The Blood Prince

005

The party ends, I was now being led to my chambers by Nadia.

"You looked beautiful today."she says.

"I didn't feel beautiful."I say softly.

"Oh dear, Tatiana. You must speak up to actually be heard in this castle."she says.

I look up as she walks before me.

"Does that mean yell?"I say, making her chuckle.

"Well, you're not going to get anything from Xavier by being as soft spoken as you are darling."

I look down, feeling my cheeks grow warm.

We come to a familiar door, and Nadia steps aside.

"Goodnight, my queen."

She does a curtsy and then turns walking away.

I huff, opening the door and then stepping inside.

I see Xavier already there, undressing.

I turn away, quietly taking a seat in one of the chairs by the window.

I hear the sound of him taking off jewelry, placing it into a small chest on the night table.

"What are you doing over there?"

His voice makes me jump.

"I..I w-was just looking out the window, your majesty."I say softly.

I hear footsteps, and I shake as I see his shadow loom over me.

"Come."he says, offering me his hand.

My lips quiver as I look away from him.

"Come, Tatiana."

He reaches down, gripping my hand, pulling me to my feet.

We walk over to a door in the bedroom, and he opens it for me.

Inside I see a luscious golden bathtub. It was filled with milky water, sprinkled with blood red rose pedals.

"It's tradition."he says.

I admit, I was flattered, blushing like a drunken fool.

Suddenly, I feel my bustier loosen around my waist, and I shakily inhale.

I feel him slowly unbutton each of the buttons on the back of my red gown.

"I-i've never been with a man."I blurt as he slowly slips the dress over my shoulders.

"You needn't worry about that tonight, Tatiana."he says, slipping the dress down my arms.

My hands instantly come to my chest as he unties the strings of the petticoat under my gown.

Once he has me fully dressed down, he pulls the pins from my hair and it falls from the braided position it was in.

He gently begins undoing the braids, and as he does he presses a drying cloth against my chest, which I accept gratefully and cover my bear breasts.

"Y-you're being so nice to me.."i say.

"We're married. I'm king. There's nothing for me to treat you harshly about anymore."

He lays my hair over my shoulder and then walks around to my front side, asking for my hand.

I take it gently and helps me into the bathtub.

The water was warm, comforting. It smelt of roses and honey.

He gathers my hair as I lay back, soaking it in the water.

"..will I be able to see my father again, Xavier?"I ask, looking up at him as he rolls up the sleeves of his black shirt.

Again i see the strange symbols burned into the backs of his hands.

Along with multiple burn scars on his forearms.

"Eventually."

I listen to the soft splashing sounds as he runs his fingers through my hair.

"You're always like this..right?"I ask.

He shakes his head.

"No."

I sigh, turning away from him as he massaged my scalp.