#prince chevalier 🥰🥰🥰

[sky-drgn]

Rereading Chev's route again since it's voiced and found this little line from chapter 3

What do you mean collected?!

Those oddballs are his brothers?? HE DIDN'T COLLECT THEM???

[sky-drgn]

Would the self proclaimed "doesn't get jealous" Chevalier count? (Since he absolutely gets jealous)

*puts an ad out in search of a completely unjealous suitor*

[ichgakr01270910]

if dangerous, why husband-shapped? (⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

The story of the sensitive rabbit and the sensible tiger

The story of the sensitive rabbit and the sensible tiger

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Chevalier x MC                                                                                  

Prompt : 7.Simpleton

Part of : Chevalier Michel Sequel Route Release hosted by @aquagirl1978

Tag: Hurt Comfort Overcoming odds High sensitivity

Word Count : 2.385

Author’s Note: The idea of the brutal beast dealing with an high sensitive MC picked my curiosity and ever since I crafted something that respecting his character may come close to what I imagine would have happened if Emma wouldn't have been so though as in the game. So I really do hope to have respected Chev character as well as the others.

This is a most unusual story, it involved a sharp beast and a girl, but not the type of strong heroine ready to fight, but one a bit more sensitive, and yet kind all the same whose delicateness is put to the test from the less gentle man in all the palace, that for her sake and hers alone will something he always yearned but never obtained before, conquering it would be no easy task but luckily for him his effort will pay him off ten fold with what he will gain ... her love. 🥰

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess

@nightghoul381 @william-rex @writingwhimsey

@fang-and-feather @moonstruckmelancholic

@rjthirsty @ike-garden2024 @lichtluv

@jollibeeshappiness @starzyquee              

@maeko-kun @oda-princess @rkmaru

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

Emotions are mere tools to control people, beasts have no need of them.

A statement that Chevalier Michel, the second prince of Rhodolite, has always been proved to be true.

He was a brutal beast with the skin of a human, and as such all he ever required was his mind, logical and sharp as few ever were, no emotions could sway him, nor he ever had any need of them, except to control who he needed as his pawn that is.

He was a genius feared and admired alike, something he acknowledged ever since, cultured in things people his age weren’t, used to know how to control and understand anything under the sun … that was at least as he always thought.

And yet since that commoner was appointed to choose the next King all the things he believed to know about feelings and people begin to crumble down, because in truth he has never met anyone like her.

She was worthy to talk to, at least, something he ascertained after the many times he saw her in the library reading books, of different subjects and even in different languages than her own, rewarding her boldness to speak to him with precious minutes of his time, thing he never did without a price paid in rare books she found for him.

The first time he saw, with his own eyes, a new facet of her personality was during a morning like all the others, she was walking like a busy bee from one place to another to listen and get better acquainted with the princes and happened to be in their faction office when they were all gathered together, a thing most unusual but that she seemed to like … until Nokto’ words cracked the quietness of the air.

“You know goody two shoes girls aren’t usually my type, because they are pretty boring in the bed, but if coaxed in the right way even them could be pretty naughty when they want to. I bet you are one of them.”

A phrase that should have elicited an answer, or at least a reaction of sorts, be it a slap, usually, or a snarky remark.

But not in her. 

She merely looked at him, a light frown of displeasure on her rosy lips, a wounded expression flickered in her eyes until a few words thumbled from her tongue.

“Too bad you won’t be the one to find out.”

They lacked sassiness, barely concealing something bitter, pronounced only to play the part that was expected of her, until she could slip away from that cagey office.

It was clear as day her words were not to defend herself, a duty that Clavis, ever the gentleman, took upon himself.

His usual carefree smile was ever present, even though his amber gaze seemed to shoot daggers at the other.

“Ahh you are so petty Nokto, not all men are like you. Don’t mind him little rabbit, there are plenty of gentlemen out there interested in sweet, kind girls like you.”

To state her sensitive personality baffled him would have been an understatement. 

She was a mystery to him.

An intrigue he felt inexplicably drawn to unveil, only for knowledge’s sake, or so he said himself.

Something he racked his brain over to the point of overstudying her every move and words, going as far as asking details about herself, that, as much interesting, were of little help in his quest for answers.

Why did such a fascinating girl, so intelligent and knowledgeable, have to be also such a crybaby ?

Not finding an answer on his own, he decided to ask her directly, without beating around the bush as usual.

It was a normal day like any other … almost it was, because in truth things were soon to turn into so much more.

She had just delivered him the book he requested from her some days ago when he went straight to point out how sensitive she was, he immediately regretted it, or he would have if he was human, he would have never admitted it, but the pang in his heart left no space for doubt of sorts.

“You seem to be quite oversensitive, if you want to survive in the palace for one month it will do good to strengthen up.”

He saw in her eyes how much his raw words wounded her heart, but before he could fully grasp its depth she had already shaken her head offering him a smile, so blatantly weary and duller than the bright ones he was used to, it was painful to look at. 

“Thank you, Prince Chevalier, I will keep it in mind.”

That new piece of information clicked in the proper place in his mind, filling another line with information written in her book, yet not enough thought to make him blunt his sharp edges, brushing off her delicateness as something she would have learned to strengthen during her stay at the palace, if she was wise enough to follow his advice that is.

He almost believed she had got used to his harsh words expecting her to grow though sooner or later … when one day she snapped at him, proving to him that there indeed was something he could fail at, and it was showing his emotions.

It was an afternoon like all the others, his expression ever stern as he looked at her sitting in front of his desk, petals, and leaf stuck in her curls, the prank a gentle courtesy of Clavis to have fun, he never cared anything for the amusement of his brother, but it was an entirely different matter when they affected his job, slowing it, or so he told himself.

His emotions had the best of him, strangely so, making his words sound harsher than what he intended to, echoing in the still air of the office.

 “You are no more than a fool simpleton, to not have noticed such a simple trick. I expect you to be presentable for dinner.”  

He could feel the instant he shut his mouth the damage his words had done, the way she flinched back unconsciously from him while she trembled, better would have been to see rage rather than sadness.

It was not the first time he called her that, but it was the first time he fully snapped at her.

Something akin to regret flickered in his heart, but he ignored it.

He shot her a last glance, certain she would have resumed her composure in a while … but much to his amazement he was wrong. 

What he saw froze the blood in his veins, her eyes, usually so bright and cheerful, were now dull and filled with tears already prickling the corners of her eyes, a tight line curled that lips he got used seeing smiling at everyone, like a fool, he would have said, failing to notice that kindness wasn't a synonym of stupidity, and he was going to learn it the hard way.

She shot him a glance, more piercing than a stab in his heart, as she rose from her seat, sending it tumbling to the ground in her haste to get away from him, not answering even when he pronounced her name.

He was baffled for the first time in his whole life, unable to know how to react, insecure of saying or doing the wrong thing … but he had no time for that anyway, because before he could react she was already out of the office. 

She slammed the door behind her back before running away, putting as much space as possible between her and him. 

