The halls of light Émeric glistened with several lights and the chuckling of the high ranked nobles attending the ball. The faint voices of horse hooves could be heard in the distance, maidens dolled up like mannequins alighting from their carriages.
Reya moved across the floors gracefully, sipping her wine as she observed uninterestingly the proceedings of the evenings. She had been forced by her mother;quite presumptuous for a woman that evening to stay buried in books and coins.
Forcefully,she was dolled up against her wishes,expensive jewels here, red lips more dangerous than blood, and her gown - exquisite enough to accuse wealth.
She returned home from the ball as briskly as she came since the men's enthralling were enough to make her leave.
Not out of fear but distaste.
Everything seemed rather too..."fake" as she saw it.
She had played her part. Graceful curtsies,a soft laugh at the right jest,sharp eyes watching every man who asked her for a dance. But now she was home.
As she entered her room,the maids steadily followed behind her.
"Milady?" Her personal maid Ruby,a tall petite blonde girl, watched silently as Reya stood before the mirror.
"Get on with it!," she said impatiently.
They unfastened her gown,letting it pool to her feet slowly. Then they dealt with the corset. That corset seemed no different from death's icy cold fingers.
She could not comprehend why women had to wear these for an entire day.
Good Lord!
Reya stood silent as her hair was unpinned, and her jewellery were placed softly into the silk pouches as if they feared to pay for any damages.
"The bath is read, Milady,"
She nodded,slipping into the bathwate, and lapped in the tub filled with roses.
"Finally!," Meredith exclaimed,excitedly rushing into the chambers as she asked the maids to leave."Out! Out! Out!"
Reya sighed, knowing her mother's motive for waltzing into her room so happily. Usually, she came to scold her on how to walk like a lady,eat like a lady - even die like a lady.
It irked her, yet she dared not say it to her face.
But now,it was evident as to why she was here. Merely interested in the ball,nothing else.
"What's it now?," Reya didn't look up,eyes closed.
"Did you enjoy the ball?,"
"Should I?,"
"You know that's not my point,"
"It was ..fine. Aren't I automatically to enjoy every ball I attend?," Reya replied.
"And the men? Did anyone catch your eyes?," her mother pressed,sitting by the tub.
Reya paused,pretending to think. "Average! They were all average"
"Even Prince Edgar ?,"Meredith queried,finding it rather weird she found no one.
"What about he?,"
"Oh, the prince has good posture! A charming smile..and is meant to be a future king," replied Meredith,already day dreaming the merits of such a life. "Besides, he'd make for a good husband. Exceptionally handsome!"
Reya snorted lightly. "Mother,please!"
She opened her eyes,straightening herself. It was quite raving being paired to someone she had no slight interest in "Edgar? We are merely business associates. "
"But I see love," chided Meredith,elated at the thought of being related to royals.
"Then why don't you marry him if you fancy him that much?,"
She frowned. "And why should I? I am wed if you've forgotten. I have a--"
"I get it," said Reya,reaching for her robe. She had come home to solely think, but her mother seemed to have other plans.
"I'm tired, Mother. I'll be retiring. Goodnight"
Reya slipped past her mother to her room,her mood still dampened from the evenings proceedings. It was not that she didn't like the fancy balls and all - it was simply too much.
She had been to six balls that week.
Some with foreigners exclusively for business deals.
Some for suitors
Some for entertainment.
She wanted to yell at someone desperately. Yet to be an elegant lady,you need not yell.
Damn the rules!
She stood by her window,watching quietly as the maids prepared their baskets for the evening. The guards quickly moved into position as was their usual gestures at night.
Her eyes flew around,not knowing what she was staring at.
Until it came
Freedom!
The estate was silent.Each and everyone would perhaps be asleep by now.
She quickly slipped into her black gown, putting in a little makeup here and a touch of gloss there. Quite adamant was she not being seen and stopped as she reduced the layers of jewellery put on ,except the necklace he had gifted her.
Sneakily,she walked out into the blanket of darkness covering the hidden path in her room,descending into the kitchen, then a back door outside, making her way to the stables.
No one stirred.
No guard questioned,for it was farther from their usual positioning.
*Gold Hour Inn*
Reya entered through the back,paying the receptionist a great deal to buy her silence.
"Is he in?," she asked,taking off her hood as she looked around.
The whiff of cigars and beer was rightly on time for her nose to catch. The place looked no elegant as it's rooms as it was meant to protect people's reputation. No one would by aim believe a merchants daughter would waltz into a rusty,old looking in.People were early that night. The dancers were working on stage with the men lusting over their figures. After all,that was what the inn was meant for.
"He's been here for half a quarter" the girl whispered.
"Not more than an hour, I suppose?"
"Of course not! I'll bring the candles,"
Walking inside the room was Alaric,shirtless in bed playing with a book. He looked rather too bored,having sat by it for what he thought was a decade.
"Darling," Reya called,smiling at him.
As he looked up,she felt the same all over again. It was as if she had been hit in the knees and all feelings rushed back in.
