YES PLEASEEEEEE

🖤💛🧻Sero Appreciation Post 🧻💛🖤

That is all. Have a good day.

Hello hello! Welcome to my blog!! It's quite new so I don't really know what I'm doing..

You can call me Kcandy, I go by she/her, and this is where I will be posting my fanfiction!

Some fandoms I'm planning on writing for:

•My hero academia

•Haikyuu

•Cupid's chatroom

•Harry Potter (marauders era only)

(Might add more later idk)

Rules Masterlist

Requests: open!!

Tags:

#kcandyreblogs

#kcandyyaps

#kcandywrites

oh my goshh !! thank u so much for writing my req for hitoshi !!

it’s so good and not too angsty at all, i hope you write a part 2 with whatever you have in mind that’s amazing, plus i love how long & detailed the fic is

he’s not the only one who will be sleeping well tonight, again, tysm! ッ

hitoshi wakes up to see you making breakfast, so he takes his chance and tries to talk to you, pt 2 of this

when hitoshi woke up from his slumber, he felt well-rested, as if he had the best sleep of his life. he hadn’t yet furnished his room, and he sighed once he saw a practically empty room beside a desk and his bed. he rolled around in his warm and cozy bed, curling up into himself, wishing the warmth wasn’t from his body heat but from yours.

a fist hit his door multiple times, causing him to grunt and slowly get out of bed.

he heard a voice quietly scold, “dude, why’d you knock? he could be sleeping, we should’ve waited!”

then a louder voice said, “bro, he doesn’t know what’s going on, so i gotta tell him!”

hitoshi trudged to the door and unlocked it, seeing an excited kaminari and a guilty-looking kirishima behind him. they were both in their pajamas still, but what could they possibly want? it was the weekend, after all.

he stood tall over them, with an unpleasant look on his face, though he wasn’t necessarily upset. he stared right into kaminari’s eyes, expecting him to say something, as he was closer to hitoshi physically.

“hey, shinso! we’re making breakfast downstairs, do you wanna join?” kaminari loudly asked, smiling widely at him.

hitoshi paused then shrugged, “sure, why not?”

he opened his closet and put on the pair of slippers given to him, which the two boys were similarly wearing as well. he walked back to the boys, who led him downstairs. some small talk occurred, but were normally replied with short answers, as hitoshi normally didn’t like to talk much in the morning.

when all three of the boys came downstairs, hitoshi’s eyes immediately landed on you cooking with bakugo. bakugo didn’t seem to be talking to you as much, but hitoshi still frowned as he walked closer to you, sitting at a nearby table. even as other students came up to him, asking if he wanted to do anything before the school week started, his eyes kept wandering back to you.

as you skillfully flipped pancakes and made the batter for waffles, also cutting up fruits and taking out syrup for toppings, you turned your head to see shinso looking right at you with tired eyes. you paused stirring the batter for the waffles and stared back at him, seeing his baggy, black long-sleeve shirt and purple sweatpants. he looked at you up and down, observing your outfit. you were wearing an oversized purple t-shirt that looked too cute on you and black sweatpants, topped off with the class slippers that most of you were wearing.

hitoshi softly smiled. the two of you were unintentionally matching outfits with his colors. it made him feel proud in a way, but he didn’t mention it.

once bakugo tapped you on the shoulder, you blushed and turned away from hitoshi’s eyes. the way he looked at you up and down made you nervous, though he was most likely checking out your outfit. the two of you were matching, but you didn’t mention it until a voice shouted.

sero’s voice boomed, “woah, shinso, y/n, are you guys matching?”

some voices became quieter at the question, and your classmates kept taking turns, looking at both of your outfits back and forth.

ochaco gasped, “you are! aw, that’s pretty cute!”

