❀ the affairs of the princess and her knight ❀

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princess elle
Elle listens as Aurora replies to her question. Her smile doesn't fade from her face, but her smile morphs into somewhat of a pout. The princess doesn't enjoy letting her childish side show, so she tries to dial it back slightly whenever she feels indignant. It doesn't stop her from voicing herself, though.

Maybe it was because Elle never had to worry about money, but she felt that they should always commemorate their excursions outside the castle with something to remember it by. It wasn't always possible, because it depended if she could find something small or inconspicuous enough, but she always enjoys looking back at the little mementos she purchased. Maybe it was just the sentimental part of her. Though, thinking about it, maybe Aurora simply doesn't have spending money? Elle could always give her some, but she isn't sure if Aurora would accept, given their titles. She decides to bring it up later.

"I see," she starts, a hint of something undetectable in her voice. "Maybe you ought to consider it, though. We seldom step out of castle grounds together, especially when it's in an informal manner such as tonight…" Elle looks to the distance. The sounds of people talking and shuffling about are growing louder, and the lights surrounding the area grow brighter. Elle turns to Aurora. "Maybe you should treat yourself to something?"

Before she could let Aurora respond, Elle realizes that they've gotten so close to town that people are now passing them on their way out of town. She instinctively tucks her head as they pass, but it wasn't enough to hide her excited smile. She grows restless, and an idea flickers across her mind. She hesitates for a second, but decides to abandon her title for a moment as she grabs Aurora's hand and pulls her into town.

Elle doesn't run, but she walks markedly faster than she was a moment ago. Her grasp on Aurora's hand is firm and strong, but still tender. A wave of affection racks her body when she gazes at Aurora over her shoulder, but she pushes the feeling away when she suddenly notices the rows of merchant stands lining the streets.
 
Aurora softly giggled when she noticed Elles face turning to a pout and she decided to tease her about it. "Aw princess, that's such a cute face your making" She said it with a slight grin on her face as she once again pet Elle's head.

Aurora silently listened to Elle as they walked together before she turned to look over at her and speak "I may treat myself, if I find the right item, but you should stop worrying so much about me, go enjoy your time while you have it princess"

Aurora was soon taken aback and stumbles slightly at the sudden pull, her eyes widening as Elle's grip tightens around her hand. For a moment, she considers resisting, but the warmth of Elle's hand in hers makes it difficult to pull away. Instead, she finds herself smiling softly, her steps matching Elle's pace. The excitement in the air is contagious, and as they move further into the town, Aurora feels an unfamiliar thrill — one that comes with being out of the castle, away from the usual formalities.

Elle's suggestion hangs in her mind, but before she can voice any doubts, the sight of the merchant stands captures her attention. It's hard not to feel a sense of wonder at the rows of trinkets, fabrics, and delicacies. Her eyes scan the stalls with a quiet fascination, and she finds herself intrigued by the colors and scents that fill the air.

"Well, perhaps... just a little something," Aurora says, her voice quiet but warm. As they stop in front of a stall, Aurora's eyes land on a set of matching rings, one was black with half of a rose gold heart engraved in it, while the other was rose gold with half of black heart engraved in it. It's just the kind of thing Elle would enjoy, something small to commemorate their night together.
 
princess elle
Elle barely notices letting go of Aurora's hand as she gravitates towards a merchant stall, leaving Elle to marvel at the market in front of her. Rows of merchants line the streets as far as she can see; some people have set up food stands with freshly made snacks and pastries, while some people are selling clothing or handmade goods. As she peruses the stalls, she notices a stand selling exotic flower seeds and farming supplies. That's not something that she usually sees when she sneaks out, but then again, she's usually drawn to the merchants who sell small luxuries.

Walking through the street, Elle makes sure that her face and hair are concealed by her cloak. Despite the streets being flanked by lamps, the town was dimly-lit enough that it proved difficult to make out one's features. Elle feels grateful for this, but it just means that she has to look more intimately at the stalls to find something she likes. The princess takes a look back to where she and Aurora entered; Aurora seems to still be browsing the merchant that caught her eye. She's surprised that her eye was caught so quickly as soon as they entered town, but Elle takes this as an opportunity to browse for a gift for Aurora. The question now, though, was what to buy.

