"You will never walk away from me." He growled out.
She froze in his arms, "I just want to be alone."
"You are always alone, so entertaining us for the evening should not be a problem."
"Then why are you ignoring me?"
He tilted his head. "You are not amusing to me."
"Great, then you can leave me alone." She tried to push out his arms, but he did not let her move.
He leaned down, but she turned her head away, and he kissed her neck, which sent shivers down her spine.
She did not want to yield to him, but he let her go and he took her hand. He pulled her out and when they got back, he pushed her down her chair.
This was humiliating for her as they all stared at her. She gritted her teeth as the evening went by.
Sylvia barely paid any attention, the anger that was simmering in her could not be described, she was pulled out of her thoughts, and found Alice looking at her sympathetically and she smiled at her.
She tried to not get emotional as she smiled back. This was the first time besides Maria that had been kind to her.
The evening finished, and they all got up. She turned to him. "Have a lovely evening, Sire."
He nodded at her and saw Celia waiting for him, she left them there. The following afternoon she sat by the garden.
"This is where you went, My Lady."
She turned, and it was Alice. "I needed some air."
"Could I keep you company?"
"Of course, sit."
"I'm sure the palace life must be suffocating."
"That's right. I mean, I'm new to all of this."
"Can I talk to you freely?"
"Most certainly."
"The King is awfully cruel to you."
"Tell me about it, I too wonder I have done so wrong."
"He has never been in love."
"I believe that."
"He had hoped to marry Celia."
"What is going on between them?"
"He does not love her, but she might be the closest person to make him feel some way."
"I understand, but why can't he treat me decently?"
"That is what I also don't understand, but you are the fairest person we all have ever seen."
"Thank you."
"I'm sure you are used to everyone gawking at you."
"Yes, all my life, I had to deal with it."
"No one has ever caught your attention?"
"No, I fell in love with Vernon the minute I saw him and he was putting up a front."
"What do you mean, if you don't mind my asking?"
"When he came to claim me, he acted like the perfect gentleman and just like a fool, I told my parents that I would love to spend the rest of my life with him."
"That is awful."
"Right, I wish I had been a bit more wise."
"That is not your fault, you were conned."
"Well, it's too late for me to take it back."
"Sorry."
"Don't be, it's my fault."
Sylvia was excited to go see her parents and Vernon was escorting her. They sat in the carriage and she looked outside.
The breeze felt refreshing. Vernon was reading some papers. She woke up when there was rain, Sylvia opened the window and stuck her hand outside as the droplets fell on her hand.
They pulled in a rest area, and her body was aching from all the bumps. Vernon helped her out and when they got to the room they were sharing she immediately began getting reading to go to the baths.
"Where are you going?"
"To the baths."
"Do you think I will let you go?"
"I need a bath, I ache everywhere, and a good soaking would help with that."
"One has already been arranged for us."
"Okay."
They were led to their bathhouse, it was modestly sized, Sylvia stripped and was left in her undergarments.
She saw Vernon doing the same but he was not stopping as he was taking off everything. She turned away and entered the bath.
The water was hot and her body was already loosening up. She turned and was glad that the water was covering him up.
Sylvia saw that he was scanning her body and felt exposed as the color rose to her cheeks and looked away.
She grabbed the salted baths and scrubbed herself, then saw that Vernon was still looking at her. "What is wrong?"
"Your beauty is truly bewitching."
She did not know if he meant it as a compliment or
"Why are you overthinking this?"
"I just didn't know if you were complimenting me or not."
"Of course, it's a compliment."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm merely stating what everyone thinks."
She nodded, "Of course."
He swam towards her and she panicked. He was not wearing anything, Sylvia scooted so that she was out of his view.
Yet he came to her and now he stood in front of her, and her face was burning. He touched her cheek, "You look more mesmerizing with the color on your cheeks.
She looked him in the eye, and he was looking at her fully. This was the first time that he truly saw her.
Her eyes widened as she looked down. He pulled her in his arms before she could protest he kissed her.
She struggled for a split second then she melted underneath him. His hands felt amazing on her, this felt more intimate as she was barely dressed and his hands on her skin were igniting the flame in her.
And he too was not wearing anything when she remembered that Sylvia struggled in his arms,
They pulled apart, and she was the only that was breathing hard.
"Why do you fight yourself?"
"Does it mean anything to you?"
He looked emotionless. "No."
"Then there is your answer."
She walked out of the bath and got dressed. Vernon came a few moments later, and they headed to dinner.
Sylvia was starving as she dug into her food and drank some rice wine, it was amazing for nights such as these.
She started to feel fuzzy because of the wine, and when they were done, she stumbled a bit as she tried to balance herself.
Sylvia thought she would hit the ground but Vernon had held her up. He hoisted her up over his shoulder and she did not bother to fight him.