Chapter 75: Unease

Funny how both the queen and the king felt they were not part of nobility. And yet their actions spoke exactly of that freedom.

The sun's rays kissed Izaya's hair on the rise and only the soft sound of Shizuo's stomach growling reminded the two that there were in fact other pleasures to follow than simply spending the entire day inside bed.

"We should really eat something," Izaya snorted as the sun reached what he believed to be the midday mark of their wall's height.

A soft sigh was all that followed and with a soft sound of surprise Izaya's waist was circled from behind.

"Can't we stay here forever?" Shizuo groaned into the curve of his back and Izaya chuckled.

Blissfully. Happy.

This moment, this morning, it was just something he never would have even dared to dream of.

But with a quick motion Izaya pushed himself off the bed and onto his own two feet. The night gown was discarded and his eyes fell all too soon on a dark green dress decorated with pearls that Mika seemed to have prepared in advance.

Izaya couldn't help but feel a smile creep onto his expression as he touched the soft fabric.

It was his favorite.

He had never quite gone out of his way to tell Mika or any other servant about that fact, but seeing how often it was being prepared for him she had apparently noticed anyway.

It wasn't just pretty in color or shape, but easy to put on too. The strings aligning on the back were long enough to be easily pulled tight from the front and the hipsection generously covered what was missing in a female figure. It caused Izaya to wonder whether it was just him who liked this design or whether a real woman would have appreciated it as well.

Quickly adjusting the simple dress, Izaya glanced into the mirror. His appearance had changed more than he had thought. Especially his hair.

Having initially brushed his shoulders it had now grown a full hand past them only aiding in his feminine appearance. His skin on the other hand had finally taken on a healthier color. The paleness defining his face was starting to gain some color and even the light scar he had suffered to his collarbone was slowly starting to vanish.

It was as though his body wanted to convince him that being Shizuo's wife was his true role he deserved to play and should stick to.

It was when a set of arms sneaked around his waist and eyes of deep care settled upon his reflected image that Izaya noticed the king had gotten out of bed as well.

The various cords and laces were easily picked up and without any words the king started binding the knots on Izaya's dress.

The action was as much appreciated as it was embarrassing.

Of course Shizuo was aware that he was just playing the role of a woman, but there was a difference between knowing about it and having him actively help put on his disguise.

Izaya felt oddly captured. Protected. As if he was no longer the only one acting out a pretense. And it certainly didn't help that Shizuo's fingers trailed across his back in a most alluring fashion while trying to make sense of the stringed mess.

Gentle and smooth his touch wandered and before Izaya could voice a complaint the king sighed into his shoulder.

"I don't want to take my eyes off you."

Warmth like a summer's breeze grazed Izaya's ears at those words. Words that sounded too genuine to be flattery and caused his heart to skip a beat.

How?

How did he deserve this bliss?

"You did well so far, why not continue like tha-" Izaya started, but his suggestion wasn't heard.

Quick, yet gently, he found his own body brought back down onto the bed with a heavy thud. Shizuo had toppled him over and his eyes only seemed to swallow him whole as he hovered above his prey.

"You have no idea how hard it was to not act on my impulses," Shizuo whispered and before Izaya knew it they were there again. Lips. Kisses.

On his neck, on his arms, on his forehead.

Drunken with love and the joy of being able to do as he pleased, the king paused for a second to admire Izaya's beauty. The way he looked at him with those alluring eyes and the way his disheveled hair and incredibly sexy body caused his dress to dip in just the right places drove him mad.

"You did a good job until yesterday," Izaya reminded Shizuo with a voice made to tease and it really affected the king more than he liked to show.

"Exactly," Shizuo breathed with a smile on his lips. "Now reward me."

A bold statement for someone whose stomach was protesting ever since it came to life and Izaya chuckled when he heard the soft growl once more.

"First food, then the reward," he announced but he seemed to have convinced the king anyway. Having skipped most of the banquette's dinner the day before it wasn't only him that was craving a decent meal and he seemed to be aware of that fact. And while love was certainly something one could live off for a while, a fulfilling meal was probably the better option.

Leaving off his beautiful queen, Izaya finally got back to his feet.

He could already smell it. The pleasant scent of fresh bread and some sort of stew. When dropping off Mika's sister the day before they had found her preparing some potatoes inside the kitchen and a smoked sausage had rested next to her.

Was it part of the stew? Izaya wasn't sure, but he found himself thinking that he would love whatever the sweet maid had prepared.

Abandoning their room the two of them made their way down the hallway. A hand was swiftly brought to Izaya's collar bone and for a second he closed his eyes.

His illness had started to vanish but not only due to Shizuo's efforts.

Recalling the images fueling the sensation of warmth, Izaya focused on his palm for a few brief seconds while walking.

This spell… had he not learned it from the healer, would he have died?

A terrifying thought that cast the slightest shadow onto this beautiful morning.

He was grateful and very much aware that his body was already recovering, but after having suffered for so long he distrusted even this long period of peace. He couldn't even remember the last time he coughed and with a deep breath he layered another healing spell upon the first. Just in case. Just to make sure it wasn't going to return out of nowhere.

