Nanamo Ul Namo, the Sultana of Ul'dah and seventeenth in the line of Ul, would never dream of sneaking out of the palace to go on a secret date with the General of the Immortal Flames, Pipin Tarupin.

But Lilira, the merchant's daughter, has no such reservations.

After glancing behind her one last time to make sure that she hadn't been followed, Nanamo cracked a smile before slipping out the back door of the palace kitchens and quickly assimilating herself into the crowd of people going about their business on the streets of Ul'dah. No one gave her a second glance, and she was grateful that her Lilira disguise had not failed her yet.

However, she was dressed a bit differently this time. Instead of the usual pink robe, she had opted to instead wear a frilly white dress that she had purchased on another of her excursions as Lilira, and she had not had the chance to wear it yet. She thought that it would be perfect for a first date.

Nanamo's cheeks flushed at the thought. She had never been on a date before, as her duties as Sultana came before anything else, romance included. She was also never really interested in that sort of thing anyway. That is, until Pipin came into her life.

Nanamo knew that it was the right thing to do, dismissing Raubahn from her services, but he had been at her side for so long that she was a bit nervous about Pipin replacing him. It didn't take long for those nerves to be quelled, because even though they were not blood related, Pipin really was Raubahn's son.

Pipin was every bit as loyal and protective as his father, and his tactical mind and fighting prowess were almost equally impressive. They differed in their personalities though; Pipin was vivacious and lively to Raubahn's more stoic demeanor. Nanamo liked that about Pipin, however, and it didn't take long at all for her to long for their relationship to become something more than that of a Sultana and her right-hand man.

She wasn't sure what had been the tipping point that had pushed her feelings for Pipin into the realm of the romantic. Maybe it was how he always managed to make her laugh with goofy jokes when she was having a bad day, or how he always quietly listened to her when she needed to vent, or even when he would help her sneak away to the gardens in between draining political meetings and pick the most beautiful flowers for her to wear in her hair.

Nanamo really wanted to tell him how she felt, but it unfortunately wasn't that simple. She was the Sultana, and Pipin was a commoner, even if he held the lofty position of General of the Immortal Flames. She didn't want him to come to harm if her peers reacted poorly to their relationship, and that fact frustrated her to no end.

There was also the fact that she didn't know how Pipin felt about her. If he didn't feel the same way, she didn't want to make things awkward between them. However, every time his hand lingered in hers when he bid her goodnight, and the fact that she had caught him staring at her more than once or twice, made her think that he might feel something similar for her.

She had grown tired of fighting off her feelings for him, so one day when they had snuck off to the gardens, she blurted out that she wanted to go on a date with him. Pipin's jaw had dropped in shock, which highly amused her, and she had told him of her alter-ego Lilira when he had asked how they were supposed to do that. He had been hesitant, but ultimately agreed to it, and now here she was a few days later, disguised as Lilira and heading to The Quicksand to meet up with him.

Standing outside the door to the tavern, Nanamo took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm her nerves. Sure, he had agreed to go on a date with her, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. What if he was just doing so out of obligation to her? Nanamo pouted and shook her head, trying to shake those negative thoughts from her mind. No, she needed to be positive, and even if he didn't feel the same way, that wouldn't stop her from having a good time with him, as a friend.

Nanamo finally mustered up her courage and pushed the door open, finding the place a bit crowded with the lunch rush. She scanned the room until she spotted Pipin at a table off to the side, and her eyes lit up as she hurried over to him.

"Pipin! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long!"

At the sound of her voice, Pipin jumped up and bowed. "L-Lady Nana-Er, I mean, Lady Lilira! I, uh, just got here!" She giggled at that, and Pipin's already flushed face turned an even deeper red. Gods, he was a mess of nerves. His stomach was tied into knots and he was dangerously close to throwing up because of it. The fact that Nanamo looked so beautiful in that dress was not helping in the slightest.

Pipin still thought that this all might be a crazy dream. He was on a date with the Sultana of all people, and she had been the one to ask him out! The fact that she wasn't just the Sultana to him really made this all the more surreal.

