Damien's eyes shot open. He checked his surroundings. Fantasia was still in his arms. The sun was rising into the sky, its rays hitting the blinds. His breathing staggered after that nightmare.
He moved his head to bury it in Fantasia's neck.
It was just a dream, so why did it seem so real?
Damien pulled Fantasia closer, breathing in her scent. It was almost hypnotic. He didn't feel like letting go of her anytime soon.
Of course, it all came to an end once Fantasia opened her eyes. Very slowly, she blinked and moved an arm to rub her eyes. Her eyes darted towards Damien, relaxed on her neck. She giggled.
"Giving in to desire already, Damien?" She joked.
"..."
He stayed silent. He just wanted five more minutes like this. She happily stayed put until he had enough.
This wasn't like him. Normally, he would be up and ready to go to his office. Or, he would be on his way to the royal palace. He didn't mind being late for his duties today.
Fantasia used a free arm to hold onto the back of Damien's neck and adjust him. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and a smile.
"Morning, my darling Duke," she cooed.
Damien flinched. He's not used to this at all. His cheeks flushed ferociously from the kiss and the sweet sound of her greeting.
"Morning, my liege," he whispered.
"Aww, that's no fun. You have to call me some term of endearment eventually."
"Soon…"
Fantasia smiled, ruffling Damien's hair a little before a knock came at the door.
"Our liege! We're here to get you ready!" A voice called out.
It was the maids. They were here. Damien was about to get up until Fantasia sat up on her bed with her robe untied. At a glance, her figure was shown. Luscious curves accentuated her unusually small waist. Her robe slid off slightly below her left shoulder, revealing just one breast. It didn't fully poke out.
Damien couldn't take his eyes off of her. Then, the door unlocked. Coming back to his senses, he realized that Fantasia still had the necklace on. If word got out that she was a Saintess and sleeping around with the king's brother, it won't end well.
As the maids came piling in, Damien pulled back his robe to show more of his chest and pulled Fantasia back down on the bed. Then, hovered right over her, covers and all.
The maids gasped in surprise. Fantasia was shocked by the impact of hitting her back on the bed suddenly.
"You all can leave us. We're a little busy right now," Damien announced.
—
My back slightly stung after getting pushed back on the bed by Damien. It wasn't that bad but I definitely winced a little.
I couldn't see anything but Damien's body. I can only imagine the look on the maid's face when they saw him pull that stunt.
An idea came to my head. I smirked as I looked into his seductive eyes. He looked confused, staring back at me.
"Your grace, I'm so tired because you kept me up all night," I said. "You came into my room in the middle of night, but you want to keep going? How are you not tired yet?"
He's so red. I could replace all the stop lights in NYC with how red he was.
I kept going, "If you want to continue though, I won't stop you. We can go another round."
"I'd go all morning if I could. You're just that enticing," he replied, trying to hide his embarrassment.
WHAT?
My mouth went agape. That was some courage right there. Bravo, Damien. I'd applaud him but my arms are being held down.
One of the maids bowed, "Our apologies! We'll be leaving now!"
One by one, they dispersed. My face was flushed but I held the proudest "mom" smile.
"Good job," I whispered.
He took a quick look around and laid down beside me, pulling the covers over me and turning away.
"What? Why so shy now?" I asked, curiously.
"Your robe is untied, my liege…" Damien trailed off.
I looked underneath the covers. He's right. I didn't even realize. Wait, so he saw a good portion of Fantasia's tidbits? Is that why he turned around?
I'm so used to sleeping naked that this didn't really faze me. But I guess I should cover up a bit more. I'm surprised he didn't faint while on top of me.
I sat up again, tying back my robe, "I gotta say, minus the shyness in your voice, you've pulled that off really well."
I turned to his back, rubbing his bedhead, "Keep this up and I may just fall for you for real."
Damien stayed still for a minute, but got up to throw his robe on. Another knock came at the door.