In all her years knowing her knight, Elle felt that Aurora did well enough with her sword. She never thought that she needed any additional weaponry, so it never came up as a gift option. The way of the knight didn't leave much room for additional weapons, anyways. But as she passes through the marketplace, the gleam of a pitch-black blade catches her eye.

Elle stops and inches closer to the blade. The color's depth draws her in, the blade's abyss-like color making her feel as if she was standing on a cliff. As her eyes traverse the blade's surface, she notices a tiny gleam of blue feathering through it. The color was subtle, Elle only noticing it once she looked at it intimately. She takes the dagger in her hand gingerly, holding it up to the light. To her surprise, the blue becomes more reflective when it glimmers in the light. The flickering of color is mesmerizing.

"Interested?"

Elle jumps at the merchant's voice, breaking her concentration. She looks back at the blade, contemplating it. As she gazes at the colors again, she realizes something.

Blue and black - those are the colors of her and Aurora's eyes, respectively.

"Only the finest craftsmanship," the merchant chimes, his eye glinting pridefully. "Perfect for self-defense. Or perhaps a gift for your husband?"

Elle winces, but puts on a polite smile as she hands the dagger to the merchant.

"Self-defense," she smiles, reaching for her coin pouch. "How much, sir?"

"A thousand."


The price is steep, but Elle doesn't wince. She has more than enough coin to afford it, and for Aurora, she would buy anything. Elle hands over the coins, and the merchant exchanges it with the dagger, though not without sheathing it and putting it in a nondescript cloth bag. The princess thanks the man and moves on her way.

She decides to browse through the many food stalls set up tonight. She didn't eat much for dinner, so she feels especially peckish now. The smell of fried foods tempts her, but she has many options at her disposal. Elle wanders from food stall to food stall, indecisive about what she wants to snack on.
 
Aurora, still standing by the stall with the rings, feels the weight of the moment—she hadn't expected a simple stroll through the market to be so... intimate. The quiet hum of the crowd, the flickering lights, and the subtle tension of Elle's hand in hers seem to settle into a space she's not quite used to. She turns the ring in her fingers, thinking of how it would look on Elle's hand, a delicate token of their time here, but she feels a pull to look back at her companion.

When she finally spots Elle again, the princess is nowhere to be found near her original spot. The flutter of panic is brief, replaced by a soft chuckle. "Of course," she mutters to herself, shaking her head. Aurora quickly pays for the rings and tucks them away in her pocket. Then she moves through the crowd in search of her.

Aurora knows just where to look for the princess and quickly heads to the food vendors, where after looking through a few stall she spots the princess. Before heading over to the princess Aurora decided to grab her some food.

Aurora finds a food stall that's full of different foreign foods from far east, she grabs some dumpling and fried potstickers before heading over to the princess. Aurora walks up behind the princess and calmly speaks out to her "Elle, I've gotten us some food, do you wanna get out of here and eat or do you wanna buy some more food or stuff before we leave"
 
princess elle
Elle perks up at the sound of Aurora's voice. The princess is delighted her knight found her, moreso to save the trouble of them scrambling around to find each other later. She smiles at the knight, stashing the cloth bag in her cloak.

"Ah," she starts. "Let's find a place to sit, but allow me to purchase something first."

Elle motions for Aurora to follow her down the street. As they wander, the smell of meat, herbs, and buttery puff pastry mingling together capture the princess's attention. She looks and sees a stall with different types of hand pies on display; most of them seem to be fruit or dessert pies, but she was interested in the savory smell that she picked up earlier. She walks up to the vendor, making sure to pull her hood down.

"Excuse me," she starts. "What meat pies do you have?"

"Lamb, beef, venison, quail, you name it,"
the vendor replies with a booming voice. "Only thing is we just ran out of chicken. Kids can't get enough of it!"

Elle chuckles in response. "I'm sure," she replied goodheartedly. The image of children running around the market with pies in their hands and messy faces makes her chuckle to herself. "Can I get two beef pies?"

