'Till Death Do Us Part

Chapter 2

As I lay in bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling above me, my thoughts drifted to the events of the night before. I could still feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I relived it. The thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I closed in on my prey. It was a feeling like no other, a rush of power and control that I had grown addicted to, no matter how much I hated it.

As I was lost in my thoughts, there was a gentle knock on the door. I quickly pushed aside my reverie and called out, "Come in." The door opened, and a woman stepped into the room. It was my handmaiden, Marie, whom I had known since childhood.

She greeted me with a warm smile and said, "Good morning, Your Highness. It's time to get dressed." I sat up in bed, grateful for her presence, and allowed her to assist me in getting ready for the day ahead. As a member of the royal family, I had to maintain a certain image and dress appropriately for every occasion. Marie carefully selected a dress from my wardrobe, a beautiful emerald green gown that perfectly complemented my hazel eyes. She helped me slip into it, adjusting the lace and buttons until it fit perfectly. She then worked on my hair, brushing it out and weaving it into an intricate braid. She added a few delicate flowers to the finished style, and I couldn't help but admire her handiwork in the mirror. Once I was fully dressed, Marie handed me a small box. "This was delivered for you this morning, Your Highness," she said, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

I opened the box to find a beautiful necklace, adorned with diamonds and emeralds. There was no note or indication of who it was from, but I knew it must have been a gift from one of my suitors. It was a common occurrence, as many noble families hoped to marry into the royal family and gain power and influence. I thanked Marie for her help with getting dressed and for bringing the gift to my attention. However, the necklace held no interest for me. I had no desire to be swayed by the extravagant gifts of my suitors, nor did I wish to lead them on. Without a second thought, I tossed it carelessly into a nearby drawer that was filled to the brim with similar gifts from suitors who hoped to win my favor. The drawer was a testament to the extravagance of the noble families and their desperation to gain power and influence by marrying into the royal family. It was filled with glittering jewels, expensive perfumes, and other luxurious gifts, but they held no appeal for me. I knew that my duty as a member of the royal family was to make strategic alliances, but I refused to be swayed by material possessions or the shallow flattery of suitors.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I thought about my duty as a royal; it probably also meant I also was to avoid killing people. but I had never been one to follow convention.

With a quick motion, I closed the drawer, putting the gifts out of sight and out of mind.

Once I was fully dressed, I followed Marie out of the room and was escorted to the beginning of my day as princess. The routine was familiar: meetings with advisors, diplomatic events, and audiences with commoners. A routine that could only be described with one word: boring. The same faces, the same conversations, the same mindless pleasantries. It was all so predictable, so mundane. But duty called, and nevertheless, I was expected to carry out my responsibilities with grace.

I sat through another tedious meeting with my advisors, feigning interest in their endless discussions of trade agreements and foreign relations. As they droned on and on, my mind wandered, seeking any distraction from the monotony. And then, my eyes landed on a young nobleman who had been invited to attend the meeting. He was charming, with bright blue eyes and a devilish grin that piqued my interest. I found myself shamelessly flirting with him, batting my eyelashes and twirling a lock of my hair around my finger. The advisors seemed oblivious to our exchange, their attention still fixed on their endless stacks of paper. The young nobleman seemed taken aback at first, but soon he was returning my advances with interest.

As the meeting dragged on, I could feel my interest in the young nobleman begin to decline by the minute. But then, to my delight, he gestured towards a private room and made his excuses, leaving the meeting early. I was intrigued, but not because I felt any attraction towards him. I simply craved a break from the endless routine of my duties. Without a second thought, I quickly excused myself under the pretense of attending to urgent matters. I followed the young nobleman's trail, weaving my way through the palace halls until I reached the door he had disappeared through. I pushed the door open and found myself in a dimly lit room, the scent of jasmine and sandalwood filling my nostrils.

The young nobleman was standing near a window, his back turned towards me. I walked closer, my curiosity piqued, and he turned around to face me. His expression was a mixture of surprise and delight, and he made a gesture for me to come closer. I approached him slowly, not because I felt any sense of caution or fear, but because I was savoring the moment. The quicker it ended, the quicker I would have to get back to business. As I got closer, I noticed the way his eyes lingered on my figure, a hungry look in them. I was not naive to the ways of courtship, despite my lack of interest in love or romance. I was used to being the object of desire, and I knew what this young nobleman wanted from me. I found myself oddly fascinated by the idea. Without any hesitation, I stepped even closer, until I was standing mere inches away from him. The young man didn't waste any time in making his intentions clear. He reached out and pulled me toward him, his hands exploring my body with a hunger that made my head spin. I responded in kind, my hands trailing down his chest and reaching for the waistband of his trousers. With a deft movement, I undid the fastenings, and his trousers fell to the ground. His desire was unmistakable, but so was mine.

As we continued to explore each other's bodies, I could feel my mind slipping away from the tedious details of my life. For a few moments, I was just a woman, lost in the throes of passion, and it was a liberating feeling. But eventually, the young nobleman finished and withdrew from me, a satisfied smirk on his face. I felt a small twinge of disappointment at the sudden end to our encounter, but I quickly suppressed it. This was just a physical release, nothing more. Without a word, I straightened my dress and left the room. As I stepped out, I was startled to see my governess standing in the hallway, her arms crossed over her chest and a stern expression on her face.

"And where have you been?" she asked irritably. I quickly composed myself and smoothed down my dress.

"I apologize, I had urgent matters to attend to." Before she could press further, the young nobleman emerged from the room behind me. He straightened his coat and flashed a charming smile.