The sun was bright, not a cloud in sight, enveloping everything in its yellow-white rays and rendering it golden. Much like their king with how he was an ever-shining ever-present figure who lit up the spirits of the Solian people. The thought was always in Karias' mind on days like this with how his father had hammered the knowledge, his scripture, into him with an ardent fervour marking him indisputably devout.

It hadn't worked on him but it lingered constantly and even he couldn't deny that his majesty would impress the All Mother with his divinity. So with such a god on his thoughts, Karias rested beneath the bough of a particularly ancient tree who had been witness to the beginning of sleep. She'd witness his nap too if he couldn't spread his wings soon, and the heaviness of the rays outside his ring of dappled shadow made that come ever sooner.

Why was it always so goddamn hot? Rozaria knew why but that didn't stop her from cursing the heat of the summer, especially when it was going to last for a good bit longer. To make it worse, she'd been kicked out of the astronomy tower because she'd been 'cooped up in here for two whole days! that's much too long! go and take a walk and enjoy the sun for a bit!'

Two days was barely anything. She could work for much longer on her projects but since she couldn't return, she'd at least try to enjoy this. And upon spotting a familiar blond under one of the trees of the first palace garden, Rozaria knew she'd found the perfect way to do that.

Making a beeline for the seraph, she called out, "Karias! Skipping out on training again?"

Jolting upright, he wondered if Raskreia had sent Rozaria to check on him. She'd become a lot more militant about him practicing ever since he'd helped her pick out a gift and if it wasn't for the principle of the matter, he'd have regret doing it. As it was, he didn't enjoy it even if his flight had improved tremendously and even if the beast she sent after him was one as beautiful as Rozaria.

Smiling, though even he knew it was trembling, he wondered if he could make a run for it- "Just a small break. How about you? It's rare to see you all alone. Did you come for my company?"

Rozaria snorted. A break? Honestly, he should know better by now. It wasn't as if she was here on her highness' orders this time though.

"I did actually-" she plopped down beside him, sighing appreciatively- "This is a nice spot. Good shade. I could take a nap here too."

Stiffening momentarily, Karias grinned upon realising that she really wasn't here to disturb his peace. She looked as stunning as ever and-

"You should take your earrings off before that. They look lovely against your hair but they won't be comfortable."

"Don't worry about that you flirt, I want to talk first. Enjoy our date."

As if she'd fall asleep around him anyway. Rozaria didn't think he'd do anything untoward but he was still a stranger. And still a man.

"A date? I thought you wanted to become properly acquainted first."

Both the word itself and the situation felt foreign. The word was obvious enough why. It was a term from Yahud where the ways of courting differed greatly and so they didn't call it that. As for why he felt strange... They didn't actually know much about each other yet, did they? Karias had held back on words of compliment since he knew most, including her, took it for him flirting rather than it simply being his genuine thoughts with no ulterior motive. That was really all though. They hadn't spent much time together and he hadn't had any opportunities to invite her out with friends. That's why… a 'date'? Now?

So he wasn't as much of an opportunist as she'd taken him for. Truly a gentleman.

Rozaria leaned back against the tree, arms crossed loosely over her knees- "That was then. Now I'm bored and a date's the perfect way to get to know each other."

"Is it?"

Well, he didn't know Yahud's customs so he couldn't say if this was strange. There was no reason for her to lie though, and even if she was, he found the passion she had for mischief charming.

"It is," Rozaria said, studying the feathers intermingled with his hair, "You really are different from an angel. They don't have feathers when looking human unless they want to."

Karias touched one of his feathers instinctively, rolling it under his fingers- "That's because seraphs don't have true forms. This is how we look. The most we can do is cloak our wings under magick but they're still there."

"They are?"

Looking behind him, it was suddenly obvious that he was sitting in a manner that wouldn't hurt his wings even if she couldn't see them. Then there was the grass being pressed down without a trace.

"They really are, damn," Rozaria murmured appreciatively, "Ludis mentioned magick but I assumed it was just the same sort of shifting."

Wings shivering under her tone, Karias couldn't help but feel flattered even as she studied him like one of her famous experiments. It was a little unfair though, he still didn't know if her hair was still the same red as the roses in the gardens while she seemed to be picking out secrets buried deep within with just her eyes.

But, he couldn't say that, instead he asked, "How long have you known him?"

"Since he was born. We're basically siblings."

