Estelle slammed the door behind her as she ran after Rita.
"Rita wait! Come back!"
Rita got out of her line of sight, found the nearest alleyway, and just sat there and cried. Estelle couldn't see her like this, she didn't know what she was going to do when she was done sobbing, but she knew that she didn't want Estelle to find her for now.
I should have never said anything. I'm a fool.
Meanwhile, Estelle was running frantically around the town in her Pajamas. It would be difficult to find Rita since the town had expanded so much, but she was a determined princess.
Ten minutes passed, Rita was still crying. She was thinking about all she could've ruined. She saw worst case scenarios, and she wished she could just go back in time and not say anything.
Suddenly she could hear the unmistakable rapid footsteps of the relentless princess, she smiled a little.
She never gives up, does she?
She still didn't want to be found, so she cried quietly. Estelle was running around talking to people.
"Have you seen my friend? She has red hair, was carrying a scarf and probably crying."
"I saw her run that way," An old woman told Estelle.
Estelle started running in Rita's direction.
Rita tucked her legs in, trying to shrink as much as possible.
Don't see me, Don't see me.
Estelle passed her, Rita sighed in relief, but she then heard the footsteps come rushing back to her location. She'd been found.
"Oh Rita, you got all dirty in an alley?"
Estelle walked over and helped her up, "You shouldn't have ran off like that, I was really worried."
Estelle wrapped her arms around Rita much tighter this time, "Don't go anywhere else please..."
Rita hugged back and burst back into tears. "I'm so sorry Estelle, can we just forget this ever happened?" Rita enjoyed Estelle's warm embrace, Estelle's fingers ran through her hair to comfort her.
"Oh Rita... I don't think we can..."
Rita cried some more, "Why not?"
"Because Rita, I don't want to."
Rita's heart began beating again, the butterflies were back, but she was skeptical. This was either really good or really bad.
Estelle broke the hug and placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Because Rita..."
Rita looked at her anxiously, sniffling.
Estellise brushed some hair out of her face and leaned in.
"I love you too."
Rita was overwhelmed with a tidal wave of happiness as Estelle tilted her head and connected their lips together to form a sweet and tender kiss.
When Estelle broke contact, Rita's mouth hung open, she was speechless.
Estelle's one moment of confidence paid off, she held out her hand. "You have to hold my hand on the way back, I won't let you run away again."
Rita gulped and nodded her head, then they began walking back toward the Inn.
"I'm sorry I ran out like that, I just freaked out."
Estelle gripped her hand tighter, "It's fine, I'm sorry I didn't quite catch you in time."
"Estelle, you acted really brave and confident back there, how did you work up the courage to kiss me? I mean I've been wanting to do it forever and have been trying to ever since the tower rose. Minus the part with all of the fighting and the actual destruction of the Adephagos."
"Well..." Estelle started, "I guess I never went on a quest to try and kiss you before now, I just never knew you liked me, and for a while I didn't know I liked you.
Rita listened on, enjoying the feel of Estelle's soft hand against her own.
"Rita... I had never felt like I was in love with anyone. The nobles that raised me always told me that I would find a suitable young prince to fall in love with..."
Rita looked down, "But you ended up with a poor researcher that lived alone?"
Estelle looked at her, "Well it sounds terrible when you put it that way. My point was that everyone had felt like they had laid my life out for me, and I felt that too. Everything changed when I found out that assassins were after Flynn, Yuri saved me from the knights, we went to a forest, and then we went to you."
Rita blushed, "And...?"
Estelle giggled, "Well at first I was weirded at by your place, and then you threw a fireball at Karol, so I was ready to fight you..."
Rita gripped her hand a little harder, her palms sweating. "Well at least you were honest."
"I wouldn't consider lying to you ever," Estelle was being very blunt with her, "As we traveled, I was beginning to envy your way of life, you had a purpose..."
Rita took a deep breath, "Estelle... I-"
Estelle ignored her, continuing about how much she envied her. "You've done so much with your life, and I feel like I still haven't made enough of a mark on the world."
Rita let go of her hand and turned to face her. "Estelle you've left more of an impact on our world than anyone else ever has, myself included. Without you, I would've continued living in my own filth at Aspio, and died when the tower rose."
Estelle smiled, "I guess we were good for each other then..."
They continued to walk back to the hotel, recounting the stories of the adventures they had been on, all of the tough foes they had faced and still came out alive.
Rita unlocked and opened their door, holding it for Estelle.
