Little Man brought Natalia to her private room after the ordeal outside, his hand gentle on her elbow as he guided her inside. He turned to Maid Emmy and the others waiting in the hallway.
"Stand outside," he said quietly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Emmy's face tightened, her jaw clenching as she frowned at the dismissal. But she swallowed whatever protest was building in her throat and stepped back because Natalia didn't said anything, clutching the first aid kit against her chest.
The door closed between them with a soft click.
Inside, Little Man made Natalia sit on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped under her weight as she sank down, immediately bringing her hands up to cover her face. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, carrying all the exhaustion she'd been holding back.
"Maybe I should ask for help from Mother or someone else," she muttered through her fingers, her voice muffled. "I'm clearly not doing something right."
Her head was pounding.... a relentless throb that pulsed behind her eyes with every heartbeat, making it hard to think clearly.
But even as the words left her mouth, another internal voice spoke beside her. What are you saying, Natalia? If you take help from others, they'll doubt your capabilities!!!! You can't show weakness, you're the Princess!!! It's your duty to lead everyone!!! The people are on edge because of what's happening in the city. Once you pass your ceremony, everyone's mouth will go silent. No one will dare say anything about you. Just wait. Be patient. Don't take their words to heart.
Little Man stepped closer, his hand reaching out to pat her head with gentle strokes. His touch was warm, grounding her scattered thoughts. But Natalia's body shook slightly beneath his palm, trembling with uncertainty that ran deep into her bones.
"Can I really do it?" Her voice cracked as the words spilled out. "Pass that ceremony?" Her next words going back and forth inside her mind. "Even until now, I haven't succeeded at training. Can I really become a princess?"
Her mind was racing in circles, thoughts tangling and crashing into each other. She clenched her fists so tight her nails bit into her palms, and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, biting down hard enough to taste her own blood on her tongue.
Little Man pulled away for a moment, giving her space as he stood and walked to the small table across the room. The sound of water pouring into a glass filled the silence. He returned with the glass in hand, and before Natalia could react, he sprinkled some of the cold water onto her face.
"Wakey wakey, Natalia."
"HA! COLD!" Natalia shouted, jerking back as the icy droplets hit her skin, shocking her out of her spiralling thoughts. Her eyes flew open, wide with surprise.
Little Man moved quickly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her up from the bed. He guided her across the room to the window, positioning her directly in front of it with him standing behind her. His warm hands settled on her shoulders, and he leaned in close enough that she could feel his breath against her ear.
"Look," he said softly, gesturing toward the window. "They've already calmed down. Those people are just stupid and get worried over nothing."
Natalia's eyes focused on the scene outside.... the streets quieter now, the crowds dispersed into smaller groups.
"I'm telling you this from the start," Little Man continued, his voice low, meant only for her. "What you're doing is right. Truly you are doing great out there!! The only reason your light seems dim right now is because a few so-called powerhouses are playing their petty games in this city."
His hands stayed on her shoulders, grounding her to this moment.
"No one chooses a cruel man or a twisted woman to lead them.... not in the end at least."
His grip tightened slightly making a quiet promise that whatever he is saying is true. "You are too worried about future that is causing you to take everything seriously around you…..Especially that Cok guy who is ready to pounce at you as soon as you fail!!! If it ever comes down to it.... if you're forced into something you don't want.... I'll handle it. I'll give him something that makes him see you in every face. Let him chase illusions while you and I run this city properly….. Of course, it would not be easy but I have several plans up my sleeves that could bring him out of the picture"
A crooked grin tugged at his lips. "Hehe."
As he spoke, his hands began to move.... slowly, sliding down from her shoulders. His fingers traced the curve of her sides until they reached her hips, where they settled with possession burning in his touch.
Natalia felt something loosen in her chest at his words, the knot of anxiety unravelling just a little. She asked slowly, her voice doing its best to hide the slight discomfort inside of her that she herself was not realizing at this moment, "And what about those weird people who tried to kill me?"
His grip on her hips tightened, fingers pressing into the soft flesh through her dress. "Those people? Don't worry. I've already hired some energy user people from foreign lands, and possibly they'll be coming here soon.... they should reach by your ceremony day. Each one of them is stronger than your Uncle Jorri. Heheheheh." His voice was thick with satisfaction. "I told you I'd support you with all I have. It'll cost me a fortune, but if I can see Natalia on the throne, then my dream will come true."
Little Man's words washed over her, soothing her racing mind, and suddenly all her problems felt distant. A sweet smile curved her lips as she felt his hand moving again.... this time reaching around to her tummy, his palm pressing flat against her stomach through the fabric. He started pulling her backward, drawing her into his embrace.
