Concubine

by PhenixFlare

Summary:

After the better part of a month on extreme house arrest without much interaction (aside from the little desired attention and affections of Affogato) Caramel Arrow resolves to get out of her birdcage and back to her duty of protecting the Dark Cacao kingdom in the true king's stead - at any cost.

(Continuation of Consort, because I couldn't leave well enough alone and the wedding costume leak most certainly did not help.)

Notes:

I was considering continuing Consort somehow anyway (and it ballooned into this big Dark Cacao kingdom war plotline that I might not have the fortitude to write), and then the wedding costume leaks happened, so this continuation is happening too. I don't usually break fics into chapters but I decided to split this one to force myself not to chicken out and write the rest. 😂

Chapter 1: resolution

Three weeks. 

Three entire weeks of confinement to a room that seemed to grow smaller with every passing day, days that unfailingly played out in the exact same way from awakening in the morning to laying her head down at night. There was little variation in exact time in her internal schedule, mostly out of force of habit, but also the hours between those chronological landmarks were usually spent without Affogato there to further stoke the flames of resentment. After all, he was the one literally holding the key to the locked door between herself and the rest of the world. 

Of course there was the daily visit from her "king" - completely unscheduled, always, which drove Caramel mad as a Cookie of routine. These visits never failed to leave her in a worse mood than she'd been in before Affogato slithered in for an hour or so of tea, overly sweet rainbow jellies, either increasingly intense arguments or tense exchanges of insults, and as much physical contact as she would allow before snapping and threatening to end his life again. 

The room was suffocating enough on its own, but at least she could breathe a touch more easily in his absence. That one instance of being poisoned had resulted in her being even more guarded around him at all times, hyperaware as if she was being observed by some great beast in the mountains, sizing her up, memorizing everything about its prey. That was the correct term for it - prey. That's what she felt like when they were alone, with those oddly shaped pupils tracking her every move and even the tone of her voice resulting in a flash of recognition within them. She couldn't tell from the mask he wore whether he felt the same way about her or if he was secure enough in his newly found superiority that he no longer viewed her as any type of threat. 

That didn't mean that being alone was overly appealing. Although she was often accompanied by the two young attendants assigned to see to her needs, they had other duties to see to outside of her gilded birdcage. Without them, she was left to her own devices: trying to occupy her time productively while worrying about the state of the kingdom in the absence of a competent leader that truly cared about protecting the many cookies that relied upon him. 

She didn't allow herself to dwell on the true King himself. 

Well. Attempted to, at least. 

Perhaps His Majesty would have been disappointed to know how often she fell victim to guilt and grief, often experienced at the same time in those long, silent stretches of time when she was completely alone. Snatches of memories crept up on her, just as slyly as Affogato himself. 

Her messy lines of calligraphy would blur just before a couple of tears dampened the scroll and diluted the ink, recalling watching Dark Cacao's careful, delicate script whenever she witnessed him putting words to clean rice paper, so neat and tidy, marveling that hands with the strength needed to lift and effortlessly swing a sword her height could grip an inkstone without snapping it in two. 

She may not have had access to a blade or her bow, but that didn't stop Caramel Arrow from running through the training routine all of the watchers underwent on a regular basis; she absolutely refused to let imprisonment erode her skills or her strength. She was somewhat limited with respect to space, so the activity always resulted in some disturbance in her appearance - torn hems, rips in sleeves, hair working its way loose from whatever she found to pin it up and out of her face - for her attendants to see to before the (false) king returned and griped about it. And while the practice kept her grounded, it provided an opening for those thoughts to slip in again, guilt rather than grief. Would this outcome have been different if she, as the First Watcher of the citadel, hadn't been flawed in some essential way that resulted in Dark Cacao's faith in her wavering, leading to her exile in the first place? Had she been present, would it have made a difference in any way? Quite possibly - it would have given her the chance to strike Affogato down before his betrayal, or stop the treacherous poison that seemed to have permeated the citadel in its tracks before it took hold. When that doubt settled into her dough it usually became an often insurmountable struggle to return to form, envisioning the memory of her His Majesty's disapproving expression during those last moments before heading out into the wilds. 

There were, of course, other instances, numerous ones throughout the day that seemed to grow over the weeks of isolation broken only by the presence of three other Cookies - one of which was notorious for triggering comparisons between himself and King Dark Cacao. The way the stolen crown didn't sit quite right atop Affogato's head, given that it was designed for a much bulkier Cookie, or the way his range of constant duplicitous expressions contrasted the quiet stoicism that had become the norm for Dark Cacao following the departure of the former prince. 

And in those rare, greatly limited occasions where she allowed (that was the one boundary Affogato seemed to adhere to, respect or not) him to put his hands on her to any degree they were greedy and possessive, nothing like the reassuring hand on her shoulder that always lifted her spirits, or, at times over the years, had been extended to help her rise. Always strong and reassuring. 

