I embraced Aurelia's waist. The wind streamed by her, whipping Sarge's long hair back in her face. His head was up his ears forward. His back went up and down smoothly, evenly. He was gaining speed. The wind tugged at Sarge's hair. The ground rushed by her; Aurelia wrapped both hands more firmly around the handle and let herself smile.
"Grab tightly, My Lady," she exclaimed, enough for me to hear from the pounding of the horse's hooves.
I entertained myself with the mesmerizing view of the sunset. The orange-gold stretches far and wide, the color of fire hearths and tangerines. It is but the reflection of the dawn, the promise of the rising sun that comes after the velvety night has had its say and the land has rested once more.
An approaching cabin was seen from just a few miles around. I squeezed both legs tightly in an effort to stay with the horse. Sarge picked up the pace, leveling out even faster. Bit by bit, we came nearer, until Aurelia pulled Sarge away to stop him from gushing. Finally, we have arrived.
The cottage nests in the mirth of grass as if it were the conjuring of some happy dream. Aurelia supported me as I go down of Sarge, her war steed, who was also a gift from her Father. She nustled her loving friend of years before taking my hand, intertwining her fingers in mine, one by one then kissed it.
"So, you haven't told me? Why did you want to be with me today?" Aurelia glanced, pecking my cheek.
I giggled," What are you talking about? I want to be with you every single day."
She stopped walking and faced my direction. Moving my hair away from her face, she said," You can tell me anything that's bothering you, you know. You don't have to keep it from me. I am willing to listen."
"Umm..." Aurelia grabbed my arm, embracing it around her neck. I stepped backward as she pinned me against the wall," I'm just a bit disappointed with my parents that all."
"Disappointed because?" she whispered to me in a dulcet voice as sweet as any songbird. Her voguish clothes still kept captive an aroma redolent of cinnamon and meadow-fresh mint.
"They keep pushing me to marry and be acquainted with Princess Adele's son but I don't want to... I don't want to get married," a solemn tear fell down my cheek; my body looked calm compared to how tangled my mind was," I mean, I'm just 18... did I just study, get good grades, and did all this just to serve someone else for the next 30 years until I die? Can't I make my own decision of what I want to do with my life?"
Aurelia patted my hair," We are held captive by the destiny other people painted for us... If not being a bride, what do you want to do for yourself?"
"I want to move somewhere else," I light up a beam," Particularly, in the countryside where it's peaceful and away from the luxury and the eyes of the people who are watching you fail. I want to do things that would be of help for other people like maybe, teach children?"
Her eyes glimmered in interest. This is what I love about someone, no matter who bizarre what I'm talking about is, I'm still comfortable telling them and they love hearing about it too. Or maybe because Aurelia and I are the same.
"Do you want to tell me anything else?" There was a hint of pleading, asking me to say her name.
My lips brushed hers, softly, delicately, like butterfly wings, just long enough that she could inhale her breath," Of course, you're there. My dreams will always have you in them. That would be fun, right? You don't have to stray afar anymore or do I need to wait for you to come home."
There were dreams that could be reached and those that delayed your sleep at night. There are dreams that you subtly plead for but reality, the damn wicked reality, blisters your desire to have it. Everyone else is against, even the divine grace who's supposedly there to protect you, they're willing to see you perish than bring shame to them.
It's absurd to live in this kind of world. No matter your status in life, you're entitled to have a destiny you will be caged in, and until what you want doesn't benefit them, you are considered worthless. A disappointment.
It felt like a tremendous awakening when her fingers brushed across my body that night. Incurable lewdness — I thought, as we both nakedly caress each other in front of the mirror whilst kneeling.
Her fingers played inside of me as I gasp and moan in the intensifying pleasure.
"Aurelia!" I whimpered not so long until she let me cum. She bit my ear while staring into the mirror. It reflected back at me like a survey of my sins... as I plead in a very sensual position. It was insane.
It was beyond love or hate. Or the fact that I cling onto her because spending a night in a faraway cabin, meeting in the woods, sharing discreet kisses — it's the closest thing with freedom I'll ever get.
Something is telling me to grab into it, grab it tightly or it will fade away. And I know, a love so cynical — so mesmerizing and dangerous, it drives you wild — one day, not even the most detailed memoirs can describe how it feels to be in that exact moment.
