The Queen and the Empress (GxG)

Fresh Earth and Roses

~Sari~

It has been weeks since the visit of Prince Leo and Princess Elia yet it is all I can think about. Three more Princes have come to court me and each and every one has been arrogant and rude.

The most recent Prince, Prince Nathaniel had the audacity to ask me to sneak away for a moment with him against my father's wishes. Why can't these men stop thinking with their cocks and start thinking with their heads?

I lay on my bed, frustrated and exhausted. I hear a knock on my door and I call for whoever it is to enter.

I sit up expecting Lorrette but instead I see Grayson.
"Hey Riri," she smiles at me. We have been close since we were little and she was my play mate. Usually the garden help aren't allowed in the palace but my mother has made special rules for Grayson as she has a softspot for our friendship.

"Grayson, it's been awhile." I say.

"Can I come in?" She asks.

"You don't have to ask me that, don't treat me like royalty." I sigh and lay back on my bed.

Grayson waltzes over to me.

"May I lay with you?" Grayson asks again.

"Grayson," I groan in reply. I hate how she asks me, I want her to just do as she pleases and treat me like I'm normal.

Grayson lays across the bed with me and hesitantly cuddles up to me.

"How have the suitors been?" She asks.

I sigh and snuggle into her.

It's been so long since I've been so close with her. The last time we were together, I had her spread on a bed in the spare room when a guard walked in and nearly caught us. I was so freaked out by the possibility of being found out that I told Grayson we couldn't see each other in that way again, it was too risky to me.

Grayson of course, being the wonderful kind soul she is, respected that and has been at a distance for months and months now.

I missed this feeling, of being embraced by her, with her dark brown braid resting on one shoulder as I do the other.

She always smells of fresh earth and roses. I love tracing her freckles against her fair skin. She wears modest cloths but that has always added to the comfort of her. She is so soft and delicate.

"Why did you come back here?" I ask.

"Your mother told me you had been down lately and needed me." She replies

Of course. She is only here because she was commanded to be, she didnt actually disobey me because she couldn't stand being away from me.

"Did you want to come?" I ask

"Of course Riri," Grayson pulls me into her arms and I close my eyes against her chest.

"Your mother says you've been not taking to most of the suitors." Grayson says.

"Well, what did you expect" I joke and I feel Gray laugh softly against me.

"She says that the first one you met... Prince Leo, was the only one you seemed happy about." Grayson explains.

I don't reply.

"When she said that... I got a little jealous. I remember seeing you two in the garden. You seemed like you were radiant that day. I know we don't belong to each other and we can be interested in anyone that we'd like, but I still felt a pang in my chest seeing you with him" Grayson says.

"Then why didn't you ever do anything?" I mumble into her.

"You told me to stay away." She says.

"Stop obeying me like some empress, just treat me like a friend." I say.