Maid for Each Other
Pairing: Prince! Kiyoomi Sakusa x fem! Reader
Word count: 1.5k
Warnings: nothing that I can think about, except maybe the fact that y/n works since she was like a kid.
A/N: HI IM BACK FROM MY VERY LONG UNPLANNED HIATUS KINDA!!!! Writing this made me realize how much I miss it so I might open up requests for drabbles and hcs soon
Genre: fluff
Tags: Royal Au, Childhood friends to lovers, semi forbidden love.
Summary: You’ve come to terms with the fact that you and Kiyoomi can never be together. Really, you have. Kiyoomi, on the other hand, is very much determined to make it happen.
Growing up as the daughter of a maid gave you opportunities most common folk like yourself would only dream of having. For example, you got to live in a castle. True, you lived in the much less lavish boarding area where cooks, knights, and other maids lived but walking through the lavish corridors was still something few people could say they’ve done, even if you do it with a mop and a bucket of sudsy water on hand. The best part of it all was that you met Prince Kiyoomi, son of the King and Queen of Itachiyama and he became your closest friend. Even years later, you still look back at the memory of how you met with utmost fondness.
——
You took a bite of your apple, reveling in the satisfying crunch followed by the delicious taste. Today you had some rare recreational time. Despite being merely a child, living at the castle still meant that you had to assist your mother and the other maids. You didn’t mind too much since they always gave you small tasks to do and a much lighter workload, but you were still just a kid, and kids like to jump, play, and run around. By nothing short of a miracle, your mother had let you wander around the east side of the royal garden, saying that as long as you made sure to behave, you were free to do as you pleased.
So here you were, a basket full of leftover juicy apples given to you by the cooks and your favorite book of fairy tales in hand, making your way to a pretty gazebo where you could read your book in peace.
“What are you doing here? This is my spot,” a boy around your age with wavy black hair and two moles right above his right eyebrow asked, clearly more than a bit miffed to find that ‘his spot’ was occupied.
“I can be here if I want to, y’know? It’s not like this place has your name on it or anything, And not that it’s any of your business, but I’m here for some peace and quiet,” you retorted, lowering your book and bringing it closer to your chest. His eyebrows raised in surprise as if he wasn’t used to people talking to him like that, but it seemed as if your answer had him lowering his guard if the way he sat down next to you (after thoroughly wiping the surface of the chair with a handkerchief he carried in his vest pocket) was anything to go by.
“I’m here for some peace and quiet too. My cousin Komori is staying with us for the summer and he’s always loud. It gets kind of annoying sometimes. I’m Kiyoomi,” he told you, offering his hand and you couldn’t help but giggle at his matter-of-fact tone as you shook his hand.
You hadn’t realized who he was at the time, but when you got back to the maid chambers and told your mom all about the weird boy you’d met that day, she almost had a heart attack, thoroughly scolding you for being so crass when interacting with the prince. Despite your ‘crass’ behavior, however, Prince Kiyoomi continued to search you out whenever his cousin -or anyone, really- got on his nerves, bashfully insisting that your company was the one he enjoyed the most.
——
“Absolutely not,” the very same prince announced as soon as Lady Yua, the daughter of a wealthy viscount, and her escorts exited the very same gazebo you’d met the prince in all those years ago.
“Your Grace, the Queen won’t be pleased to hear that you’re rejecting yet another marriage candidate, especially not one as well off as her,” You warned the black-haired prince. He winced at the honorifics, motioning for you to sit down in the now-empty seat across from him.
You hesitated, unsure as to whether or not it would be appropriate for you to act so informally around the handsome prince. Your mother had recently sat you down, explaining that she’d seen the way you looked at Kiyoomi and that it had to cease immediately. Upon seeing the hurt look on your face, she consoled you. Taking you into her arms, she explained that Kiyoomi was a prince, he had been destined for greatness since birth. Clinging to your feelings for the pretty prince would only lead to heartache. A few days later, the King and Queen had announced that since their son had reached eighteen years of age, it was time to begin searching for a wife for him to wed. In hindsight, you had a hunch your mother had heard that the search for a wife for Kiyoomi would start soon, and she was merely trying her best to protect you from a broken heart.
However, Kiyoomi saw your hesitance. He made a big show of motioning to the plate of uneaten apple pie tartlets; the ones he requested despite knowing that Lady Yua disliked them- and they’re your favorite sweet treat. And really, who were you to let such a delicious treat go to waste? Especially when you got to share them with your best friend in a beautiful garden.
As you sat down, your heart fluttered at the thought of how romantic this all was. You were quick to catch yourself, of course; those thoughts were not thoughts fir for a maid to have for her prince.
“She can throw a fit for all I care. I have no intentions of marrying Lady Yua, or any other woman she picks for me for that matter,” Kiyoomi stated.
You froze mid-bite at his words, “Any other woman? Does that mean Omi Omi’s already got a girl picked out for himself?” You teased, trying to hide the way your heart clenched painfully with some of your usual banter.
“Chew your food before you talk, dummy, you’re not a child anymore,” He said, trying to act disgruntled by your immaturity. Kiyoomi’s face turned an endearing shade of pink as he fought the smile trying to worm its way into his face. With an unexpectedly intense look that made you swear he could see into your very soul, he added, “And you of all people should know who it is I’ve picked.”
You choked on your apple pie tartlets before you could question him on just what he meant, knight Tsukasa- you think that’s the name Kiyoomi told you- walked up to the gazebo and informed Kiyoomi that the Queen wished to speak with him. With a ‘good luck’, you saw Kiyoomi off as you wondered who could’ve possibly stolen your prince’s heart.
——
Kiyoomi stood in front of his parents, fully prepared for yet another scolding from them. They could go on for hours, for all he cared. He wouldn’t budge no matter what and that was final. He refused to marry anyone other than you and no amount of parental guilt-tripping would change his mind. Besides, he didn’t see why it mattered so much if he married someone of royal blood. He was third in line after his brother and sister, so odds are he’d never get the crown. Not that he cared.
“Son, I don’t understand why you’re being so difficult! How is it possible that none of the eligible young ladies met your standards? It’s completely preposterous, that’s what it is,” his mother ranted as his father nodded along, albeit rather half-heartedly. “At this point, anyone will do as long as you just choose already. How do you think it makes us look when you reject one girl after another, all from powerful families?! I’d take a commoner over this humiliation.”
Kiyoomi’s head snapped up at her words, looking at both his parents for confirmation. “Do you mean that? Anyone will do it? Even if she’s a commoner?” He couldn’t hide his excitement even if he tried and the King and Queen’s surprise at their youngest son’s rare outburst was almost palpable.
“It’s that maid girl, isn’t it?” His father asked, sharing a look with his wife. With a sigh, he added, “Very well then. If she’s the only one you’ll have, then so be it. However, I fully expect for her to be taught proper etiquette before you even think of having her walk down the aisle.”
Kiyoomi respectfully bowed to his parents before quickly making his way out of the throne room, all but dashing to the gazebo where he hoped you’d still be, heart, beating hard against his rib cage. He didn’t have a ring quite yet, however, he had a hunch you’d say yes anyway- if it came to it, he’d give you all the apples in the kingdom.
