"Huh, so that's what they look like."

Ann entered the unlit garden and saw the king standing in front of her rose bushes. Apparently she got the hint back at the dinner table; he wanted to meet up with her here. Why she even showed up, she couldn't explain. Had he spiked her curiosity? She had better plans on how to spend a cold night like this one, but her day had already been ruined, she was willing to see where this meeting would lead her. King Bobby wasn't that scary anymore after he had ridiculed himself in her presence and took this casual approach with her. It was a lot different from the name calling and snarls he used to give. His fluctuating personality didn't seem healthy, though. With that in mind, she wasn't going to join him at her bush and stayed near the entrance.

"Your Majesty." she called.

"Now where're those blue roses I heard you yappin' about?" king Bobby asked. When did he hear about that?

"I-um.. that project has been delayed."

"Ah. Well, doesn't matter! Nothing wrong with red roses, right?"

"Y-yes, it's a passionate colour, very romantic.." she agreed.

"Why go through all the trouble for a blue rose?" he lightheartedly shrugged. Ann started rubbing her hands together. The freezing nighttime wind was silently clashing against her thin body, she didn't have the energy to keep standing there and talk about nothing. The king had better speed it up or else she was out of there.

"..Your Majesty, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Ann urged.

"You are very beautiful."

Ann shook and slightly retreated into the catle. She didn't show up for this..!
"Understand that I.. just.. came here to discuss your mood swings!" she stuttered.

"Nice of you to care."

"It was only yesterday that you demanded my departure, so it struck me as odd.."

"It would be best if you left, yeah. That's the only consistency I can give you, sorry."

"Are you upset with my decision to stay?"

"I always am. You make shitty choices, while you look so smart."

"..I'm doing my best." she mumbled, "I'm confronted with unfamiliar feelings.. in an unfamiliar environment."

"I wish you did better."

Who was he to judge! If her decisions were bad because they didn't involve him, then it was not really critique worthy of considering. But tonight had to be their last meeting and Ann needed to give it a proper close. She couldn't share a home with an enemy.

"But you have accepted my 'terrible' decision making, I assume?" Ann replied, "May I consider it as a sign that things are at ease between us..?"

"I'm happy you stayed. And sad." king Bobby said.

"I-I don't quite understand."

"I'm sad cause you don't listen to me and you're gonna get a life you don't deserve, and I'm happy cause I still get to see you."

"You shouldn't say these kind of things.."

"If you said that before I said it, maybe I wouldn't have said it."

Ann looked around like a lost meerkat. How long was the safety of her garden going to protect them from being heard? This was not right, she didn't show up to giggle and cuddle with her fiance's father and wasn't going to pretend to be interested. If Larie were to be listening, that'd create tremendous drama she wasn't waiting for. These awkward confessions felt like a stab in the chest, just listening to them felt like she was betraying him.

"Alright.. If this is all, I'm going back to my room." Ann replied. She politely lifted up her dress and turned around.

"I love you." king Bobby said. Ann stopped and turned her head.

"Please, no.." she moaned.

"I love you."

"We don't know each other, Your Majesty. No matter who you blame for that fact, it is still a fact."

"I love you."

"I'm leaving..!"

"I know you as well as that gremlin knows you!"

"Stop calling him names!" Ann commanded.

"But you will never know him as well I know him!"

"I want you to stop..! I don't need to hear it."

"Don't you want someone who loves you for you?"

"Your Majesty!"

"You said he loves you cause of a book! I love you bec-"

"I DON'T NEED TO HEAR IT! PLEASE!" Ann begged.

"..."

It just never ceased, she had entered a soap opera the moment she left her comfortable Green Kingdom. This was a heavy weight on her soul. The way king Bobby was almost on his knees before her made it obvious, he wasn't lying. Damnit, he wasn't lying. But she made her choice, she loved Larie and didn't want to hear his excuses, explanations, story, not ever. It was difficult for her to revisit the claims he had made, but she almost had to. What was true and what was false now? Larie..
But king Bobby.. he was still a despicable man. He wanted to catch her up like some caring hero from the shadows, but the fact remained he abused countless of children in his life. And his son, the only one who survived him, was dealing with the results. Ann could never respect him, let alone accept his feelings. Was he hoping she'd get swooned if he desperately threw himself onto her feet? Then he really believed he made no mistakes, and that disgusted her.

"..Do you think.. you can leave me be?.." Ann muttered.

"No."

"I love Larie, Your Majesty. I cannot help it."

"I love you, I can't help it."

"Even so..! Do you understand my position?"

"..Is there another option?"

"No. I'm sorry we don't know each other."

"I'm sorry you don't know me."

"I hope you will respect my wishes from now on."

