I woke up not feeling very refreshed. Ophelia was lounging on the couch, staring at me weirdly like she was reading me.
"What?" I asked but she just casually turned away.
A knock came at the door. Must have been what woke me up.
A knight entered. "The wife of the Baron of Nybor."
Nybor?
I didn't recognize the city, nor do I recall an arranged meeting of such.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"The wife of the brother of the king of Mittelreich" he clarified.
My eyebrows shot up. Anastasia? Already?
She had desperately bought the last 3 gold soaps at the time when mother was in charge. How much did she use to be back so soon? The marriage ceremony is only days away, I expected to be accosted by her there. She must be pretty desperate to go through all these stress.
I got out of bed and washed my mouth. I didn't have the time to wait for the maids to prepare the bath so I just heat it up myself with a spell.
The bathroom is not as grand as my original one, but it is still something. It is like a luxurious indoor swimming pool. The ever clean floors shined with black marble, and though there were no crystals here, the arched ceilings reflected the candlelight like stars in motion.
After a quick bath, I dried myself with the fine linen used as towel. It is new, but this one had no embroidery of Dragonhart crest because the noble family that makes the family's custom towels were one of those who got chased out of Drakoria.
I passed Ophelia by the door and she followed me. She went back to the couch with her wine bag, and I went to the dressing room, to the first shelf that contains after-bath preparations. I know nothing about body lotions so I have to live with the olive-oil like ointment that other nobles use for their skin.
In a few minutes I was done, and I went to my desk drawer and collected one of Helene's potion and we left the room.
I was taken to the room she was given for rest. Two knights guarded the door, like most rooms. They saluted, and then one of them knocked, "The king" he announced.
They opened the doors and I walked in. As they were closing it I told them they could leave. They bowed and the doors closed shut. I found two of her handmaidens, who greeted, and soon she came out of the dressing room with another hand maiden, a fairer one.
"Oh, King Daran" she blurted, rushing toward me with open arms.
Elegant and refined as always, she hugged me tight, and then kissed me on the cheek affectionately. We were not that close, but I think she was happy to see me. Or at least she played the part.
"Lady Anastasia" I purred, my eyes never leaving hers. "What a pleasant surprise. I'm honored."
"Oh please" she scoffed, turning away. "You ignored my letters"
She led me to a polished wooden table close to the fireplace and a luxurious chaise lounge. It has a teapot and cups on it, and a tier stand with assortment of pastries and cakes. She seems well at home because that's not how my kitchen makes the cake here.
"I've forgotten how tiring traveling can be" she sighed, settling into a seat.
I sat beside her. The table was not big so we were close to each other. Very well within arm's reach and for me to be enveloped by her beautiful perfume.
"Lady Anastasia--"
"Please" she reached out and held my hand. Her eyes were full of sadness and desperation like they live there. "I can't go back to this" she whispered.
She was wearing her elbow length glove, this one black. They were cool against my skin.
I turned to her handmaidens. "Leave us"
They looked at her and she nodded. I told Ophelia to leave too. She hesitated but followed. We were alone in the room.
I gently freed my hand, stood up and walked away from her towards the window and stared out at nothing.
"It's not that I don't sympathize with your plight, Lady Anastasia" I said, my voice low. "But I have an entire kingdom to consider"
"Please, King Daran" she rose, voice breaking. "There are always exceptions. I'll pay whatever you ask."
I looked at her, then approached.
"It's hard to make an exception" I said, looking into her eyes.
"Please" she pleaded. "Anything within my ability"
I stared at her like she was making it difficult for me, then leaned in to kiss her, but she recoiled and leaned back.
"You insult me, King Daran" she said.
"I've already agreed" I told her. "This is just one of my shameful desires"
Her eyes didn't leave mine. She was silent for a long time.
"I can't do that to Lucius" her voice was barely audible. "Not Lucius"
"You don't have to" I said, placing my hands just below her shoulders. "Just close your eyes"
I drew her closer gently, and then leaned into a kiss. She didn't move away this time and it was just a mild kiss.
I reached out and unclasped what held her dress, gently removed them from her shoulders and the dress fell to her feet in a quiet pool of black silk.
Her breasts had softened over the years ,and her stomach had a gentle sag. I leaned in and kissed her again, deeper this time as I removed my own clothes.
Both naked, I carried her to the bed and laid her down gently. She had turned her face to one side and screwed her eyes desperately shut as if to take herself away from this scene. She held her breath as my hand rested on her abdomen, acting like a lover teen girl on her first cheating.
"No, no... I can't—" she began to sit up.
I kissed her deeply and held her down.
The excitement of doing this to a silver-haired married woman was new. I plunged two fingers into the very mouth of her soft cunt, and she uttered a strangled : "Ahh-oh goddess". So full of anguish emotion that my prick jerked.
