Forbidden Affection

Celeste P.O.V I hurried through the grand hallways of the castle, the heavy basket of freshly laundered clothes clutched tightly in my arms it's already sunset. The Second Princess must have been eagerly awaiting my arrival, and I couldn't afford to keep her waiting any longer. The mere thought of incurring her wrath sent shivers down my spine. As I rushed past the ornate tapestries and towering columns, I couldn't help but notice my dear friend Catherine waving to me from the corner of my eye. "Hi, Celeste!" she called out, her voice filled with warmth and concern. I desperately wanted to stop and chat, to indulge in the comfort of her companionship, even for a fleeting moment. But duty always came first in this castle, and I knew I couldn't risk the Princess's displeasure. With a heavy heart, I pressed on, ignoring Catherine's friendly gesture. The weight of the basket grew heavier with each step, but I dared not slow my pace. I was already late, and the Second Princess was notoriously short-tempered. As I rounded the corner, I suddenly collided with a solid figure, the clothes spilling from the basket and scattering across the polished marble floor. I raised my head, my breath catching in my throat as I found myself staring into the handsome features of the Second Prince. I hadn't seen him in years, not since he had left the castle on a quest to find his long-lost mother, but I immediately composed myself as my thoughts flashed back to those scary rumors about him, that he was a hybrid: half-demon who had killed a lot of soldiers in a battlefield with the help of his demon army, "Greetings, my Prince," I stammered, scrambling to my feet. I closed my eyes expecting to be yelled at, but then I heard the most shocking words ever “I'm sorry I didn't see you coming” he said in an apologetic tone “It’s alright” I said and bent down to gather the clothes. "You needn't trouble yourself, let me help you with these." Without hesitation, the Prince knelt, his long fingers deftly gathering the scattered garments and placing them back into the basket. Our hands brushed briefly, and I felt a shiver run down my spine at the unexpected contact, I made the mistake of looking at his beautiful eyes and for a moment I was lost "Thank you, my Prince," I murmured, how could someone this handsome be called a demon. "I must hurry, the Second Princess is waiting for me," I said, hiding my now blushing face, what's wrong with me? The Prince smiled warmly, his gaze soft and understanding. "Of course, I wouldn't want to keep you from your duties," he said, his tone reassuring. With a quickened pace, I hurried toward the Princess's chambers, the thought of keeping the Princess waiting any longer filled me with dread. My heart is pounding in my chest. Upon arriving at the lavishly decorated room, I took a deep breath and entered, head bowed in deference. "Forgive me, Your Highness," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I have the laundry as you requested." The Princess, seated in an ornate chair, eyed me with a look of pure disdain. "You kept me waiting, you insolent girl," she spat, rising from her seat. Her expression darkened, and I knew I was in for a severe reprimand. "Do you have any idea how long I've waited?" I trembled, bracing myself for the onslaught. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness. It won't happen again, I promise." "Oh, I'll make sure of that," the Princess hissed, her hand reaching for the whip that hung upon the wall. With a swift, savage motion, she struck me hard across the face, and I let out a cry of pain that echoed through the chamber. The blows continued to rain down, each one more brutal than the last. I doubled over, desperately trying to shield myself from the relentless punishment, tears streaming down my cheeks. Begging for mercy would only make the situation worse, and so I endured the agony in silence, my body wracked with anguish. Suddenly, the door burst open, and the familiar, bold voice of the Second Prince pierced the air. "Stop that, Isabel!" he commanded, his eyes blazing with fury as he rushed to my aid. The Princess paused, her grip tightening on the whip as she turned to face her brother. "Brother why do you interrupt me" she hissed, her expression darkening. "This insolent servant dared to keep me waiting, and she must be taught a lesson." The Prince stepped forward, his imposing presence filling the room. "That is no way to treat a member of our household," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "I will not allow you to abuse your power in this manner." “But brother she is just a slave” she hissed "But she is a human being, Isabel," the Prince countered, his voice firm but gentle. "And she has done nothing to deserve such cruelty. I will not stand idly by while you mistreat those under our care. Remember, we are not just rulers, we are also protectors." The Princess's face twisted in anger, but the Prince's words seemed to strike a chord. She hesitated, then dropped the whip, her gaze flashing with resentment. "Very well, brother," she spat. "But do not think this is the end of it. I will not be defied so easily." With a final glare, she swept out of the room, leaving the Prince and me alone. I remained doubled over, my body still trembling from the pain and fear. The Prince approached me, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, as he carefully examined my face, his fingers tracing the welts and bruises. I flinched, but his touch was gentle, and I felt a sense of safety in his presence. He gently lifted me, and carried me gently heading to his room "You're going to be okay," he said, his voice reassuring. "I'll make sure of it." "Thank you, my Prince," I whispered, my voice shaking. “Don't call me that, you can call me Damian" he said “thank you, prince.. thanks Damian” he smiled as we head to his room. At that moment, I felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the Second Prince was not the ruthless demon I had believed him to be. Maybe he was something more, something better. As I looked into his warm, brown eyes, I felt a sense of gratitude and wonder. As he took me to his beautiful and well furniture room, he gently laid me down on his bed “I'll be right back” he said went straight to the cupboard, and took out a balm. He gently applied the balm on my injuries as I hissed in pain but his touch was gentle “Don’t worry it's going to be okay” he said and after applying the balm he covered me with his soft, plush, blanket and I felt like I was wrapped in a warm embrace “Have some rest it's already dark, I’ll inform the Princess that you need a one week rest from work” he reassured while leaving the room, I was too weak to answer so I nod and lean back, my eyes closing in exhaustion, and let out a soft sigh of relief, knowing that I was in good hands. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held. not knowing how much time have left I heard a creaking sound in the room, I opened my eyes and was shocked by the sight before me. The second Princess was standing before me with a sterned expression.