On the first day of the fourth week of her imprisonment in the gilded cage of the king's room (she refused to think of them as her own), Caramel Arrow awakened just before the crack of dawn - a holdover from her time as a Watcher. Affogato, who had no discipline to speak of whatsoever, never rose before the sun and remained curled up beneath the ridiculous layers of soft bedding that she still found uncomfortably warm compared to her simple quarters among the other Watchers. About two weeks in she'd ceased sleeping at the very edge of the bed after accidentally rolling out of it in the middle of the night, followed by Affogato mocking her relentlessly over it until she grudgingly scooted over while still maintaining a couple of feet of distance between them. Caramel glared at him in the present, briefly contemplating waking him up entirely out of spite but ultimately deciding to leave it be. She crept out of bed, silently making her way over to one of the windows and sliding it open just enough to feel the familiar chill upon her face. She could only reach out so far with the uncomfortable confinement of her new attire, but just far enough to touch a patch of freshly fallen snow on the windowsill, refreshingly cool against her fingertips. Gazing out ahead in the dim light of the fading moon the wall loomed in the distance, dotted with figures standing sentinel over the Licorice Sea, and beyond that the rest of the kingdom, with its villages and settlements full of Cookies that very likely had come to believe that their king had forsaken and forgotten them. The citadel itself was still physically standing after the past few weeks somehow, meaning that either her fellow warriors were taking more of an active role in maintaining it, or the very slim possibility that Affogato actually did something constructive with his time during the day. Regardless, she seriously doubted that anything at all had been properly attended to in the absence of a reasonable, competent monarch... or at the very least a dedicated advisor.

And in that moment, Caramel Arrow Cookie realized she had to get out of that room and back to her duty of protecting the kingdom in the true king's stead. At any cost.

Chapter 2: preparation

Notes:

...I guess we're going for three!

As a note, this chapter does feature a couple of OCs somewhat prominently (the two attendant cookies from Consort), but it's in the service of character development for Caramel Arrow so hopefully it's not a huge issue. Thank y'all for sticking with me. 😄

There was a level of precision that went into the art of making tea. Every aspect, from the temperature of the water, to the freshness of the leaves, herbs, and cacao nibs, to the amount of time the tea was allowed to steep without being disturbed. It all coalesced into a process that was every bit as detailed as that of honing a blade to razor-sharp perfection, with the only difference being that the latter was a useful skill for a warrior, and the former was very much not. Caramel Arrow could understand, respect the history and tradition of and enjoy the results of making tea, but actually preparing it was another story altogether. 

"My Lady, do you need help with carrying anything?" Cocoa Butter Cookie, the eldest of the two maids appointed as her personal attendants, took the position with absolute severity to the point of near-vexation. Between herself and her companion Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Butter balked the most at Caramel Arrow doing almost anything on her own: adjusting her various hair ornaments, speeding off to fetch whatever she needed that wasn't on hand (everything except a sword, unfortunately), and tidying up everything left out of place with little hesitation. ‘With that level of attentiveness she would have made for an excellent Watcher’, Caramel Arrow had found herself musing more than once over the several weeks of knowing her. She couldn’t fault her highly vigilant attendant for being so very dedicated to doing her assigned job, but it often took a lot of self-restraint for Caramel to avoid constantly reminding the girl that she'd just spent half a year living out in the wilds, camping out in the snow while surrounded by threats, either from lurking beasts or the perils posed by the environment alone. She could more than handle simply heating water. 

"Cocoa Butter Cookie, please calm yourself." Caramel Arrow's tone was warm, as it usually was for the cookies present. Today was an anomaly of sorts, with the two younger cookies seated on the mat on the other side of the low table while Caramel slowly heated a kettle of water suspended over a brazier of lavender flames. She checked the temperature of the water with the tip of her finger; not ready yet, but very close. "You should know by now that I am not concerned with formalities."

"I know, but... we're supposed to be seeing to your needs," Cocoa Butter replied meekly, fidgeting with her sleeves. "Not the other way around." 

"It's fine," Caramel Arrow reassured her, checking the temperature again - maybe 30 seconds left? The fact that the process was so precise was beginning to grate on her nerves yet again. "It's all necessary practice." The words that followed were spoken with far less enthusiasm. “After all, perfectly brewing tea according to the tastes of a cookie with unreasonable standards is not a skill I ever expected to need.” 

Cocoa Butter and Cocoa Powder exchanged a look; they were always unsettled at the queen's barbed remarks about the king, some of which were distinctly not ladylike. It was just another reminder of how much of a hold Affogato seemed to have on almost all of the residents of the citadel. As far as she knew. 

