Resolution

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

After the tense events of the morning, Katya found that she needed some time to herself. Going on a walk to clear her mind, she had no idea what to do with herself. She did not regret anything she had said in the least. What had disappointed her the most was Nikolais reaction. If the youngest was acting more mature than their future king, what did that say about their country? Katya dearly hoped that there had been no outside ears besides their most trusted ones to overhear the heated argument between siblings. She did not want things to be the way they were, everyone was stressed out from the situation. Hopefully, they could all speak with level heads once everyone had a chance to cool off.

Katya was not so selfish to immediately take Nikolais blessing unless she was sure it was what everyone involved would be happy with. However happy it would make her to do so, it was ingrained in her to put duty over what she desired. Mildly amused to find that it seemed like she was quickly growing up, Katya allowed herself to crumble while she was in the relative privacy of the nearby forest. Sitting on a large boulder, Katya wept into her hands at the feeling of hopelessness she felt. Nothing was going right and she had no idea how to help fix it.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Slightly at a loss to what to do with himself outside aside from the obvious, Tristan took to the woods as he did in Meirin. There was nothing to listen to, no places to hide aside from as far as possible from the main clearing and the pavilions, and that was what he badly needed, a hiding place where he could come to terms with several startling conclusions he came to during the feast. The annoying thing was any of decisions on the matters were out of his hands, and Tris was far from ready to admit it or accept it. Wondering what on earth he could possibly do that put it otherwise, he also couldn’t help but notice the atmosphere in the celebrations, still very much the political side of things, which was something he disliked. Thus, the hasty retreat, as polite as he could manage. What he was surprised to notice was that he wasn’t the only one who decided on the retreat.

Taking a seat next to Katya, he waited a few beats for her to take notice, since he was pretty sure the Princess did so the minute he settled down. “Not quite the palace where you can ensure that alone is exactly that, is it?” He asked, deciding he might as well let her know of his presence there. Honestly, what was it that they were ending up in the same place in the same time, whether they needed to or not? For all intents and purposes, he supposed there was some sort of joke to it, but at least it was of help than hinder – at least in his opinion.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya had not been expecting company, and certainly not the company of the very man that was on her mind! Needless to say, she had the look of a startled deer when the prince took a seat next to her. "Indeed," she said in simple reply to his question as she wiped at her tear stricken face as much as she could though it seemed rather pointless when the tears would not stop. "My apologies, your Highness, I must look a fright but I cannot seem to stop," she sniffled, trying to stop the tide but unable to considering the feelings of hopelessness and despair she was still experiencing.

"I bungled up," she stated abruptly as she wiped at her eyes with her handkerchief. "During a ... discussion with my siblings, it came out that I am in love with you and I am worried it may have made everything go even more dire than they might have had need to be. I mean, I could be all wrong about the signals and you hate me as much as you did the day we met!" She stated, unable to help a self-deprecating laugh. If it all wasn't so horrid, it would be amusing.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Giving the girl a startled look at her abrupt admission, Tris uncertainly reached forward to touch her hand in attempt to offer some reassurance, though he wasn’t quite certain whether it would be accepted or required. At the back of his mind, however, he gave a slight sigh of relief, as he had no clue to what to expect with Princess Katya’s recent reactions toward him excepting for the fact that they usually resulted in both of them the reddest they seemed to be able to go. Mildly amused at the images, he found himself blushing at the mention of the conversation.

“Quite all right, Your Highness, for even we need some place where outlet of emotions isn’t going to be out of place or judged by others,” he said instead, hoping he hadn’t confused her or put his foot in his mouth as he was wont to do. “I often seek secluded places for such a purpose, though I admit tis the first time I actively ran against the other doing the same.” Hoping he was making sense, Tristan went a bit red around the ears, but figured there was nothing for it. Instead, he allowed her speak, slightly cocking his head to the side as he did so. “I admit that I had not yet the chance to speak as such in front of my own family, but the truth is, it would probably come out that I managed to fall in love with you myself. Still, I know not what can possibly come out of this yet.” Wondering whether he made the right choice in saying anything at all, Tris slightly tipped his head to the side, waiting to see what the girl’s reaction was going to be this time. Seeing as she just stopped crying, he was slightly afraid he’d cause some more of similar reaction, but for now it seemed to be fine, or as fine as it could be given the discussion taking place.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya allowed herself a small smile at the startled look on his face. Biting her bottom lip as he touched her hand, she gave a small smile of gratitude at the gesture. Listening to him speak, she nodded in silent agreement. It was quite trying to be a Royal at times, with eyes always on you. Giving a startled look at his words, she wondered if he was saying that he had sought privacy for the same reasons as she had. The red ears only served to further her thoughts.

Nothing could have prepared the young princess for the words that came next. Eyes widening in surprise, she bit her bottom lip as it started to tremble. "You love me in return? How wonderful, incredible and horrible at the same time." She stated, unable to help lighting up with happiness at the news even with the feeling of despair and hopelessness that made the moment bittersweet. Their love might never get a chance if the more preferred alliance managed to be saved. The benefits for any arrangement with them both would likely be less than what it would be if Princess Emma became her countrys Queen.

