champagnekiss

“Good job today, Yanqing.” The woman with jade streaks coloured hair praised the blonde young boy while patting his head. He had just visited her terrace, bringing some bonsai to her chamber.

“Thank you Lady Wenli!” Yanqing said before running off elsewhere to complete the remainder of his training from the general on the Luofu.

“See? You can care for a kid, even love them. Admit it, you have a soft spot for Yanqing.” The sliding doors were suddenly opened again and this time, the general of Luofu for over centuries now appeared. Resting his figure on the wall while crossing his arm.

“I do, why shouldn’t I admit it? Yanqing is a nice kid.” Wenli replied, not bothering to look up at the man and just continued to trim her old bonsai. The two of them were already like the blonde child's parent figure, to the outside world they would make a perfect family, only if they could see it though.

“If you can treat Yanqing that nicely, imagine if it’s our own flesh and blood.” Jingyuan said, his arms circling around her waist from behind. Wenli put aside her bonsai immediately, she felt Jingyuan beginning to pepper her neck with kisses and she let him be. She knew he was in the mood, the talk of children always made him like this, but she wasn’t, though to resist would be futile, she was his prisoner for over a thousand years after all.

“I won’t Jingyuan, because it’s your kid.” They had these talks for over a thousand times now, same old topic, same old answer, yet Jingyuan never gave up, did he? The rejection didn’t stop him down anymore, he had been used to it.

“Yet, Yanqing is like my son and you treat him so well since the first time you met him, Wenli.” Jingyuan smiled, putting his face on her shoulder to gaze at the woman he had been calling his wife for more over than a century now.

“Because he doesn’t share your blood, Jingyuan.” Or my blood either, was the thought that was left unsaid. This was always the part where the silver haired general on Luofu would freeze, he seemed couldn’t accept reality. But let’s be real here, what kind of prisoner would want to carry his kidnapper child?

Even if from the start Wenli let him do whatever he pleased since the day he took her freedom away, because she knew she was the bird in the golden cage, she couldn’t escape. So, she let him make love to her, kiss her, marry her, playing pretend as a family with her, and he was fine with indifferent responses after all. Wenli drew the line at carrying his child, because she knew after that there would be no going back

“Wenli, can you just grant me this one wish-” Jingyuan gritted his teeth, it was so out of place to hear the ever calm general would react this way.

“I already granted you plenty. I couldn’t even go outside for how many years now? More than a century would be accurate.” Wenli sassed back though her face stayed the same, she let him do anything he wanted, didn’t mean he wouldn’t be fought by her sharper than knives word and sometimes, some slaps and hits here and there, he deserved it if you ask her.

“That’s for your own good-” Jingyuan argued, which were cut off by Wenli.

“Because without you I would make a bad decision, like marrying the man who I had forgotten the name of.” Jingyuan’s face immediately darkened, both of them remember exactly the chronology to this tragic entrapment. Although no matter how many times she tried to process it, she would never quite understand why Jingyuan did this besides mere obsession.

She was once not a trapped woman for a thousand years in this palace, she had friends too and a personality, after all she was quite a brilliant strategist for Xianzhou’s knight. Wenli knew Jingyuan since their younger days and they had been in the lines of unclear from the start, she thought it was what he wanted. Even though she was falling for him, fast but you know the drill, unrequited love was and still a pain in the ass. So she moved on, best not to dwell further with anything like it.

Then came the time she resigned from her position, got an arranged marriage which was appropriate for the time to a handsome wealthy man. Wenli wanted the lush and comfort of life, it was a cushy one and though it wasn’t for love, she was okay with that. She could lay back and enjoy the rest of her life, until Jingyuan snatched it of course.

If you think rationally, staying with Jingyuan also gave her the comfort life she had been yearning for so why would she run away? It would be foolish, he was the remarkable one, she was just something they would miss. Or at least that was what Wenli tried to convince herself, to keep herself sane because she knew if she gave in to how depressing it was, she would lose her sanity. It wasn't like anyone would help her, they would not question Jingyuan at all, exactly why they never questioned further the reason Wenli always stayed in his chamber. Xianzhou's loyalty lied in him, not her after all, she was just a piece to sacrifice to keep their general happy.

“Wenli, we agree to not talk about that.”

Suddenly a slap was planted on Jingyuan's right cheek, and like usual he didn't react at all, just like it was some normal occurrences. It wasn't like Wenli never snapped one or two times, in her situation she was bound to one day. And Wenli did it that one time, slapping Jingyuan after because maybe she couldn't cope anymore with this helpless reality. When she realised what she did, with tears in her eyes she was ready to scramble for forgiveness but Jingyuan just hugged her with a comforting smile. So she thought it would be okay and she did it, again and again, if she ever felt like she was about to snap and Jingyuan let her get away with it every single time. At least she didn't escape him, it was enough. The two of them, they were so strange both miserable yet one never letting go of this bond and the other? Just get pulled with it.

“How many miscarriages do I need to have until you get it through your thick skull that I don't want, and never going to bear your child? And how many times do we have to do this until my uterus don't break from all the miscarriages?”

Gee, Jingyuan wondered about that too. Both of them went silent, having flashbacks of the experiences they had. Wenli falling down the stairs with blood coming out, sipping a forbidden cup of tea until the baby was gone and she kept getting creative with it while Jingyuan was left with the bitter taste of devastation.

Jingyuan remembered everything so clearly and it killed a little part of him with every little hope he had that Wenli killed. He was anticipating it enthusiastically no matter how dreadful he was with her action she kept repeating.

The first time he heard he was going to be a father, Jingyuan was beyond ecstatic, pampering his lover everyday with love and care, they were having a domestic bliss according to him. Until an accident happened, a very painful one. But that was okay right? He would get another chance, they could keep trying, so he did but Wenli ripped him apart a new one each time. He wanted it so badly, as an assurance she would never leave him. Maybe, Wenli would love him back willingly and they would be perfect. Because blood was one bond that couldn't be erased.

That was how the experience went down according to Jingyuan, but to Wenli? She fell to the bottom pit of despair, that was the day she slapped Jingyuan for the very first time. No wonder he smiled even if she did that. This just killed the last glimmer of hope that she hallucinated when she let her mind wander of what could have been. Then fate cruelly let her have this seed of hatred to grow inside of her belly, and Wenli didn't want it because she knew she couldn't love it, it wasn't the product of love, it would make no sense if she could grow to love him. Wenly shuddered when Jingyuan rubbed her belly, telling her his hopes and dreams for their unborn kid and she wished something would take it away right at that moment.

Then something happened, and suddenly she wasn't pregnant anymore. Relieved, it was what she felt when she knew she wasn't going to be the mother of his children anymore. A contrast to the devastation Jingyuan felt. Yet she forgot, Jingyuan had the power to try and try again with her and she couldn't say no to him or she could but he would force her not roughly on the outside but still, it wasn't right. So she just did what was accidental from the first time to be something she planned the moment she found out.

But the pain was hell every time she did it, she almost died each time and now he wanted her to get through it again? A sudden burst of emotion let her almost slapping again before he stopped her midway, pinning her to the wall, body on the ground.

“Then don't do it, let us be a family. Stop being stubborn Wenli, you know it would get us nowhere.” Jingyuan said, tired of the same experience over and over again, she just needed to comply with him one time and there was a chance this would be all over!

“No, Jingyuan.” Wenli retorted back, eyes looking back at him fiercely, she was never scared of him. And he looked at her back with pitiful eyes to himself, was this the response that would await him, was his dream would never come true?

Falling for her was a mistake, why did love have to be this painful? Jingyuan never understood why and he was the wisest general Luofu ever had. He thought he made it clear since the start, they were making love to one another, he slipped i love you past his lips for her, just due to obligations they had to be apart. Jingyuan was a rational man and he knew all his actions up until now to her weren't normal ones, but love never makes sense, does it not?

Jingyuan realised his younger days were spent like a fool, because he used to think actions spoke more than words. Yet clearly Wenli didn't think so, she was confused and wandered away to some other guy. Jingyuan almost lost her and he would make sure, he would never again. So he did the unthinkable, looking back it was kind of hasty. Wenli was so ready and Jingyuan convinced himself, what he did was the right thing when she kept her all to himself for all these years, preventing him from making the same mistake twice. That was the reason he decided it would be better to be preventative, than making a mistake then fixing it.

Though Wenli broke his trust with every pregnancy even if he was more careful every time, she always found a way. Jingyuan decided, it was time to take preventative steps, there was a chance Wenli would loathe him even more or would shut his affectionate actions completely for a month. Until the child comes along, people say the bond between a mother and a child isn't a breakable one and Jingyuan would like to see that, to see a genuine love returning in Wenli's eyes to him.