They probably would be by law too once their mothers finally stopped skirting around the topic like a pair of shy lovebirds. Of course that was if one of the birds in a pair was a giant pinwheel with feathers for streamers in sufficiently open spaces. There weren't many of those.

That wasn't surprising. Everyone knew the two's mothers were sworn friends.

"What about sis? I don't remember you being around when we were younger."

Rozaria smiled. There it was. Karias' strange habit of calling her highness his sister. She refuted it but princess Quispe didn't so everyone had concluded it was just the two playing a joke. A very devoted one but a harmless pastime nonetheless.

"I don't remember you having a sister either but if you mean her highness then that's because mother and I only came here a few decades back. Aunt Azrael may be loyal to the kingdom itself but mother's just a hired hand."

Tucking a stray lock behind his ear, Karias tilted his head- "She's a bit too dedicated for just that."

"She may find the king charming-" just like everyone else did. There wasn't a soul who didn't fall under his spell.

Of course. Why had he even asked when he himself was affected by the king's... well he didn't know what but by something.

"It's a shame neither of the twins inherited his charm." Mostly because it would have been funny if Quispe could scam people like she wanted with it.

Much as she loved the princesses, Rozaria couldn't deny that. Lady Raskreia was regal and Lady Quispe friendly but neither had their father's gentle warmth.

"They did not but Lady Claudia has. Third time's the… charm, after all."

Karias blinked, taken aback- "So the rumours are true?"

He was quite sure they weren't. Surely he would have been told if they were, his father was much too close to the king to be left blindsided unlike the other nobles at court.

"What other reason could there be for the royal family waiting on her?" Rozaria asked, chuckling.

"Hm-" she had a point but... Karias frowned- "Lady Claudia doesn't resemble them in the least. I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything but it does feel strange."

"It really doesn't considering you truly can pass as their brother," Rozaria said, a proper burst of laughter leaving her shaking. "No, not at all! But she does resemble them. It's just not immediately obvious. You should see her talking with the Suldala branch and you'll think they brought some distant cousin along."

The Suldala nobility? Perhaps she had a point. Still, he couldn't help finding it uncomfortable. He'd talk to his father about it, and to Quispe. She was always more forthcoming than Raskreia.

"I haven't had the opportunity to talk to her much at all. Is she really like the king in that one regard?"

"More than just her charm! She's gentle, and kind to everyone regardless of intent. Even has his mischievous streak," Rozaria gushed, eyes brightening.

Claudia was so much fun to be around! Try finding her someone with as much a zeal for jokes and penchant for magick that wasn't going to bore you dead going on about things. No, the woman was interesting even when she spoke of her beloved plants.

Rozaria really liked her. That was a surprise. Karias may not know her well but even he'd heard of her not being able to stand most people for longer than a week. He'd always thought it a shame she was a thorny rose but maybe it was the other way around.

"She must get that from Duke Tradio too. He enjoys riling people up too, doesn't he?" he remarked.

That... she had definitely gotten too amped whilst talking. Adjusting her glasses, she averted her eyes, wondering if she'd dug a hole for herself.

Hesitantly, Rozaria spoke, "No, not really the whole part to do with the Fair Folk. I meant well."

Another surprised blink and Karias smiled awkwardly- "You must have mistaken me. I don't have any ill will against Curatadia or the Duke. They're nice, even if they may not see eye-to-eye with Sol."

It wasn't strange that Rozaria had assumed the worse though, relations with them weren't particularly great even if trade flourished. Anyway, Duke Tradio may be of the fae but-

"Lady Claudia is a nymph, right? She wouldn't be able to inherit the... worst of his traits no matter what."

So Karias hadn't meant anything? That was embarrassing.

"Yes, she only has the strange thing about not being able to lie. Never understood how that's inherited but... yes... I simply assumed since most dislike the people of Curatadia that-"

"You don't need to explain. When it comes to all this, I-" Karias smiled sheepishly- "do have a few people from Astra who I treasure."

"Do you?" Rozaria asked, question coming out breathy with the excitement that had rushed through her, "And in their case they have every reason to hate us while we don't."

He could already tell she was one of those researchers with a fascination for anything to do with Astra. Who could blame her though?

"They do, but most don't. They've always been that way."

"Yes, yes, so what are they? Dragons? Naga?"

