𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷 {𝓐𝓣𝓛𝓐}

Part 3: Her Touch

Princess Ursa has been getting too comfortable as time went on. Her advances continued on and, fortunately, her affection hasn't exceeded hugs.

Her hands and fingers felt like ropes tangling around you.

It felt suffocating.

You have put the young prince to bed.

Originally, it was supposed to be the actual mother that was going to put him to sleep, when Prince Ozai came in. He ordered for you to take the child to his room and deal with him before announcing that he would be waiting for Princess Ursa in her chamber.

Making sure Prince Zuko was asleep, you made your way out. As you were walking towards your room, the door ahead, Princess Ursa's door, opened, and out came Prince Ozai.

He didn't spare you a glance before adjusting his robe and walking away.

The moment he was out of sight, you heard choked sobs from the room the prince just come out of. Taking a deep breath in, you walked towards the large double doors. Clenching your fist, you steeled your nerves,(you didn't want to do this) and knocked thrice.

Waiting for three seconds, you let yourself in.

Her bare back was to you, smooth skin, and shoulders shaking. You bit the inside of your cheek and took out one of her night robes before walking towards her.

Wordlessly, you drape it over her shoulders, trying to cover her up as she tries to collect herself. You stop as she raises her hand. "Don't, I want to take a bath." She wipes her tears, "I feel filthy..."

You nod.

You have helped prepare the prince's baths a couple of times so you know more or less how the bathing preparations are for noble descent.

Unlike the common folks, those who have both money and power, rather than a tub, have a whole room for bathing: large enough to swim in, large enough for the entire family and then some.

Turning the two knobs on your right, hot water began to pour out of the marbled dragon's maw, slowly filling up the large tub in the ground. On the shelves next to you were jars of dried petals and skins of fruit.

You sprinkle a bit from both jars before pulling out a sack from the bottom, before pouring some into the water. The once clear water now turned pink with bits and pieces of florals and fruit floating around.

As you were putting the jars away, the princess walked past you and dipped into the water. Her shoulders sagging with a sigh as she leaned onto the wall.

With her head hung low, there was a moment of silence. You had turned the water off when it reached her shoulders.

The mirrors had fogged over, water vapours thick as it clung to any and all surfaces. Small droplets of cold water falling every so often back into the tub and ground.

"... hold me."

Her sudden whisper came out a slur.

Wordlessly, you stepped into the bath. Your shoes, clothes, and gear, getting soaked the deeper you step down the submerged straits. The fabric of your shirt and pants clinging uncomfortably to your skin as you drew closer to the princess.

You wrap your arms around her, eyes staring ahead as you do so. And in response, she returns the hug.

Her hands on your back as you stood there, wondering when you would be dismissed for the day. The moment you felt the tip of her nose touch your neck, you froze. Your knuckles turn white for how hard you were squeezing onto your arms, nails digging into your flesh.

The tip of her nose runs over your pulse point, taking a deep inhale as her hands find home on your shoulder blades. Her lips pressed onto the skin of your neck.

The two of you stood there in the hot bath. Water droplets fall from the ceiling.

You couldn't remember what happened next. You just remember standing there, in the water, being clung to by the princess. You felt something rising in your throat as you clutched into your muscles.

Once you made it back into your room, you were quick to run into the bathroom and lock the door. Once you were safe, you ripped your clothes off as fast as possible from your body.

Every contact you had with her felt forbidden.

Lecherous.

Appalling even.

You snatched your scrub and rubbed your skin raw. Rubbing until your skin turned red and stinging, sucking in sharp breaths through your teeth you kept on rubbing. You could feel your eyes stinging and your chest caving.

What was happening to you these past few months? Why do you keep having these horrid symptoms? Why do physical interactions with the princess leave you in such a mess?

Shame and disgust were no strangers yet despite feeling them here in the palace, there's also pain that throbs in your chest.

Water droplets fell on the marbled floor as you pressed the scrub harder onto yourself.

Shakingly, you looked up at the mirror. Your neat hair is now a mess from your frantic scrubbing. Through disheveled strands, you looked into your bloodshot eyes. You looked pitiful.

A disgrace.

What a waste of a soldier. You thought.

All that training and pain you went through was for nothing. Now you have to stay put within the castle walls looking after a mess of a princess.

It is your job to serve the royal family, yes. But not like this.

Your gaze hardened as it landed on the spot you felt her highness seemed to favor. Even now, after all that scrubbing, rubbing, and scratching, you could still feel the warmth. The tingling from how she nuzzled into your neck and kissed it.

Bring your hand up, you place it over the patch of skin her lips have landed on.

Gritting your teeth, you slowly brought up the heat within your palm.

In the room, you only heard the growing sizzling as the smell of burnt flesh spread.

For the last time, you indulged in your vanity, looking at your finished work. You let out a sigh of relief. Never in your days have you thought you would reach the point of feeling such relief in the sight of red blistering flesh.