Estelle turned pinker, "Rita, that door doesn't close on its own."
Rita looked embarrassed, "Well I just thought it'd be nice since you were royalty and all."
Estelle shut the door, "I never liked being treated like Royalty, that's why I enjoyed being with you all. I was accepted for who I was, and I was treated like a person, instead of a princess."
Estelle was very firm with her tone, but saw Rita's flushed, nervous face. "But it was a nice gesture, thank you."
Rita smiled again, hopping on to her bed, Estelle neatly got on top of hers.
Rita stared at the ceiling, "As our adventure progressed, your spirit for battle rose, You were always good with magic and a sword, but you really honed those skills the more we fought. It was almost like you were enjoying yourself."
Estelle stared at her own ceiling, remembering what it was like to stare up into the night sky. "I guess I got used to all of our strategies, and all of the new magic I had created from practice."
Rita smiled and giggled a bit. "And to think that we will never have that again..."
Estelle sat up and looked at her, "Rita, the world will still need our help. Just because we can't conjure up all of the things we could before doesn't mean-"
Rita interrupted, "No, it's not that. It's you that I'll miss."
Estelle was curious, "Oh? Why do you say that?"
Rita's eyes were red from crying, some were tears of joy. "You're heading back to the capital..." No tears fell, but her voice still broke, "Aren't you..?"
Estelle looked down, not knowing what to say next. "I kinda have to, don't I? I mean it's my home..." She twiddled her thumbs, "Whether I like it or not."
Rita sniffled, trying not to cry. "If that's your decision and it makes you happy, then you can leave when they come back."
Estelle stood up, "No. It wasn't my decision."
Rita looked up at her, Estelle walked toward the wall and looked at herself in the mirror. "This was a decision that the nobles have tried to make for me. They always told me that one day I'd have to return and take my place as empress." She turned to Rita with a fierce look of determination, "But I don't have to! I have done my part for this world. I will not let them control me anymore."
Rita was skeptical, she cleared her throat, "So... what will you do?"
Estelle looked down at her, "I will do what I want to do."
Rita was dying of anticipation, "W-what do you wanna do?" She asked.
Estelle turned sheepish, "Well..." She started, "If it's ok... I'd like to be with you, no matter what I do."
Rita smiled, "I would love that, no matter what we do. I want to do it together."
Estelle laid back down.
They both were down, staring at the ceiling, trying to imagine the stars. Rita was so incredibly tired, but she couldn't sleep, she felt like they weren't finished talking.
Rita got butterflies, she had always wanted to feel the warmth of another human being against her. Something beyond a hug.
"Should I ask?" She asked herself.
This was so stupid. Estelle has shared everything with her, and she had shared nearly everything right back. Heck, they'd seen each other naked at the spa.
The butterflies were killing her, she'd never forgive herself if she didn't ask. Her heart raced again, the burning sensation of her love for Estelle gave her the guts. As she opened her mouth, Estelle spoke before her.
"Rita... Are you awake?"
Rita sighed, "Yes Estelle?"
"I'm so sorry the bother you, but are you cold?"
Estelle had always asked someone if they were having the same problem before she admitted she was having the problem.
Rita decided to lie. "Yes, it's very cold in here... Brrr."
Estelle pouted, she could tell she was lying. "Rita don't make fun of me... I'm really cold here."
"This is your chance, Rita." The red haired mage whispered very quietly to herself.
Rita sat up, "Well... I might have a cure for that."
Estelle turned to look at her, "What are you doing Rita?" She asked.
Rita edged herself on her bed, a mix of comfort and mortal terror grew larger inside of her as she got closer.
She got under Estelle's covers, removing the border between her and her love. She inched herself ever so closer, her heart was beating so hard that it was practically dragging her.
"Rita... what are you-?"
Rita cut her off and shushed her gently, lightly pulling Estelle closer to her.
Estelle's soft skin against hers was like pouring ice water onto someone that had been sitting in a desert all day, easing her nerves and bringing on a sensation of comfort.
Estelle's tensed up muscles slowly relaxed as Rita hugged her body tightly against hers, laying in a spooning position with her legs tucked away under hers.
Estelle exhaled, "Rita this is..."
Rita nuzzled her face into Estelle's hair. "What?" Rita asked, "Is this not ok...?"
Estelle smiled to herself and tried to get closer, "Rita this is perfect..."
They both enjoyed the sweet embrace of each other, falling quickly into a slumber that would be the best sleep they had ever had.
