A fountain pen glides elegantly along the paper, painting words like a work of art. Sunshine passes through the window lighting up the entire room. The light caught by silver hair glows like the full moon on a clear night. Music plays in the distance, filling the room with a comforting melody that helps soothe the heart of the Chief Justice.

Neuvillette sat in his office tending to the multitude of papers regarding court matters and the laws under review. He had amassed a mountain load of paperwork due to his absence. His table, as large as it is, is now completely covered by towers of documents. The work was cumbersome but he has become familiar with it. His skills and years of experience allowed him to efficiently move between cases without committing a single mistake. He was meticulous with his work. A single flaw could ruin someone's life after all.

A rapping on his door tore through his thoughts. His focus lost, he turned to the source of the sound and ordered for the person to enter. It was Sedene, one of his employees.

"Good afternoon, Monsieur. A certain Miss Lumine Viatrix came earlier to deliver a package for you. She said she is a governess for Miss Furina." The assistant held a box in her hands and brought them near him.

"I see. Thank you, Sedene. You may place it on the table over there." The assistant did as she was instructed and left soon after.

Neuvillette paused from his work and went to check the package. It was a pink box with a familiar logo on top. It was from one of the most famous patisseries in all of Fontaine. He opened it and saw a note attached to the cover.

___________________________________________

Dear Monsieur Neuvillette,

We know that you are probably busy so you don't have time to eat lunch. Furina and I are worried about your health so we made something easy to eat yet filling at the same time. We hope you like the sandwiches we made.

P. S. Furina said a proper meal always includes desserts so we got you some macaroons too.

Sincerely yours,
Lumine Viatrix

___________________________________________

A smile made its way to Neuvillette's face. Earlier, he was filled with boredom and languishness. Tired of his monotonous work, he felt like a leaf drifting slowly in a shallow pond, unable to create a ripple. Now this single act of kindness and compassion sent a tidal wave to his slumbering soul. His chest was seized by a warmth so profound it invaded his cheeks, leaving him flustered. His heart was touched, his soul awakened.

It's so strange how this little effort can have a huge impact on his emotions. Miss Lumine proved to be a woman worthy of his affection. Her gentle and caring nature is a profound treasure of incomparable value.

Does she know how she unravels him? Her gentle smiles and wonderful words so entice him. She brings a storm in his heart yet a tranquil river to his mind. She is both his peace and his undoing. The bane of his existence and the object of his desires.

Neuvillette seldom fantasize about women. He finds it quite improper and foul, but Miss Lumine alone destroys his boundaries. With her, he begins to dream.

Dreams of dancing in the rain with her as his partner, a waltz with the music only they could hear. A kiss under the silver moonlight, a secret rendezvous with only the stars as their witness. An embrace to fight the cold, warmth, and comfort combined. But sometimes... Sometimes his mind wanders to scenes more... Forbidden. Imaginings that made him feel ashamed. Like his hands on her waist and his mouth on her throat learning what she tastes like.

He stopped and began castigating himself. These are not proper thoughts for a gentleman to possess. He must never disrespect Miss Lumine as to dream of her in such a way.

He carefully removed the letter from the box and placed it inside one of his desk drawers to keep it safe.

He decided to take a little break. It would be such a waste if he doesn't eat the treats especially made for him while they're still fresh.

🌻

Neuvillette had enjoyed his meal leaving him feeling satisfied and somewhat elated. He took his coat from the rack and wore it. He told Sedene that he would be going out for a while and to politely turn away anyone seeking an audience. He hailed a cab and ordered to be transported to Château des Fleurs, the best florists in all of Fontaine. Be commissioned for a bouquet of blue hydrangeas to be made, decorated with ribbons and pearls. While waiting, he began to compose a short letter for Miss Lumine in response to her card.

___________________________________________

Dear Miss Lumine,

          My heart is moved by your kindness. I am ever so humbled by your compassion for those around you. Truly are you a beacon of virtue that I admire.
          I am sending you these flowers as my way to thank you. Blue hydrangeas are a symbol of gratitude and heartfelt emotions. May they find you in high spirits.

Best regards,
Alexander L. Neuvillette

___________________________________________
Note: (No one knows his 1st name so I gave him one. Alexander may be a common name but it is common because he was a great conqueror. L stands for Leviathan, his constellation.)

