A/n- Not so much a nsfw story even though Rutger and Lilina are naked the whole time. Kind of just a sweet heart-to-heart with a flashback in the middle that kind of almost serves as a bit of an author's refutation to people thinking Rutger/Lilina as a ship is weird.
The Commission Files- File #a1740 Too Much of a Good Thing?
Characters: Rutger, Lilina
Based on: a commission by jonval_art on Twitter/X
Rutger and Lilina were cuddled up naked in a sitting position with Rutger having his hands on Lilina's stomach and her resting her back against his chest. They had once again spent some time being intimate with each other, but Lilina could tell the entire time that something was bothering Rutger. It wasn't enough to make it a bad experience, but she knew him so well at this point in their relationship that it was obvious. But she also knew that it would be best if he brought it up himself instead of her prodding like she used to. She trusted Rutger to let her know how he was feeling, and that trust paid off a few silent minutes later as he snuggled his his head close to hers so his mouth was closer to her ear.
"Lilina, can I ask you something that's going to sound a little strange and maybe a bit off-putting considering what we just finished up doing?" Rutger asked slowly and calmly, even if Lilina could hear a bit of worry in his voice.
"Of course Rutger, you know you can ask me anything." Lilina assured him quietly back.
"I know, but I need you to take what I'm about to say seriously and not laugh at it." Rutger continued. "Can you promise me that?"
"I promise, I won't even let out a chuckle." Lilina replied genuinely. She heard Rutger take a deep breath, probably to calm himself a bit more, before he asked his question.
"Lilina, do you think we have too much sex?" He asked. Lilina could tell from his tone he was seriously asking her this and it wasn't a joke or anything. Which made it all the more confusing that he'd ask such a question so seriously.
"No, I don't think so." She answered after thinking about it a bit. "I mean we have sex a bit more than other people we know, but I don't see it as an issue. We're still pretty young and we enjoy being intimate, well at least I do. Do you still find enjoyment in it Rutger?"
"I do." Rutger confirmed. "But my question isn't about the quality of our intimacy, it's about the quantity."
"Yes, I understand that, I just want to understand more about why you're so worried about it." Lilina told him. "Well, if it's a question of quantity, are you getting annoyed with how often I'm in the mood?"
"No, it's not that." Rutger answered. "Look, I guess I overheard something the other day and I've gotten a little self conscious about how everyone else in the castle might see our relationship."
"Well, what happened? Tell me what you overheard." Lilina suggested. "I can't give you a full answer without all the information."
"You remember about a week ago when I was having that sleeping spell because I wasn't feeling well?" Rutger asked her.
"Uh-huh, that was an interesting week to be sure." Lilina confirmed.
"Well, it happened then."
About a Week Ago
Rutger was taking a nap out on the training grounds, he hadn't been feeling good for some reason lately and it was causing him to have to sleep a bit more than usual. He was in the process of slowly waking up but hadn't opened his eyes yet when he heard two squires, Alph and Lou, having a conversation near him. He decided to pretend to still be asleep so he could hear what they had to say.
"Man, whatever sickness Sir Rutger is dealing with must really be taking a toll on him if he's sleeping all the way out here." Alph commented with a bit of concern in his voice.
"Not enough of a toll to beat all our asses as usual." Lou replied, a little more distain in his voice. "Though I'm not too sure it's a sickness that's making him sleep so much in the first place."
"Elimine, not this again Lou, can you just let it go?" Alph asked, seemingly knowing where this conversation was going.
"No, I won't." Lou stated. "I'm still convinced something is up between him and Lady Lilina, and I plan to get to the bottom of it."
"You really think Lady Lilina to be so weak willed that she would get taken advantage of by someone like that?" Alph wondered. "Like haven't you heard the phrase 'the most likely answer is usually correct' in your life? Is it really that hard to believe that her and Sir Rutger are genuinely in love with each other and that's why they are intimate with each other all the time?"
"I don't know, I've met a lot of women who look strong on the outside and are weak to certain physical capabilities of certain types of men." Lou commented.
"And there is that again." Alph sighed. "It's one thing if you think they have too much sex, but you really think he's trying to overwrite the whole of Ostian culture with his Sacaen culture? I mean be real here Lou, if you were going to be worried about where he comes from, you should be worried about the Bernese half since they actually came in and invaded everyone and tried to start a coup here. A coup that Lady Lilina not only survived, but overthrew and stamped out in due time."
"With the help of Lord Roy of Pherae, I might add." Lou added on.
"And with the help of Sir Rutger as well, if you don't recall so well." Alph countered.
"Look all I'm saying is that something just feels off about the whole thing, I personally think that Lady Lilina and Lord Roy should have gotten together." Lou commented. "I think things would have worked out much better that way. I mean Sir Rutger is barely noble in the first place you know? I doubt he really has any real say in any of the politics around here."
"Sure, because he doesn't continuously get sent out to other Lycian provinces in Lady Lilina's stead and didn't have a father who was a genius and a mother who taught him how to act with nobility." Alph noted. "I know you don't listen to anything that you don't agree with, but come on, that's common knowledge."
