her, Astrid held a forest-green gown, frozen mid-air in her bewildered pause. Her eyes darted in astonishment from the dress in her hands to the one Loki had unveiled.

But it was Ama whose reaction outshone the others. Her usually radiant face masked with shock, the bright crystal mixing flask she held had stopped mid twirl, causing the myriad of liquid colors swirling within to settle. One fragile hand rose to her lips, as if to suppress an astonished gasp.

Laughter bubbled within me at my companions' comically stunned expressions. Before I could utter an apology, Loki curtly nodded at the sisters.

"The air in here could do with some less shock, ladies. How about getting that bath ready for Lady (Y/n)?" His voice was smooth as ever yet held an unfamiliar edge, a sparkle that matched his shining emerald eyes.

Roused by his cool command, the sisters sprang back into action, with Ingrid hastening to the bathing chamber, Astrid whisking away the unchosen dresses, and Ama resuming her delightful dance with scents and potions.

This gave me the privacy to talk to Loki and express my gratitude to him.

"Loki, this dress, it's beautiful. Exquisite even.", I exclaimed, boring my eyes into his in a hope that they would convey all that I was being unable to.

He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed like a thunderstorm in the distance. "Ah, Your Highness,” he said, a grin dancing on his lips. "A dress this exquisite does demand a certain compensation.”

“What could I offer,” I wondered aloud, my eyes tracing the intricate designs of the gift.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the sitting room, stopping just in front of the circular center table. With a quick flute of his fingers, Loki conjured a miniature illusion of Asgard's royal gardens, their vibrant greens and radiant flora appearing on the table between them. A vision of exceptional beauty, it took her breath away. "I ask for nothing more than a simple stroll in the primordial bliss of the royal gardens. Only if you would honor me with your charming company, my dear princess."

My brow arched in surprise, amusement twinkling in her brilliant eyes. "You ask for my company? And why should that be a fitting payment for such a splendid dress?"

"Well,” Loki smirked. “I get the best end of the deal. Your company is worth more than a mere dress."

The chuckle that escaped her was as warm as the Asgardian golden mead. The Trickster played his words well, and she had to admit the allure of his charm was enchanting. The gardens had always been her sanctuary; it was a testament to Loki's cunning to have chosen such a gift.

"All right, Trickster. It’s a deal. A walk in the royal gardens it is."
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Author's P.O.V.

The second Prince of Asgard sat on the sofa in the Crown Princess's sitting room, and it seemed like an eternity before a single minute passed. For a split second, he thought the Norns were playing with him.

No matter how hard he tried, Loki could not control the excitement that filled his chest, making him feel like he was about to burst out of his skin.

He tried to figure out what was wrong with him and why he was acting this way.

It wasn't as though he was awaiting the results from an examination.

Right?

Then why did his heart refuse to stop drumming like a ceremonial drum inside his chest? Perhaps it was the exhaustion. Yes. It had to be, since that was the most logical option.

After all, it was a long time since he'd had a day as hectic as today. Right from settling into the Avengers' tower (both mentally and physically) to rushing off to the dressmakers and getting that dress made in front of him; Loki had all the right to be worn out.

Loki smirked.

It was a beautiful dress though. And why would it not be? The god of Mischief had in fact gotten it made right under his watchful eye (much to the irritation of the tailor).

He thought about how it would look on her.

If Loki had to comment on it from an artist's point of view, (Y/n) did full justice to the dress.

He could just imagine it.

The way the soft green colour would look against her (your skin tone) skin. The way in which the fabric would brush against her soft hands, as though placing a soft kiss on them. The way she would look when she twirls.

Norns.

Loki could now barely contain his excitement to see his vision come to life.

Patience, Friggason. Patience. Remember, the most beautiful things are only achieved with patience. One must sit patiently to witness the blooming of any flower.

Taking in a deep breath, Loki decided to rest his eyes and close them, deciding that the next moment he opens them again, would only be to look at crown princess (Y/n) Acharya, standing in the dress in her full glory, a breeze caressing his cheeks, as though agreeing to his notion.

While on one side of the chambers Loki battled with his ever growing excitement, on the other side (Y/n)'s three handmaidens battled their questions.

