She hummed softly and shook her head before turning her attention to the other. She listened intently as Lili talked, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She didn't like the fact that this sweet, kind woman had been cut off by men. She smiled and kissed her hand again. "I will support you as much as I can, and I will make sure that you are heard." She promises quietly. "I'm glad that I can be here for you. And I am glad that we can work as a team to make things work." She smiles and tugs the other up. "Why don't we sit on the bed. It might be a little more comfortable. Plus I can sit closer to you." She guides the other to the bed and hummed softly as she settled onto the softer sheets. "Much better."
Lili allowed herself to be lead to the bed. Sitting rather close to the other girl. Never letting go of her hand. She smiled in agreement. "Thank you. Again just having you there is going to help so much," she said leaning on Anastasia slightly. Up close her eyes were obviously watery but she had a real smile on her face as she looked at Anastasia. Still in shock that the princess was even there.
Anastasia offered a tiny smile as she gazed down at the other. She leaned closer as well, gently pulling the other to her chest and kissing her cheek. "Of course. I will stand by your side. I'm sure we'll be able to do it." She smiles gently and ran her hand through Lili's hair. "We'll get through this together, okay?" She assures gently. She gently cups Lili's cheek and ran her thumb along under her eye. "It'll be okay. I promise."
Lili nodded. "Okay," She whispered before wrapping an arm around Anastasia so they would stay close. She looked up at her. Not breaking eye contact. She leaned in slightly but stopped herself. Standing up. "We should get to bed. I1 It was really nice talking to you," She stammered. Downing the rest of her wine in one sip. "I'll see you in the morning. Lots to show you."
Anastasia smiled at the other, leaning into her touch slightly. She kept the gaze and tilts her head as the other leaned closer. She watched Lili stand, startled slightly by how abruptly the other left her grasp. "Ah, yes. Rest well then… I look forward to the tours tomorrow." She smiled gently, waving at the other. She didn't mean to impose… or move too quickly… she sighed and stood slowly before shedding her dress and getting into her nightdress. She braids her hair and settles into bed.
Lili nodded. "Yeah I can't wait either," She said giving Anastaisa one last smile before leaving the room. She walked to her own room and prepared for bed.
The next morning Lili was up bright and early. Eating her breakfast and heading down to the library before she planned on meeting with Anastasia.
Anastasia was anxious about today, but of course no one could really see that since she always seemed to have a rather emotionless expression. She was up early, of course she had managed to get in her well deserved rest… She sighed deeply as Nia helped her get ready for the day. She was dressed in a simple but elegant long blue dress. It showed off her shoulders, but it was long sleeved the rest of the way. Breakfast had been brought to her, and she ate it quickly before wandering the halls curiously. It's not like she had anything better to do before the tours began.
Lili left the library. Spotting Anastasia down the hall. "Hello, Ana how has your morning been?" She asked walking over to the other girl. The other tour guide her father planned mysteriously canceled so she was the only one showing Lili around. She was so excited even after the anxious night before. She didn't want to think about that. Her reasoning for getting up was unknown even to herself.
Anastasia jumped slightly before smiling softly at Lili. It seemed she only smiled when Lili was beside her. "It's been pleasantly quiet." She replies simply, walking to meet the other woman halfway. She bowed slightly, taking Lili's hand in hers and placing a soft kiss to the back of Lili's hand. "How did you sleep?" She asks pleasantly, straightening and hesitantly letting go of Lili's hand so she could walk beside Lili. She looked serene in the morning light, it gave her red hair a sheen of light and placed life into those stunning blue eyes. She always seemed to hold herself with grace. Chin up, back straight, hands in front of her. But her face was stone cold. But she seemed to ease slightly around Lili. Something about the female beside her eased her mind.
(sorry I'm away right now so I'm going to be slow to respond)
Lili nodded "It was fine thank you," She said letting her hand fall to her side as she walked beside Anastasia. "Our other tour guide had to cancel but I can show you around." She took Anastasia's hand. "Anywhere where specific you would like to see?" She looked awake. If not slightly jittery. Trying to keep her mind off of what was to come later in the day.
(It's alright! The holidays are always busy. I've been busy myself lol)
Anastasia smiled and nods gently. "I think that would be a wonderful idea! I'd love to go on a tour with you." She squeezed Lili's hand gently, bringing it to her lips once again. She noticed how tense the other was and hummed softly before leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to Lili's cheek, it was more like a gentle brush of a warm summers eve's breeze. "Everything will be fine." She whispers in assurance. "Now… How about the library?" She asks gently, a small smile on her lips as she pulled away.
Lili blushed and nodded. she calmed slightly her shoulders relaxing as she squeezed Anastasia's hand reassuringly. "Library it is!" Se walked down the hall with the other princes until they turned a corner to a beautiful large room filled with books. No one else was in the room but it looked newly cleaned. "This is our library. My lessons are usually held in a room to the side but I usually like to go upstairs. That's where the best books are," she admitted looking up at the exposed second floor. She could spend hours in her favorite little corner surrounded by books.