However at least dinner time arrived, to no surprise she didn’t join them, as scheduled, at that sight something close to sadness flickered in his heart, promptly brushing off as he sat at the table like nothing had happened.

And nothing did … apparently.

Inside him a battle of emotions, he didn’t understand and he didn't even want, roamed in his heart, not able to keep him from shifting his attention to the meal and the conversation going on, that strangely so seemed much duller than they ever were.

It was only after dinner that Clavis informed him, interrupting his reading, she had yet to step out of her room letting inside not even Rio to bring her something to eat.

The moment the news reached his ear he knew he had to step in, she may have been angry or upset at him all she wanted but she needed to eat.

Swiftly he went to the kitchen to fetch her a meal, going as far as preparing something he remembered she said to be one of her favourites, before striding toward her room.

Chevalier knew he didn't have to do this, he simply could order some maid around or one of his brothers, maybe Leon would have been the best fit for the job, and yet he couldn't let it fall, he was the one that made her cry, and so he had to take responsibility for the state he put her in.

He stared at the door, hoping she would have opened it herself, even though he knew it to be a foolish idea and so after a while he knocked softly.

But he didn't not receive an answer… as predictable.

The minutes flew by and his knock remained unanswered he had to admit, against his will, he was beginning to worry, the tray in his hands began to tremble, out of the tiredness of his arms surely due to all the sword training.

Lies he told himself to tame his worry, but to no avail.

What for ?

His mind, ever logical, couldn't find an answer to it and he refused to listen to his heart.

After all, it is not like she was his wife or something.

Not yet.

That thought robbed the air from his lungs as he unconsciously leaned to the door frame only to regain his composure, he told himself, but his racing heart betrayed the true reason why he was doing that to catch any noise from inside and, possibly, barge in at the minimum strange rumor he heard.

Noiselessly he opened the door sliding inside, there crouched on the bed was her, her little frame taking but a small portion of the large bed, whose blankets were scattered all around her, portraying her feelings, shows of he was never capable of.

The only noise in the room, one of her shaking sighs and sniffles, as she wailed softly on the pillow, soaked already with her tears.

She was in that state because of him.

The mere thought was strangely unbearable to him, he gritted his teeth feeling his heart inexplicably clench in his chest.

Ever careful, he left the trail on a desk before approaching the bed, going for once against his mind that incited him to go away now that he could, listening for once to the heart beating in his chest.

He reached to brush his fingers on her forehead, hesitancy laced into his actions, confused by the way she flinched back from his touch, her misty eyes filled with fear as she gazed up at him.

It wasn’t certainly the first time he saw that kind of gaze, and yet this time burned far more than it ever did.

He found it strangely unbearable seeing her eyes looking at him the same way, where once there was bright trust, even admiration, at times, when he lent her books to learn, now there was only fear.

Immediately he whipped his hand away, more determined than ever to slide off the room, and never approach her any more for her own good … when he noticed something in the corner of his eyes.

She had snuggled closer to the edge of the bed where he was sitting on an armchair looking up at him with her misty eyes begging him to stay.

Certainly she was a weird girl if she still wanted to be in his company after what he did, but still, strangely so, he felt he couldn’t refuse her something so little if it was what she desired. 

His fingers reached once more for her, trembling lightly, and this time she did not turn away sighing softly at the clumsy caress of his hand on her hair as she relaxed against the pillow.

A show of vulnerability he found astoundingly brave, until he met her eyes, still misty with ill concealed tears, glimmering pleadingly to not mock her for the weakness she was showing him, but he had no intention to break her trust not now nor ever.

His voice a soft, heartfelt, murmur he hoped to be enough to convey his feelings for once and mend her broken heart.

“I apologise … little rabbit.” 

The cute nickname he used for her, along his voice, soft and sweet, almost cruelly so in contrast with his usual behaviour, made a weary light smile curl her lips while she nodded unconsciously, a sign of forgiveness and trust he would have never forgotten.

Slowly she entwined her fingers with his, relaxing under his ministrations, revelling in the warmth of his fingers caressing her hair brushing some last drop of tears away from her cheeks, leaving an achingly tender kiss on her forehead.

He wasn’t used to showing emotions, nor to be gentle … but for her he would have tried his best, hoping it would have been enough to not wound her heart.

This is the story of how the beast prince turned human with the love of a peculiar girl, who despite everything and against all odds stuck to him, proving him the inherent value and priceless worth of emotions, teaching him to show them as he teaches her everything she desired to know about the world … and about himself.

He became a different person and no one was more grateful for it than he was, able to finally let himself feel what he always yearned for, but never obtained, discovering it was indeed much better than how described in the books, for nothing was even remotely comparable to the feeling that linked their heart together, one they didn’t hesitate to recognize as love.

[aquagirl1978]

Hello I believe requests are open if not you can throw this ask away! I was wondering if you would be able to do hc of the princes as Dads(mainly Clavis and Chev or anyone else you wan to do) I feel like they would be all so adorable 🥰

Thank you for this request - with Father's Day approaching, it feels appropriate to write some Dad headcanons.

IKEMEN PRINCE HEADCANONS - PRINCES AS DADS

Jin Grandet

Jin is a caring dad. As the oldest brother, Jin already has experience being the mature one of the group, the one keeping an eagle's eye on everyone else. When he became a father himself, he was overjoyed, his heart overflowing with love for his new child. The pair are often spotted together, walking hand in hand.

Chevalier Michel

Chevalier is a reluctant dad. In the past, he would have said having children is a royal obligation - and not one he was particularly interested in. But seeing you around children has changed his opinion. Having no experience with parental love himself, he had no choice but to look to you to follow your cues in raising this child. He watches how you hold this small human who bears the same hair and eyes as he, and he mimics you best he can. Over time, he becomes quite the capable parent, but if asked, he will always say that you do it best.

Clavis Lelouch

Clavis is a joyful dad. Plagued with insecuties, Clavis never thought he'd find someone who loved him as much as he loved them. But then you came into his life, and not only loved him, but created a family filled with love. Clavis has a large family army of Lelouchians. During the day, he teaches his children the ways of perfecting the Lelouchian trap, and at night, he shares in the bedtime routine of telling nighttime stories. The kids' favorite story? Well, that would be the one about Sariel and the day of a thousand rats.

Leon Dompteur

Leon is a proud dad. Leon still remembers the day you told him the wonderful news that he would be a dad. A family of his very own, of his own blood. It was almost too overwhelming for him. And the day he met his firstborn, well, that was the best day ever. Leon waited maybe a week before bringing his baby to work with him. Leon said it was because he wanted to give you some time to rest, but really, he wanted to show his baby off to his brothers.

Yves Kloss

Yves is a doting dad. Move over, Licht. Yves has a new bundle of joy to shower with love and attention. Don't worry, Yves still adores Licht and Licht is secretly happy to not have so much attention showered upon him. Yves celebrates every milestone with an extravagant tea party. Baby's first steps? Cake and cookies - it doesn't matter that the baby can't eat yet. Yves takes every moment he can to celebrate this precious child of his and let them know just how much he loves them - for who they are.

