Ivetta retired to her room shortly after my proposal, and I to mine, elated even without an invitation to her room. Next was the engagement ceremony, and then the wedding. Sariel had a lot of work to do. I didn’t intend to delay for any reason.
It took me a while to get to sleep, as I found it unusually difficult to calm the thoughts spinning around my head, but suddenly I was waking up to broad daylight streaming in through the windows above my bookshelves. I stretched and pulled the blankets back up over my head. Today was going to be another busy day, starting with me signing the treaty. I needed to talk to Sariel, and check in with Leon regarding his project with the ex-slaves, and I should probably have a word with Gilbert about the emperor…
Just a few more minutes.
But the longer I stayed in bed, the less time I would have with Ivetta at the end of the day.
I sighed and got up, pulling the drapes open and looking down into the gardens. Summer had arrived, but the weather had been pleasant the past few days as opposed to its usual oppressive heat this time of year. Silvio’s parents were walking around with Arianna down below. I frowned and turned back to my bureau, Nokto’s words from the night before ringing in my ears. That would not be the last time Ivetta’s background would be called into question, nor would it be the last time vile accusations were made to her face.
Unfortunately, she was used to that.
I dressed in my normal clothes, only sparing a glance at the midnight blue coat hanging on the coat rack next to my bureau as I ate a quick lunch. Given the time, my brothers would be gathering in my office, waiting for me to arrive. Not so they could watch me sign the treaty; rather, so they could harass me about the proposal, I was sure.
This was going to be a long day.
I was not expecting to see Ivetta outside my office. Her guards stopped at the door while she walked toward me, a wide smile on her face.
“Chevalier,” she called, a barely restrained excitement audible in her voice.
“Ivetta.”
I smiled, too, closing the distance between us and leaning in for a soft kiss. She blushed and glanced over her shoulder at her guards. I couldn’t care less about them. They’d seen me carry her back to her room in the middle of the night; what was one little kiss?
Not enough, that’s what it was.
I took her hand and pulled her along with me, back toward my room.
“Come.”
“Don’t you need to get to work?” she asked, looking up at me shyly.
“I’m signing the treaty today, so my office is likely occupied,” I explained. “And I assume you have something you wish to discuss.”
“Maybe, or maybe I just wanted to see you,” she teased with a mischievous sparkle in her green eyes. “Did you ever consider that possibility?”
I smirked. “I have allowed for that as well.”
We’d arrived at my room, and I held the door open for her. She brushed past me, the pale blue skirts of her dress swishing against my legs as my eyes traveled down her back. I closed the door and grabbed her about the waist, spinning her into my arms for a passionate kiss.
“Chevalier,” she gasped, pushing back on my chest. I kept a tight grip about her waist, keeping her from going far. “I’m not so sure this is a good time-”
“This will have to last me until after dinner,” I replied, kissing her again with only slightly less fervor, and then resting my forehead against hers. “What was it you wanted?”
“You expect me to think after you kiss me like that?” she asked breathlessly.
I chuckled. “If you’d rather continue…”
“No,” she said firmly, putting her hand on my mouth to stop my next kiss. “You have an international treaty to sign, and I still need to have lunch before I get back to Sariel’s lessons.”
It was her left hand. Her ring hand, the cool metal pressed to my lips. I kissed it, and she pulled her hand back quickly.
“You’re impossible!”
“Alright, I’ll stop, on one condition.”
She tried to screw her face up in a scowl, although her flushed cheeks and shining eyes ruined the effect.
“And what would that be?” she asked.
“After dinner, you will meet me in my library.”
She bit her lip. “But I-”
I cut her off with another kiss, unable to resist that simple nervous gesture. She gasped into my mouth as I nibbled on her lip briefly.
“That wasn’t a question,” I murmured, kissing her again before she could respond.
This was not how I’d planned to start my day, but I was the king. Who was to say what I could and couldn’t do?
“Well, I want to, but if you’ll let me-”
I interrupted her with another kiss, her weak protests just a background for her sweet, involuntary sighs.
“Ch-chevalier…” She dug her fingers into my shirt as my lips left hers to travel along her jaw to her ear.
“Now is your opportunity to talk,” I breathed in her ear, savoring the heat of her skin against mine.
“Uh - um…oh…” She shivered as I nibbled at her earlobe, tilting her head to the side as I moved down to kiss her neck.
