Royal Masquerade

Chapter 29

The first spring breeze billowed the white transparent curtain in Astrea’s bedroom. The breeze brought warmth and mixed floral scent into the air. As pleasant as it was, it could not calm the storm in Astrea’s sleep. She was dreaming, and her dreams were not a pleasant one. Her face contorted in her sleep, as if she’s in pain. As slightly chilled spring breeze blew onto her face, she gasps and shot out of Narcissus’s embrace at once. Disoriented, she looked around, and for a moment, she could not recognize her own bedroom. She frowned as Narcissus’s hand groped around for her and pulled her into his embrace, missing her warmth as she sits up feeling confused and irritated.

“Narc…” her voice came out as a whisper as he continued to be oblivious to her discomfort and continued to embrace her. She tried to recall her dreams, but it’s only vague now as Narcissus’s protective arms burn all of her irritation away. She relaxed as she listened to his heart beat. Strange. She did not realize that he sneaked into the room and under her blanket last night. She must have fallen asleep while waiting for him to come back to her.

Her fingers snaked to his mask. She felt like ripping it away from his face. But her urges to do so was killed instantly when he caught hold of her slithering fingers and bite it gently.

“Ouch!” she exclaim, more out of shock rather than pain from the biting.

“Feeling a little naughty this morning, my dear?” he asked, chuckling at her surprise.

“You’re awake. I thought you were asleep.” she whispered, embarrassed for getting caught trying to take a peek on his face again.

“I’m a very light sleeper, Love. You ought to know that by now.” he smirked at her as she pulled away from him. Suddenly self conscious, she tried to smoothen the tangles in her mussed up hair. He only chuckle at her action.

“You do realize that you are going to wake up next to me looking exactly how you look like now every morning in the nearest future?” he laughed at her vanity while she groaned in embarrassment of his comment.

“It’s unfair.”

“What is?”

“I look the worst first thing in the morning while you look as if there’s not even a hair is out of place.” she whined her complain while he laughed at her dillemma.

“It does not matter, darling, you look beautiful to me.” he told her as he pulled her close to give her a gentle morning kiss.

“I hope that compliment is not just for my benefit…”

“Of course not. Now, you’re up early… it’s just past dawn, Astrea. It’s not even half past six yet. Are you uncomfortable?” he asked, suddenly aware of the awkward time that she decided to wake up.

“Slightly disoriented,” she admitted.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I was having a strange dream, but I forgot about it as soon as I woke up. For a moment, I this room seems so strange and alien to me. For a moment, I felt so out of place, Narc.” she sighed, slumping back to the fluffy pillow behind her.

“Oh?” was his only response as he arch his eyebrows at her.

“Well it does not matter anymore. I was a little surprised that you were next to me this morning. I did not realize you came back here.” she said, caressing his soft hair lovingly. There’s love and admiration in her eyes as she said it to him. He melted under her gaze.

“You were asleep. I did not want to leave, after what happened last night with the amok panther…I need to hold you and know you’re safe, you know… so I sneaked in. I thought you would realize it, but I suppose, you’re too tired, darling.” he explained, as he stretched his body. She watched him appreciatively, causing him to bursts into laughter.