Licht Klein

Licht is a protective dad. He never wanted to be a father - given his childhood, who could blame him? But after falling in love with you and allowing light to shine in his life, he wasn't quite ready when you told him you were expecting. Thankful it wasn't twins, Licht loves his child as much as he can. And he does what he does best - protect. When his child is afraid of the dark, he first does a sweep of the room to make sure no monsters are lurking and then stays by their side all night. When they fall and scrape their knee, Licht is there to bandage it and kiss it to make them feel better.

Nokto Klein

Nokto is a tentative dad. Like Licht, Nokto didn't want to be a parent. He was too afraid he'd screw things up. When you told him he was to be a dad, boy, was he nervous. And when you delivered twins, Nokto was besides himself. But because of you and your reassurance, reminding him what a good man he is and how much love he has to give, Nokto crept out of his shell and allowed himself to fall in love with these two little babies. Nokto was known around the palace as a master negotiator, and no one could outfox him - except for his children.

Luke Randolph

Luke is a strong dad. Being raised by Gilbert strengthened Luke in many ways, not just physically. As Luke can handle Gilbert and stand up to him, Luke teaches his children this inner strength. No one bullies Luke's kids at school - not just because their dad is the biggest and strongest, but because they know how to stand up for themselves.

[ikeromantic]

Hiii omg congratulations on 1k subscribers!!!! 🥳 It's been wonderful to see you reach such milestones over the years, has it really been three already? Ig time really flies when you're having fun 😉 For this one, could I please get Chevalier, Observatory and Gingerbread? Thanks a lot in advance, I'm sure it will be just as creative and incredible as every fic you've written so far! 🥰 I hope you're having a great holiday season, XOXO

It has been 3 years ^_^ Hard to believe really. Time flies when I'm having fun! Your kind words are one of the things that keeps me sharing here <3 So here we go, approx. 1400 words of a spicy and sweet Chevalier. IkePri New Years Event story

Chevalier followed his love up the winding stairs, a bemused smile on his lips. A ‘mysterious’ invitation had replaced his bookmark in one of his new novels, and this was the address listed. He wondered what his precious Belle had in mind. It better be worth all the stair climbing.

At the top, the entrance to the observatory swung open. The space, usually dedicated to the scientific study of stars, was now decorated with roses and candles. A small, round table sat to one side, with a bottle of wine and two glasses. The Belle stood beside it, an anxious smile on her face. “What is this?” Chev raised an eyebrow.

“Umm. Welcome, Prince Chevalier. This is - ah - a romantic dinner?” She shuffled from one foot to the other, far less confident of this presentation than her lovely dress would indicate. It was silk, and clung to her curves suggestively, hiding and showing all at once. The sort of dress a seductress might wear to lure in her prey. 

He shut the door behind him and closed the distance between them. “You set this up?”

She nodded. “I . . . thought you might enjoy it? It’s really pretty up here, with the view. And we can use the telescope! I - I got one of the scholars to show me?” 

“Why?”

The Belle looked down and took a deep breath. When she looked up again, her eyes held that flame of defiance that Chevalier found so alluring. “I wanted to celebrate our time together. And to show you what romance looks like in real life. It can be really nice.”

Chevalier snorted. Though his expression was cool, he felt a sudden tightness in his throat. He could not think of a single time someone had done something like this for him. There were only official celebrations, mandated by tradition, put together by servants, and attended by the ambitious. This was none of those things. He avoided replying by looking around.

“I made the bouquets just for us. See, apple blossoms and red carnations to tell you how much I like you and how my heart aches when we aren’t together. And baby’s breath with red roses to say our love will last, and -”

“I know what flowers mean.” He interrupted her to stop her from saying aloud all the things he could read himself in the careful arrangements. When she spoke those words, it made his heart beat faster, his breath shorter. Feelings that he eschewed. Storybook reactions that were inappropriate for a prince. 

The Belle nodded mutely. She walked over to look out at the night sky. The moon hung above them, full and bright, its cold light distant and beautiful. Nothing like the close, warm affection she carried. 

Chevalier followed, unable to let her away from him, even if it would be best for them both. He knew what this emotion growing in him was, with its hooks deep in his heart and mind. It was too late to let her go. Far too late. He grasped her hand and pulled her to him. 

She gave a gasp of surprise, her eyes wide. “My Prince?” 

“I did not say that I do not like it.” 

“So . . . you do?” Her lips curved up in a small, satisfied smile. 

Chevalier brushed a lock of hair from her face, the gesture awkward and a little brusque. Gentle touches were outside his experience, yet with her, he wanted to be gentle. To coax a smile from her that was just for him. “Silly fool.”

There was high color in her cheeks and a heat in her gaze. Chev smiled. “What else did you plan for us?”

“I -” She cleared her throat. “I thought we’d have some wine and th-then look at the stars.” 

He gestured to the table. “Then pour.”

“Right.” She reluctantly let go of him and hurried to the table. 

Chevalier enjoyed watching her as she moved about in this dress. It was revealing in the most interesting ways. Hugging the curve of her backside, clinging to the side of her breast and hip. It made him want to tear it off of her to reveal her beauty in full instead of these teasing glimpses.

The Belle returned a moment later with two cups of deep red wine. “This is a malbec. The sommelier said it was a good choice, since I’m not sure what you like.” She handed him his glass.

“Try it.” He watched her eyes widen at his order. And it was an order, spoken in his crips, chill tone.

“Ok. I thought you might taste it first but . . . just so you know, I don’t know much about wine. Sariel says I don’t have a good nose for it because I didn’t -”

Chevalier interrupted sharply. “Stop delaying.”

She gave a self-conscious laugh. “Yeah, alright. Sorry.” Then she lifted the cup to her lips and took a small sip. Her eyebrows lifted and her lips curved in pleasant surprise. “Oh! That’s really good! I was afraid it might be bitter but it’s sweet!”

“Let me see.” He took his glass and held it to her lips.

“Y-you want me to drink from your cup?” 

“Don’t ask foolish questions.” He tilted it a bit so that the dark red liquid nearly touched her.

The Belle understood, though there was a hint of confusion in her gaze. Still, her lips parted and a trickle of wine poured over them, leaving a bead of moisture at the corner of her mouth. Then he set the cup aside.

Chevalier leaned close, and took her chin in his hand. Then he licked the wine from her lips. She was right, of course. It was sweet, but not nearly as sweet as she was. He pressed his lips to hers and slid his tongue into the heat of her mouth. It was not the sweet kiss of a kind lover, nor the passionate skill of a lothario, but it was the kiss of a brutal beast that hungered for her honeyed warmth.  

The Belle clung to him, kissing him back with as much inexperienced desire. Her fingers tangled in the fabric of his shirt as if she would hold him in place. 

His hand slid down her side, tracing the line of her breast, her waist. Calloused palms rasped against the delicate fabric, catching. It would take only a small effort to tear, he thought. To take. But he wanted her to give. 

