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Cyrus’s feet bobbed up and down as he waited, sat down in one of the many drawing rooms, his hands lacing with sweat. “Are you sure I look alright?” he asked once more to his two guards. Both had been with him since he was a young teenager, they had all trained together, sparring well into the evenings, and early in the mornings, as were the other two who had gone with his manservant to collect his soulmate. 

Kain the oldest of the three chuckled, glad the tension had evaporated from his young king, “yes, i doubt she will be disappointed,” 

“That is if she hadn’t run away because of your looks,” the second guard Alec added. 

“You two are useless,” Cyrus huffed. It was then that the doors opened as a weary Clover stepped in followed by Fin Cyrus’s manservant alongside Henry and Daniel, his two other most trusted guards. 

Cyrus could hardly keep his eyes off Clover, her milky pale skin, seeming to be soft to the touch, the dusting of pink on her cheeks, though one was pinker than the other, still swollen from earlier. Her hair fell around her in wisps of tangles, burning like the sun, red and orange combined, her eyes blazing gold like the most magnificent of crowns. Her clothes were faded with grey dye and blues, as well as spotted with stains of all sorts. She walked awkwardly as if not knowing what to do but quickly remedied this as she fell into a deep curtsy. 

“I-i greet his majesty the king of Spen-”  

“Please, there is no need,” Cyrus rushed, as he jumped up from his seat coming to stand inches in front of Clover. “It feels silly for my soulmate to have to stick to such formalities,” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck not knowing where to look, knowing he will surely get lost in her eyes if he stared at her face. 

“Oh,” Clover whispered, 

“Just call me Cyrus,” 

She bit her bottom lip, which had Cyrus gulping at the need to steal those lips and kiss her. 

“I’m Clover, it’s nice to meet you,” she said shyly, not yet looking up at him. He sighed hearing her name feeling a completeness flood over him. He stood for a long moment, not saying anything, far too long that Fin with his irritating smirking face coughed prompting the king out of his silence. 

He quickly gestured for Clover to take a seat opposite him, as Fin made his way over to pour the tea that had already been placed on the table. Luckily the tea had been left long enough to be at a pleasurable temperature.  

"I'm sorry," Clover suddenly spoke after a few sips of tea. "I hadn't meant to make such a fool of myself," she grumbled, she clutched her tea cup, not wanting to look the king in the eyes. "I had always dream the moment i met you would go so different," 

"Foolish?" Cyrus questioned, he shook his head furiously, "never you were utterly gorgeous," he chuckled embarrassed by his words, "if anything i was foolish for allowing that man to harm you so," 

Clover stared shocked at the king, "really?" 

"Of course," Cyrus said matter of factly. 

Clover grinned, tears beginning to drip from her eyes. "You think I'm gorgeous?" she blushed, looking as if she were happiest she could ever be. 

"Stunning," 

She grinned even wider at his words, sighing. She took a large gulp from her tea and suddenly all her nervousness and shyness disappeared, excitedly leaning closer to pick up a cake she'd only dreamed of eating, moaning in delight as it entered her mouth. 

She cleared her throat after she was done, squaring her shoulders out and straightening her spine, trying to be as well mannered as she could. 

By the goddess she was cute, Cyrus attempted not to chuckle as he began to ask her questions. 

"How long have you worked here at the palace?" 

"Only a few months," 

He noticed the way she studied the stack of cakes, licking her lips, he smiled softly, subtly pushing the plate closer to her. "Had you lived in the city? Or some place further away?"

She shook her head, taking a bite from a cake, pouring tea down her throat to wash it away. "Lower city, my brother and sister and I grew up in the orphanage." She began to giggle, taking yet another chunk of cake into her mouth, "sorry, these cakes are delicious. You know I used to run to the market each morning going to the upper city just to look at the bakery as they stacked all their fresh bread and cakes. The icing and sprinkles of sugar..." She hummed in delight, her mind trailing off, "oh and the glazed fruit tarts they'd put by the window, I'd practically drool at the sight." 

"I have a bit of a sweet tooth too," Cyrus grinned, loving to watch as she devoured each crumb, sucking on her fingers without a care. She was absent minded from what he could tell, hopelessly wishful, and he wanted to give her all that she desired. 

"What is spendia like?" She asked after a moment, hardly hiding the complete child like curiosity. 

His expression became fond, "beautiful," he spoke in truth, 

Clover nodded her agreement as if she knew, "there's a cook in the kitchens from there, his stories are always the best." 

"And what of the orphanage?" 

She shrugged, "not much to say, we got by, the priestesses were kind enough, but the rest of the children," She scrunched up her face as she started to seethe in anger, "all they did was tease my sister, brother and i, they used to call me carrot and tomato. It's not my fault some woman named me after a plant. Eloise is what I wished I was called." 

"I think I prefer Clover," he chortled. "Are you as lucky as a four leaf Clover?" 

She glared, "the opposite I'm told," she spoke, turning her head away from the laughing Cyrus. 

"What are your siblings like? I myself have a younger sister." 

"We're triplets," she says proudly, "Aster my sister, is always so…" it took a moment for her to pick a word, "grumpy," she landed, "and my brother stoic as you can get, their both always mothering me," 

"So you are the youngest?" 

"That's what we think, I was much smaller than them when we were babies. What about your sister?" She happily changed the topic. 

Her bubbles of joy were near infectious as Cyrus smirked. They talked for what seemed like hours, but still yearning for more time, they were fully in love by the hour Fin suggested it was best time to retire to bed. He knew so much yet so little of Clover, Cyrus wanted to talk all night, but Fin was right they both needed their rest. He longingly lingered his lips as he placed a kiss on her knuckles, she beamed blushing, he wished to do more but scolded himself to wait, he would not rush her nor their time, he would court her properly. 

He watched as she left escorted by his two guards, Henry and Daniel. He sighed falling back on his seat, his eyes never leaving the closed doors. 

Fin rolled his eyes at his master, "you will see her tomorrow," 

"Tomorrow," Cyrus’s mouth tumbled in a daze, "goddess she's a dream, perfect, so full of life and joy, adorable. She is most definitely the one for me." 

Fin could not agree more, both though adults had not left their childhood wonder behind when they grew, he only hoped it would not be as much trouble as he thought it would be. 

He dragged his king to his chambers, dressing him for bed, readying himself to have to deal with two fools in love the following day..