A/N: I can't believe we're finally in double-digits, guys! :)

WARNING: A bit of shameless advertising ahead.

So, I've posted a Sailor Moon one-shot (which is canon, btw! lol), so please go and give that a read! It's called A Moment in Time. I also have two new, multi-chapter fics posted! The first is a Sailor Moon fic: Through Darkness Comes Light (it's inspired by the legend of Hades & Persephone from Greek mythology), and the second one is based off of the Netflix series Bridgerton: A Novel Love (Polin forever!).

Please enjoy! And, as always, I love hearing from you all!

Thanks so much for the continued love/support you all have given!

Until the next chapter,

-Dev

"So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours, I pray
To be only yours
I know now you're my only hope..."
—"Only Hope" by Mandy Moore

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.:Serenity:.

Exploring being a couple while feigning indifference was nothing short of torture, far more difficult than I'd expected. As beautiful as our budding relationship was, the thrill of being in love was short-lived due to our circumstances. I'd never imagined my courtship would be like this.

Despite our determination to rise to the challenge, our attempts to court in secret during our visit in Saharia proved much more difficult than either of us anticipated, and we parted ways with only a handful of interactions. It would be another two months before I saw Endymion again, this time in Arador, a very small kingdom rich in resources that bordered Elysion, a place Endymion had once told me his father had been interested in "acquiring" for years.

I arrived at the diplomatic event where Endymion promised to be in attendance filled with new hope, but this optimism quickly faded over the next several days when, once again, Endymion and I barely had a chance to exchange a single word, let alone court, however secretly. I had hoped capturing a moment with him would be easier considering Mina's visit to her ailing mother meant she wasn't at her usual attentive post, yet finding even the smallest stolen moment continued to prove impossible.

But we did manage a few stolen, innocent touches—a brush on the cheek or hand—each one special considering they were so rare and unexpected. Together they managed to sustain me, but only just. How strange to feel further away from the man I loved while in his presence than when miles had separated us.

My frustration was mounting, as was Endymion's; the more it grew, the more risks he seemed willing to take. On our last evening in Arador I found myself, quite suddenly, tugged behind a large potted fern in a secluded alcove, where he enfolded me in his arms.

"Endymion!" I squeaked. "What are you—?"

I was silenced by his kiss, the first we'd had a chance to share since our very first so many months ago. I immediately allowed myself to melt into him, a kiss that seemed extra sweet considering how long I'd waited for it. My arms wound around his neck to bring him closer, and in this position we stayed for a long, beautiful moment that seemed to stretched into forever.

"I don't care anymore," he murmured when it eventually ended, but rather than pull away, his hold only tightened around me. "I truly think I'm going to go mad. I don't care what scheme I have to come up with to mange it, or how suspicious it looks; I'm sitting beside you at dinner." His lips brushed my cheek, and my neck arched to lean against his exploring kiss.

"We're being...rather risky..." I struggled to say, for words were rather difficult at the moment.

A mischievous grin tugged on his mouth as he spared the plant masking us from view a single glance. "I have it on good authority that this plant is trustworthy and will keep our confidence. I can't believe I haven't thought of pulling you behind one of these earlier."

Undoubtedly because of this fern, as large as it was, didn't provide complete coverage, but thankfully the corridor was abandoned considering the other guests had already gone to dinner, allowing me to fully bask in this long-awaited moment with him.

Despite my worries, my hold tightened around him, for I had no intention of leaving. "Still, if anyone were to catch us..."

"They'll think I'm in the process of assassinating you," he said calmly, his lips now tracing along my jawline. "Or kidnapping you. I rather like the idea of capturing you. Why haven't I done it before now?"

"No...idea..." I managed breathlessly. "All I know is that being captured...and assassinated...isn't that bad. You're rather...good at it..." My words were silenced when he stole another quick kiss on my lips before he released me as quickly as he'd seized me, leaving my yearning for him.

"To be continued, Princess." He winked before peering around the fern and, once ensuring the coast was clear, ducking from our hiding place, leaving me rather unhinged.

It took me a long time to gather my senses that Endymion had left scattered around me in order to move. I'd just stepped out and tamed my hair, which had gotten a bit disheveled from Endymion's surprise "kidnapping," when Prince Daedric suddenly passed by.

"There you are, Princess Serenity. I was hoping to escort you to dinner."

He sounded a bit more confident than he usually did when extending the invitation, making me guess he was likely Prince Darcel pretending to be his twin brother. Again. I'd made it a game to see if I could figure out which twin I was currently interacting with.

