This Is What It's Like To Be Lovers [ON HOLD]

6: This Was The Very First Page

• Enchanted by Taylor Swift •

Larimar's eyes fluttered open to a larger bed and an empty room. A soft pillow had been delicately tucked under her head and another under her knee, making the hem of her dress ride up her thigh. The first thing that caught her still sleepy eyes was her dagger, clumsily fastened to her thigh, the scabbard strikingly dark against her honeyed skin.

She sighed and used a hand to cover her face, even though nobody else was in the room.

If she was in Eira, she would have been woken up by her handmaiden, Agata. A pitcher and a basin would be brought to her bedside so that she could wash her face and mouth without having to leave the warmth of her fur blankets. But here, at the house where Citra had let her and Jade live, Lari could wash her face anywhere.

Lari stretched and left her pallet for the bath. Unlike her bath at Eira, it was small with a copper-tinted basin barely big enough for one person. A couple of bars of soap laid on the floor beside the tub, packed in leather. She quickly washed off the sleep from her eyes and mouth before stepping out to meet Jade and her familiar.

The Princess needed a few moments to adjust to the bright sunlight when she swatted aside the newly installed curtain. She couldn't remember when she had seen such clear and warm daylight before. Definitely not in her seventeen years in Eira.

She looked around, and found Jade in front of the makeshift kitchen, a towel draped over her left shoulder as she moved fluidly between the fire and what looked like a chopping board to Larimar. Her long, auburn hair was tied in a messy bun, loosening further with every move she made.

It was Mewton who saw the Princess first and purred out an announcement, startling Jade. "Oh, good morning. I'm making pancakes." The redhead turned to meet eyes with the noirette.

"Good...morning," Lari replied with a lack of gusto. "Where did you get the ingredients from?"

"Citra came by to drop off things for us to eat," Jade replied, smiling from ear to ear but it didn't touch her eyes. And as it was increasingly becoming a habit since the previous night, the feigned smile did not fool Lari.

The Princess joined Jade's side in an attempt to inspect the ingredients and utensils. And although she had minimal culinary experience, she could at least tell them apart. "You're making pancakes with lemon zest?" She asked, holding a tiny saucer to her nose.

"Yes, I'm guessing you've always had sweeter pancakes with syrup. But this is also amazing if this turns out right." Jade replied. "It's a family special. My brother taught me this. Very recently actually, so I thought I'll try it out. Maybe you can be the judge of whether I can actually cook."

Lari only smiled. Knowing full well she would not be of much assistance, she asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

"I'm almost done, Princess." Jade flipped a pancake with ease.

"You know..." Lari looked away, utterly impressed. "You need to drop the Princess sometime soon."

Jade chuckled, exactly like she did last night. "That's not possible, Princess."

"Why not? I dropped the Queen when you asked me to." Lari picked up another utensil - a jar - to inspect. Taking the lid off, she stuck her nose at its brim and the aroma of tea instantly engulfed her.

"I've only been a Queen for...what, 2 years. But you've been the Princess for as long as I can remember. I know you as the Princess, and nothing else."

Lari hummed, pushing the jar of tea leaves towards her companion. "We'll have to change that."