It was a silly fear, really. But one he couldn't shake yet even as he ascended the stairs with Shizuo by his side.

"Ah, good morning!" It was Mika who had stepped into their sight with a set of plates at hands carrying a few varieties of bread. A slightly amused smile decorated her cheeks especially at the word morning, considering it was almost midday.

But all Izaya had to offer was a smile of bliss.

No matter his disguise, his pretense and his true self finally aligned for the first time since he arrived at this castle. Because Mika had always concluded the wrong things considering she didn't know his true nature.

But right now, sitting inside the hall, throwing meaningful glances at each other with hidden smiles his impression finally aligned.

They were a couple in love.

Newlyweds.

Simply happy enough to breathe the same air and relish in each other's presence.

The stew was amazing just as Izaya had expected, the sun grazing the table in the sweetest manner and even the flowers atop the table seemed to enjoy this day.

It was Shizuo's hand, sitting right next to him, shifting to his thigh after a few minutes of their meal that served the only interruption of peace.

"Shizuo! Not here-" he scolded quickly, but even Shizuo's guilty chuckle sounded like a set of gorgeous bells ringing at the peak of a summer's day.

"Why not?" he whispered, and the softest chuckle followed from the side.

Why not, he asked.

For one thing Mika was still in the same room and this was the dinner hall for fucks sake- and yet, Izaya didn't really have it in him to scold the king as he should and so he sighed softly. Content.

"Truly like newlyweds."

And his eyes met Shizuo's in what seemed to be common ground as he laughed.

"We are."

Right.

They were.

His illness had warped his perception of time, but thinking about it they were still in what others would appoint as their honeymoon phase. And yet-

"Okay, but now we stop, alright? We can't just keep at this all day," Izaya scolded quickly and another piece of the freshly smoked sausage he had seen the day before disappeared between his lips.

"You are right," Shizuo snorted, "Sorry. I got carried away."

Sorry?

Unable to keep his expression straight at the genuine apology, Izaya quickly shook his head. "Don't be," he whispered, and his eyes drowned yet again in Shizuo's. "I'm not scolding you because I didn't enjoy it."

Pleasant silence filled with more words than the two could possibly speak layered upon them and only the sound of Mika clearing her throat cut it short.

"My king, my queen, I prepared a bath for you, if you would like."

Right- after a morning like this it was the perfect addition.

"Can you read thoughts?" Shizuo asked what Izaya meant to say and Mika chuckled.

"Not yet but I'm trying my best to be helpful."

Izaya couldn't help but snort at that.

"Well then, shall we?" Shizuo asked and the table was abandoned almost as quickly as it had become occupied.

What was this life? This day?

Walking up the stairs leading toward their bedroom and the adjacent bath Izaya couldn't help but suddenly feel a bit of unease.

Everything was fine. They had slept, they had eaten, Izaya felt not a shred of discomfort, Craigh was most likely discovering his sisters' whereabouts as the sun kept pressing towards the skyline and yet-

Reaching for his chest, Izaya recalled his favourite moments. Peace, warmth and a variety of pleasant emotions spread through his veins again.

It was getting easier to use the spell with every usage. At this point he was using it at times and only realized afterwards that he had.

That's how easy it had become.

But somehow the decrease in difficulty also felt as though he was cheating. As though he was doing something he shouldn't.

"Too hot? Too cold?" Shizuo asked the second Izaya followed him inside the tub as he misread the frown on his expression as one of discomfort.

Quickly easing it away he shook his head and smiled.

"Just perfect. Stop worrying already."

It was a lot to ask of the king considering everything that had happened recently and with a quick sigh Shizuo pulled Izaya into his chest.

"Can't help it when you look like that."

Curiosity piqued, Izaya raised his arms to Shizuo's chest in order to meet his eyes.

"Like what?"

A smile grazed Shizuo's face as excited as that of a child asked to tell about it's favourite game.

"Like a flower," he whispered smoothly, "Delicate and fragile, blooming only once a year with the right conditions."

Warmth coming not from the bathtub grazed Izaya's cheeks for a moment and he quickly averted his gaze. "Are you sure your vision isn't impaired?"

Ah, the window showing the forests and castle's garden was suddenly all too interesting to look at.

But not for long.

Tilting his head back by brushing gently across Izaya's jaw, Izaya quickly gazed right back at Shizuo's eyes.

"Pretty sure, yeah."

So perfect.

Everything was.

Shizuo. This moment.

And yet-

There was a single shadow cast across Izaya's mind and his expression hardened.

"... what now?" he whispered and looked towards a pile of foam traversing the pleasantly hot water.

"What do you mean?" Shizuo asked blissfully unaware and Izaya sighed.

"What do we do? I mean, I'm pretending to be the queen and I-"

"I wouldn't call that pretension anymore."

Blinking shortly it took Izaya a second to get the insinuation implied and with a quick flick of hand he splashed some of the water into Shizuo's face. "You know what I mean," he snorted while Shizuo laughed.

"You are my queen. Same as before. I doubt anyone is going to notice a thing."

True.

But that's not what he meant.

"Are you alright?" Shizuo suddenly asked and Izaya blinked surprised.

