The Prince's smile faded from his face at the use of his formal title, even more so when Sora removed his arms from across his shoulders and leaned away slightly.
"What's wrong?"
Things were going so well with the boy, they were having fun, he'd even managed to make him giggle and got to practically hug him. But now Sora seemed uncomfortable, nervous even.
"Did I do something wr-"
"N-No.. no I'm okay."
The Prince's smile didn't return and neither did Sora's. Aiden didn't want to let him go but now it felt like he was holding Sora against his will and he certainly didn't want to that either.
But before moving, he decided to question again.
"Are you sure? You seem uncomfortable now."
The boy sighed shakily and looked at him. Just stared into his eyes for a long time, the longest time he'd ever made eye contact with the Prince.
"If I did something you don't like I want you to tell m-"
"B-Before.." He started, immediately making the Prince snap his mouth shut to listen. "Y-You.." He sighed. "I-I don't know, I-It just seemed like y-you were.. uhm.. f-flirting, w-with me.."
Sora's cheeks were the reddest he'd ever seen and Aiden was inclined to believe his weren't too far off from that either, if the burning on his face was a good indicator.
The Prince didn't quite know what to say, his eyes stuck wide and lips pursed. He couldn't deny the obvious, he didn't really hide his flirting.
He'd flirted with Sora in the past, but that was subtle. Resting his arm across the boy's shoulders as they sat on the bench, or holding Sora's hand so the boy would fiddle with his fingers. Heck, he'd even said before that Sora looked cute.
Granted it was in the context of him looking cute when he was frustrated, but that still counted, didn't it?
Evidently Aiden took too long to think of an answer because he was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by a quiet whimper. Sora had backed away from him, his arms now wrapped around himself and Aiden could see the tears falling down his cheeks.
"N-Never mind.. F-Forget what I said, Y-Your, Highness.. I'm s-sorr-"
"You were right..!"
The boy's eyes went wide, he looked up quickly and stared at the Prince.
Aiden cleared his throat nervously.
"I-I was flirting with you. So, I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I'll stop.
Unless.. you don't want me to..?"
"Y-You were.."
Aiden nodded as Sora brought his hand up and covered his mouth. The Prince was confused, until the boy whispered.
"B-But I thought t-that was forbidden..!"
Aiden frowned. That makes sense as to why he seemed so scared now, but he still didn't understand where the boy got that idea from.
"Why would it be forbidden?"
Sora swallowed back the lump in his throat, both of his hands moving to fidget intensely with the cuff of his sleeve.
"T-The king.. h-he forbade a-a pauper from romancing you.. d-didn't he..?"
The Prince smiled with relief, if that is what Sora was afraid of then he was happy to deliver some more secretive news.
"Oh, that. Uhm, I-I actually came up with that rule."
Sora gasped, his eyes going even wider. Aiden chuckled nervously.
"I got tired of everyone trying to befriend me just so they could romance me, so I told my father to announce that rule to the public and any visitors to the Castle."
The boy just stood there, staring at him. Aiden shuffled his feet nervously, he'd never felt so exposed under someone's gaze.
It felt like he was naked and Sora was looking him up and down with judgement. Although that was far from the truth since Sora's eyes never left the older boy's face and he definitely had clothes on.
Finally Sora looked away from the Prince in favour of staring at a bookshelf, Aiden nearly sighed with relief, until he started talking.
"W-Why..?"
The Prince frowned.
"Why.. did I make the rule..?"
Sora shook his head, putting his baby blue eyes back on Aiden.
"W-Why flirt w-with me..?"
The Prince straightened up a little, noticing the loss of Sora's fear.
"I would think that it would be obvious. I like you."
Sora looked down, shutting his eyes as a shivered ran up his whole body.
"W-Why?"
"Well.. I like that you're smart."
The boy shivered again, peaking through his eyelashes to watch Aiden as he spoke, making the Prince even more nervous.
"You're nice, always so polite to everyone that it astounds me sometimes. Even when they don't deserve it; You're respectful."
Aiden noted, remembering the time a guard ran straight into Sora on his way into the courtyard and the boy just apologized, even though it wasn't his fault, the guard didn't even respond and just pushed past him and left.
"You make me laugh too. I love it when you tell me all the random facts you've learned, it makes me happy."
The boy bit his lip, wiping the tears from his cheeks.
"The way you smile when you get something right, or how your eyes look like the sky. It makes my heart race. I've never been as happy as I am when you're with me."
The boys face was the reddest he'd ever seen, his hair backlit from the window making it appear golden, like one of the roses sprinkled in the garden, or a ruby on a gold pendant. Aiden was so captivated by the younger boy that he almost didn't register what Sora said next.
"S-So.. what n-now..?"
"Ah, uhm.. w-well, are you okay with this..?"
Sora's eyes drifted downward before resting at the bottom corner of the nearest bookshelf, his bottom lip was snagged between his teeth and Aiden had to remind himself for the umpteenth time that staring would make the boy uncomfortable.
"Am i.. okay with you l-liking me?"
"Mhm.."
Sora didn't say anything for a moment, but after a few seconds he nodded, albeit slowly.
"W-Would you be interested in accompanying me on a tryst?"
Aiden had never been so nervous before, it felt as if his heart would leap right out of his chest to coddle the boy and beg for his affection. That nervousness only grew when Sora didn't immediately answer.
He looked up and simply watched the Prince's face for a few seconds, then finally spoke.
"W-Will it not be a-a problem with His, Majesty i-if I were to a-accept..?"
Aiden shook his head reverently, but not caring what his father thinks.
"It will be no problem at all..!"
The boy pursed his lips, suppressing the tiny smile he wanted to release in case Aiden was faking it.
"T-Then.. I would be happy to accept."
"Yes!"
Finally, Sora smiled after seeing the Prince's genuine joy, the older boy nearly jumping from his spot on the wooden floor as he darted forward to wrap his arms around the younger's waist, pulling him into a tight hug.
Sora allowed himself to be held and wrapped his arms around the Prince's waist, resting his head against Aiden's chest. He was shocked to hear how fast the older boy's heart was beating,
Almost as fast as his.
Finished
3/8/2024