“Yes, Wenli. As a matter of fact, you will give birth to our child this time and the rundown for the plan is you will no longer allowed to explore our house, you will be confined in our bedroom, guards on the bedroom reporting 24/7 and your meals will be delivered to the room with food approved by myself. Wonderful, isn't it Wenli?”

Jingyuan smiled as he finally backed her to the corner, he was taking no chance anymore, he wanted to be successful this time, he was a general of course the thirst to win was still there. The colour of Wenli's face immediately changed to a pale one, she was speechless for the first time in a thousand year, her life was over, her tiny little freedom was taken away by it too for sure now, forever.

At the age of seven, Leona Kingscholar met the four-year-old Patricia Venenum-Andrés. In fact, they already met at the party last night and Leona vividly remembered how she walked away after seeing him from afar when he approached her, trying to extend his hand. And now she was here, daring to show her face before him, right here?

“Good morning Your Highness, today is a fine day is it not?” The Lord Chamberlain Kifaji greeted him, while behind him there were three people and one face that he didn’t want to gaze upon again, she was so rude, didn’t she know he was royalty? Though he recognized the two adults behind Kifaji, one was his family photographer alongside his wife, the diplomat from Shaftlands. Both were respectable, it’s hard to imagine them relating to this unbecoming child.

“Your highness,” the two adults bowed slightly to him, followed by the raven-haired child, even with a curtsey in that little pink dress. She also tightly clutched a pig doll on her arm. So, she did know her place, huh? Which made their meeting yesterday even more irritating.

“Yesterday night, I got to talk to the Venenums and it turns out their granddaughter, who’s close to your age, would stay with them from time to time starting now. I think she would make an excellent playmate for you, Lord Leona.” Kifaji said it with a smile, but Leona scoffed inside his heart. Like the two of them would have something in common.

“Why don’t you introduce yourself, dear child?” Kifaji urged Patricia who nodded and with her loud voice grabbed all the attention of servants around them.

“My name is Patricia Venenum-Andrés, I’m four years old! Nice to meet you, Prince Leona!” She smiled, all ears to ears with those chubby cheeks. Annoying, which was what Leona thought precisely. She extended her hand after a quick bow and now he had to shake it? Ugh, but he was a prince, he had the dignity to keep up.

“Pleasure to meet you too, Patricia,” Leona answered back, with a charming smile, shaking the girl's hand and dropping it swiftly in a split second.

Kifaji, ever so perceptive, noticed it. But he would let it slide for now, after all the second prince would have a lot of time to spend with the little miss.

“Now that the two of you are acquainted, the adults will be leaving. Maybe you would find Patricia, a better opponent in chess than me, Lord Leona.” Kifaji said, excusing the three of them while the two grandparents called out their grandchild's name, not really keen on leaving her alone with the little prince. Leona was fuming, was Kifaji mocking his chess skills? How could this four-year-old brat even understand how to play chess?

Then soon they disappeared, and Leona turned his back on her, immediately. He had no intention to socialize with this little brat. But to his dismay, the short-haired girl kept following him even when he went into circles just to make her dizzy. When they were quite far away, without a servant near them anywhere. Leona turned around, all ready to scream out his frustration.

“Stop following me around!” “But I don’t know where to go!” Anyone would surely be intimidated by those glaring green eyes especially when he was the prince, but Patricia just screamed back at him with her cheeks puffed out.

“Does no one tell you to mind your manners before the prince? I don’t expect it from the Venenums, you saw me last night right and you avoided me, you should be grateful I even want to talk to you, herbivore.” Leona smugly said, who was saying just because he was a prince he should be gentle to a human woman?

“Don’t blame meemaw and pop pop! They told me to not talk to strangers if they aren’t near,” Patricia grumbled and pouted, just because of what? He was a prince, he was allowed to talk like this? Like he was special? She could just tune in to one of her cartoons and she would see another prince, who’s charming and not grumpy like this one.

“Then why weren’t you near them last night?!” Questioned by Leona who didn't like it one bit that this kid kept talking back to him.

“Patty got lost! And then Mr. Kifaji, the bird man from earlier, brought me back to them!” She shouted back, it gave Leona a headache from all the shouting.

“Stop shouting! And I know who Kifaji is! Is this why you keep following me so you don't get lost, herbivore?” Leona asked.

“Yes, I don’t want to be lost again,” Patricia said back in a much calmer tone, so she did know how to respect a command. Then suddenly she approached him closer, which made Leona confused, what was she gonna do with that fiery determination in her eyes?

To have her yanked his hair out of nowhere.

“Ouch, what was that?! How dare you, I’m Leona Kingscholar, the Prince of Sunset Savanna-” Leona protested, he was furious. He swore he would hit this girl if not for his reputation would soon go downright spiral if she told her grandparents if he did hit her.

“And Patty is not a herbivore!” She pouted, cutting off Leona’s protest.

“Ck, whatever. Just, go away.” Leona was about to continue walking when he felt his clothes being tugged on.

“But, I don’t know this place…” Patricia whined and she looked like she was about to cry. Oh, how it would be a hassle if servants noticed her crying from miles away, Leona bet it would be a loud one too just like her shoutings, but more dramatic.

“Fine, where do you want to go?” Leona asked.

“The Royal Library!” Patricia excitedly answered, her face going back to smiling from ear to ear.

“So, listen closely you take a left from here, then go right-” Then Leona saw her shake her head, which made him stop in the middle of his explanation.

“What is it again?” Leona asked, he was tired by now.

“I don’t know directions, I can’t differentiate between left and right!” Patricia answered and Leona’s eyes went wide. Were there people who didn’t know left and right in this world? And Kifaji thought she could be his playmate when she was this dumb?

“Fine, I will take you there.” Leona with an exasperated sigh offered her his hand, it would be bothersome if she got lost and he would be blamed for everything. He knew the rumors circulating between his attendants and servants, and he was trying his best to recover that. You have to understand, at the end of the day Leona was just a kid, he wanted to be adored by his servants and attendants, just like his brother as simple as that.

“Thank you!” Patricia beamed a smile and after a short trip, they arrived at the library. She immediately let go of his hand, running to the sight of books everywhere. It’s a shame that she was here probably for picture books, well what else could a four-year-old read? That was what Leona thought of. Until he saw her running to the librarian asking for a book name he never thought would slip past the little girl’s lips.

“Miss, can you please help me find a history book for Sunset Savanna rulers, three generations before? I already finished reading the current generation.” And before long the librarian returned and he saw her receive a book bigger than her head. Leona was a bit shocked was an understatement, she was bluffing, right? Like this four-year-old bob-haired girl could understand a word in it. He, on the other hand, of course, understood it, he already read them all last year.

“Piggy, let’s read it together, shall we?” Now, asking her stuffed animal to read? Ridiculous. Leona was sure she would drop the book after 5 minutes, tired of pretending. And he was proven wrong, it had been thirty minutes and the little girl plopped down on the carpet, still intensely reading the book. His interest was piqued a bit, even though he would never admit it.

“Do you even understand a word in it?” Leona only got an “Uhum,” while Patricia continued to ignore him.

“Then answer me this,” Leona challenged her, while not removing her gaze from the book she managed to answer him perfectly. Maybe it was a fluke, beginner's luck! Leona refused to believe it until he quizzed her on the contents of the previous book, she managed to answer him every time. It was tough to admit, but maybe she had a brain after all. But still, she was four, what was Kifaji thinking to make her his playmate? Like he needed one in the first place. So, Leona left her there, he successfully escorted her to the library, mission accomplished.

Patricia who was intensely reading just realized Leona was missing five minutes later, tears started to brim in her eyes, and she panicked.

“Miss, do you know where Prince Leona went?” She asked all teary-eyed. The librarian then told her, he just left five minutes ago. Scared, she chased him down the hall while carrying a big book and her doll. Thank God, he wasn’t that far off. As soon as she saw his back, she shouted his name.

“Prince Leona, Prince Leona!” But Leona kept walking, pretending he didn’t hear it. Until he heard a burst of tears, loud crying sounds. Uh oh, he might have gone too far. Leona turned his back, approaching the crying girl.

“Stop crying, I didn’t do anything to you! I already dropped you at the library!” Leona said, he was confused and didn’t know how to stop the girl from crying.

“But, but you disappeared! Patty already told you, Patty is bad at directions!” She continued to cry.

“If you stop crying, I will let you tag along with me to the garden.” In a second her crying stooped, though her face was still red her eyes were puffy, and her nose was sniffling.

“You promise?” Patricia asked,

“Sure, whatever.” Leona nodded, extending his hand again which she accepted. With a pout, she continued to walk with him until they arrived at the garden. When they arrived, she followed him everywhere, any place he laid down, she laid down too. Making Leona frustrated, he just wanted to take a nap!

