Getting Rea up early in the morning is always a challenge hopefully her maid was able to do so but I have my doubts especially since the sun is just starting to rise. Walking down the corridor to her apartments in my workout gear always gets me interesting looks. First they don't expect a lady in waiting to workout this early and secondly my blue hair tells them who my father is and the fact that his only daughter is into combat makes me somewhat intimidating to most of the staff. But none the less I have to make sure she is ready to go dress shopping for her brothers engagement ball in a month, heavens knows the dressmaker needs all that time to finesse her dreams to a tea.
As I am turning the corner into the Royal family's living quarters I notice Theo, he is basically the size of a brown bear but has the muscles that show how much working out he does so he takes up most of the hallway. He is dressed in his all black uniform and his jet black hair appears to be wet from a recent shower. His back is turned towards me brooding over something in front of him. I can tell he's brooding by the way he holds his shoulders an inch or two ever so higher then when he is relaxed.
"Why brooding, Theo?" I ask somewhat startling him
"Rosealie, I didn't hear you enter the hall." He says turning towards me looking me up and down with his sky blue eyes that twinkle a little while he tells I notice he's not answering my question. As he is turning though I can guess why he might be in a mood the person who was in front of him is none other than his handsome boyfriend Edwin, he is shorter than Theo by a decent amount but still taller at 6ft 1in wearing a light grey button up shirt and his sleeves rolled halfway up his arms and navy dress slacks with a black belt. He is lean like a runner but doesn't lack any strength. His light brown hair falls into his mossy green eyes as the most mischievous smile appears on his face while the orange tabby cat he is holding stretches in his arms.
"Rosie! Please explain to my handsome boyfriend that this fluffy cat deserves a home and that it will keep him company and cuddle with him while I'm gone?" Well that explains Theo's attitude Edwin collects lost animals the second he steps outside and in the years I've known him he has had well over his share of cats if this one gets in it'll be the fourth one in their shared living quarters.
"No." I laugh " I helped you convince Carter to let you keep the race horse. You still owe me for that plus you don't need more cats that Theo is allergic to. At this point I'm surprised he can breathe in your apartment at this point." I laugh more as a pout quickly covers his face but he relents and puts the cat down and it quickly scampers away.
"Edwin you can't just let it loose in the castle." Theo bauks at him. He grabs his radio and quickly talks into it "hey max can you find the orange tabby cat E let loose in the castle." As he sighs max replies
"Sure thing boss "
" So E where are you off to this time?" I ask
"Well Carter wants me to check in on his aunt in the Luna kingdom. Something about needing to help her with deciphering some ancient texts. I won't get back until the night of the ball. I just wanted to make sure Theo gets enough snuggles while I'm gone." He winks at Theo who rolls his eyes at this but remaines smiling
"Edwin you and I both know Carter gives him enough cuddles. Beside even if he doesn't get enough I am available to give him cuddles." I wink at them side hugging Theo as Edwin's smile widens. Theo hugs me back and kisses the top of my head.
" I might just take you up on that Rosie." Theo replies.
It was nice to flirt with them it was always easy with them, almost like breathing fresh mountain air for the first time. I had quickly fallen for these two, but they only kept it to light flirting like this and nothing more, plus they had each other and Carter so it was fool hardy of me to play with fire like this.
"Well boys as fun as it is to play between the two of you I have to go help Rea get ready to try on dresses for half the day for your boyfriends ball." I let go of Theo and kiss Edwin on the cheek as I pass by him and head to Rea's room.
"Rea?" I knock while entering her apartment "Are you ready for breakfast before your designing and fitting appointment?"
" Ugh! Rose you know I am not a morning person" she says coming out of her closet in a green workout outfit and her fire red hair in a messy bun on top of her head holding her sun glasses in her hand and a designer purse hanging from her elbow. "Why are you so cheerful?"
"Well, I just got done doing drills with my sword and ran into your future brothers in law in the hallway." I smile replying
" Ooo!" She says perking up while walking towards me " please tell me they finally pulled their heads from their rears and pinned you to the wall covering you in kisses until you couldn't take it anymore?" She giggles as she hooks her arm with mine and we head out to her car.
"Sadly no." I reply as she tuts and her security detail follows us to the waiting chauffeur. "I only got a kiss on the head and light flirting again. At this point I should just give up on love."
"No, no you should go boldly and tell them how you feel no holding back. This way you know for sure if you are truly friendzoned or not." Rea claims as we get into the car and drive out of the castle grounds towards town.
" I know at this point I need to but it may have to wait until Edwin gets back. Which won't happen until the night of the ball."
"Ugh, of course now we wait." She says as we get out of the car and go into the cafe for some breakfast.
"So, how are you doing with telling my brother Mathias how you feel?" I asked.
"Well....I want to invite him to the ball but my luck is about as good as yours and he had to go back to the training school and isn't scheduled to be back here until early spring." She sighs as we sit and then quickly order coffee and chocolate croissants.
"At least you two know you like eachother you just have a timing issues." I tell her as the waiter brings our coffee.
"Fair, but that took a lot of effort between both of us to actually say anything. I mean it took almost five years. Granted I loved him since highschool. But I doubt he wouldn't have given me the time of day then." Rea replied.
We quickly finished our breakfast and coffee then head to the dressmaker. It takes us about four hours for the ideas out of Rea and then about another hour to get the fabric picked out and doing test fits and sizing for certain parts of the dress. Once back at the castle Rea heads back to her apartment to rest and I head towards the kitchen for lunch. On my way I take a back hallway that is rarely used and run right into Edwin's back.
"Woah, speedy where are you going in such a hurry Rosie?" He asked turning around wrapping his arms around me and inadvertently putting my back against the wall.
"Oops, sorry E I didn't see you there." I say trying to catch my breath. "I was heading towards the kitchen for lunch." I look up into those green eyes and start to get lost.
He slowly moves one hand from my waist to slowly stroke my chin smirking ate me.
"That may be how you got here but I think you want something a little more now." I swallowed as he moved closer tilting his head slightly only inches from my face he asked "Am I wrong?"
Without speaking I answer him by moving ever so slightly forward closing the gap and finally kiss him. If I'm going to go all in I have found my actions to speak louder at least with Edwin. He didn't respond for only a split second but then the grip on my hip tightened, the hand by my chin quickly went into my hair and I was spun around and pulled closer to him as his back hit the wall. We were locked in this passionate kiss for what seemed like forever but was only a few minutes before Jones the head butler cleared his throat.
"Ughm, His Highness requests your presence sir Edwin." Jones didn't look at us while we adjusted ourselves. Edwin grabbed my hand kissed the top of it "until next time my beauty." Then I watched as he left with Jones, a blush burning my cheeks. All of the sudden I hear tiny meow as the tabby cat from earlier weaves in between my legs. Laughing I pick the cat up and head towards the kitchen where I know is a worker who would love this cuddly tabby.