Ivaylo V. H.

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"Ah, so you were holding back out of consideration. Of course, how noble of you."

Ivaylo huffed, cheeks flushing bright pink as the other leaned close.

"I... was able to do it without it being flashy or inappropriate, I trust you would be able to do the same. Or are you incapable of it?"

"It's hard to find comfort in these trying times."

Was it clear he was trying to communicate he wasn't judging? Suddenly he felt awkward.

"Uhm, did you know tales of chivalry were actually written as a means to change the nobility's lavish and cruel lifestyle? Sometimes life imitates art..."

He didn't appreciate the sudden change in Damien's gaze. Or rather, it was unexpected. But then again, since he left his father's manor, he had learned much of his life and the rules he had lived under were far from the norm.

"I can understand that. Stories hold great power."

"Yes, well... They usually don't. It's a matter of who has it stored. Garreg Mach has quite the rich library.
People tend to forget history was made by people like themselves... I just thinm I would be remiss as an historian if I didn't aknowledge that aspect of it too."

Ivaylo coughed, flustered.

/ he looks like a manhwa character i'm crying

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|| I should make Amanda's account...

"Here, have you read this one? It's a tale of a knight that gets unjustly accused by some conspirators, and his travels trying to prove his innocence and save his king."

He passed him the book.

"Did you want to become a knight because of this kind of stories?"

She might have not ended up where her family first envisioned her, but he couldn't fathom anyone seeing Maddie and feel anything but pride.

"You know I... Ahem, I had a... I admired you well before, uhm. I really admired you when you opened your shop? I was starstruck by you."

He gently put his hand on hers, rubbing his thumb over the flour covered skin.

"You love your family so much, I can see you think of them every day. I know you must want to see them... You have nothing to feel shame for, I think you know as well, they'd welcome you with open arms."

Ivaylo smiled, his book closed. He simply looked at her as her eyes lit up with the winter lights. For the cold Firdhiad those festivities provided warmth and heart.

"I would love to go with you... Maybe we can decorate the shop in the style of your hometown? It's a little different, right?

"If you ever were, I wish you'd tell me. You don't have to... Sugarcoat it, for me."

He smiled, one hand going atop hers to comfort, once the cups were in place.

"Your hometown. I suppose the holidays are a time for nostalgia. Do you ever think of going back? I mean, I know it's..."

"That was sarcasm, tatlim."

Ivaylo crossed his arms, sliding his habds away from the hold.

"Well that's too bad, I suppose I shall take my leave then, if you have nothing else to say about me. Clearly I should retire in my room. I'll see you when I'm up to yoir standards, your Majesty."

"Here, have you read this one? It's a tale of a knight that gets unjustly accused by some conspirators, and his travels trying to prove his innocence and save his king."

He passed him the book.

"Did you want to become a knight because of this kind of stories?"

Still turned towards the books, Ivaylo took a moment to reply.

"I mostly read historical chronicles. I guess... I loke reading épistolaires... Uhm, past mail exchanges. They can be quite romantic."

He enjoyed pink novels as well, but he wasn't going to share that with anyone. Not at spellpoint.

+

Ivaylo hummed, raising his hand to lightly brush on the backs of some books.

"I didn't know. You must have liked it to remember something from so much time ago..."

In Damien's old town? He wondered.

"You must have learned how to read at an early age too."

+

"I'm glad then. I wouldn't wish for anything else for you."

He sat at the bench, books on the seat to his left as he made to open the first one.
Just a routine they had estabilished.
Though, he stopped, looking up, a little wide eyed.

"Does it happen often? Thst you feel lonely, I mean?"

"Just so you know, you made this incredibly awkward for me... Objectively speaking"

Ivaylo was torn between laughing or frowning at the short contact AND quick reply. Claude was set on being cheeky today.
He rolled his eyes, huffing.

"You have such a way with words."

"It will do. Good job, you were even careful to line up the fronts, and not the book's backs."

Recommendations? Oh he had, thought he was hesitant to share his favorite books.

"Mh... I can't really...
I do not know your taste, to be quite honest. What were you reading before?"

"I mean, it would be more accurate to say it's my father's. It's more one of our roles is to tend to the Imperial Library as well, I suppose it could be seen as a trade I've been trained in."

Ivaylo seemed a little taken aback, flustered almost.
He quickly turned to the books, examining them.

+

"Oh, the hearth is on."

Coming in with some books, Ivaylo smiles, relaxing a little as he gets used to the cozy warmth of the bakery.

"Are you ready to have people crowd this place simply for the warmth? Order a coffee and a pastry and stay here for hours?"

He gently curled one finger around one of Claude's curls.

"I like your hair, the muscles of your shoulders..."

Then he lowered his hands, resting them against the other's chest.

"Your arms. You're very attractive, Claude. I mean, it's not only mean, speaking objectively..."

"It's sad I have to be the one to humanize you in your own eyes, tatlim."

Ivaylo blinked, the words finally registering in his mind.

"Oh..."

His cheeks burned red. Now he looked down at Claude, bashful.

"Of course, I like you phisically as well."

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