“hey, you guys are matching!” kaminari realized, then had a mischievous glint in his eyes. he sat down next to shinso and smirked, “shinsoooo…”

his eyes widened and he shook his head, turning it away from kaminari so he wouldn’t see the grin on his face. god, he couldn’t let him know that he’s been crushing on you for so long. he’d be seen as a weirdo again!

suddenly, bakugo grumbled, “breakfast is ready.”

most of the students, including kaminari, ran toward the kitchen islands to grab their food right away. people were shoving each other, causing hitoshi’s eyes to widen. he didn’t know your class was this chaotic, but he smiled at the thought. you were all like family.

you and hitoshi stayed behind, however. you were cutting up more strawberries for toppings, and hitoshi just didn’t know if he should go up and get food when everyone was wreaking havoc.

after minutes passed, many students picked up their first serving and were already sat down, hitoshi finally stood up, and you were already picking out your food. he took a deep breath in. he wanted to talk to you.

he grabbed a plate, fork, and knife, then picked up a large waffle, sprayed some whipped cream on it, dropped a few raspberries and blueberries on it, then grabbed some scrambled eggs, and finally a napkin.

a familiar, soft voice rang in his ears, “how did you sleep, shinso?”

his eyes widened and his heart beat fast, he almost froze in his place. he spoke, “oh, i slept well. thank you for asking.” he paused, not knowing what to say but wanting the conversation to continue. you looked nervous. “the beds here are comfortable, but i haven’t quite renovated my room yet.”

you nodded and began walking to a table, nodding for him to follow you. he did as you gestured, and you replied, “that’s understandable, you only got here late at night, so don’t stress about it. you’ll have plenty of time to move in your furniture. i haven’t yet fully furnished my room, but i have a bed, some posters, and a tv that i also play some video games on.” you scratched your neck during the last sentence, feeling a bit nervous telling someone all that so early.

he tried to hide the smile on his face, “oh, really? i play video games too, when i have free time, of course. i mostly play fortnite though.”

you beamed, “oh, i have fortnite too! we should play sometime.”

he nodded, then mentioned, “it’s a little weird how we matched, isn’t it?”

“a little, i guess. promise i wasn’t trying to copy you, i just wanted to wear it.” you laughed it off.

the conversation died down, and the two of you ate your food in silence. it was a comfortable silence, however, one that neither of you had often felt with strangers.

once he finished, he wiped his mouth and complimented, “that was really good. do you often cook for the class like this?”

he was nearly shaking, tapping his foot on the ground, being nervous. he wasn’t cold, just excited to be around someone he’s liked for so long. hopefully, with all these questions and compliments, the two of you would become closer.

“oh, thank you! but no, normally we don’t cook at all besides for special occasions. the cafeteria offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the school, but bakugo became tired of the breakfast they handed out, and i thought it would be a good idea if we made breakfast because you’re new.” your eyes widened, and you shrunk into yourself, feeling nervous. “i— oh, that was kinda mean, i’m sorry— you’re new to our class, but not to the school— we just wanted to make a good first impression—“

you cut yourself off and blushed in embarrassment. you probably just fumbled right then and there.

hitoshi grinned at your flustered state and chuckled, “don’t worry about it, l/n, the food was amazing. it was nice of you to do something like that.”

you softly smiled in appreciation, and he held his hand out to your plate, silently asking if you were done. you thanked him, and he nodded, grabbing both of your plates and utensils to the sink. he washed them easily, then dried his hands off and walked back to you.

but you were caught in a daze. he was such a gentleman, and you hardly even knew him!

there was something different about him.

yes i decided to make the reader n hitoshi both play fortnite. so what?? they’re both nerds!! anyway might make this a series if people want me to bc i don’t want to end it off here. forgot to post last night so here

010. shoelaces, coolers, and umbrellas — akaashi keiji.

wc: 0.5k cw: gn!reader. akaashi keiji is a helpful man <3 a/n: i hate when people forget akaashi is canonically weird, but at the same time i have a specific vision of him in my head that i cant let go of. i hope you enjoy <3 requested by @thewhispersofthewaves

it’s the last evening of a week-long joint training camp between nekoma and fukurodani. the gym smells like floor polish and sweat, volleyballs scattered across the floor, jerseys sticking to backs. the air is thick with noise — lev yelling across the court, bokuto celebrating after a spike, yamamoto getting scolded for the third time for trying to show off.

you’re used to it by now. half manager, half unofficial peacekeeper. you refill water bottles, tape fingers, make sure no one forgets their knee pads or their dignity. it’s been nonstop since morning, but you don’t mind. not really.

you’ve been exchanging glances with fukurodani’s setter all week. not on purpose. it’s just that every time you look up, he’s already looking your way. akaashi is quiet. efficient. a little weird. the only one who hasn’t added to the chaos. he thanks you every time you pass him a towel. always bows a little deeper than necessary.

you catch him watching you when you scold yamamoto for throwing a water bottle at kenma. you don’t say anything.

later, you trip over your own shoelace near the bench.

he’s there before you can blink, already crouching, already steadying you and double-knotting your laces.