"Enter," Damien commanded.
Ain't this my room though?
I let it slide. In came Bryant with a bright smile on his face. In his possession, a beautiful dress that matches the layout of this mansion, indigo and black.
He bowed, "What a beautiful morning we're having, my liege."
He then turned to Damien, "I was able to get a ready-made dress in our liege's size. Her maid will be the one to dress her up."
I blinked, "My maid?"
Donna poked her head out from behind Bryant and bowed in respect. I jumped out of bed and rushed to her, throwing my arms around her.
"Donna! Donna, oh goodness," I exclaimed. "Oh goodness…"
I slid to the ground in relief. My tears fell down rapidly on the floor. Bryant's eyes widened at the scene.
Donna got on her knees and surprised me with a hug, "It's all thanks to you, your radiance."
It was my turn for my eyes to widen, "Why are you calling me that?"
Damien raised an eyebrow, "So you knew?"
Donna shook her head, "When I was inches away from seeing the goddess, I had a warm feeling in my chest. After that feeling, I fell unconscious."
She pulled away from me, "I don't know if it was because I was this close to death, but I heard your voice. You were speaking to Goddess Diana, weren't you?"
My eyes widened more. Wait, how much did Donna hear? Was she able to hear our conversation in her unconscious state? How is that even possible?
"How much did you hear?" I whispered.
A little tear slid down Donna's cheek, "Enough to call you by your proper title, your radiance."
Oh…she knows I'm not really Fantasia…
I gave her a tighter hug. No more words needed to be said. Donna truly accepted me. Not me pretending to be Fantasia. Me, Diana.
Donna wiped the tears from my cheeks, "My apologies, Duke Silvercrest. I need to get her radiance ready. We must make haste back to the church."
Damien didn't feel all too convinced, "How are we sure you're not a spy for the king?"
Donna sighed, "I've been beside Lady Fantasia ever since she arrived at the palace. I could never report anything to the king because the other maids to the favored concubines would intercept any and all my complaints."
Her eyes sharpened, "To have his own wife beg for a sliver of attention, I found no more reason to keep in contact with the king. I kept her company in her side of the palace for three years."
There was a fire lit in Donna's eyes. She was angry. Until Fantasia's dying breath, she begged for the king's attention. A wish that was never granted. Not even out of pity.
Fantasia died without feeling an ounce of love in that palace. The only love she had was from Donna, and a small pity from Marquis Hannington.
Her anger brought a smile to my face. Mother was right. I guess I am spiteful.
"I must get ready," I began. "I have to go meet the High Priest at once."
I took the necklace from around my neck and handed it to Donna, "I'll leave this in your care. You're the main person who I can trust."
Donna's eyes twinkled at the sudden responsibility. She closed her eyes and reopened them. Her gaze gave the strength of a supernova.
"I'll walk with you through flame and flood, your radiance," she declared.
And with that declaration, the necklace glowed a soft red. The aura encircled Donna's body. Afterwards, it was absorbed into her. Damien, Bryant, and I went agape.
"With this declaration, you'll now be bound to the Saintess until death do you part…" Goddess Diana's voice rang from inside the room. "Your role is crucial to the ones who follow after. Your title is now, 'The Sword of the Saintess'."
The glow stopped. Donna pouted, “I was hoping to be the Saintess’ Head Maid. I guess it can’t be helped.”
“Did you just…?” Damien trailed off.
Donna looked at him, “Yes, I made a sacred oath.”
“Intentionally? On the spot?” Bryant asked, bewildered at the gall of this maid.
“Yes. I gave my life for her radiance once. I won’t hesitate to do it again,” she admitted.
I sighed exasperatedly, covering my face with my hands, “What am I going to do with you…?”
Donna smiled, “I don’t know but you better think of something soon. Either way, you’re stuck with me no matter what.”
I couldn’t help but giggle, “I wouldn’t want it any other way…”
Comments (4)
See all