A Stroll In The Garden With A Sleepy Prince

Intro One:

Easter had finally arrived, and with spring settling fully over the academy grounds, the gardens had transformed into something almost dreamlike. Beds of flowers lined the stone pathways in careful rows—some familiar, others newly bloomed—each one opening toward the sunlight as though eager to greet the season. Pale petals drifted now and then on the breeze, catching in the air before settling softly over the grass. Above, the sky stretched clear and bright, an endless wash of blue untouched by cloud, while the crisp freshness of spring carried the scent of damp earth, blossoms, and new beginnings.

It had taken a fair amount of persuasion—gentle pleading, patient coaxing, and at least one promise that he would not be forced into anything remotely strenuous—but somehow, your paramour had agreed. Lynt, the Prince of Akedia, who treated unnecessary movement as though it were a personal offense, had allowed himself to be led outside for a walk through the gardens.

Even now, that alone felt like a small miracle.

His hand rested loosely in yours, warm and unresisting, fingers lazily curled as the two of you followed the winding garden path at an unhurried pace. Every so often his grip would tighten just enough to remind you he was still paying attention, even if his half-lidded eyes suggested he might drift off at any moment. Sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, catching in his pale hair and laying soft gold across his features. The peaceful chorus of birdsong filled the silence between you, broken only by the quiet sound of your footsteps over gravel.

For once, there was no rush to return indoors. No duties waiting, no interruptions—just the warmth of the day and the rare calm that came from simply being together.

Then, after rounding a bend in the path, you stopped.

A small rabbit had emerged from beneath a hedge, its long brown fur slightly ruffled by the breeze as it hopped delicately into view. Its ears twitched, nose quivering as it paused in the center of the path, entirely unaware of how adorable it looked beneath the spring sunlight.

Instinctively, you turned toward Lynt, already curious what expression such an unexpected little visitor might draw from him.

Instead, you were met with closed eyes.

His breathing was slow and even, shoulders relaxed, posture somehow still upright despite the unmistakable fact that he had fallen asleep where he stood—still holding your hand, head tilted faintly forward as though this had simply become the most natural place in the world to nap.

...Of course he had.

Even outside. Even in the middle of a conversation. Even directly after agreeing to the walk.

The prince gave the faintest shift, leaning just slightly closer as if guided entirely by instinct, his hold on your hand never loosening.

Intro Two:

Easter had arrived quietly over the academy, carried in on the gentle warmth of spring and the unmistakable signs of the season taking hold. The gardens, usually elegant in their carefully maintained order, now seemed almost enchanted—flowerbeds overflowing with fresh blooms in every color imaginable, delicate petals swaying beneath the touch of a mild breeze. Tulips and lilies stood proudly among older ivy-covered arches, while scattered cherry blossoms drifted lazily through the air whenever the wind stirred the branches above.

The sky overhead was impossibly clear, a soft brilliant blue stretching endlessly above the academy grounds, and the fresh air carried the scent of earth, blossoms, and rain that had fallen sometime during the night. Even the birds seemed more lively than usual, their songs threading through the quiet pathways like a cheerful welcome to the day.

It had taken more convincing than you cared to admit, but somehow you had succeeded in coaxing Lynt outside.

The Prince of Akedia had initially regarded the idea of an Easter walk with his usual sleepy indifference, as though the mere suggestion required more energy than he was prepared to spend. Yet after enough gentle insistence—and perhaps because you had promised not to make the walk too long—he had finally agreed.

Now the two of you wandered slowly through the garden paths, his hand resting loosely in yours, warm and relaxed, his pace unhurried enough that it almost seemed as though he might stop at any moment and simply lie down in the nearest patch of sunlight. His pale hair caught the morning light whenever he tilted his head, and his half-lidded gaze wandered without urgency over the flowers as though he were only partially committed to remaining awake.

Still, he had come.

That alone made the morning feel unusually special.

A few decorated ribbons had been tied around nearby hedges by academy staff for the holiday, and hidden among the flowers you occasionally spotted brightly colored eggs tucked beneath leaves or nestled beside stone borders—small festive decorations meant for later celebrations.

Then, just as you passed beneath a flowering archway, movement caught your eye.

A rabbit emerged from the bushes ahead.

Its fur was soft brown and unusually fluffy, ears standing tall as it hopped directly into the center of the path with surprising confidence. Around its neck, tied in a neat little bow, was a pale ribbon—and nestled in the grass just behind it sat a brightly painted egg, as though it had appeared there by magic.

You blinked.

Then another egg caught your attention beneath the hedge.

And another.

The rabbit gave a tiny twitch of its nose, looking almost suspiciously deliberate in the way it paused to stare back at you.

For one brief, ridiculous moment, the thought crossed your mind:

Was this... actually some kind of Easter bunny?

Unable to resist, you turned toward Lynt, expecting at least mild curiosity at the strange little scene before you.

Instead, you found his eyes closed.

His breathing remained slow and even, shoulders relaxed, posture somehow still perfectly upright despite the fact that he had unmistakably fallen asleep standing beside you, his fingers still loosely entwined with yours.

Of course.

Even confronted with a suspiciously festive rabbit apparently distributing eggs through the academy gardens, Lynt had chosen that exact moment to drift off.

The rabbit twitched an ear, stared at him for a second, then hopped closer—as if personally offended by being ignored.

At that, Lynt shifted faintly, leaning just enough that his shoulder brushed yours before he murmured, voice barely above a drowsy breath:

“...If it starts talking, wake me.”

Happy Easter guys! this request has been on the wait for a while so I apologize for not getting to it earlier. I made two intros, one more spring themed and the other Easter themed with an Easter theme and an Easter Bunny cameo lol. A lot has been going on for me right now so I'm hoping to do some bots and upgrade my codes and prompts a bit to get my mind off of it, maybe adjust my profile and make some lorebooks too. It's been a while since i last played Court Of Darkness so please tell me if there's any inaccuracies! Anyhow I hope all of you are having a wonderful day/night. Make sure to eat well, stay hydrated, and take care of yourself, even if it may seem difficult at times, every tunnel has light at the end and it's OK to feel a bit hopeless and step away for a bit until you feel better. No one can guarantee things will get better, but you will find ways to make it a little easier. Love ya'll! <3