The water hit what she'd learned was the optimum temperature, and she swiftly removed it to fill the teapot laid out before her, containing a finicky blend. “Steep for a count of 65… alright, here you go.” 

“Thank you, First Watcher!” Cocoa Powder accepted the cup of tea with enthusiasm, while Cocoa Butter treated it with a bit more reverence. “You have my gratitude, my Lady.” 

Patience.

“How is it?” Caramel Arrow asked, a little concerned over the potential answer. Never had she expected to find herself fretting over the flavor of tea, of all things. 

"It's wonderful!" Cocoa Powder exclaimed, taking a large gulp and then wincing when she inevitably burned her tongue. Her companion shook her head, sighing. "Cocoa Powder, you're supposed to sip it," she chided. "Like this." Cocoa Butter sipped her tea demurely. "Patient, and relaxed."

"She's right," Caramel Arrow chimed in, and finally tried her own tea. Naturally sweeter than she personally cared for, but it would certainly work for the intended purpose. "Relaxation and meditation play a large role in any tea ceremony. Slow sips, savor the flavor of the tea, and reflect." Long before her exile, during the brighter days before the departure of the prince, she'd attended more than one type of tea ceremony, both at the citadel and among the kind cookies at the various villages and settlements spread out throughout the kingdom, and on occasion at either the king or the prince's invitation when propriety allowed for it. Those were quiet, dignified, and often solemn affairs, completely different from... whatever it was that she and Affogato engaged in during his visits.

"Oh." Cocoa Powder mimicked her companion, carefully lifting her teacup and taking a tiny sip. "Like this?" Caramel Arrow nodded in affirmation, and the younger cookie beamed. She noticed Cocoa Butter feigning disinterest in the ever-present bowl of sugar cubes. "Would you like one?"

Cocoa Butter, realizing she'd been caught and averted her gaze. "Um..." Caramel Arrow nudged the bowl towards her attendants. "Please, take one if you wish." Had her dough been somewhat lighter Cocoa Butter's face would have been tinted red. "I'll take just one, then," the younger cookie relented. Such a difference between this burgeoning warrior's restraint and that of her unwanted spouse!

Cocoa Butter plucked a sugar cube from the bowl near reverently and dropped into her cup with a soft plink. She let it dissolve for a few seconds before trying it, and Caramel Arrow smiled at the expression of contentment on her attendant's face. "Do you prefer it with the sugar cubes? Please be truthful, it's okay," she added, already anticipating the twin denials. While the cookies of the Dark Cacao kingdom embraced bitterness, eschewing sweets wasn't a strict requirement or even expectation, especially for younger cookies. What was expected, however, was moderation. 

"It's nice to have sweet things sometimes," Cocoa Butter admitted, shyly, although she immediately followed the comment with a rushed, "But not always! I'm not ungrateful for the food we're provided with!" Cocoa Powder, who'd also taken the offer, regarded the sugar cube in her palm for a second before eating it outright instead of adding it to her tea. "I do," she responded to the question matter-of-factly.

The answer was so honest and blunt that Caramel Arrow couldn't help but laugh. "Then you're free to have one of these whenever you want." She gestured towards the bowl. Her attendants' eyes widened, and they exchanged a look of disbelief. "Really?" Cocoa Butter ventured, eyes shining, practically glowing. 

"You've been granted permission by Her Majesty, the Queen herself." Caramel Arrow said, firmly. "...within reason, of course, though I doubt cookies as well-mannered and disciplined as you two need the reminder." Now both of her attendants were practically glowing, gratitude and admiration, thanking her in unison. It served as a further reminder of just what she'd sworn to protect.

Cocoa Butter quickly polished off her cup of sweetened tea. "First Watcher, can I have a little more?" She reached for the teapot, but Caramel Arrow swept it up before she had the chance and cut off her protest. "Don't worry, I really do need the practice. I'm still not completely used to doing anything in these." She held up an arm, gently shaking one of her flowing sleeves. Beautiful or not they were a hindrance to movement that she had yet to adjust to, whether adjusting her binyeo or lifting a pot of tea. She couldn't imagine attempting to hold a blade or bow without outright tearing them. Cocoa Butter frowned, clearly unsettled by her queen essentially serving her instead. "Is this really okay?" She asked, softly, and Cocoa Powder grew quiet as well. Their silence spoke volumes; as young as they were they still understood the sense of propriety that existed between monarchs and the cookies that both served and lived under them, as did Caramel Arrow herself. She couldn't fathom the thought of Dark Cacao Cookie preparing and serving her tea, and to her attendants she now held that position - to be served instead of serving. 

And she absolutely hated it. 

