Raji doesn't know a thing or two about flowers, except which ones are the most expensive and therefore the most sought or treasured; they hold a hint of romance to them, like the flickering of a candle. It still twists his lips up into a smile just thinking about it, as he holds the bouquet as if it might just fly away if he isn't careful with it.
Actions speak louder than words, just as Raji has heard much more much more recently, and he wants his actions to speak as loudly as words and then elevate past them. Yet there's that nervous bite of nerves tucked somewhere within him that peeks out every now and again. What if she doesn't like them? What if there's a scientific reason that despite culture these flowers are nowhere near the value or merit of another species at all?
What if she thinks he's too much of a bland romantic, not creative enough to think outside of the box and what is commonly assumed? What if his actions only are forged by words? What if he's a silly version of a long distant boyfriend, too filled with hope, too easily lost despite it?
Yet, Shirayuki's visiting today, and Raji wants today to be really special for her, wants it to be a day that she looks back on and smiles, a day built up of sunshine and love and happily ever afters. A great many things that Raji thought he'd missed out on so many months ago, back when he was a prince overstepping his boundaries, and she was a common woman uninterested in Raji's tactics.
And yet Shirayuki is incredible, and is slowly teaching Raji how to become more incredible, himself, and he's spellbound by her, a woman worth far more than riches and much more beautiful than gold. She's incredible, and Raji just wishes that he was a better wordsmith, that he was better at words, to tell her this and more.
"Raji!" Shirayuki calls, stepping out of a carriage like it was a big leap, and he hurries over a tad too late as if to catch her, but she's standing on steady feet, and Raji has no idea how she does this.
"Shirayuki!" He says, and hopes that the love and affection pool up and shimmer in his voice for her.
"It's been too long." Shirayuki says with a smile and yet Raji can tell that she means it and yet isn't complaining that work kept her away. She's not apologizing for having a job nor regretful that it kept her away, but she missed him while she worked so hard.
"It has been." Raji says, agreeing with her, "And these are for you, Shirayuki." He says, and he wonders if the tremble in his voice when he said her name is apparent or not.
"Thank you." And Shirayuki holds them like a maiden wooed and yet not over exaggeratedly, but she holds them carefully and lifts them up to smell them, as if starstruck by their pretty, floral scent.
"I love you." Raji says instead of you're welcome, and somehow it doesn't feel like a social mishap, but an act or a declaration of love.
"I love you too." And Shirayuki slips her hand into Raji's, holding the bouquet of red roses in her opposite hand, "I love them." She answers, and the reassurance goes straight to Raji's heart.
"I'm glad." And if he's grinning like a fool, holding hands with his girlfriend as they wander the palace grounds, so be it; Raji couldn't be happier!
