Adrien escorted her along winding paths among fragrant blooming flowers and beautifully manicured gardens. Tall hedges encircled them on either side, while trees grew overhead, casting shade upon their figures as they strolled.
Along the path ahead of them ran an ornamental brook with stone bridges crossing back and forth across its width. Fountains bubbled and burbled merrily nearby, and marble statues depicting beautiful women were strategically placed throughout the scenery.
The pair made their way leisurely along the well-maintained footpaths, passing groups of well-dressed courtiers and ladies in fine dresses conversing idly amongst themselves, often stopping briefly to offer greetings to the prince.
She caught snatches of gossip here and there, about one nobleman's supposed infidelity or another's recent misdeeds, while others exchanged tidbits about courtly events scheduled later that evening.
At times, a few individuals would call out to Adrien as he passed, wishing to speak with him privately, and he would respond cordially to each individual.
Other times, people would merely glance curiously in their direction as they walked.
They exchanged whispers with each other and sent questioning looks in Emily's direction, as if curious about the Keybearer but not bold enough to approach her or say anything while she was in the presence of the prince.
After walking together through several rows of neatly trimmed bushes and flowerbeds for half an hour, the pair finally arrived at a bench set beneath an oak tree in an enclosed garden area. There, they settled comfortably onto the cushioned seats.
"...I..." She pursed her lips and glanced up at Adrien.
How do I explain I've figured out more about how to find the keys without outing Mia...?
The young woman hesitated. "I think...I've gotten a better idea of what to do next, at least."
Adrien arched an eyebrow in surprise at that announcement. "Really? I would very much like to hear it."
I can't let him know how I found that out, though. I should have planned this out better...
"...Well..." Emily blushed as she struggled to come up with an explanation, twisting her hands anxiously on top of her lap.
"I, er, read the book about the legends of the kingdom, and I started getting an inkling about how they might manifest themselves. According to some sources, I guess, the...um..."
She paused momentarily as she attempted to find the right way to make up a reason for how she knew these things suddenly. "The keys...might not be...objects as we thought..."
The prince tilted his head to one side inquisitively, as though intrigued by what she said. "Hm...Indeed." He folded his arms across his chest and nodded. "What makes you think that?"
She shrugged. "The...uh...the Keybearer is supposed to be able to sense these kind of things, right?" She pursed her lips and nodded.
"So when I was reading the book that's...what I thought of..." She chewed her lip for a moment before continuing, "The 'key' is actually...uh, well...something alive! That's what it sounds like. Which means...the thing I have to find and 'wake up'...is a person!"
Adrien stared at her intensely for several minutes before finally exhaling heavily. "I suppose that makes some degree of sense..."
He leaned forward in his seat slightly and fixed her with a scrutinizing look. "But...how would we even identify such a person? Who is he or she? Where is he or she? What can he or she do?"
"Um.." She shuffled her feet nervously and looked away bashfully. "W-well...I, uh..."
Dammit. How do I say this without it sounding ridiculous...?
Adrien eyed her curiously.
"...It...could be I can sense them..."
He hummed then and nodded. "Yes. That makes sense. So if we can get you near enough to one, you'll be able to tell. That just leaves figuring out how to narrow the people down..."
He looked thoughtful and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "...Perhaps we could hold a ball? Invite every noble and knight to attend?"
"That assumes they're all nobles." Emily frowned, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Ah...right. Good point." His shoulders slumped slightly as he sighed heavily.
She found herself staring at him again.
Staring at him was hardly a new development. He was gorgeous, after all. Not staring at him would be much more strange.
It's just...
She felt...
Drawn to stare at him?
But-
Gah. I'm...just imagining it. It'd be too convenient if my responsibility was to kiss the handsome prince to wake his powers...!
Emily glanced away guiltily, looking down at the ground instead of at him, fidgeting uncomfortably under his intense scrutiny.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, with concern in his voice. leaning toward her on the bench so that their faces were only inches apart, his eyes full of concern.
She blushed heavily. "U-um." She swallowed hard, forcing her mouth closed to prevent any embarrassing noises from escaping. She'd just been fantasizing about kissing the prince?!
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Think of something else!
Emily shifted nervously in place, glancing up at him briefly, unable to help admiring his handsome features. His sharp jawline, the perfect curve of his nose, those piercing violet eyes and wavy, long, silky looking purple hair.
"K-ki..."
"Hm?" He raised an eyebrow curiously, gazing intently at her lips as though trying to decipher her mumbling.
Just play dumb
No. Better yet...
The two were already rather close to begin with. Being as this was an outdoor setting, and the prince's arms were very nearly resting on her own arms as well...
She decided to try and pretend it was the setting which made her cheeks burn red as opposed to the fact she was extremely attracted to him and wished he would kiss her.
"...Kissss...?"
Why did I just hiss it...!
"I'm sorry...I don't...what? Kisses? I don't..." He furrowed his brow, appearing confused.
Her cheeks burned hotter and her ears burned pinker.
"Er."
Dammit. Okay. Breathe. You are a grown woman!
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she breathed heavily through her nostrils. She could feel his breath tickling against her face, the scent of minty fresh toothpaste invading her nostrils, causing her mouth to water slightly.
Her hands balled into fists and trembled slightly at her sides. Her knees knocked together, legs shaking, causing the bench beneath her to vibrate ever so slightly. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, wetting them nervously. She lowered her head slightly as she mumbled softly,
"...C-could I please ki...kiss you, your majesty? Just a little?"
Her words seemed to take him by surprise as his eyes widened slightly as he looked at her quizzically, puzzled by her request. "Lady Emily-"
"I-it's just!" She stuttered quickly, falling over her words and lifting her hands. "T-t-to wake up the key! To wake up a key I have to...to kiss so..." She rubbed the back of her neck anxiously, glancing away from him.
"Kiss...?"
The question hung in the air between them for a moment, floating along with the sweet, floral scent of roses and honeysuckles that emanated from nearby gardens and ponds.
Her entire body froze stiffly, as though paralyzed with fear as she awaited his reply.
What am I doing! I can't be thinking these things! That's not the reason! And-! And he's not going to agree to a kiss for something so stupid!!
After a couple of agonizing seconds, the silence broke when Prince Adrien chuckled softly.
"I-is that all? Ha..." He leaned closer still, bringing his lips close enough so that his breath ghosted over hers lightly. "That's no trouble at all, Lady Emily." He murmured huskily, lowering his tone to a sensuous whisper.
He brushed a strand of hair out of her face gently and stroked his thumb over her cheek. "I can give you a kiss right now."