Ophelia had been spending time amongst the people—smiling, becoming the gracious host she’d always been for Nevermere. The darling, the peacekeeper. When she returned to their chambers, she was almost ready to collapse. Going into her room, she was surprised not to see Akagi there. Scanning the room with a touch of panic in her eyes, she saw the note and ring. He brow furrowed in confusion as she turned the ring over in her hands. What was it?

Ophelia followed the note’s instructions and made her way to Akagi’s workshop. She’d knock before opening the door a crack and sticking her head inside.

“My love?”

"here Felita," Akagi called immediately turning from his books and gems neatly organized on his worktable, in fact the room was always tidy perfectly collected for such a emotionally happily charged man who ran on copious amounts of tea and sugar. Only there were more books than usual stacked neatly on another table, whole sets of books some of great fantasy and others of research or biographies on more prestigious members of Arynnite society.

"I know you are perhaps ready for bed, but I couldn't sleep and wanted to work a bit on some things," he stood from his chair and closed the distance between him and his wife offering his hand, "Then it dawned on me, I've been quite unfair to our marriage...things we've addressed before and other things we haven't," he laid just a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, "You are a Queen and I a King, despite a royal alliance between us I know my marriage to you isn't an obligation...but truth is Ophelia I absolutely am one hundred thousand percent in love with you and even if things were different I'd choose you every time...in every scenario...or other worlds..no one I believe has ever asked you...what you want in life out of this marriage..out of the alliance...I wish to change this."

Ophelia watched Akagi bounce about his workshop with amusement. She took his hand when it was offered, looking at him with rapturous love. Her brother, her father, and her family had never been openly affectionate. But affection oozed from Akagi. It lived in every syllable of his words and every movement. Though conditioning made her suspicious of it, that did not mean it delighted her any less. Ophelia blushed like a schoolgirl, considering his question.

“So what do you ask me, my king?” She’d come to like teasing him this way, though it was a reminder of just what it was she’d become. A monarch, just as her brother was.

"What are your...wants? Your wishes... with our union? As Queen..a ruling Queen I know you must have something you want," he then seemed to turn his attention to the gems and diamonds, "do you want more magical power? Policies perhaps of interest? Anything..."

Ophelia was caught off-guard by his question. Her brow furrowed as she considered it, stifling the reflexive response that rose to her tongue. ‘I already have everything I could wish for’ — that’s what years of conditioning for polite society had taught her to say. But there was none hear but Akagi, so she chose a different path. She was quiet for a long time, and then…

“I want to be useful,” Ophelia said softly, “Truly useful. Not just a figurehead, a thing of comfort, but an asset to you and our people. I…” Ophelia’s eyes ran over the crystals and gems that lined the walls, “I should like to be your eyes and ears. To come and go as I please…to be invisible.”

Oh just how many meanings that could take.

Akagi couldn't help but turn his attention to his sketch pad, "That..love," he kissed her quickly before diving into the perfectly placed row of unused charcoal, "I can do that," as he sketched two quick examples: a ring and the other a tiara; Akagi couldn't help but explain why his Felitas idea was so brilliant: "If there is a single soul in this entire world that I could trust more in this world to truly trust," he looked up at his wife with a sparkle in his eyes, "You. My Felita," not that he didn't trust his Aunt fully Akagi just knew everyone needed to be observed and reported on, did he need further explain that he and Ophelia shared the deepest of bonds? Pieces of their soul entwined forever.

"We can go the route of a ring or a tiara? Perhaps a necklace?" he paused to tap his piece of charcoal on his cheek leaving a few shades of smudge behind, "We can pair that with a way to mask your natural aura? Oh! Love try these on," Akagi jumped up from his seat scrambling to open a drawer producing a pair of boots, "The Blackwoods made these for me, they make your footsteps silent..."