"Absolutely,"
the vendor replies. She watches as the vendor scoops two steaming pies into a parchment bag, holding a hand out towards Elle.

"Twenty total."

Elle hands the vendor the coins, and they exchange items. The bag is warm in her grasp, and she clutches it to her chest before storing it away in her cloak pocket. She turns back to Aurora and takes full notice of the dumplings in her hand.

"Oh, those look delicious," she remarks. "I've never eaten dumplings before; I'll be delighted to try them." Elle glances up at the sky, eager to find that the stars still shine even in the bright town. "Shall we find a quiet place to eat?"
 
Aurora smiles warmly as she follows Elle down the street, her gaze flicking between the savory smells of the market and the quiet joy of the evening. "A quiet place sounds perfect," she agrees. "We could return to the path we came from earlier, I'm sure there's a few logs we could sit on"

Aurora takes a small bite of her dumpling, savoring the warm, savory filling. "You'll have to tell me what you think once you try them," she says with a smile. "They're always best when shared, don't you think?" She glances at the warm, fragrant pies Elle has, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "I'm sure those will be just as delicious."

Aurora grabs onto Elle's hand and slowly begins to lead her back the way they came, she goes slow enough though to give the princess a chance to decide if she wants to follow Auroras lead, or make her own choice.

As they walk Aurora calmly speaks up "Did you buy yourself anything?" She turns to look Elle up and down trying to spot anything different or any accessories Elle may have bought herself.
 
princess elle
Elle smiles in response to Aurora's question. She clutches the bag close to her chest, savoring the warmth before the pies cool.

"Any meal tastes best when shared with loved ones," she replies. "Especially on a night such as tonight."

Elle doesn't resist when Aurora starts to pull her back from where they came, letting her take the lead. She absently feels for the dagger in her cloak pocket. Whenever she buys a gift for anyone, she worries that she left it somewhere where she'd forget or that it would slip out of her hands when she's unaware. She knows the idea is silly (except for the part about her misplacing the item), but she can't help but worry.

Aurora's voice breaks her from her thoughts, and she is silent for a moment. She was so focused on finding a gift for Aurora that she completely forgot to look for anything for herself. The realization dawns on her face, and she smiles sheepishly to herself.

"I've realized just now that I hadn't purchased anything I was looking forward to…" she chuckles, a little embarrassed. "I must've gotten carried away perusing the food. It would've been nice if I'd seen a nice ring or necklace…"

The princess quickly composes herself, shaking the thought from her head. "Forget that. Merely being here away from it all, even for just a night, is more than I could hope for."

She refocuses her attention back to the feeling of her hand in Aurora's. The sight of their hands clasped, in the middle of a sea of people who didn't know their names, seemed almost dream-like to her. The warmth of Aurora's rough yet strong hand spreads up Elle's arm and to her chest. It feels like a scene from a romance novel, where she's the heroine being whisked away by her secret lover. The idea of that makes her blush, but she doesn't relish the idea. She shakes her head and tries to ground herself in reality. As the two return from where they came, Elle notices the stall Aurora was browsing earlier.

"Oh," she perks up. "I know you weren't planning to purchase anything tonight, but did something at that stall catch your eye in the end?"
 
"Any meal tastes best when I share it with you Elle" She said it in her usual calm tone as she glanced back at the princess.

Realizing Elle was giving no resistance Aurora began to walk a little bit a faster until she turned around to hear the princess speak "We can still stop if you'd like" Aurora planned to keep the rings a secret from Elle until they were alone again.

Aurora slowed down once again, but as she heard the princess speak she quickens her pace again. As Aurora led the princess her grip on Elle's hand tightened as she pulled the princess in closer.

Aurora soon glanced back at the stall before speaking up "Ah, yes, I'll show you once we're alone"

Soon enough the pair had escaped the crowd and Aurora continued leading Elle deeper down the path they came from, until the noise of the town had become distant. Once again it was just the two of them all alone together, Auroras grip remained steadfast on Elle's on hand not realizing that she was still holding on so tightly to the princess.
 
princess elle
As the pair walks around the outskirts of the village, Elle continues to gaze up at the sky. The stars twinkle with every step she takes, and she allows herself to be mesmerized by them as Aurora pulls her along. An idea crosses Elle's mind.