She took a deep breath, considering her words before addressing the issue. "Regardless of the title I bear, my duty is to protect this kingdom, whatever form that goal takes." Cocoa Butter and Cocoa Powder exchanged another look, seemingly skeptical as to how this particular activity applied. "If I am to serve as your queen, it's important that I conduct myself with the decorum and grace expected of one. You're merely assisting me with learning to do so." That wasn't the only motive to her actions, or even the primary one... but the two younger cookies didn't need to know that much. However, the explanation worked as intended; the light tension that had arisen faded as Cocoa Butter and Cocoa Powder visibly relaxed, and they even seemed somewhat proud of the role they were playing. 

"We'll help however we can, then!" Cocoa Butter vowed, with all of the self-assurance of a seasoned warrior venturing into the wilds just ahead of the king himself. A little like Caramel herself, if she was honest. 

Their time was cut short once Cocoa Butter remembered that they did have other midday tasks to see to aside from Caramel Arrow's needs. Just before departing, both of her attendants turned and smoothly performed the same respectful kowtow that she'd done more times than she could possibly remember. Being on the receiving end had yet to cease leaving her feeling uncomfortable, so much like a fraud, every single time. "Thank you for your kindness and consideration towards us," Cocoa Butter said, reverently. Cocoa Powder hesitated, then broke protocol by darting forward to hug her, with a softly spoken, "Thank you, First Watcher!" Cocoa Butter gasped, but Cocoa Powder disregarded the offense, embracing Caramel Arrow before she could react; she'd never gone so long without some kind of physical contact with another cookie that was merely warm in nature. The realization hit her so hard that by the time she moved to return the gesture Cocoa Powder had already let go and was halfway out into the corridor with Cocoa Butter tailing behind her, admonishing her companion's impulsivity. Caramel Arrow remained standing where she'd frozen, subconsciously rubbing her forearm while processing just how strong her reaction to a simple hug was. Strong will or not, the isolation was beginning to work its way into the hairline cracks in her armor, albeit very slowly. 

"How charming. You've never struck me as particularly maternal." 

Perhaps it was the fact that she was distracted by ruminating, or that Affogato could be incredibly stealthy when the situation called for it, but the voice caught her off guard, gasping before managing to catch herself. She spun around, almost immediately losing any sense of regality as she fixed him with an expression of utter exasperation. How long had he been present in that patch of shadow she'd paid no mind to at first, and how on Earthbread had he even entered the room without her noticing? "Would you be at risk of crumbling for announcing your arrival instead of lurking?" She hissed, queenly bearing be damned for the moment. 

"Of course not." Affogato stepped forward into the light then, with the self-satisfied smirk that seemed to be his default expression - at least around her. "But I do take pleasure in startling you each and every time." He paused with perhaps a foot of distance between them, meeting her gaze with the gleam in his eyes that indicated that he was about to say something specifically intended to set her off. "I do believe you're slipping, O First Watcher."

Patience. 

...patience. 

Fortunately for him (both of them, really) something else caught his attention, distracting him from pushing her any further - and potentially forcing her to delay her plan for another day. "What's this?"

Before leaving, Caramel Arrow had allowed Cocoa Butter and Cocoa Powder to assist her with tidying up and resetting the table layout: fine, fragile ceramic teacups, sugar cubes neatly arranged within their bowl alongside another with a moderate amount of precious rainbow jellies, and a pot of wonderfully fragrant tea. At least this time she got the satisfaction of seeing Affogato thrown off balance for once. It also provided an opening even better than the one she'd already planned. An unfamiliar sense of uncertainty bloomed within her chest; she truly would have rather faced a peak prowler instead of this... but her duty to the kingdom spoke far louder than doubt or discomfort. 

"I have already taken care of the preparations for you." Caramel Arrow ducked her head, allowing her hair to fall slightly over her face in the most demure fashion and speaking with the most appealing voice she could manage. 

"Please allow me to serve you today, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 3: execution

Notes:

The last chapter is longer than the first two chapters put together. I don't know how that happened, but I've gotten so used to only writing one-shots that properly spacing out chapters can be An Ordeal. Also hoping my characterization holds up! There's quite a bit more to this AU. ◆

For a very brief moment, Caramel Arrow wondered if she'd overplayed her hand entirely too early. In the silence that followed her request, Affogato regarded her with open suspicion, as if this display was nothing but a ploy to make good on her standing threat of murdering him. "Hm. All of this of your own volition?"  The tone of his voice suggested disbelief, which she couldn't exactly blame him for. 

"Yes." Caramel Arrow lightly ducked her head, as demurely as she could pull off. "I was hoping to pass the time with less contention than usual." 

Affogato visibly scoffed at that one, although with more amusement than before. "Do you truly believe yourself able to resist telling me how much you hate me for an hour?"

Damn it all. "Self-restraint is a virtue," she responded, with as much personal self-restraint as she could muster - even still, she could hear the edge creeping back into her voice. Why did everything have to be so complicated with him? 