"you were due for that," he says.

you flush. "are you calling me clumsy?"

"i’m calling it a statistical inevitability."

you laugh, flustered. he smiles (barely, but it counts).

by the time practice winds down, most of the boys have already vanished into the locker rooms. the gym quiets. you’re packing up the med kit alone when footsteps approach.

"need a hand?" akaashi asks.

you blink up. "i’m okay. just wrapping up."

he crouches beside you anyway, folding ice packs into the cooler without needing instruction. you pack in comfortable silence.

rain begins to hammer against the windows.

you glance up. "great. i didn’t bring an umbrella."

he zips his duffle. then, without a word, pulls out a compact black umbrella and presses it into your hand.

"but you’ll get soaked."

"i’ve got a hoodie."

you hesitate. then take it, fingers brushing his.

"thanks, akaashi."

"anytime."

you both move to the entrance. the gym lights flicker behind you, the last echo of sneakers fading. rain pours in sheets now, wind tugging at loose strands of your hair.

he stands beside you, not quite touching. close enough.

"do you want to wait it out?" he asks.

you shake your head. "better to go now, before it gets worse."

you shift your bag, glance up at him. "thanks for earlier. for the shoelaces. and the cooler."

"you’re always doing something for everyone else," he says. "it’s easy to want to help."

you don’t know what comes over you, but before your nerves can catch up, you lean up and press a kiss to his cheek. soft. quick.

he goes still. then — a beat later — he meets your eyes. his gaze softens.

"...that was nice," he says quietly.

you smile, tugging the umbrella open. "guess you’ll have to keep helping me, then."

he watches you step into the rain.

and even with the wind pulling at your sleeves — you swear you feel his warmth linger, just behind you.

taglist (open. ask to be added <3): @tangerinelovr @oligbia @megapteraurelia

© everything here is written with care — please don’t repost, copy, or alter my work without permission.

Rules

Read before you request!

• I don't write nsfw content

• I don't write character x character

• I write at my own pace so it might take a while

• I might decline your request if I'm not comfortable writing it or if I feel like I can't write it well

I call him "Izuku" as if we're friends 😓

I’ve grown out of calling Midoriya ‘Deku’. I’ve become..

A man.

Masterlist

My hero academia:

HITOSHI SHINSOU-

"Sealed Secrets" knight!Shinsou x princess!Reader (multichapter)

-Part 1

IZUKU MIDORIYA-

"Make his day, buy a bouquet!" florist!Izuku x reader

Haikyuu:

TSUKISHIMA KEI-

"Soft spot"

HINATA SHOUYOU-

"Light in the dark"

Cupid's chatroom:

Nothing here yet

012. grudges, growth, and you — yaku morisuke.

wc: 0.6k cw: gn!reader. enemies to lovers <3 a/n: i've never particularly favored yaku, but this makes me like him a little more haha <3 i hope you enjoy! requested by @rumik09 and @solvisun

you’ve known yaku since you were six, and you’ve wanted to throw a dodgeball at his face since approximately the second week.

he called you a cheater during p.e. and you spent the rest of elementary school making his life mildly inconvenient. swapping his indoor shoes. hiding his pencil case. once, in fifth grade, you signed him up for the school play and gave him the role of “talking tree #3.” he never forgave you.

in return, he told your entire class you had a crush on the music teacher.

by middle school, your war had quieted into occasional eye-rolls and passive-aggressive comments.

by high school, it had become something stranger.

“you’re short,” you tell him in second year.

“you’re loud,” he snaps back.

you share a math class. he borrows your notes once when he’s sick and grumbles out a “thanks” like it burns his throat.

you shrug. “you’d do the same.”

he stares at you like you’ve said something deeply offensive.

