clovers

chapter 40 | Hibi

"Hibi although it's happened once, I'd like to admit that I prefer waking up with you in my arms" Caspians rasped out as he stumbled out of the bedroom. I snickered.

"And I quite prefer breathing" His eyes scanned my figure. "I'd also prefer if you kept your gaze to yourself" I threw some clothes in his face. He grabbed them and looked at them before glancing at me again.

"When did you manage to get these?" I shrugged.

"I'm a pretty early riser, plus you sleep like the dead" He snorted and walked to the other side of the room, flopping himself onto the couch. His eyes told an unspoken question to what I was wearing which I quickly cleared up "Diamond attire, you will also be wearing something similar".

"I think we should stay in Diamonds then" I ignored the innuendo in his words and the sultriness in his tone and looked away from his domineering gaze. "So colours here are white and...gold?" I nodded.

"Yes but its much more common for the commoners to wear white, the queen has an unspoken rule about people wearing gold" I explained, "You can wear whatever you like of course but most people like to add a splash of white to honour their roots".

Unlike me today who was going all out on the Diamonds spirit.

I was wearing a white silk romper that had a deep, plunging v neck. It was slightly see-through but luckily the material was a little thicker to cover the parts that mattered. I didn't have time to do a traditional braid so I settled for a colourful headwrap that brought a splash of colour to the outfit with the two front pieces of my hair out and on my feet, I wore simple sandals.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel at home.

"You look very relaxed" I nodded.

"I am, I had a lovely rose water bath this morning surrounded by rose quartz and strawberry-scented candles" He nodded but his face showed confusion as to what I was talking about.

Oh, sweet Cas, there's not a thought behind those eyes is there?

"I assume I'll receive similar treatment?" I walked up to him and put my palm on his cheek, which he immediately leaned into.

"No" I ripped my hand away from his face "You'd be lucky if the coals are still warm for you to have a hot bath" I snickered but I knew at the back of my mind that I'd put fresh new heated coals for him so that he could have a comfortable bath.

But I'd never admit it to his face.

"Next time wake me up" I raised an eyebrow "I have great ideas on a good way to preserve water" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. I tried to be mad but I couldn't stop the smile from reaching my lips.

Dumbass.

"I promise you you'll love it!"

"You said the exact same thing last time with Don and his sandwiches"

I opened my mouth to correct him but decided against it. "Well, this is completely different! Meilin makes pastries and cakes!" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"What's the catch? Does she also have a hot male co-worker that'd love to get in between your legs" He shrugged "Or female...I don't judge".

I sighed exasperatedly "Caspian you're going to love it I promise, she makes the best treats in this half of the kingdom!" He didn't look convinced.

"How can you be sure? Have you gone to every cafe in Diamonds?" I facepalmed.

"I might as well have!" I began to drag him in the direction of Meilin's Sweet Tooth again "You're being so unnecessarily difficult" He proceeded to whine like a child as I dragged him through the streets of the Amber Province.

I lived in Amber because it was far away from Topaz City. Which meant it far away from my mother.

"Meilin!"

The bell at the door rang as we walked in. I looked around from her until I heard shuffling in the kitchen. Soon the short dark-haired woman poked her head out of the kitchen. "Hibiscus you better hope I'm seeing things".

I smiled sheepishly "No, I'm here...surprise?" I gave her awkward jazz hands.

Meilin came bounding out the kitchen with a wooden spoon. "You-inconsiderate-stupid-stupid-child!" She smacked me with the spoon repeatedly "And who are you? Her rebound?" I gasped.

"Meilin!" She turned her eyes back to me.

"What am I supposed to think!?"

"suu k suungaalhkyinn pell!" She snorted.

"a bhaal kyawwng sainsai kambharpawtwin imyaha kaunggsaw luu ko matesway aahpyit a bhaal kyawwng hteinsaimhtarr mai naee?" I groaned.

"ngar shuko aelldelo mamyinr lhoet larr?" Caspian decided to butt in.

"May we talk in English please?" Meilin looked him up and down, accessing him from head to toe.

"bharlhoet m hpyit ramalell? i suu sai mayone nine loutaaung swalsaungmhu shisai" My face heats up.

"dark musarr mahotebhuu" Caspian narrowed his eyes at me.

"Anyways I'm Caspian" He extended his hand out to Mei. She merely stared at it for a few minutes before slapping it away and pulling him into a hug. He stumbled forward a bit as her small arms wrapped around him before patting his back.

"This one has strong arms Hibi" I rolled my eyes as Caspian flushed pink. She pulled away from him and looked at him "And nice eyes, your children would be gorgeous".

"Okay okay okay!" I shoved them away from each other "That's enough of that" Meilin just smirked, not a trace of guilt on her face. "It's his first time in Diamonds, I wanted him to try some of your treats for breakfast."

Her face lit up "Well why didn't you say so, here I thought you were here for a blessing" She began to lead us to a window seat. "What would you like?" Caspian looked at me before looking at the menu.

I leaned over and snapped it shut. "You allergic to anything?" He thought for a minute.

"Oranges" I snorted.

"Tragic" I looked at Meilin who was staring at us with a glitter in her eye. "Can we have some Almond Jelly, Red bean cakes, Eight-treasure rice pudding, Sachima and Sesame seed balls" I flashed her a smile and she didn't look very amused.

"All of this food will simply go to your forehead Hibi" She wrote down the orders and began to head for her kitchen "But then again it could go to your thighs and make your man very happy" She hummed closing the door.

"She's...quite the character" I smiled. "What were you guys talking about?"

"If you didn't understand I won't tell you" I beamed. He stared at me for a few seconds before a smirk came on his face.

"YA sdelayu tebya svoyey" I gulped at the dark look in his eyes. My legs unintentionally squeezed together as I squirmed under his eyes and the grin on his face told me that whatever he said was definitely not appropriate.

"A-and what did you say?"

He shrugged mischievously and looked out of the window "If you didn't understand I won't tell you."