“I’m going to take a nap, I’m not going to leave you alone, so relax.” But she still didn’t budge without saying anything, leaving little Leona to be the one to give up and let her sit next to his sleeping form while reading her book. By her expression, it looked like she was mad at him. But eh, who cares? It would be better for him to take a nap.

Hours later Leona woke up to his left arm feeling heavy, like something befallen on it. When he woke up he was horrified to see Patricia had been sleeping on his arm and more importantly did her saliva droplets just fall on his arm?! How dare she do this to the royalty of Sunset Savanna?!

“Oi, wake up!” Screamed Leona, but to no avail, he only received “Mhhm,” from the girl who enjoyed her nap time a little too much. Leona was pissed so pissed off though when her grandparents picked her up, bowing millions sorry to him, he still kept up an appearance saying it was nothing. However, he would make sure to tell Kifaji this, so he would stop this crazy idea.

Leona didn’t know how, but somehow their meetings continued and by next year, she already called him “Leona!” worth mentioning that he never allowed her to call him that, but she did anyway. And by the age of eight, Leona Kingscholar stopped calling her herbivore, and that was a secret he would never tell anyone how she managed to do that. The more he got to know her, the more Leona didn’t understand why Kifaji would set her up as his playmate. Sure, Patricia was smart but she lacked the mannerisms to hang out with royalty, frankly, she had no respect for him. Although she faked it well around the adults, there was no way Kifaji didn’t read through all that act. He was reluctant, but Leona would admit he kind of enjoyed her company since Kifaji had been shoving her every day to his face, but don’t tell Kifaji that, the Lord Chamberlain didn’t deserve to be all smug like he figured Leona out, which he didn’t by the way. He quite liked her presence beside him and he got to witness all the spontaneous things blabbering out of her mouth, it was one of his sources of amusement.

“When I grow up, I want to be a princess!” Patricia said loudly, a statement which made Leona burst out of laughter. Like that kind of kid had what it takes to be a princess.

“Why are you laughing, if Leona can be a prince, why can’t I be a princess?” What a ridiculous statement, Leona didn’t even bother to answer it and instead just laughed while the girl beside him kept bugging him.

By the next year, Patricia’s hair had grown longer and got way too comfortable around him and the palace. Today, she burst out of the door, waking him up in the process.

“Leona!” She shouted, face all covered in sweats.

“Oi, what the hell was that, Patricia? This better be good.” Leona grumbled after being woken up from his nap.

“I don’t want to be a princess anymore!” She retorted like she had seen a ghost or something.

“What makes you think that?” Leona snickered, finally it went through her skull that she may or may not be suited for the royal life.

“Kifaji’s princess lesson is terrifying! I don’t want to suffer like that. And I read thousands of princesses' biographies last night and some of them suffered tragic endings! I don’t want that?!” Patricia ranted, and Leona continued to smile, it was fun seeing her realizing how horrible this life without choices was, or choosing what other people saw your worth was for.

“Quick, hide me! I don’t want Kifaji to drag me again to those lessons!” Patricia quickly scrambled under Leona’s long chair when she saw Kifaji’s silhouette approaching them.

“Then tell me, what’s your next big ambition?” Leona whispered as he saw Patricia shushing him with a finger placed on her lips.

“Spelldrive player! My dad is the number one player, of course, I will be a natural.” Patricia answered.

“Good to see you, that smug,” Leona answered. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to tease her a little. “Hey, Kifaji! Patricia is here!” Leona shouted, knowing well Kifaji was long gone. Patricia got up from her hiding and placed her small hands on Leona’s mouth.

“Ssh! Or I will pull your hair!” Patricia whisper-shouted.

“That is no way to talk to royalty, can’t believe you wanted to be a princess a minute ago,” Leona mumbled against her hands.

“I already said, I don’t want to anymore!” Patricia put, stomping her little chubby feet on the ground.

Ironically, the next year she no longer had that ambition. And when Leona asked her why, this was her answer,

“I’m scared of heights! Heights are terrifying, people can die falling from up there. I can’t be a Spelldrive player!” She cried. They had a good laugh about it and school was starting for non-religious people and their almost everyday meetings became just every holiday. Leona thought it would be good for him to hear less of the little girl screaming, turns out a week without her kind of made him miss Patricia's blabbering smartass mouth.

At the age of nine, Patricia Venenum first met Vil Schoenheit and at the age of twelve, Leona Kingscholar had to hear all about it during her winter break back to Sunset Savanna. Vil that, Vil this, it was honestly irritating to see her so in awe with someone. He was sick of hearing it, the name of Vil Schoenheit slipping past Patricia's lips.

“I think Vil is just so cool you know, he already knows what he wants. I don’t even have something I want to do. My grandpa always says that it is better to know what you want to do from early childhood, it will give better guidance throughout life.” Patricia ending her long ramble for today on the Vil Schoenheit topic, it is the second day by the way.

Leona gritted his teeth, then what about him? He clearly had nothing going on but an aimless life he had to take, a position of power they said, but he would always be beneath his brother, always be the second of, the less favored one, and then compared to. And he couldn’t crawl out of this life, even if he wanted to. He was stuck in a future without hope.

“What about you, Leona? What do you want to be?” That took Leona off guard for a second there, but that was a ridiculous question. Why would he even think of that when he had no choice at the table?

“Your magic is cool and powerful, shouldn’t you be doing something with that? I’m jealous that you have already developed yours, while mine is still some weak measly magic.” Patricia complained.

“I don’t know…” Leona finally answered while still lying on the grass beside Patricia sitting with her back resting on the tree.

“Well, we can figure it out together.” Patricia plopped down next to him on the grass.

“Who said I want to figure it out with you?” Leona snickered, clearly teasing her. Earning a punch on the arm from Patricia, alongside a smile. Though his future had remained unchanged, it was nice to hear someone ask him about his opinion on that, even though he wasn’t supposed to have one in the first place. Leona never thought he would see her at this time of the day, it wasn’t summer, winter, or spring break. It was autumn and here he was seeing her the next year with her solemn look plastered on her face.

“So, I guess my name is Patricia Venenum now.” She said when he went to see her. He didn’t offer to lend his ear, but his arm betrayed his head. Leona didn’t know what was going on in his mind, but he offered Patricia a hug. Wrapping his arms around the girl who couldn’t cry anymore. But she talked, in a monotone voice that Leona hated, it was better when she was shrieking like Patricia did back when she was four years old.

“Integrity is everything, my dad always said that but he cheated. He betrayed his own words, doesn’t that make him a liar?” Patricia chuckled.

“I hated how some people blamed my mom for not noticing it or she is too busy to take care of him. It was his fault! I hated how my mom tried to clear his name a little in front of me. He doesn’t deserve it!” She shrieked in frustration, words filling in with hate. Leona in turn, felt his heart starting to resent the ever-popular Spelldrive player too, it might not be his business but how dare he make Patricia in this state? Did he have no respect for a lady? Leona guessed, that maybe that day might be the one that turned Patricia Venenum to not believe in a word called commitment anymore.

Fast forward to two years later, Leona was fifteen and he couldn’t believe himself to be still hanging out with a twelve-year-old girl, who was going to start in middle school next spring. But, well they were friends nonetheless, a divorce did make her more mature, still a smartass but more cynical and open to a lot of underhanded tactics as long as it was in the grey area. Last month, his father had a baby and married someone else early this year, not with the woman he cheated on her mother with. Still, Patricia blatantly refused to acknowledge it or even meet his father for these past two years.

“So, how was it being the first child?” Leona teased her.

“I’m an only child, so yeah I’m the first one.” Patricia coldly answered, annoyed.

“Really? It says here, Lyonell-” Leona pointed out at the newspaper headline before Patricia cut him off.

“Fine, honest opinion or something that pleases your ear, your Royal Highness?” Patricia rolled her eyes, mocking him.

“Both,” Leona answered, just to tease her again. Patricia huffed a long breath.

“I hate it, okay, I know maybe you want to be born a few years older than Farena, Leona. But know this, being expected to set an example is hard and even harder at someone you don’t care about.” Patricia said, pointing a finger at him before continuing her sentence.

“You will be the one they look up to and be blamed if they have a misstep because you don’t give them good guidance. Just look at this long text my father sent me, he expected me to step up and be a big sister to her, and bond with his family. Did he forget he was the one tearing my mom’s heart? Unbelievable!” Patricia sneered. Then thank god for that, because Leona never had one to follow in his footsteps. What kind of example does Farena set upon him? Being carefree? As if he wanted to follow that. Leona just scoffed and they went silent for a few minutes before Patricia opened her mouth again. The rest of the holidays went on like usual, them hanging out, Leona taunting Patricia with a broom knowing well she hated it, taking a nap together, and so on. Spring came, and she was gone but Leona Kingscholar never predicted it would be the last time he saw her for three years.

The Venenums came to the royal palace for every important state official they held, including the holidays, also a few parties since they were a ‘friend’ to the family, The King was friendly with Patricia’s grandpa, even appointing the man as their Royal Photographer since his younger days. But no sight of Patricia was seen trailing after her grandparents. Leona was done trying hard to impress the people around the palace, but he was sure to attend one of The Venenums. He greeted them like usual, sat in front of them at every banquet and that was all.

“Do you miss Patricia?” Kifaji of course, being an observant attendant noticed the change of behavior his second prince had every time the Venenum came around.

“No, I don’t Kifaji. Why would I?” Leona answered, but he was surely paying attention every time Patricia’s name came up in conversation. Most of the questions were asked by Kifaji who was sitting next to him.

“I thought you would, what if I asked for you, if she ever missed you, Lord Leona?” Kifaji whispered, which made Leona almost choke his food.

“Don’t you dare, Kifaji,” Leona growled, his eyes were ready to maul him if eyes could. Kifaji of course knew best to just taunt him or else his life may or may not be in danger of Leona’s hand.

At the age of nineteen, Leona Kingscholar finally met with Patricia Venenum again. He heard she was also attending NRC, and he had no intention of seeing her after she didn’t even ask a single question about his well-being in those three years, so why should he care? But alas, a single letter from his sister-in-law, Farena’s wife forced him to meet up with her.

“Hey, Leona. Long time no see and you still haven’t changed, except you have gotten taller and I despise it.” Patricia said from behind, it seemed like she found him first. Leona turned around and couldn’t believe his eyes, she had grown up. Nothing like the twelve-year-old Patricia, the last time he saw her. She changed, would be a description, what happened in those three years she was off in Shaftlands to be like this? She didn’t have that childhood grin anymore, her hair back to the short length, she was taller and prettier.

Before she was cute, like any other kid, maybe if you like them. Leona was shocked, but actually, that was the least of his shock, because he couldn’t believe himself for having these nostalgic feelings and all the missing he had over the years almost burst out if only his pride didn’t hold it back inside. All he wanted to do was to hug her but no, he wouldn’t cave in. After all, it was her who left him, she should be the one to do that.

“What are you doing here? You are a freshman, you are supposed to be inside the orientation.” Leona chose not to respond to her statement and answered her with another question.

“A cute Heartslabyul upperclassman did tell me the direction to the orientation, but you know that I can’t differentiate between left and right so…” Patricia just shrugged her shoulders with a cheeky smile.

“So, you are lost, again?” Leona grumbled, extending his hand. Old habits die hard and this one appeared every time Patricia lost her way inside the palace or anywhere and he had to be the one to find her again and again.

“You bet!” Patricia answered with a grin, taking his hand to lead her to the mirror chambers.

“Oh yeah, Her Royal Highness said you would be meeting me later today. Aw, did you miss me, Leona? Of course, you did.” Patricia asked with a coy in her tone.

“She forced me to and no,” Leona answered back, even if he knew himself it was a damn lie.

That was the start of a long year, a year where many things happened. A year of crossing the lines, a year of realizing maybe they were never really friends, they were just stuck in this grey area. First, it all started like they were back to normal, back being friends, skipping buddies, and then abruptly, maybe it was there from the start but they found themselves in a situation of no turning back. Starting with a kiss, then crossing the lines completely when they did what only a marital couple should do after being blessed in the name of God. The confusion should stop there and the relationship should have progressed.

But it didn’t. Instead, they went on and on in the same circles for almost two years, because Patricia was in denial, she even forced Leona Kingscholar to move his hand, no, his whole body to turn his whole principal upside down in a quest to make her commit to him. It was two years full of frustration, anger, and fights. Although Leona Kingscholar would be damned if he said he wouldn’t do all of this again in a heartbeat when he bent down on one knee.

At the age of twenty-two, Leona Kingscholar proposed to Patricia Venenum. It started with a joke from the lady’s mouth to a proposal with an initial response of no that turned into a yes. Well, after he forced the ring on her. Nonetheless, he was happy, she was happy, and they were happy to be together. It led to a six-year-long engagement.

And today in front of the altar, there stood Leona Kingscholar waiting for his beloved to walk down the aisle. Then she appeared, and Leona swore to god, even if he never did before, he had never known someone could be this breathtaking, Patricia Venenum on that day took his breath away, not that she didn’t each time he saw a glimpse of her from afar. All of those years of hardships, it was worth it in the end, huh? Leona Kingscholar couldn’t help but let a full-blown big grin display across his face. As Patricia finally arrived, escorted by Vil Schoenheit who was grumbling that he let his best friend be with a useless nothing good but his prince to be married with.

“Seems you got to be a princess, after all, Patricia.” Leona smugly said as they stood side by side. Grinning from ear to ear.

“Oh, shut up or I will go back to that door again and force you to marry the minister instead.” Patricia threatened him back with a grin. The minister faked a cough, so the bride and groom in front of him didn’t forget his presence to marry them off.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man, and this woman in holy matrimony…”

“You predicted this didn’t you?” The Royal Photographer said to Lord Chamberlain, who just smirked a little.

“No, I didn’t. Maybe they were just tied by the gold strings called fate, don’t you think so, Venenum? Be happy, it’s your granddaughter's wedding day.” Kifaji answered, patting his back. Although he did play a part, he was the one that suggested they be arranged after all, though it failed because of the loud protests from the bit irritated man beside him, though he was still happy to see his only grandchild getting married.

But still, if a matchmaker wasn’t the way, Kifaji managed to make them playmates, something the Venenums couldn’t refuse at the time since he took it up first to the King and the Queen. Alas, no matter what the way, it worked, they worked, they managed to find themselves in this union, maybe soulmates did exist in this world.

“What is it you two are whispering about? I’m just so happy that those two kids got married, Leona is happy, I’m glad. And besides, even I knew this day would come when I saw them playing together.” Farena joined in giddily, though he was exaggerating of course. He did root for them for years though, probably everyone in this room albeit with a few exceptions, for example, the Venenums and Vil Schoenheit. As the sun shined and the leaves were blown away by the wind, a fresh start for the soon-to-be husband and wife.

Today is a fine day to get married after all.

“So, this is where you are taking me?” Patricia asked.

Her head was sneaking out of the car as she saw the villa on the hill near the beach, which belonged to her grandparents.

“Yeah, surprised aren’t you?” Leona replied to her, driving through the gate.

“More surprised by the fact that you are still willing to come back here after that ‘incident’.” Patricia shrugged as Leona parked their car.

“Who do you think I am to be scared by those little gestures?” Leona said to not underestimate him as they got out of the car and started walking to the door of the villa.

“So, why are we here?” Patricia asked.

“Remember when I asked for your grandfather permission to marry you?” Leona answered back with a question.

“Yeah, where he ‘accidentally’ almost shot you three times in a row when he took you hunting after you asked him for permission.” Patricia clearly remembered, it was the infamous incident in this villa after all.

“He did give me one, on a request that we could hold a little make believe wedding ceremony here with just the two of them.” Leona explained.

Patricia wasn’t surprised at all, her grandparents were very private, they disliked big crowds but when your granddaughter’s groom was the second prince, there wasn’t a moment where you could share with just her, you had to share her with the rest of the world to see. As they approached the front door, there stood her grandparents ready to greet Leona and Patricia.

“Patricia, and your royal highness, please come inside. The preparation has been made on your behalf.” The ever poised stoic grandmother of Patricia said.

Grandma Venenum might not share a lot of emotion, but she was quite emotional today. Her only grandchild was going to get ‘married’ . It was like giving Patricia permission to part ways from her arms forever.

“Grandma, grandpa!” Patricia hugged the two of them warmly, they reciprocated it, though their stares were like daggers pointing at Leona.

“Mr and Mrs. Venenum,” Leona greeted, bowing his head a little bit as the two grandparents did the same.

Though they still couldn’t believe how dare the second prince dragged their precious granddaughter to the royal court full of snakes and lizards, some of them were literal.

“Now, please Patricia come with grandma. And Lord Leona, you could follow my husband.” Grandma Venenum said before ushering Patricia to come inside.

While Grandpa Venenum glaring daggers at Leona intensely, though he didn’t utter a word since he was known to be a quiet man.

“Please call me Leona, we are going to be family soon.” Leona replied, humbling himself trying to get closer to them.

He was going to be a part of the family he was jealous of when he was a kid so don’t blame him for trying a little. But his words were met by a cold response from Grandpa Venenum.

“No need necessary, you are a prince and the royal protocol dictated so as to address you as such.”

Seemed like Leona had to try a little harder to get in. Leona let out a silent long sigh, this was such a headache. Not like Leona could really blame them on the other hand, it was clear from the start they were reluctant for Patricia to be his playmate he knew that from Kifaji who persuaded them which would be a blatant no.

If not for Kifaji strategy approaching little Patricia first with the offer of Royal Library. A shrewd man, Lord of The Chamberlain indeed. Not to mention they caught Leona and Patricia once almost doing the thing in her childhood bedroom with him. Leona was sure since then all they wanted to do was to murder him if they could.

This was such a headache, could they just accept him, already? Like there was a better suited match for Patricia than him. If you asked Venenum they would answer with a list of a thousand candidates they picked before Leona KIngscholar though.

“Patricia, you remember what grandma gave you when you graduated from NRC?” Her grandmother asked, taking Patricia to one of the rooms their villa had.

“Of course, a chance to alter your wedding then mom's wedding dress, right?”

“You are correct, I remember telling you would see the final alterations if your wedding is approaching and here they are.” Grandma Venenum smiled solemnly, she opened the box revealing the dress Patricia had designed to change from her mom, who altered it from her mother, Grandma Venenum.

“It’s so pretty!” Patricia beamed with a smile, satisfied with the result.

“It is my dear, now put it on I want to see you twirl in it.” Grandma Venenum said, which Patricia obliged with putting it on.

“How do I look, granny?” Grandma Venenum almost lost her composure at the sight of her beloved granddaughter in white, he never expected it to be this soon.

“You are wonderful looking Patricia, now take a seat. Let granny do your hair.” Grandma Venenum propped Patricia to sit down in the vanity mirror.

“Can’t believe as of next year, you would be the Princess Consort of Sunset Savanna. Remember dear, even if he’s a royalty if he does anything to you, even just a scratch on your skin. Don’t be afraid to tell us, alright? The royals were nothing but people with pretended statuses higher than us.” Grandma Venenum said while combing Patricia’s hair and shaped it into a bun.

“Grandma be careful, what if someone hears you?” Patricia chuckled quietly, the words could be treason to the royal family.

Honestly, the Venenums never really wanted to be involved with them if not reluctantly and now they were tied by a bond that had a chance that couldn't be severed for eternity.

“I’m already old dear, I might lose my composure more often every now and then. Pardon me.” Grandma Venenum replied back before Patricia responded with a nervous laugh.

“And, it’s done. You are the picture of perfection dear, Leona Kingscholar is the lucky one to have you.”

“Thank you, meemaw.” Patricia smiled, calling her grandma with a long lost nickname she never called her anymore with. They shared a smile before a knock on the door was heard and the door was opened, entering inside Grandpa Venenum.

“Grandpa, where’s Leona?” Patricia asked.

“He is waiting for you at the spot, he insisted on coming but it is bad luck to see the bride in the wedding dress is it not?” Grandpa Venenum said.

Then he suddenly hugged her granddaughter, then joined by his wife, a rare initiation physical display of affection was shown from the two of them beside each other.

“Screw the Kingscholars, I can’t believe we let them take away our precious granddaughter.” Grandma Venenum complained before Grandpa Venenum chimed in too.

“Like I said to Lord Leona that day, if he dared to hurt you I will kill him like I shoot that deer brutally, straight on the head.”

“Granny, Grandpa, you two really should control your words…” Patricia sighed, this sounded even more scary when their stoic faces didn’t move an inch saying these things like it was normal.

After a somewhat long group hug, the two of them offered their hands for their granddaughter to grab on. Walking her together to the place they had told Leona to wait. On their granddaughter's hands there were buckets of flowers, freshly picked from the garden they cultivated.

Leona Kingscholar couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Patricia approaching him and suddenly all he could see was Patricia in her wedding dress, ignoring the very reluctant grandparents of her. His heart skipped a million beats, he was taken aback for a moment, this was something, she was something that he was sure he would never quite see anything like her in his lifetime again, ever!

“You look handsome in my grandpa’s attire.” Patricia commented with a coy smile while Leona was still taking it all in, the sight in front of him.

“...You look incredible, Patricia and I mean it.” He finally spoke after a moment of silence and mouth agape.

“I know,” Patricia answered with the same adoration in her eyes.

This was the sight they saw on the balcony, and it was hard for Grandpa and Grandma Venenum to admit, but looks like Kifaji was right, these two were going to be tied in a knot together. Actually they knew it for quite a long time and they were afraid to admit that, because it would mean they lost their only grandchild to the royal life, which was hard and full of judgement. And the Venenum didn’t want it one bit for their only grandchild.

Because there was no officiant, they only exchanged rings using what the Venenum passed down to them and wanted them to have it.

“Is this going to be your wedding dress for next year, isn’t it bad luck if I saw you in it first?” Leona asked as he slid down the ring down Patricia’s finger.

“No silly, do you really think Vil would let me pick my wedding dress without his input? Besides, I’ve been eyeing something for a while, you just have to wait and see.” Said Patricia back while sliding down the ring to Leona’s finger.

“Then I couldn’t wait for it,” Leona answered before taking Patricia in for a kiss. And you could see the love emitted from it

The whole thing looked real enough for the two grandparents to watch and really let their grandkid go for the very first time choosing this path with a man she was in love with. As they deepened their kiss, Leona carried Patricia in his arms. Receiving a protest from Grandpa Venenum immediately.

“Young man, I gave you permission to marry my granddaughter, not to kiss her inappropriately in front of me or do you want me to shoot you again because I have my gun back in the villa!” That was the first time ever anyone saw the ever calm Grandpa Venenum raise his voice.

But still the two ‘bride and groom’ kissed for another fifteen seconds before breaking it off, as Grandpa Venenum was about to get his gun.

“Is Kifaji really being serious right now? It’s just been a month since we announced our engagement and ever since then, our schedule has been packed, now to add to it the press?!” Patricia sighed.

When normal people got engaged, usually they would prepare for the wedding in the normal way. Maybe learn a little waltz or tango if you are feeling frisky. But not the complete traditional set, no one used any longer except probably, for the royals of Sunset Savanna as their wedding dance tradition. Not to mention the press who had been bugging to see the soon to be newlyweds acting as a couple.

“What, can’t keep up, Pat?” Leona asked her slyly, which in response the woman he soon to be married stepped on his foot on purpose, and her other foot managed to step on his tail for extra measure. “Ouch!” Leona groaned in pain, he was sure about to grumble before Patricia cut him off.

“And what? You better shut your damn mouth because even becoming a noble wasn't part of my plan, and now a freaking royal?! If I’m not marrying you, I wouldn’t have to put up with any of this!” And Leona, although reluctant, admitted his defeat.

His status was one of the reasons their relationship went in a circular motion for quite some time, even when they were dating a part of her was in a denial she would be someone with this kind of status in the future. But the deed has been done, and now here she was, learning the steps in one of The Royal Palace rooms while wearing the traditional garment, since the press would come here later.

“But you had it easy though, I had to do this straight after hours of princess lessons with Kifaji and the other tutors. At this point you didn’t deserve to expect an I love you too from me because what the heck am I doing all of this if I didn’t love you.” Patricia sarcastically complained and right on cue, Kifaji emerged from the door.

“Maybe if you had taken all of the lessons when you were a kid, you wouldn’t be this overworked, Patricia. I did offer you one, and it would have been nice if you continued it.” Kifaji retorted back with a smirk with an ‘I told you so’ face.

“I took one back then and it scarred me for life, can’t believe Leona managed to sweep me off my feet and momentarily made me forget that I had to attend this torture in hell.” She was of course being dramatic.

Kifaji couldn’t help but chuckle a little. He predicted this matchup way before these two even liked each other and once again, he was proven right, they were indeed perfect for one another.

“Anything my new madam says, this humble servant will oblige with it.” Kifaji teased her, while Leona snickered, joining in the fun.

“Nooooo, don’t you dare call me that!” Patricia complained.

“Kifaji, let’s cancel the press for today. I don’t really care if they call me lazy or not. But my dear soon to be wife, Patricia is not feeling up to it.” Leona chimed in.

“And I’m sure, you are too lazy, Lord Leona. Don’t use Patricia's name for excuses. I know the two of you very well.” Kifaji responded back, and there was no way of getting through this guy, huh?

“How dare you?” Patricia dramatically said to her soon to be husband before sharing a snicker together. In every crowd, in every moment their yes manage to always find one another, especially when there were only three of them inside, ignoring Kifaji as the third wheel.

Though that cute moment got interrupted with the next statement from Kifaji’s lips.

“Well, I’m here to report that the reporters are just behind this door. Ready to meet the two of you, please show your best selves for the public to get to know the two of you more in a good light. I’m sure the two of you can manage that?” Kifaji said with a smile.

Then he opened the doors and let the hoarding press take pictures of them. They had to nod and smile reluctantly while answering some of their questions. Sure, their engagement got mixed opinions from the public. After all, Patricia wasn’t a beastman nor she came from a noble house, sure her grandparents were quite influential with their role as diplomat and royal photographer. Not to mention, her parents, though divorced, were still one of the legend of Spelldrive player and a supermodel.

