Can love be green? [Vinsmoke Yonji]

07. Where Steel Learns to Soften

The month that followed was uneventful. At least, that was how it appeared. To the servants, the royal family, and everyone else aboard Germa, the newlyweds had settled into married life without difficulty : they walked side by side through the castle, they attended formal dinners together, they exchanged the expected courtesies, discussed their schedules, and even shared the occasional smile when etiquette demanded it. If anyone noticed them, they saw a prince and princess who were adapting remarkably well.

No one questioned it.

No one suspected anything.

Only Y/n and Yonji knew how much of it was a performance.

The argument had never truly ended. It had simply been folded away and placed somewhere neither of them dared to touch. They never spoke of Aogu. They never spoke of Germa. They never mentioned weakness, kindness, fear, or power. Instead, they talked about ordinary things such as the weather, meals, their respective duties, books Y/n was reading and projects Yonji was working on.

Conversations that could never become arguments. At night, they returned to the same quarters. Some evenings they stayed silent. Others, Yonji tinkered with one of his mechanical projects while Y/n wrote letters or lost herself in a novel.

The room was peaceful. Almost comfortable. If someone had looked through the open door, they would have thought they had found a couple enjoying a quiet evening together. Only the two of them knew that the silence between them was carefully maintained. Every word was chosen. Every subject weighed. Both of them instinctively avoiding the one conversation neither was ready to have again. It wasn't resentment anymore but neither was it understanding. It was an unspoken peace.

Until, one morning, their routine was interrupted. Three measured knocks echoed through their quarters. Yonji looked up from the workbench where he was assembling a mechanical gauntlet. Across the room, Y/n closed the book resting on her lap. "Come in."

A servant entered and bowed. "Prince Yonji. Princess Y/n. The delegation from Aogu has arrived. His Royal Highness Prince Dante has come personally to deliver the first shipment of weapons promised under the alliance."

Y/n stood up immediately. "Dante's here?"

"Yes, Princess."

"The royal reception will begin within the hour. His Majesty requests your presence."

"We'll be there," Yonji answered.

The servant bowed once more before quietly leaving. The door closed. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then a smile slowly appeared on Y/n's face. "I haven't seen him since the wedding."

Yonji set the gauntlet aside. "You miss him."

"I do."

She stood, already making her way toward the wardrobe.

"He's probably going to complain that Germa is too grey."

Yonji raised an eyebrow. "It is grey."

She laughed. "I know."