Unfortunately, he doesn't have the time to personally give the bouquet to Lumine. He went to the courier to have it immediately shipped. He availed for the premium services to make sure that the flowers would remain safe and beautiful for their recipient. Hopefully, she will like them and give her cheer as much as her kindness has given to him.

He was on his way back to his office when he suddenly met with a familiar face.

"Hello, Monsieur Neuvillette. What a lovely day to find you here." greeted a blonde-haired beauty, followed by two companions.

Neuvillette gave her a cordial smile and nodded his greetings to her two companions to be polite. "Greetings, Miss Navia. It has been quite a while since we last met. How have you been faring?"

"As well as I can be. Now that I am the head of the Spina, I have been rather busy. But perhaps not as busy as you are. So imagine my surprise to find you out here gallivanting in the streets of Fontaine."

Miss Navia is considered to be the current queen of high society due to her elegant manners, radiant appearance, and confident behavior. She is very friendly and helpful to those who would seek her help much like her father before her.

The lady has recently become an orphan due to some unfortunate circumstances but her father left her a legacy. Despite her loss, Miss Navia maintains her high status due to her own strengths and competency. Based on his sources, Miss Navia seems to be doing quite well for herself these days. She was also able to make her father's business flourish with her revolutionary ideas. Truly Miss Navia is a force to be reckoned with in Fontaine.

"I was merely running an errand, I am on my way back to the Palais Mermonia to return to my paperwork."

"And what kind of errand includes sending such lovely flowers? Is it possible that the reserved and mysterious Chief Justice has finally found someone he truly adores?" Navia teased, a glint of interest sparkling in her eyes.

Neuvillette almost sighed. Should the information become public, many news outlets would clamor to dig into every detail of his life and maybe even expose Miss Lumine's private life. He cannot have that on his conscience. "I have no comment on that. However, whatever conclusions you might draw from this, I would like to ask you to please keep the information confidential."

"That is the only confirmation that I need. Don't worry, I value your camaraderie greatly so I will keep this affair of yours strictly confidential. So, will you be taking her as your partner in Wriotesley's party or will you keep her hidden from the rest of the world?" Navia probed, making her companions frown with disapproval.

"Do you have a partner at the party? I was told by my ward that this ball will be a grand one. Seeing that Wriotesley will be funding it at the behest of Furina's expensive tastes, then I can assume that her words are true."

"My, my, are you asking me to be your partner?"

"I..."

"Demoiselle, please refrain from teasing Monsieur Neuvillette in such a manner. You are making him uncomfortable." reprimanded Melus.

"I'm not being serious about it. But if Monsieur Neuvillette needs an accomplice to make his darling lady jealous and realize her feelings for him, then of course I would be most willing to fill the role. I am a romantic person you know. And saving our dear Chief Justice from the life of an eternal bachelor seems to be an excellent addition to my achievements."

"I appreciate the concern, Miss Navia but that will not be necessary. This time I plan to win. I don't want to regret things in this life so I will no longer remain passive."

"I see. So she has already changed you in such a short time. Well, I'll prepare my gown as I await your wedding invitation. Best of luck to you, Monsieur."

Navia left soon after to fulfil duties of her own leaving him with the gravity of his words. Did he really just admit that he likes Miss Lumine and he wants to marry her? Truth be told, the idea has never crossed his mind. He adores her and he respects her but he never really explored the possibility of marriage.

Neuvillette is always so busy with his work that he thinks that he will not be a good husband. He will not have enough time to make her happy if he is always consumed by his duties. He might not be there when she needs him most. He might not be there to wipe away her tears whenever she cries. He might even become the cause of her tears.

How can she have sunshine if he can only bring the rain? When the dark clouds blot out the sun and steal the colors from the world, can he even tame the storm and be her light?

He knew that spending time together is important to maintain a healthy relationship. Miss Lumine deserves someone who will put her first. Someone who'll be able to give her the love and care that she deserves.

But somehow his heart constricts at the thought of her being happy with someone else.

Wriotesley also adores her and he has more time on his hands. Despite his flaws, Wriotesley is a good man. He knows that he can treat Miss Lumine with much devotion.