"May I request that we find a spot to watch the stars? If there are any available, of cou–"

She cuts herself off by pointing at a nearby hill. The hill is flanked by trees and is only slightly elevated, essentially creating a clearing to the sky. Without another word, Elle pulls Aurora along and towards the hill. She's careful not to slip as she climbs, and when she reaches the top, Elle quickly finds that her intuition was correct.

The hill is level enough so not to send them sliding down, and the grass on top is plush and dry. Among it all, the stars shine brightly above them without anything obstructing their view. The trees flanking the hill seem to point towards the sky, as if nature itself were framing the cosmos in one giant picture frame. Elle sighs quietly to herself, satisfied, and takes a seat on the grass. Even though it seemed that they were alone, Elle ensures that her hood stays on.

The princess takes this moment to open the parchment bag she's been holding. She tentatively prods at the pies with a finger, relieved that they were still warm. She holds the bag out for Aurora to take a pie before she eats hers.

"I would love to try one of those dumplings you purchased."
 
Aurora follows closely behind, her hand gripping Elle's as they ascend the hill. Her steps are light, but there's a sense of excitement in the air, her curiosity piqued by Elle's sudden decision. When they reach the top, Aurora pauses for a moment, taking in the view. The sky is wide open, the stars scattered like diamonds across a velvet canvas.

She lets out a soft laugh, impressed by Elle's choice. "You always seem to know just where to go."

Aurora sits beside her, the cool grass brushing against her legs. She looks up, eyes narrowing slightly as she studies the stars. "This… this is perfect." Her voice softens, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I can't think of anywhere better."

She shifts closer, leaning into Elle slightly, a quiet contentment settling over her as they both gaze up at the night sky.

Aurora takes a pie from the bag with a smile, her fingers brushing against Elle's as she accepts it. She looks down at the pie, inhaling the comforting scent before taking a small bite. Her eyes brighten in approval.

"These are delicious," she murmurs, clearly pleased. As she savors another bite, she glances over at Elle, noticing the way her gaze lingers on the dumplings.

She then reaches into her own bag to retrieve the dumplings, offering them to Elle with a teasing smile. "I'll admit, they're not quite as fancy as these pies, but I hope they're to your liking."

Aurora's eyes twinkle as she watches Elle, eager to see her reaction.
 
princess elle
Elle giggles as she watches Aurora take in the sights of the sky above them.

"I try my best," she laughs. "I simply can't ignore the cosmos when they show themselves, after all."

The princess's eyes widen when she notices Aurora's body pressed lightly against her's. The sensation is barely noticeable; if she wasn't paying attention, she wouldn't have noticed the slight fuzziness that was Aurora's clothing pressed against her cloak. Their body heat radiates gently off onto the other, settling within Elle a comfortable warmth. She reacts similarly when their fingers brush, but quickly composes herself to take her pie once Aurora has taken hers.

The crust is flakey, light and much more buttery than she would expect from street food. Juices seep from the pie when she squeezes it, threatening for the mixture of meat and root vegetables to spill out. Elle is grateful that she has the bag to catch any juices or stray filling, and she suddenly wishes that she asked for two bags so that Aurora didn't have to get her fingers greasy. The thought evaporates from her head, though, as Aurora speaks up.

"They are, aren't they?" She takes another bite of the pie. "Remarkedly affordable as well. It pleases me to see the commonfolk have access to filling, delicious food at a price such as this." Elle takes another bite of her pie as she watches Aurora fish the potstickers from her bag. Her eyes widen in excitement, only to giggle from Aurora's teasing voice.

"Hm," she hums, "Only the finest for your princess, I see?" Elle laughs as she takes a dumpling from Aurora. She eyes the fried food for a moment. She isn't sure if the filling would give her trouble like the pie would, so she was unsure of how she should eat it. She decides to take a small bite of it, nipping some of the filling along with the fried ends of the dough. Her eyes light up, first in confusion, then in surprise.

