Third person POV
"When did you catch on?" Izana asked quite impressed, opening the door into the royal lounge for nobles to rest in between the party.

"Once Lady Rune and Lady Melody approached me. Now talk." Akuma scoffed, seating herself down on the soft blue couch.

"As for Lord Trevor, that duke household is the one who exported the rare tea goods. They had hopes in meeting you. After all, their country is heavily military focused. They wanted to make good ties with Clarines."

"And supposedly~... How did word of my capabilities reach another country?" Akuma threw her fan to the side of the couch and crossed her legs beneath her dress. Izana laughed at her manner with amusement and did not mind it.

"You're quite famous without you knowing. Conspiracies and tales of your country are quite mysterious and almost like a fairytale in books for us. Especially since your country produced great military forces and power. Trevor's country was quite acquainted with your's. I'm sure he conspired you to be someone incredibly important from there. A princess even. Your existence cannot be hidden completely after all the time you spent here in Clarines.."

"Tch. I bet you're trying your best to control the flow of rumors about me. I was surprised to hear that no one knows that I'm already dating."

"You're still as sharp as ever." Izana's grin appeared as if innocent like a charming prince. "I doubt you would want to trouble your lover if that obsessed Lord found out."

"And who the hell is this Trevor really? I get that he's the son of a duke but what gives with his pursing act?!" Akuma roared. Her eyes angry at the thought of it. Disgusted, she threw off the gloves.

"He's in line for the throne. The King's only son died with a frail body after an incident and the only princess was married off at a young age. Hence making it normal for him to ascend the throne with no competitors and to desire you."

"This is all quite stunning in how it worked out." Akuma scoffed with laughs in between.

"Truly it is. They were willing to create a peace treaty with us for the sake of trying to appeal to you."

"A peace treaty and rare tea?"

"That's not all. You'll soon discover what else they had gifted." Izana chuckled, making Akuma uneasy.

"You irritate me knowing that you won't tell me." Akuma rolled her eyes. "And so you wanted to please them with my attendance?"

"Precisely. After all, I'm sure you can destroy their hopes. But I do wish to keep the peace treaty so do try not to shed blood." Izana smiled warningly, but his gaze permitted Akuma to take hold of majority of the reigns.

"Heh. I get it. I won't destroy your country with the kindness you've gifted me~!" Akuma humored and a smirk escaped.

"Is that all?"

"No. I just want to be sure, but he will still try to pursue me at the banquet tomorrow, won't he? Though his eyes were terrified... something about it seemed off."

"He must have been shock in awe." Izana hummed with hints of laughter.

"How revolting. That son of a b**ch had the audacity to basically sexually assault me!" Akuma's right eye twitched.

'Ahhhh. How I miss Ryu already...' Akuma leaned back into the couch.

"I will be sure to talk to the Duke about this incident. Lord Trevor won't be able to escape since there were eye witnesses along myself. Plus, they can't lose this opportunity after coming this far, so he is bound to face consequences." Izana reassured.

"Save some room for my own revenge too. I'll pay him back at the banquet in a not so violent manner." Akuma grinned with devilish eyes.

"I will keep that in mind." Izana stood up. "You do not have to attend the rest of the tea party. You have the excuse of being in shock. Just don't come near the garden or else speculations will arise." Izana said and neared the door.

"Mm. Sure. Wouldn't even dream about it." Akuma thanked Izana with her eyes and sighed once he left. She stared up at the ceiling and stood up after a few minutes of silence.

"... Ah! That means I can visit Ryu!" Akuma blinked and brightened up at the thought of it. She gathered her belongings and hurriedly left towards the medical wing.
—————

Ryu put down the feather pen and let the ink dry on the papers before putting them into a folder. He reorganized his work station and stared out the window.

"I wonder how she is doing at the party..." Ryu muttered, lost in the scene of the perfect and serene weather outside.

*SLAM*

"Ah! Ryu! There you are!"

Ryu jumped up in shock and whipped his head around to face Akuma who was still dressed as she was for the tea party.

"A-Akuma?!" Ryu breathed out, shock at her sudden appearance when he just been thinking of her. "What about the party?"

"Screw the party! I was excused by Izana after a show!" Akuma had both a triumphant and anger-filled expression, which troubled Ryu in understanding her words.

"First of all, do you have a match in here?" Akuma hummed, looking around.

"Ah, uh... Yes? I used them for the candle..." Ryu blinked with wide eyes, unable to comprehend the sudden change of topic and the sudden appearance.

"Perfect!" Akuma walked over towards his desk and found a box of matches not too far from the candle.

"What do you plan on doing?" Ryu raised a brow and walked over.

"This." Akuma lit a match and threw her gloves into the pit of old and used matches. She dropped the match into the small container and smiled with satisfaction.

"Wh-what?! You're burning your gloves?!" Ryu's mouth dropped from shock at the sudden action. His eyes traveled up to Akuma's face to try to analyze for clues of how to follow along with this.

"You see, someone unpleasant kissed my hand. I was fortunate enough that my hand was gloved or else I may have dismembered my hand." Akuma waved her hands in front of Ryu who paled at the short story.

"I figured that may happen... But cutting off your hand?" He breathed out in bewilderment, and his heart skipped a beat at the confession. He felt anger and jealously in the pit of his stomach.

"Mm. That rat had almost kissed me too! Thankfully Izana will handle the matter right now! Though it's a pity I couldn't execute him right then and there!" She scoffed and flicked her hair back.

"What?!" Ryu exclaimed, shock and turning quite red. His worries and jealousy ignited much more.

"Aha, don't worry! I gave him a nasty glare that practically frightened him!" Akuma laughed at Ryu's reactions and reached for his hands.

"I-is that so..." He blushed.

"Mm! I don't need some bastard. I just need this dork in front of me." Akuma boldly grabbed his hands into her grasp and to her cheek. She lightly kissed upon his knuckles.

"...!" Ryu bursted into flames of red and his heart beat uncontrollably.

"What a cute reaction haha." Akuma giggled. "I swear I'm only getting bolder and bolder."

"I, I can tell..." Ryu muttered coherently enough for her to understand.

"Do you dislike it?" Her flushed face picking up the embarrassment afterwards.

"... N-no. I, I don't." He stuttered.

"I'll be waiting for you make the first move from this moment." She smiled lovingly.

"... Which hand did he kiss?" Ryu shyly looked up into her eyes.

"Hmm, the left hand." She answered quite happily with his quick thinking.

Ryu brought up Akuma's left hand to his lips and left a light kiss upon it. They were both bright red and their hearts were loud and beating in rhythm.

"I could feel your lips trembling Ryu." Akuma laughed, her eyes softening.

"Ah! S-sorry! I was just, uh, you understand...!" Ryu flushed and turn his head to the side.

"Sorry Ryu."

"Hm?" He turned back around and looked her into the eyes.

"But that was the wrong hand." She laughed.

"Eh?!" He blinked many, many times, his face getting much hotter than before. His legs gave out and he bit his lip in embarrassment.

"You were just too irresistible." Akuma laughed yet again and sat down to match his level.

"Won't you gift this spoiled girl with yet another kiss upon her hand?" She shyly blushed and tilted her head to face him.

"Y-you're not th-the only one who is spoiled." He managed to say and brought her right hand to his lips to plant yet another kiss. He looked up to her as he did so and his heart skipped at her shy expression.

"If you look at me like that I might yearn for more Ryu." She laughed, causing the boy to hide his overwhelmingly hot face.

"You tease me far too much..." Ryu muttered.

"And you tease my heart with such reactions far too much..." Akuma giggled, shifting over to sit besides him. She laid her head onto his shoulder and smiled with content.

'I won't let that bastard take away this happiness...'

4/29/2020

Hope you guys are doing well and healthy during these uncertain times :D