Her breath caught as his hand caressed her lower still. Sliding over the cloth that draped her hips, her thigh. The glass of wine slipped from her fingers, and shattered on the ground. She gasped, and he breathed her in. “Prince . . .” Her murmur was lost against his thirsting lips.

Chevalier didn’t care about the broken goblet. He lifted her up, pressed her back against the thick glass wall of the observatory. His mouth moved from her lips to her throat, where her pulse raced against the velvet of his tongue. Down to her shoulders, nipping the line of her collarbone. 

She arched into his touch, her legs wrapped around his hips, dress riding up her thighs to reveal her satin skin beneath. His hands explored this revealed territory, claiming it with every rough caress. 

“Was this what you imagined,” he asked with a teasing smirk.

“I . . .”

He laughed, a low, hoarse sound that sent a shiver up her spine. “Fated.” He nipped her throat. “That is where you got this idea.”

“Y-you knew?” Her breath was ragged, her voice trembling.

“From the moment I got your invitation. You created the scene where the emperor finds his stars align with the maid.”

The Belle nodded. “Sh-she left him a message in flowers.”

Chevalier’s smile grew. “And when he summoned her, the scene ends with them making love under those same stars.”

Her cheeks were hot, the flush of desire all the way down her neck and up to the tips of her ears. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to. Chev knew what she wanted. He wanted her as well. All of her. The woman that loved him. The woman he had come to love, in defiance of all wisdom. 

“Let us see if reality is better than fiction, then.” His smile was that of a predator about to devour his prey. An appetite that could never truly be sated, a desire that would never fade.

[animehusbandharem]

I’m curious of other’s opinions on this: out of all the suitors, who is the most believable and least believable for “Belle” to actually fall in love with? Basically, how realistic would it actually be for her to fall in love with one of them?

I based my rankings based off a mix of Belle’s personality and the actual story and how it plays out - i tried to be as least biased as i possibly could lol

My ranking would be:

1. Leon: i picked Leon as most believable because of how quickly she warmed up to him and how compatible their communication styles are. They’re honestly almost too perfect that it makes me wanna gag (sorry Leon lovers lol)

2. Keith: He comes in 2nd similarly to Leon, the nice Keith and Belle get along so well and it seems like she has a soft spot for him from the get-go. It’s believable to me also because of how his story was written and i could definitely see MC ending up with him.

3. Rio: The boy next door has to be believable. Poor Rio lol. I put him 3rd because she has to get past seeing him as a friend which is a small obstacle, but it is totally believable because theyre already super close and it would make sense.

4. Chevalier: the “true” route. I love their story, and given their personalities, i think it was very well written for both of them to compliment each other. They have just enough in common to keep the stability, but also love languages to help learned and keep the spark alive.

5. Gilbert: the “bad boy”. He is believable to me because the slow progression makes sense, and you can see how both of them compliment each other and pique their interest of the other as well. It seems like a natural progression, and it’s one that we can see coming.

6. Clavis: the class clown. One of my favorite routes 🥰. I think the dynamic between Belle and Clavis are so quirky, that it works. It makes sense once she learns more about Clavis that she would fall for him.

7. Licht: Sweet emo baby. My first love. I put him lower on the list because he’s harder to actually get to know, so the likelihood of her truly being interested in him at first is likely low, but once she finds out he’s a sweet baby - she will be smitten and will fall.

8. Sariel: Daddy issues. I actually really like his route and i genuinely believe this could happen, the only reason hes lower on the list is because i think it would be less likely that Belle would sacrifice her “professionalism” but i do still think it’s a believable story!

9. Silvio: Loveable asshole. Okay, listen - i’m sorry Silvio stans… i ranked Silvio lower because it would take a lot longer for her to warm up to him… especially the way he talks to her - and quite frankly, with all the other options around, why would she fall for him when theres so many other princes?? BUT… i do think his route is very believable for what it is and i did enjoy it personally

10. Nokto: emo playboy. Let’s be real, she would be so turned off by his bullshit, i find it hard to believe she would even think twice about wanting to get to know him. When she does, i don’t think she would want to be more than friends.

11. Luke: Baby bear. I cant picture them together because of how young he seems honestly 😣

12. Jin: Titty idiot. His route felt so wrong and weird to me… it felt forced and awkward. This just doesn’t feel like a good match and it doesn’t seem like a natural progression to me. He doesn’t have much of a personality, and they both just don’t seem to fit

13. Yves: Baby girl. I cant take him seriously as a lover when even the game suggested that Belle questioned he may be queer. (Nothing wrong with this at all, just doesnt fit the narrative they are selling). I LOVE YVES and everyone needs one in their life, but he’s not believable as a lover… and we all know why 🙃

[greychaosdump]

Memories of Christmas (His P.O.V - Yves Kloss) Sweet Ending

Peek-a-boo! Clavis has found you! As you can guess, Yves is already ambushed by Clavis during breakfast and the poor boy just wanted some peace and quiet.

So as it turns out, Clavis plays tricks on Yves to either annoy or cheer him up. I think Clavis just has a funny way of showing he cares for Yves.

For an example, in this party scene when they were younger, Clavis wanted to give Yves one of his horrible cakes. He thought Yves was just shy but Yves actually said that he already knew at a young age that being half Obsidian was something everyone was wary of. But it's nice to see Clavis not wanting Yves to be lonely.

That's actually so sweet of Clavis to be worried for Yves' socials. Yves already had a hard time being half Obsidian but I also think Clavis might somewhat relate because his mother was a maid to Chevalier's mother, so in a way some people also did not see Clavis as a "true" prince of Rhodolite.

Yves' story is just showing how much he secretly appreciates his older brother 🥰, how adorable!!

Here's MC telling Yves that he actually likes Clavis and him going "HOLD ON, yeah maybe I do" moment.

As an older sibling, I relate to Clavis.

[sky-drgn]

My Big Cat - Chevalier Michel

Genre: Fluff! Pronouns: you/your Warnings: None Words: 367 Notes: Shout out to the most awesomest @blake-elladonna for helping with editing!

King Chevalier returned to his room with a sigh. The stacks of paperwork continuously grew no matter the amount he completed. Meetings ran long; one nearly making him late for another if it hadn’t been for Clavis, who prevented it. Yet it didn’t stop Chevalier’s frustration from building. With the sun lower and the hours growing later, even Chevalier had a limit to how much he could do in a day. Even if that limit seemed endless.

“That long of a day, huh?” You asked, rested upon propped pillows with a book in hand.

Chevalier removed his boots and changed into his sleepwear, humming in agreement as he climbed between your outstretched legs. He hugged your torso, laying down his head with the feeling of you tucking the blanket around his shoulders. This wasn’t something he’d done before nor was it something you would’ve expected of him, but the love that swelled in your chest as he rested in your embrace caused you to smile.