Before he had taken his father's place as her right-hand, Pipin already knew that Nanamo was a kind and just leader, and always had the people's best interests at heart. He now knew that she was so much more than that. She always laughed at his jokes, no matter how dumb they were, and she seemed comfortable enough around him to let her guard down, something that he hadn't seen her do with anyone else (well, besides his father). She was absolutely beautiful, inside and out, and it didn't take Pipin long at all to fall head-over-heels for her.

But he was of common blood, certainly not worthy of her in the slightest, so how could he ever win her heart? That's what he had resigned to thinking…that is, until she had asked him on this date. It gave him hope that she felt the same way about him, and that thought alone was making him all kinds of flustered.

"Oh, I, um, got these for you." Pipin held up a beautiful bouquet of pink flowers, the same shade as Nanamo's hair. Her jaw dropped and eyes widened as she took them.

"They're beautiful! Thank you, Pipin!" Nanamo's arms suddenly wrapped around him in a hug, and Pipin's heart began hammering in his chest.

"Y-You're welcome…" he said, smiling as he returned the hug. It was a bit odd, seeing her so openly emotional out in public. She certainly wouldn't have gotten away with that if she were dressed in the clothes that she normally wore, so Pipin was glad that he had agreed to meet with 'Lilira' instead.

When their embrace had ended, Pipin pulled out Nanamo's chair for her so that she could sit down, and it was just the sort of gentlemanly gesture that she expected from him. When he sat down opposite her, Nanamo took the time to admire his attire. She never saw him out of his Flame General uniform, and she was glad he had decided to dress casual for their date; he wore a dark overcoat atop a nice black shirt and trousers. She thought he looked very handsome, and she cleared her throat as a dusting of pink appeared on her cheeks.

"So," Pipin said, after they had ordered their food and drinks, "did you, ah, have any trouble getting here, Na-Lilira?" Nanamo waved a nonchalant hand in front of her.

"Oh no, I've snuck out many times before." Nanamo's voice dropped to a whisper and she paused to take a glance around the room. When she was sure that no one was listening, she continued: "Papashan used to throw a fit every time, but now I think he knows it's a lost cause to try and stop me."

Pipin laughed and shook his head. "To think that someone of your status is such a troublemaker. I wonder what the general public would think if they knew."

"I think they'd be refreshed to know that someone of my status isn't a stick in the mud like so many others." Pipin laughed at that, and Nanamo's heart melted at the sound. It seemed like such a simple thing to affect her like this, but knowing that Pipin was happy and having a good time made her happy too.

"I'm glad that you were able to sneak away today too, General." Nanamo teased, and Pipin bashfully rubbed at the back of his head as he averted his gaze; she couldn't help but think that he looked so cute!

"Ah, well, my patrols finished up earlier than I thought, and I had already taken the rest of the day off. I was really looking forward to this date." Pipin smiled at her, and Nanamo's heart started beating a mile a minute. If he had really been that excited for this date, then maybe there was a very real chance that he felt the same about her, and that made her giddy with anticipation of what the rest of their date would have to offer.

"Really? Me too!" Nanamo said, bringing a hand to her face as she giggled, "But, um, I'm sorry that I had to go out like this." She pointed to the bandana that covered her head and served as a big part of her Lilira disguise.

"Oh, it's fine, really. It's actually a good thing, I think." Nanamo tilted her head curiously as Pipin shrugged. "If you were in your normal attire, I don't think we'd be left alone long enough to really enjoy our time together. I think I can handle calling you a different name for the day."

"Really?" Nanamo raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You've almost slipped up twice already."

"Er, well…" Pipin rubbed his hands together and a nervous smile crossed his face. "Old habits die hard I suppose?"

Nanamo laughed at that, and Pipin soon joined in. They continued to relax and talk about whatever mundane topics they could think of as they ate their lunch, and eventually they left The Quicksand to continue their date.

"So, what next?" Nanamo asked as they wandered into the Ruby Road Exchange. Music suddenly hit her ears, and she looked up to see a group of bards performing in the middle of the street.