Each, more unique than the other.

As Ingrid washed the princess's hair carefully, her nimble fingers massaging her scalp gently, her mind raced at the speed of a thousand wild horses.

The one thing which she couldn't grasp, was the reason behind the usually closed off Prince Loki's sudden change in demeanour.

She had noticed, even before the prince had made his arrival in their guest's chambers, ever since Loki had returned from Midgard, rather than being more snappy than usual and upset over the fact that he was sent against his will, he had become more cheery and, she dare say, softer. Both, on himself and others.

The prince who would otherwise lock himself up either in his chambers or amongst his books in the library after returning from any endeavour with his brother and his friends, had ventured out into the market all by himself today. In fact, from what she had heard from the other maids, he was in a brighter mood and had even struck up pleasant conversation with the people he met!

Moreover, he had even bought something which was not for himself but for Lady (Y/n), whom he met recently!

Unbeknownst to her, the thought which had been the last link in Ingrid's chain of thought, was the first one in her sister Astrid 's.

While she poured the soaps concocted by Ama into the water in which Lady (Y/n) sat, the fact that Prince Loki could present somebody with something so beautiful and thoughtful, without it being one of his elaborate pranks, seemed simply alien to the woman's mind.

You see, Astrid had been the first hand witness in some of the second prince's antics along with holding the same position when to queen Frigga's exasperation over them. Therefore, witnessing such maturity was as unnatural to her as someone telling her that the sun had risen from the west.

This wasn't the only thought in Astrid's whirlwind of questions however.

There were two other quite strong gusts of wind which ailed her.

First was that the dress Prince Loki had presented to (Y/n) had in fact been in a shade of his signature colour, although not being the same one.

Moreover, it wasn't as though the raven haired prince was not aware of Asgard's customs. One of which dictated that one shall only don another's signature colour or any shade resembling it only if they seem to be in any sort of relationship or such other arrangements. And by the way in which her lady was acting, Astrid knew that neither was the case between the prince and her.

Then it struck her.

Could this be an attempt by Prince Loki to get into such kind of an arrangement with the crown princess, though?

After all, he had invited her to take a walk with him in the royal gardens later.

Was that also the reason behind his chirpy attitude?

Much like her older sisters, Ama too followed the same pattern. While she went to her basket of fresh flowers to add aroma to the last oil required to put in the elemental's hair before they washed it off and dried it, the chirpy girl's mind had the same first thought as Astrid's last.

From all the romantic novels Ama had read, she knew one thing for sure; the hero only presents the heroine with such beautiful gifts and a proposal to spend time with him, if he harbours feelings for her. Ama's heart raced as she barely bit back her giggle imagining the wonderful Lady (Y/n) and Prince Loki having a similar situation.

Even though her sisters would probably not see it and it was a midsummer night's dream, Ama could imagine the prince and her lady courting. She dare say, they would make a lovely couple too.

With prince Loki's sarcasm and the crown princess's quick wit, their conversations would never come to an end. Also, crown princess (Y/n) had a very patient and observant nature. Two things required to keep prince Loki happy in any relationship. And even if she hadn't seen it, Ama knew that lady (Y/n) had more than enough ability to keep the prince and his pranks in line.

Now that she looked at it, the both of them were perfect for one another!

Ama always had a soft corner for the prince since he had always been kind to her, sparing her from his cruel pranks and sometimes listening to her while she spoke of her books. She was, the blonde knew, somewhat of a friend to the lonely prince.

She remembered a time when she had asked him to find a beautiful maiden for himself; someone to spend the rest of his life with. The prince had laughed it off, saying that there hardly were any maidens he found interesting enough to spend the rest of his life with and even if there were, he wouldn't be caught dead acting like one of those love sick protagonists in her books. (How rude!)

A smile bloomed on her lips as she thought that perhaps the fates had heard his statement and had made up their minds to prove the man wrong.

Another realisation struck her in that moment.

All this while she had been thinking of how prince Loki and princess (Y/n) would look as a couple without even asking either one of them first!

At that moment, all the three sisters' last thoughts synced as they unknowingly chorused in their heads: but how to ask?