Still, she could not help but be happy that her love returned her affections. Unable to think of more to say, Katya impulsively pressed her lips to his in a chaste, light kiss though the urge to make it more of a kiss ran through her. An urge to kiss him as deeply as possible especially when she was so sure they would never have another chance was. Managing, just barely, to resist temptation, she pulled away and looked into his deep blue eyes. "I love you, my Prince," she murmured, wondering what he was thinking of all of it.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Tris gave a slight smile in return to Katya’s statement. Indeed, wonderful and horrible at the same time, given that neither of them could know how their respective future would turn out. While they weren’t exactly heirs to their respective thrones, both of them were still royals and would probably be expected to behave in appropriate manner, which meant marrying into other countries at advantageous relations. Still, one could dream, couldn’t they?

Giving it a mental shrug, he was startled out of his thoughts, this time by Katya kissing him. Pretty sure that he was fighting a losing battle against going red, or at the very least, his ears turning that lovely color, Tris managed to kiss her back in the same manner before the girl pulled away. Of course, at their age they probably would take time to get used to ideas, and he himself was very much against the idea of political alliances, given how his sister’s was turning out, but, well, even for him there were exceptions. “I love you too, my Princess,” he murmured back, a slight smile on his face. Red ears or not, well, this was one arrangement he probably could handle. His sudden amusement with the entire mess of emotions was probably way out of place, but he couldn’t help himself.

“By the Triad, what a disaster,” he managed, deciding that he could manage stifling a laugh until he was really on his own. Or at least talking to one of his siblings, which by this point was more than needed. Well, when he managed to get himself in trouble, he did it with a flair, that was for sure, and if what he was observing right now was any true, Princess Katya was much the same.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Feeling the Prince return her chaste kiss was heavenly. If it was to be their only one, it would be worth it. For the feelings that it stirred in her were something she would always want to remember, no matter what the future held. As she looked at him after having pulled away, she had to laugh softly at the lovely, red shade that his ears were turning and it looked to be spreading to his cheeks as well. For a handsome prince, he was quite humble about that aspect which just made her heart warm for him even more.

It seemed that it was her turn to blush when the Prince returned her words of affection on her. I love you too, my Princess would be words that she would always play over in her mind. The sweetness of hearing it aloud for the first time causing her smile to soften. "Indeed, what will we do?" She asked, mostly to herself. "At any rate, we'll have all the memories we have collected together, won't we? Such as how we initially met," she murmured, unable to help a smile at the memory of a drunk Demerian prince. Back then, she would have thought a person insane if they had told her she would come to love him. Amusing how the world worked, wasn't it?

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Tristan sniggered at the very mention of their initial meeting. “Riordan almost got me to spill the whole of that particular encounter because I told him I refuse to get drunk ever again,” he told her, remembering the inquisition that he got from his brother. “Apparently stumbling around corridors, secret passages, and dead ends while drunk isn’t a good idea.” Now he could admit it was hilarious, but then it was nothing short of annoying, especially given a certain Lord Mouse’s presence in their midst once they’ve been caught by it. “Thankfully I didn’t have to use Lord Mouse’s cover story yet.” Letting his brother know about the full events of initial meeting was something that he probably would never do unless Riordan managed to get him drunk, again, which was highly unlikely to happen.

Mind shifting back over Katya’s words, Tris gave an amused, fond grin at the reminder. “I’d like it if we had something a bit better than a meeting which I barely remember because I was drunk out of my mind. What did I say exactly? Bits and pieces about unknown regions and certain Princesses not supposing to be there come to mind, but nothing particularly clear.” Wondering now what Katya made of the whole mess of a first meeting, he merely shook his head. What a way to make first impressions, and to think he managed to fall for the very girl he called an idiot in the first place. It was both an amusing and exasperating thought.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya couldn't help a laugh at Tristans words. "I wonder at how his reaction would have been and if he would be understanding as to why I called you a prat that day," she mentioned, remembering the insults exchanged with amusement. Now, if she was to call him as such, it would likely be done in utter fondness. Amusing how love could change a word that was meant to be an insult into almost an endearment since it was a reminder of their first meeting. "I could have told you that," she teased before snickering at the mention of the man they had decided to dub Lord Mouse. Her own siblings only knew part of the story and she was unlikely to share the rest. It was something between the both of them.

"Oh? I shall see if I can't arrange something that doesn't involve you being drunk or dark passageways," she stated in response to his desire of having a better memory than something he could barely remember though really she was fond of every memory they shared. Even if such memories involved the both of them being quite red in the face. "Must be ssh," she teased as he asked what he had said back then. "You also expressed doubt that I was, indeed, a princess. Hold any doubts that I am deserving of my title?" She asked, merely teasing him before standing. "We best head back before everything is made worse by malicious tongues declaring I've taken the young princes innocence," she snickered, personally not minding the idea but keeping that thought to herself. As it was, such rumor would be the absolute last thing that they needed. Waiting to see if he would accompany her back to the main area of the festival, the girl couldn't help giving the boy a soft look that reflected her love for him.

[Prince Tristan Carlisle]

Tris snorted, both amused and slightly mortified. Must be shh, was that really the best he could come up with? That little encounter alone was going to make him swear drink off for the rest of his life, if anything, though he supposed he’ll see how it go. “I must’ve been more drunk than I thought,” he snickered, shaking his head, and giving Katya a look. “And you didn’t look like a Princess then, so I don’t know why you’re so surprised. You look more like one now than you did then, so I suppose I would admit fault in my initial statement.”

Tris snickered at the implication given by Katya. “Oh of course we can’t have that, though I believe they have otherwise. After you, My Lady.” A slightly playful bow was followed by a soft look given in return to hers, as he accompanied the girl back to the main festival area. Indeed, it was going to be a tough going for now, but he was rather certain they would manage.