Despite being able to relax and get comfortable, you felt tension in his body. There wasn’t much you could do in this position but you managed to push his hair from his face, your nails massaging his scalp as you cardded your fingers through his hair. And with tension in Chevalier’s body melting away, it wasn’t long before he fell asleep.

You couldn’t recall the last time Chevalier fell asleep before you did — if he ever had. 

His face had grew softer, more relaxed; holding a look you’d catch glimpses of if there wasn’t work to be done, or it was just the two of you and you pressed a kiss on his cheek. 

Kissing his head, words slipped from your lips, “My big cat.” 

If Chevalier woke and found your typical roles reversed, well, he wasn’t going to say anything. Whether his shoulder acted as your pillow or if his head rested atop of yours; he would keep his forearms wrapped around you, keep still to prevent your fingers from slipping out of his hair. Only to shift his lower body to be closer to you. Finding pleasure in being held; just as long as it was you who held him.

IkePri Masterlist

[ichgakr01270910]

I think Chev is being my lucky star today

and this one!!

I got him using just one normal gacha ticket 🥹🥹🥹

my luvliest babyyyyy chevieeeee AAAAAA

[sky-drgn]

Silvio does not give you a choice. It's spa day because he said so! (He saw you starting to over work yourself and does not want to see you sick what so ever. His heart can not handle seeing you sick.) He brings everything needed to the castle, and might, might, even get a manicure himself. He does join you in the sauna though!

(He's heart nearly melted when he saw what colors you got for your manicure and pedicure. The colors of his hair. The dark color for the pedicure, and the lighter for the manicure.)

Chev, on the other hand, took you out for a spa day. Most of it anyway. He took you out for your manicure and pedicure, sure he could have done them himself, but he didn't have the tools and he knew professionals would be less awkward doing it. But he brings you back to the castle after and runs a nice warm bath with candles, your favorite scented ones if you like them, rose petals floating in the water. He even washed your hair before joining in you the bath. Gently, if not a be awkwardly, giving you a back message. (He doesn't admit it, but he really likes that the color you choose for your nails match his eyes. He smiled seeing it.)

AND THEN THERE'S CLAVIS! He goes all out with you! While he doesn't get any color on his nails, he gets both a manicure and pedicure with you. He helped you choice a nice a purple color though, it represented, him! Your lovely fiancée! How dare you think about choosing another color! Nearly thought he would cry when he saw you looking at any shade of blue! Had he gotten a color, it would have been one that represents you, of course. No other color would be acceptable. After your nails have finished drying, you goes with you and gets a massage! (you're sure you can hear the knots in his back getting worked out. You make a note to give him a massage yourself more often.) It's really a nice outing.

daily boyfriend mission #4

let him treat you to a spa date

[randonauticrap]

Dream wedding, cuddle and first date! (Sorry on phone 😭)

Hey Michelle! 👋🏻🥰 Let's goo!

For reference:

💍 - dream wedding?

💗 - how do you two like to cuddle

🌌 - what was your first date like?

~

💍 - Oooh okay! So, my dream wedding with Jin isn't the formal one that we have to have because my husband is a prince. We just recently got that one out of the way. Lord, all the pomp and circumstance is only nice when you're not the one standing in the painful high heels for four hours straight. Thank God Jin is big and strong, because I'm fairly certain about 80% of my weight was on his arm the whole time. 🥴 Sorry, babe. Anyway, I want an autumn-themed wedding in a little church in Jin's territory. My family and friends, as well as his. I know Jin has been debating on who he wants as his best man. He's having trouble deciding between Leon and Luke. I know that whichever one gets the job will take it very seriously, but not TOO serious. They'll keep him light and ease his fears. His bond with his brothers makes me happy. They know how much he cares about them, and they care for him in return. My maid of honor will be my best friend of 11 years. She's as close to a sister as I've ever gotten, and she'll make me laugh through all of my crazy tumultuous emotions about finally being able to get married to the most amazing man I've ever known. It's something I've always wanted, something I never thought I would get. So I'll be crying a lot, that's for sure. 😅 I want the ceremony to be short but meaningful, and it will be, because if there's anything Jin and I are with each other, it's sappy. 🥲 And I want to host the reception with the people in the town. Once I marry Jin, I am partly responsible for those people, so I want to get to know them and I want them to know that they can celebrate with me at my happiest, and that I'll be there for them at their lowest, just like Jin is.

💗 - Any way you could possibly imagine. 😂 There probably isn't a way, OR a place, in which we have not cuddled. Haha I personally love curling up on his chest in bed and snuggling close to his warmth with his arms around me. I feel so safe and loved and fulfilled when we lay like that. I feel like that no matter which way we cuddle, because it's him, and I know how much he loves me, that's just my favorite. His favorite is laying down on my chest - head between my breasts, no shock - and wrapping his arms around my waist. I usually pet his hair or his cheek when he does that, and I enjoy getting to hold onto his powerful, broad shoulders. I love tracing the lines between his muscles. He loves that too, because he always ends up asleep in less than half an hour when I do that. 😂 But we've cuddled in the domestic *and* foreign affairs offices, both alone and during meetings, at the round table, in Sariel's office, the library, the settee outside, even in the garden. Sorry, Chevalier.

🌌 - My first date with Jin was actually sort of an accident. I was *supposed* to go to town with Leon, but he got caught up in some official business, and when Jin saw how disappointed I was, he stepped in and took me himself. I was surprised at how much attention he paid me. He didn't even get distracted by his favorite flower seller, except to buy me a small bouquet of tulips. He took me to several places around town I'd never been before, and showed me a beautiful lookout spot that he claimed Leon was going to take me to. He often teases Leon about getting my heart first and that he shouldn't be slacking. Leon always swats at him for it. 😂

Thank you for these questions about my self-ship with Jin! 🥰💙

Here's the list if you want more of these!

[white-liliom]

Halo, halo!

Asha balik ke Tumblr demi jaga-jaga kalau Twitter kena banned di Indo (dan biar kalau ngeyume bisa gas poll ngueeeeeenngg ga kepentok karakter kayak di Twitter). Seperti yang kalian lihat, intronya aja bahasa Indonesia, jadi memang blog ini dikhususkan untuk pengguna bahasa Indonesia saja, ya~ 🥰🥰🥰

Saya pelan-pelan bakal mindahin konten-konten yume yg di Twitter dulu (untuk pengarsipan/archiving), baru bikin konten baru. Akan ada beberapa tag yg nanti saya pakai. Semisal kamu selective sharing/DTKH pada beberapa oshi saya, jangan sungkan silakan block/mute tag2 tersebut, ya 😘

.

