To say that the Prince is very fond of Eri is very much an understatement. It's different when it comes to herself. It is very different when it comes to the other children he's also very fond of.

He absolutely loves Eri, and she has him wrapped in her fingers. He would publicly show affection towards the little lady, something that he would never do to her. He would let Eri ride his shoulders, do his hair to whatever she wanted it to be, and anything really.

There are not many that can move the Prince; his stubbornness is a mile and a half long and he is very cynical. Even the few that can move him have a hard time. She needs a lot of convincing – mostly physically – to move him just a little to the left.

And the King… she had heard rumors that King Nedzu once facepalmed out of frustration when the Prince constantly escaped the usual meeting he was supposed to attend. And the King is widely known to keep his façade up even in the direst situation.

He moves if he wants to move. He does if he wants to. He is his own person. He is very independent.

But one look from Eri he's already on the move. If she wills it, he would conquer an entire country for her. If she wishes for it, he will grant it.

For Eri, he will do anything.

She snaps away from her thoughts when she hears giggles coming from Eri. It causes her to smile so widely.

Yes, giggle. The little lady can giggle so freely now.

She focuses her attention on the Prince and the little lady, with the Prince's back facing her. The pair are facing each other sitting on the carpet, rolled open in the Prince's chamber. They are surrounded by brushes, tips covered with colored paints. They belong to Eri, provided by the Prince.

"Rumi, Rumi, come here!" Eri leans to the side, looking around the Prince and towards her with a wide smile. The little lady is waving her over, urging her to come closer. "Shouta looks so silly!" she says while trying not to giggle too much. She feels her lips stretch up, imprinting Eri's smile and giggles into her brain, before she walks over to them. She rounds around the Prince to get a good look on his face.

She couldn't hold back the snort from coming out from her throat.

"Wow, Shou. You're a lot more handsome when you're like this. I'm debating if you should keep it from now on."

Eri erupts into a fit of giggles while the Prince gives her a resigned look.

His entire face is doodled on. There is a black star painted over his right eye and a pair of lightning strikes over his left. His lips are painted with red color and drew up his cheeks to his earlobes, making it seem like he has a Cheshire's smile. Overlapping the red painted "lips" on his cheeks are three lines which she thinks are cat whiskers.

His face is an abomination.

The Prince would never, ever, for the life of him, do such a thing. Not even her, or King Nedzu, could ever force him to do it.

Only Eri could ever make him bow down, in the cutest way possible.

She then sees him looking away from her and returns his gaze back at Eri, who is still giggling her heart out. She watches as his eyes soften, fondness instantly takes over and dominates his blank feature. She feels her heart soften at her man, clearly showing his incredible adoration for the little lady.

She always knows he is a softie this whole time, but this is just on another whole level.

"Do you want to draw him too?" Eri asks her, eyes shining with excitement, seemingly recovered from her giggling fit.

She could see the Prince snap his eyes back to her, giving her a raised painted eyebrow. He is silently daring her to agree.

She replies with a smirk.

"Don't mind if I do."

.

"I never realized just how much fun it is to fuck someone's face over, and I am most definitely talking about face painting."

"That's enough of you."

"Don't worry. You already smeared my face with your white paint many times before."

"Rumi, stop."

She cackles loudly as she closes the door behind her. She had just sent the little lady off to granny RG for a little study lesson, which leaves her and Shouta alone.

"Why'd you think giving her some brushes and paints and using your face as a canvas was a good idea?" she asks as she watches Shouta take another scoopful of water into his hands and splashes it onto his face. He's currently washing away the paint. It's thankfully not permanent and very easily washed off.

"She had said Rumi is very pretty when standing next to me," he answers between washes.

…Well, she can't blame him for that.

"Then if you want to spoil her don't use your face as a canvas next time," she says. "I know you would do anything for her but you gotta keep your dignity intact too. It ain't worth it to just throw it all away, right?" she asks, crossing her arms as she stares at his back. He seems to finally finish washing his face.

When he doesn't answer immediately, her eyebrow slowly rises. He stares down at the bowl that he used to wash his face, seemingly to be deep in thought.

"Sho? You good?" she asks, a little concern as she takes a few steps closer towards him. That seems to snap him out from whatever he is thinking. He picks up the prepared towel and dries his face before he turns towards her. She stops in her steps when she sees the look on his face.

What's up with that forlorn look on his face?

Wordlessly, he throws the towel aside and strides over to her, until there are a few feet between them.

"For Eri, everything is worth it," he answers. Her concern doesn't ebb away; it only grows from the way he said it. "So," he suddenly begins, straightening his spine, squaring his shoulder and lifting his chin.

When he speaks again, it is in a tone he had never used on her before.