Anastasia smiled gently at the other and follows after her quietly. A small gasp left her lips at the sight of the library. It was so beautiful. She hummed and glanced at Lili, listening intently as she explained where the lessons were held and glancing up at the second floor. "Sounds like quite the adventure." She chuckles softly, kissing the others cheek before humming, "Why don't you show me your favorite book?" She asks curiously, squeezing Lili's hand gently. She was very curious about the woman in front of her.
Lili's face lit up and walked up the stairs still holding Anastasia's hand. She walked over to a corner that had a comfortable looking chair and a table with a pile of books on it. "so my favorite fiction has to be.." She ran her fingers over the books on the shelf until she pulled or of. Reading the title. "I read it for the first time a few years ago. It's about a sorceress who used to be praised for her powers but after an accident, she was almost executed and now has to live on the run." She put the book down on a side table. looking over at Ana.
Anastasia smiled a little bit at the sight of the smile on Lili's face, walking after her quietly. The spot was dainty and rather cute, much like the sweet girl at her side. She glances at the book in Lili's hand and nods thoughtfully. "Sounds interesting. May I?" She offered her delicate hand to take the book, her eyes gentle as she scanned over the first page. "I'll have to read it, it sound's very intriguing." She chuckles and tucks the book under her arm. "What else is there?" She tilts her head a little bit.
Lili smiled even wider when Anastasia took the book. She pulled a book from a different shelf. "One of my favorite nonfiction." It was a book about laws for female rights around the world. "Had to sneak it in from my friend's kingdom around last year but I've read it a few times. I like reading la books and finding new ideas." She then grabbed a law book for her kingdom.
She hummed and smiled a little bit as she looked over the book. "Women don't have many rights here I'm guessing?" She asks curiously. "That's something we'll have to fix once you become queen." She says softly, taking the book curiously and looking it over. She glanced at the law book and offers her hand. "I would like to read over your countries laws again? Just so that I may refresh my manners?" She asks. It was more of find the flaws in the laws and bring it up to the court.
Lili nodded. "I can't wait." She looked at Ana handing her the law book. She knew it was full of hypocrisy and laws. "I'm sure you won't need much refreshing. you've done amazing so far." It was true. For such a weird situation Anastasia was doing well at keeping calm and peaceful. "I probably should have asked this before but how will your parents react to this? I know your brother is marrying a man so I guess I mean more about the mix-up."
Ana took the law book, looking over it with distaste. It desperately needed to be rewritten. Her country tended to rewrite the law every ten years or so, some times even sooner depending on the will of the people. She chuckles at the compliment. "Hmm, have I? Perhaps. However, we'll see how well it goes in today's meeting." She shakes her head and clicks her tongue before snickering. She paused and glanced over at the other. "Well… let's say both my parents have a sense of humor. I think my father would find this whole mix up rather amusing. As for my mother… I think she knew the whole time that it would end up as a mix up." She smiled softly. "They know I prefer women over men… so I think they were hoping for it to be a mix up."
"And you were still willing to marry a man before? Even if it wasn't your preference?" she asked looking down at the book. She wasn't. She had every plan to sabotage her own wedding. Even when she knew it could of lead to war or more suffering in her country. She hoped that it would have been worth it in the end but who knows. she could of lead to her kingdoms downfall just for not wanting to marry a man.
"I am willing to do anything for my country, and I am willing to do anything to secure other countries as well. My duty is to my people and to the people that I will sooner or later become queen of. I will not stand by if others are suffering." She says simply. "My duty becomes before my heart. However… It appears that for once, my heart and my duty align." She smiled gently at Lili, before gently setting the books down and slowly taking Lili's hand and kissing the back of it. It seemed that Lili had only seen her smile. She hummed and glanced over Lili, "Together we will save your kingdom. And we will make it a better place for people like us."
Lili's smile grew ad she nodded. "you are perfect. I can't wait to rule with you," She squeezed Ana's hand. "We should go it's almost time for lunch." She started walking towards the entrance to the library. "I want to show you a few more places before we have to meet with my father." She thought of all the little hiding spots she has all around. Deciding the tower was going to be the best place to show next.
Ana smiled softly at that, nodding a little bit. "I think that sounds lovely." Her cheeks had a soft rosy tint to them at Lili's compliment, however it quickly faded. It appeared only Lili had seen her smile. She follows after quietly, "Wherever you'd like to go, princess." She hummed and followed after the shorter woman, her eyes flickering back and forth as she took in the castle. This was going to be her new home. She may as well memorize it. She squeezed Lili's hand gently.
Lili leads her up some spiraled stairs. They were dimly lit but well kept. Once they made it to the top of the steps a circular room comes into view. The room was surrounded by windows. Showing the land around the castle. Small houses can be seen past the wall. There were cushions on the floor and a folded blanket. Along with a few stray books. Everything seemed organized but lived in unlike some other parts of the castle. A telescope propped next to one of the windows. "I like to come up here sometimes. It's quiet."
Ana followed quietly, one of her well kept brows tilting up a little in curiosity as to why Lili was dragging her up a spiral staircase. But she gasped quietly at the sight of the room. She smiled softly. "It's rather quite cozy… and beautiful if I may be honest." She settles down onto one of the cushions, her eyes scanning everything thoughtfully. She hummed and nods. "It is indeed very quiet." She outstretched her hand for Lili to take. "Come and sit with me." She urges quietly.