"Wow," she marvels. "That's not a flavor I've had before. It's… incredible." She takes a bigger bite of the dumpling. "Do you eat Eastern food often, Aurora?" As she shifts to look at her knight, Elle feels the dagger in her pocket press against her thigh. She makes a mental note to present the gift to her after they're finished with their meal.
 
Aurora smiles softly, her gaze still lingering on the sky above them. She turns to look at Elle, catching her composure before she speaks.

"I think you're the only one who can make the stars feel more... real," Aurora says with a hint of admiration in her voice. She takes a slow breath, feeling the warmth between them. For a moment, she simply enjoys the closeness, though she hides it behind a gentle smile. "I don't think I've ever seen the sky quite the same way before."

Aurora watches Elle with a knowing smile as she takes a bite of the dumpling, her own curiosity piqued by Elle's reaction. She takes a moment to savor another bite herself before responding.

"I do," she says with a soft chuckle, her eyes glinting. "I've always found Eastern cuisine fascinating—so many layers of flavor and texture. There's something about the way they balance savory, sweet, and even a little bit of spice. It's a far cry from the simple fare we grew up with, but that's part of what makes it so intriguing."
 
princess elle
The princess's face flushes at the complement. As usual, she returns it with a smile.

"You're far too kind, Aurora," she speaks gently. "Though, I appreciate your sentiments. The beauty of the stars is only amplified when I can gaze at them with you by my side."

Elle grows quiet again as she listens to Aurora express her love for Eastern cuisine. She only grew up with the foods her staff cooked for her, most of them being dishes from her own land of Fleureaux. She didn't know much about the foods from Eastern lands, but now that she's had a taste, she hungers for me. She makes a mental note to research them later; hopefully, the castle has some books on Eastern cuisine.

"Well, I hope to taste more, then," she starts. "The mixing of those different flavor profiles is foreign to me, but if it is anything like this…" She twirls the dumpling between her fingers. The moonlight shines upon its fried ridges, and the wind carries the scent of ginger and meat. "I yearn for more." Elle pops the rest of the potsticker in her mouth before returning to finish her pie.

As the heat from the food settles and cools, so does Elle. The late night air is chilly enough that Elle is grateful that her cloak is warm, but not frigid enough to require a coat. The sky is clear, and the air smells clean. Even though Elle lives a life of luxury where she worries seldom about her basic needs, she is grateful to experience the little things, such as sneaking out and sharing a meal with a friend under the stars. She knows she wouldn't be able to do this when she ascends the throne.

Elle finishes the last of her pie, and she fishes out her handkerchief from one of her cloak pockets. As she's wiping the oil from her fingers, she is reminded of the fact that Aurora bought something for herself at the market. She perks up at the thought and turns to her.

"Oh," she starts, excited, but trying to hide her enthusiasm. "I don't mean to rush your meal, but may I see what you purchased earlier?" Elle isn't used to her knight treating herself to small things in the time she's known her, so her excitement is palpable.
 
Aurora watches Elle with a soft smile, her eyes glowing with affection as she listens to her. She admires the way Elle speaks, the way she carries herself even in moments of quiet contemplation.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Aurora says, her voice warm and tender. "Eastern cuisine has a way of surprising the senses, doesn't it? There's something about the balance of flavors—the sweetness, the heat, the earthiness—that makes each bite an adventure. I'd be more than happy to introduce you to more dishes, whenever you're ready."

Aurora senses the quiet change in Elle, the way her shoulders relax, her gaze softening as she takes in the peaceful night. The warmth of the cloak seems to mirror the comfort of the moment, and Aurora can't help but feel a sense of tranquility herself.

She leans back slightly, eyes drifting toward the stars, then glances at Elle with a knowing smile. "It's rare, isn't it? Moments like this… where you can just be, without the weight of expectations pressing down."

She watches the gentle breeze ripple through Elle's hair, the faintest hint of sadness in her voice as she continues, "I imagine it must feel… different, knowing that this kind of freedom won't last forever. When the crown comes, so do all the burdens that come with it. But still, I think these moments—these quiet ones—are the ones that shape us most. They're the ones worth holding onto."