"Huh, I didn't know there was any entertainment scheduled for today," Pipin wondered aloud, and Nanamo bounced excitedly on her feet when she watched people begin to dance to the music, "They must be a group of adventurers-"

"Oh, Pipin! Let's dance!" Pipin was interrupted and let out a startled gasp when Nanamo grabbed his hand and dragged him to the middle of the people dancing.

"I'm not much of a dancer-" he started to say, but when Nanamo's laughter hit his ears - so full of joy and mirth that it made his heart feel like it was going to beat right out of his chest - the rest of his words of hesitation were forgotten. His laughter joined with hers as he took her hands and twirled her around as the band continued to play their upbeat and lively tune.

For the next song, the band shifted the mood to slow and romantic, and Nanamo giggled as she lay her head against Pipin's chest, trying to catch her breath.

"It's been a long time since I've had this much fun," she said, turning her head up to look at him. Nanamo's beautiful emerald eyes locked with his, sparkling with adoration, and Pipin would have fallen in love right then and there if he wasn't already head-over-heels for her.

"I'm really glad you're having a good time," Pipin said, giving her hand a squeeze as his other moved to rest at her waist, "You always work so hard, trying to solve all of Ul'dah's many problems, and you deserve to have a fun day out."

Nanamo's eyes met his and she smiled, wondering what lucky star she was born under to have such a wonderful man in her life. She gave his hand a squeeze as she moved her other to his shoulder as they continued to sway gently to the music.

"You deserve a break too, you know," Nanamo said, "You had some big shoes to fill when you became the new Flame General, and I think you've done an amazing job."

"O-Oh, well, thanks…" Pipin's voice trailed off as he averted his gaze, "To be honest, I was rather taken aback when Father appointed me as his successor, but I quickly realized that he had always believed in me. He wouldn't have gifted me his sword if he hadn't."

"He really couldn't have made a better choice."

"Thanks…Lilira."

The song had ended, but Pipin and Nanamo lingered briefly, both not wanting to let the other go. However, people had started staring at them, so Nanamo cleared her throat and stepped away from Pipin, but she kept one hand clasped in his, causing him to smile. They moved on and continued to explore the streets of Ul'dah, eventually coming to the Sapphire Avenue Exchange.

"Ooh, those look tasty!" Nanamo said, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement as she stared at some freshly baked almond cream croissants at one of the market stalls. Pipin chuckled and took out his pouch of gil.

"Two croissants, please," he said to the merchant, who nodded and took his payment. Pipin thanked the man as he took the croissants, and he handed one to Nanamo.

"Here, my treat."

"Thanks!" Nanamo wasted no time as she quickly took a bite, and she closed her eyes and smiled. "Mmm, so good!"

Pipin watched her, absolutely enamored by her raw enthusiasm and joy. Gods, he really did have it bad for her. He watched her take a few more delighted bites before he finally sampled his croissant, and he understood why she was so excited; it was delicious.

They continued on, hand-in-hand, enjoying the sights of Ul'dah and just being in the presence of one another without their obligations holding them back. When the sun began to set, they slowly - very slowly - began making their way back to the palace.

As they strolled back through the markets, Nanamo suddenly stopped walking and clenched her fists. She was running out of time. If she wanted to tell Pipin how she really felt about him, she had to do it now.

"Is something wrong-" Pipin started, but he was interrupted when Nanamo grabbed his hand and roughly dragged him into an empty alleyway. She quickly jerked her head around, confirming that the alleyway was indeed empty, before she turned back to a very confused Pipin.

"Er, what-

"I need to tell you something, not as Lilira, but as Nanamo," Nanamo said as she reached up and pulled off her bandana. A panicked look crossed Pipin's face as he quickly looked around.

"Nana-Lilira! What if someone sees?" Pipin whispered frantically as he waved his arms about. Nanamo giggled and grabbed his hands, gently tugging him deeper into the alleyway.

"We're alone here, Pipin. It'll be fine." Pipin seemed a bit unsure, but Nanamo just smiled and gave his hands a squeeze. "Will you listen to what I have to say?"