And that's why, you have to remember every single second about it, 'cause no one else will know how it feels to be there but only you. Once, one of you has to go — someone has to be there to remember it all.
"How about you, Aurelia," after our love-making, I snuggled closer to her for warmth," Do you have any wish?"
Her hands traveled, playfully, on my stomach," It's not exactly a wish but a request for you, My Lady. Just don't forget about me is all I want."
"Why would I even forget about you, silly!" I kissed her nose. Aurelia stroked my cheeks lovingly. Oh, what bliss that I could replay this memory in my mind for as long as I did," I'd be a fool to forget you, Lila."
"No... I am the fool, My Lady," she embraced me," You are too enchanting. I wish I could give you the world. I'm a fool because all of me is all that I can give you." I kissed her lips.
I don't think you understand, Aurelia. You are enough. We curled up in the sounds of the crackle of firelight, long after when royalty and the rest of the world drifted in our dreams.
This is enough. More than enough.
[After a couple of days...]
"You're leaving again?" I asked her. Aurelia rode Sarge and looked at me before taking her helm. We were in the middle of the woods, I didn't allow her to come to visit me at the Estate for a while because I'm being wary of my father.
"I'm afraid, yes, unlike my other journeys... This will take a long time like maybe, until the end of winter," she gave me a reassuring smile," Don't worry, My Lady. I will send you letters every now and then. I'm sure your brother won't mind, make sure to reply, okay?"
I pouted," Until winter... that's a long time! Perhaps, I can ask your Commander to give you a break so you can at least go home at the end of Autumn!"
"Come on now, My Lady. I doubt my Commander will listen to you, he has become strict since last week," she disheveled my hair," Be patient, I'll be back. We'll bond at the cabin again and both greet spring together."
"Hmm... okay. I'll wait," I forced to let out a smile," I will miss you, Aurelia."
"I will miss you too, Querida," she put on her helm before kicking the side of her stead to signal their leave. I was left alone until she was out of sight, I decided to head back to the manor.
Everyone was busy and I didn't know why. The maids were flourishing the corners up to the ceilings, but some were frowning as they carry their bags outside of the Estate. They were gossiping as they look at me walking through the hallways, Tylene greeted me hurriedly with a sad look on her face.
"My Lady!" she yelled reaching for my arms.
"What's going on? Why are some of the servants leaving?"
Tears of despondency slowly cascaded down her cheeks leaving it so weak and frail," Haven't you heard the news, My Lady? There was a problem at the shipping port. Some of the vessels drowned because of the massive storm that happened last night. That's why upon the huge amount of money loss from those failed shipments, His Grace decided to fire other workers..."
"Please, My Lady," Tylene continued," Help me and my family. My father works at the Archduke's farm and I'm afraid because of his old age he will be kicked out from work. Even my mother, who works as a seamstress. Please help us, My Lady."
My heart pounded to the beat of my feet racing over the hard ground. I came all the way from the first floor to the second where my Father's office was located. Just in time, he had just finished talking with someone.
"Father! What is going on?" I asked, panting. He was reading a letter when he stood up to acknowledge my presence," I heard from Tylene —"
"You came right in time, daughter," the Archduke lifted his spectacles, examining me," I already sent your brother to the shipping port to discuss the deal with our clients. You, on the other hand... I wonder of what help you can bring to this family."
"Me? Well, you're not exactly telling me to follow my brother there, right?" I raised an eyebrow.
"But of course not, I already have other plans for you," an arrogant smile flashed across his face," Afraid that we will face bankcruptcy... It is delightful that this matter arrived at the time that another arrangement has been sealed."
"What about it? So how can I help?"
Father walked towards me, handing a purple letter — a letter from royalty," Your future is laid out in front of you. Within months, you are going to be married with Prince Adele's son, my daughter. This way you can help."
I grabbed the letter and scanned through its content. My Father had a mischievous grin, like he had been anticipating to see my reaction for quite awhile now. I wanted to burst...
"Aren't you excited?" he walked passed me," Better yet, you should bid farewell to your dear friend, Aurelia. It will probably be the last time you'll see her around."