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When Hughette first realized the nature of her feelings for Giovanna, she set her resolution in stone; this time, she would not bet on fate to bless her, would not wait for her beloved to sweep her off her feet. She would take matters into her own hands. The only question that remained was how she would go about confessing her love.
For her first attempt, she invited Giovanna to a stroll through the marketplace of Glenbrook’s capital. Hughette made certain that Giovanna was left wanting for nothing, treating her to whatever local specialty piqued her interest. Whenever Hughette tried to steer her to a quiet corner to talk, Giovanna’s eyes would gleam with excitement at another trinket or delicacy and off she went. Unfortunately, it would have been so very rude to interrupt Giovanna when she was enjoying herself to the fullest, and so they parted come evening with a bounty of little treasures and words left unsaid.
Her second time trying, she decided to follow the folk wisdom that the way to a loved one’s heart was through their stomach. At the very least, Hughette had been able to gather which treats were to Giovanna’s taste during their visit to the market. The apple tart in particular had made Giovanna spark with delight; a sweet smile had played around her lips when she had rushed closer to offer Hughette a bite.
Hughette made certain to prepare meticulously. She bought herself a book with recipes for sweet treats, even gave her creation a test run – considering that the members of the newly formed Kingsguard devoured her attempt, she ruled it successful – before inviting Giovanna to some homemade cake and tea. She had only just managed to measure her ingredients, fingers sticky with the dough she was kneading when Giovanna burst into the kitchen like a whirlwind, begging to join her. No matter how Hughette insisted that she intended to treat her to this, Giovanna could not be deterred and got to work cutting the apples with a hum on her lips. Any attempt at romance evaded Hughette as they both focused on the task at hand.
Thirdly, Hughette decided that she would whisk Giovanna away from any and all distractions outright. During her ventures, both while scouting by herself and while taking Giovanna to survey the land, Hughette had come to discover Norzelia’s hidden wonders. She would take Giovanna onto Flugie – pressed chest to back, trying to ignore how she was close enough to bask in the warmth oozing off Giovanna – and take her to the lush mountains where the northern vein of the Norzelia river sprung. There, between blossoming wildflowers and with the gentle murmur of the water to back her up, she would confess her love.
Hughette awoke that morning with the fire of excitement lighting her mood – a flame which quickly doused when she realized that all nature had in store for her was pouring rainfall, making it impossible to take Flugie to the skies.
With her plans dashed once more, Hughette resigned herself to a quiet day inside. At the very least Flugie still gave her a soft coo as she preened the feathers he couldn’t reach, apparently content even though he’d be cooped up within the stables for the day. What Hughette would have given to feel as easily fulfilled.
“I thought I’d find you here!” Quick steps fell onto the floorboards. Giovanna appeared by her side with a smile as bright as the morning sun, despite the fact that her hair was a dripping wet mess and her cloak clung to her.
“Is something the matter?” Hughette straightened, closing the distance between them with brisk steps.
“Ah, apologies. I did not mean to worry you.” A sheepish smile curled Giovanna’s lips. “I just thought… it is such a shame that we had to cancel today’s venture. Can I perhaps be of use to you some other way?”
“Not that I can think of,” Hughette murmured, suppressing the urge to brush back the bangs that had slipped into Giovanna’s face. “Was that truly reason enough to rush out here in the middle of a storm?”
“It is to me. Each moment I can spend with you means so much to me,” Giovanna said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “I’m not sure you realize how much I like you, Hughette.”
Hughette froze mid-motion, practically gawking at Giovanna.
She must have misunderstood. How else could Giovanna have mentioned it so casually?
Yet, it was not that Giovanna appeared devoid of uncertainty. The way her eyes flicked back and forth, never quite meeting Hughette’s, the rosy blush dusting her cheek and her teeth catching her bottom lip in quick nips told Hughette as much. Though none of that stopped the words that Giovanna would give her next, “If you made time for me today, I want to spend every last moment of it with you. It may be selfish, even greedy, but it’s the truth.”
Just like that, Giovanna had rendered her carefully laid out plan moot, though Hughette had never been happier to be taken off-guard. A laugh broke from her, bright and a little too loud in the quiet of the room.
“You shan’t catch me complaining.” Hughette’s fingers found Giovanna’s soft cheek at long last, brushing the cool raindrops away. Giovanna blossomed under her touch, smiling as if she had no worries left in the world. “In fact…I believe I owe you my gratitude.”