The royal court buzzed with activity as usual, the air thick with whispers and half-formed plots. Yet, there was a distinct shift in the atmosphere, one that Seraphina felt but couldn’t fully understand. The connection she had with Prince Aiden was undeniable, but it was still laced with tension, and more than once, she caught him staring at her with that inscrutable look on his face. He was distant, cold, aloof — all the things he’d been before. But now, there was something more to it. She could see it in the way his eyes lingered just a bit too long, the way his hands fidgeted when she was nearby. It was almost as if he didn’t know how to handle what was growing between them.

And Yuki, in her fox form, was not helping. The magical white fox had become something of a confidant, an unexpected ally who could somehow see right through the prince’s stoic exterior. Yuki had been incessantly encouraging Seraphina to make the first move. "Just speak your mind. The prince is no better than an awkward turtle," Yuki would say, her sharp eyes glinting with mischief. "He’s just waiting for you to call him out."

But Seraphina wasn’t so sure. She had grown more confident in her role within the court, but the matter of her feelings for Aiden was still a delicate one. She wasn’t sure she could be that forward, even with Yuki’s cheeky encouragement. What if she misread him? What if she embarrassed herself?

One evening, after a particularly frustrating council meeting, Seraphina found herself sitting alone on a balcony overlooking the palace gardens. The soft evening breeze played with her hair, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to relax. A quiet voice broke the stillness.

“Lady Seraphina,” came the familiar voice of Prince Aiden, his tone as stiff as always.

She turned, and there he stood, the last person she had expected to find in the gardens at this hour. Prince Aiden was still dressed in his formal attire, but there was something different about him tonight — a vulnerability that wasn’t usually present.

“I didn’t mean to intrude,” he said, though the awkwardness in his words made it clear that his presence here was very much intentional.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “I don’t mind,” she said, gesturing to the empty seat beside her. “You’re not interrupting anything.”

Aiden hesitated for a moment before sitting down. They were silent for a beat, neither one sure what to say, but the tension in the air was palpable.

“You’ve been rather distant lately,” Seraphina remarked, her tone light but sharp. “Something on your mind, Your Highness?”

The words seemed to catch him off guard, and he quickly averted his gaze, fumbling with the folds of his coat. “Nothing of consequence,” he muttered. But Seraphina could see the flicker of something in his eyes — something he wasn’t willing to acknowledge.

“Of course,” she replied, her voice dripping with mock innocence. “It’s not as if I’ve noticed the way you’ve been watching me lately.”

Aiden stiffened, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I—” He stammered, caught off guard by the boldness of her words. “I wasn’t watching you!”

“Oh, really?” Seraphina leaned in, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I must have imagined the way you seemed to follow me with your eyes every time I stepped into the room.”

Aiden’s flustered reaction was enough to make Seraphina chuckle under her breath. She had done it — made him squirm. And it felt oddly satisfying. Yuki would be pleased. She could almost hear the fox’s sarcastic remarks in her head: *See? I told you he was just waiting for you to say something.*

Aiden, however, seemed desperate to recover. “That’s not—” He stopped, realizing he was digging himself deeper. “That is… to say… You’ve been very active in court lately. Your influence is growing, Lady Seraphina.”

Seraphina tilted her head, feigning interest. “Oh? You don’t think it’s too much?” she asked, leaning back into her chair, her gaze steady on him.

Aiden blinked, clearly not expecting the question. “What? No! Of course not.” His words came out rushed. “I—I think you’ve handled it well. Your rise… It’s impressive.”

“Is it?” Seraphina asked, her voice soft. She wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or uncomfortable by his praise. “I’ve had some help, of course.”

“Help?” Aiden echoed, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. “You’ve proven yourself on your own. That’s what matters. Your strength, your… resilience. It’s unmatched.”

His words hung in the air, but they weren’t the ones Seraphina was expecting. She had anticipated a compliment about her wit or beauty, but instead, Aiden had acknowledged her power, her growth. It was as though he saw her for who she truly was, not just the political figure she portrayed.

Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat. But she wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily.

“Well, thank you, Your Highness,” she said, her voice teasing. “But I’m afraid I don’t quite understand how my ‘resilience’ translates into your obvious discomfort around me. If I’m so impressive, why do you act like I’m a ticking time bomb every time we talk?”

Aiden’s face turned crimson, and he stammered, clearly flustered. “I… I didn’t mean—”

Before he could finish, a small voice broke in from behind them. “I think what Lady Seraphina is trying to say, Prince, is that you need to stop acting like an awkward turtle around her.”

They both turned to see Yuki, in her fox form, sitting calmly on a nearby stone. Her sharp eyes gleamed with mischief as she casually flicked her tail.

Aiden blinked. “Yuki, I’m trying to have a serious conversation.”

“Oh, I know,” Yuki replied with a playful grin. “But someone’s got to get through to you. You’ve been hopelessly in denial for far too long.”

Seraphina couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The tension between her and Aiden had been so thick for weeks, and yet, here was Yuki — the cheeky fox — cutting through it all with ease. It felt like a turning point. The prince was still too proud to admit what was obvious to everyone else, but Yuki had helped clear the air in her own, unconventional way.

Aiden, mortified, shot a glance at Yuki. “This is none of your business.”

Yuki just smirked, unfazed by the prince’s indignation. “You can keep pretending, but your feelings are as obvious as a fox in a room full of rabbits.”

Seraphina couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. The tension between her and Aiden had been so thick for weeks, and yet, here was Yuki — the cheeky fox — cutting through it all with ease. It felt like a turning point. The prince was still too proud to admit what was obvious to everyone else, but Yuki had helped clear the air in her own, unconventional way.

Aiden, still blushing, stood abruptly. “I think I need to go.” He quickly turned on his heel, not looking back.

“Good luck with that,” Yuki called after him, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Seraphina watched him go, a bemused smile on her lips. It was a small victory, but it was a step forward. Aiden might not have admitted his feelings yet, but it was only a matter of time. And in the meantime, she had Yuki, who always seemed to know exactly how to make things interesting.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” Seraphina said, turning to Yuki with a grin. “But I’m glad you did. He’s finally started to show his true colors.”

Yuki shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. “What can I say? I’m a professional at reading people. And Aiden, poor guy, is practically wearing his heart on his sleeve.”

“I’m starting to think you might be right,” Seraphina said, her smile softening. “Maybe I just need to take the next step. If he can’t say it, maybe I’ll have to.”

Yuki’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “That’s the spirit. But remember, don’t go easy on him. He’s a prince, not a baby.”

With a chuckle, Seraphina turned her gaze back to the empty space where Aiden had been standing moments before. The night felt a little lighter now, and she knew that whatever happened next, she was ready for it. The turning point had come.