A: (I CAN'T FIND CINNAMON CANDIES)

L: (NOOO)

The next day passes like weeks, and monarch visits again, going to the training area.

Alek held his sword up, squared to Karon. "Young prince, be smart this time." The tutor  states, his eyes focused on Alek, his own blade raised.

Monarch watches with a smile and sits in her usual spot.

"En guarde!" Alek shouts and both of them begin. Dust from the training grounds flying up into the air. The clashing of swords echoes across the garden.

She smiles and watches, her heart quickening with each movement and her eyes catching each image. Karon backs Alek closer and closer to the fence bordering the grounds. Alek notices this, using his sword to block and push up Karon's blade. Now with the space to move, Alek barrels away, moving past Karon, now back at the center.

Monarch smiles a bit more and watches Alek. Her eyes fill with admiration and her heart skips a beat with love for him.

Karon charges, his blade met with a sturdy ringing. Alek holds his sword, fighting back Karon's strength. Karon swings towards his side. Alek blocks twisting his blade when it locked on Karon's. Alek flings his wrist, the sword flying away from Karon's grasp.

She gasps and her eyes widen.

Karon raises an eyebrow before Alek quickly pulls a foot out from under Karon and watching him fall. Alek's blade is raised over Karon. "Well done." Karon states.

Monarch smiles and claps her hands "Yay! You've won Alek! You've won!"

Alek sheaths his sword with a smile, helping Karon to his feet. "Go on." Karon gestures to Monarch. Alek bows to him before walking to Monarch's side.

Monarch stands up and smooths the dress. She looks at Karon "You didn't let him win, did you?"

"Of course not." He laughs. "Yesterday, I thought about it, but I'm his tutor, letting him win isn't part of my job." He shrugs and moves to practice with a dummy.

She pouts and looks at Alek. She rolls her eyes and smiles "Well, that means you definitely won." She grins.

"What did you expect? I am your knight in shining armor after all." He smiles, leaning on the fence for the arena.

She wraps her arms around him "Yes... but you know why I did this little challenge?"

"Because you're evil, my lady." He chuckles.

She laughs and rolls her eyes "Besides that. It's because in war... if you die... you won't get anything of me ever again..." she furrows her eyebrows with concern but keeps a small smile "You have to win... and when you do, I will be waiting for you, ready to give you a reward. Do you understand?"

He places a hand on her cheek, his smile warm and his eyes soft. "My lady, there used to be sailors who would go out on the sea for months at a time. The night before they left, they would choose a star, any star to watch while they were away. It kept them going because that star was for the person they loved the most. You're my star, and I will come back to you."

She smiles, "And you are mine..." she kisses him, shutting her eyes and pulling him close.

He kisses back, his hands on her waist and bringing her against him. Karon glances to them and smiled a bit before continuing his own training.

She pulls away for a breath and grins "Is that enough for you~?"

Alek sighs. "My lady, I can never have enough of you." His fingers play on her side.

She giggles and rolls her eyes "Of course you can." She looks at his fingers and smiles "... Am I a piano now?"

"No, at least my piano I can play with whenever I want." He smiles, kissing her neck.

She blushes and shivers, smiling "Oh my love... I may not be your piano, but you can certainly play me whenever you want..."

Alek leaves a trail of kisses from her neck to her lips. He bites down lightly on them before kissing her more.

She lets out a delighted sigh then shuts her eyes. She kisses back, pulling herself closer to him.

Alek pulls away, his lips hovering next to hers. "My lady..." he whispers his hand moving up to her ear and rubbing it. "I'd like to play with you.. ."

She shivers and grins "Would you~? I gave you permission didn't I~?" She nips at his ear.

Alek shivers, leaning into her. He glances back at Karon. "N-not here..."

She blushes and looks at Karon. She nods and looks back at Alek "Where would you like to go...?"

Alek takes her by the hand smiling and pulls her towards the maze. "We have our own sanctuary, remember?"

She blushes and grins. She giggles "I haven't been there in a while..."

Alek brings her into the maze, stepping through the entrance.

She takes off running to the sanctuary, giggling and smiling.

Alek grins. "My lady!" He laughs, following her.

"Catch me if you can! And if you can, I'm allll yours~!" She continues running and laughs.

Alek follows her, running after her and smiling. He makes it so he is right behind her. "Challenge accepted!"

She squeals and laughs turning a sharp corner and running faster.

Alek sees the turn she made, continuing straight with a grin. He stops at the intersection at the end of the path and looks to his left, knowing they went to the same place.

She glances behind herself and laughs, seeing he isn't following behind.

Alek sees her at the end of the path, running up to her and picking her up with a laugh.

She screams then laughs, wrapping her arms around him and smiling. She takes off her mask and kisses him. "Looks like you win again!" She laughs.

He holds her in his arms. "Does that mean I get a reward?" He smiles,  poking her cheek with his nose.

She giggles and places her hands on his chest "What would you like your reward to be~?"

"My reward is..." he places her on her feet. "This!" He exclaims, tickling her.

She burst into laughter and tries to push his hands away. She falls to the ground and kicks her legs laughing.

He keeps tickling her. "Ah Ha!"

She continues laughing before turning the tables and tickling him.

Alek screams and starts laughing, he too falling to the ground. "Ah! N-no ahaha!"

She smiles and gets on top of him as she tickles him, still laughing a bit "Say the magic word!"

"N-never!" He shouts, laughing.

"Sayyyy ittt!" She giggles and continues, not giving him a break.

He continues laughing, his eyes tightly shut. "Ah! Fine, p-please!"

She stops and laughs getting off of him. "Now was that so hard?"

He fakes a pout. "It was terrible."

"Awww does the widdle baby want me to kiss it better?" She gives an innocent pout and bats her eyes.

"Mama!" Alek shouts, tackling her in a hug.

She screams and laughs "Ah! No Alek that's weird!"

"I am king of weird!" He laughs, kissing her neck again and again.

She burst into laughter and tries to shove his face away playfully "Ah! The weird king has fallen in love with me!"

"The queen of beauty!" Alek grins. "Together we shall make a world where beauty and personality are one!"

She laughs and wraps her arms around him, pulling him close "You really are a weirdo!"

He chuckles. "I know~" he kisses her cheek.

She smiles and let's out a relaxed sigh. She looks at him.

He holds her, his eyes taking in all of her beauty. He moves his hands, taking off her necklace.

She blushes and looks at it. She looks down at her skin and then at Alek. Slowly, she kisses him and shuts her eyes.

*******

A/N: Awwwww. That's sweet.
And this is a message to L.
Did something happen to your phone or... the app...?
I'm terribly worried...
Like.... I can't sleep.
Please tell me...