True concern swayed in the king's voice and Izaya felt slightly startled by the question. "I am."

Gaze wandering Shizuo's hand brushed across Izaya's shoulder.

"You keep touching your chest. Almost as if you were in discomfort," he pointed out and it was only then that Izaya realized that his own hand was again resting on his collarbone.

He had subconsciously reached for his chest, just as he would when he healed himself.

Shizuo watched him closer than he thought.

He worried about him constantly, which was a bad thing, something he didn't want him to do, and yet… somehow despite the misunderstanding he couldn't help but just feel protected by his eyes at all times.

"That's the spell," he quickly answered as he took his hand away.

Carefully, as if brushing a flower with no intention to harm it, Shizuo grasped Izaya's palm into his own. "I'm feeling better than ever before. I can't even remember the last time I coughed," Izaya explained quickly, but hesitation slowed him down. "But the absence of that very cough somehow unsettles me more than the pain I used to have."

Looking at the seal and the implications made Shizuo's glance moved upwards to meet Izaya's eyes.

"Because you are not used to it?"

Izaya sighed, but nodded anyway. "I know it's silly, but I feel like something bad is about to happen."

"Why?"
"Because of you," Izaya whispered and his gaze travelled towards the window. The meadows, the garden, the forest and skyline. "Because of this place. My health. Because I'm happier than I have ever been in my entire life. And now with Craigh looking for my sisters and the possibility of finding them to top it off-" he faded out, but all that needed to be said had already been told.

A soft smile grazed Shizuo's lips as he raised his hand to cup Izaya's cheek.

"Stupid isn't it?" Izaya whispered into his palm but Shizuo shook his head.

"It's not." Taking Izaya's hand into his own he lifted it to his lips to place a kiss upon the seal.

"You saved Craigh with those very hands. You healed yourself while I was entirely useless against this enemy," he whispered and somehow despite the smile the words sounded so endlessly sad.

"You weren't useless-" Izaya quickly corrected, but Shizuo shook his head.

"I brought you to the healer, but apart from that?" he asked and his eyes grew soft. "I could do nothing and it tore me apart in every way," he whispered and sighed. "I know this feeling you are describing. This unease. I too feel like I can't take my eyes off you for even a second or this bliss might disappear forever."

Izaya wasn't used to words like these.

Words so ominous and pessimistic. It should have evoked more concern in Izaya and yet all he felt was the comfort of familiarity.

Hearing the king felt the same way was oddly comforting. Showed how baseless his worries were in a sense and he couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved.

"So keep using the spell as many times as you like if it assures you," Shizuo continued. "I would too if I were able to cast one."

Izaya smiled. Looking at the hand trapping his own he found his thoughts trailing back to the banquet. To the tavern and their dance. To the carriage and Shizuo's sleeping face.

All of their conversations and the reason he was here. Right now. As a man. Pretending to be a woman.

Lord Karch's wife's words resounded in the back of his head out of nowhere and Izaya hesitated for a second.

"... are you sure you won't regret it?" It was a quiet whisper, one that followed only after a short while had passed and caught Shizuo by surprise.

"Regret what?" he repeated, a bit startled and Izaya swallowed hard.

"... me?"

It was a heavy question. One that Izaya thought wasn't easy to answer. And Shizuo did remain quiet for a short moment of heavy silence.

His eyes seemed glued to every word he spoke and every expression he made, but he failed to answer. "Shizuo?" Izaya repeated, and it was upon a light shift in the water that Izaya brushed against the object that seemed to distract Shizuo from giving the answer he was supposed to.

He was hard.

"Sorry-" Shizuo uttered quickly and cleared his throat. "To answer your question, yes. Yes, I am pretty sure." The words came quickly, even somewhat embarrassed, or guilty? Izaya wasn't sure what emotion exactly it was that caused Shizuo to look the way he did, but he recognized one of them quite easily.

One they shared since the previous night and somehow he felt his own throat dry up with heat.

Fuck.

Now he was horny too.

He wanted it.

He wanted it so bad.

What was wrong with him?

Quicker than expected Izaya moved forward and the water shifted in protest.

"Izaya?" Shizuo asked, but quicker than expected his queen had slipped right into his lap and onto his hardened dick.

A deep groan quickly left Shizuo's lips and his hands locked around Izaya's hips as he restrained himself.

Eyes searched for each other and Izaya smiled as he whispered seductively, "I heard a wife is supposed to fulfill her duties."

And Shizuo had never heard something more alluring in his life.

The grip on his hips tightened and for a second Shizuo just felt he was the happiest man alive.

"I won't ever let anything bad happen to you," he whispered, and his lips brushed Izaya's in a kiss. "You are mine."

to be continued~

Yo xD Sorry for missing the updates last week, I kinda ended up in the hospital with influenza and over 40C fever that just refused to leave haha xD But now I am at home again, still on sick leave but wayyyy better xD

SO HERE WE GO XD

C: Now wasn't this a cute chapter? I feel like every single update on this story is overflowing with sugar recently xDDDD

Let's see, how much longer until …. ah. Yes. Two more updates. C: C: C:

See you next friday C: