“Uh, my name?” he began, dully noticing how fluidly the man spoke. “I’m Korren. Korren Seka.”
He didn’t seem to say the name lightly, though, as he shouldn’t. That name wasn’t taken lightly. You didn’t just go around from day to day spitting the titles of the royal family.
However, before the new man could reply, Korren continued.
“I have a very weird request, and it would only be for a little while, until I’m crowned. After that, you can go on your merry way with whatever you please.”
He paused, gritting his teeth for a moment before glancing back up to the man. He was fully blushing now, his cheeks a bright pink and his eyes showing just how nervous he was.
“I know you aren’t a prince,” he said firmly. “I also know you could be some… weird stranger. For all you know, I am the weird stranger. But… will you… uh… marry me, perhaps? Temporarily? Just… like… act like you’re in love with me? For a small period of time?”
Korren let out a sigh once he had finally gotten out the words, as if he had been holding his breath the whole time.
“Of course, only acting. And—And you’ll be payed. I promise. Swear by my throne, it will only be for a little while.”
Akito blinked slowly when he heard the prince's name, almost in disbelief, but he didn't interrupt, just let the look of confusion actually become visible with every word that was said. Either this was some scam, or this was the weirdest day he'd ever experienced in his life.
"That's..well, that's definitely a request," He started slowly, trying to think of what to say, or at least how to answer, "Wow, and I thought I was upfront." He chuckled lightly, almost as if he was now nervous around the male in front of him.
He was talking to the prince, and not only that, if he had heard him right, the prince had just asked him to marry him?
"Wait, let me get this straight. You're Korren Seka, as in the prince, that you know, is set up to rule this land? Not only that but you're asking me, a random stranger that you still don't know the name of, to marry you? And you're offering to pay me for this?"
Akito somehow smiled though, wether because he figured he just was hallucinating, or just because yes, he found himself knowing that he would be crazy enough to marry him, if just to have a story to tell.
"Would it be weird if I asked you to join me for lunch in an hour..to go over your question…Prince Korren?" He looked up at the man in front of him, focusing on the cat on his shoulder if just to give himself something else to think about, "I'm not quite sure if I'm just imagining this whole thing or not, but if you're back for lunch, then I suppose this is real, and then we'll both see just how crazy I am."
With every passing word— every passing phrase— Korren found himself more bewildered. If it was possible, he found himself even more flustered now than when he had first asked his million-dollar question. The man’s last words reverberated throughout his mind, Korren having to reach a hand up and pet Koji to finally realize he wasn’t going insane and fantasizing it all.
“O-Of course, sir, thank you so much,” Korren mumbled, breathless. A small smile crept onto his face, then widened, until it was a nice jubilant grin. Well, the man hadn’t agreed to it, but he seemed at least willing to talk details of it. That was much better than he had expected. “I guess I will see you back here in about an hour?”
The other thing, though… He didn’t even know if this man was into guys. He could be the straightest man alive…
Well, not that that bothered him, right? They were acting. It was acting. That part… that part didn’t matter, did it?
If that was the case, though, the guy better be a damn good actor.
“Also… could I get your name?” Korren asked timidly. “That— Well that seems like a necessity.”
"I'm Akito Ichigo, if you're eager to know who the crazy person is that's willing to at least hear you out, and yes, meet me back here and I'll bring you somewhere good for lunch," He replied, chuckling lightly and throwing in a small wink at Korren to go with his first sentence, "If I may ask, please bring the cat with too, if nothing works out then we can at least talk about your magically trained pet."
Akito slowly stood from his place on the boxes, pushing some stray hairs out if his face before nodding to him, "I've got to get back to work, see you soon, Prince."
One last time, he smiled at the male before turning and picking up the box he had just been sitting on, then started back towards the ship that they were loading, ignoring the immediate string of curses from his boss and only promising that he was going to work hard until lunch. He even disguised his small conversation as being lightheaded and needing a break, and some random person had talked to him.
It would've been humerous to add the conversation into his disguise, but he didn't. After all, he didn't need to look like a crazy person if he did have to continue working. That addition of being paid to marry Korren was sounding better and better.
“You’ll be happy to know I met someone,” Korren said stiffly in response to his mother’s question regarding where he was going.
“Did you, now?” Aoi muttered, clearly not interested. She sat at the table in the center of the room, a quill in her hand as she wrote one of her infamous stories. Korren could admit, he was excited to read it when she finished, which would probably be sometime tonight. If.. if he wasn’t occupied..
He quickly shook his head, glancing back up to his mother.
“That seems oddly suspicious,” she replied absently, although all in good humor.
“A coincidence, really,” Korren answered, already heading for the door. Koji was close on his heels, not wanting his human to leave him behind, even though Korren would never even think of doing so.
“But unless you two have anymore nagging to do, I’ll be off,” he said with a smile, running a hand through his hair. “So?”
“Bring him home,” Aoi responded, which earned a humorous glare from Kishiko.
As Korren turned to leave, he boldly said, “Maybe I will.”
In response, he could hear two good-natured mocking laughs from inside, but pushed them out of his mind anyway.
He glanced down to Koji, then picked him up, cradling the small cat in his arms.
“Off to the docks?” he asked, but received no answer. Instead, he nodded to himself.
With that, he padded back to the docks, stopping at the edge of the land and waiting to see Akito. He could find himself getting more excited than he suspected, but blamed it on the uncertainties from his family.
Akito had almost forgotten about his lunch arrangements as he worked. He had spent the last hour working his ass off, loading boxes, rolling rope, sweating to death until he finally joined the rest of the crew in shirtlessness. It was only when he glanced back at the edge of the dock and spotted Korren again that he remembered their conversation and quickly let his boss know he was taking his break for the day.
"You better be quick, and remember that you don't get paid for the day unless you come back and work 'till the dock bell rings," Was the gruff response he got, along with the near permanent scowl on the short man's face that he easily ignored.
"Yes sir, I'll be back, don't worry," He replied calmly, rolling his eyes as soon as he turned away from view of the man.
Akito waved as he focused on Korren, walking down between the ships and pulling his shirt on before he could forget it. After all, it seemed rude to talk to royalty while smelling like the sea and being shirtless. At least having a shirt on could help one of those problems. "You're here, that must mean I wasn't dreaming you up," Akito said with a small grin when he finally reached the out of place looking royal, "Though I have to say, you do look as good as someone I would think up. Ready for lunch?"
Korren had been talking over his plan entirely in his head, but the second Akito spoke, it all seemed to turn to dust. His heart beat sped, pulsing through his ears until he could feel his whole chest throbbing. This guy. He couldn’t get over it.
“O-Of course,” he said breathily, offering a nervous smile. “Where do you suggest we go? Or perhaps I should take us somewhere… this should be on me. I’m asking an extremely large favor just by asking you to accompany me.”
Korren noticed the little cat again wriggling in his arms, but didn’t move as its claws penetrated his shirt, and Koji climbed up to his shoulders once more. The cat liked to be on high surfaces, no matter how faulty— or alive— they were. But Korren never minded. He let Koji do whatever he wanted.
He fluttered his eyes back to Akito. He was shorter, but extremely attractive nonetheless. For just a moment, Korren had an image flash through his mind— one he would rather not describe. He pushed it out as soon as he could, trying his best to smile in its stead.
This is just so I can rule, he thought to himself, shaking his head. This is just so I can take the throne. After that, he can be on his merry way.
"Well, depending on what you prefer to eat, the market has a few stands that serve food, or if you prefer something fancier, there are a few little places in the city I haven't tried yet," Akito offered, the grin switching for an easygoing smile, "I won't stop you if you really want to pay, but this is my treat, after all, I'm the crazy one who agreed to discussing things."
He watched with interest as he talked, the cat from before scaling up Korren's chest and settling on his shoulders like he was before. If nothing more, he wanted to go to lunch with the prince just so he could ask how he got his cat to do that.
Akito shrugged, motioning around to the busy area around the docks, "Whatever you decide, we should get going, before we get lost in this mess."
“Heh— agreed,” he said, scratching the top of Koji’s head gingerly.
Korren suddenly looked behind him, down to his clothing, then back to Akito. He looked deep in thought before he said, “Here. Follow me.”
With an easier-going smile, he lead Akito away from the docks, weaving throughout the town. People stopped to watch, a few pointing out and muttering a few words. Again, Korren didn’t mind. He was out in the city enough that it was relatively normal to see him walking about, but not by much. He was still royalty, after all.
He was close to positive that Akito would assume he was being brought to a fancy palace with a giant buffet, but Korren liked to have his surprises. If he was right, it should be around here…
Aha! The man perked up as he caught sight of a sign, an elegant dragon engraved on the front. This was it.
He walked inside, holding the door open for Akito.
The place was moderately empty. But, that was just how Korren liked it.
He offered a joyous smile and wave to the man standing at the bar. He was a stout man, stoic of face and pretty rotund. Though, his eyes lit as he saw the prince.
“Prince Seka!” he said with a large grin. “How is it going, my dear boy?”
“Wonderful, Angus!” Korren said, though his nerves clearly showed through. “I’d like you to meet Akito. Say, you got a place for two?”
“Use your eyes, kid,” Angus said with a laugh, gesturing to the nearly empty restaurant. “Take a seat wherever. And, nice to meet you Akito. I’ll be right with you boys.”
Korren took a seat at a nearby table, gesturing for Akito to sit across from him.
Akito followed Korren easily, glancing around the city and trying his best to remember the streets just incase anything happened. He figured they were going to some fancy, rich person place that was hidden away from the rest of the world, but as they stopped in front of a normal looking, maybe slightly higher end place, he was pleasantly surprised.
"Thank you, Prince," He said, nodding his head as well as he walked in with Korren, and letting a happy smile grow.
From the casual interaction between the man at the bar and the prince, he didn't interrupt, just listened and chuckled when he was mentioned. "It's nice to meet you too sir."
"This place is nice, I've never been here though," Akito started as he sat down at the table across from Korren, a light look of excitement on his face, "Is it bad to admit that I thought you were going to drag me to some fancy place where I feel exceptionally out of place in? This place is much more up my alley. Mostly because I'll actually be able to afford to by lunch for the two of us."
“Oh, no need to do that,” Korren mumbled with a nervous laugh. Koji stalked down from the man’s shoulders, curiously walking across the table and inspecting Akito curiously. He twitched his little pink nose, sniffing at the man’s hand before brushing against it lovingly.
Koji liked him. Well, that made two of them.
“Because… well, I’ll already owe you a favor if you agree to what I propose,” he said, gritting his teeth. His hand found its way to his sleeve and began fidgeting with the rim of it.
“Now, this sounds like a lot, but I can break it down,” he began, stroking Koji’s back. The cat padded back, so Korren could pick him up and put him in his lap. He decided a cat on the table wasn’t the most.. sanitary thing.
“I really wish to take over the throne, because I have a big future planned for this empire. However, I fear that my father’s mistakes will catch up to me faster than I can fix them. Which is why I need to inherit it as soon as possible. Although… the only way the queen will let me do that is if I marry a suitor. And.. one that I love.”
He sighed, dropping his head. He finally realized just how insane it really was, just by saying it aloud.
“We— We just need to fool my family into thinking we’re essentially in love with one another. I’m not normally labeled as this impulsive, so my mother is bound to believe us… my sister, on the other hand, will mean we really have to sell it. However, it will only be until my coronation. Once I’m crowned king, you can be on your way. And.. well, I’ll pay you for all of it.”
"Is the future you have planned good?" Akito asked once Korren had rattled off the plan, fully letting himself realize how idiotic agreeing to this was. He was going to be fully sure he wanted to marry this guy before he agreed, and even if he wasn't in love with him, he wanted to at least be able to do something good for the empire, "I want to make sure you're not going to run this place into the ground if I agree, and I am curious about how far away your coronation would be? Plus I have about a million other questions."
He smiled at the cat as it padded across the table and gently he ran a hand along it's back until it made it's way back to Korren.
"Also, whats your cat's name?" Akito leaned back in his chair, trying to imagine not only having to work every day, but also having to try to break the news to his family. Its not like he could just waltz up to them and say 'Hey guys, I'm marrying the prince so he can inheret the throne, oh and also I have to pretend to be head over heels for him, but I am getting paid to do it."
“I believe my future is much better than the previous king’s plan for it,” Korren said, narrowing his eyes and getting slightly defensive. This wasn’t something he took lightly, no doubt.
“My father dug this place so deep into the ground, that no one even knows we’re so low anymore. His entire existence radiated fraud. I’m going to try to fix this kingdom’s reputation.”
He gave a sigh, leaning back in the chair and raking the hair from his eyes.
“It sounds like a stretch, I know, but it’s the only way I can do something before all his mistakes piece together in some unforgiving puzzle. And, I can’t say exactly when my coronation would be…,” he mumbled nervously. “But I’d arrange it as soon as possible. It’s all just a matter of convincing the Queen.”
With Akito’s next question, Korren was taken aback. He didn’t assume the cat would be the man’s main focus here, but he wasn’t complaining. Ren was just glad Akito hadn’t smacked him over the head and called him insane.
“H-His name’s Koji,” he said softly, offering a diminutive smile. “He’s been with me forever. Picked him up on the side of the road one day, hasn’t left my side since. He seems to like you. That’s not very usual for such an introvert like him.”
He nodded, a tiny smile on his face, "Koji, I like it." Akito sat up forward and propped his elbows on the table as he looked at the cat, "Well, Koji, should I agree to marry Korren here?"
Akito chuckled as he waited patiently for an answer he was fairy certain he wasn't going to get. "Would I be staying in the castle? And just how much would I be getting paid? I mean, anything is better than what they pay at the docks, but if I have to dress the part of the Prince's betrothed, I might need a little spending money..I don't think the queen would believe us if I'm dressed like this."
He gestured to his work clothes and chuckled nervously, actually finding himself wanting to almost say yes. When else in his life was he going to get the chance to even step foot in the palace, let alone marry the prince, for whatever reasons.
A feeling in his gut pushed the idea that maybe, just maybe the two of them would grow close. He pushed it away though. There was only a slim chance the prince found him attractive, and any feelings that may bloom on Akito's end might never be returned by the prince.
“Oh, don’t worry about appearance or clothing, I will be able to supply any and all of it,” he said earnestly, scratching Koji behind the ears. The cat was clearly happy, his purring almost audible from the other side of the table as he looked to Akito with squinted eyes. Whereas Korren was desperate to look anywhere else but the man before him. He didn’t need any other… distractions, when he was trying to convince someone.
“I also have some friends that could help with that. At least, to make you look… fancier.” He slightly trailed at the end of that, really hoping it wasn’t offensive.
“As for pay, I would need to keep a sufficient amount of money still to the name of the kingdom, because I do actually have the desire to care for my people,” he explained, less lax than before. “Although, I might be able to work out expenses within that because you technically would be part of the kingdom, then.”
Korren fell silent for a moment, tapping his lips with a finger as he rested his head upon his hand. He then looked back up to Akito, continuing hesitantly.
“I’ll get you however much money you need, or desire, as long as it is not a preposterous amount. Although, my people do come first, so it depends on how my plan follows through. No matter what, though, you would be receiving sufficient payment.”
Akito nodded, chuckling at the prince's attempt to not completely insult him. He was silent for a moment though, then slowly let out a shrug and small sigh.
"What's the worst that could happen I guess?" He muttered, then looked up at Korren and started casually, "How about this, I'll marry you, do whatever you need me to do to convince your family that we're maddly in love, get you to your coronation to become king. In return though, just pay me an amount I'll be able to live off of if and when you kick me back out, but don't worry about it if the money is needed to keep things together. Also let me stay somewhere in the castle, though I suppose that might already be obvious, let me pay for this lunch, if we ever get to eat and finally, please tell me honestly why you chose me to ask? I mean there's thousands of girls who would've said yes instantly."
Akito felt insane for agreeing to something like this after what, knowing this guy for all of an hour and a half, but his gut wasn't steering him away, and like before, this would be a hell of a story later on. All he had to do was hope his negotiation was agreed upon and then cross his fingers that this leap of blind choice wasn't going to come back and bite him in the ass.
Like he said, what's the worst that could happen?
This was insane. Perhaps the fact that the man had agreed to the proposal, even with his own set conditions, and the fact that he did it all extremely casually, was what knocked Korren off guard.
What if he wasn’t the psychopath in this discussion? For all he knew, he could be “hiring” a murderer that performed rituals on the side.
Still, however, as Korren looked into the man’s blue eyes, the only thing he could think was just how nice it would be to look at him every day. For a set period of time, of course. Not— Not forever. Of course not.
“Yeah, you will be supplied with everything you need, and you will be living in the castle with me. If that’s alright, of course,” Ren began, still stroking Koji. Maybe that’s what was keeping him calmer than normal. “As for why I picked you— heh— well… My family knows I’m not really… into girls.”
He fakely debated on whether or not he should add, ‘And you’re very attractive, plus I enjoy your demeanor already, so you wouldn’t be someone I minded living alongside anyway.’ Korren decided keeping it vaguer was better.
“And—,” he began, but was cut off by someone clearing their throat. Angus shuffled up to the table, his stained apron and small notebook doing naught in distracting from his content smile.
“Alright, kids, sorry for the wait,” he said, looking expectantly from Akito to Korren. “What can I get for you?”
(Sorry that it's a tad bit shorter)
"I'll get whatever Korren gets please, I've never been here before and I'm sure he has good taste," Akito quickly said, smiling up at Angus and then glancing back to the prince.
To hear that the Korren preferred men was definitely a shock to him, but he was almost excited. Akito didn't usually have a preference of gender, but he usually leaned towards men, and to hear that the prince actually felt sort of the same made him crack a small smile.
He waited until Angus was finished taking their order before replying though, a grin on his face, "Well then your preference will work out just as well with me, though my family isn't quite as aware of the fact that I prefer men and women. If you don't mind I don't really want to bring it up to them either."
(Don’t worry, you’re all good :)
Korren’s heart thrummed in his chest, leaping at the words the man spoke. This had been sheer luck, and Korren would never take fate for granted any longer.