“i wouldn’t,” he mutters.

but next week, when you’re out with a fever, he drops off your homework at your front gate without saying anything.

you find out because your mom tells you a “tiny blonde boy with a very serious face” came by.

you text him: that was weirdly nice of you.

he replies: shut up or i’ll take it back.

in third year, he becomes someone you text when you can’t sleep.

not often. just… sometimes.

on nights when the pressure feels too loud or your brain won’t shut up. you don’t say anything serious. just little things.

what if we all just dropped out and became frogs.

he replies three minutes later: you wouldn’t survive the winter. frogs don’t have heaters.

you laugh into your pillow and think maybe this thing between you isn’t war anymore.

you end up at the same college.

not on purpose.

just luck. or bad luck. depending on the day.

you spot him across campus during orientation and your heart does something weird.

you don’t say hi.

he does.

“oh great,” he mutters, falling into step beside you like it’s inevitable. “you again.”

you grin. “missed me?”

“like a cavity.”

but his smile lingers a little too long.

you grow into something real slowly.

too slowly, maybe.

he makes tea for you when you’re up late studying. never coffee. he says it makes your hands shake.

you throw a pillow at him once for memorizing your class schedule. he throws it back and adds a blanket over your shoulders before leaving your dorm.

neither of you says the word for it.

not until third year.

you’re on the floor of his apartment, surrounded by snack wrappers and overdue assignments. you’ve been laughing for twenty minutes about a terrible movie.

your face hurts. your stomach aches.

he’s looking at you with this expression like he can’t believe you’re real.

you stop laughing.

he doesn’t.

“what,” you say, suspicious.

“nothing,” he says, but his ears go pink.

you sit up. “what?”

he sighs. presses a hand to his face.

“i used to hate you,” he mumbles.

“i know.”

“like, really hate you.”

“yeah. you made that clear.”

he glances at you. then away.

“i don’t anymore.”

you go quiet.

“okay,” you say finally.

“okay,” he repeats.

you stare at each other.

then you say it.

not dramatic. not heavy. not a confession.

just honest.

“i don’t hate you either.”

his face breaks into something unsure and bright and so very yaku.

and when he leans in, you don’t flinch.

you kiss like you’re still unsure what to call this thing between you.

but it’s soft. and a little clumsy. and warm.

after, he doesn’t say anything.

taglist (open. ask to be added <3): @tangerinelovr @oligbia @megapteraurelia @iwantfoodpleasebuymefood

© everything here is written with care — please don’t repost, copy, or alter my work without permission.

Sealed Secrets

Part 1/?

Synopsis:

Knight!Shinsou x Princess!Reader

A princess, known for her reckless and cheerful nature, and her knight, Shinsou, who is her polar opposite and is stuck always looking out for her safety. There's no way the two could ever get along. Right? However after countless mysterious murders, secrets, and riddles, the princess finds herself being drawn to her knight, and it seems like he's starting to tolerate her too.

Cw: death, fem!reader, slowburn (they hate each other lol), no quirks

Wc: 4.0k

Not beta read!

It was a sunday afternoon when you had just met Archie Wellington, the prince of Solandria. The Wellington family had been visiting your kingdom; your families had decided to have the two of you wed to ensure peace between Solandria and Hortensia after many years of war.

As much as you hated the idea of being wed to a stranger, you had to admit- Archie wasn't all that bad, especially compared to some of your other suitors. He was sweet and most important of all respectful, quite handsome as well; With his sleek blonde hair and dazzling brown eyes that crinkled when he smiled, he had a certain charm. And although it seemed that neither of you wanted a romantic relationship, Archie was most likely your best option for a somewhat happy marriage, you thought.

That was, of course, before the maids had found him dead in the guest room the next morning.

It was a surprise for everyone. Just the evening before the prince was alive and well.

The two royal families were dining together and discussing the upcoming wedding, After multiple generations of war between the kingdoms, the two rulers had agreed to make peace. And since both royal offsprings were approximately the same age, the decision to wed them was made.

Now, you weren’t the royal heir so you knew that you would be “given away” in marriage at some point. Non-heir princesses were often married off to princes, dukes, or other nobles. Since they were not first in line for the throne, their primary role was often seen as forging alliances through marriage.

Of course your brother, the heir, was also expected to marry, but the pressure on him wasn’t as heavy; while marriage was important to produce heirs and secure succession, the crown prince had more freedom, he had more leeway in choosing a spouse who aligns with his personal preferences. In your case, however, you’d be married off to whoever your father saw more fit for the kingdom's political situation.

You hated that fact. It truly wasn’t fair. You didn’t want to marry some stranger, you wanted to fall in love just like in those romance books you loved to read! But clearly that wasn’t going to happen.

