Euphoria's looked up at Avien as his thumb grazed her chin, she was about to say something when a knock on the door disrupted their position. Avien cleared his throat and stepped away from Euphoria asking for whoever it was knocking to step in.
"Your highness, I came to inform you that everything has been packed to your chambers"
"Thank you Yalba, you may leave now"
Euphoria had to use her teeths to clamp down on her lips as the maid left, Avien was about to relocate because of her and by the look on his face......convincing him wouldn't work.
"So I'll be leaving now Princess, when your foot heals, feel free to move about and explore"
Before Euphoria could even open her mouth or try to negotiate with him to stay Avien had exited the chambers closing the doors behind him, Euphoria knew she wasn't close with Avien but loosing touch with someone you felt you were clicking with just felt weird, she knew the drift would become worse and worse as long as Avien held back his urges.
She changed into a slightly loose black long sleeved gown that stopped a little above her knee and accentuated her perfectly thick rounded hips, she felt suffocated sitting around doing nothing so she decided to take a walk around the castle without Avien who was initially supposed to give her a tour, her feets was feeling much better so thankfully she wouldn't feel any discomfort.
After telling the guards outside to lock her chamber, she strolled around the stairs hearing cheering sounds coming from the outdoor court yard. Her curiousity became piqued as she half-ran outside... hopefully it was something spicy and interesting.
******
A game of chess was going on among the royal guards which were a couple of vampires, witch bloods and some other sorts, a man was sitting infront of the chess board mocking the rest of the men sitting at the side lines who appeared to had lost to him.
"I didn't know you could all loose this hard men, you know chess is a game of strategy and strong mindsets, and you all can't beat me because you have no strategy or strong mindset, I am the strongest player"
The rest of the players shook their head and accepted their defeat as the man's head boomed with pride, they were about to dismiss playing the game since the lost but they heard an overly excited voice pipe in.
"Can I join in and play just atleast one round too?"
The man who was boasting snickered as he attempted to make fun of the voice, without looking to know who was speaking.
"Oh please don't sweat it, no one has ever beaten me in this game except his highness, among this men I can be honourably called the chess maste-----"
Someone beside him nudged him in the ribs signaling him to shut up, his mouth nearly disappeared as he looked up and noticed Euphoria standing before him with a smirk on her face. He immediately fell to the ground begging for forgiveness on behalf of himself for talking to her carelessly.
"I-I'm so sorry princess, I-i didn't know it was you that------"
Euphoria gave a brief smile gesturing for him to stand up on his feet, she didn't like people who bragged and from watching him earlier while he played his game he was indeed boastful.
The mouths of the rest of the guard hanged open as they stared at the Princess, even when they heard the news of his highness being betrothed to the human Princess of Caxayan this was the first time they were ever setting eyes on her and oh my were they impressed.
"Apology accepted, how about you let me play one round against you?"
The boastful man's eyes went round, he knew he was left unbeaten and he had faith he could easily win the princess but he was afraid of a situation whereby if he won she could get upset and vent her anger on him, afterall nobody liked losing.
"Why are you shocked, can't a girl request to play chess around here?"
Euphoria asked taking an opposite seat from him infront of the chess board while the man whose name appeared to be 'Vilas' from what she heard the fellow guards refer to him as was shaking like a withering leaf in winter, Euphoria could guess what his worry was as she made sure to reassure him.
"Don't worry Vilas, if you win i'll take it all in good faith and if I win you'll take it in good faith, you have my word that no harm is going to come to you whether I win or loose, for me this is all about fun and fair play"
Vilas nodded and the game begun as the black and white wooden chess pieces were placed on the board with Vilas taking the starting move, the rest of the guards watched as some maids had equally gathered around the corners, they knew from watching Vilas play he was difficult to beat and though it would be nice to see his face crumple in defeat by loosing to an opponent there were slim chances of that happening, so with a conflicted heart they all watched on.
**FEW MINUTES INTO THE GAME**
"Checkmate"
Everyone's gasped with eyes wide as Euphoria had strategically won over Vilas's king piece signifying that she had won the game, the record that Vilas held for months had been broken in less than three and a half minutes.
Vilas himself sat rigid as he couldn't comprehend how fast she won over his piece, she played it low and made him belief that he had the upper hand in the game then she dealth the killer blow, his face curved up in a smile.....there was no doubt he was sad that his longtime record had been broken but he knew how to commend talent when he saw it.
"Smooth game Princess, I almost can't believe it"
Euphoria stood up and took his hand in a brief handshake with everyone applauding, she hadn't played chess for a while but damn did it feel good to just relax and enjoy.
"Princess can you give us any tips so that when next any of us play against this doofus we'll shatter him"
Vilas snickered as he watched the now eager attitude of the men who raised their fist as if they wanted to wage war against him.
Euphoria snickered and turned to them tucking in her hair.
"Well men chess is like life, you don't have to be the strongest, boldest or most courageous you just have to be the most strategic when making decisions, it's a battle of wits and not of strength"
A proud smirk was plastered on the face of Avien who had been standing on the balcony above Euphoria watching the game, everyone had been so immersed that they didn't notice him. It was when a guard lifted his head up and saw him staring.
"Your highness, our apologies we didn't see you there"
The men bowed their head and greeted Avien while Euphoria turned her head towards him with a huge smile on her face, the type a child had when you gave him/ her a popular toy.
The guards watched on as the princess half skipped to the crowned prince and yanked on his arm jumping around him and swinging her arms in a victory dance.
"Did you see Avien, I won"
Avien's lips curved up in an amused smile as he leaned over and gently whispered into her ear accidentally brushing her soft ear lobes against his lips.
"Before the game started, I remember you saying that it was all about fair play and it didn't matter whether you won or lost"
Euphoria paused halfway in her victory dance and smacked Avien on his arm.
"Tch, must you always kill my vibe, I'm pretty sure you're just jealous because you know I'm good enough to win you too"
"Not at all Princess"
Euphoria squinted her eyebrows pouting and poking Avien's arm.
"Are you trying to say I'm not good enough to play against you and win"
Avien pulled himself off Euphoria and slowly walked backwards.
"No comment princess"
Euphoria was about to smack him again when he sprinted and ran around the garden with Euphoria chasing behind him threatening to hit him on the head with her shoes.
"Avieneonix Sazor Vikander, come back here or I'll imprint my shoe in your skull"
Avien stood infront of a guard using him as a play shield.
"You have to catch me first Euphoria"
The onlookers and passerbys who saw this situation couldn't help but erupt into a fit of laughter as they observed the situation.
"Help me out Thedrick, protect your crowned prince at all cost"
Euphoria snorted as Avien stuck out his perfectly pink tongue to her with a wink.
"That's cheating Avien, don't bring him into this"
Euphoria laughed at the guard whom Avien was using as a shield, he looked like if given the slightest opportunity he would run away from their banter and never look back.
"Thedrick help this princess by shifting away for her to have easy access to beat her husband blue-black"
Avien bit his bottom lip as he stared at Euphoria who had unknowingly referred to him as her 'husband', the guard used the opportunity to scurry away leaving Avien to Euphoria's mercy, Euphoria apparently didn't notice Avien's pause and used this opportunity to spring on him, making them fall flat to the ground with their chest pressed against each other.