“S-sariel is a little…stressed…ooh…Chevalier…”
I could barely hear her over the pounding of my heart. My fingers dug into her back, pressing her harder against me, needing to get closer.
“A-and…I was…I was wondering if…you could…ah…”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, holding on tightly as her knees went out from under her.
“Give him…a week…to…mm…Ch-chevalier, s-stop!”
I scooped her up and planted a firm kiss on her lips, carrying her to the bed without a second thought, kissing her again and again as I pressed her into the blankets. Suddenly, she shoved me off of her and darted away.
“Don’t do that!” she shouted, her green eyes wide with fright as she stood trembling in the middle of the room, her hands covering her flushed cheeks.
I stared at her in shock, trying to think through the fog of heated desire.
“Ivetta?” I asked, realization dawning as I pushed myself up into a seated position. “I didn’t mean-”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I know. It’s…” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Could Sariel have a week off from planning?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“Of course,” I said softly, a stab of pain wrenching my gut at the flat tone of her voice.
“Since Yves is leaving for Obsidian tomorrow, I thought he’d be up tonight, and I wanted to do some baking with him after dinner, if that’s alright with you,” she continued, her eyes still closed.
I sighed and stood up. She winced at the slight creaking sound of the mattress, and that small action felt like a slap in the face.
“Ivetta, look at me,” I pleaded, gently smoothing her hair.
She opened her eyes and dropped her hands from her cheeks, looking up at me with a pained expression. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
I pulled her into my arms, nuzzling my cheek into her hair. “Don’t apologize.”
“But…I…”
“It was my fault.” I lightly kissed the top of her head. “Do your baking tonight.”
“You can come,” she said, wrapping her arms around my waist and nuzzling into my chest as she always did when she sought comfort from me. “I’m guessing all your brothers will turn up eventually. And then, afterwards, maybe we can go to your library.”
“Only if you want to.”
“Okay.” She pulled back a little, and I loosened my arms around her to allow her the freedom to leave. The freedom I hadn’t given her earlier, when she’d plainly told me to stop, and I’d ignored her in favor of my own selfish desires.
She placed a light kiss on my lips.
“Go sign that treaty, Chevalier, and don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t deserve that, nor did I deserve the look of adoration she was giving me. Not after I’d been such a fool. I brought one hand up to caress her cheek gently, another pang of guilt twisting my insides as she leaned into my touch.
“I love you, Ivetta, and I don’t want you to be frightened of me.”
She gave me a small but genuine smile. “I love you too, Chevalier, and I’m not scared of you. It’s just…complicated.”
I kissed her on the forehead and stepped back quickly as the fire sparked to life within me again.
“It is indeed,” I replied, heading into the bathroom to splash my face with cold water. I needed to get away from her, to clear my head of any remaining fog. She’d just wanted to talk, and I’d done everything I could to distract her and focus on what I wanted instead. Like Nokto. The thought turned my stomach, and I splashed my face one more time before returning to my room, heading for the door. She was still there, fingering the fabric of the blue coat - my father’s coat.
No, not his. He wouldn’t have stopped. At least I could give myself credit for that.
“Let’s go.”
“Why aren’t you wearing this?” she asked, looking over at me with simple curiosity, no trace of fear or tension left in her.
“I only need to wear it when I’m in court and for state occasions.”
“Oh.” She released the fabric and walked over to me, completely relaxed in my presence. “Isn’t signing an international treaty a state occasion?”
“I sign documents frequently,” I replied, shrugging. “This is no different.”
She sighed and put her hand in mine. “There’s a ceremony for getting engaged, but not for signing a treaty. Got it.” Then she stood up on tiptoe to kiss my cheek. “I got so excited about the proposal that I forgot to congratulate you on becoming king. Will this do until later?”
I smiled and opened the door. “Yes.”
We walked back to my office, the silence comfortable and not awkward in the least. Her hand fit perfectly within mine; her kiss was still warm on my cheek. I’d deserved a slap instead. But her unwavering trust was still there, still mine, driving the image of her frightened expression out of my mind and replacing it with her smile.
I didn’t deserve her.
“There he is,” Clavis announced, interrupting my thoughts. He was waiting outside my office, along with her guards, his golden eyes glinting as he grinned. “And look who’s with him.”
“I should probably go-”
“And miss the signing of the treaty?” Clavis interrupted her. “You wouldn’t let her do that, would you, Chev?”