"...Yes, always." Nanamo smiled fondly at that, and she took a deep breath to chase away her nerves.

"Pipin, you're my dedicated Flame General, and a most trusted friend, but you've become so much more than that to me," she said, and Pipin sucked in a sharp breath and his jaw went slack; Nanamo had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from giggling at him.

"I've never given much thought to relationships and romance; I had no time for that, being the Sultana and all. But that changed when you came into my life. I've really, ah, come to care for you…a great deal."

Nanamo faltered a bit, a wave of shyness overcoming her as she averted her gaze, but she felt Pipin's hands fall gently to her shoulders and she looked back at him.

"Do you…really mean that?"

No words would come to her, so Nanamo nodded slowly, a nervous pit forming in her stomach at the intensity of his gaze. He continued to stare at her for an agonizing long few seconds, before the biggest smile crossed his face and he laughed.

"This is…a dream come true!"

Nanamo stared dumbfounded at him, and she let out a startled yelp when he suddenly lifted her into the air, still laughing as he twirled her around. She didn't really know what to make of this, but she did know that this reaction was definitely in her favor. She started laughing along with him, and he set her back on her feet. He then pulled her into a tight embrace, and leaned close to the side of her head, his lips almost grazing her ear as he spoke.

"Nanamo…I love you."

The words hit her like a thunder spell, paralyzing her and stealing the breath from her lungs. When Nanamo managed to breathe again, she pulled away from Pipin so that she could look him in the eye, smiling when she saw that his face was flushed and that he seemed to be holding his breath. It would be cruel to keep him waiting any longer for a response, and she pressed her forehead against his, finally finding the courage to say those three little words.

"I love you too, Pipin," she whispered, reaching up to gently cup his face. Pipin's eyes bugged out of his head and Nanamo giggled when his jaw dropped. She gently pushed up on his chin, closing his mouth, and that seemed to snap him back to reality and he let out a sheepish chuckle.

"You…really?"

"Yes, really."

"You love…me?"

"Yes, you."

"Are you sure-"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Nanamo exclaimed, laughing as Pipin's cheeks flushed a deep red. A mischievous grin crossed her face as she pulled him closer until their noses brushed ever-so-slightly. "I can prove it to you."

"O-Oh?" Pipin squeaked out, and Nanamo closed the minuscule distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss. A giddy happiness swelled within her chest, and she felt like she was floating on air. She hadn't really thought much about what her first kiss would be like, but she never expected it to feel so…magical.

Pipin stared blankly at Nanamo's face, and he was frozen with shock as the heat of her lips against his quickly spread throughout his entire body. He couldn't believe this was happening. The woman that he loved felt the same way about him, and she was kissing him. He would never forget this moment, not until he breathed his last breath.

He realized that this kiss was very one-sided, so he lifted a slightly shaking hand up to cup Nanamo's face, while the other slipped to her waist so that he could pull her closer. He felt her smile against his lips, and he thought that his heart was going to give out right then and there. When they finally pulled away, Pipin gently brushed a few strands of loose hair that had fallen into her face behind her ear as he admired the cute blush on her cheeks.

"Nanamo…I don't think I told you yet, but you looked absolutely beautiful today." Nanamo giggled and hugged him.

"Thank you…You looked pretty handsome yourself."

"Ah, thanks. I'll remember that for next time."

Next time. Nanamo beamed at that. Yes, there would be a next time, and a time after that, and another time after that. This night couldn't have gone any better for her.

"Well, shall we? It is getting rather late." Pipin held out his hand to her, and Nanamo took it.

"Yeah, you're right," she said, lacing their fingers together, "Let's go before Papashan starts tearing through the entirety of Ul'dah to find me."

They both laughed at that, and Pipin helped Nanamo put her bandana back on before they made their way back to the palace, stealing kisses and whispering sweet nothings to each other along the way. It pained Nanamo to have to pretend that she wasn't hopelessly in love with Pipin, but that didn't make their feelings any less real. That just made Nanamo and Pipin more eager for their next secret rendezvous.