[Magi] Kouen x Reader

((Authors Note: Short little chapter, hopefully I got Kouen's personality right... x_x ))

   "...My lord..." you sighed.

   Kouen Ren, the tyrant. The flame emperor. The strongest general in the entire Kou Empire.

   Well, he certainly had a side to him that you would have never expected.

   With  many piles of books stacked up and around his desk, you found the eldest Prince of the Empire, laying amongst his studies. He must have fallen asleep researching again... Despite his public appearance as someone who was rather severe and intimidating, he had a good natured personality to those close to him, and he was actually quite the intellectual.

   You sighed, walking up next to the sleeping man and gently placing the lit candle you were carrying with you on the table. It's warm light flickered, casting strange shadows across the room, his own candle had burned out hours ago it seemed. To be fair, it was exceptionally late at night. Nobody but the patrol guards were awake now, except you.

   You were having a hard time sleeping that night, and just happened to decide on checking in on the first prince. A somewhat recent addition to Kouen's household, it had taken you months to get used to living together with your liege and his family. Not that it was a bad situation, but you just weren't used to being around so many people, especially ones with such.... interesting personalities. Getting used to Judal had taken the longest, and his abrasive personality only served to annoy you at every turn it seemed.

   Unwrapping the blanket that you were using to keep warm from your shoulders, you lightly draped it across Kouen's back. Really he looked peaceful this way... It was unusual for you to catch such a glimpse of this gentler face; so admiring it for a moment wasn't strange right?
   You jumped in surprise when your wrist was grabbed, Kouen sitting up immediately at the feeling of someone watching him. A small "Eep!" escaped your lips at the sudden action, before he realized who it was, and released his grip on you. "Ah... It's only you, [Name]..." he murmured, placing a hand on his forhead and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with his thumb. You stepped back, bowing before him, as was only natural.

   Glancing up, he smirked and shook his head at your actions. "You don't need to be so formal. It's just the two of us here.."

   He mumbled something about how he usually woke up when people entered the room, but that you for some reason didn't- and stood up.
   "Did you need something?" En's question snapped your attention back to him, and you shook your head from side to side. "No. I just found you asleep here... again." your words had a slight air of taunting to them, but the Prince only sighed, a rare smile on his lips. "Yes. How many times does that make? -With how frequently you check up on me, you should be worried about your own sleep schedule instead of mine." he responded, almost playful in tone.

   Taking the blanket from his shoulders, he slid it off, slowly wrapping it back around you. Leaning in closer while he did so, he felt so warm... Something about being nearby Kouen always made you feel safe. Without realizing it you were blushing by the time he leaned away, looking down at you with that same cryptic smirk. He chuckled slightly at you, for reasons unknown. Assuming this was your signal to leave and go back to bed, you picked up the candle and turned around, leading the way back to the door to leave.

For the second time that night, your wrist was grasped. This time it was more gentle though... You glanced behind you to see Kouen looking at you with a serious expression.

"[Name]..." the prince trailed off.

The quiet as you waited for him to finish his sentence felt like it was crushing you.

"...Know that I trust you, and... never turn your back on me." his voice was quiet, almost intimate. His features softened as you two stared in to eachother's eyes for a long moment.

"Of course... I will never leave your side, my Prince." you reassured him.

Finally he let go of your wrist again, silent permission for you to leave.

"Now go get some sleep."