His blue eyes were enough to make her breathless,captivating the very essence of her being. And those lips were irresistible she wished to taste it everyday.
"You made it!" he smiled at her,softly gripping her by the waist.
"Was at a ball. Couldn't come earlier after dealing with business deals," said she,burying her face in his neck.
He nuzzled her neck,gently biting her earlobe. "You look captivating when handling business,but irresistible when you're just mine"
Reya blushed despite herself .
He kissed her jawline,his tongue trailing softly down her collarbone as he bit it to leave a mark.
"Alaric," she gasped.
"Hm?"
"N-nothing"
He chuckled,nibbling her neck again as he gripped her by the hips. "Want me to stop?,"
Had she been with other suitors she would've stopped. Yet this was her man. The one who could make her lose her sanity.
"Don't stop," she said before pressing her lips deeply on his. His fingers found her hair,the other unzipping her dress as tongues met. He couldn't get enough of her taste,neither could she since her hands could not stay still,wandering all over with desire to feel him. Every part!
They tumbled into the bed,him under the sheets as Reya kept moaning his name like a prayer. Her grip on the sheets were tight as he worshipped her throughout the night,making her screams sound like hymnal from a choir.
"Don't stop!," she breathed out as he kissed her hip.
Moans of pleasure could be heard through the night and so did gasps slowly turn into screams as bodies collided.
___
At midnight, while he was asleep,she slipped back into her clothes and left for her room before anyone noticed she had disappeared. She returned through the hidden path,washed quickly and fell into bed just before the first light broke.
In the morning,she was awoken by voices.
Her father's deep baritone voice and a sharper one that belonged to Minister Caelis.
"She's suitable for him. Quite smart with business dealings and still untouched,I presume?,"
"Of course," Daren replied."My daughter's been untouched by no man. Besides, we Valens have pride to keep"
Her stomach twisted as she shut her eyes again to sleep. She had no regrets from the last night. Instead,she would have loved to bathe through the experience the whole night.
She remembered how deep it felt. How his lips tasted better than wine. How her toes curled when she tried hard not to moan.
"Reya?" came two knocks, and with no reply, her father came in.
"Good morning,Father!"
"Morning,dear!" He stood in front of her,doing his best to hide his happiness.
"I heard you speak to the minister. What was it about?!,"
"Prince Edgar wants you as his bride. I can't hide my excitement,dear jewel. You've made me proud," her father said,hugging her.
Reya frowned. Why was everyone expecting her to marry into the royal family? She was not a ware to be auctioned off to someone with infectious smiles.
Seeing Edgar's face every time at a ball grated her nerves. She had to pretend she liked being around him for business sake, yet some days it was hard to fake it.
"Why do I sense Ms. Reya does not fancy me even in her dreams?," Edgar had asked her once,during an alone time in his office. She was there solely to close deals and dressed "not" to impress.
"Is it necessary to fancy you?," she had asked,intrigued.
He chuckled. "No,not that it matters! But I sense hostility from my fiancée to-be,"
"Do not flatter yourself, dear prince. I am not interested in your physique, and neither will I ever be interested in anything you do as long as it concerns business. I simply honoured my father's request to meet you!,"
Edgar squinted his eyes,swallowing his dose of offence. Her stubbornness was not enough to put him off. It interested him much to her dismay.
And now,thinking of his face and smile and everything that made him..him, she frowned.
"I'm not interested," she simply replied.
"And why not?!,"
"You don't get to choose who I love,"
Meredith came storming in. She had been eavesdropping earlier."Lower your voice! What has gotten into you? "
The poor greedy mother was clearly interested in having a throne to herself and saw it necessary. Reya married Edgar. She would have several gifts from the Queen herself.
Who would be a fool to reject such a chance?
"Nothing,Mother! It's just my unacceptance to marry Edgar. I don't like him! I'm not some prize to auction!" Reya snapped.
"Your father spends dime pampering you, and you pay us with this?!Oh u ungrateful br--,"
Daren pulled Meredith by the arm to steady her. "You both stop! I shall speak to you when you're fine, Reya dear." He said,smiling before he walked off.
Every night finds itself with secrets,casting its shadows on every household. Lights were needed to move with almost everyone shooting curses at darkness.
But darkness was a blessing to secrets,whispers,lies,deceit, and desires. No! They didn't need a pledge on what to be told, but the Ravens never disappointed.
That night,a raven tapped against her window as she was deeply lost in thought.
A scroll tied to its legs - like it carried mysteries beyond.
She knew where it had come from and who it was.
She opened the paper with trembling fingers.
"Come with me. Let's get married,my queen. " her eyes twinkled with a smile few had seen in her days of unhappiness. In her mind,she knew that was a risky decision,but who in this world ever thought of love with the head?
He wasn't as bad as they made him to be. He wasn't leaving her right after tasting everything. No! He was going to wed her. And she squealed at the idea.
"Mrs. Ravyn. Perfect!,"