A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
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The servant served the Princess a tea. Minutes later, the Empress joined her. She was about to pay her respects when the Empress told her not to.
The servant served the Empress the same tea and left them to get light snacks. Princess Eowyne placed the coaster on her lap as she take gentle sips of her hot tea.
"So, what do you like about my son?" The Empress opened, intimidating the Princess.
She dropped her hand holding the teacup on the coaster.
"Your Imperial Majesty, I don't mean to be rude, but it's your son who likes me. I'm merely entertaining the Prince because he's a Prince and not just some boy with humble birth,"
Empress Clastigaufeas couldn't believe what she got as an answer. The servants around them flinched when they heard their nonchalant and stone-cold Empress crack a series of laughter. So rich that it's echoing in the midst of another boring and chilly night.
"Are you trying to win me over by playing innocent? You're faking it."
"I only wish to win your trust, not please you, Your Imperial Majesty. And no, I'm not playing innocent. And no again because I'm not being fake. Please, I'm more than willing to leave at once if you were to disrespect me." There, she flashed a smile, one to tell that she's not an easy target despite keeping a peaceful profile.
Once again, the Empress's laughter echoed throughout the Palace. Princess Eowyne don't know what's so funny; it's not like it's offending her, but it bothers her.
Empress Clastigaufeas put her tea on the table and stand up when she calmed down.
"How interesting. I'll bully---I mean, I'll see you tomorrow. Show the Princess her chamber and accompany her to meet Maxigaufeas. That's all."
Empress Clastigaufeas gave the Princess a smirk and left with her maids-in-waiting. Everybody left but a servant to help the Princess.
After having her tea, she asked to be brought to her assigned room. She expected it to be simple, knowing the Empress doesn't like her much. But to her surprise, it was grandeur and so extravagant that her personal chambers in their estate and Diamond Palace got nothing to say to this.
"Is this only for guests?" she asked the servant, roaming her eyes around. It screams an era unbeknownst to her knowledge, but she got the gist that it the design be from Earth.
The grandeur of the room is unmatched, with ceilings adorned with intricate frescoes depicting scenes of bygone eras, illuminated by cascading crystal chandeliers that cast a soft, ethereal glow. At the heart of the room lies a magnificent canopy bed, draped in sumptuous silks and adorned with plush velvet pillows, fit for royalty. The headboard, intricately carved with motifs of roses and vines, stands as a testament to exquisite craftsmanship. A profusion of gossamer curtains, tied back with golden tassels, envelops the bed in an aura of regal elegance.
Every detail, from the ornate tapestries adorning the walls to the intricate mosaic tiles underfoot, speaks to a meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to luxury unparalleled. This is not just a bedroom; it is a sanctuary of extravagance and splendor befitting the most illustrious of guests.
"No, Your Highness," the servant smiled, "Prince Maxigaufeas requested this room to be reserved only for you. He paid the Emperor for it's design. However, I believed this is still incomplete as the Prince asked to postpone it. He wanted to know more about your taste and preferences. The Prince is head over heels for you, Your Highness! He's so in love with you!" The servant squirmed.
The Princess's eyes widened and her blood rush to her cheeks.
"I-I see. You may leave. I can manage myself. I believe my possessions are here?"
The servant composed herself again, "Yes, Your Highness. As this is your room, you may use everything in here. They are yours and the Empress consented. Please call me if you need any assistance. Use the bell on your bed. We will come right away."
Princess Eowyne nodded, "I understand, thank you."
The servant then bowed and left. She made sure that she's all alone first before walking around, enjoying the luxuries that were made for her.
She bit her lower lip, holding back herself from smiling.
He did all this for her. All of this, for her.
"Eowyne,"
Out of reflex, she threw an energy ball to where the voice came from. Prince Maxigaufeas slapped the energy ball to change its path, sending it past the windows.
"Wow. Thanks for that welcome. You're so happy to meet me, really," he sarcastically said. Princess Eowyne breathe in to compose herself.
"Forgive me. You surprised me."
The Prince looks proper now, but still not himself.
"Can I hug you?" he asked. Princess Eowyne think about it.
"It'll be expensive."
"What do you want then?" He's starting to walk closer. Princess Eowyne steps back the nearer he gets.
"I-I don't know? Maybe a car?"
Prince Maxigaufeas caught up and pulled her for a hug.
