Work Text:
Mizuki hadn’t seen Ena the whole day… or rather she hadn’t seen her since the king called her over and to say she was worried would be a mighty understatement. Despite being Ena’s personal knight, she was dismissed for that time and Ena was hence, left alone with her father.
Mizuki was more than aware of the relationship the king and princess had and the fact that she then couldn’t find Ena in places she’d normally be was more than enough to make Mizuki search in and out of the castle, even visiting the knight’s training grounds to see if she’d be there, yet she had no luck.
She was quite close to storming into the throne room and asking the king what he’d done but she thought to visit Ena’s room one last time.
Mizuki stood in front of Ena’s chambers and knocked on the door. She knocked and knocked, hoping for a different outcome after each call on the door but she was left with no response.
As Mizuki was about to leave, she heard a sob.
Unsure whether to enter or not, considering Ena didn’t answer in the first place, but after working as her knight for a few months, she followed her gut. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the door.
“Princess?” Mizuki took a peek inside the room to get a glimpse of Ena sitting by the window sill.
She hasn’t acknowledged Mizuki in any way until she took a step inside and closed the door. Somehow, only the click of the door closing had gotten Ena’s attention.
Ena stared at Mizuki who stared back. Ena’s expression was unreadable: she didn’t seem mad (good for Mizuki) but it seemed like she’d been crying, which would explain the earlier sob (not so good for the conversation that was to come).
They stayed in silence for a while. The only other audible sounds were the cheers of the people below from an ongoing festival in the village.
“Mizuki.”
“Princess.”
The silence had been broken and was replaced with a soft grin on the knight’s face and a slight smile on the princess’.
With a bit of hesitation, Mizuki slowly walked over to where Ena sat and sat beside her as she watched. This allowed Mizuki to get a clearer look at Ena’s face.
Her makeup was ever so slightly ruined and there were tear stains on her cheek; even now, she could see how Ena was holding back more of them. The look on her face pained Mizuki more than anything; she never liked seeing the brunette sad.
Mizuki had wanted to ask where Ena had been the entire day but that was now the least of her worries— she found Ena and she’d try her best to provide her comfort.
“Did the king say anything?" Mizuki’s voice lowered itself, being much quieter and reserved than how she’d usually sound like.
The question was brought upon Ena to release a sigh. “When does he ever shut his mouth? Of course he did.”
Mizuki takes a glance at Ena who moved her gaze to the stars above them. She slowly, does the same.
“Do you wanna talk about it?”
It takes Ena a moment to respond before shaking her head.
“Not really.”
Mizuki hums, understanding not wanting to talk about it. So, they simply sat there, looking upon the stars in comfortable silence.
Mizuki’s eyes move to look at the distant village below the castle: the town had been lively, music loudly playing. She’s reminded of the people dancing their worries away, enjoying the festivities.
Along with the music and her memories of the festivities, it gives her an idea.
“Princess, do you know how to dance?”
The question rips Ena’s attention away from the stars to turn attention to Mizuki. Ena stared at her, with an offended-shocked expression, for a moment.
“Huh? Of course I do. What royal would I be if not?” She scoffed, whipping her head to the side.
Mizuki took that as a challenge. “Then, would you like to try teaching me how to dance, princess?” A tease.
Now, Ena froze, her eyes darting around the room nervously before she took a breath and got off the window sill in which Mizuki followed.
Mizuki stood in front of Ena with an expectant smile. Ena, on the other hand, was muttering under her breath as she tried to recall how to even start.
Mizuki wanted to laugh at how adorable the sight was, and while others might not find it cute, Akiyama Mizuki thought every part of the princess was a precious sight.
She felt almost pitiful as a minute or two flew by and they hadn't made progress. So, Mizuki took the first step and grabbed one of Ena’s hands and placed her own just above Ena’s waist.
This got a flustered reaction from Ena as she tried her best to hide her flushed face. The whole interaction made Mizuki’s heart flutter.