Ophelia was reserved and guarded by nature, and so often she forgot just how much her husband was the opposite. His warmth and openness seemed effortless, gregarious energy just oozing off of him even when it was just the two of them in the room. She smiled without the restraint of trying to be pretty or perfect. Just happiness—pure and simple.

“A bracelet perha—” She was cut off when the boots were produced. She raised an eyebrow (very emblematic of Kennet) with a smirk. “I fear they may be a little clunky for my taste, love.”

Akagi gave the boots a second look before his own comical chuckle escaped him, "Very true, something smaller and sleek, yet beautiful for my beautiful," it was quite comical, however he removed his original quick drawings and jotted down bracelet because he had heard her, "I can make it a bracelet Felita! Easy peasy, would you like to explore some of my collection of enchantments?"

Akagi had removed his own boots and slipped his feet into the pair of boots he had suggested, "These mute or silence your foot steps, like so," he stood up and began to jog and stomp his feet...no sound..., "I can offer you invisibility...silent movements...," Akagi began to open shelves revealing a wide assortment of enchantments (this drawer was wands) he reached in for a sleek black wand, "How to defend yourself without being seem, a wand that puts someone to sleep," he handed the wand to her.

Her husband fell quite and all that previous joy seemed to have withdrawn, he looked serious the man that Cyrus Blackwood had molded in the shadows in between his more Princely and academic learning.

"I know about working in the shadows, how to be invisible, how to be silent, and I've done things...to protect my kingdom, my family...I can teach you all these things Ophelia," he stepped toward her and would offer his hand, "Together we could be a true power couple..."

Ophelia adventured through the workshop with Akagi, inspecting each new trinket with equal interest. He was a marvel—he truly was. Her smile had only grown and lit her eyes like lamplight. She took his hand, trust radiating from her but…a caution tugged at the back of her mind. He’d done things. What things was the logical question, the one that rose to her tongue but the one she stifled.

“Together,” Ophelia kissed him. Once she pulled back, she looked about, “Silence and invisibility would suit me well I think,” She smirked, “It would be useful to be a fly on the wall every now and then.”

She kissed him and Akagi melted into his wife into his love and shared soul, this woman his Queen she was everything. To share with her in their new roles as rulers and now bringing her into the more lucrative side of his personality. All of this felt like a book he read as a child, "The Raven and Sparrow", about an eccentric Sparrow and a reserved brilliant wise Raven and their adventures.

Only this wasn't a fantasy.

Holding her he brushed a lock of hair on her forehead, "What should we do...the Eldouir...am I being to brash thinking about war? I know..I know we aren't ready and I wish we were, I want to be and we will but..how do we answer this situation?" he sighed, "What do the people of Arynn Frey want me to do?" he stroked her chin and rubbed a hand down her back, "what would you do? And would you, with the enchantments I make you, pit your ear to the ground and gather their voices?" with the Blackwoods gone Akagi had a lapse in a spy network, could his Felita fill that role? Would she? If he guided her...perhaps.

“No, not brash…” Ophelia likewise stayed close, brushing her hand down Akagi’s cheek, “The Eldouir have demonstrated themselves to be a threat to your—our—people. The wall was our way of protecting the kingdom, and they’ve sent their message they intend to have us live in feel. Not to retaliate seems a betrayal, though I do not relish the idea of war.” She took his hand and squeezed it. “Ultimately your rule is your legacy. Whatever you think is best for your people…you should follow your heart. As for me…” Ophelia’s brow furrowed.

“Perhaps it is time for us to play a more substantial role in relations with Lorendale. I no not what these enchantments might yet bring, but…” Ophelia tilted her head in thought, “I have been considering convening a formal tea for the noblewomen of our kingdoms. Perhaps gathering them for festivities would provide a forum for interesting conversation.”

The look of a proud husband left a sparkle in his eyes and a smile on his face, "I think that is a brilliant idea my Felita, brilliant," he praised her and kissed her softly, "I support it to the fullest. I will be having the first Cabinet meeting soon and I hope you know I want you there in he fullest capacity..."