"Ah, yes." Affogato sneered. "Virtuous to a fault. You'd be somewhat boring if you weren't so bad at upholding that one in particular." 

Caramel's head shot up, eyes blazing, fists clenched... and caught herself just before responding to the criticism with one of her own upon realizing that she was playing right into his hands. Restraint . It hadn’t even been five minutes in his presence and she already wanted to end him. Instead of giving him what he clearly wanted (provoking her into losing her cool), she straightened up, softly (yet audibly) exhaling, and resumed her deferential pose. "Our time together is limited, Your Majesty."

A less attentive cookie would've missed the way Affogato's face fell at her not taking the bait, but it passed as quickly as it had come. "Very well. There's no harm in humoring you."

The assertion that he was graciously looking away from an obvious ulterior motive was annoying, but she'd take what she could get. "Thank you."

Just a few weeks prior, walking around her birdcage with her hair down would have (and had) resulted in tripping over it, but now Caramel Arrow had mastered the art of moving gracefully with her long waves of hair lightly brushing against the floor behind her as she made her way over to the table and seated herself across from Affogato. Everything she needed was laid out perfectly, with the assistance of her attendants, and she had the satisfaction of seeing him looking rather impressed. "I see you've been making good use of your wealth of free time." Barbed compliments, as per usual.

"I have," Caramel responded, simply. He didn't need to know how . After rearranging her layers of silk and embroidery, she gestured towards the table - the ever-present bowl of sugar cubes, four delicate porcelain cups (two for each cookie), two teapots, already filled with their respective ingredients, and the vessel of boiled water allowed to cool slightly for a few minutes. "Since I am still unfamiliar with your exact tastes, I've prepared two separate blends of my own creation." Normally bickering would have broken out already before the damn tea was even steeping, but for once Affogato seemed genuinely interested in the process of preparation, watching intently as she added water to each pot while continuing her presentation. "The first makes use of unprocessed cacao nibs, soaked in cold water for an hour beforehand. The result, if timed correctly, should be subtly sweet even without the addition of sugar." She reached for the pot indicated and poured a cup of rich amber-colored tea for both of them. 

"Interesting choice," Affogato mused. "And the other?"

"This one uses preserved white jadeberries." Despite the name, the tea itself was a lovely shade of light pink once doled out. "As before, this is also a blend that's sweet enough on its own, no sugar cubes needed."

Affogato raised an eyebrow. "I'm sensing some unspoken criticism here."

"Not at all, Your Majesty," Caramel responded sweetly, with a pleasant smile that indicated the exact opposite. Knowing the question that would follow, she took the initiative to take the first sip from one of her cups, feeling a twinge of pride at the taste. Not an exceedingly useful skill for a Watcher, but one she could still find value in having attained. She'd assumed that seeing her drink the same tea she'd poured into his cups would dissuade accusations of trying to poison him, but it came anyway. "Should I be concerned about what else might be in this cup?"

What. Caramel Arrow stared at him incredulously, slipping up in her act and glaring at him. Did everything have to be a battle? She sipped her other cup of tea, too irritated to appreciate the taste this time, and when that only resulted in further suspicion, she ground out, struggling quite hard to keep an even tone (the deferential aspect was certainly gone, though). "Why would I poison myself as well, Affogato? If I truly wanted to end your life, I'd have taken one of the many opportunities you've given me to do so, sword in hand or not." 

"I suppose I should be grateful for that," Affogato conceded. "Although-"

"Oh for the love of Cacao, please stop talking and try the damn tea! Must everything be so difficult with you?" Caramel finally snapped, exasperated, all semblance of grace and high bearing evaporating in an instant. She realized her mistake right away and focused on a spot on the table, the sugar cubes, everything but him lest they have a repeat of their very first time having tea together (during which she’d thrown something at him five minutes in).

As if finally managing to worm his way under her dough had restored some sense of normalcy to the situation, Affogato directed his attention to sampling his tea, inhaling the aroma theatrically before taking the first sip of the jadeberry blend. The air of scrutiny faded altogether, replaced by a faint yet genuine smile. The other blend produced the same results, and for once whatever mask of duplicity he wore slipped, though only for the briefest moment before sliding back into place. "Not bad," he commented. "But I question your claim regarding sugar detracting from the taste."

"I've already prepared for that comparison," Caramel replied, with a level of smugness that was impossible to hide. She poured another cup of one of the blends and dropped a couple of sugar cubes in it before sliding it across the table to Affogato. He retrieved the cup and regarded both it and herself with revived suspicion. "You're going quite far seeking my favor today."

There was no point in lying, and it was against her nature to do so. "Perhaps I am," she replied, simply, with a shrug. "It doesn't seem to be a deterrent."

"Hmph." He reached for the sweetened cup and sipped it reflectively, and, after a moment of quiet contemplation he sat the cup back down. "I am forced to concede. Additional sugar does, somehow, render it a touch sweeter than preferred," he admitted, holding up his hands in mock surrender. 