“It’s her decision,” I replied, immediately irritated by the way he cut her off. Like I had just a few minutes ago.
“Well, since I’m already here, I guess I can stay a little longer,” she said hesitantly.
“Great!” Clavis disappeared into the office, his cheerful voice carrying well through the open door. “Make some room for Ivetta!”
I led her inside, further dismayed to find all my brothers plus the foreign princes packed into the suddenly tiny room. I’d been hoping only my faction would be present.
“Show us the ring!” Leon called from his few inches of space in a corner.
“Ring? What ring?” Luke asked, completely oblivious.
The quickest way to get rid of them was to sign the treaty. I left her in the only open area of the room, the direct center, and took my seat behind the desk. She held out her hand shyly for all to see, blushing furiously.
“He proposed?” Luke exclaimed, genuinely shocked.
“Where were you last night?” Licht asked dryly.
“He was a bit preoccupied with a certain Benitoite princess,” Nokto commented. “As a matter of fact, I believe they left the ball early.”
“May I remind you that she’s my cousin, and I don’t want to hear about it,” Silvio snapped.
“We just went to the gardens to talk,” Luke protested, grinning sheepishly.
“Oh? And I suppose that’s what Chevalier and Ivetta were doing on the balcony, right?” Jin asked teasingly.
“It’s done,” I said, my voice cutting like a knife through the excited banter as I set my quill down. “Now get out of here so I can work.”
“Alright, everybody out except Ivetta,” Clavis joked.
“Wait,” she said quickly, stopping the shuffling of feet as everybody made their way to the door. “I was thinking about doing some baking tonight after dinner, and I was wondering if anybody wanted to help,” she said, looking meaningfully at Yves.
He shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him, but said, “Well, I suppose I can make the time for that.”
“Best sister-in-law ever!” Luke said excitedly, crushing her in a sudden bear hug.
“What makes you think you’re invited?” she asked teasingly, albeit a bit breathless.
He released her, his face falling.
“I’m just kidding. You can all come. Now, I really need to get going before Sariel comes looking for me. Goodbye!”
“Hold on just a second,” Jin said, stepping in front of the door. “What about her goodbye kiss, Chevalier?”
This was what I’d been worried about. Her back was to me, but I didn’t have to see her face to know she was bright red with embarrassment. If the events of my room hadn’t happened, I may have entertained the idea of giving her a kiss, but not now.
“Do you need lessons?” I asked flatly, not moving from my chair.
“Maybe we do,” Clavis volunteered, his eyes dancing gleefully. “You’re the one getting married. You must be doing something right.”
“Julius,” Ivetta called suddenly.
My curiosity was piqued. What was she doing?
“Yes, Princess Ivetta?” he asked from the hallway, obscured from view by Jin’s tall, broad-shouldered form filling the doorway.
She tilted her head up to look Jin directly in the eye. “Behead this man.”
I smirked, barely restraining a chuckle as Jin’s eyes went wide with surprise.
“As you wish,” Julius said, amusement evident in his voice. Leon recognized it and burst out laughing as the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath rang through the air.
“Okay, okay, I give. What are you teaching her, Chevalier?” Jin complained, stepping aside with a rueful grin.
“Thank you. Sheathe your sword, Julius,” she said formally, stepping out into the hallway with perfect poise as my brothers burst into laughter.
“She used to be so kind and gentle,” Clavis said when he’d recovered enough from laughing to talk. “Less than twenty-four hours being engaged to the new king, and she’s as murderous as he is!”
“Perhaps you will all be more careful to show your future queen the respect she deserves,” I replied, still grinning. “Leon, I need a word. The rest of you, out.”
“Hey, how about we all get something to eat?” Luke suggested enthusiastically as they filtered out into the hallway.
“We just had lunch,” Keith reminded him.
Luke shrugged. “So?”
Nokto chuckled. “Worked up an appetite last night?”
“She’s still my cousin, and I’m still right here,” Silvio complained.
“Don’t worry, Chev,” Clavis said, his golden eyes glittering mischievously as he put his hand on the doorknob. “We’ll ask about your night later.”
Leon chuckled as the door finally shut, muting the banter in the hallway.
“Or you could tell me now, so I can hold it over their heads that I know, and they don’t,” he said, sitting in the chair across from me.
“I walked her to her room, and I went to mine,” I said firmly. “Report on your ex-slaves."33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtOuXiiglu
