Rosario will never admit it, but cuddling Aurora before bed is always the highlight of his day.

He is not too proudful of a man and, security concerns aside, he does not mind being known as the sort of man wrapped around a woman's finger, especially someone as wonderful and incredible as his lover. However, he is also rather timid, and would not want to break the illusion of himself as a prince on a white knight, even if they have been together now for many years and she has seen many facets of his he would not care to share with anyone else. He is kind of a silly man, one that would much prefer to have his lover look at him with admiration and wonder, rather than that catty amusement she shots at overambitious courtiers who cross her path.

Besides, her company is just something he much appreciates, but very rarely indulges, aside from those small windows of opportunity. As the Crown Prince of Zaledo and having his responsibilities increasingly surmount, on the interest of a looming succession, the mountains of paperwork and fundamental responsibilities he has to attend to frequently prevent him from making time for relaxation. His daily routine comprises little to no time for quiet de-stressing at his chambers, much less his enjoyment with his mistress.

This has become customary for him, even when she expresses her concern for his wellbeing, or the fact that she misses him. Those are particularly hard to resist, and he knows that she knows it.

Of course, Rosario blocks sections of his day to check up on Aurora, in between endless meetings and audits. He tells her that he is concerned for her safety and would like to make her stay in his home comfortable, even if, by this point, she is more at home here than in Westerlin. However, the truth is that this is partly, if not mostly, for his sanity, since he does not know what he would do if he does not get to see her amid the paperwork and people, and he makes sure her needs are fulfilled as a good husband should, even if this is not a title he currently espouses.

Those small minutes, sessions that normally take him more time going to and from where she is currently lounging in the large palace than he gets to actually enjoy in her company, are deftly sewed three to five times during the day, and his secretary is instructed to make sure this proportion is correct and that their times are followed to precision. More than one skilled bureaucrat found themselves in hot water for that exact reason.

He would find her and smile, ask if she needed something, if all is well, if she is in good health, and that flurry of questions.

In response, she utters simple affirmatives, check the clock and says, with a laugh, "Hurry along, Your Highness. Your next appointment waits."

As a good-bye, she stands on the tips of her toes and kisses his cheek. The spot grows warm until the next visit, which serves as his own personal way to keep the time during the day.

When the dust finally settles, the sun goes down and the air turns cold, Rosario makes his way to her chambers, a place he frequents more often than his own, the weariness and gratification of another prosperous, yet busy day settling in his bones. Dim candlelight and the faint gleam of the moon from the open window adorning her bedside, he finds Aurora on the bed already fast asleep, and he cannot help but let the smile on his lips take shape.

He climbs on the bed, careful for the noise and the movement not to wake her, and gently nudges her shoulder. "Sweetheart."

She mumbles sleepily in her sleep, and his chest swells with tenderness. Her vulnerability towards him still catches him off-guard, especially contrasted with her self-reliance in all other spheres of life. The trust she has for him is something he does not take for granted, and he is suddenly reminded that his political activity is what keeps him, and especially her, as far away as possible from a gory fate. That is why he works so hard, to make sure she is safe, for his people and his loved ones.

A gust of wind fills the room, and Aurora shivers in bed, rummaging around the thin covers for warmth. Her hands find their way to his sleepwear, and she uses the folds around his neck to pull him towards her, burying her face in his neck.

"It's cold." She mumbles, goosebumps erupting on her skin.

A deep chuckle rumbles in his chest. He brushes the stray locks of hair from her face, watching as her eyebrows relax back into the flat line as she resumes her soft, shallow slumber. He is about to reach for another blanket when a gust of icy and dry wind fills the room once more.

He stops when she huddles closer to him for warmth, the blow and the movement lifting up the skirt of her nightshirt just a little bit further, revealing more of the delectable skin on her thigh.

Oh, his lips spread in a sly smile. If that is how it is going to work, then… The thought that Aurora would want to cuddle him all night to be warm makes him quickly reconsider.

Rosario planned on closing the window, but seeing his lover nestle her body much closer to him made him decide that he wanted it open, after all. He kisses her forehead in a quiet apology, she would have to make do with him as a source of heat tonight. Feeling giddy, he tangles both of their long their legs together and wraps his arms around her, their bodies emanating warmth, exchanging it with each other.

Aurora sighs contentedly, and Rosario smirks in triumph. Cuddling her to sleep truly is the highlight of his day.