The two seemed to switch off courting me—as if taking turns performing an unwanted chore—with a frequency that would have been insulting, if I wasn't already in love with another. I hoped so much to make a match with Endymion that I hadn't noticed how anxious the real Prince Daedric appeared on the days he and his brother switched. I'd made their mischief even more interesting for myself by frequently telling one twin a bit of information only to tell the other the opposite thing, or by asking one a question about something I'd discussed with the other, all as a way to get back at them for tricking me.

He offered his arm and I reluctantly accepted it. Together we walked into the dining hall, where Prince-Daedric-who-was-likely-really-Prince-Darcel helped me with my chair. But before he could take the place beside me, Endymion suddenly appeared and took that seat instead, the last one at this end of the elongated table.

Prince Darcel gaped at him before his eyes narrowed. "Is there something you want with Princess Serenity?" he asked stiffly. Yes, this definitely isn't Prince Daedric. His twin wouldn't have been nearly so forthright.

Endymion stared calmly back, the effect of his feigned superiority somewhat marred by his rumpled inky hair, rather untidy from where I'd so very recently run my fingers through it. My cheeks warmed at the reminder.

"Forgive me, but I have unfinished business with the crown princess of Clariness. We began an argument earlier, and I find I have more to say to her regarding how wrong she is. Considering tonight is the last night of this visit, I couldn't resist seizing the only remaining opportunity to put the matter to rest." He gave me a searing look that likely appeared quite intimidating to everyone else, but only served to ignite me.

"And you think that I, a gentleman, will grant you an opportunity to make her uncomfortable?" Prince Darcel's usual easygoing tone had hardened, and though I wasn't his intended, he looked prepared to fight for his brother's all the same.

"It's quite alright," I assured him before giving Endymion a steely look. "Clariness doesn't cower in the face of the enemy. This will be the perfect chance to prove to the prince that, despite his best attempts, I will not be intimidated."

Prince Darcel made a brief show of hesitation before finally giving up the fight with obvious relief at having been spared spending an entire meal entertaining my attention his brother's behalf. He took the last remaining chair at the furthest end of the table. Endymion stared after him, appearing rather shocked.

"That was surprisingly effortless. I expected him to draw his sword and defend you. If I'd known it'd be this easy..."

"It's likely because that wasn't Prince Daedric, but his twin wriggling out of his brotherly duty to take turns courting me."

Endymion's eyes widened. "They're still switching places?"

I shrugged. "Apparently."

I couldn't be too upset, since timidity—rather than malice—seemed to be the prime motivation for the ruse. Considering my own sister, Astraia, was rather shy herself, I understood how debilitating social situations could be those who suffered from anxiety.

"Granted it's only a guess, considering I don't know either twin that well, but this one seemed a bit more confident than Prince Daedric tends to be."

Endymion rolled his eyes. "To think he's allowed to enjoy your presence whenever he wants and, instead, squanders the opportunity. Inexcusable." He kept his voice low, and with the sound of clinking utensils and the hum of conversations already beginning around us, we had no risk of being overheard.

"You find yourself with an opportunity now," I said coyly. "How are you going to use it?"

He grinned. "It's a surprise."

A thrill rippled over me at his words. I could hardly wait.

He didn't do anything immediately, leaving me impatiently anticipating his plans. Instead, he performed our charade for anyone who happened to glance our way so convincingly that I might have believed him myself if I didn't know without a doubt how he truly felt for me. He caught my baffled gaze during a moment the attention momentarily shifted away from us and winked.

"How is my performance?"

I tilted my head, as if considering. "Rather poor."

His eyes widened. "Poor?"

"You're just so sinister, like a villain out of a storybook. If you had a mustache I wouldn't be surprised to find you twirling it to complete your menacing guise."

His lips twitched at my exaggeration and it seemed an effort for him to hold back to his smile. He shook his head with mock solemnity. "You're creating a rather unflattering picture of me, Princess—not the kind a man wants from the woman he loves."

"Clariness takes great pride in honesty, Your Highness."

"Then I shall give you a new performance that will paint me in a much better light." Mischief filled his eyes along with promise. My heart gave a pleasant flutter, but I forced myself to narrow my gaze.

"That's the second time you've made such a claim, yet so far your words have proven empty. Unsurprising, considering Elysion is known for its deceit."

"On the contrary, it's all part of the strategy: attacks are more effective when they're not only unexpected, but a challenge to execute." His gaze took in the rest of the table rather calculatingly.