"There's specific timing for boiling the water before adding the blend." Despite the purpose of picking up the skill (and bitterness over the necessity) Caramel still experienced another wave of pride from the indirect praise. "Of course there are variations between roots, berries, and leaves, and the exact ratio of ingredients to water must be taken into consideration."

"You've been occupying your time in my absence well. I'm rather impressed. Especially given how difficult it can be to harvest jadeberries while they're still in season."

That was more of a thoughtful response than Caramel Arrow was expecting out of him. She kept forgetting that aside from the variety of colorful insults she had on hand that he was an apparently talented apothecary. It was how he'd wormed himself into the citadel, after all. "These were a token of appreciation from the head of one of the more remote settlements north of the citadel." Tension aside, she felt herself smiling faintly at the memory. Even with their own dire straits the cookies of the villages between the citadel and the Great Icing Ridge had welcomed her with open arms during her exile whenever she dropped by, willing to share their meager supply of food and humble space. "They grow within the vicinity so it's much easier to gather the berries during spring as soon as they ripen and preserve them by packing them in snow. I wouldn't have accepted them since they clearly need all of their resources, but the village head was insistent."

"I've been there." The revelation shouldn't have surprised Caramel Arrow, but she rarely thought about what Affogato had been up to before turning up at the citadel and effortlessly making himself at home. "It's quite the hovel and the hospitality was a bit lacking, but that's to be expected of settlements that remote. And they did express their appreciation for my services generously."

His assessment of the village and its inhabitants was to be expected but it was still aggravating to hear. Caramel was curious regardless. "What business did you have there?"

"Why are you so surprised?" Affogato huffed. "This is my homeland as well."

"I suppose." Caramel Arrow conceded. "But I can't imagine you willingly visiting and assisting a village...  hovel full of the so-called weaker cookies you obviously look down upon, especially one without anything valuable to offer in return." She couldn't reconcile the image of Affogato helping anyone without any type of power to gain in her head.

Affogato shrugged, polishing off another cup of tea with a graceful flourish. "Value is relative," was the only explanation offered, and perhaps the conversation would have continued without further exasperation on Caramel Arrow's part if he didn't keep talking after offering it. "I am also familiar with white jadeberries. When processed in a certain manner they can be used to create a sedative that's quite effective, so it's good to have a small supply on hand." He followed the statement up with a sly grin

"Can we not have a single conversation where you refrain from emphasizing how much of a conniving creep you are?"

"You needn’t worry. I've no intention of using any of my concoctions on you again." The reference to the one and thus far only instance of such an occurrence made Caramel Arrow stiffen where she knelt. "That is..." Affogato added, with just a hint of a threat in his tone, "Unless you give me a reason to."

Caramel's glare remained trained on him as she reached up to pluck her bridal hairpin out of where she'd tucked it, gripping the ornament as if it were one of her twin blades. "You are free to try, Your Majesty.”

In the moment of tense silence that followed she watched Affogato's expression rapidly shift from indignation to amusement, chuckling to himself.  "Impertinence aside, I truly enjoy these little chats of ours." Caramel Arrow couldn't exactly agree with the sentiment, letting out the heavy, Earthbread-weary sigh that was rapidly becoming a characteristic of her own while tucking her binyeo back into place. "That makes one of us," she muttered. 

"Nevertheless." Affogato leaned forward, resting his chin atop his palm in feigned disinterest, an indication that he’d already deemed whatever she was going to request as inconsequential. "While I appreciate you taking the initiative, I get the feeling that there's an ulterior motive behind this display. What might that be?" His usual self-indulgent sneer returned in full force, although it most definitely didn't reach his eyes, as per usual whenever a certain topic came up. "Are you going to ask to see your slumbering king again?"

Caramel Arrow flinched despite her best efforts to avoid doing so. That was a sore topic that she'd learned to avoid. For all of his absence, King Dark Cacao had seemingly taken up residence in his head, continually fueling Affogato's obvious insecurity. Pointing that out was the one surefire way to get under his dough just as much as he got under hers, but doing so wasn’t at all conducive to being granted the freedom she desired. "No. I simply wish to be let out of this room." Affogato raised an eyebrow in rekindled suspicion, so she pushed on ahead. "I've no intention of attempting to flee or attack anyone without sufficient provocation." She hated the desperation creeping into her tone against her will, and the struggle to maintain eye contact while essentially pleading. "I can no longer tolerate being idle like this. Even if I'm no longer allowed to fulfill my duties as the First Watcher, my time would be much better spent beyond these walls, attending to my duties as a queen."

"Oh? And what are the duties of a queen aside from serving her king?" 

