Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

SII: Chapter XLIX: Passion and Bitterness [18+]

In a picturesque garden area outside the castle walls, a grand feast and hunting event was underway to celebrate the noon hour. At the head of the table sat Albert, looking every bit one of the guests of the king and queen as he surveyed the sumptuous spread of food and drink before him. Across from him, a small group of servants and Alice, stood at a discrete distance. Despite the noise and activity around them, their gazes kept flickering towards each other in secret glances. Alice would watch as Albert conversed with the other nobles and knights, while Albert would occasionally cast a furtive glance her way, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Albert standing head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries. Wearing a finely tailored doublet and hose, his strong build and broad shoulders were accentuated by the rich fabric of his clothing, while a fashionable chaperon hat edged with gold trimming sat upon his head. Polished riding boots completed his ensemble, and his hair, the color of pale wheat, was cut short. His striking meadow green eyes added an air of mystery and intensity to his already handsome features.

As Albert prepared for the hunt, he mounted his steed, a fine-bred stallion that pranced and fidgeted with excitement. The air was thick with the scent of hay and earth, mingled with the sharp, spicy musk of horseflesh. The sound of hooves on soft turf and the occasional nickering of horses filled the air, adding to the sense of anticipation and excitement. Albert's fellow nobles were gathered nearby, some checking their spears and bows, others deep in conversation. The sun was high overhead, casting long shadows across the ground and illuminating the trees and bushes in a golden glow.

He was approached by a small cluster of noblewomen, who had clearly been watching him and were eager to speak to the handsome young lord. He charmed them with his winning smile and easygoing manner, his laughter ringing out as he traded witty banter with the ladies. From her vantage point some distance away, Alice watched the scene unfolding with a mixture of admiration and jealousy, her heart fluttering as she saw Albert engaged in conversation with so many beautiful women.

Alice watched as Albert spoke to the group of noblewomen, her heart heavy with mixed feelings. "He'll get married someday befitting his station," she thought to herself, her eyes filling with a mixture of longing and despair. The thought of him with another woman sent a pang of jealousy through her chest, but she knew that their paths were destined to diverge eventually. She couldn't help but wonder if their relationship would share the same bittersweet fate as his past love with Peter of Wode.

As Albert caught Alice's gaze from across the distance, he couldn't help but steal a quick glance her way. His mouth moved unspoken words, "wait here," and he accompanied it with a discreet wink, a secret message just for her. Then, in one smooth motion, he put his arrow away behind his back, a small smile on his lips. He left the group of noble ladies and walked away into the fray, his confident stride carrying him deeper into the hunt.

...

As the hunting party returned to the castle, Alice and the other servants sprang into action, attending to their duties to prepare Albert for the grand night banquet. They helped him out of his muddy hunting gear, and then assisted him in cleansing his body with a pitcher of heated water and scented oils. Once clean, they helped fit him into a new set of opulent clothing, a dark navy doublet edged with gold threading, and tight fitting black hose, which accentuated his lean frame. They tidied his golden hair back, and a final dusting of sweet-smelling powder finished the transformation.