Magi one shots

As Long As You Care (Koumei x OC)

Freya is normal, her body is more on the thin side, her shoulder length brown hair ,always in a small ponytail, wasn't special. Nothing special about her face either. Dark brown eyes almost black is probably the most beautiful thing about her, as they looked like gold under the sun.

And so, it was a mystery to her and everybody else what Koumei, Second Prince of Kou, saw in her that made him interested enough to ask for her hand in marriage.

Being a civillian, and a bakery owner, the moment Koumei asked for her hand in marriage at her own shop at busy hours, was a sight to see.

To say she was shocked was an understandment. She was familiar with him due to the fact that he was a regular customer at her bakery. She became friends to him when he saved her from being hit by a drunk carriage driver and her nursing the scrapes and scratches he receives from helping her.

From then on, they talked to each other, sometimes she would share a bit of her personal story and her childhood, and he in turn would tell her his daily life in the palace, about his brothers and sisters, his work, and many other things

From what they told each other, he learned that she was an orphan, that she lived with her mother and never knew her father, and that her mother died 2 years ago, and little things about her such as her hobbies, her dreams, etc.

She learned that beyond that calm facade was a nervous and shy person, that his status as a prince demand him to be calm and collected like his brother, and that he never really received much attention.

That is how he became interested and then fell in love with her.

Kouen and Kouha both knew about the woman who had gain the interest of their brother, but they didn't see the problem because the woman is nice and didn't see it as a problem.

They thought that Koumei would get bored someday.

They, however, hadn't expected Koumei to ask their permission to have Freya as his wife. Kouha didn't seem to find it a problem because he simply didn't care as long as his brother is happy, and the fact that the woman his brother asked to be his wife was a great baker.

However, Kouen isn't the same. He cared for his brothers and didn't his brother to be hurt by a woman who is after the fame and money of being a prince's wife.

He personally went to see the woman his brother had been, and still is, fond off and learned about her lifestyle. He had been satisfied to know that Freya, the woman, had been a nice woman.

Even though Kouen knew that Freya's status as a civillian could cause a riot in the palace because it is unheard of, a prince marrying a civillian. Usually, a prince could take a civillian as a concubine, but not as a first wife.

The fact had been proved when Koumei had declared his decision to his father and his father's council. Disagreement was thrown everywhere and Koumei had even thought about leaving Kou to marry the woman he loves.

Kouen's help had been a pleasant surprise to Koumei. His brother didn't seem to be the kind of person to stick his nose into someone's love life, though the fact that Koumei is his brother could be taken into consideration.

And so, after a long argument and tiring conversation, Koumei managed to get his father and the council's permission with a condition.

Freya must learn how to live as a princess and that means that she can no longer live in her house and continue her business because, in their opinion, a woman is simply a child bearer and a princess that works is a disgrace to the kingdom.

Koumei knew that opening that bakery was her dream and he felt guilty, but he hadn't even proposed to her. Heck, their relationship is ,at best, close friends.

So when he asked for her hand in marriage, he was surprised when she had blushed and dragged him all the way back to her house, which was a street across her bakery, leaving her employee in charge of her bakery.

"What do you mean by saying that?" Freya had asked, confused

"I mean my words. Will you marry me?"

"My Lord, I am merely a civillian and you are a prince, surely the council and The Emperor would disapprove of me being your wife..."

"I told you to call me by my name, and to your question, I have their permission to marry you, but they have a condition that demands you to live like all other princess, which includes no work, but I could still prepare a kitchen for you to work with. I have prepared for everything, all that is left is your answer."

"I...."

"Please, you don't have to accept my proposal, but at least give me an answer..."

"I feel like I'm not worthy of you..."

"I don't care about your status, I love you, and don't you think I at least deserve an answer?"

"I... feel the same for you, but first, may I tell you about my family background?"

And when he nodded, she told him everything, that her father is a nobleman from another country and that her father was forced to have an arranged marriage when he already had a lover, which is her mother.

Her mother had been pregnant when he was declared to marry a stranger.

Her father's father asked for people to kill her mother because he didn't want a civillian to distract his son from his duty. Her father had heard about his father's plan and had warned his lover.

They had promised to meet in Kou, as that is the nearest country, and told her mother to go ahead while he tried to distract the men his father had sent to kill his lover.

Unfortunately, the men didn't recognized her father as their employer's son and had kill him.

Because of her father's unexpected death, her mother had become solemn and quiet. She rarely payed attention to young Freya and had always looked out on the window, probably hoping that her lover would suddenly appear.

Freya tried all sorts of things to gain her mothers attention, and her mother had always loved sweets since her father would bring them everytime they met.

And that is how she started baking and had grown fond of it.

Her mother had told her about her father in her death bed and asked Freya to forgive her for never telling the truth and never cared for her, and that her father loved her and that they would always be proud of her.

Koumei listened to her stories and when she finally finished, he enveloped her in his embrace and promised to always be there for her and that he didn't care about her family background.

"Thanks for listening..... Koumei" she said with a smile.

While others saw her as an ordinary woman, he saw her as a sweet, caring, and a gentle woman.

While others saw him as a cool collected prince, she saw him as a shy, nervous man, but a kind man nonetheless.

If you asked her what made her fell in love with him, her answer would be that because he received her for who she is and didn't asked question when she didn't want him too. He was always by her side, and he had cared for her, and that is probably all that matters.

If you asked him what made him fell in love with her, his answer would be that she gave him the attention and affection he had craved since he was a child.

After all, his father and the whole palace paid more attention to his older brother because he was the first child. Her mother had focused her attention in gaining his father's attention because his father had many concubine.

Freya had given him love even when she didn't realize her feeling for him and the sweet smile given to him had been enough for him, despite others thinking that she was nothing special.
To him, she was special because she cared for him.