Her lips were thinner and weathered, extremely mobile and exquisitely sensitive, judging from her squirming. She groaned and sobbed as I probed my forefinger deeper and faster, and soon she heaved up, wetted my hand and collapsed back in ragged breath.
I drank Helene's potion, the effect kicking in almost immediately. She stared at me as I positioned myself inbetween her legs, gathering them up with my own and held them there as I put my shaft into her to my great delight.
She gasped and shut her eyes tight when I slammed in. I leaned down, hands placed on the bed beside her head, and began jerking hard, steadily. She groaned at the end of every thrust and it spurred me to go harder. Soon I was going so hard that I feared for her old bones. Her eyes squinted in confusion at the pleasure she was feeling and that made me go even harder and she let herself go. Moaning and groaning so loudly that I hoped her handmaidens were not close, but they were close. Just behind the door and they heard it all.
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
The sitting room was expansive, with high ceiling, more lavished than most low nobles could afford, but it lacked any personal touches of portraits or family crest. Everything was arranged with precision and there was no fire in the hearth.
Nerissa was going through the books in the great shelf as her younger sister sat nearby, talking—again—about family life. She's married to a well to do merchant family and already has 3 children, but she's never happy. Maybe that's why she is way older than her age.
Doors opened and a man, probably in his 30s came in. He was very handsome, almost to the point of pretty, but retained everything masculine. He was the youngest.
"Great seeing you, sister" he greeted fondly. "I thought you were avoiding me"
"I am" Nerissa replied, at which he laughed.
"How is my dear nephew doing?"
"You can always come see him" she replied, picking up an old book, going through it and dropping it for another.
The man laughed. "I rather not"
That made Nerissa smile and they all caught it. "I doubt he is still angry at you" she said.
"I'm not taking that chance" the man replied. "He saw me at AlHashem's party and walked right past me like he didn't know me"
Suddenly he stepped closer like he just remembered something confidential. "I heard he is trying for the silver mines" he said, his voice low. "Do you mind putting in a good word for me?"
"No" Nerissa said, picking a book and moving away without looking.
"Please " He trailed her as she moved along the shelf. "Father have started again. I need this. It will also help the family."
She ignored him and kept reading.
"Do this for me and I promise I will be more responsible" he pleaded.
"I don't care"
"Fine" He stepped in front of her, hands raised in mock surrender. "Do this, and I won't ask for a hug for the rest of the year"
That made her pause. She looked at him and he showed his hands. "I promise" he pleaded.
She considered him. "Just a word?"
"That's all I need" he agreed.
She went back to reading and he was overjoyed though he tried to keep it calm. The son won't deny the mother, he knows this, because he meant the same to her. The only creature in the world that means anything to her. From the moment the boy was born, he couldn't believe it. She would do anything for him, and he hopes it is still the same for him as well.
"I thought you said he has changed, why do you still keep them here?" he asked.
"None of your business" she answered without looking up.
Doors opened again and the mother walked in. The room became subdued. The younger sister looked away, adjusting her shawl, and the youngest became uncomfortable.
"You were supposed to meet with the Breforts" she said to the youngest, her voice detached.
"I had somethings to deal with" he began to explain but she had already turned, her attention on a stack of messages on the table.
"See to it this evening" she said, picking up a letter.
As she was walking away, something about Nerissa caught her attention and she approached her where she stood reading. She came really close to the confusion of Nerissa, and before Nerissa could react, her mother's fingers grasped her chin, tilting her face up. She pulled her lower eyelid down.
"You are pregnant" she announced flatly to the silent shock of everybody.
None was as shocked as Nerissa. She had only recently finished the witch's potion. Did she make a mistake?
"That is not possible" they heard her say, but it didn't sound convinced.
Her siblings looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. Mouths parted, but no one spoke.
Their mother was already leaving, and the doors to their father's studies opened. King Cedric walked out with their father, and they all looked their way. The father didn't have a happy face.
"Nerissa" King Cedric nodded a greeting, but Nerissa just looked at him. She said nothing. How could she be pregnant?
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
We laid on the bed with a silence I couldn't read. We were close enough for our bodies to touch but she clutched the bedcovers to her chest, staring at the ceiling. Her voice was soft, fragile.
"I was barely 8 when it happened" she said. "I shouldn't have gone out but I was so desperate for people my age that we ended up sneaking out of the city into the forest"
A sad laugh escaped her. "I still remember how exciting it was".
She sighed. "I try to save them" she went on. "But all it did was experience it more closely, and giving me a remnant of that day to take with me everywhere. Fifty years of that stench, sleepless nights, morning headaches from endless sleep potions—until that night at the party." She turned to me, eyes distant. "I couldn't believe it, it didn't feel real." she continued, turning away. "I suffered so long that I didn't know what relief was but it felt so--liberating. I thought I was condemned for life"
I leaned in to hold her close. I kissed her, kissed her deeply, and unsurprisingly she kissed back. I pulled the bed covers away, and climbed ontop her, kissing her sensuously. Her arms held me close, but she too was too tired to show hunger. Or maybe there was no hunger and she was just going with the flow.