But is it selfish of him to think that he should have her?

Neuvillette has faced many adversities. Many people had wanted him deposed, worst dead. Multiple factions and organizations had sought to vanquish him, yet none of them ever succeeded. He had mastered the arts of politics and the devious cunning it takes to maintain his power. Fontaine's fate is in his hands, bound to his will with a leash. However, for some reason, the matters of the heart have bested him and left him in disarray.

He felt conflicted.

He is so high and yet so so alone in his throne. When he met Miss Lumine she felt like a kindred spirit. A companion he had long known. Of course, they are different in manner and disposition but speaking to her, knowing her, and listening to her opinions felt comfortable. Pleasant.

To him, Miss Lumine is the starry sky brimming with hopeful ideas and shining bright like a beacon. Meanwhile, he felt like a vast ocean deep and blue with many secrets hiding underneath. They are so very different and yet they perfectly complement each other.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of being so high is the fact that he is closer to the stars than anyone else. So close that maybe if he reached out he could touch it. He wondered what it would feel like to touch the star.

Would it burn him in its glorious inferno or will it welcome him with its warmth? To answer his question, he might need to really extend his hand and leap. If he falls from his throne then so be it.

Neuvillette decided to take a little detour before returning to his work.

🌻

Neuvillette came home very late to his apartment. His body is sore and tired from all the day's work. His mind is fatigued, his steps are languid. He feels that he will collapse anytime soon due to exhaustion. He can almost feel a fever sinking its claws into his being.

His stomach is empty. He hasn't eaten anything since Miss Lumine's sandwiches. Despite his exhaustion, he carried himself with dignity, never losing composure to show any weakness.

He opened his door and was greeted by the brightness. Strange, did he forget to turn the lights off before he left earlier today? He must have forgotten.

He entered his home and deposited his things on the sofa. He was about to go to his room to change his attire when his eyes caught something in its periphery.

Blue hydrangeas decorated his vase which was once empty. How did it get there? They seem familiar. He went near the flowers and inspected them. His hand gently lifted the flower and tilted it up to see it clearer.

Neuvillette recognized the distinct characteristics of the flowers and figured that they were the ones he purchased for Miss Lumine. She had added white roses to the bouquet and he was fascinated by how cheerful and beautiful they looked. It seems that they were made to be together.

He smiled. She must have dropped by earlier.  "What a lovely flower arrangement."

He went to the kitchen to fetch himself some water and found a surprise there. There was a meal laid out for him and a note.

Dear Monsieur Neuvillette,

You didn't take any servants with you to the apartment so I thought you might be hungry after a busy day of work. I prepared some light meals for you to enjoy. Please eat something and rest well.

Furina said you might grow lonely so we're going to invade your guest room for now. Mister Wriotesley sends his regards.

Sincerely yours,
Lumine

"If you continue to treat me like this then I will have no choice but to make you sincerely mine," he whispered.

He went to check on the ladies and found the door slightly ajar. He can hear Lumine's voice ringing through the hallway like a soft comforting melody. She was reading a story to Furina so he didn't dare to interrupt. The door was open by a few inches and he could see Furina's drowsy face as she listened to her governess' soothing voice. He waited patiently and listened to the story as well.

"This is, to me, the loveliest and saddest landscape in the world. It is the same as that on the preceding page, but I have drawn it again to impress it on your memory. It is here that the little prince appeared on Earth, and disappeared."

"Look at it carefully so that you will be sure to recognize it in case you travel some day to the African desert. And, if you should come upon this spot, please do not hurry on. Wait for a time, exactly under the star. Then, if a little man appears who laughs, who has golden hair and who refuses to answer questions, you will know who he is. If this should happen, please comfort me. Send me word that he has come back."

The story ended there and Neuvillette paused for a bit to listen more.

"It was such a lovely story, Miss Lumine. Did you think the Little Prince really got his wish and got back to his planet?"

"I would like to think so. I would like to think that he is indeed back in his little comet taking care of his flower and watching over his sheep and cleaning his volcanoes. Sleep now, Furina. We'll be busy tomorrow with Wriotesley's party. You should get enough rest."

"Miss Lumine, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"What is your dream? What do you want to do in your life that you would feel super happy if you got to do it?"