🩷 DAFTAR HUSBU/OSHI 🩷

Ikemen Vampire ー Comte de Saint-Germain (selective sharing), Galileo Galilei (OK sharing)

Ikemen Sengoku ー Akechi Mitsuhide (selective sharing)

Ikemen Revolution ー Sirius Oswald (OK sharing)

Ikemen Prince ー Jin Grandet (selective sharing)

A3! ー Hyodo Juza (OK sharing, dihumuin juga gas //HEH)

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Yg mau kenalan sama anak-anak gadis saya? 😆

Asaka ・ Aya ・ Lacie

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🌟 DAFTAR HASHTAG 🌟

#yumepost ー post yg berkaitan dengan konten yume menyeluruh

#yumelokal ー post yg berkaitan dengan konten yume versi lokal AU

#yumeromantik ー post yg berkaitan dengan konten yume romantik

#yumeplatonik ー post yg berkaitan dengan konten yume platonik

#ashatranslation ー terjemahan konten JP ke dalam bahasa Indonesia... yes, saya ga mau lagi nerjemahin ke bahasa Inggris, dan terjemahan2 yg udah pernah saya bagi in private ke komunitas2 kecil saya akan dipindahkan juga ke sini

#abeasa ー post dengan konten Comte Saint-Germain (Abel) x Inoue Asaka

#mitsuasa ー post dengan konten Akechi Mitsuhide x Minamoto Asaka

#siriaya ー post dengan konten Sirius Oswald x Ishaya Chechia

#jinasa ー post dengan konten Jin Grandet x Asaka Michel Minamoto

#njujaya ー post dengan konten Hyodo Juza x Ikenaga Chihaya

#galisa ー post dengan konten Galileo Galilei x Inoue Asaka

ーbukan husbu tapi kemungkinan akan ada kontennya karena saya suka dinamik suitor ini dengan OC saya; list kemungkinan bertambahー

#silviaya ー post dengan konten Silvio Ricci (Ikemen Prince) x Ishaya Chechia

#chevasa ー post dengan konten Chevalier Michel (Ikemen Prince) x Asaka Michel Minamoto

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Oh ya... dimohon dengan sangat untuk izin dulu via DM kalau mau tag saya di suatu postingan, ya (^^) saya ga anti tag, tapi alangkah baiknya kalau sama2 biasain untuk izin terlebih dahulu, saya juga akan DM kalian dulu kalau mau tag2, okeh?

Sekian dari saya. Terima kasih bagi yg sudah berkenan untuk follow saya di akun ini. Selamat nge-yume, semangat ngehalu~!! 🫶🫶🫶

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

Sweet treasure of Love

Sweet treasure of Love

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Chevalier x MC

Prompt : 1. Love

Part of : Chevalier Michel Sequel Route Release hosted by @aquagirl1978

Tag: Established relationship Domestic Fluff

Word Count : 764

Author’s Note: A lazy afternoon is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past and cherish the moment, remembering everything that lead up to that day in which she finally could say to be living her dream along the only man she has never thought she would have found love with, proving him once and for all that the feelings between their hearts are real and so much more than what he could have imagined. This the emotion capable to turn a beast into an human, making him recognize the and priceless worth of true love. 🥰

Side Note: All the images were found on Pinterest-Google and I was unable to find the source, please if any of you know the owner tell me and I will provide to give the artist the credit for the image.

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978 @violettduchess

@nightghoul381 @william-rex @writingwhimsey

@fang-and-feather @moonstruckmelancholic @lichtluv

@wistfulwanderingone @rjthirsty @ike-garden2024

@jollibeeshappiness @starzyquee             

@maeko-kun @rkmaru @candied-boys

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

It was a nice day, the sun shined bright on a cloudless sky, a sight most unusual for that time of the year, as the autumn approached quietly with the breeze becoming each day frizzier and the day shorter still, all the while the familiar perfume of the seasonal candies wafted all around the palace.

Everything made her happy that morning, including the innocent pranks Clavis threw at everyone who wandered in the garden, even more since she got the news that the King had taken a day off his duties with the official announcement he had to take care of private matters, and in a way it was.

For someone like her, it was easy to discover the truth behind the facade. 

He was doing it for her, to spend some precious time with his family, the one they created together with their love.

She knew he never did things he deemed worthless, nor wasted his time, something that made the love she had for him grow stronger, even more at the sight of those icy eyes softening for her alone, revealing a secret she discovered long ago, one that he would have undoubtedly denied, but that was clear as day as he hugged her and their sons, because the truth was that those moments were priceless for him.

She sat on the sofa by the window reading, per usual, a romance, smiling to herself as she bathed in the blissful moment, their wonderful story much sweeter than any book ever could, a thought he shared, written as clear as day in his soft light blue eyes looking affectionately at her above the music sheets, so warm set her heart race in her chest as it was the first time.                                                                                          

She sat on the sofa by the window reading, per usual, a romance, smiling to herself as she bathed in the blissful moment, their wonderful story much sweeter than any book ever could, a thought he shared, written as clear as day in his soft light blue eyes looking affectionately at her above the music sheets, so warm set her heart race in her chest as it was the first time.

She really was immensely happy to be living her dream, one she never ever believed would have been even more beautiful than she ever imagined it in her fantasy.

One that wouldn’t have been possible if not for that peculiar task she was assigned to, one she was grateful for accepting that gave her the chance to meet love, for the first time outside a book, more real and strong than any written word could ever portray.

She knew it now, and thanks to her, he knew it too.

She smiled as she looked fondly around her, catching a glimpse of golden locks, hidden behind a book. Their elder son resembled his father so much every day, quiet and hard-working, he strangely had little interest in fighting but was a great strategist. 

Right now he was reading and taking notes from a heavy tome that looked old and pretty boring for everyone else, but to him, engrossed in his reading, so much nothing could distract him, or so she thought, in fact, as she least expected it, he raised his light blue gaze on her smiling softly before resuming his work.

A serious personality in stark contrast to his little brother’s, who took way too much from her, a dreamer that did his best to make the others happy, much more like Leon in that regard, energetic a force to be reckoned with, a boundless creativity that colored everything in sight, his gaze glimmering with admiration as he admired the way Chevalier’s elegant fingers slide effortlessly on the piano keys.

A sweet melody he composed only for her, coming straight from his heart and from all the love they shared together, a tender smile on his lips as he invited him to play along following his guide, his deep low voice resonated in the still air of that lazy autumn afternoon as the sun bathed everything in its warm colors.

Affection poured from every word, leaving her astounded at his improvement, knowing deep down he did it for her and for their children, showing them that love he was always deprived of but always yearned for.

Undeniable proof that the brutal beast had a heart that beat only for her, and for that family he had the luck to create along the only woman who always believed in his humanity when no one else did, not even himself, proving him once and for all the deep value and priceless worth of true love.

