PRINCE BENEDICT
"You again?" Mother inquired. She must know her. From the little information I had gotten from Frederick and the incident that the other day, she was trouble. An irresistible troublemaker.
For some reason unbeknownst to me, I couldn't help but phantom the feel of her rosy lips on mine. Her eyes never left mine, she shuddered as my hand brushed hers. My gaze shifted from her mesmerizing features to her chest, her bosom barely restrained by the light cotton of her dress. Her skin was as white as snow, clear and silky. Her red hair set in a disheveled manner and her head barely reached my shoulder.
She was perfect.
A strangled sound escaped Frederick's mouth, he was opposed to the tension between us, I could tell. He had his chance but he let her go. Unfortunately for him, I won't be letting her out of my sight.
"Y-your highness" she bowed and I almost chuckled. She was cute. An image of her from last night flashed in my head. Her hair messy as usual, her little pumps in her hands while she walked barefooted. Her dress barely covered her bosom. She looked innocent and clearly unaware of the attention she drew the moment she walked into the room.
What more could I possibly want in a woman, a queen?
"Dear. I do believe we have met, haven't we?"
"Yes your majesty."
"On that occasion, I ratified your relation to the Duke. I believe we have to plan for your nuptials. And pray tell me, Frederick, why haven't you invited her to the palace? You do know we have some matters to discuss before you are to wed."
"Mother I assure you that is not Frederick's responsibility. I will be inviting her to the palace myself." I interrupted.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Frederick asked in a defensive tone now standing in front of me, his face like that of an ogre.
"Do not worry little cousin. I assure you I can take care of her." Giving him a pat on the shoulder. I pulled her closer to me. "Come along now, we have so much to talk about, Miss?"
"Frederick" I heard my mother's warning tone and turned. Frederick's hands were fisted by his side, he was ready to strike. I chuckled internally, by now he should know I will always win.
Gracing him with a small smirk, I turned to the lady of the hour. My large hands engulfed hers as we walked away. "Esmeralda. Not to be rude your majesty, but I do believe we have met, you didn't seem to be much of a talker." She was clearly flustered but she was resilient.
Nodding my head in agreement to whatever she said. I waited until we were out of earshot. "Esmeralda" her name rolled off my tongue. We were closer to the waterfall by now.
She let out a breath when my hands came in contact with her face.
Flawless.
"We met last night. You were quite funny looking, running around barefooted. It was an amusing sight to behold. Sadly, I was in a bad mood, nothing you need to worry about."
"Oh. I'm sorry for int-."
"Shhh. You do not need to apologize. Your interrupting was a silver lining. So, Miss Esmeralda, please do well to grant me the permission to court you."
She was shocked. Her cheeks and ears tainted pink and her once so tough front fell. "You weren't so nice to me last night."
Still acting tough I see. She shifted her weight from one leg to another, a sign of her nervousness.
"And besides, the duke and I are said to be courting. The que-your mother granted us her blessings." She added.
"Is that what you wish to believe?" I cornered her. The rising and falling of her chest was one of my main concerns. I had been fighting the urge to look at them. And her lips...
I shall have a taste of them for sure. There was no one here to see, for it would be considered a scandal if we were discovered and I refuse to defile her honor.
"Now pray tell me. Will you be my bride?" Our faces were merely inches apart, our lips almost touching. I held my breath awaiting her answer.
"I-I-I. You can't possibly mean that. You want me to be your bride, the future queen of this kingdom?"
"Of course. I didn't stutter." Fisting my hands at my side to refrain from touching her. It was taking everything in me to keep to myself at this point. She was simply breathtaking.
"What about the duke?"
"You'd rather be a duchess than a queen?"
"No. Not that, it's not about the power or title. You barely know me." She looked deep into my eyes with a sense of dismay.
"Yes. I barely know you and I want to know you. I've only wanted to know you ever since I saw you sneaking towards me barefooted. Your broken shoes in your hands, your hair tousled. Even at that you are the most beautiful maiden I have set my eyes on. I doubted my feelings last night, but here we are again."
Slightly brushing her hair to the side, I felt her shiver, a small gasp leaving her throat as her eyes shuttered.
"Tell me you don't feel anything and I will let you be."
Her eyes flew open. "Wha-you're doing this on purpose. What do you want from me?"
"I want you."
"You cannot want me. We just met." She said bewildered.
"I know. Take your time, think about it. I will make arrangements for your arrival."
She gave me a half smile. I doubt she was going to think about it. Either way, I had never been the one to back down. I want her and I will have her.
As my Queen.
"I have to go home." She announced stepping away from me. Only then did I notice she had no shoes on. Again.