Which made it worse actually, since the adoring public thought that a girl with parents from an entertainment circle only wanted to be the prince to boost their statuses. Though, it wasn’t true at all if you see how hard she was in denial all through their NRC days. Her grandparents did help when it came to the public opinion, although only a little since her grandma is from Shaftlands and their position isn’t deemed high enough. Patricia particularly didn’t really care or give much thought about that. Nor Leona, they were fine even eloping just to skip all of this hassle.

But Kifaji? Wouldn’t allow that, he had a soft spot for these two kids and he would make sure everyone sees them for who they truly are, two fools in love you could call it fate from the first glance. Also probably charitable to boost their image, Kifaji would need to make sure they attended a charity event next week! He did know the two of them made many donations to the hyena’s slums, especially with Patricia’s grandpa's charity or Leona’s special interest, though they never reported it to the public. This time, they needed to unfortunately shatter those haughty unapproachable images both of them had.

“Lulu, I’m sorry for being late!” The second year Pomefiore student bursted into the kitchen with a groceries paper bag on her arms. The Ramshackle prefect and only human member of the dorm, greeted her back.

“Patty-senpai! It’s alright, do you want a drink first?” Lunasha offered her a cup of tea she had just freshly brewed.

“Oh, that would be nice,” Patricia accepted, then he noticed the blonde bob haired boy standing beside Lunasha. “And what is Rook doing here?” She snapped her eyes to the vice dorm leader, she always had a bit one sided love-hate relationship with the hunter. Yet, Rook always thought of her as a cute little sister.

“Keeping my petite cerise company of course! Like you did this morning with Roi du Lion, though it would be better not in time for class since we don’t want Roi du Poison to get upset, no?” This nagging of Rook made it hard for Patricia not to snark at him, but there was Lunasha in the room. So, she would hold it back for today.

“Just don’t tell Vil about it, okay?” Patricia pouted.

“Well, now I will leave the two of you to it. Have a fun baking day, take care of Lulu for me, mademoiselle fashion!” Rook bid his goodbye with a kiss on top of Lulu’s forehead. The purple haired girl blushed quite madly, protesting a bit to Rook. There's an audience in the room where the feather hat man just laughed off and calmed her down, before making his exit.

“Patty-senpai, I’m sorry you have to see that-” Lunasha said embarrassedly, which got cutted off with the taller girl in front of her.

“He’s sure sweet to you huh, Lulu? Bet if I wasn’t here, it would be the lips!” Patricia teased, pointing on Lunasha’s lips. Further embarrassing the girl.

“No, you got it all wrong! We didn’t-” She panicked, Patricia on the other hand snickered at her response and put a finger on her lips mimicking Lunasha to silence.

“Ssh, we better not waste anymore time. Let’s start preparing, Lulu.” Patricia winked.

“Then Patty-senpai please stop teasing me!” Patricia just laughed again while they started moving things along, starting with washing their hands first. As they were preparing for the ingredients, Lunasha got curious about the groceries Patricia just set on the kitchen counter when she first arrived.

“Patty-senpai, did you buy new ingredients again? I thought we had enough already at Ramshackle for two batches of muffins?” Lunasha asked, peeking at the ingredients to found, spinach, bacon and cheese…?

“Oh, I thought it would be fun for us to make the usual sweet muffins for a batch and the other batch to try making savoury muffins!” Lunasha was a bit puzzled by it, but baking something new was something fun to try. So, why not?

“That’s a good idea! But I don’t know how to make it, Patty-senpai has to teach me how to do it then.” Lunasha said as she tied her apron, Patricia did the same while reaching to the bowl and cracking two eggs for it.

“The batters are the same as sweet muffins, the difference is when do we incorporate it. At least according to the internet.” Patricia shrugged to a bit shocked Lunasha. But hey, everything is going to be fine right?

They then went to experiment with their muffin batter incorporating spinach, cheese and bacon through trials and errors. From finding the composition weird, too sweet or too salty as they grumbled after tasting the batter they dipped their fingers in until finally the fourth experiment of mixing spices they found the perfect taste or at least okay. Both of them high fived each other while entering those experimental muffins to the oven and moving on to the usual sweet muffins they loved, and their boyfriends didn’t (although according to Patricia, Leona and her are just friends!).

As Lunasha finished whisking the new batter and Patricia poured them to some of the cups to bake. It dawned on her, she never asked why they were making a savoury dessert this time instead of their usual blueberry, strawberry, citrus and orange tart, fruity sweet desserts they loved today.

“Patty-senpai, is there any specific reason we are doing this?” Lunasha decided to ask. Patricia pondered for a moment, she knew what the answer was. She was just embarrassed to admit it.

“Well… Rook is just okay with sweets, right? Like, he isn’t the biggest fan of it. So, I think it would be a nice change of pace for you to give him something savoury for a change.” Patricia said, while she didn’t lie, it was still just a half truth.

“Now I am scared if it doesn’t turn out great, but at the same time I am excited to see the results!” Lunasha’s mind went half panic and half excited at the prospect of seeing Rook’s delighted face to try something new she gave to him.

“Don’t worry if they don’t like it, just tell them we aren’t going to see them for a week.” Patricia jokingly said, Lunasha’s mind did wonder though. Who did she mean by them? It’s a bit obvious and confirmed by her pretty loud complaint.

“Though this doesn’t contain steak, at least I put bacon in it with a mix of spinach for surprise and a choke. Leona better appreciate it, or I would shove it down his throat until he eats the whole batch.”

“So, it’s for Leona-senpai! I see,” It was Lunasha time to tease her back, which the raven haired girl strongly denied, putting down the bowl on the tab;e.

“If Silver doesn't finish the whole thing, then I suppose I will share it with Leona.” Patricia said, turning her face away, emphasising on Silver’s name. Though if it was for Silver, why would she make something unknown?

Lunasha just nodded while staring at her face until Patricia looked back at her.

“What?” Patricia snarked, a bit intimidating to Lunasha, almost making her want to bolt down out of this kitchen for a sec there.

“N-nothing, it’s just that Patty-senpai has batter on each side of your cheek this whole time.” Lunasha pointed out.

“Eeh, it’s not fair when Lulu only got it on one cheek!” Patricia protested, she then grabbed the batter bowl again, dipped a finger in it and “Boop!” She said, after planting a smear of battery on Lunasha’s nose.

“Now, we’re equal.” Patricia winked, while laughing.

“Ah, Patty-senpai…” Followed by Lunasha smiling too. It’s another fun baking session for them, perhaps.

‘Okay, okay, calm down.’ Patricia’s heart was racing, but even a rational thought couldn’t calm down her racing mind, the distance between her and Leona Kingscholar’s body was approximately way too close. Not to mention her back on the wall, leaving no room to escape with the man’s hand caging her body on the pillar.

How did they get into this situation? They had always been a grey area, Patricia knew that. But this situation was crossing beyond the line of friends. Leona knew, Patricia knew, there was no turning back after this. She panicked. What triggered Leona exactly to promptly pinned her against this very wall of his bedroom? They just rekindled their relationship for some mere months, the same exact months she had been attending NRC after three years of separation and now, she found herself and her prince childhood friend in this situation?

Tension was heavy in the air and by the look on his face, Leona was sure as hell not backing down. This made Patricia a little scared, she was hesitating, what went wrong between them? Sure, Patricia was a little bit mischievous. Throwing in flirty remarks here and there, teasing him as a joke to test it on some other guys, which Leona should have known. She talked about them, and everything to him really, except for a certain growing feeling she tried to push aside because that kind of relationship with Leona wasn’t worth it to pursue. She was sure she wouldn’t like him that far, but with his face a few inches before it closed on her, made her rethink everything.

But then what made today different from the others? What made today could force Leona Kingscholar to act like this? She just came, twirling in her new little black dress, like she always did in the past, doing a little bit of fashion show everytime she acquired a new outfit back when they were kids. Sure, she taunted him a little about couldn’t keep his eyes elsewhere because of her beauty and some other things. But that was just the usual right?

Indeed, she was in denial and Leona Kingscholar had grown tired of it. The little black dress she put on display today was just the last straw he needed to throw it all away. He never wanted to try when it was so obvious the girl in front of him kept talking about somebody else she was interested in, plus her despise of the royal life. Why make an effort when there was a huge chance he would fail? Alas, fuck it all, maybe he did want to try, he couldn’t shake this feeling any longer. He had feelings for her and he knew it wasn’t one that was going to go away.

All of this silence and patience, desperately waiting for a sole chance he could seal the deal successfully to make her his, only made his blood boil in a rush as her shaking hands touched his arm.

As Patricia gulped down a chunk of her saliva down her throat, from her shaking hands that had been desperately wanting to touch the male in front of her, which she finally did. She opened her lips to speak, only for Leona to beat her to it as their eyes met upon each other.

