Under His Rule (Yandere! Prince! x reader)

The Bigger Picture

       I strip into my underclothes left in my bustier, tunic, and underwear, and before I know it, Laiken and I are submerged in the cerulean blue water. It's warm and surrounds my body like a thick blanket. Each small oscillation pulled Laiken and me toward and away from each other, like two positive magnets being forced together. Silver crerys brush against my legs, arms, and stomach, tickling the exposed skin. 

"So," Laiken asks, a light smile gracing his face, "what do you think?" 

The Aurantia's glossy yellow glow lit up his ivy green eyes and washed over his smooth features. 

I feel the edges of my mouth curl up into a sheepish smile, "I love it. How did you find this place?" 

He leans back and rests on the side of the pond, his arms outstretched away from his sides. 

"Honestly, I was running from the law," he almost whispers, his feet kicking back and forth. 

"Really?" I say, calmly. I keep my voice smooth and low in an attempt to sound as indifferent as possible. We've all done stuff we regret. 

He uses one of his outstretched arms to scratch the back of his head sheepishly. "Yes. I'd gotten caught stealing food from one of the vendors in the market, and had to feed Vieve and me. DTI caught me. Jumped the fence, and hid under the water until I thought they were gone." 

He chuckles, "They weren't. They made me choose. Five years in prison or working for the royal family. It was a place to sleep and make money to take home to Ma? It was an easy choice." 

My brows furrow. "DTI?" 

He cocks his head to the side slightly. "You haven't heard? All the locals talk about it. Division of Terror Intelligence. It's the king's secret police force. Very dangerous. If they even think you're going to commit a crime, they'll take you away," He sighs. 

" A woman accidentally killed a man in self-defense. DTI took her, and no one's seen her in eight months. I was lucky to become a servant." 

The previously warm water feels chilly and a shiver travels up my spine. "Wow. The prince didn't even tell me we had an intelligence force." 

He hums, moving his hand back and forth in the water to create ripples. 

We sit in silence for a bit longer before he speaks up. 

"So why did you take this job?" Laiken questions, gently kicking in the warm water. 

"Needed money, to be completely honest. My parents are really sick," I struggle to speak, trying not to tear up. "The pay for the prince's assistant is better than any other job I've seen." 

Laiken nods slowly. "Yes, my story is similar. We're southern, from Korian, but the king began taxing the town so much... we couldn't stay. My brother received his conscription for the war, and we moved to the capital knowing there would be many more job opportunities. Now... we're here. This job really helps and I can send money back to Ma and the boys." 

I nod. "I see. We're more similar than I thought," I slightly smile before splashing him with water in an attempt to lighten the mood. It works. He lets out a loud laugh. 

"Oh, I see! We are playing like that now," Laiken says, running his hands through his shiny, wet hair. 

He swims under the water, momentarily disappearing under the water. Suddenly, I feel my feet lift off the soft, sandy ground. I'm in his strong arms, my body hovering above the water. His wet hair seems to glisten, almost sparkling under the bright moonlight. His eyes, like dark evergreen forests, stare deeply into mine, and I feel as if he's seeing through me. His piercing gaze comforts me, and I melt into his arms.