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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Celeste Lawrence
I trailed behind Elayna for the rest of the festival, going from hallway to hallway and admiring the art showcase that dazzled me with colors and paint. My fingers practically ached to get to my own set and try the new colors and techniques the skilled artists before me displayed.
But every so often, when Elayna was droning on, my mind would wander back to the gray romantic encounter painting. Gray's presence behind me felt tangible, with memories of his burning touch and the sheer beauty strewn along the canvas.
All the artwork was lovely, but after seeing that piece, it was hard not to have a favorite. We were both escorted back to our carriage.
A couple more steps ahead of Gray than we usually were, Elayna leaned in and mumbled, "So, I know it's been a while since we've seen each other, but is having a guard glued to your side everywhere you go a new thing? You don't seem particularly fond of him."
I let out a pained sigh, shaking my head softly. "No, my parents have been assigning them pretty much since I've become betrothed due to my...uh—protection needs." I lied through my teeth. "But he's been the only one that seems to have stuck."
"That's Lieutenant General Anderson, right? My own staff have been mumbling his name. Everyone is pretty scared of him. They say he's close to being promoted to General because of his brutality, strength, and victories; you must feel pretty safe."
I had to refrain from an eye roll as we walked out of the Museum and back into the streets of the festival, "If by safe you meant suffocated, then absolutely."
She didn't have time to respond with the swelling sounds of townsfolk cheers and amusements. It didn't take long for a crowd to amass outside our carriage in hopes of seeing and blessing their royalty. Breathings of the Duchess and Princess enjoying the festivity today draw out even more people.
Guards held a clear path for me to walk through, and a quick glance back at Gray told me the crowd was not something he liked or wanted to deal with. But I always liked seeing my people; I was hardly ever exposed to them cooped up inside the castle's walls.
Elayna and I started forward, waving softly and smiling to the passionate townsfolk.
Among them, my eyes fell upon a little girl not much older than five, wearing a toy crown and waving to me frantically. Her small arm reached out and wagged so hard I thought it might fall out of the socket. A bright smile immediately broke onto my lips as the display of innocence.
Her hair was dark like mine, nearly the same pitch black shade, face soft and skin pale, and for a moment I thought I was looking through a mirror of time. My heart struck in my chest, and I slowed down my pace to the carriage and expectant servant holding the door open. All else around me seemed to fade as the little girl's face brightened under my recognition. I could see it in her awestruck features. She wanted so badly to be walking in my shoes. Even the mere cast of my glance lit her face. She wanted to strut through this crowd, wear the ball gowns and crowns, and probably marry some prince who would whisk her away to a new, faraway kingdom.