“Say my name and everything just stops.” He hoarse. All of this, the tension, the pining and anticipation would end depended on the next thing rolled out of her tongue. Dreadful silence filled the air, as Patricia only let her lips agape a little gap. He maybe didn’t say I love yet out loud, but this was his way of saying it, he was hers to claim. It was her decision to stop playing this tag game.

“I don’t want you like a best friend.” Leona reinstated his statement, loud and clearly. It was her turn to answer.

“Leona…” His name slipped her lips in a desperate plea, she was confused, she wasn’t saying yes or no, her head felt like spinning. She didn’t want to face this, where Leona implied his feelings clearly to her and there was no room to deny it anymore.

Leona took it as a yes, his face then inched closer to her, closing the gap between them in a heated feverish kiss. Their first kiss and truly it made his world collapse, was this the taste of victory? Patricia herself didn’t say no to the kiss, she kissed him back hard. Then his tongue poked to the front of her lips, which she granted, engaging their tongues in a devilish dizzying dance.

Inescapable, Leona should have known this. From the first moment she entered his life again, he couldn’t deny her. He wasn’t even really trying to suppress his feelings in the first place but she made him do it, which irked him a little bit. But fine, at least they both trapped in this electrifying state where their bodies craved for each other’s touches, even if he had to get burned down first with this feeling. Her hands moved to touch his chest, intoxicated with the kiss as his hands moved to the zip of her dress, ready to take it off.

“Patricia,” he breathed just below her ear. It sounded more like a question, did she allow them to go further than this?

“Yes,” Patricia answered.

The next second she felt his quick and nimble fingers working his way with her dress zipper. The straps fell down, exposing her chest bare to his eyes. His eyes widened for a split second as his face reddened by the sight, she was beautiful really, Leona didn’t know if he could handle it all and it was just the upper half of her body, what would he be when he finally uncovered the rest?

Patricia also didn’t want to be the only one exposed, feeling embarrassed alone, as their lips never stopped pressing against each other, her fingers working on his jacket and accessories, as well his shirts, throwing them one by one to the ground.

As he had the courage to unzip her dress all the way through, letting it fall to the ground, exposing the rest of her body, all entirely as a feast only reserved for his eyes. He threw his gloves quickly, wanting to touch her bare hand, skin to skin with her soft fair skin, to grasp her wholly. This wasn’t proper he realised, as in one quick swoop he carried her in his arms making her startled a bit, feeling his naked chest pressing against her own without a cloth as a shield.

“Leona, what are you doing?!” She hissed, even in this state didn’t really want to believe they were going to do this.

“You really want our first time to be on the wall?” He asked her sarcastically, and he was right but she was in no state of mind to think anything clearly.

He laid her in his sheets, but for a second there he didn’t do anything. Leona just gawked upon the scenery presented to him. Making Patricia a little bit uncomfortable, was there something wrong with her body? Was it not satisfactory enough? She could only guess by his tail wagging, for excitement right? Not disappointment?

Yet, a completely different train of thought was running through Leona’s mind. Patricia was breathtaking, he didn’t know how he could manage this long to control the urge to make her his. Alas, he managed to do so, stealing her under those guy’s thumbs, especially one freshman she had been chasing because he was pretty for her eyes.

“Cat got your tongue, Leona? Is this your first time?”

She faked confidence to tease him, because it was in her nature to be a little high pride, stubborn and bossy.

“And what?” Leona didn’t really care, nor paid attention to it as his eyes were still busy.

“You really didn’t fuck anyone for three whole years here?!”

Patricia got shocked.But really Leona didn’t really think those things could be useful or even wanting to have it, until she came along and made her way back again into his life.

“If you say that was your first kiss, I will-”

Then she saw his unbothered face, his hands pinned above her head, caging her again like he did before on the wall.

“You will what, Pat?” Leona said a little bit harshly as a self defence mechanism.

He was afraid to find the answer, how many guys those lips had kissed, how many guys tasted the little piece of heaven before he could? How many guys did claim what was rightfully his before he did?

Ah, but Leona didn’t want to foul his mood, he got the chance now and he was going to seize them. He could stare at her like this, admiring for eternity but he couldn’t let this chance go to waste. In this very moment, Leona realised he couldn’t and didn’t want to play this stupid role anymore, he couldn’t be the best friend any longer, let Vil play that role, he would claim what would be the best role for him in her life.

People didn’t know how long, how desperate he was for her, of his longing. They thought they knew the both of them, but they knew nothing about how he had been patiently waiting for his chance and for her to finally stop chasing someone useless. Eyeing her like a predator watching her prey, like he was eyeing that crown under Farena’s thumb, and hopefully steal it someday.

There was an indentation on his bed, and it was the shape of Patricia’s. Leona couldn’t help these urges to ruin her, to claim her as his, maybe it was his primal instinct that made him feel this way as he, without thinking, kissed her face, hands caressing her body softly. Touching every part of her, seeing her reaction which was her sensitive spots. He supposed one of it was her breast as her moans got louder with every tingling circling touching his finger placed on top of it. His tail wrapped itself around her legs. Patricia had her own fingers wandering, exploring Leona’s body. Then she stopped at his clothed lower half, still with pants, tugging it.

“It wasn’t fair, I’m the only one being exposed like this Leona.”

Patricia pouted, and Leona couldn’t help but let a cheeky grin.

“If this comes off, it goes all the way in, no turning back Pat.”

Leona teased, he was expecting a comeback. But instead he got a surprise, he got a sincere response from the heart.

“I know, I’m trusting you with my first Leona. I’m not saying be gentle or anything, just take care of me, okay?”

Patricia asked, then got up for a second to peck his cheek. Leona's smile widened, a genuine one. The confirmation he had been waiting all along and the answer wasn’t one he dreaded for.

So, no one had seen her like this, no one had claimed her, he was the first and he would make sure he was the last and the only one to ever claim a mark on her like this. There was no one else, he wouldn’t allow it to see her this way, he was the only one allowed to do so.

“How can I not?”

I wouldn’t ever dream to hurt you, was the sentence he didn’t utter due to embarrassment of being sentimental. Leona took her hand and kissed it, it was his way to say he wouldn’t break his promise.

He then took off his pants, revealing his huge shaft standing and leaking precums. A terrifying thing to see for Patricia, who in the moment instantly wanted to run away.

“Is this going to fit inside of me?”

She asked with a bit of fear, as she raised her hand to touch it, earning a grunt from Leona.

“It will, trust me, okay?”

He said even if he wasn’t sure of it yet. Leona himself, checking her downward lips situation, checking if she was wet enough ready for him to fit in inside. A foreign touch was placed on her body making her startled and moaning, and Patricia herself, placed her touches to Leona with soft touches and a little bit timid one. Both teenagers placed experimental touches to each private’s area, learning and exploring each other’s body in a way they never did before. Grunts and moans filled up the room of each other’s name until they thought maybe, it was the moment of the truth.

Leona placed Patricia’s legs on each side of his body, while she hooked them on his waist. They didn’t necessarily speak, but with the look from their eyes, they both agreed upon it. As Leona’s slowly approaching to enter her inside.

“Ouch! Leona, it hurts!”

She screamed and it was just the tip barely in, Patricia almost cried but she bit her lips to prevent her from doing it.

“Bare with it okay? I’m going slow.”

His urges told him to go fast but he couldn’t not when Patricia looked like she was going to cry anytime because of him. She only nodded and then he slowly made his way in, pushing his hips and her, a loud scream of pain was heard as Patricia couldn’t hold it back, feeling her inside being teared apart for the first time, the pain was something else he never experienced. But at the same time, it felt good, like she craved for the pain more. She was confused, why was she feeling this way?

Leona on the other hand was feeling he tasted a slice of heaven, everytime he got deeper as her tight walls hugged his dick so perfectly, like it was made for him only to be inside. When he was finally all the way in, he was a bit amazed that those tight spaces could perfectly contain him, even if he understood it biologically it still blew his mind.

They never did this before, so they were just trusting their instincts,a s their hips began rocking to each other's beat. As he went in and out inside of her. Patricia’s holding to Leona’s back for dear life, with a slip of hands sometimes pulling his braid. While he made his mark on her body, a permanent tattoo if you will, well he hoped like the one he had on his arms. Both of them called each other names, as they made their mark, carving their names to this bedpost, the very first place they did it, for everyone to hear or Savanaclaw students at the very least, to know that she was his as he was hers.

When those first calls of high, came crashing down. It was pure bliss. Leona treasured it, he wanted to remember every detail of Patricia’s face as she got her orgasm, for the very first time and it was because of him, he brought her pleasure. It was funny if he thought about the past, who knew those innocent bright eyes they both had would turn with lust inside of them when looking at each other?

