Oliver was gone. Jude was gone. But the amazing memories remained.
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I had turned 19 four days after I last embraced my prince, but felt like I had lived a lifetime.
4 days after I last kissed Oliver, was the day Gregory returned from battle.
4 days after I last said goodbye to Jude, the son I'll only ever see in my dreams, was the day he asked me for my hand; The day I said yes to being Mrs. Adeline Tucker.
2 Months Later..... 6/18
I sat up in bed, covering my naked body with the white, freshly laundered sheets. "Do you really have to leave again? Our wedding day is only a couple days away." I asked Gregory, baffled that he would be sent on a mission so close to the day we were to be wed.
At first, I had been reluctant to marry him, spending the last month crying nearly every day; but as I came to terms with the idea of never being with Oliver, I began to see the good in Gregory. He had an odd way of showing he cared sometimes, but he always made sure I was safe and well cared for.
I soon moved in with him after the 2nd month began, and it was an odd, but somewhat satisfying change.
Since he had become higher up in the ranks, promoted way above being a nightshift guard, his salary had also increased, allowing us to live in the noble district; the complete opposite of how I was raised.
Instead of growing our own food, I went to the shops, actual buildings, to buy what we needed; though I often visited the vendors from back home, as I liked to call it. It was just so different.
Gregory even offered to hire a chef for us, but I refused. I wanted something to remind me of home, and the recipes my mother taught me was one of the very few things I had.
He was standing on our 2nd story balcony, naked, his back to me as he stared up at the cloud filled sky. "You know I don't have a say in their decisions, no matter how bad they may be, Adeline." His long black hair had been cut short; a condition of remaining a high-ranking officer.
"Yes, but-" I began as he turned to walk back into our large bedroom.
"No buts, my love," he made his way over to my side of the bed, before sitting on the edge next to me. "I'll be back for our wedding, so don't worry about having to push it back." He leaned forward towards a large, decorative vase near the bed, plucking a flower from it before giving it to me. "Have you hired someone to do your hair? Makeup?"
"Yes," I smiled, looking about the room at the numerous paintings. "Will we have a painting of us done?"
Gregory looked around the room, as if he didn't know they were there; though I wouldn't be surprised if he really didn't. "Of course, but we'll put it in the living room so everyone gets to see it." He leaned forward, his lips soon pressing against mine. He then twisted his body back onto the bed, gently pushing me onto my back and placing himself over me. He pulled away slightly, "I love you, Adeline," he muttered, rubbing the back of his left hand against my cheek, guiding it to the back of my head as his blue eyes peered lustfully into mine.
I grabbed his hand with both of mine, before guiding it to my mouth, and seductively placing his forefinger into it and giving it a light suck.
Gregory hastily placed himself under the sheets, his naked, strong body now over me while his waist was between my legs. As my hands reached the back of his head, his short hair brushing against my palms and fingers, slightly tickling them, he thrusted inside of me.
His back arched, and his head went down, his mouth near my neck as his hot breath warmed it; labored with rhythm.
Though a rhythm for him only. It was mere minutes before he finished, leaving me unsatisfied of course, before he simply got up, hoping his little warriors were successful.
Pretend.
"Will you be alright while I'm away?" He asked as he got himself dressed; a pair of black pants and a long-sleeved buttoned up white shirt.
I rolled my eyes, joining him in getting dressed, "as the last 10 times you've left; yes." My worn down, faded gowns had become a thing of the past. The skirts of my dresses were now slightly puffy, and instead of sleeves that always ended at my wrists, some had skirts for the wrists, puffy sleeves, short sleeves, no sleeves; I understood, while also being completely clueless as to why there were so many options for so many different things. I'd probably never fully understand the rich life.
I opted for a deep purple, short sleeved dress with next to no frills; something as close to my normal as possible.
"Who's going to do your hair?" He asked, buttoning his shirt as he looked at the rat's nest atop my head. I glared at him, and he quickly diverted his gaze.
"Edith."
"Your best friend? I guess it makes sense, but can she do noblewoman hair? Remember your standing now, Adeline."
I huffed, sitting in front of my faint pink vanity, watching myself in the mirror as I fixed my hair. "Noblewoman hair is nothing but a poor woman's hair that had more time tended to each individual strand," I looked at him using the reflections, "Edith will be more than fine. She will do an amazing job. Speaking of..." I turned in my little seat to face him, "if you don't hurry, you'll be late soon."
Gregory peered out the balcony doors to one of the clock towers as if he didn't believe me.
"Shit," he muttered, before excusing himself and dashing down the stairs and out the door, barely having his shoes on before he did so. I stood up, continuing to brush my hair as I walked out onto the balcony to watch him depart.
The large castle of Ravenvale was only a short distance away, overlooking the entire city. I watched as Gregory ran to it using a street that offered the quickest route through the dense city; eventually leading to the extravagant, metal gate of the castle itself.
"I love you," I whispered.