Archie was far more pleasant than your other candidates for husband; you liked him, sure, but still, you didn’t love him. In fact, you didn’t even see yourself loving him in the future. He was a decent man, yet he came across as overly proper. His posture was so rigid it seemed as if he had a stick lodged in his back, and his table manners made you feel a bit self-conscious about your own; dear god, what if he was judging your table manners??

He spoke only when addressed and did so with extreme formality. He embodied the very definition of a gentleman. And that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, however he seemed to lack authenticity. It felt as though he had been conditioned by chivalry and etiquette to the point where he no longer could express any thoughts of his own.

Nonetheless, you made every effort to appear polite and gracious throughout the dinner. You were acutely aware of the importance of making a good impression, especially with your mother casting you stern glances that seemed to say, “Don’t mess this up.”

“Your Majesty, please do indulge in some of our finest fish! I know seafood is a rarity in Solandria, so please, help yourself to as much as you like. Our seas yield the world’s best salmon,” your father said cheerfully as the maids set several plates of smoked salmon before the guests. It was evident that he was eager to impress the Solandrian king and queen, who responded with a courteous nod and a smile.

After a few long hours of various dinner courses and the after-dinner music performances- an endeavor your mother insisted upon to impress the guests and showcase your kingdom’s cultural richness- you finally made your way to your chambers.

As much as you loved to indulge in music performances, the constant need to be at your best behaviour had really left you drained.

Thinking back to the performance, it seemed that Prince Archie was quite exhausted as well. His usual rigid posture had softened; he leaned back in his armchair, gripping its edges tightly as the loud music played on. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed and his complexion appeared paler than usual.

Still, he was hiding his discomfort quite well, better than you at least. The only reason you had noticed his unease was because you had been staring at him for the past ten minutes, trying to decide if you were willing to have children with him or not; honestly, with his looks it’d be a shame not to.

It was quite strange that you hadn’t made eye contact yet, given your intense staring.

You let out a sigh, pushing thoughts about your soon-to-be husband from your mind as you prepare for bed. Once nestled beneath the soft covers, you wish your ladymaid goodnight and gradually drift off to sleep.

It was at breakfast when you learned of the unfortunate news: the prince of Solandria had died some time at night. The physician had stated that the cause of death was illness. Of course, the Wellington’s were devastated- their son showed no signs of illness and now he’s suddenly dropped dead. In response to their grievance the physycian only explained that the illness was one of which he’d never seen, and recommended the king impose a quarantine to prevent further deaths until apothecaries and herbalists could discover a remedy.

You feel a chill run down your spine at the thought of an unknown illness sweeping through the kingdom. Not to mention the quarantine. That could mean isolation for everyone, including you and your family. The mere idea filled you with dread; your freedom to step outside the palace was already incredibly limited, and now you might be confined to your room for weeks.

Your father nodded gravely at the physician’s suggestion, his expression serious and contemplative. By that afternoon, a quarantine was officially ordered. Guards would be stationed at every door to ensure no one could leave, and meals would be delivered directly to each family member's quarters.

The Wellingtons announced their intention to depart the following day, instructing that their carriage be prepared by then. It was understandable; their sole purpose for visiting had been to arrange their son’s wedding, and now he was no more. It was no surprise they wished to return home as swiftly as possible.

The whole situation was surreal to you. You were unsure of how to feel. You felt horrible for the prince and his family, of course, but you hadn’t known him that well. Grieving for someone you hardly knew felt strange.

You couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt over your lack of intense sadness and care for the prince. He had been kind to you, he'd never done anything wrong to you, and yet here you were, struggling to feel a deep sense of sorrow for his passing. It wasn't that you didn't care at all, no, you did. But you felt that your reaction should be stronger, given that he was supposed to be your husband.

With a deep sigh, you lie down on your bed, feeling a sense of resignation. No one need know the true extent of your feelings, or lack thereof. You could just act devastated and everything would be fine. It wouldn't matter what you truly felt. Besides, given the quarantine, no would even see you for the next few weeks exept your lady-in-waiting.

The thought of being completely alone for the upcoming weeks was less than appealing. You stood up from the bed, and, hoping to find some distraction, moved briskly to the bookshelf, scanning the spines of books in search of something to cure your boredom.

You selected a book at random, hoping that the pages would provide some much-needed respite.