[mxrmaid-poet]

routes I’ve finished in the ikemen series 🥰

(Updated: 12/21/23)

Ikemen Vampire 🩸

1. Jean D’Arc (romantic ending)

2. Vincent Van Gogh (dramatic ending)

3. Arthur Conan Doyle (romantic ending)

4. Osamu Dazai (romantic ending)

5. Napoleon Bonaparte (romantic ending)

6. Vlad (both endings)

7. William Shakespeare (dramatic ending)

8. Comte de Saint-Germaine (dramatic ending)

9. Theodorus Van Gogh (dramatic ending)

10. Sebastian (dramatic ending)

11. Faust (both endings)

12. Mozart (dramatic ending)

12. Interlude (romantic ending)

Ikemen Prince 👑

1. Licht Klein (both endings)

2. Nokto Klein (both endings)

3. Chevalier Michel (both endings)

4. Clavis Lelouch (dramatic ending)

5. Sariel Noir (both endings)

6. Jin Grandet (romantic ending)

7. Luke Randolph (dramatic ending) (romantic)

8. Rio Ortiz (romantic ending)

9. Leon Dompteur (romantic ending)

10. Yves Kloss (romantic ending)

11. Silvio Ricci (romantic ending)

12. Keith Howell (dramatic ending)

Ikemen Revolution 🕰

1. Harr Silver (romantic ending)

2. Seth Hyde (dramatic ending)

3. Fenrir Godspeed (romantic ending)

[harleybeaumont]

Ahhh! I love this! Perfection!

The prince is, of course, the perfect man! “You don’t need my permission. You need hers.”

The Prince and the chevalier are so cute together and I love their little polycule they have with Renee! I giggled when he ran into the princes backside - he’s like a little lovesick puppy following him and it’s so cute 🥰

I’m glad to see alexandre coming back into her life and going to have a relationship with his son. ❤️

I love this happy ending for everyone ❤️❤️❤️

What Once Was

Fandom: Vying for Versailles (Romance Club)

Summary: Renee married someone else. But what happens when Alexandre comes back into her life?

“Madame, you have a visitor.”

Renée looked up from her writing desk curiously. She hadn’t been expecting anyone. “Who is it, Beatrice?”

Beatrice had served Renee since she had first set foot in Versailles all those years ago. She had risen from lady’s maid to maîtresse d'hôtel. Her duties now involved overseeing all the other household servants at Chateau de Marly.

“It’s Monsieur Bontemps, Madame.”

The door to the study swung wide as the mistress of house backed away, revealing Alexandre, his fingers twisting nervously at the hat clasped in his hands.

Renee rose from her desk with surprised delight and swept across the room to greet him with a hug. “Alexandre! This is a pleasant surprise! Wait….” She drew back with a worried crease across her brow, “Is all well? The king—”

“The king is fine, Madame.”

Her good mood faltered as her eyes tracked his face noting the agitation in his stance. Very little rattled the king’s spymaster. “Then why are you here?”

“I was hoping we could have a private conversation.” His eyes darted around the room. “May I come in?”

“Certainly, but I think we would be more comfortable in the small sitting room.” She stepped out of the study and led him down the hallway to the smallest of the sitting rooms. It was cozy, plush, and private.

She gave Beatrice instructions to send a maid in with tea service then she shut the door. Turning back to him, she crossed her arms and studied him closely.

He was fidgety, clearly wound up about something, which was completely out of character for him. She couldn’t help the smile that crawled across her face as she took in his agitation. “Do I still make you nervous, Alexandre?”

“You do have a way of knocking my equilibrium off balance, Madame.” He gave her a small smile.

The affection and heat in his gaze sent butterflies exploding through her stomach. “That is good to know, Monsieur.”

He arched an eyebrow skeptically, “You think me indifferent to you?”

“Perhaps.”

“I could never be indifferent to you.” The pure, undisguised longing on his face sent shivers cascading down her spine.

There was a brief lull in their conversation as the tea was served. Renee watched the maid retreat as she stirred her tea. With her eyes focused on the cup in her hand, she softly said, “You should have stayed.”

“Renee…I couldn’t stay in close proximity to you knowing I could never touch you again.”

She glanced up at him and her tone was sharp as she told him, “Those were the choices you made.”

He sighed as he carefully sat his cup on the table. It was the same argument they’d had before he had left for Geneva to serve the king’s interest in Switzerland. “You didn’t choose me.”

“I did. I simply didn’t choose only you,” she reminded him. “And it’s not like you were ever going to marry me anyway.”

“A spymaster—”

“I know. Believe me, I remember all your excuses.”

“They weren’t excuses.”

“Weren’t they?”

He didn’t answer. He had told her that they could never be a couple. He hadn’t had a noble title back then and his work made it almost impossible to conduct a love affair. But when she had accepted a proposal from the Prince du Sang, it had felt like a knife plunged into his heart.

He drew in a deep breath and decided to tell her the truth. “There’s something you don’t know, Renee. I did approach Louis about a possible match. The king had been offering to ennoble me for years. I thought, maybe…”

Renee jerked in surprise, nearly spilling her tea in the process, “What?”

“My request was rejected out of hand and when Philippe got down on one knee in front of the entire court a mere day later, I understood why.”

Louis loved him like a brother. But Philippe was his brother. And he had probably asked first. The prince was a better match for her anyway. He knew that.

Renee quickly sat her cup down and tried to quell the shaking in her hands. “Alexandre…why didn’t you tell me?”

“After witnessing firsthand your pure joy at accepting another man’s proposal? What would have been the point?” He had, instead, determined to keep his distance from her.

And yet when their paths crossed, he had found that he still could not resist her. “Do you remember that night in Paris, right before your wedding?”

Madame de France, princess, duchess, and marquise did not blush easily, but her cheeks colored at the reminder. “Of course I do. But why are you bringing that up? Why are you bringing any of it up now?”

“Pardon?”

“Why discuss these things now? After all this time?”

“Ah, yes.” And here was the reason for his visit. “Do you remember when you told me that you would recognize me anywhere?”

“Yes. And you said the same. What does that have to do with why you’re here?”

“Only that I by chance saw you last time I was in Paris on the king’s business. I only saw your profile as you climbed into your carriage, but I knew it was you.”

“And you didn’t think to say hello?”

“I started to but then I saw your son.”

“Louis-Philippe?”

“Yes. One of the servants handed him up into the carriage to you and I got a clear view of his face, Renee.”

Her heart stopped. “And?”

“And he favors neither the prince nor a certain count that you are overly fond of.”

She ignored his reference to Armand as her heart started to thump even harder. She knew exactly who the child favored but she wasn’t going to make this easy on him. Her hands and her voice were steady as she looked him directly in the eye. “What are you asking me, Alexandre?”

“Is he….is he mine?”

She jumped up from her seat and stalked across the room to stare out the window. After a long pause, she replied, “You are not a father in the way that Philippe is. You do not tuck him into bed at night nor ease his fears when the thunder booms. He does not know you.”

He stood and followed her across the room, resting a hand on her shoulder. “That’s not what I’m asking, and you know it.”

Without turning to look at him, she whispered, “Yes, he was conceived that night in Paris.”

Alexandre’s world tilted on its axis. He had known, of course, the moment he had seen the child’s face. But to have confirmation…. He dropped his hand and stepped away from her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Anger flared through her as she spun to face him and flung his own words back at him. “What would have been the point? You ran away from me fast enough the moment you didn’t like my choices.”

“But a child, Renee!”

“By the time I knew I was with child, I was already married! What would you have had me do? Put it in a letter so your enemies could use it against us both? You well know how easy it is to intercept correspondence.”