At Elle's question Aurora reaches into her pocket and pulls out the matching set of rings before extending one out to Elle "I bought us a matching set of rings"
 
princess elle
Even though Aurora wasn't born to a family of high status, Elle appreciates how the knight can empathize with her on the matters unique to royalty. Aurora didn't have to worry about governing a nation and the responsibilities that came with it, but that didn't stop her from discussing it with Elle. She was grateful for that. It was through these talks and Aurora's empathy that allowed Elle to feel more than just a princess - she felt like an individual, first and foremost.

"Yes," the princess breathes, clinging onto Aurora's words. "That's why I'm making sure to treasure these moments…" Her words trail off before she speaks again. "Moments like these are meant to be cherished."

As Aurora moves to pull her purchase from her pocket, Elle smiles wide. She fixes her gaze on the rings, her expression immediately falling into one of wonder. She admires the way they shine under the moonlight, soft and almost dreamlike in the low light. It wasn't until a beat passed that she registered what Aurora said.

…Us?

She notices that the two rings in Aurora's palm are identical. Two beautiful, handmade, matching rings, not unlike those which married couples promise to each other. She knows that isn't Aurora's intention, but the connection doesn't leave her brain.

It can't.

The image of both Aurora and Elle wearing their rings together makes her face flush, two parts of a whole only being united when they're together. Her face feels hot, her heartbeat increases, and her body is covered in chills. Despite everything, the cool late night air is suddenly burning hot for her.

Elle gazes at the rings, then up at Aurora's face and into her eyes. It's difficult to hold eye contact for longer than a second; Elle averts her gaze as she finds the courage to speak.

"I…" she starts, her voice low and tender. "I did not anticipate matching rings…"
 
Aurora's expression softens as she listens, her heart quietly resonating with Elle's words. She takes a small step closer, her voice gentle but firm.

"I understand," she says, her gaze steady and reassuring. "These moments—these quiet, unspoken pieces of time—they're precious. I can't imagine the weight you carry, but I can see how much you value the fleeting moments where you can just be... you."

Aurora notices the shift in Elle's expression, the quiet wonder in her eyes. She hesitates for a moment, then gently presses the rings into her palm, holding them out for Elle to see.

"Ah," she begins, her voice a little softer now, a hint of uncertainty in her tone. "I… I didn't mean to imply anything. I just thought... well, these rings are a symbol of something I value deeply—our bond, our friendship. If it's something that feels too much, I can understand that."

"But…"

Aurora pulls Elle's hand in and opens it up before placing the ring into her palm and closing her hand back up "But please keep it princess, even if you don't wear it, let it help you remember me as you spend more time with Lucias, and as queen"

Aurora face shifts to concern as she notices how flushed Elle's face is becoming. Aurora then puts her hand up to the princesses forehead "Are you coming down with something Elle? Do we need to get you back to the castle?"
 
princess elle
Elle draws back slowly when Aurora speaks with uncertainty, panic suddenly settling in.

"Ah, please don't worry," she rambles, waving her hands gently. "You did not overstep. I was just…" She draws back into herself, pausing before continuing her sentence. "I was merely surprised. I appreciate your…"

The princess lets her words trail off as Aurora takes her hand and gently places a ring in her palm. The metal is cold in her palm, but Aurora's hand is warm as it clasps over Elle's own. She lets the moment linger. She figures her face is very red with how hot it feels, but she hopes that Aurora wouldn't notice in the darkness. Her heart rate remained at triple time, and it was difficult not to let her mind wander. She tried not to think about the implications of matching rings, how it makes her feel, and how it would look on her finger in lieu of Lucien's wedding ring. As she tried to fight these thoughts, she was suddenly met with Aurora's hand on her forehead.

Elle's first instinct is to look up, and when she does so, she is met with Aurora's worried face inches away from her own. The sudden proximity catches her by surprise, but she doesn't move. She feels like she can't. Elle's gaze is drawn into Aurora's eyes, their usual dark color now shining under the bright moonlight. It makes her body weaken.