A quiet gasp escaped passed my lips as I understood his meaning. "What, here? Now?"

Endymion's only response was a rather confident smirk, as if he fully expected to succeed in the challenge he'd just set for himself, and though I more than anyone wanted his success, I didn't see how he'd manage it.

He turned away to converse with Prince Jareth of Arador sitting on his other side, and the light that had come from our usual banter faded, leaving only disappointment. Our interaction had been far too short. Here we finally had the opportunity to sit next to one another, and yet, we were still denied the real conversation I longed for.

I sighed and picked up my spoon, and though the creamy mushroom soup was delicious, I scarcely tasted it; the meal was difficult to enjoy with Endymion so close and yet forced to continue ignoring me. I stole a sideways glance, and though he didn't seem to be paying me any attention...

I gasped and jostled the table when he suddenly brush my leg to rest his hand on my knee, a movement that immediately drew the unwanted attention of my dinner companions, including Prince Daedric and his twin. "Are you alright, Princess Serenity?" Prince Cassim asked.

"F—Fine," I stammered. "Absolutely fine." I frantically tried to regather my composure, a nearly impossible task considering Endymion's hand was on my knee.

The occasion felt monumental for me, but Endymion appeared entirely unaffected; he kept his face averted in a show of blatant disinterest, all while massaging my knew with his thumb, an effect I had no words to describe. He spared me a seemingly indifferent glance, one only marred by the twinkle filling his effervescent blue eyes.

"Well, that was interesting," Endymion whispered, sounding rather smug. "A point for me."

"A well-earned point," I managed breathlessly, for speaking was rather difficult considering he had yet to pull his hand away.

"You appear rather out of sorts, Princess. Are you well?" His eyebrows lifted, a look that would pass for innocent if not for the sense of triumph filling his eyes. "It appears someone is bothering you. A rather aggravatingly charming prince, perhaps? Shall I call the dashing scoundrel out?"

"Don't be absurd. I can handle an obnoxious prince." A prince who was being the opposite in every way. He winked and pulled away as a footman stepped forward to exchange our soup dishes for plates of salad.

I waited for the servant to move on to the next set of seats and stealthily looked along the table to ensure everyone's attention was diverted before ramming my foot into his shin. His hiss of pain was swallowed by a low, breathless chuckle. "The princess makes the next move."

"A little warning would have been nice," I murmured, disguising the words on the pretense of taking a sip from my crystal glass.

"But that ruins the fun, and it was certainly that."

"I'm glad you found the situation so amusing." I tried to sound stern, but the task was proving impossible considering the heat of his touch lingering on my leg made it all too easy to forgive him.

"It's not my fault that you can't resist me."

"I don't know what you mean," I said. "I'm not the least bit affected. I think you need to try harder."

This time he couldn't keep back his grin. "An excellent idea. I think I shall. Prepare to lose."

If this was truly losing, it was something I wouldn't mind doing more often.

The next several minutes were both wonderful and torturous. While Endymion fumbled to eat with his left hand, his right was busy enacting the next act in our game. His touches remained entirely innocent and exploratory, yet each one caused my heart to repeatedly flare to life. I caught Endymion's gaze and glared, but he only smirked. I rested my hand on his own knee and his silent laughter vanished in an instant, replaced with a hiss of surprise.

"Two can play at this game," I murmured.

It took him a moment to find his voice. "P—Perhaps I see why you nearly knocked over every dish on the table when I touched you."

I gave him another playful shove with my hand before forcing myself to turn away, knowing a whispered conversation could only go on for so long without being noticed.

Out courtship game continued throughout the remainder of the meal. Endymion didn't seem content to simply rest his hand on my leg but to fulfill his promise to finally hold my hand. His touch moved from my knee to my elbow and slowly left a heated trail along my arm until he reached my hand.

My breath caught, but otherwise I made no sound to betray us. I expected his to hold my hand, as we'd been longing to do for half-a-year, but he seemed determined to torture me for as long as possible. His fingers grazed my wrist, his warm touch tingly, before he traced over each of my knuckles in agonizingly slow movements. His touch shifted to stroke my palm before he finally laced our fingers together to hold my hand comfortably in his.

It was a struggle to control my breathing and there was no hope for my heart, pounding so rapidly and loudly against my ribs I was convinced the entire table could hear it. I'd daydreamed about this moment dozens of times, and it was at all like I'd imagined.

It was better.