Caramel Arrow was fully prepared for this response, and this time her confidence didn't waver. She sat up straight, with the most regal bearing she could muster. "Overseeing and ensuring the safety and vitality of the kingdom while supporting the king wherever possible."

It wasn't very often that she managed to leave him speechless, but Affogato looked unbalanced by her response. "Well, that's more of a refined answer than I expected from you ," he finally commented. 

"If I am to play this role, I wish to do so wholeheartedly." Caramel Arrow threw caution to the winds, fully leaning into a performance that was less feigned submission and more an open declaration of her dedication to the kingdom. She rose to her feet, crossing over to the other side of the table and sinking into a pose of deference before a tense and still floundering Affogato, with her head bowed - a position she'd assumed for the true king countless times. "Please, Affogato. I can still be of some assistance with the affairs of the kingdom in some way, and it's a better use of both my time and yours."

"Say that again."

"What?" Caramel Arrow lifted her head to meet his eye and found herself faced with a particularly malicious leer. It was the same level of triumphant smugness she'd seen on his face on the day of her exile, watching her walk past the citadel gates while willing herself not to increase the shame already weighting her down by shedding a single tear - at least until she was completely out of sight of her former home and could safely sob her heart out. Now, over half a year later, she was staring at that same expression, and the only word that came to mind was a dumbfounded, "Really?"

"Say it again." 

She was breaking character, and she knew it, but this was just too much. "Oh for Cacao's sake. Please ." When that didn't garner a response other than an unnervingly wicked grin Caramel gave up. "Are you serious?" She snapped, leaping to her feet with her fists clenched. "What more do you want from me?" 

"Beg."

Her nails dug into her palms as her indignation rose to fever pitch. "What??"

" Beg for it." Affogato stood up as well, and Caramel Arrow resisted the urge to take a step back, unwilling to give him a single inch, even as he closed the short distance between them. Cowardice aside, he was in his element, reveling in the power he held over her. It was evident in his demeanor, and deep, deep down, within the part of herself that contained the feelings that she refused to acknowledge, fear began to simmer. "Put on a good show and I'll consider granting your request."

"Craven worm !" She was shouting now, with her self-restraint having completely dissolved. "You can't keep me locked up in here forever!"

Her outburst had little effect on him, moving closer still, closing in on her like a peak prowler menacing its prey. "Maybe not forever," Affogato conceded. "But long enough for you to break , former First Watcher, whether isolation or idleness gets to you first."

My life for the king, for this kingdom . The mantra ran throughout her head on a daily basis, every time she caught sight of herself in a mirror, anything reflective. That vow ran deeper than anything else, and it was this that made her back down, dropping her gaze to the floor while doing as commanded. "Please allow me to leave," she asked, quietly. 

A hand beneath her chin, tilting her head upwards to meet his gaze. "Again. Like you really mean it."

"Why are you so hellbent on humiliating me?" The question was loaded with months of mutual antagonism and resentment - that she hadn’t started, only engaging to finish it. "Do you really take that much pleasure in seeing me like this?" 

"Clearly." Affogato released his hold on her, although he made no move to relinquish her personal space. "Now convince me how much you want your freedom, however limited it may be."

So she did. 

Affogato had no time to react as she surged forth with enough force to send them both toppling over onto the floor, leaving him only able to manage a yelp of surprise before Caramel seized the collar of his regalia and pressed her lips against his. It wasn't her first kiss, nor one she actively wanted to give, but the rush of vindictive pride at effectively shutting him up for once lent far more passion to the act than intended. She'd landed in his lap, shifting to straddle his midsection and only breaking away from the kiss long enough to sit up and slip her hairpin out of her topknot and allowing it to join the waves of hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back. She noticed, gleefully,  the way Affogato's eyes widened at the sight, obviously assuming that she was finally making good on that standing threat to kill him but too stunned to do anything about it. 

"You-" Whatever he was going to say, or at least attempt to, was cut off by another kiss, deeper than the first, as if Caramel Arrow was seeking out the faint traces of bitter coffee and cloying sweetness with her tongue. Such a strange, contradicting blend, but not unpleasant. The moment she felt him returning the gesture, hands drifting up to intertwine themselves in her hair she broke away with a gasp, deftly gripping his wrists and forcing them back against the floor. Between the two of them there was a clear difference in physical strength, hers honed by years of the rigorous training all soldiers were required to undergo, and she took full advantage of it, effortlessly keeping him pinned to the ground. She didn't give him the chance to protest the denial of control, capturing his lips once more. 

Once breathing became a necessity she drew back, chest heaving and just slightly lightheaded. She stared down at Affogato, who was in a similar state of disarray, noting the way his pupils were blown and his face flushed. He still made no move to push her away or regain control of the situation, even after she released her hold on his wrists. For the second time that day he seemed incapable of finding anything to say, insult or otherwise. There was a difference between merely possessing power and actually using it, and in that moment of breathless haze Caramel Arrow realized that she had far more of it than she'd initially thought. 

