Eins x Ernst | The Prince's Chambers Continuation

Continuation Part IV

*fifth day*

“Ernst, this whole outing screams ‘date’.”

“Well, Eins, you used up all of your diaries.”

“Journals, Ernst, journals.”

Ernst made sure the curtains of the carriage they were in were closed, and leaned towards Eins from the opposite bench. “They shall be called diaries, princess.” His lips brushed Eins’s cheek as he said the words.

Eins twirled a piece of his hair around his finger. “Ernst…”

“Yes?”

“Do not use that word.”

“Hmm?” Ernst playfully dragged Eins until the purple-haired prince was sitting in his lap. He settled his head besides Eins’s, on his shoulder, despite Eins being taller than him. “Which one, princess?”

“That one.” Eins frowns, then turns habitually to fix Ernst’s hat - which is one of the reasons for this outing. Eins needs new diaries, and Ernst needs a new hat.

“Ah, it seems we are here.” Ernst gracefully avoids having to respond as he gets up to open the carriage door - quite awkwardly, as with Eins in his lap.

Ernst steps outside and opens the door for Eins. Thankfully, Eins is dressed in a more commoner-like fashion than a princely one, so there is not much attention pointed towards the two. However, Ernst is still wearing his white suit.

Eins steps outside as well, and they make their way to the small shop where Eins buys his diaries. Ernst hums cheerfully as they enter.

A bell dings, and the woman at the counter looks up from her book. “Welcome! Is there anything I can help you with, sirs?”

“No, thank you.” Ernst takes a moment to look at the book she is reading while Eins breaks off in search of new diaries. “Is that one of Doctor Dmitri’s books you have there?”

While they make small talk, Ernst carefully watches Eins from the corner of his eye. The dark-haired prince is compiling a stack of diaries while sifting through the ones in in his arms.

“Ernst, carry these for me.”

“Excuse me.” Ernst leaves the woman at the counter and picks up Eins’s pile while mentally counting.

“Thirteen this time?”

“Yes, and before you ask, they fit within out budget.”

“Eleven florins and sixty-two kreuzer.” The woman's tone is cheerful as Ernst counts out the money.

“Here you go.” He slides the coins over and picks up the pile, following Eins as he exits with a wave.

“Ernst.”

“Yes?”

“Put those in the carriage and tell the carriage man to deposit the books outside my chambers. He needs not to wait for us.”

“Ah?” Ernst is confused as he puts the new diaries into the carriage.

“It is only a short walk from the place we are going back to the palace.”

“Mmm.”

They arrive shortly at the place where Ernst buys his hats. Eins sits down, hats not being in his favor. In his opinion, hats are obnoxious things that are too over decorated and are not suited for sudden movement.

Ernst, however, is looking at all the white top hats and discussing with himself which would look better with his white suit in the mirror. He's discarded many as possible choices, and after some time he narrows done the selection to two. Both are white top hats, one with a dark reddish ribbon that he thinks would match his eyes, and another with a black ribbon interwoven with hints of purple that reminds him of Eins.

Ernst turns to Eins, who is staring out the window, observing the commoners as they walk by. “Eins, which one do you think is better?”

“That one.”

Ernst turns to look at what Eins pointed at, as he did not indicate the hats in his hands. His eyes widen as he looks at a white top hat with two ribbons woven together around the base. One ribbon is blue, and the other is wine-coloured. He did not see this one.

“Hmm, so you like this one?” Ernst carefully puts away the hats in his hand and picks it up.

“I have no thoughts on which hat you choose to or not wear. They're all a nuisance to me.”

“Mmm.” Ernst walks up to the counter.

The man at the counter racks up the price. “Twenty florins.”

Ernst pays that amount and holds the now-his hat carefully in his hands as he finds Eins at the door.

“Where are we going now?” He asks Eins as they walk.

“I feel like some sweets and coffee.”

“Ah.” Ernst mentally cheers himself when he realizes his hunch was right.

They enter Café Mitter Meyer together. Luckily, today is not a day when the fifth prince, Licht, works.

They sit and order, and quickly they are finished with their sweets and coffee and head back to palace.

“I'll leave you to your new diaries.”

“Ernst…”

“Yes, princess?”

“Out.”

Word Count: 799

(A/N): This is just a wild guess at what things and money is worth in the Granzreich kingdom. So it's probably not accurate!