I shuddered when a particular touch of his fingers caused a jolt of hear to ripple up my arm. "You're far too good a this," I murmured breathlessly.

"At what? Acting or flirting?" For our cold façade had unfortunately continued throughout the meal, only made bearable by what was occurring beneath the table. It was so strange to court while pretending the other didn't exist; our relationship was anything but conventional.

"Both."

"I do try." He cast a covert glance around the the table and used the distraction from Prince Darcel's humorous story currently enthralling most of the guests to lean closer, his expression suddenly earnest. "I take it you're enjoying yourself?"

I lifted my eyebrow. "Seeking accolades on your flirting? You know you're good at it."

I expected him to laugh, but he didn't. "No, I mean, how are you doing? We still haven't had a chance to converse—" He looked so earnest.

My heart warmed at his concern, but before I could give a proper answer, we were interrupted when Endymion was pulled into another conversation with Prince Jareth.

This attack on my patience concerning our situation was enough to cause my endurance to finally crumble, and suddenly Endymion's burning yet stimulating touch as he played with my hand became torturous. As much as I relished the gesture, it now felt empty, for with the absence of actually spending time with him and deepening the friendship that had led us to this point, it felt incomplete.

His touch quickly grew unbearable and I wriggled my hand free. It wasn't as if I didn't want to hold his hand, I just wanted more of him.

Endymion stopped mid-sentence in his conversation and Prince Jareth frowned. "Are you alright, Prince Endymion?"

"I—of course. Forgive me, what were you saying?" The conversation resumed, but Endymion seemed to be paying little attention as his hand fumbled beneath the table until he found mine and seized it in a tight, unyielding grip. But I pulled free almost immediately, and this time he didn't try to reclaim it.

"Has the charming prince suddenly become too obnoxious?" Though his whispered tone was teasing, my heart was no longer up for continuing to play our game. His smile faded at my somber silence and his brow furrowed in concern. "What's wrong, Serenity?" Worry wrenched his voice. "Are you—?"

But, of course, he couldn't ask me here. I hastily looked away, unable to explain the tumult of emotions raging inside me even if I'd had the opportunity.

Our secret touches had begun as a game, but it didn't feel like one any longer. The fact that they were so covert reminded me how forbidden our courtship was, how impossible our future seemed. Despite sitting so close, an impenetrable barrier seemed to have erected itself between us. If we couldn't even converse without rousing suspicion, how could we ever make this work?

I tried to satisfy myself with Endymion's presence and the soothing sound of his voice, yet not only did they cause me to fall more and more in love with him, but the fact our interactions remained shrouded in secrecy made any hope of a future with him feel forever out of reach, a thought that broke my heart.

Endymion subtly nudged my foot beneath the table to get my attention, but it took me several minutes to gather my composure enough to look at him. When I finally did, Endymion's blue eyes seemed to seep into my soul. We stared at one another a moment that was both beautiful and painful before his gaze flickered down to his plate, where he'd scrawled a message in his mashed potatoes: 'Garden. Midnight.'

My heart twinged at the thought of stealing a private moment with him even as my downtrodden spirits made my fear a clandestine meeting would be impossible. But I wanted to be with him too much not to at least try.

I met his gaze, watching me worriedly, and gave a subtle nod before returning to my food. But this answer wasn't enough to satisfy him. After a quick glance to see if anyone was watching us, he leaned closer. "It's cheating not to have conformed with your food. Poor form, Princess, poor form."

He was clearly trying to earn a smile, as if unsure what else to do with my sudden change in mood—we simply hadn't yet had a chance to spend enough time together for him to know how to help me—but I was too weary to humor him, which only caused the concern furrowing his brow to deepen.

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I sequestered myself in my chamber to await the endless hours until I could meet with Endymion. The hope of spending time with him caused time to move extra slowly; it seemed to take forever for midnight to arrive.

I entered the moonlit garden early and paced its circumference as I waited, trying to escape my whirl of emotions, now wrung dry. I froze at the sound of the garden gate creaking open and spun around to find Endymion hurrying along the hedge-lined path towards me.

Without a word he seized me in a tight embrace, not to kiss me but to simply hold me. My emotions were too wrought to resist him and I collapsed into his strong embrace, finding solace in his arms, despite everything. For a long moment neither of us spoke, simply savored being together.

Endymion's hand moved to rub up and down my back, as if trying to soothe away my hurt. "What's wrong, Sere?"

I took a wavering breath in an attempt to calm my escalating emotions, but they refused to be quenched. "What are we doing, Endy?" I managed.

