She is the Princess, and he's her guard. A lust that's forbidden.
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Princess Celeste Lawerence is a snotty, rebellious, and vain temptress. At least, that's what the kingdom of Alvera says she is. Landing every one of her personal guards in exile or...
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Gray Anderson
A new room was set up for me in the castle amongst the other guards who worked with the royals. The soldiers' quarters were located near where the staff resided, tucked away in the armpit of this grand castle in decrepit conditions. I ventured into the halls late last night after dealing with the Princess, and what I witnessed was nothing short of pure horror. The walls were stacked with jagged stones coated in a slightly damp sheen that I couldn't quite discern. It could have been just wet, or it could've been a sticky mucus giving the appearance of moisture.
I wouldn't be touching it to find out.
Additionally, it was poorly lit. The sparse amount of candles cast looming shadows all over the place, hiding the true horrors of this place in those flickering veils. I slept in better conditions when I was out on missions, sleeping in tents and clothes I hadn't washed for months stained with my blood. Now, my honor earned me this. A nasty scowl filled my face, and my nose wrinkled from a sudden pungent odor hitting my nostrils. I questioned how anyone functioned through this mess.
My room, fortunately, didn't reek of mold or feces from the rodents crawling the depths of these living quarters. This was primarily due to my rank as opposed to the King granting me any sort of gratitude. A single bed and frame sat pushed into one corner of the spacious area. Space for my clothing and armor directly opposite on the other wall. A single desk topped with a presumably blank journal and pen directly in front of the door. A heavy sigh left my lips as the reality of my new life dawned on me. My eyelids hunkered low from exhaustion and perturbance, and I decided I might as well try and rest if I was to deal with the nightmare that plagued me during the day. Princess Celeste.
~•~
The first deviation from my regular routine was my uniform. I was no longer on the front lines, I wasn't fighting, and I wasn't in constant danger anymore (or at least any apparent danger. Celeste Lawrence is enough danger to fill two battlefields.) There was no need for the heavy protective shields of metal I usually wore. Something more docile and proper was delivered to me that morning.
I stared at the uniform, dawning Alvera's royal blue color. A thin white stripe ran down either of the sleeves, and the gold buttons and embellishments nearly made me squint. "What is this..." I scolded under my breath and looked it over in my hands. My thumb rubbed along the material, and I could practically feel the warmth of my hands through it. The amount of protection this uniform provided was appalling, and I was supposed to guard the princess. One musket bullet, hell, one stab, and I was a goner.
What I thought didn't matter, though, which was ironic, considering I was the highest-ranked guard in this whole castle. A raspy groan slipped from my lips as I started to dress myself. I needed to be at the princess's door soon to relieve the overnight guard.
