A brilliant flash of light fills the throne room, causing some to squint and other's to cover their eye's. As it slowly fades away, the knights tasked with the king's protection draw their swords with rallying cries, only to halt at the familiar group of people.
"Stand down," King Jacob calls out with a wave of his hand, a slight smile plays on his lips at the sight. "You certainly make quite the entrance, Ezekiel."
Everyone releases their hand's, Ezekiel smiles at the king's jest. "A hero should always be fashionably late, don't you think?"
"Perhaps a little less late next time though," The king replies with a smile. "Guard's, give us the room." King Jacob waves his hand to dismiss his escorts.
"But sir, his Au-"
"That's an order from the king, clear out immediately," Raphael's thunders to at his companions.
"U-Understood," the guard stammer's before practically fleeing the room.
The King stand's shortly after the guards leave the room, coming to stand before us. "It is truly a relief that all of you have returned unharmed. I can see there were some changes to your body, is this the effect of the artifact that Elaine reported upon her return?"
Ezekiel nod's, "Yes, it took a few days to adjust, which the other's presence enhanced."
"I see, It gladdens me to know the others could be of assistance. I see though you had time to achieve a renewed fashion sense." Jacob laughs clasping Ezekiel on the shoulder, "While I would love to hear about all of these changes, we could use some rest. I can see it was a truly worrisome event, tomorrow we will reconvene and discuss these changes. Go and rest for now, all of you."
"Then we will take our leave, however, I must ask that Saint Rani be given more time to recover, Your Majesty." Ezekiel lowers his head slightly.
"There's no need for that, I can be at the meeting, Zeke." Rani turn's to look at him in alarm.
"It will be as you wish, Ezekiel, however if she wishes to be present at the meeting then there is nothing I can do to stop her." Jacob smiles wryly, "Although I must agree, you do look quite pale, even for you Rani."
"I will be there, so don't even think about holding the meeting without me," Rani smiles smugly.
"Would it not be detrimental to your duties to the kingdom for you to fall ill in your current state?" Alice innocently comments from the side while picking at imaginary dirt under her nails.
"All I need is a good meal, and to sleep. I'll be good as new in the morning, you'll see Alice," Rani declares in a sassy tone with her hands on her hips.
"Bold of you to assume you'll be getting any re-"
Ezekiel cover's Alice's mouth, looking down at her sternly, "That's enough teasing, Alice. Go wait for me in the Villa."
Alice smirks at Rani's blushing face, slowly making her way out of the throne room. "Yes Master!" She calls out with false enthusiasm.
Ezekiel turns back to the king, rubbing his chin, with a weary smile "Sorry about that, she's quite a handful." Noting the look on his companion's face, he can see he was too late to stop the damage. "Ahem, we should head back as well..." Ezekiel say's awkwardly.
The King nod's his head lightly, "I see, In that case, you should escort Rani back to her quarters. She does appear to be in poor health. We'd all be in dire straights if something were to happen on her way to her quarters," He smoothly responds.
Ezekiel struggles to keep a scowl off his face, "That would, in fact, be detrimental to the kingdom. Surely the Royal Knight commander would be the best escort she could ask for."
"Ahem," Raphael clear's his throat awkwardly, "You must forgive me, Sir Ezekiel, by my responsibility rests on escorting his majesty, safely to his own quarters."
'Not you too,' Ezekiel despairs to himself, "I see, that is in fact a most important role," he responds, his eye twitching. "Ahem, I will be at the villa shortly," Ezekiel take's Rani's arm in his, "Traitor," he whispers under his breath to Raphael, eliciting an amuse smirk from the Knight Commander.
"May you have a safe and... fruitful journey," Raphael smirk's as he sends them off.
"Ah, well then, we will be heading to the Villa," Isaac calls out to Ezekiel. Smiling as he receives a wave over the shoulder in response. Turning to Isabella, "Let's head to the villa to rest."
"Mhm," her short response comes quickly as they leave the throne room.
This leaves the king and Raphael standing and watching Ezekiel's retreating figure, the king clears his throat, "Thank you for seconding my decision," the king smiles as his chest shakes with suppressed mirth.
"Ah, it was...my duty to do so," Raphael scratches the back of his head.
"You know, I can still hear you back there right?" Ezekiel calls out in a scalding tone, glaring over his shoulder. Eliciting laughter from the King as he doubles over.
Rani giggles, placing a hand on his forearm, "They mean no harm."
"Yes, I'm aware, and you're no better," Ezekiel shakes his head with a slight smile. "You won't recover if you don't rest adequately," he says to her, noticing the slightly glossy look in her eyes.
"Yes, I know, that is why I asked you to escort me back. I'm not so certain I could've made it on my own." She chuckles nervously, as she looks up at him. "And this is your fault so..."
"Is that so? I believe you offered yourself to me first." Ezekiel raises an eyebrow, when they enter the hallway, he sweeps her into his arms with a wink, "Wouldn't want you fainting on the way, I don't know where your room is after all."
Rani hides her heated face in his shoulder, as she nods slowly. "Thank you," she mumbles.
"You're already burning up," Ezekiel comment's as he opens the door to her room, gently placing her in her bed. "Do you have a fever?"
"No, don't worry. I'm fine!" Rani insists as he cover's her.
"I see, rest well then," he brushes the hair from her face as he starts to get up from the bed, only to be stopped by her grabbing his wrist. He turn's to look at her, "What is it?" he asks looking at her in concern.
Rani bites her lip, as her eyes dart about the room. "W-Won't you stay?" she mumbles shyly, eventually meeting his eyes.
His eyes soften as he looks down at her, "Just until you fall asleep," he says firmly, as he takes her hand in his.
"Ah, I meant will you stay here tonight?" Rani elaborates as a blush raises on her cheeks.
Ezekiel shakes his head lightly, "I'm not sure I can," he says gently.
Rani suddenly tug's his arm, pulling him onto the bed next to her. "If you can't keep control around just me, then what'll you do around your companions?" She props herself up on an elbow, her hand slowly caressing his cheek.
"It would be far different from sleeping in the same room with them," Ezekiel smiles wryly.
"Mmhm, then think of this as taking responsibility for putting me in this state." Rani says as she places her head on his shoulder, with a soft smile as she feels him pull the blankets up over them. which Ezekiel responds to with a light laugh. The two spend a while talking the night away before falling into a peaceful slumber.
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Ezekiel wakes the next morning to the soft rays of the sunrise, and the sound of birds chirping from the terrace. After gentle disentangling himself from Rani he slips out of the room to find a few servants waiting patiently outside the room.
"Good morning Sir Ezekiel," the maids bow lightly as he leaves Rani's chambers.
He softly presses a finger to his lips, speaking quietly, "Rani is still asleep, do you happen to have any... appropriate clothing?" He asks with an awkward smile, noting their lingering gazes.
What must've been the head maid meets his eyes with an embarrassed start, proffering up a change of clothing. "The king had us bring these for you, while he found your wardrobe choice amusing he though you'd like something less... revealing." The middle-aged maid relays the message respectfully.
Ezekiel smiles and sigh's lightly, "I was only dressed like this because my clothing was ruined in the spirit realm. Thank you for bringing these to me." Ezekiel responds, quietly retreating back into rani's chambers and making his way to an adjacent room.
As he finishes lacing the waist of the pant's he hears rustling from Rani's room. "Good morning," Ezekiel comes out of the doorway, tugging the shirt over his head.
Rani's head jerks to look in his direction, "You're still here? I'd though you left," she say's with a broad smile, then says in a joking tone. "I see you've put some civilized clothing on at last."
"Yes, the king sent some maid's, I believe their still waiting outside for you as well."