"Hmm. Let's see. There are a lot of things I want to do. I want to travel around the world and meet many people. I want to see different cultures and taste their delicacies. I will probably do that until I am in my late forties as for when I'm in my early fifties, I would like to settle down and get a nice home for myself. I think I would like to build a school and make it my legacy. I want to teach young girls like you and help them find their passion."

"Why did you become a governess, Miss Lumine? Should you be an adventurer instead?"

"Well, as you can see I am just a girl with barely any money. If I want to lead the life that I want, I must first work hard for it. I'm trying to build my travel fund and become independent but it's a bit harder since I am just a woman. Unlike men, there are fewer opportunities for myself so I need to work twice as hard to get what I want."

"It's scary being a woman. Being so weak and dependent on men is so sad."

"Not entirely. There are a lot of beautiful things about being a woman as well."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, being a woman is a lot of things. It is complex, strange, and sometimes even unfair. But to be a woman means to be the pillar of society. You must be able to inspire and support others. To love and be loved and to create changes when necessary, like Joan of Arc. We fill the void in the world that no one else can fill to bring joy, beauty, and harmony. To be a woman means not to compete, but to complete each other. Sometimes people may look down on you because of your gender but without us women, there will be nothing and no one."

"You're so smart, Miss Lumine. I wish I could be as smart and pretty as you when I grow up."

"How about you, Miss Furina? What do you want to be when you grow up?"

"I've never really told this to anyone but I really want to be an actress. But please don't tell Neuvillette."

"Why not? Acting is a very good career."

Furina looked hesitant at first but decided to answer her anyway.

"It is but not for me. Even though he doesn't say it, I think Neuvillette expects something more from me. Like  I should strive for something high like him. But I'm not like him. I'm not smart like him. I'm not great at everything like him. I'm only ever great at acting." Furina looked dejected at the words she just confessed. Lumine held her hand to give her comfort and nodded for her to continue. She didn't say anything to allow her student to express her feelings.

"Whenever we read poems and plays, I really feel like I'm glowing. Do you understand that feeling, Miss Lumine, when you feel like there's a burning passion deep within your heart? That's what I feel when I act. I feel like I can live so many lifetimes and be so many people despite only being me. It makes me feel special whenever you praise me and so I begin to imagine myself on the stage acting and singing to make everybody happy. I want them to clap their hands for me and praise me and say that I'm great."

"I think this is where I'm good at because I can't do the things Neuvillette can do. I can't be a leader like him. I'm only me. I love Neuvillette, he's like my dad but he is so bright that he casts a pretty big shadow. But I don't want to live in his shadow, I want to also be in the spotlight. I want to shine like the stars in the sky."

Furina laughed without mirth. "Look at me, I've said so much that your ears must have hurt."

"No, Furina. It's okay. Your dream is beautiful and I think that you should do it. You already have the talent and Neuvillette will not love you any less because of it. He is a good man. And I think if you just tell him what you want then he'll help you achieve your dreams."

"But what if he doesn't?"

"I'll help you convince him."

"Oh, right! He loves you, maybe he'll listen to you even more!"

"That's not what I meant but as long as you are happy then I'll also be happy as your governess. Life is too short not to do the things you want to do after all."

"You're so wise. Good night, Miss Lumine. I wish you sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams to you too, Furina. Good night." Lumine pulled the covers higher over her shoulder and gave her forehead a gentle kiss. She left the room and quietly closed the door behind her.

She was astounded when she suddenly found Monsieur Neuvillette smiling warmly at her. "You saw that."

"Yes, it was very sweet of you. But just to clarify I have no desire to hinder Furina's dream. I would be perfectly happy to support her in whatever endeavor she has in mind."

Lumine gave him a joyful laugh but not loud enough to startle the sleeping princess on the other side of the door. "Since when have you been eavesdropping, Monsieur?"

"Not too long ago, probably since the last two paragraphs of the story."

"Too long then. Have you had your dinner? I know it is probably cold by now but I was worried you might not be getting enough nutrition."

"I would like to have it before resting for the night. However, I don't particularly feel tired just yet. Would you like to join me for a few sips of wine on the balcony? I terribly need the company."

"Sure. I don't particularly feel tired as well.”