Leona swore, as he kissed her again riding through their highs, he would never let this moment be experienced by any other person, he would make sure Patricia was his and his only. Thankfully, she already said yes to being his right, with him claiming this moment first? While Patricia himself finally acknowledging, as she wrapped her arms on Leona's neck, deepening their kiss, maybe she did brought this dress for him to take it off.

...

What a foolish thought, would be best suited to Leona reaction now when he remembered what was running through his mind back then. A year had passed and the woman sleeping beside him, still dodging the relationship question. But they had gone a long way from there. As he gazed upon her sleeping form, he kissed her black locks, he was glad even if they were still in that grey area, she never ran from him.

Even in his worst times, she still saw the truth in him even in his darkest moment, she didn’t run away like when he overplotted. To be fair, she was always there, letting him be himself without judging anything. And now he woke up by her side. Leona hoped it was love for him that made her this way, but nevertheless Leona Kingscholar knew, Patricia Venenum was his one and only lifeline and he would gone mad if he ever lost her.

“Leona, ah, stop, no, please, ah!” Patricia screamed as her hair was being pulled out by the man who brutally thrusting in and out behind her. He was giving no fucks and he wasn’t even in heat right now. But he was mad, fuming with jealousy and it kept him going, even if he went a ‘little’ rough with the girl on his bed right now.

“It hurts, Leona. Ah-!” She moaned, but Leona knew how rough she liked it, that was why she did all of these teasing, including getting closer to Malleus’s lackey inch by inch everyday. She was only there to rail him up and look what she got.

“This is what you wanted right? So, take it.” Leona grunted, he was always afraid to hurt her whenever they did it, she was the most important thing to him after all. He knew his dick was rougher and hurted a lot more than usual, with his spiked like shape changing the form of his penis whenever they did this that hurted like hell while clinging to her walls deeply, closing each gap and not daring her to let go. But a man could only take so much before the flip went off, so don’t blame him.

“Leona, ah, ah!” Patricia could only moan his name while she was being brutally railed by the guy, her minds couldn’t make up words anymore. Incoherent words and drools slipping past her lips as she couldn’t think a single thing, mind too far gone. It indeed hurted more than normal whenever he entered her inside.

But oh god, the pleasure that compensated the pain felt like a hundred times better, the way his dick clung to her womb, closing all the gap like it was heaven every time he was inside, the way her walls refused to let him go when he pulled out and experienced the pain all over again when he inserted it back in. Though the pain became an addiction and soon added more to the pleasure.

Her mind was long gone, the only thing she knew was the way Leona kept thrusting in and out. Patricia couldn’t decide whether she should scream because of the pain, begging him to stop or telling him to go faster because of the overwhelming pleasure. Ah, she couldn’t decide, she would let Leona do the decision then as she was too occupied by the heightened senses of his own action.

Leona knew Patricia wasn’t in a sound state of mind, but where was the best time to ask for consent on dates like this to get a yes? He was a bit nervous of the consequence but consequences be damned, maybe with this she would stop seeing Silver and end his misery for once and for all.

“Let me do it raw, you are okay with it right, princess?” Leona whispered to her ear, his thumb grabbing her chin to look at him. Ah, what a pleasure to see her drool out, out of her mind, fucked face of her and he was the only one who could make he like this, he swore.

“Huh?” Patricia asked, couldn’t process the question then Leona pulled her hair once again making her scream.

“Nod your head and say yes, Pat.” Patricia only stared at him blankly as she cried at how hard he was pulling her, she didn’t know what he wanted so she moved her head up and down, didn’t really know what she was doing as he was still stimulating her, thrusting non stop.

“Close enough, with this you are saying yes so don’t blame me for anything later.” Oh, he knew he would absolutely be blamed. But let that be tomorrow Leona's problem. Patricia already cummed three times this night and Leona was about to cum the second time today, his condom when he came for the first time being evident on the floor. He was taking a risk of Patricia hating him forever but also taking a chance of finally having her forever.

He knew his high was coming and usually he would pull out, especially on dates where she was ovulating if he didn’t wear any. This wasn’t one of her safe dates where she would still take her birth control pills, this was a very risky move. She was fertile and he was potent. Not to mention his barbed penis, the one all Lions had for mating purposes where each time they cum inside, there wouldn’t be any single drop escaping, making sure all their potent cums stayed inside their partner for a guarantee of success in reproduction. That was why he was always hesitating to do it.

Leona hated children, for god sake he didn’t want them. The one thing he wanted was Patricia to be his and he knew damn well she didn’t want any either. But what other choice a jealous beastman prince had when his mate kept approaching others, rejecting yet not rejecting his advances, driving him crazy yet she did know she belonged to him. Maybe this would teach her a lesson or something. Maybe a kid and a family was something they surprisingly needed, the new element for their salvation.

Yes, they were still students and he did realise he looked like he was out of his mind and this wasn’t rational at all. This would bring a scandal upon his family, he knew that but well if they wanted him to come home and loved being in the palace this was the key. He wouldn’t mind returning back to raise his and Patricia’s kid together. Kill birds with one stone they say, right?

As Leona hit her hilt, to the deepest part of her, locking her in with his penis, Her high also came crashing down as she cried out his name, her mind already broken as his name was the only one Patricia chanted like a spell. Leona came down too at the same time, sending his sperm to the deepest part of her, giving them the closest entrance to her womb for his potent sperm to swim up there touching her fertile eggs, the faster the better, right?

Kalim Al-Asim, the housewarden of Scarabia, the first son of the famous Asim family. My boyfriend, the sweetest guy on the planet. It’s a shame really for him to fall for me. Well, I intentionally trapped him into this relationship, not that he realised all of this was planned. I came off sounding like a bad guy huh? Can’t help it, though Kalim as he was sweet he was the most trusting guy on the planet. He calls me “babe” with the finest of intentions.

Looking at the status of his birth and line of descent, it is his birthright to marry some sweet upscale Scalding Sands girl with rich history and social class and a traditional name attached to their profile. Who, for their own good, can spot my grift from a mile away. They took pity in their hearts and tried their best in the most subtle way that a newly rich family like me, only wanted him for one thing, his assets and status. They aren’t wrong but thankfully, my sweet sweet boyfriend is an airhead. Plus, he is already head over heels for me, their words are going to fall like flies to Kalim’s ear.

I would call them jealous of me. Yeah, maybe I don’t have the best intention of getting with Kalim. Maybe I did use him for my purpose. But those words they spoke only served as proof that they were jealous of me. They are just jealous they couldn’t get their hands on the heir apparent of the Asim’s family. After all, unlike me they don’t have ‘the edge’.

It doesn’t take much to make Kalim believe, he is the most important thing to me. Just have a few lurid secrets, tell Kalim about it and say ‘You are the only one I told about this.’ that left Kalim with tears at the end of your story. Then be eternally grateful that Kalim knows all of them and still loves me.

Although maybe it’s not a complete win yet for me, we are still in high school after all and highschool sweethearts wouldn’t last they say. But I will make sure this one sticks, no matter what. Let’s just see then shall we,but I will make sure I come out of this as a top dog.

I begin talking about the future and forever, Kalim being a sweetheart believes in all of this fairytale bullshit I’ve been spouting. Like we would live that happily, but Kalim doesn’t need to know that yet. What he needed to know is that I want something out of his family collection right now.

“Baby, this ruby is quite stunning, don't you think so?” I said, snuggling up to him, even if I am taller than him which made it a pain for my neck.

“I have that kind of ruby in my house, it’s my grandmother’s. I think it will suit you very much, do you like it babe? I will tell someone to bring it in next week if you want to!” Kalim responded quite excitedly. Of course I actually know he does have that stored in his home, I have done my research before bringing it up to him.

“Is it really okay?” I batted my eyelashes, pretending I don’t want to burden him when I know what his answer is going to be.

“Of course, it is. Anything for you, Nebu! You could also reset it, make it your own like with the addition of diamond. We have plenty of those back home, so don’t worry.”

How sweet was he to ask for that? But resetting a ring with diamond is abasic move which all girls have been doing right now. Precisely why I won’t. I intend to send a very clear message when people see me with it. This is an heirloom, we don’t just have money, we came from money. Those people won’t dare to look down at me again, they will think twice when they see the status behind this ring.

“No, that’s okay. Asking you for it, is already enough, Kalim. I like it the way it is.” Not really, I prefer sapphires actually. But the trademark for Asim is their ruby eyes, so what sticks out more than rubies from them? Wearing it on my finger soon will consume the hell out of those girls, extinguishing their hope to ashes.

Yeah, maybe I’m not engaged yet to Kalim. But as soon as he heard of the rumours circling around how perfect I am to be fitted with this ring, I think he will soon. And for now, let's just wait patiently before I make it into a reality, huh?