Two Of The Same Piece || Book 1 (The Beginning)

CHAPTER 3

Rave sighed as she sunk down in the tub, enjoying the feeling of the warm water against the sensitive skin of her back. Slowly rubbing all the sore spots of her legs, she stared at Leo. He was readying her dress for the night. It was a white gown. She had napped earlier while he cleaned up and rested.

"Leo," She called out to him. Leo turned to look at her and smiled. Walking to the tub, he knelt beside her as she leaned over the edge.

"What?" He pushed back her damp hair.

"Nothing." She was thinking about the nights they had spent in the Obiloxen, the forest separating Thinlin and Bellayong. Nights when they had forgone tents because of the heat. Sleeping curled up with Leo and the endless skies above.

"Well, if you don't get up and get ready, we'll be late." Leo pulled her up. "Let us not be tardy for our first official meeting." Leo grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her before picking her up.

"What about you then?" Rave pouted as he placed her on the bed. "All the men and women were staring at you. Are you going to tell them you are all mine?"

"Of course." Leo pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Come on then, dress me up."

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Josephine lounged on the low chairs and table, with the princess at her side. Ravenna sat at Josephine's right, the highest place of honor. Sharing the table with Ravenna, Rina, Lina, Sonia and Darei. Josephine had been the only one to carry conversations with Ravenna, who told her just to call her 'Rave' instead. Josephine would have a stern word with the others, who entirely avoided Rave.

Yet Rave didn't seem uncomfortable, or if she was, she hid it very well. "Princess, let us go to the gardens, for a walk. I believe some fresh air will be fantastic." Josephine got up and gestured to the open doors.

"Of course, though I hope your majesty doesn't mind Leo coming along?" Josephine tried not to look at him when Rave mentioned him. She couldn't believe how beautiful he was, with his pristine skin and dark hair pulled back away from his face. He was built amazingly, the dark leather armor he wore fit him perfectly. She'd fallen in love with him the second she had laid her eyes on him.

"Of course not." Josephine cleared her throat. "Leo is welcome to join."

Rave smiled before following Josephine out to the gardens. The gardens were clean. Marigolds, Tulips and sunflowers decorated the stone pathway. Josephine turned to Rave, "Tell me of Bellayong. We in the south know little of our Northern neighbors." Josephine wasn't as well versed in Bellan cultures as she was on Duaetive, the kingdom that was Thinlin's southern neighbors.

"Bellayong is one of the only kingdoms on our continent to follow the olden ways," Rave said, "We still follow the older gods. Like Ravi and Leona." Rave chuckled. "Leo and I are actually named for them."

"What about the royal family?" Josephine had heard things from Lina, but she wasn't completely sure she could trust them.

"My father has two wives, the children with his first wife are my older brother, Taiskin and my sister, Irene. In Bellayong, polygamy is common practice. Both men and women are known to take multiple spouses. I am the daughter of the king and his only foreign spouse, Cressida of the high desserts." Rave looked at Josephine. Josephine didn't realize before, but Rave's eyes were so common compared to the rest of her.

Her eyes were just black, nothing like the unusualness of the rest of her. "So I take you aren't a baseborn child?"

"Not in Bellayong." Rave tossed her braided hair back, the white gown she was in seemed to glow in the moonlight. "But I believe here in Thinlin and Duaetive, I would be considered as a child of a concubine."

"Bellayong sounds less strict," Josephine commented. Lina has called it the court of wild beasts. Josephine would like to learn more about it before making an opinion.

"Bellayong is, of course, not perfect. Yet it is also the only place in the world I could imagine going old in. and I have visited kingdoms far and wide." Rave talked about Bellayong with a sense of pride and happiness that Josephine could only hope to inspire.

"Well, I'd like to hear all about this wonderful kingdom, but later. You must be fatigued after such a long day." Josephine smiled at Rave.

"Of course, thank you for the walk, your majesty. I would also love to tell the tales of my beloved home. I shall go rest now." Rave bowed slightly to Josephine.

Josephine watched her turn and link arms with Leo. Walking to the palace together. Josephine felt a pang of jealousy. Leo was already taken by someone else, it seemed.