I reached down and directed my cock back to her soaked pussy and she gasped at being gorged. A sound too raw to be fake. I began moving slowly into her while kissing her, taking my time with it.
Soon I climaxed.
I climbed off the bed and began putting on my clothes feeling her gaze on me.
Her situation is more desperate than I had thought. If she could find a way to help Montreal she would. Hell she's desperate enough to have me killed for it, or, depending on her influence, have AlHashem invade me. I'm not needed, and I'm a hindrance. I cannot change that, but I can make it a situation where she feels she doesn't need to take a risk.
"I will have some brought to you at the normal price" I said, not looking at her as I fastened my leather doublet.
Then I sat beside her, wearing my boots. "I'm willing to sell more to you when they finished only if you can assure me there will be none other than you using them"
"Thank you," she said simply with a weak smile.
I looked at her, then leaned in and kissed her again, which she returned but I could tell it meant nothing.
I left the room.
Her handmaidens and Ophelia were waiting by the hallway, and I walked away with Ophelia. On my way to my room I was informed that Whitlock was waiting in the office. Weeks late, and without a single word, and he came without scheduling a meeting. It was like he was begging to be killed, but I was more curious than I was mad.
The knights pushed the doors of the office open and I saw him seated at the guest side of the table, his companion behind him. A seat had been removed to accommodate his wheel chair. The cube was on the table.
I walked on and sat on my seat. "So..."
"Nothing"
"What do you mean nothing? You had weeks."
"And I tried everything I could" he said, pretty relaxed. "Even found new methods because of it, still nothing"
I relaxed back into my seat, looking at him. I didn't want him to go unpunished after all these, but I didn't know what to do with him.
"I do share your sentiments about the value of the cube" he said. "We just don't know what yet"
I stared at the cube. There's no doubt about it, even at this moment, but I can't afford to obsess over it. I'm overwhelmed as it is.
I stood up, picked up the box and left the office.
"Drop this in the vault" I said, handing the cube over to one of the knights.
He collected it, confused. "My apologies, your majesty" he said, calling me back. "None of your family is around"
"What?"
"Only Dragonharts can enter the vault of Drakoria" Whitlock said as he was being wheeled out of the office.
He stopped by the door, looking up at me with a calm suspicion. "I'm certain your father told you that"
It was an awkward moment of tense silence with eyes on me. Why the fuck is something like this not written down?
I gestured for the cube back. "Hurry up and get me the key" I said, resigned.
I didn't try to defend myself, it would only make things more messy. Whitlock looked at me for a few more moments before being wheeled out.
Soon the knight came back with a red crystal that I knew to be the vault's key. It was said to be empty that's why I never had any interest in going down there.
I casually waved the knights back when they attempted to come with me. I walked to the king's wing. We walked down the far door at the opposite end of a door that leads to the hallway of my room. Two knights guarded there. They saluted and I had to wait till they opened the tight heavy door.
We walk through to a grand staircase, incredibly carved. The air smelled very old, and dusty. We climbed down to a dimly lit hallway that archeologists would marvel at in my previous world. So detailed, so exquisite, so real. Even Ophelia was impressed.
At one end of the hallway was an impossibly large wall inbetween two cosmically designed pillars, and at the other end was the doors of the vault. We walked towards the door. It was overwhelmed with the imposing figure of a dragon lifed out on it. When we reached, I saw where the key would go and I had to use [Flight] to get to it. It fitted, and glowed a bit then the door suddenly snapped open and pushed back with a gentle creak.
Inside was completely dark and I didn't even think to fly in. I went to the ground beside Ophelia and stared into the dark, hands twitching.
Should I just throw it in?
Their goddess might have given me a pass but who knows how whatever is inside would react?
I glanced at Ophelia and somehow she seems more nervous than I was. It didn't help matters but I had to. I let out a breath, then walked through.
The moment the first foot touched the ground, torches burst into vibrant flames, like the time in that underwater cave. One at a time but very fast that they seemed to be at once. The torches were held regally by old statues.
It was a very large room of cobwebs, empty glass display pedestals and cupboards. The air was heavy with dust, accumulated over months, or probably years. Will they be expecting me to clean here too?
I walked on, looking around.
Two larger sculptures with real blades guarded what is obviously the locked doors of the royal tomb. I had no interest of going there, or even staying long. I was becoming more conscious of the dust. As I was looking around for where to drop the cube, I saw the egg. I had forgotten about it.
I approached, and I noticed something became different about the air. I heard the heavy doors slammed shut, taking the torches with them. It was completely dark and I had to use a flame spell, but almost immediately as it was ignited it went off. A massive rocky palm had seized my head, and I couldn't do shit.