“Then, I won’t say a word,” he replied quietly, then cleared his throat and looked back to Angus. The man just stood there happily, his hands tapping his apron lightly.
“Then, if that’s the case, we’ll take two of the specials, please,” Korren responded.
Angus just rolled his eyes, nodding and already walking back as he called, “Aren’t you ever going to try something new, Kor?”
“Unless you change the house special, then no,” the prince replied with a stiffled laugh. He couldn’t say he wasn’t thankful for the man’s distraction. He was much too nervous to be in this conversation alone. His hands felt cold, as they usually did when he got like this, but they weren’t as shaky as they normally were.
“Alright, alright, fine,” Angus called back, although he had already dissapeared behind the bar again. “It’ll be right out.”
Korren looked back when the man spoke, smiling. “No rush!”
He then turned his gaze back to Akito and the topic at hand.
Akito leaned back in his chair once again as Korren and Angus talked, a hint of a smile still on his face. Whatever the house special was, he hoped it was good, or at least edible, though he had a feeling it was going to be amazing.
"Well, when do we start this task of fooling your mother and sister of our undoubted love for one another?" He asked, grinning as he looked at the other male, "Is there anything else I should know about before I get too far into this either?" Already, even though he had only agreed to do this minutes before, he was excited to get this on the way. It would be interesting to try to fool a whole nation once the coronation would be around, but specifically the queen and Korren's sister first. And from what the prince had told him already, it wasn't going to be a cake walk to accomplish.
Either way, it was going to be an exciting time, thats for sure, and he was going to have to try to keep himself from truely catching feelings for the tall, attractive man that he was faking this with. There was no way Korren would let him stay after the coronation from what he guessed. He was going to need to focus on the country, not the act of fooling people that he was going to be happily married to Akito.
“Not.. not really,” Korren murmured, wracking his brain. “I don’t necessarily… know much… about romantic things, though.”
‘You might have to take the lead,’ he finished in his head, taking a sigh.
It was true— Korren wasn’t the most suave person, by any stretch. He had never loved anyone before, let alone liked them. He didn’t necessarily know how it worked, but he assumed he was starting too. He just didn’t know it involved being this nervous.
“I’m open to any suggestions, really, or ideas of how we should go about fooling people,” he said shyly, tracing small nicks in the table. Koji sat fast asleep in Ren’s lap, his other hand resting on the cat gently.
Korren was about to look up and add more when Angus waddled up, holding two bows of various vegetables, reddish beans, and rice. Sure, it looked moderately plain, but Angus was a wizard when it came to adding flavour.
With a nod, Angus set down both the bows. Korren thanked him, and the man was gone behind the bar again.
"I'm not normally the most romantic but I can try, and I do know that to fool people, people are going to have to see us together," Akito suggested, smiling at Angus and the bowl of food that he was anxiously ready to dig into, "Your family for sure, especially the princess, whatever royal advisors you need to get to convince your mother, probably even some of the city folk just to strengthen the story. We're going to need to look happy at very least as well, probably more towards infatuated if you want people to believe that we fell in love hard and fast. Think we can do it?"
He wasted no time after pausing to dig in, trying his best to be polite instead of scarfing down his food like he normally did. Hard labor made people hungry, and he was no exception to that. Once he got his first bite though, he hummed, closing his eyes and savoring it before swallowing and adding, "This place is definitely going to become a favorite of mine."
Then it was back to eating as he waited for Korren to add anything, a comment, idea, anything to help him try to figure out how to con the queen and princess to believe in their commitment to each other.
“Yeah, I get it, I’m just not sure I know how to act that way,” he said with a light laugh, poking at his bowl. Koji had woken up, putting a paw up to the table to ask for food. Although, upon seeing nothing of interest, the little cat slunk back down.
Suddenly, Angus reappeared from the bar with a small plate of fish, sliding it to the table, giving a smile, and saying, “Here you go, Koji-ji.” He then looked back up to Korren, waving his hand and saying, “Free of charge. Don’t worry about it. Just want to feed the little fellow.”
“He’s already chubby enough,” Korren murmured humorously as Angus walked away. “He’s meowed me into feeding him twice today already.”
Still, the little cat sat up in Korren’s lap, already taking great interest in the plate of fish. The prince smiled and shook his head, turning back to Akito.
“Anyway, I think they know that I’m not very— well— smooth,” he began. “So, honestly, it shouldn’t be that out of character if I mess up or stutter. The only thing is… is that I’m not entirely impulsive. Perhaps I can convince them otherwise, though. ‘Love’ does strange things to people, I guess I could say.”