"I'll give you one. Just give me time. For now, give this to me. I need this."
Princess Eowyne fell into silence. She felt how needing his hug became. It's tight but it does not limit her from breathing. He's not putting his weight on her; and she could tell that even though he's losing his mind, he's still thinking of her.
"Do you want to cry?"
Prince Maxigaufeas closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. How calming. The scent of his woman is
"No... I don't have those left to cry anymore," he answered in a low voice.
He kissed her head, "Thank you for being here. I wanted to go to you myself but my circumstances won't let me. Know that my feelings for you did not waver. What happened back then... Please don't let it bother you. It's all in the past. From the past. It did not made my heart change."
Finslly, the Princess wrapped her arms around him.
"I know. Lord Thirdy told me."
Prince Maxigaufeas's kiss travel from her head to her forehead. Then, he let their foreheads touch. Princess Eowyne closed her eyes, listening to his soft breathing, feeling its warmth blow on her face.
"You shouldn't have come. I don't want you to see me at my lowest, Princess."
"Shut up. I'm already here. Deal with it."
He placed his hand on her neck, rubbing his thumb on her cheek.
"You shouldn't have come. You're losing my mind more, Eowyne. You're driving me crazier."
Princess Eowyne opened her eyes and showed him their purple shades. Prince Maxigaufeas gaze into her eyes deep.
"If you want to kiss, just do it. Don't tell your mother."
"Don't make me. Please. I'm barely holding myself back. Don't provoke me."
"Okay."
The Prince smiled.
"You're so cute."
He gave in and claimed her lips. The Princess who's never been kissed copied how he moves his lips on hers. It was her first time and she doesn't know what to feel. Her heart is racing as her mind overthink about getting caught. He never failed to make her feel things she never felt before. Butterflies were fluttering their wings in her stomach. It's tickling her, it feels good.
Prince Maxigaufeas carried her and brought her to the bed. He pulled the tassels of the curtains of her canopy bed before getting atop of her. The Princess is chasing her breath with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Nice. It's my first time. You seem experienced. You've done this before, no? Flirt."
Prince Maxigaufeas hissed and dived on her body. He buried his face on her neck, inhaling her scent.
He answered her huskily, "I've never been kissed. Before I fell for you, I only fool around with the ladies. But never have I ever kissed any of them. Yes, I'm a flirt. But you'd be my very every firsts,"
Princess Eowyne smiled and cupped his face. It was the very first time he saw her smile, and she was very beautiful. He can't help but kiss her deeply as he roam his hands on her body.
"Do you consent? Tell me to stop," he said as he pull her skirt up. He opened her legs and went between her.
Princess Eowyne whimpered when he squeezed her breasts.
"Yes... Let's do it, Maxigaufeas."
It drove the Prince crazy.
Scratches on his back, teeth marks on his shoulders and neck. They kissed to shut each other up, but every push and pull leaves their mouths open, letting out pleasured noises.
"Haaah... M-Maxi---hngggh... A-Ahhh..."
He smirked and pinned her legs down to thrust faster and deeper, making sure he's hitting her spot. Princess Eowyne's eyes rolled. Her back arches and clawed the Prince's chest.
He growled and put his weight on her as their body convulse when they hit their climax.
"Oh, fuck... Oh... Fuck."
Princess Eowyne's hand fell to her sides, catching her breath. When the Prince get up, he found her already fast asleep.
When the morning came, the Princess woke up with a bad body ache. Moving feels so painful, so she submitted and laid down like a statue, hoping she will feel at ease later. She found the other side of the bed empty, but the man who's supposed to be there opened the door and entered with a trolley of her meal.
"Good morning. Rise and shine. I brought medicine, too," he said with a grin so devilish, it's making the Princess annoyed and irritated.
"Good for you, not for me. My body's aching and sore."
Prince Maxigaufeas left the trolley by the bed and climbed to join the Princess. He kissed her forehead and helped her get up. Before he left earlier, he put a night dress on on her as to not leave her naked under the sheets.
"Sorry 'bout that. But I held myself back last night. I can do more---"
Princess Eowyne sent a light orb to his face. Prince Maxigaufeas laughed and kissed her neck.
"Eat. Then dress up. Mom is waiting for you. Here, while they're still warm. I'll feed you, baby." He winked at her with a playful smirk. Princess Eowyne look so disgusted and rolled her eyes, but she did not refuse his help. The Prince look so happy.