Ena took in a breath, and placed her free hand on Mizuki’s shoulder.
The music playing down below was not even close to fitting for the waltz but Mizuki had chosen it anyways, perhaps due to it being one of the dances royals should be guaranteed to know.
Mizuki looks at Ena with a look, as if saying ‘Take the first step.’
Ena does and Mizuki responds correctly. The next step though, does not go as planned as Ena tripped up and fell into Mizuki’s arms as she quickly reached out and caught her. Her knightley instincts were pretty handy.
“Ena, are you okay?” Mizuki impulsively used Ena’s first name instead of the usual ‘princess’ nickname she did as a tease, not like Ena minded, since her head was clouded with other things.
Ena pushed Mizuki ever so slightly, making her arms loosen around her waist. Ena’s face felt like it was burning but she still had to muster up a response. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Mizuki could feel a bit of heat on her cheeks too as she processed what just happened but took her mind off it as she formed a teasing grin on her face.
“I thought you knew how to dance, princess.” This made Ena fully pull away from Mizuki with a groan, getting a laugh in response.
“I do!… it’s just… I haven’t danced in a while.” Ena said, almost embarrassed but Mizuki understood the implication that she simply didn’t want to comply with her father’s requests.
Mizuki, without saying anything more, offered a hand towards Ena who looked at it confused.
A few seconds passed and neither of them had moved from their positions before Mizuki sighed. “Come on princess! Entertain me won’t you?”
Mizuki said it with a slight pout: enough to make Ena smile, a laugh building up in her throat but she held it in as she tried to stare back at Mizuki, attempting to act annoyed.
“Haven’t I already done that? Plus it’s not like you know how to dance.”
That made Mizuki smirk. Ena eyed her suspiciously in reply.
“And that’s where you’re wrong princess! I’ve seen quite a lot of dancing in my life so you could say… I’m an expert!” Mizuki looked proud of herself and while Ena was skeptical that Mizuki was bluffing and exaggerating, she’d entertain Mizuki like she had asked for.
“Yeah? Why don’t you show me then?”
Ena’s response shocked Mizuki for a bit before her lips returned to showing a smug grin. “Well, since you asked…”
Mizuki held out her hand which Ena took and was immediately brought into a dance.
The dance was… much different from the waltz they had attempted earlier, and instead, was matching the music and atmosphere from below in the streets.
A mix of the click-clack from Mizuki’s heeled boots and the more delicate tip-tap that was Ena’s glossy heels echoed out through the room. Despite the limited space of Ena’s chambers, Mizuki glided across the room, dragging Ena with her, consequently meaning she’d often trip up in her heels but tried to keep up anyways.
It was messy, but perhaps that was what made it fun.
Soon, their laughter sounded out, filling the room, drowning out even the music for a slight moment.
The way Ena followed Mizuki was silly yet somehow still charming. It felt like a mixture of their childish excitement and elegance: a manner that described them well and brightly.
Maybe it was the way their arms swayed around along with their legs, or the joy they felt together as they smiled. Ena’s worries from earlier were slowly being washed away as she enjoyed this moment with Mizuki, her knight.
As if to end their playful dance, Mizuki tried to spin Ena, ending with dipping her down before bringing her back up, although that didn't go as planned.
Mizuki spun Ena successfully but when it came to dipping her, she instead tripped, causing Ena to do the same and as they fell, Mizuki quickly changed positions with Ena to not make her fall on the floor.
Other than a slight ‘oof!’ from Mizuki, they were both fine. Mizuki opened her eyes, expecting a glare or an annoyed remark from how stupid it was to attempt that but all she got was a fit of laughter.
Glowing, joyous, laughter.
She watched as Ena laughed atop of her, the way her smile was so wide and the faint blush on her cheeks along with the sound of her giggling sounding throughout her chambers. To Mizuki, it was the most beautiful sight and thing she’d ever heard.
Through her constant laughing, Ena tried to mutter something out.
“You’re so stupid…” she had meant it to come off as an offence but it had been instead, filled with adoration.
Even with that, Mizuki couldn’t stop smiling as well. She had originally asked Ena to dance to make her feel better, so to see her smile and laugh just like this and to know she’d succeeded spread joy within her.
“You don’t mean that.” Mizuki intended it to come off as a tease but what came out was soft and gentle, a voice you could say was only reserved for Ena.
“I guess I don’t.” Even with her laughing over, there was still something in her voice, affection laced within every word said.
It was quiet for a while, with the way Mizuki subtly placed an arm around Ena’s waist and how Ena lay her head on Mizuki’s chest, listening to her heartbeat. They both closed their eyes and blocked out the music from outside. For a moment, it was only like they existed.
“…You feel better now princess?” The silence was now broken, but it didn’t mean either felt disturbed; not when it was them together.
Ena hummed, not wishing to say much as she subconsciously snuggled closer, enjoying the warmth Mizuki provided as she even went further to wrap her own arms around her.
Mizuki noticed and the blush that was already born on her face deepened, but if anything she enjoyed it too.
As much as Mizuki wanted to stay in this moment with Ena forever, they both needed sleep, or rather sleep on a proper bed instead of the floor.
“Princess, we should get up. You need to rest on a proper bed, y’know.”
Ena wanted to argue but sighed and moved up from where she laid and sat still as she watched Mizuki do the same.
Ena stood up and went inside her walk-in closet, trying to find a specific piece of clothing. Mizuki got up herself and stared at Ena as she rummaged through all her clothes.
Mizuki watched as Ena came out with a nightgown and handed it over to her.
“Wait, what’s this for?” she asked, puzzled and seemingly clueless to what Ena was trying to wordlessly say.
“It’s getting too late for you to head over back to your room. Sleep here for tonight.” Mizuki doesn’t miss the red appearing on Ena’s cheeks as she talked.
“Those are a size or two bigger than mine so they should fit you. Close the window and I’ll head over to the bathroom to change.” Ena didn’t allow Mizuki to say anything as she walked away, with her knight now quite dumbfounded at the situation she’d gotten herself into.
She wasn’t aware of how much could change between her and the princess in one night but then again, this may as well have been going on for a few weeks already.
Mizuki placed her knight’s uniform on one of Ena’s desks as the princess herself came out of the bathroom, adorned in her own nightgown.
Ena sat down on her bed and patted the space next to her. Mizuki knew what she meant and complied. But almost immediately after sitting next to Ena, she was brought down into a hug.
Now laying down beside her, Ena, with zero mention towards the now very ambiguous relationship they’d created for themselves that night, closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Mizuki fully and continued to rest her head on Mizuki’s chest.
Mizuki, on the other hand, was still processing what was happening, but tried her best to place some words out. “Can you not give me a warning, princess?” Her voice shakier and much more nervous than normal, perhaps showing how flustered she was.
“Enough with the princess for tonight: I’ve already given you permission to use my first name.” Ena doesn’t bother looking at the state Mizuki was in as she could hear it through the sound of her heart beating out of her chest.
“Alright prin- …Ena.”
Mizuki wasn’t used to using Ena’s first name, much preferring ‘princess’ as she had been using it since she’d met her but she supposed getting closer to her would mean Mizuki has to get used to a first name basis.
“…Good.” A yawn. Ena’s voice was much drowsier as she silently dozed off, getting more and more tired by the second.
Mizuki felt warmth spread in her chest as she watched the soft sight. Mizuki shifted a little to make her and Ena more comfortable on the bed. “Let’s go to sleep now?”
“Mm.” Ena hums, finding herself drifting to sleep by the second.
Mizuki smiled, and closed her own eyes, moving her arms around to hug Ena as she, herself, drifted to sleep.
“Good night, Ena.”
“Good night Mizuki…”