Concealed Knight

NI-JU HACHI

As I started washing the dishes, Raiden just looked out in the garden. While I placed it in the dish rack to dry, I called his attention, "Raiden, aren't you sleepy?" He immediately looked in my direction, "I am sleepy, I'm just waiting for you to finish." He uttered; I nodded in response,

"I'll wash up first," I said, going inside the shower; he will sleep on his own; he has his own body, "Take your time!" He exclaimed in my direction,

I then proceeded to take my body bath; I removed my clothes and wetted myself with water; after I lathered soap throughout my body and rinsed myself, I walked in my closet and applied lotion and wore my nightgown, "Raiden, are you sleeping-" I was interrupted when I saw Raiden snuggling himself in my bed, what should I do with this man, "I told you to sleep in the guest room," I mumbled while I observed him sleeping, his thick brows and long lashes added elegance to his look, I am going mad just looking at this man,

"Raiden, Raiden..." I uttered, waking him up. To my dismay, he just groaned in response; this is no use, I will sleep in the guest room; it is inappropriate for a man and woman to sleep in a bed if they are not in a relationship or is not married; I was about to leave when I felt a grip in my arm. "Raiden?"

It revealed to be Raiden's hands grabbing mine, he pulled me to the bed causing me to fell, we were in a spooning position, him being the big spoon, and I the little spoon, he was not contented with that just, he snuggled in my neck, I feel his warm breath on my skin, he had a minty smell, he hugged me more, "Raiden?" I questioned; he mumbled in reply, "Are you asleep?" I asked again; he just snuggled more; silence filled the room as I was waiting for his reply.

After a while, he responded, "Get inside the sheets," He announced; we tucked ourselves inside the blankets with our position still the same, "Are you cold? Should I increase the temperature?" I raised, he just shook his head slightly,

"Come here, face me," He instructed; Raiden had a deep voice, but I did not know that Raiden in bed with a deep voice would be this nice to hear; I turned in his direction, he hugged me close, I went my way on his chest. Raiden's arms were wrapping me; I now really feel his warmth, his heartbeat, his everything. I seem small in his arms. Still, I feel protected, and it felt like home, "Kerstein..." He muttered,

"If it's allowed, and if I could, I would confine ourselves in this room forever, I would lock ourselves here, never to be disturbed by the outside world. I want to be by your side for as long as I want, twenty-four-seven if permitted, I want to stay beside you all day long," He narrated. I chuckled under his breath, "You have work, dummy." I retorted.

"Don't you want it? It sounds happy and comfy to me," He reacted, "It's also scary, Raiden, you can't keep myself just to you and you only, that's why we live in a society, we give and take." I commented,

Raiden being the baby he is, sighed, "You can't give your love to other men, and I can't give you to them also," He exclaimed, "I'm so happy I could die right now, with you, let's be together with each other eternally, even in the other life. I don't mind dying with you right now." He continued,

I laughed it out, "Will do so, Raiden." I countered, "Be with me forever, stay by my side, I want to be with you forever," He retorted, he was demanding,

"Don't you want that? I won't force you this because it means that I'm controlling you again, but I feel anxious and worried, can you stay by my side, Kerstein?" He followed, "I won't promise anything, Raiden, but I'll try, I'll try my best," I answered back,

He distanced himself from me and cupped my face with both of his hands, "Kerstein, will you stay with me, forever?" It was like he was indirectly proposing; I smiled with that, "Why are you still asking me that, after everything that happened, you always push yourself and force me to do what you wanted, why are you asking permission now?" I questioned,

"I'm still a respectable Knight, Kerstein, I'll follow the rules in terms of marriage," He continued speaking, "Although I seemed like a bulldozer forcing everyone to be on their knees, at the very least, I should ask for your permission,"

I was both distressed and flustered; I cannot take this all at once, "W- Why bother asking now? After everything you've done at least save me from shame, Raiden." I covered my face with both of my hands, "If you say so, I'll do as I please and how I like it," He chuckled in delight,

He kissed my temple and hugged me again, "You're so soft and fluffy, your breath feels warm and your body feels good to my skin, we should sleep more together," He complimented, "You smell so good. I might need a copy of what products you use, for instance, what hair product, body and bath products, I should stock some of your things in my house," He continued to say so,

"Raiden, what relationship do we have now?" I asked in confusion; I have to make everything clear so misunderstanding will not occur, "You're automatically my fiancé, everyone in the Hierarchy are allowed to date, but once they actually date each other, they immediately be the Noble's or Lady's fiancé, it is a rule to avoid scandals and conflicts between the families," He explained, so it is a must, the Hierarchy complicates all things,

"Will the House of Lords or House of Commons object to our relationship?" I questioned again, "They will but it won't happen we have the right to choose whom we want to spend our lives here, the Lords and Commons opposes and wants the Hierarchy to marry someone from the Hierarchy, because they believe that people should be where they came from, you're from the Hierarchy so you'll stay at that position, vice versa," He narrated,

"How about your title, will you be stripped from Knighthood, I heard some stories that people from the Hierarchy who married someone from the sector may get their titles lowered or worse they are removed from their position." I worriedly uttered, "And again, Kerstein, it won't happen, besides if that will happen, then our Noble Lord would be at a disadvantage, Theodore will fall deep." I frowned; I cannot understand what he said,

"Huh? And why is that, the Noble Lord is the highest title in lands, practically, they own the land, Ylury itself," I challenged, "That's why it won't happen, Theodore is in love with a Low Born, and he plans to marry her, he also never intends to let go, so may I ask you, will Theodore lose the land?" He retorted I could not win with battles like this.

"No, it's surely impossible," I answered back, "So that, answers all your question, for now, let's sleep." He said, tucking me to his chest.