"I am Shouta Aizawa, the Prince of Yuuei Kingdom, Son of King Nedzu. Heed my command, Knight Miruko."

Foreign feeling consumes her entire being. She quickly realizes it is an instinct long inactive suddenly kicks in, rules that had drilled into her head during her years as a Knight-In-Training.

Her body moves on its own before her mind could register. She straightens her spine, heels click together and lifts her own chin. Then, she kneels down fluidly, slamming her knees onto the ground that shakes from the force. One fist is facing down on the floor and the other is on her knees. Finally, she bows her head, closes her eyes and opens her ears.

"My being is to serve you, Your Highness."

This is not Shouta Aizawa. This is not the man who would escape responsibility any moment he could get. This is not the man who would nap whenever he can.

She is in the presence of the Prince.

And she will finally receive her first command.

This is not between Shouta Aizawa and Rumi Usagiyama.

This is between the Prince of Kingdom of Yuuei and Knight Miruko.

When he speaks once more, his voice is full of authority and power, second only to the King of Kingdom of Yuuei.

"From now on, until the end of your time, you will dedicate your life to nurture Eri, cut down any adversaries that threaten her growth, and watch her grow into an amazing woman under your influence."

Her eyes open and widen and body stiffen still.

When her lips begin to tremble, she tries to suppress it by biting them. But no matter how much she tries, she can't stop her body from shaking.

"Do you understand your new order?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

She slowly stands up and lifts her head, posture straight and rigid, like the proud Knight that she is.

When she makes eye contact with him, tears begin to flow.

"When the time comes… if…"

She speaks, brokenly, stuttering, with a heavy heart. She utters with a trembling voice the words that sound too loud yet deaf to her ears. She emphasizes her words that taste like blood yet taste nothing at the same time. She tells him what her command is, what his words meant, despite feeling her tongue frozen solid.

She tries her best to speak as Knight Miruko and not Rumi Usagiyama.

"…and never… turn back."

Shout- No, the Prince, the stoic man that he is, merely nods.

"At ease."

Instantly, her body slackens like strings got cut. She bends forward as sobs erupt from her mouth, no matter how much she tries to hold it in with her hands. Tears leak from her eyes no matter how much she tries to squeeze them shut.

She can't hold in her emotions anymore. Knight Miruko has shed her armor and leaves a vulnerable Rumi Usagiyama exposed.

She feels his hand on her shoulder, gently tugging her close to him.

She feels herself engulfs in his warmth and clings onto him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder, giving up on trying to hold it in anymore. She feels his arm around her, holding her tight as his hand gently runs down her head, comforting her. She doesn't care that she's messing up his uniform now. She lets her emotions out.

She begins to count down the days where she could still whisper 'I love you's into his ears.

'When the time comes.'

.

"So what's your order, your highness?"

The newly appointed Knight cackles loudly when the young Prince cringes so hard he visibly curls up. He turns around and glares at her.

"Please don't ever call me that," he tells her, pointing a finger at her. She raises an eyebrow at said finger.

"Tough luck, shithead. You're my prince and my task is to protect you," she replies, causing him to groan. She feels her lips stretch up into a smirk.

She knows she has to show him respect, to treat him like royalty. He is literally her boss, and the only one above him is his father who is, in fact, the King of the kingdom.

But she can't face him seriously after wrestling him down so many times, after playing with him for a long time, after slowly falling for him over time. He's not the prince to her. He is Shouta Aizawa, the kid who she refused to believe is the prince, a walking stick figure, sneaking out from home just to be with her.

He is the man she is in love with.

He is her Sho-Sho.

"Now come on, you crowned bastard. What's your command you are going to bestow upon me?" she asks intentionally using formal words and deepening her voice in a mocking way. She sees him staring at her. He has a thoughtful look on his face (still the same as ever), thinking deep.

"…I'll think of one," he finally says after a surprisingly long silence.

"Really? You can't think of one now?" She stares at him with wide eyes of disbelief. He rolls his eyes (just like how he always did back when they were kids).

"Fine. Find me a cat."

"I said your order, Your Highness. Not what you want, Shouta."

"What's the difference?" He looks so confused with that frown of his. Her smirk only gets wider.

"One is the prince and the other is the one I dom over."

"Stop saying words."

She cackles again.

At the same time, her cheeks are warm.

Her smirk turns into a soft, warm smile as she approaches him until there is no gap between them. For the first time after many years, she holds his hands and interlaces their fingers together.

She misses this feeling.

Then, after many years of building up her courage and accepting her feelings, she stands tip on her toes and presses her lips against his.

Here, she feels like this moment could last forever.

When she pulls back, his eyes are wide with surprise.

"Love you, Sho-Sho."

"…Love you too, Ru-Ru."

:)