"Whatever, it's just weird, that's all." Lou replied weakly.
"Just because you think it's weird doesn't mean it's wrong." Alph stated. "Honestly, and this is giving you more credit than you probably deserve, I just think you're jealous since you don't have a woman in your life."
"Oh, fuck you Alph!" Lou spat, getting a bit louder. It was at that point that Rutger had heard enough and he didn't want them to start actually fighting out here so he coughed and started to stir like he was waking up. "Shit, he's waking up, I'm out of here." And with that Lou ran off to wherever while Alph stayed and helped Rutger up to his feet.
"Are you feeling alright Sir Rutger?" Alph asked once he was standing.
"I've been better, but that nap seemed to do the trick for now." Rutger replied with a bit of a smile for Alph and his helpfulness.
"We didn't wake you up or anything did we?" Alph wondered.
"I heard some voices, but nothing to clear to make out." Rutger lied easily. "Well, I've got some paperwork I need to get to before dinner is served so I'll see you later. Keep that sword work up and you'll be a fine Ostian knight someday Alph."
Present Day
"And then I wrote that letter to Roy I told you about where we were discussing the mock battle we wanted to hold for training purposes." Rutger said, finishing his story up.
"I see." Lilina commented, taking a moment to take all of it in. "You do realize it just seems like this squire named Lou is probably just racist against Sacaens and you probably shouldn't take what he says at face value?"
"Yes, I'm aware of that." Rutger replied with a sigh. "And normally I wouldn't, but he wasn't just talking about me and my culture, he was talking about you and your decision making as well and you know I've had my apprehensions about how fitting a partner I really am for you. I guess I just haven't heard them voiced in so long it hit me pretty hard. And to be said by someone I work with pretty much every day, it kind of cuts deep."
"Well, that just disproves his point even more." Lilina assured him. "If your first thought was about me and how I'd be affected, I think that's the sign of a truly dedicated partner and husband. I know we've had this conversation before, but I'll repeat what I've told you a number of times Rutger, while it might have been a little rough in the beginning I wouldn't want anyone else walking beside me. Not in battle, not in politics, and definitely not in love. Do I think Roy and I would have worked out well? Of course we would have. But that's not what happened. I fell in love with you Rutger. I fell in love because you were there for me when I needed you, because you're here for me now no matter what comes our way. And you know better than anyone if you did try to take advantage of me you'd be a pile of flaming ash before you could even blink."
"When you put it that way, who could argue with you?" Rutger questioned rhetorically, but in truth Lilina's words did a lot to put his mind at ease
"I know right?" Lilina replied with a confident grin. "It's almost like I'm an intelligent adult woman who is in control of her life decisions and emotions. Not that I'm saying you don't think so Rutger, I'm just still kind of miffed about what you told me that squire said."
"Believe me Lilina, I know better than most that when you decide something it takes a lot to change your mind." Rutger noted with a slight chuckle. "I guess some people just can't get the hint."
"You've got that right." Lilina agreed.
"But, going back to being a bit more serious for the moment, thank you for hearing me out Lilina. I know you always do, but it's always comforting to know that I can speak my mind and tell you how I feel without judgement or resentment or teasing of any kind." Rutger said, holding Lilina a little tighter in his arms. "That's one of the things I really love about you, you always have a listening and understanding ear for me when others don't."
"Hey, I'm just happy you're in a place where you're willing to tell me how you feel." Lilina admitted. "Remember before when I had to poke and prod you for everything? Now you tell me of your own volition and it really shows how much you've matured and grown over the years."
"I've still got work to do on that front though." Rutger commented.
"Don't we all at this point?" Lilina countered. "You're doing your best and that's all I can ask from you. And your best is more than enough honestly, other men wouldn't even try this hard to improve themselves, but you're always trying to be better. It's honestly inspiring."
"Okay, now we're getting a bit too sappy I think." Rutger noted, and it got Lilina to giggle slightly.
"Maybe, but it's nice having moments like this from time to time, just talking and feeling things out you know?" Lilina pondered.
"It is." Rutger agreed as he nuzzled Lilina's hair a bit more with his nose. "Hmm, I love you Lilina, more and more each day."
"And I love you Rutger, never forget that." Lilina replied before they shared some comfortable silence together. A few minutes later though Rutger had a thought.
"Are you going to say anything about this to Lou or Alph?" He wondered.
"Well the spiteful side of me wants to invite him out to the training grounds alone just to find us having sex when he gets there." Lilina admitted. "But the more reasonable and calm side of me wants to get the two of them together to see if we can work things out, and if I feel Lou isn't up to Ostian knight standards send him back home."
"As much fun as the first idea would be, I don't think that would be the best option." Rutger noted with another chuckle. "The latter should work out well."
"I figured you'd say that." Lilina commented before moving around in Rutger's grasp so she was now looking him in the eyes. "But thinking about doing that first idea has me all hot and bothered again. Can you go another round, or do you think that would be too much?" She added with a smirk.
"Oh, you know I can give you all you can handle."