King Bobby stared at the red roses for a bit, then turned back to her. He looked disappointed by the outcome of it all.
"Don't die on me and I'll do my best." he replied.

Ann nodded and left the king with her garden. This was all that needed to be said and he finally seemed somewhat cooperative. Though, she still had to wait and see if he was going to respect her boundaries. He looked saddened, but his sorrow was not her fault. He lacked self-knowledge and could've figured out his crimes were too heavy to win over most women. Saying "most" was generous.
Now she had to hurry herself back to the bedroom before Larie would get suspicious, or any more surprises happened. What an existence. How did Larie handle being around his father?
After the long walk, she opened the bedroom door and found him polishing a set of daggers on his bed. He looked surprised to see her. Probably because she snuck away earlier, he might've not known she was gone.

"What! Where did you come from? I thought you were in the tub, I was talking to you all this time!" Larie yelped.

"I apologize..! I just headed back to finish my tea." she smiled.

"You are a little ninja, aren't you, I didn't even hear you leaving."

"I was sure you heard me leaving.."

Lying like this made her uncomfortable, but it was better than telling him she left to speak to his father in private. He was in a good mood now.

"If you wanted to be heard, I would've heard you.." Larie remarked, "..Are you telling me the truth, muffin..?"

Had he caught onto her already!? She was hoping to go to bed, not be exposed to more nerve-wracking excitement. Ann could only make confused noises in response to his interrogation.

"Well, okey.. you don't have to tell me, your future husband who you trust." he pouted. What a devilish little boy.

"Alright, alright! I went to.. make amends with your father." she admitted with her shoulders lowered in defeat.

"YOU WENT TO MY DAD?" Larie shouted in a fury.

"Urk! Ooh, eh, y-y-y-yes, I did! But nothing happened, see!"

"If something woulda happened, I'd still be sitting here like a damn tool talking to air!"

"I am very sorry..!" Ann squeaked. His anger was intense to deal with, yet she couldn't blame him.

"I'd never forgive myself if you'd been harmed!"

"You-you-you wouldn't have to forgive yourself, darling, it would've been my fault!"

"IT'S NEVER YOUR FAULT!"

Larie grabbed his forehead with his hand and started rubbing it. It was like he tried to rub away his anger. This was why it was better to lie, but it was too late now. She had to deal with him now, but she couldn't give him a good excuse for her secretive behaviour. What would calm him down?

"Just, don't be so nice to people..!" Larie then said, "They don't deserve it!"

"..I was assured your father had genuine intentions."

"He's a piece of shit."

"This is the last time I'll see him..!" she ensured him.

"..C'mere." Larie gestured and spread out his arms. Ann slowly walked towards him and got locked in his embrace.
"You're my fairy queen.." he purred, "There's only one person you should care for and that's you."

"Me? I was expecting you to mention yourself."

"Sometimes I think you're too good for me."

"..Don't talk that way, sweetheart."

"You're too good for everyone." he lovingly added.

"Well. Thank you, that is kind of you to share.."

"Don't get formal with me, I'm your man!"

"..I'd say you're my boy." Ann grinned.

"I'd be careful if I were you, you know what happens when you get clever with me!"

"We discuss poetry on a civilized level without any indecencies involved?"

"Right, without the poetry and decency bull."

Larie collected his daggers and placed them back on the wall where they belonged, while Ann finally got to prepare herself for bed. This interaction went better than expected, his spirits had fully returned and the whole issue with his father was seemingly out of his mind. She hoped this chapter was officially over and father and son had no reason to look each other up anymore. King Bobby learned she was not leaving, Larie learned she took care of loose ends with him. In theory, they had nothing to fight each other about. The past already happened, that she couldn't fix, but she could at least try to turn them into acquaintances with benefits. They still had the west to deal with, and if this family started tolerated each other, at least it wouldn't kill itself for them.

When Larie came back, he was stripped of his armor and he joined her in bed, where he began to cover her neck in smooches.
"I'm happy you're not angry with me." Ann remarked.

"I could never be angry with you." he replied between his kisses.

"I didn't know how to approach you about this."

"You can ask me anything.."

"I could've.. I just never thought.. I'd have so much to deal with at my old age."

"You're never too old for bullshit." he joked.

"Yes, quite. But I predict this to be the end of it."

"If not, run or stab the guy when he chases you again."

"..I don't know if I can harm an amorous man, darling." Ann sighed, "I didn't even know he was chasing after me."

"Chasing after you?" he repeated.

"Well... well, you knew this..? You speak with him daily and tried to create distance between us.. I assumed-"

"Yeah. Yeah, I knew."

"Don't turn gloomy, sweetheart. I'm not interested in him and he understands." she purred.

"That's good."

"He won't trouble us any longer."

"That's good."