After what seemed like hours of reading, you just couldn't take it anymore. You needed to get out of here somehow. The maid had just brought you dinner, which you didn’t really feel like eating. In a few hours the maid would return to clear your meal and prepare you for bed. That’s when it struck you: now’s a window of time when no one would check on you, roughly four hours. The guards stationed outside your door offered no means of escape, the window however…

You gently untied the long silk bed sheets from her bedpost, carefully knotting them together into a sturdy rope. Your fingers trembled slightly. Once secure, you looped the makeshift ladder over the windowsill.

Taking a deep breath, you slipped out of her chamber onto the windowsill. The cool night air brushed against your skin as you carefully lowered yourself down, gripping the rope tightly. Below, just within reach, was a large oak tree- its branches sprawling close to the palace wall.

With a final glance back at your room, you began to descend. Once your feet found the first sturdy branch,you slowly eased yourself onto it and untied the knot around your waist.

Halfway down, you paused briefly to listen—no sounds of alarm or footsteps. Heart pounding in your chest, you continued until your feet touched the soft grass outside the palace walls.

You ran towards the hamlet village located just besides the royal palace. You wore one of your simpler dresses, making sure to blend in and not draw too much attention to yourself. This wasn’t your first time here, you had visited the village a number of times before and even sneaked some coins to the struggling families.

The village was a great place, probably your favourite place even. It really held a special place in your heart. Everyone there was so warm and friendly, it was as if the whole village was one big happy family.

Everything was simple there, no need for exquisite table manners or polite facades.

Your favourite part though was when the village would gather and dance around the fire and eat all kinds of goods every evening. It was comforting.

After spending some time participating in the dances and having friendly chit-chats with the villagers, you knew it was time to head back to the palace before your maid discovered your absence. Reluctantly saying farewell, you bid the villagers goodnight and made your way back to the royal residence, hoping to return unnoticed.

All was going well- you were practically in your room as you climbed up the bedsheet-rope. That is until a low "ahem" echoed through the silence, breaking your focus. Startled, you glanced down to find a palace guard standing below, the visor of his helmet hiding his visage, but his head unmistakably tilted in your direction.

“Oh..haha..good evening sir! I was just..taking a breath of fresh air is all..”

The knight seemed unamused with your cheap excuse. His stoic demeanor signaled that your attempt at nonchalance was far from successful.

"Taking a breath of air, were you, your highness?" The guard's voice was flat, laced with a hint of disbelief. "By scaling down the side of the palace wall?"

There was a moment of silence.

“Could you..maybe..perhaps..keep this a secret?” you said weakly, there wasn’t much you could do except beg him.

"And why should I keep this little escapade of yours a secret, my lady? If his royal majesty finds out about this both you and I will get in big trouble. Except for you it would mean a lecture and maybe heightened security, while for me it would mean beheading."

You grimaced at his words, he had every right to rat you out. But maybe you could convince him otherwise..?

“I understand it’s only right for you to report my escape to my father,” you said hurriedly, desperation creeping into your voice. “But I swear, sir- no one saw me. No one will even suspect I was gone for a few hours. If you keep this secret, I could speak well of you to my father. Convince him to elevate you in rank!”

The knight, however, still seemed unconvinced. He crossed his arms and stared up at you silently.

You sighed deeply before looking at him with pleading eyes,

“Just…please..?This is my chance at freedom. I’ll do anything for you to keep silent.”

The guard's stern expression remained hidden behind the visor, betraying no hint of his thoughts.

The weight of his decision seemed heavy on his shoulders, and he continued to stare in silence.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, his stance subtly shifted and his arms uncrossed. Something about your pleas seemed to strike a chord with him.

Then, without a single word, he suddenly turned and walked away briskly.

What?

Your eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

He just… left?

Was that a ‘no’ or a ‘yes’? Did he want something from you? He hadn’t even given his name, so you couldn’t tell your father about him. You were left more puzzled than ever. Still, you quickly climbed through the window and hid away your handmade rope just before the maid knocked on your door.

She entered your room, taking note of your untouched dinner. You were lying on your bed, pretending to read a book.

“No appetite, my lady? I could ask the cook to make you something else, if you wish?”

You simply shook your head. You had stuffed your mouth with all sorts of delicious food at the village. You didn’t think you could handle any more.

