[ God, Noah just had to make this hard, didn't he? Not that Haruki himself really gives the other the blame here, he would never think anything bad at all about his prince and - there's no way he can't at least admit it to himself at this point - his crush. But blame aside, there's no doubt about it that it's hard to face the crowd when he can still feel the other's warm hand around his own.
Haruki is not the most bold person, after all. Sure, he managed to become a knihgt, and he can look a little tougher when he has to. At the very least when he's fighting, and whenever there's a possible threat around, then he can at least scrape himself together enough to look intimidating, if not just by telling himself that if he doesn't look like he can stop anything from getting to Noah, Noah's very life could be endangered. So he can usually at least take a deep breath and force himself to look stronger.
But in this case? It feels impossible. He can look strong when he's being Noah's knight, but right now he feels very different from that. Noah kissing him so lovingly, saying all these things to him, holding onto his hand now despite not having to do so in any way. It feels less like being Noah's knight and more like being Noah's--
No, he can't think about that. He shouldn't think about that sort of thing when it's his prince, and he definitely shouldn't think about it right here in front of this big crowd of people. Unless he wants to be the shame of the nation by standing here blushing like an idiot, that is. He just tries to take a deep breath or two, gathering himself together just enough to maybe not entirely look strong, but at least not look like a gooey mess either, no matter what he feels like on the inside. It's taking him all his effort to not be shaking on his legs right now.
So it's very likely that Haruki won't remember a word of the speech either... he probably has no idea what the speech is about even as it's going on with how much he has to focus on the way he's looking right now. But he manages to hold out until the end of the speech, only then daring to cast a small glimpse in the other's direction. ]
My prince...
[ There's a slight sense of desperation in those words, no matter how softly they leave Haruki's mouth. Like it's a desperate request for them to leave the stage now before he will literally die of a heart attack - even though he doesn't voice the request out loud, too afraid it would be too much to ask from someone who's so much higher status-wise than he is.
With the way he's looking right now, it really is a far cry from the guy who was battling so fiercely only a little bit ago. ]
[Odds are good that Noah won't even remember most of, or all of his own speech either. If there's one thing he's gotten good at through from a lifetime of being a prince, and being in the public eye, it's how to make himself sound pretty convincing even when his mind is 1000 miles away. And to be fair, he does usually focus on what he's saying more...but there's no way he'll be able to this time. And right now, his mind isn't miles away, it's just completely focused on his knight beside him.
He wishes they could've left right away- without him having to do this at all...but it's one of the drawbacks of being royalty, isn't it? That he can't just leave whenever he wants to...he can't just forget about doing his duty just this once and leave a little early. Or he could, but he couldn't do it without there being any consequences for it.
Thankfully, he's done all he's needed to do, and he did it as quickly as he could without seeming forced. But that doesn't make him feel any better by the time he hears Haruki's voice. Noah can tell well enough that there is an edge of desperation in there..and it only makes him want to get out of there even more. Right now, Noah just selfishly wishes he could've skipped everything else right after that kiss- to right now when he really can give the other his complete, undivided attention.
With that thought in mind, Noah turns to Haruki- wrapping both hands around one of his knight's. He smiles a little apologetically, and lowers his voice again so that only the other will be able to hear him.]
Let's go...my knight...
[Right now. He doesn't waste any more time- even if it means leaving the stage rather abruptly after finishing his few words. That's one thing he won't pay any mind to though...if he seems eager to leave with Haruki, that's perfectly fine with him. He is eager to be with him, and he's not going to hide that from anyone watching. Not now, and not as the finally get off the stage- quickly walking Haruki to find somewhere more private.]
[ How would it ever have been possible to not fall some completely and helplessly in love with Noah? Haruki doesn't know how anyone can do it, not being completely enamoured by the prince, that is-- Noah is just too much of a complete package. He's charming, kind and caring to his people.. He's so radiant, and it feels like Haruki's heart is being squeezed a little in his chest when the other moves to hold his hand again, giving him that small apologetic smile. Even though Haruki is only a knight, Noah still feels apologetic towards him for making him wait.. His heart is just so big, and Haruki feels himself being filled up with warmth at the very thought of it.
So he just lets himself be led along by the prince without any resistance. He too wants to get somewhere more private, where they can talk with just the two of them without anyone interrupting. At least Haruki does keep somewhat of an eye out while they walk - even though his heart feels like it's about to explode with dokis for the other, it still doesn't mean he can just put the other's life in danger. And with Noah being the prince, you never know where someone might be lurking to try and do something to him.
Thankfully things seem to go smoothly though. But even though the walk is uneventful, it still feels like an eternity passes before they get anywhere. And the whole time Haruki can only think about everything that just passed - how soft Noah's kiss was, so caring and warm, how desperate the other sounded when he asked Haruki to stay with him. The thought that he might be enveloped again or even further in that warmth once they get there truly feels overwhelming to him.
