Telling Father

Cast: (Siegbert x Soleil)
Prompt: Siegbert and Soleil become a couple and tell their parents, to Sieg's chagrin.

"Y-you want to do what?!"

Soleil shrugged. "Hey, I'm just as surprised as you are! But… why not, right? Heh…"

"Um, I suppose one cannot overlook their heart…"

"We're best friends, right? And we already spend so much time together, right? So why not give it a shot, see where it goes?" She blushed.

The princeling cleared his throat. "Well… I also happen to be… thinking of you more as the days go by. So, perhaps we could… date."

"Cool!" Suddenly she was much happier. "I can't wait to tell Dad!"

Siegbert's jaw almost dropped. "Oh… indeed. Telling… our parents… yes."

Laslow and Peri were thrilled. Maybe because they both worked for Siegbert's father, but the boy accepted it. Laslow even began to map out wedding plans and honeymoon destinations.

"I do not see what relevance marriage holds to our arrangement at this time, sir. With all due respect!"

Laslow chuckled and slapped Siegbert on the shoulder. "Relax, Siegbert, I'm merely teasing you."

"You know Dad's always been a romantic, Siegbert."

"Ah yes. I still remember the flirting techniques he'd invented."

Soleil cheerily pointed her thumb to herself. "Which I perfected!"

Laslow pointed a finger at his daughter. "Just you wait, daughter of mine. You may win at the flirting game, but you'll have a ways to go before you can match the deep feelings your mother and I share!"

"Bring it on!"

They laughed, drowning out Siegbert's sigh.

The next day, Soleil found Siegbert talking to a carrot.

"And… Soleil and I have begun to date one another. S-so I hope that's okay with you. Because I-"

"Sieg?"

"Aaah!" The king-to-be quickly hid the carrot behind his back. "S-Soleil, I didn't see you there. I was… rehearsing."

"With a carrot?"

"… Yes."

"Oh… So how much longer are you going to put off telling your father about us? We've been at this for three days, now."

"I am… simply waiting for the appropriate moment. Father is very busy running the country, and surely matters of state hold more importance than a small update on his son's social endeavors."

Soleil raised her eyebrow. "Is… that all you see this as? This is just a small change in your social life?"

"Well… isn't it? Like you said, we already spend a great deal of time together. And you…" He sighed. "I must be honest. I wasn't certain your feelings were genuine. I've… actually wanted to go steady for a while now. I was so relieved when you proposed the idea but… it lacked your usual energy and extraversion. So, it left me uncertain."

At that point, the affectionate girl merely rubbed the back of her neck. "Ah… yeah… Well it's just… ever since I started talking to Ophelia, I've kinda felt… awkward, about being so forward. Turns out, people don't always like it." She stepped forward and grabbed Siegbert's free hand. "You're real nervous all the time, and I wasn't sure if you'd like that, so I… tried not to be… me."

Siegbert raised his brow. "I see… Then, I think for this to work, you should not restrain yourself. How do you really feel about me, and the idea of pursuing a relationship? Please be yourself."

Soleil nodded. "Okay. I'll be honest." She took a huge breath, tightening her grip on Siegbert's hand. "Siegbert you're so adorable, I just wanna pinch your cheeks until they fall off! I wanna wrap you up in my puppy blanket and take you far away! I want to take you to all the tea shops I can think of, I want to look at stars every night with you, I want to just sit down and talk for hours and hours and hours! The way you act so uncertain of yourself, you're like a little bunny who's afraid to leave its den! I get so excited at the thought of spending more time with you, I don't know what to do with myself and freak out!"

She started panting.

"So that…" pant, "that's how I really feel…"

Siegbert was stunned. "O-o-oh my…" Once she let go of his hands, he looked at his carrot and threw it away, freeing his hands to twiddle thumbs together. "So when you originally phrased your proposal-"

"I was just trying to be subtle because I thought you'd like it," Soleil interrupted, catching her breath. Siegbert cleared his throat.

"I appreciate your consideration of my feelings. But please, be true to yourself." His professional demeanor was broken with a warm smile. "I think you're very adorable too. There is something I have been hiding as well."

"What's that?" asked Soleil.

"I have wanted… to paint a picture of us. But every time I consider it, I fear Father may find it, and fear thinking of the right words to tell him. But hearing how you really feel about me, it renews my confidence. Let us try this again." The prince extended his hand. "Soleil, would you do me the honor of-"

"Yes! I'm sorry Sieggy, but you're just so adorable, trying to be prim and proper! I can't bear it anymore! Yes! Yes!" She immediately wrapped her arms around her new boyfriend, laughing.

Siegbert stood nervously before Xander, with Soleil by his side.

"What did you wish to speak to me about, Siegbert?"

The young prince gulped. "Father… Soleil and I have decided to become a couple."

The king raised his eyebrow. "Does this mean you weren't a couple already? From all the time you spent together, I had imagined you were already seeing each other."

"O-oh…" Siegbert blushed, as did Soleil. She looked to Xander pleadingly.

"You're not upset, are you?"

"Hm? I see no reason why I would be. I think you two would make a fine couple. But thank you for feeling the need to tell me, Siegbert. I like to know how my son is doing."

"Oh of course, Father!"

"I certainly can't wait to see your mother's face," Xander mused. "She'll certainly be delighted."

"Oh… yes. Mother."

Soleil pat Siegbert's shoulder. "There, there. One step at a time."

A/N:

Hopefully Soleil wasn't offensive or obnoxious in this? I tried to play up that she seeks cuteness above all else, and finds Siegbert adorable.

I didn't actually care about this pairing until I was in the middle of writing it, and it grew on me.

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