Her feet were wrapped in soft linen which had gotten dirty. She was limping and she tried to hide her pain.
"Stop."
She halted without sparing me a glance. I picked her up, earning a small scream from her. She was surprisingly heavy.
"I can walk, I have legs and they are working perfectly fine." She protested hitting my chest.
"Quiet, little one" I shushed her ignoring her harmless protest.
"Uh. Little one, me? For your information mister, I am more capable than you are. We were only deceived by nature, because you have a bigger form than I." She said clearly offended.
"You think I am big for nothing?"
"I don't think, I know. Tell me if you know a thing or two about..." She searched around looking for something. "Ah ha, swimming or fishing? I doubt you can do anything."
"I assure you I know that and many more. We have time on our side, you will see for yourself." I wasn't much of a talker, but she makes me want to tell her a lot of things. Everything.
She snorted. "Until then."
We headed over to the stream and I carefully placed her on a stone, unwrapping her feet. Washing them and hiding the linen in my pocket.
"You shouldn't walk around barefooted, you know."
She nodded, seeming more interested in my face than my hands.
When I was done, I picked her back up. "You won't be walking today and hurting those poor feet of yours."
"But, where are we heading?" She asked, her mouth slightly agape.
"Where else?"
"I can't go back there, your mother and the duke. We-no I, I am in an ineluctable situation."
"And why do you say that?"
She stared at me flabbergasted. "Oh, have you been daft all this while?"
I snickered. "You are quite witty. I find that amusing."
"You do? So are you going to let me go?"
"Of course not. I will carry you home on my horse." Just then I instructed some guards nearby to bring my horse. It was a black stallion, the best of its kind. "Stay still."
Putting her on the horseback before mounting it. She held onto my waist tightly, her knuckles turned white. She was petrified.
"Never rode a horse, I see." Her head was to my chest and I resisted the urge to peck her.
"I'm sorry your majesty, but you do realize that not everyone, especially women have the privilege of riding a horse. We simply have no choice."
"Hmm. So do you wish to learn how to ride one?"
"If I could, I would."
"Consider yourself lucky. I will teach you how to ride one." I assured her.
We had started to move and I made sure to go at a considerably slow pace. After a while she got comfortable and rested her head on my chest. She must be tired.
We had finally reached our destination. It was quite far, she had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, rather than her usual talkative nature.
She lived in a small cottage house. It was covered in so much green and some overgrown weed. It was quite old and hidden. I wonder if her parents were inside.
She peaked up from my chest as the horse came to a stop. "We are here." Immediately sliding down from the horse. "Thank you very much, your majesty."
I attempted to mount down, but she quickly shook her head. "Is there something wrong?" I looked around.
"No. No. You should go, your majesty."
"I should go. I thought we had come to an agreement." I mounted down either way, walking up to her small frame.
"Y-your m-ma-majesty, I-" she stuttered.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?" I attempted to hold her.
"Y-y-yes your majesty, I'm fine. I just think you should head back to your camp. I remember you were on a mission."
"No need to worry. I have accomplished my mission." Taking slow steps towards her, she backed up until her back hit the door. Placing my hands on both sides of her head, against the door. Now she was trapped.
"Y-your majesty-"
"It's Benedict to you."
"You should leave," she whispered, shrinking away from my gaze.
Watching her turn into a nervous wreck was a sight to behold. It was similar to the edgy feeling I felt at the pit of my stomach. Whenever she said something so witty and stared at me with a taunting smile. Her eyes lighting up, clearly enjoying teasing me and those lips. I need to get a hold of myself.
She was clueless about the effect she had on me. I wonder how long she is going to put up that innocent and tough front of hers.
"You have tonight to think about my proposal. A carriage will be here by dawn to bring you to the Palace. I enjoyed my time with you." I gave her a small smirk.
She stayed still. Those hazel eyes stared at me, wide and filled with pure innocence. I chuckled internally.
"So innocent, makes me want to taint you. To mark you as mine, all mine. You will be mine."
Resting my forehead against hers, our nose touching. A slight shiver ran up my spine, I could tell she felt the same. Her breathing quickened, so did the rising and falling of her chest. What a pleasing sight.
My hand, having a mind of its own, ran down her neck to her bosom leaving goosebumps in its wake. Her eyes fell shut as she lifted her head, making our lips touch. A featherlight kiss, the key to all my fantasies.
No.
I pulled back leaving her stunned once again.
"Goodbye little one."
And with that I rode off, out of her sight. Stopping at a corner and waiting til she had safely gotten inside.
That was merely the tip of an iceberg.
***