But they do eventually reach a more private place where someone won't just walk in on the two of them. Haruki's free hand drops off the hilt of his sword, where he kept it just in case something might have happened, and instead he feels speechless once again when Noah's gaze meets his own again - any words he might have thought of to say during the walk are all completely gone again.
It takes a moment or two before he can even talk, bowing his head a little bit in apology. ]
Forgive me my insolence.. I participated without telling you about it or asking you for permission, my lord.
[ Which is something he did worry about a lot. Even though it ended well now, he was so afraid the whole time that Noah would have hated the fact he had to kiss him if he'd win... ]
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Haruki is not the most bold person, after all. Sure, he managed to become a knihgt, and he can look a little tougher when he has to. At the very least when he's fighting, and whenever there's a possible threat around, then he can at least scrape himself together enough to look intimidating, if not just by telling himself that if he doesn't look like he can stop anything from getting to Noah, Noah's very life could be endangered. So he can usually at least take a deep breath and force himself to look stronger.
But in this case? It feels impossible. He can look strong when he's being Noah's knight, but right now he feels very different from that. Noah kissing him so lovingly, saying all these things to him, holding onto his hand now despite not having to do so in any way. It feels less like being Noah's knight and more like being Noah's--
No, he can't think about that. He shouldn't think about that sort of thing when it's his prince, and he definitely shouldn't think about it right here in front of this big crowd of people. Unless he wants to be the shame of the nation by standing here blushing like an idiot, that is. He just tries to take a deep breath or two, gathering himself together just enough to maybe not entirely look strong, but at least not look like a gooey mess either, no matter what he feels like on the inside. It's taking him all his effort to not be shaking on his legs right now.
So it's very likely that Haruki won't remember a word of the speech either... he probably has no idea what the speech is about even as it's going on with how much he has to focus on the way he's looking right now. But he manages to hold out until the end of the speech, only then daring to cast a small glimpse in the other's direction. ]
My prince...
[ There's a slight sense of desperation in those words, no matter how softly they leave Haruki's mouth. Like it's a desperate request for them to leave the stage now before he will literally die of a heart attack - even though he doesn't voice the request out loud, too afraid it would be too much to ask from someone who's so much higher status-wise than he is.
With the way he's looking right now, it really is a far cry from the guy who was battling so fiercely only a little bit ago. ]
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He wishes they could've left right away- without him having to do this at all...but it's one of the drawbacks of being royalty, isn't it? That he can't just leave whenever he wants to...he can't just forget about doing his duty just this once and leave a little early. Or he could, but he couldn't do it without there being any consequences for it.
Thankfully, he's done all he's needed to do, and he did it as quickly as he could without seeming forced. But that doesn't make him feel any better by the time he hears Haruki's voice. Noah can tell well enough that there is an edge of desperation in there..and it only makes him want to get out of there even more. Right now, Noah just selfishly wishes he could've skipped everything else right after that kiss- to right now when he really can give the other his complete, undivided attention.
With that thought in mind, Noah turns to Haruki- wrapping both hands around one of his knight's. He smiles a little apologetically, and lowers his voice again so that only the other will be able to hear him.]
Let's go...my knight...
[Right now. He doesn't waste any more time- even if it means leaving the stage rather abruptly after finishing his few words. That's one thing he won't pay any mind to though...if he seems eager to leave with Haruki, that's perfectly fine with him. He is eager to be with him, and he's not going to hide that from anyone watching. Not now, and not as the finally get off the stage- quickly walking Haruki to find somewhere more private.]
no subject
So he just lets himself be led along by the prince without any resistance. He too wants to get somewhere more private, where they can talk with just the two of them without anyone interrupting. At least Haruki does keep somewhat of an eye out while they walk - even though his heart feels like it's about to explode with dokis for the other, it still doesn't mean he can just put the other's life in danger. And with Noah being the prince, you never know where someone might be lurking to try and do something to him.
Thankfully things seem to go smoothly though. But even though the walk is uneventful, it still feels like an eternity passes before they get anywhere. And the whole time Haruki can only think about everything that just passed - how soft Noah's kiss was, so caring and warm, how desperate the other sounded when he asked Haruki to stay with him. The thought that he might be enveloped again or even further in that warmth once they get there truly feels overwhelming to him.
But they do eventually reach a more private place where someone won't just walk in on the two of them. Haruki's free hand drops off the hilt of his sword, where he kept it just in case something might have happened, and instead he feels speechless once again when Noah's gaze meets his own again - any words he might have thought of to say during the walk are all completely gone again.
It takes a moment or two before he can even talk, bowing his head a little bit in apology. ]
Forgive me my insolence.. I participated without telling you about it or asking you for permission, my lord.
[ Which is something he did worry about a lot. Even though it ended well now, he was so afraid the whole time that Noah would have hated the fact he had to kiss him if he'd win... ]