"We're courting." His hand went to my cheek, a touch I'd waited a long time for, but which felt almost painful now. "Please tell me what's wrong. At first, things seemed to be going well, but then when you pulled away at dinner... Did I move too quickly?" He looked genuinely worried by the prospect.

"No, no, it's not that." A tear escaped as I finally lost the fragile hold over my emotions, the sight of which caused Endymion's expression to crumple. "It's just so...hard, much harder then I thought it would be." It had been one thing to imagine the difficulties—the feigned indifference, the pretending, the heartache, the resisting—and quite another to actually live it, to experience the constant raw emotions and uncertainty without knowing when—or even if—it'd ever end.

Endymion was silent for a prolonged moment, during which the heartbreak filling his eyes deepened. "Is this too hard?" he finally asked.

My breath caught. "What do you mean?" I whispered.

"I mean..." He heaved a sigh and gently enveloped my hands in his. "Is it too hard? Because, if it is, I—" His voice faltered and he lowered his gaze, as if he couldn't bear to look at me as I gave my answer.

And, suddenly, I realized what he was truly asking. I cradled his cheek, lifting his gaze to meet mine. "No, it's not too hard, not with all I gain in return."

He released a whooshing breath. "Really, Serenity? Because I fear my selfishness is coming at too high of a cost. If it is, I couldn't bear...I just want you to be happy. I don't want to hurt you."

"You're not hurting me," I said. "The cost is painful, but I'd rather pay it than not have you at all. I've never known true joy until I met you, Endymion." Nor had I known true sorrow until moments we were apart. A high prince indeed, but it made the moments we were together all the more special.

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head before gathering my back into his arms to nestle me close. I snuggled deeper into his hold with a contented sigh, basking in being with him, a moment already healing the wounds that afflicted my heart. There was so much more I wanted to say, but I could only manage the most important words.

"I love you, Endymion."

"As I love you, Serenity."

"I know you do." I tipped my head back to stare up at his dear face, reflected in the glistening moonlight. "But love isn't enough, is it? We need a plan."

His sigh was weary. "I know we do." Silence settled over us as we each considered the dilemma. "Our situation is too complicated to be solved by any traditional means," Endymion mused. "We'll need an unconventional solution, something strong enough to dispel several generations of hatred and soften a heart even as hardened as my father's."

My head swam with how daunting the task sounded. "Something like...magic?"

His responding chuckle was without humor. "Something like that."

The truth only made our situation seem more impossible. Magic was as rare as it was powerful and couldn't just be acquired from the nearest village shop. Often it had to be earned, but how could we ever—

My breath hooked as the realization washed over me. There was one way Endymion or I could acquire the magic we needed, something we were even expected to do. "We can find a relic."

For a long moment he could only stare before hope lit his eyes. "A relic...But which could we—?" His eyes widened. "Of course, the Relic of Peace!" His tone was reverent.

"The what?"

"The Relic of Peace." His words came out in a rush of excitement. "It was one of many I stumbled across in my research when I was trying to find a relic to search for. Do you think, if we found it..."

"...we could heal the feud keeping us apart?"

Excitement hummed between us at the possibility, and after all this time I finally felt hope, a feeling which only grew as the night continued and we began making plans for how to find this relic, a search which would hopefully be shorter considering that together we would be able to cover more ground quicker.

These discussion drifted into the conversation we'd been longing to share. We stayed for ours talking late into the night. Eventually exhaustion tried to pull me from the beauty of the moment, but I stubbornly resisted it; our time together had grown too perfect to ever end. Instead I rested my head cozily on Endymion's shoulder when I grew too tired, a position even more romantic than I'd imagined.

He turned around to softly kiss my forehead. "Are you sure you're well?"

"Much better now," I assured him.

"Truly?" He stroked my face, his look both tender and earnest, and seemed relieved at my nod. "I know there are still many uncertainties, but I also know what I feel for you. Despite how difficult this game often is, if in the end it means I can have you, I will play it forever." Love filled every word, an emotion I knew without a doubt I'd always feel for him in return.

I smiled and rested my head back against him, basking in the comfort I felt in his embrace. I tried to memorize it so that I could remember it in the time we were apart, separations that would undoubtedly seem to lengthen each time we were forced to say goodbye. But, one day, should we succeed in our quest, we'd finally say our last goodbye. If we could only obtain the Relic of Peace, then everything would be different, and I could finally seize the future I so longed to claim.

With that comforting thought there was finally no more fear, only hope.

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à suivre...