She asked one last question, her voice trembling with fragile hope mixed with a deep hidden fear.
"What if I can't succeed in the ceremony? What if I can't use the Heart Machine? And if I refuse to marry that Cok guy… then what will you do?"
Little Man smiled against her shoulder. He loosened his hold just enough to lean in, his mouth close to her ear. His breath brushed her skin as he whispered in low voice
"I know how much that scares you.... I've known for a long time."
Natalia's breath caught in her throat.
"I once sneaked into your training chamber back at the academy," he continued softly. "I watched you then reading many books on the machine and Eirnet Energies…..It was not hard to find out that you failed by watching your expression daily"
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Since that day, I've searched everywhere for fallen Crowns who have rich history of using heart machine and taking care of their people... those from smaller kingdoms that collapsed and were forgotten. I've already found a few. I've already spoken to them." His voice dropped further. "If you can't do it… I'll simply put someone else in place. A figurehead. A puppet to fill the gaps."
His arms tightened around her again.
"You and I will focus on this city. No one will get to decide your fate for you. No one will touch you. Everything will be fine."
The tears came suddenly from Natalia eyes.... it was hot against her cheeks and was flowing continuously without even a sign of stopping.... sliding down Natalia's beautiful flushed cheeks. For the first time, she didn't hesitate.
She leaned fully into him, surrendering to the safety of his arms. Her hands found his, clutching it with both of hers and pulling it tight against her chest, anchoring herself there.
And for the first time in a long while, she let herself believe him.
"Thank you, Little Man, for loving me," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Suddenly, she felt light.... as though a weight had been lifted from her body and head. Her eyes fluttered closed as she sank deeper into his arms, letting him hold her completely but with that lightness came a lingering heavy emotion that she tries her best to push it down for the sake of herself and for the sake of the bigger picture.
Little Man's smile widened, satisfaction flooding through him. He hugged her tighter, pulling her flush against his chest, and placed his head onto her shoulder, breathing in her scent.
"Hmm, thank you for accepting me," he murmured.
For a long while, they stayed wrapped in that moment, the world outside forgotten.
Finally, Natalia opened her eyes and slowly turned around in his arms. Her gaze landed on his clothes.... torn in several places, dark stains spreading across the fabric. Some drops of blood were seeping through.
"You're hurt!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening. "Let me treat you!"
She smiled softly and pulled away, rushing outside. A moment later, she returned with the first aid kit, she placed it on the table with a decisive thud and turned around to speak to him.
"Show me where you're hur.... KYAA!"
She spun back around immediately, her face flushing bright red.
"I told you to show me the wound, not your BODY!" she shouted, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.
Little Man had fully undressed, revealing his fit body. His abs were carved deep into his abdomen, each ridge defined clearly. His shoulders were wide, his chest sculpted. Sweat glistened on his skin, making every muscle stand out even more.... his body was slick and warm from the afternoon sun.
"Huh? How will you treat me with my clothes on?" he asked innocently, though a playful smirk tugged at his lips. "Come on, don't be shy."
Before she could protest, Little Man grabbed Natalia's hand and turned her back around. Her palm landed flat against his bare chest. The moment her skin made contact with his, Little Man shuddered.... a full-body tremor that rippled through him. A low moan spilled from his lips.
"Aah…"
Natalia was embarrassed at first, trying desperately not to look at his body. But when she heard that moan.... her eyes snapped up. She saw his face: flushed red, lips parted, breathing hard, eyes half-lidded with a mix of pleasure running through his expression.
A wicked laugh bubbled up from her throat. "Hehehe. Trying to act tough in front of the princess?"
Feeling bold, she played along. Her palm pressed more firmly against his chest, feeling the rapid thump-thump-thump of his heartbeat racing beneath her hand. His skin was hot, almost feverish to touch.
"Aa!" Little Man gasped, embarrassed, and tried to back away.
But Natalia moved forward with him, matching his steps. Her hand slowly drifted downward, fingers grazing over his ribs, feeling the way his breath hitched under her touch. Then, almost in a trance, she traced her fingers over the defined ridges of his abs.... slowly, savouring the way they tensed and flexed beneath her fingertips.
"Aah!" he moaned harder, the sound rough, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Hehe Do you think this Princess is just a plain studious girl? Even though you have seen me over the years and know about me yet you still try to get a edge over me???? You try to act smart in front of this beautiful sexy Princess? Hehe"
Natalia felt her own heart beating faster, pounding so loud she could hear it in her ears. She couldn't look away from his abs.... the way they flexed under her touch, the heat radiating from his skin, the faint sheen of sweat making him look almost sinful. She gulped hard, her mouth suddenly dry, her breath shallow. In a daze, she placed both palms flat against his abs, feeling every ridge and dip, the warmth seeping into her skin.
