𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧

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»↠ ≈☆≈ ↞«

Emilia was sat at the library, reading for what could have been the hundredth time, her favorite romance book. The prince had finally admitted his love for the princess and she couldn't be happier, she loved happy endings but wouldn't mind a gore sad story from time to time to break off the unicorn vibe.

A hand tapped her shoulder and she turned around to see the handsome face of none other than the Lord Niklaus.

"Lord Niklaus, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be with my brother fighting over who would be known as the best archer?" She questioned teasingly as he chuckled and sat across from her.

"Well your brother has some truly remarkable talents with the archery but I had much important matters so I delayed the match," Niklaus said, crossing his arms over the wooden table.

Emilia raised her eyebrow, asking, "And what do those matters have to do with me?"

"You see my brother..." He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence before she cut him off.

"Your brother is in the guests' chamber, I believe his room is next to yours. If there's anything you need to know which involves him, I believe you can go with your questions to him. I am not his maiden," Emilia fake smiled, standing up. She placed her book back on the shelf before walking out of the library.

"Lady Emilia, please," He went after her and she merely turned around to face him with a frustrated look on her face.

"I am just ensuring that you and my brother would have a lovely day in your castle's gardens away from any interruptions like Lady Lorelei and Lauren," Niklaus spoke ever so softly as he held back his devilish smirk and she raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm... Well why not, then..."

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Upon Rebekah's suggestions, more like demands, Emilia had dressed up in one of her most comfortable attires and waited behind the Castle's backdoors for Elijah with a basket, full of what Rebekah called 'nice picnic things'.

It didn't take Elijah long time reach her before they walked together to the small garden where they had sat preparing, "You know I don't really like your siblings' nosiness and all that but we really needed to plan a lot of answers for when my aunts would come and ask about our... sudden courting," Emilia said, munching on some grapes.

Elijah nodded, agreeing with her, "Well, whatever it is you have planned, I am sure I won't mind knowing it."

Emilia crossed her legs together, pulling over the grapes' plate as she instructed, "I don't want this pretending thing to be unbelievable. I want it perfect, my aunts can't doubt anything so when you and your siblings leave they would think I am heartbroken and just let me be, for a while."

Elijah nodded, once again as she sighed, frustrated, "Can you talk back with me? This a conversation... So, dear, just stop nodding your head on whatever it is I say," Emilia rolled her eyes, chuckling as she chewed on more grapes and Elijah raised both of his eyebrows.

"Believing them to be your family, you would know their assumptions and doubts to be proven wrong better than myself so I thought it would be far more reasonable to give you, Emilia, the first and last say on this childish breakout," Elijah responded, as she gaped, scowling after he pulled some of her grapes.

"These are mine," Emilia swatted his hand away.

Elijah smiled unintentionally, before deliberately taking the bowl of grapes from her, and Emilia tried to pull it back but to no avail, "For God's sake, give it back!"

"No, Emilia. This is for the both of us, not just you," Elijah stood up, pulling the bowl above his head as she jumped up, helplessly trying to get it back.

"Elijah, c'mon, where's all the nobility talk? I want my grapes!" Emilia jumped up again, putting her hands on his shoulders as if to help her up but he just chuckled at her attempts, before she knocked him down.

The bowl of grapes almost hitting the floor, but the Mikaelson had swiftly caught it, resulting in Emilia landing above him with the bowl between their chests, the De' Medici girl unintentionally squealed before jumping back up on her feet and picking up the bowl of grapes.

"Hmm, I win," Emilia stuck out her tongue, pulling out some grapes and throwing them into her mouth.

Elijah chuckled, sitting back up, "I don't like grapes," He stated.

"Then...?"

"I just wanted to get a rise out of you," The Mikaelson laughed at her wholeheartedly as she scowled before putting the bowl aside and practically going to war, well not so practically, no injuries and just many pointless and missed hits.

✸ ✸ ✸

After walking with Elijah to his chambers, Emilia strode to her nephew's room, in hopes to play with him for a little while before going to sleep.

Violette opened her door, smiling at Emilia before letting her in, "You are the worst, you know that, right?"

Emilia faked a gasp, placing a hand on her chest, "Me? Everyone I know begs to differ...I am quite lovely if you ask me."

"Well, that's why I am not asking you," She rolled her eyes as Emilia picked her little nephew up in her arms, "Your brother has been pestering me for hours, claiming that I was helping you hide whatever it is you and Lord Elijah have going on."

"Nonsense, I don't get people stuck in stuff like that. Elias knows that, too." Emilia shrugged her shoulders, huffing out before planting kisses on her nephew's face as she tickled him.

Violette crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow, "None of it is real, right?"

Emilia faked a pout, turning to her sister-in-law, "What? You don't believe I would actually court someone suitable? I am not the kind of girl to go for less, Lettie."

"But you are also not the kind of girl to jump into something quickly and irrationally," The brunette responded, shaking her head, "And that absolutely reckless act at the Masquerade was something you are still processing how you did, isn't it?"

The blonde girl, realizing she would have to fess up if she stayed there, shook her head and placed Leonardo back in his bed, "No...I really wanted you and Elias to be rooting for me, Lettie. I am doing something right and I actually like what I am doing...So?"

"Political marriage isn't that bad, avoiding it is not worth all that trouble..."

"We are not all you and Elias," Emilia huffed out before walking past her sister-in-law and out the door, finishing, "You were forced to marry him and was lucky enough that he turned out nice and sweet."

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