“No thank you, Agatha. I’m not really hungry.” you replied, earning a nod from the woman.

That’s how the next few nights unfolded- every evening, the moment your maid dropped off you dinner you would quietly slip out of your window to visit the village. And almost every time, the same guard- Shinsou Hitoshi, as you later learned his name- would catch you again. Each encounter was silent; you would simply nod at each other and then continue on your way.

You were sprawled on the floor when Agatha brought you dinner. In one hand, you held a piece of fabric; in the other, a needle.

“Embroidery? Have you picked up a new hobby, my lady?” she asked curiously, placing the food on your bedside table.

You let out a bitter laugh. “‘Picked up’ is quite an overstatement. The only thing I’ve managed to pick up is this stupid needle, which I cannot for the life of me thread,” you groaned.

“Well, you have plenty of time to learn, princess,” Agatha chuckled softly at your frustration before her expression grew more somber. “It doesn’t seem like the herbalists are close to discovering more about the illness, so you’ll have to stay here a while longer.”

You huffed unhappily at her words.

“Are there no updates whatsoever? Absolutely nothing new?” you asked, sitting up from the floor.

“Many of the pigs have started dying,” she replied grimly. “We’re not quite sure why. I doubt it’s related to the illness, though.”

You sighed quietly before dismissing her.

Your night out went as usual- you had even made some friends at the village through your frequent visits. Dancing, eating, chatting- everything was perfect.

As you were returning home, climbing the rope to your room, your hand suddenly slipped, causing you to lose your grip. You gasped and closed your eyes, bracing for the fall. But it never came. Instead, you felt the cold touch of metal and heard a small grunt.

Your eyes fluttered open to find yourself face-to-face with piercing purple eyes peering at you through the slit of a visor. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Shinsou carefully placed you back on your feet.

He placed you back on your feet, his grip steady but cautious.

“You do realize that if I hadn’t caught you just then, you would have fallen to your death, right, princess?” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of annoyance.

“Oh… yes, of course! Thank you for saving me, Sir Hitoshi,” you replied hurriedly, trying to mask your embarrassment.

“You should stop sneaking out,” he added firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Your eyebrows furrowed in frustration. “What?” you exclaimed a bit louder than you intended.

“This is too risky. Too dangerous. I shouldn’t have agreed to keep this secret in the first place,” he said with conviction.

“No, you can’t out me! I’ll go crazy if I’m stuck in my room all day!” you protested. “The herbalists are nowhere near finding a cure, and even the pigs are dying off now,” your hands gesticulating your frustration. “If father finds out about this, I’ll never be allowed out again! No more dancing, singing, or delicious village food cooked with love. Instead, I’ll be stuck with the soulless dinners our so-called cook makes,” you complained bitterly.

You knew that Shisou most likely thought of you as a spoiled noble, who takes things for granted, but at this moment you couldn’t care less about what he thought of you.

The moment you finished your sentence, his head snapped sharply toward you.

“Wait, you don’t eat your dinners?” he inquired, his tone cautious.

“Uh... no? I usually eat dinner at the village,” you shrugged, confused as to why this was relevant to your conversation.

“And all leftovers go to the pigs, correct?”

“I think so, yes,” you replied, still puzzled by where he was going with this line of questioning.

He nodded to himself and mumbled almost inaudibly, “I had my theories, but this makes sense…”

“Huh? What are you even talking about?” you said, feeling a bit annoyed at his crypticness.

“Say, princess,” he continued, “if the quarantine was to be lifted, you wouldn’t have to sneak out anymore, right? I wouldn’t have to deal with you anymore?”

“I..yes? I suppose so?” you responded, a little offended but more surprised by the question itself.

He nodded again and then walked away quietly, murmuring something under his breath. You stood there flabbergasted, watching him go, your mind trying to make sense of the conversation you just had.

The next morning, you were surprised when Agatha told you to go to the main hall. Seeing your confused face, she shrugged. “A knight has asked for the royal family’s immediate attention.”

Huh?

You immediately thought of Shinsou’s words from last night. Was he going to tell the king about your escapes? Or was this about something else?

Trying not to overthink it, you quickly got dressed and headed to the main hall.

Your parents were already sitting on their thrones, regal and composed, while your brother entered right after you did. Once everyone was ready, your father nodded to a purple-haired knight to come forward.