"Agh!" Little Man groaned, his voice breaking.
THUMP!
Neither of them had realized they'd been moving backward for quite a while. Little Man's legs hit the edge of the bed, and he fell, his back hitting the mattress. Instinctively, he grabbed Natalia as he fell, pulling her down with him.
She landed on top of him with a soft gasp, her face buried in the crook of his neck, her entire body pressed flush against his naked upper torso. The heat of his skin seeped through the thin fabric of her dress, burning hot against her. She could feel everything.... the hard planes of his chest, the rise and fall of his breathing, the racing of his heart matching her own, and that bulge that was clearly happened due to her touch….
"Ah!" Both of them froze, breathless, hyper-aware of every point where their bodies touched.
"Sorry! I'll get up!" Natalia's face was burning red as she tried to push herself off him.... but her hands only pressed harder against his chest, and she felt him tense beneath her palms.
But Little Man's arms wrapped around her tightly, refusing to let her go. One hand settled on her lower back, fingers spreading possessively across her skin through the thin fabric. Then slowly, teasingly, he dragged it upward along her spine, each inch burning into her awareness.
"Natalia," he whispered, his voice thick, his breath hot against her ear. "I really love you."
His hand reached the collar of her dress at the back, and his fingers found the hidden zipper. He grabbed it between his fingertips.
"Ah!" Natalia felt his hand there, felt his intention, and she wanted to say something.... wanted to stop him.... but remembering everything he'd said before, all the promises he'd made, the heat in his eyes, she couldn't make her mind work fast enough to stop him.
Her head was starting to hurt again, throbbing with confusion. Her heart was screaming at her to get up, to pull away, but her body.... her traitorous body.... melted against him, frozen in this strange battlefield of desire and doubt.
Little Man slowly pulled the zipper down.
ZZZIIIPPP!
The sound seemed impossibly loud in the quiet room. Suddenly, Natalia's dress loosened. The fabric slipped down, and her naked shoulder came into view.... pale, smooth, vulnerable in front of a man she wasn't sure off.
Little Man felt his blood rushing downward, heat pooling low in his body. His breathing grew heavier.
"KYAA!" Natalia cried out, feeling his hardness pressing urgently against her through their clothes.
Her mind was racing, still not knowing what to do. Should I stop this? Should I let it happen? Her body was similarly in doubt, not enjoying what was happening but still not getting up.
Little Man suddenly leaned forward and pressed his lips to her exposed shoulder, kissing the bare skin with an open mouth, letting her feel the heat of his tongue.
"Aah!" Natalia didn't feel pleasure exactly.... it was something else, something overwhelming. She cried out in shock, biting down hard on her own lips as she felt his kiss burning into her naked shoulder and his fingers tracing slow patterns on her naked upper back, claiming every inch.
"Little Man, I think we should stop," she said breathlessly, a slight frustration in her voice.
But Little Man ignored her, pulling the zipper down even lower, his movements hungry now.
ZZIPPP!
"Agh!" Natalia felt her chest area loosen completely. Her dress sagged forward, and the full swell of her breasts became visible from her angle, spilling over the edge of her bra, the fabric struggling to contain her.
Little Man placed his whole palm flat on her naked back, skin to burning skin, and his other hand moved down to grab her ass, groping it hard through the fabric, kneading the soft flesh possessively.
"Aakk! Huff… huff…" Natalia panted, her body trembling. "LITTLE MAN, STOP."
She spoke a little louder this time, her voice shaking.... but her hips were pressed down by him forcefully.
Little Man only got rougher, more desperate, his mind was not working because he dreamt of loving her and here she was on top of him! How could he not touch her! How he could not try to love her! He pulled her dress down from the front, removing his hand from her back, and then he leaned forward and licked the upper swell of her breast with a slow stroke, his tongue hot against her sensitive skin.
She gasped, her back arching from overwhelming sensation.
He didn't stop. He brought his other hand up and pulled her dress down from the other side too, tugging the fabric lower. Now Natalia just had to stand up or Little Man had to pull it lower, and her breasts would bounce free, completely exposed to him.
She looked down, breathing hard, her chest heaving.... and suddenly her eyes caught on a shiny object.
Zack!!!
She saw the locket hanging around her neck, the small globe resting in the valley between her breasts.
Her eyes sharpened instantly, clarity cutting through the fog.