Oh, how good it is when she stretched her arms up the moment her medicine worked.
"We're never doing it again. You're crazy."
"Whaaaa~t? That's not fair. I made you feel good. It's not even my best performance yet. Really, I was holding myself back. I can do better. I'm trained---"
Princess Eowyne grabbed the pillow and threw it right into his face. The Prince fell on the bed, laughing.
Empress Clastigaufeas barged through the door, startling the two.
"What the fuck is taking you so long?"
"Mom!" The Prince whined, "She just finished her meal!"
Empress Clastigaufeas raised her eyebrow, and it went higher when she saw the marks on the Princess's body.
"Who ate what? Who ate who? What's that?"
Princess Eowyne looked at herself and felt her racing heart dropped. She pulled the sheets and covered herself, only to hear the Empress's scoff.
"WE DID NOT!" Prince Maxigaufeas saved, though he lied.
"Ah, just that. But we didn't do 'it'!"
Empress Clastigaufeas lift her leg to get her heel and threw it right in his son's head.
"You taking me for a fool, boy!? You think I'm dumb!? COME HERE!"
Princess Eowyne doesn't know what to do. She felt ashamed. No, the Empress won't trust her anymore. It's over.
"Mom!" The Prince stand up and walked to his mother, "Let's talk. Leave the Princess be. Princess, the servants will assist you. Wait for me."
He gave her an assuring smile and pushed his mother out. He pushed her until they're in his room. That's when the Empress grabbed him by the wrist and slammed him against the floor.
"Aww! Mom, what the hell!? What was that for!?"
"Shut up! You know what was that for! Really? Fucking each other in my house!? You think I would never know!?"
Prince Maxigaufeas was wincing when he get up.
"Mom, c'mon. I'm not dumb. She consented! I asked her! I'm a grown man. I can handle my responsibilities."
But the Empress did not buy it.
"Yeah? Handle your responsibilities? The last time you did it, you spawn a little devil. Look what happened to your Dad, Maxigaufeas! And you're saying you can handle your responsibilities!?"
His eyes widened from that.
He felt betrayed.
A laugh cracked from his throat.
"There, I have it. You really are blaming me."
The Empress finally realized her mistake.
"No... I---It's not like that."
The Prince stepped back and raised his hand to stop her from approaching him.
"If you can't accept us, then so be it. I won't force you to. I love the lady and no methods of yours would work to separate us. You think I'm still a kid. You think I'm still a boy, a baby! But I'm not! I'm a grown man who can make choices and decisions, Mom! Yes. Yes, we slept together. And what about it? We're adults---"
"She's not yet a woman, Maxigaufeas! She's still a lady!"
"OF AGE!" He yelled back, but louder, frightening the Empress.
"She's of age! She consented! Why is it weird? Because I'm older? I thought age doesn't matter anymore in this world since we're immortal!? But it's okay if it's Selene and Claxiord!? She's thousands of years older than him and it's fine to everyone! Why do you make it seem so wrong when it's me and Eowyne!?"
Empress Clastigaufeas shook her head.
"You don't understand---"
"I understand! I do! I'm not an idiot, Mom! I love her! I love Eowyne!"
He turn around and kicked the vase on the table beside him. The glass shattered and the fresh flowers were sent flying to the other side, while the water spilled on the floor. Empress Clastigaufeas balled her fists.
He run his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"This is why I like Dad better. You're just so... So strict and conservative. You're not a perfectionist, Mom. You're manipulative and controlling. You want everything under your control. We're not puppets! I'm NOT a puppet! Sometimes... Sometimes it's hard to deal with you. If it's Dad, I would've told him honestly. But I can't to you. Because I know you will be angry. You will kick her out. You will stand between us."
Empress Clastigaufeas held a step back, nodding slowly.
"I see. So, I'm the problem. Oh, I know that."
Prince Maxigaufeas kept his silence.
"Do whatever you want."
She turned around and leave. Prince Maxigaufeas looked back, astounded.
"What---Oh, no! Mom!"
The Empress slammed the door and did not look back. She wiped her tears, glaring at the servants who are looking at her. She wanted to be in her room, but her feet brought her to where her husband is. She locked the door. That's when she freed her sobs.
She is the problem. She knows that. She's the problem and the only one who can figure her out every time is him.