Fortunately for them, (Y/n) had noticed the prolonged silence which seemed to loom over her three handmaidens ever since Loki had presented her with the dress back in her room.

Initially, she had assumed it to be their hesitance to speak freely in front of their prince. But now, as they continued their silence, the automobile engineer knew something was definitely wrong. The way their eyebrows had scrunched themselves up, were more than enough evidence she required to prove her hypothesis.

When Ingrid, Astrid and Ama had not spoken even now, when her bath was about to come to its end, (Y/n) decided to take matters into her own hands.

"You know ladies, I had heard about a defeaning silence--- read about it even.", She began as she turned to rest on her back in the tub. "But never had I ever experienced it in my entire life. Hm Ingrid?", She said looking straight at woman who now applied an oil to her hair.

"I-I don't think I understand what you mean, my lady." (Y/n)'s chuckle filled the warm bathing chambers.

"Let me put it this way, my dear Ingrid ; I have yet to experience the silence which comes with my favourite birds stopping their chirping.", She explained, her gaze moving to each one of them.

As (Y/n) spoke, the three handmaidens exchanged glances, silently communicating their shared dilemma. Ingrid, who prided herself on her ability to read people and situations, took the opportunity to speak up.

"Well, my lady, it's just that... we couldn't help but notice Prince Loki's... different behavior lately," Ingrid hesitated, unsure of how to articulate her thoughts without overstepping her bounds. She decided to be direct but respectful.

"He seems to be... rather taken with you, if I may say so," Ingrid finally admitted, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. (Y/n) couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in response.

"Taken with me? What do you mean?" (Y/n) asked, genuinely surprised. She thought back to the conversations she had shared with Loki, trying to analyze their interactions for any signs of romantic interest.

"I mean, my lady, he has been going out of his way to spend time with you, buying you gifts, and acting... different," Ingrid explained, her voice trailing off towards the end.

Astrid and Ama nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.

(Y/n) processed the information, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions.

She had never considered the possibility of Loki having romantic feelings for her, especially since their interactions had always been characterized by banter and friendship.

A laugh belonging to the princess  filled the room, making her maids exchange confused glances. Out of everything they had expected their princess to do, this wasn't one of them.

The young aristocrat found it simply amusing as to how observant her handmaidens had been, finding it endearing, as to how concerned they were about both her and Loki.

"Oh Ingrid... You are as sweet as they come, my dear.", She declared, catching her breath.

"Eh, debatable.", Ama said under her breath while Ingrid shot a glare at and their other sister along with the princess suppressed their own giggles.

"Ingrid, the reason behind your prince Loki acting so differently, as you have put it, as you have put it, isn't because he is taken with me. Heavens no. It's because of a promise he had made to me back in Midgard."

Astrid's ears perked up.

"A promise?" (Y/n) nodded.

"Indeed.", She began, taking the towel she handed her.

"You see Astrid, before we were about to come to Asgard today, I had made Loki promise that he would make sure that I was comfortable during my stay in Asgard and act as my protector.", She explained, wrapping the towel around her body while her maids turned around to give their lady some privacy.

However, Ama didn't seem to be pleased with the answer.

"But Lady (Y/n), why would Prince Loki even accept to give you his word regarding this topic and ask you to accompany him to the royal gardens for a promenade if he didn't have any feelings for you?", She quizzed, ever the romantic.

"Because my darling Ama,", (Y/n) said slipping on her bathrobe and coming to stand in front of her. "Loki is a prince and it won't be right if he did not accept a lady's request and that too, the first one she had ever made to him.", She continued keeping a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"I still can't seem to agree.", She emphasized, as the quartet moved to (Y/n)'s room where the dress was kept.

The princess laughed, sitting at her dressing table and removing the towel which held her hair.

"Oh Ama, do me a favour and never change yourself.", She requested, looking at the young girl's smiling reflection on the mirror.

"Well, either way. I have a beautiful dress at my disposal and a rather interesting day ahead. So let's get ready to enjoy both, ladies.", She declared, standing up with a smile on her face, as her three handmaidens got to work, similar smiles on their lips too.