"Oh," she startles, bringing her posture back to its usual poise. She gently pries Aurora's hand off her forehead. "No, I'm alright. Maybe just…" She swallows. "Overwhelmed."

Elle pulls herself away from the knight. She takes a moment to regain her composure, letting her heartbeat return to its resting rate. She opens her hand and looks at the ring.

"I must say…" The princess speaks softly after allowing another moment to pass. "You chose well. This ring seems expertly made." She gingerly takes the ring in between her fingers, holding it up to the moonlight. Her hood shifts slightly, allowing some of her golden hair to peek out. "It's beautiful."
 
Aurora's gaze softens as she watches Elle's reaction, her fingers still gently resting on the princess's forehead. She can feel the heat radiating from her skin, and her heart skips a beat, but she remains calm, her voice quiet and soothing.

"You don't need to explain," she says, her tone almost a whisper. "I understand. I just want you to know… this is something I wanted to give you. No pressure. Just..." She pauses for a moment, the weight of the ring still hanging between them. "Just a symbol of how much I care. Nothing more than that."

Aurora's expression softens, but there's a quiet concern behind her gaze. She takes a slow step back, allowing Elle some space, though her eyes never quite leave her. Her voice is gentle, careful, as if testing the waters.

"Overwhelmed?" she repeats, her tone filled with both understanding and an unspoken invitation to share more. "It's okay, Elle. You don't have to explain if you don't want to. I just… I want you to feel safe, feel comfortable."

She takes a small breath, still a little hesitant. "I'm here, no matter what."

A soft giggle comes from Aurora as she watches Elle look at the ring "Only the best for my princess" Aurora can't help but stare at how the moon beautifully lights up Elle's whole face and her golden hair.
 
princess elle
Elle chuckles lightly as she gazes at the ring. After a moment passes, her face falls slightly. She turns to Aurora.

"Oh," she starts. "I've yet to thank you." She pulls her hood back over her head as she turns to Aurora. She smiles softly. "Thank you for the beautiful ring. It was very thoughtful for you to think of me."

As she's facing the knight, Elle slips the ring on her middle finger. She felt it might be inappropriate to place it on her ring finger, and the middle finger was as close as it could get. She moves her hand around, admiring the way it glistens.

"This will pair nicely with my other accessories."

The princess truly did not anticipate Aurora purchasing a gift for her tonight, much less something for both of them to wear. It was like she and the princess were of one mind, thinking of the other before considering themselves when given the opportunity. She feels a weight inside her cloak pocket, and she's reminded of her own gift to Aurora. She straightens her back.

"This is as good a time as any to show you what I purchased," she smiles. She gently reaches into her cloak pocket and pulls out the nondescript cloth bag. Elle looks into Aurora's dark eyes again before averting her gaze, suddenly a bit bashful. Slowly, she holds the bag towards Aurora with both hands.

"I, well…" she stutters, trying to keep her voice even. She gathers the courage to look into Aurora's eyes again, keeping the gaze steady. "I purchased a gift as well. For you."
 
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"You really needn't thank me princess" Aurora says it softly as she looks at the princess "It's my duty to make you happy princess"

Aurora, standing beside Elle, watches the way the light catches the ring as it slides onto her middle finger. She tilts her head slightly, a faint smile curling on her lips.

"It's quite striking," she says, her voice soft but filled with genuine admiration.

Aurora notices the subtle shift in Elle's posture, the way she straightens up as if something important is about to happen. Her gaze softens, sensing the change. She steps a little closer, a slight curiosity in her eyes.

"You seem... thoughtful," Aurora observes, a gentle smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Is there something you're holding back, perhaps?" Her tone is playful but sincere, as if she knows exactly what might be brewing beneath the surface.

As Aurora sees the gift her face lights up and she gently grabs the bag out of Elle's hand. "You really didn't need to buy me anything princess" She opens up the bag and pulls out the dagger. Aurora examines it before pulling it out of its sheath to examine the blade, before putting it back.

Aurora sets the blade down and lunges at Elle to pull her into a tight hug "Thank you so much princess" Her face is lit up with excitement and her tone in more quick "Words can't describe how grateful I am princess"