Little Man was trying to slip his hand inside her dress from the front when Natalia suddenly pushed his hand away hard and backed off the bed, scrambling to her feet. She stood there on the cold floor, breathing hard, her hands clutching her dress in place to keep it from falling.
Her braided hair reaching her middle back part was completely ruffled, strands falling loose around her flushed face. Sweat dripped from her forehead, making her naked back completely drenched, sweat soaking through her bra hooks and reaching deep inside her dress reaching her ass.
"This is enough," she said firmly, making her voice as clear as possible. "I can't sleep with you before asking Zack's permission."
Natalia reached through the fabric of her dress and tightly gripped the locket, holding it. Her breast moving up and down faster now thinking about what she was about to do, Natalia subconsciously touched her breast to feel the bra position, making sure it was perfect.
Little Man lay on the bed for a few seconds, chest heaving up and down, before suddenly sitting up. His body was glistening with sweat, every muscle taut.
"Right. I'm sorry. I got hasty," he said quickly, trying to ease the tension. "Please forgive me, Natalia."
Natalia was about to calm down, her breathing starting to slow, when suddenly she heard a loud voice from outside.
"MOVE! If I say I want to see her, then I WILL see her! Gloomy, GO!"
Big Sister Sasha's commanding voice echoed through the hallway.
BOOM!
Gloomy burst through the door heroically.... but he immediately shuddered in fear, his eyes going wide at what he saw inside.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Natalia felt a surge of panic. She frantically tried to zip her dress back up, her fingers fumbling with the zipper, but she couldn't do it in time.
Big Sister Sasha and Emmy rushed inside right behind Gloomy.
And what they saw inside made them froze in place.
They saw was a woman drenched in sweat, her dress on the verge of being undressed, her hair a complete mess, her breathing was hard with a flushed face.... and a young man fully naked from the waist up sat on the bed, his skin gleaming with what may have transpired.
Big Sister Sasha just stood there, staring at them both, her expression unreadable.
"NO! Big Sister, it's not like that! Please...."
SWWISSH!
Big Sister Sasha simply turned around and walked away without a word.
"NNNNOOOOOO!!!!" Natalia cried out. She swiftly zipped her dress back up with trembling hands and ran after her, her steps were heavy with many emotions.
.
Little Man let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head as he began to dress.
"What a bunch of incompetent people Natalia surrounds herself with," he muttered under his breath. "Barging into the Princess's room.... even if they're close, there should still be some sense of decency."
"Pfft.... HAHA!"
Emmy burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.
"Hm?" Little Man shot her a sharp glare. "What's so funny, Maid?"
"You," Emmy said bluntly. She kept patting Gloomy's head, who was glaring daggers at Little Man. "You're way too desperate."
"So what?" Little Man snapped, his tone instantly defensive.
"You know how much Nat loves Zack," Emmy said, a knowing smirk curling her lips. "That's why you're pulling every string you can to get close to her. And it's only working because her mind's clouded right now."
She paused, letting the words settle before delivering the blow.
"Just once.... if she meets Zack even once.... you're finished. Gone. Vanished. Just in the same way as all those years when she never spared you a single glance."
"Humph." Little Man's voice turned cold. "We'll see about that."
He didn't look back as he walked out.
Emmy released a slow breath, her smirk fading away. Her voice dropped to a murmur, barely audible even to herself.
"…I guess I made Young Master feel that way too…..I never looked at him...."
A faint sense of panic crept into her chest as her heart began to ache as the day grew deeper.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
Lets talk about baldness... Now now don't be scared we all love our hair but its important to read this because I SAY SO HAHAHHA!!!
Scientifically it's mostly androgenetic alopecia kicking in thanks to genetics and that sneaky hormone DHT shrinking our follicles like a bad shrink ray until those luscious locks wave goodbye, and yeah stats show about half of guys are rocking some serious thinning by 50 while women get their own version too but often subtler.
Fun fact: it's been around forever even ancient Egyptians tried onion juice remedies which sounds gross but hey desperate times, and modern science brings us gems like minoxidil that revs up blood flow to wake up sleepy follicles or finasteride that blocks the DHT villain, though always chat with a doc first because side effects can be a plot twist of their own.
Solutions range from hair transplants that move stubborn strands like a botanical heist to embracing the shine with a clean shave that screams confident badass or even just rocking hats and wigs if that's your vibe.
Bottom line is hair or no hair you're still the same awesome human so whether you're fighting it with science or high-fiving your inner Mr. Clean the real glow-up is owning it with a grin because life's too short not to laugh at our evolving heads!
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