He nodded in acquiescence. He could not fault her logic. “And the Prince du Sang... does he….”

“Philippe knows. He does not care.”

“I find that hard to believe, Madame.”

“Did you think we were cuckolding him every time we were together?”

“Well…”

“I told you, before he even proposed, what our arrangement was!”

“Yes, but I—”

“You what? You thought I was lying?” She stepped closer. So close she could smell the vanilla and cardamom scent that always clung to him. So close that she could feel the heat radiating from him, sense the tension in his body, “I may lie to everyone else in service of my king and my country, but I have never lied to you nor him! I do not lie to the people that I love.”

Alexandre froze, shock, pleasure, and disbelief coursing through him at her words. She loved him?

Oblivious to his reaction to her unintentional confession, she plowed on. “And your assertation that I would have divided loyalties was preposterous! My loyalty to my husband would never put me at cross purposes with you, Alexandre and you know it! Philippe loves his brother and is loyal to him. Furthermore, I do not tell him everything that I know or that I do. He understands and respects the need for discretion when it comes to my duties as a spymaster! He would never ask me to betray—”

“Alright! Alright!” He held both hands up in surrender with a bemused chuckle.

“It’s not funny, Alexandre!” She stood in the middle of the room, just inches from him, cheeks red and chest heaving with emotion.

He was struck nearly speechless by her beauty. She was even more breathtaking when she was angry. How was that possible? He took an involuntary step toward her.

She froze, her eyes trained on him, but she didn’t back away.

He took another step toward her, this one purposeful.

They stood, unmoving, staring into each other’s eyes; two hearts pounding in anticipation. He lifted a hand and reached out for her just as the sitting room door banged open.

“There you are, my love! I—oh! I didn’t realize we had company.” The prince stopped short, causing the chevalier who had been hot on his heels to collide into his backside.

Alexandre jerked his hand back and stepped away awkwardly. “My prince! I…” he executed a low bow. “So lovely to see you again.”

Philippe’s eyes took in the valet’s flushed and guilty expression and then his wife’s stoic demeanor. Renee had not backed away when he entered the room. She had stood her ground. Her ire was evident and he smothered a smile. He understood everything. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Alexandre, but let’s not pretend you came here for me.”

“I….” For the first time in his life, Alexandre was struck completely speechless.

Renee finally moved, closing the distance to greet her husband with a hug and a quick peck on the cheek. She murmured in his ear, “He knows about Louie.”

“Hm,” he hugged her back, but his gaze was trained on his brother’s spymaster.

Renee moved around her husband to greet the chevalier with the same hug and kiss she had just given her husband. “How was grouse hunting?”

“As usual, we didn’t find a single grouse but at least we didn’t end up drunk in a fountain again.” The chevalier laughed at his own joke as he returned her hug. Not a day passed that he didn’t count his blessings.

There had been a time when the king had been adamant that Philippe make a political marriage, likely to some English noblewoman who would expect fidelity from him. He would forever be grateful that Louis had allowed the prince to marry Renee and that Renee had never blinked at the relationship between the two men. Now he practically lived at Chateau de Marly and was both a godfather and cherished uncle to their son. They functioned very well as a threesome and while his whole heart belonged to the prince, he wasn’t completely indifferent to Renee.

He also liked the life they had built together very much so he glared suspiciously at the intruder. “Why are you here, Monsieur Bontemps?”

Finally recovering, Alexander stiffly replied, “I had some…business to discuss with the duchess.”

Renee snorted. “Business? Is that what this is, Alexandre?”

He flushed scarlet which caused the other two men in the room to laugh.

The prince spoke first. “Let’s drop the pretense, shall we? Renee and I have no secrets from each other nor do I keep secrets from the chevalier. His discretion is not in question. You may speak freely. Everyone in this room knows that Louis is your son. So why are you really here?”

“Do you wish to challenge me to a duel, Monsieur?” Alexandre asked carefully.

Philippe looked at him askance. “Why would I do that?”

Alexandre shook his head slowly. “Most men in your position would.” It was dawning on him that Renee had been telling the full truth of the matter. Philippe showed no signs of rage or jealousy.

Of course, it was an open secret at court that his affair with the chevalier never ended, but for most men indulging their own desires did not mean they were tolerant of their wives doing the same.

Philippe’s face broke into a wide smile. “When have you ever known me to be like most men? Come now, stay for dinner and we can discuss everything.”

“As tempting as that sounds…I have some urgent business matters I must attend to tonight. However….”

“Yes?”

“With your leave, I would like to visit the child. As a family friend, of course. I would never disclose the true nature of our relationship to him.”

“You want a relationship with our son?” Renee asked so quietly he almost missed it.

Turning to face her with beseeching eyes he answered her. “If it pleases you, then yes.”

Renee closed her eyes briefly as she fought against the onslaught of conflicting emotions that collided inside her at the thought. When she opened them again, she blinked up at him. “I think I would like that very much.”

Profound relief swirled through him at her answer. He had not known what to expect when he knocked on her door, but things had gone better than he could have imagined. Turning his attention back to Philippe, he asked, “And this is alright with you?”

“It is. You’ll find Louie is a capricious and wild little hellion who delights in his friendships with children and adults alike. I think he’ll be good for you.”

Alexandre barked out a surprised laugh. “He’ll be good for me?”

“Yes….” Philippe drawled out with a mischievous grin. “I think you need to loosen up and he’s just the person to help you do it.”

The king’s valet turned to go but an idea had taken root in his mind and he could not let it go. Turning back he asked, “And your wife?”

“What about her?”

“May I have permission to resume our….friendship?”

“Oh, he wants to court your wife!” The chevalier chortled out loud.

“Monsieur,” Philippe shook his head. “You disappoint me. I thought you understood. You do not need my permission. You need hers.”

Alexandre turned slowly, his heart thudding in his chest. “Madame. I would be most grateful if you would agree to indulge me in a conversation soon. I think we have many things to discuss.”

“For how long?”

“I’m sorry?”

“How long will these discussions go on? When do you leave again?”

He nodded in understanding. “Given today's revelations, and assuming you will continue to welcome me as a visitor in your home, I will start making the preparations to return to my house in Paris immediately and permanently.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

She regarded him thoughtfully for a moment and then she nodded. “I would like you to get to know our son and I would be open to you and I having a conversation about where we go from there.”

He couldn’t help the smile that crawled across his face. He left the chateau with a spring in his step.

The truth was, he had not been happy since he’d left court shortly after her wedding. He hadn’t thought he could share her, open relationship with her husband or not. But an even larger concern had been his fear of openly loving her, thereby making her a target for his enemies, which were many.

He would never be comfortable being physically affectionate with her in front of others, he was more private than that, but if there was still a relationship to be had with her, there couldn’t be a more perfect cover than her marriage. No one ever had to know what she meant to him, or that he had a child. They could therefore never be used against him.

The thought of rekindling what they once had made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time….happiness.

It was entirely possible that things had worked out for him after all.