"Please let me leave." She spoke with raw honesty, as always, reaching out to brush a lock of soft, silky white hair off to the side and tucking it behind his ear. "Allow me to help you keep watch over our kingdom, Your Majesty. I will accept and perform my duties as a queen to support your duties as a king."

Full clarity was beginning to return, as did awareness of the rather compromising position they were in. Caramel Arrow slowly moved back to let her disheveled spouse sit up; this was the longest she'd ever seen Affogato go without speaking save for when he was asleep. After a brief moment of silence broken only by the sound of them both breathing heavily, Caramel retrieved her binyeo, simply holding it and tracing the curves of the triple scoops of ice cream with her fingertips. Making eye contact required a level of fortitude on par with slaying a beast out in the wilds. "Was that good enough for you?"

"I suppose that little display was more than satisfactory." Affogato's voice lacked its typical arrogance. He was either unable or unwilling to return eye contact while fussing with his robes and hair, obviously still very flustered. "Very well."

Caramel Arrow lifted her head, residual embarrassment immediately dissipating in favor of the first faint flickers of hope she'd experienced in weeks. It could be yet another mind game, getting her hopes up and snatching them away at the last minute, retaliation for that brief power grab...

"I'll grant your request." Affogato sighed, rising and, in an unusual gesture, extended a hand to help her up as well. The true motive behind the act of courtesy swiftly became apparent; no sooner than she was on her feet Caramel Arrow found herself being tugged forward into a none-too-comfortable embrace - quite possibly the expected retaliation. The mask was firmly in place again with any true emotion obscured, save for something new... well, revived. It reminded her of that day weeks ago, damn near helpless in the arms of someone that viewed her as a possession, and for a moment, the hands that were now running through her hair did so in a manner identical to those loosening her binyeo and combing through it possessively while she was incapacitated. That predatory edge was also back as well, and she couldn’t suppress a shudder at the words being whispered into her ear, "But you may only leave if you're accompanying me. And if you try to sneak off and sow dissent, I'll revoke that privilege and ensure you never pass beyond that door again."

Definitely retaliation. 

Caramel Arrow merely nodded in response, too overcome to speak, even after he released her. "Not what you wanted?" 

"No... no, that's more than acceptable. Thank you." She said, with a weak, shaky smile. Gratitude and relief spoke louder than anything else at that moment. "Thank you, sincerely. Anything is better than learning to make tea all day long."

And I have something to protect, no matter what .

"I appreciate your efforts. You're quite good at it." Genuine compliments from Affogato without an ulterior motive were exceedingly rare, and Caramel Arrow couldn't help her skepticism towards them. As if reading her mind, he added, bluntly, while glancing heavenward in dramatic exasperation, "If I hadn't truly enjoyed it, I would not have partaken of multiple cups of it."

"It's nowhere near your usual fare," she pointed out, now in the process of twisting her hairpin back into place atop her head and shifting the layers of her dress (thankfully still immaculately clean) back into place. 

"I'm allowed to have varied tastes, am I not?" Affogato shrugged. "In fact... perhaps it should be an additional duty of yours."

And there it was, that self-interest behind every word. Granted, the request seemed to indicate that he'd simply liked the tea and wanted more of the blend - and lacked the ability to just ask for it without any traces of manipulation. "If that's what you want, I suppose I don't mind," Caramel Arrow agreed. It could be far worse… and as much as she’d grumbled over it she’d honestly enjoyed creating the unique blends with Cocoa Butter and Cocoa Powder serving as critics. “That’s fine.”

Affogato retrieved his staff, left leaning against the door after arriving, most likely done so to avoid being surprised should anyone else attempt to enter without announcing themselves. 

It occurred to Caramel Arrow that her husband was excessively paranoid. 

"Well?" He glanced back at her, impatiently. 

"Give me a moment." Caramel Arrow began to clean up the remnants of tea and other implements left scattered across the table, halted only by Affogato loudly clearing his throat. 

" T hat is what servants are for," he said. "And if I'm not mistaken you just willingly acknowledged your place in the kingdom."

"Oh. I see." She hadn't thought about how her choice would, to some degree, place a social barrier between herself and the other residents of the citadel. King Dark Cacao may have been actively involved with the lives and wellbeing of his subjects, but his presence commanded a level of respect and deference that everyone submitted to without question, including herself. It was going to take quite some time to adjust to everything her new role entailed, but having the ability to watch over the kingdom and its residents was well worth the discomfort.

On her way out of the room, Queen Caramel Arrow caught sight of herself in the mirror, reflecting both her dedication to her true duty and a small, hopeful smile that she hadn’t seen for quite some time. 

Notes:

ETA, after editing: maybe you don't have to squint