Karias held in his laughter but gestured her closer and as she leaned forward with glistening eyes, he passed his fingers along an ear to reveal it to be closer to a fin or elven ear than a human one. Scales appeared down his neck and his feathers and hair were tinged the slightest bit blue. Even his nails seemed more like claws.

"My dame is a water dragon. Though of course-" he smiled, letting his appearance return to as it was- "I can't really share that."

Simply staring, Rozaria shook her head, impressed at how he'd been hiding this with magick the entire time. She hadn't even noticed!

"No wonder you hate flying just as much as you love it. Water dragons do it without wings, don't they?"

She'd realised it immediately? Only his dame had picked up on his discomfort with such ease.

"Most of them, yes. My friend is of the sort who can't fly at all."

"Your friend? When's the last time you saw him? Or your dame for the matter."

Rozaria knew Karias hadn't left the city in over a decade. Perks of being good with magick.

"Yesterday actually. Both of them." Upon seeing Rozaria's disbelief and the oncoming annoyance, he continued on, "My dame lives by the forested part of the river just outside the city. Where it's been forbidden to enter and magicked. As for my friend... You know Luciene, right?"

The forest... that made enough sense but- "Luciene? You mean nephew of Lady Edian the desert lizard and twin brother of Rita the desert fox? That Lucy?"

Karias smiled, inching away from her- "They're fraternal twins so..."

Better not mention that Lady Edian was actually their mother on top of that. She'd be upset to have anyone she hadn't told herself knowing. For good reason too. It was difficult enough for her to deal with the constant talk of marriage, the scandal of someone considered a 'proper outsider' having children out of wedlock would be too much.

"Yes but-" what did it matter. Rozaria sighed and leaned back against the tree again- "It should have been obvious. Rita having a human brother? Of course he's a dragon. More like a dog though."

"He's just optimistic. It's what makes him so sweet too. Who else do you know that cheers people up by offering them his homemade chocolate?"

"..." Rozaria sat up again- "He makes it himself?"

There was no way he could have stopped the noise he made out of amusement. Karias didn't apologise even at her indignant look, just grinning.

"He does. Not very dog-like there but it's what makes him so dear. That and the way he dances in the rain instead of rushing inside. Even if it makes him forget the laundry hanging outside. Or how sweet he gets when-"

Did he really start going on about Luciene again? Karias sighed and just chuckled, before laughing out loud as he fell to his back. Wings splaying out, unseen.

"What's that for!?" Rozaria sputtered, sure she'd felt some feathers smack her, as she adjusted her glasses back to how they usually were.

"Did you realise," he said, ignoring her question and gazing up at the leaves on the tree, "that you spoke about Lady Claudia in the same way I did about Lucy?"

"...What?"

Rozaria looked down at Karias, staring. He had gone insane, hadn't he? If they did, how strange could it be? They were both close friends, weren't they? Lady Claudia not for long but Rozaria already thought her dear.

Glancing at her, Karias smiled knowingly as he looked back to the leaves. He'd thought she already knew the way he had known for years now but she didn't. She would have likely realised it in another month at most; this was just hurrying it along.

"You should lie down too. It's more comfortable."

"Are you going to answer or not?" she huffed, but laid down anyway, making sure it wasn't on his wings.

The shade felt even better somehow, maybe because she was less tense now. This really was a good spot. How much did Karias slack off to find it?

Karias hummed an ancient tune, then spoke when he was sure of what to say, "It was one thing trying to court you when I was the only one in love with someone else. There's not much use when you're besotted with Lady Claudia too. Rather than a date... We're just friends now, don't you think?"

So that's what he'd meant. Rozaria couldn't deny it once it was said. It made sense after all. The last time she'd acted like this around a woman had been when she was still crushing on her highness. What really got her though was-

"You don't think you have a chance with Lucy?"

"I might. But not yet. And by the time that happens I could be long dead... but I'd still be happy for him."

Karias was fine with waiting, but he also hoped for love, and knew that he could nurture one instead of waiting for something that might never happen. And... he couldn't bear the thought of the guilt Luciene would surely feel if he knew Karias had waited for him.

"...Sounds complicated," Rozaria murmured, interlocking her fingers across her stomach as she closed her eyes.

"It is."

The silence grew between them, until Karias sat up and she didn't. He blinked. Then he sighed, and careful not to wake her, took off her earrings, tucking them into her bag. Usually he would just leave, but this time he sat by the tree, humming his ancient tune as he watched the sky change colours.