“I sincerely hope that the matter is indeed important, seeing as we are risking our health at this moment,” he said with a hint of impatience.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I believe I have discovered something you will find useful.” When you heard the knight’s voice, you realized it was indeed Shinsou Hitoshi. You had never seen him without his helmet, and you had to admit: he was quite good-looking. Unruly indigo locks fell over his forehead, partially obscuring his eyes. The dark shadows beneath his eyes accentuated the sharp, angular features of his face-likely a result of his night duties. High, angular cheekbones framed by a few stray strands of hair added to the intensity of his gaze.

You felt your cheeks heat up when his eyes met yours; his expression was still mostly inscrutable.

Why was he so hot???

Shinsou cleared his throat again, his gaze steady and unwavering.

“There are two things I wanted to tell you. First—I believe there is no illness. Second—there is a chance that someone has been trying to harm the princess.”

A collective gasp echoed through the hall, low murmurs spreading among the gathered knights and servants. Your eyes widened at his words.

What was he on about?

“Elaborate,” commanded the King, his voice edged with skepticism.

Shinsou nodded solemnly.

“I have a suspicion that the cause of the Solandrian prince’s death was a severe allergic reaction, not an illness. Most likely, he was allergic to fish but was unaware of his intolerance, as he had never experienced such symptoms before. I am confident that if we ask the maids and butlers, they will confirm that the prince showed signs of an allergic reaction shortly before his death. Conversely, there are no signs of a contagious disease spreading among others. If it had been an illness, I believe we would see at least some additional cases or fatalities—yet none have arisen.”

The King turned toward the royal physician, seeking confirmation.

“I... I suppose that could be a possible reason for his death,” the physician admitted hesitantly. “Quite... likely, actually.”

Your father’s expression darkened. “So, what you are telling me is that you suggested a quarantine to be ordered simply because you didn’t think of checking other possible causes?” he said, gritting his teeth. His tone was sharp, clearly displeased.

The physician nervously fiddled with his hands and lowered his gaze, clearly uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

Your father’s gaze shifted back to Shinsou and he signaled for him to continue.

“As for the princess,” Shinsou began carefully, “I believe someone has attempted to poison her. The sudden series of deaths among the pigs has nothing to do with any ‘illness’. The princess has not been eating dinner for the past few days, and if I’m not mistaken, all the leftovers are fed to the pigs. If there was poison in the food, it would explain why most of the pigs are unwell. To confirm this theory, I suggest the physicians perform a necropsy on the deceased animals or test their blood samples for toxins.”

He paused briefly, meeting the king’s eyes with calm confidence. “This way, we can determine whether foul play is involved and take appropriate action.”

The hall fell into a tense silence as everyone considered his words. Your father looked thoughtful.

“And how do you know that the Princess has not been eating dinner, Sir?” the Queen suddenly inquired, her voice sharp with suspicion.

Your eyes immediately met Shinsou’s, a look of desperation flashing across your face. He was going to tell on you. He was going to tell them about your sneak-outs. There was no way he wouldn’t—especially when your mother was questioning him so directly.

Shinsou’s gaze shifted back to the Queen, calm and composed.

You bit your lip, heart pounding as you anxiously waited for his next words.

“I overheard two of the maids worrying about it, Your Majesty,” he said smoothly, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

You blinked in surprise—he had lied to the Queen to protect you. You hadn’t expected him to do that, you felt a flicker of gratitude.

Shinsou’s eyes flickered to yours again, offering a barely perceptible ghost of a smile. You responded with a quick, grateful look.

After a moment of silence, the King finally spoke.

“Thank you for your input, Sir Hitoshi. The information you’ve provided will help us determine our next course of action. I believe it’s fitting to reward your loyalty.” He paused briefly before continuing. “Therefore, I promote you to Guard Knight of the Princess. If someone truly is trying to harm her, I trust that you will be able to protect her.”

What..?

You sharply turned your head towards your father with an unhappy look.

You didn’t need a personal guard! You were certainly fine as you were, you didn’t need Shinsou following your every step.

Shinsou bowed his head respectfully, a modest smile touching his lips, but you could see his eye twitch with annoyance.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties and ensure the princess’s safety.”

Ugh. What a disaster.

Please do not repost or translate my work. Reblogs and comments are appreciated though!

Deviders are by @thecutestgrotto !!