Blake's kiss was strong and provoking, plus with the feelings urging inside of me I had no recurse to fight back and I found myself responding to his kiss. Slanting my lips matching his pace, until we both had to pull away breathless.
Gasping I rested my head on his shoulder and I felt his hand move from my cheek to the back of my neck holding me there, as we regained our breath. Finally when I regained my strength I lifted my neck and met Blake's dark brown eyes that were practically smoldering with affection.
"What was that?"
"That was a test run of things."
"Things?"
Blake grinned at me "just making sure we are compatible."
My mouth dropped open "you're joking?"
"No and that reminds me since you gave me permission to call you Allura, you should call me Blake, since we are to be married in two weeks."
"Two weeks?"
"You said as soon as possible. That is the soonest the palace can prepare for a royal wedding, and besides you should meet the people before you become their crown princess."
"Crown princess."
Blake raised an eyebrow "you realized I was heir to throne, right? Or did the kiss just throw you off that much?"
I felt my face heat up and I pulled away from him smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles in my dress. "We should return inside. It's not appropriate for us to be out here all alone."
"Don't worry as the future crown princess you've had a guard assigned specifically to you from the moment you arrived." Blake gently placed his hands on my shoulders and guided me to look around him, at the back entrance into the palace. Sure enough there were two guards there, trying to look inconspicuous. One presumably to watch over Blake and the other for me."
"Well that's thoughtful of you" I said my voice tight.
"Once again just trying to be chivalrous" he held out his arm and tucked my hand in as he lead me towards the back entrance "I am sorry for distressing you."
"Well we are to be married so I am sure you will distress me more over the years" I teased.
He smiled at me "As long as you do the same in return I will be happy." Then surprisingly hesitant he asked "may I escort you back to your room?"
"Of course." We meandered back through the palace in comfortable silence until we arrived at my room, where Blake bid me goodnight before taking his leave.
I entered the room to find not only my maid standing there, but also a trembling High Chancellor.
Shutting the door softly behind me I walked in before standing at attention "is the mission preserved?" The High Chancellor asked through gritted teeth."
"Yes the wedding will happen in two weeks."
The High Chancellor let out a sigh of relief before clearing his throat, as if it was a mistake to let his guard down in front of me "don't let this happen again." Then he turned and exited the room through the drawing room that was attached to my bedroom.
However, as the maid was still in the room I didn't dare let my guard down until after she had undone the corset strings. At that point she backed up and left the room, knowing full well I could take care of myself. My personal sigh of relief escaped as I pulled off the tight dress, and slipped on the loose fitting night clothes, before climbing into the luxurious bed.
I lay on top of the covers for a bit and resisted the urge to laugh at the High Chancellor's attempt to redirect the frustrations of tonight's dinner on me, when really he was the fool who had pushed Blake and his father, when they clearly were uncomfortable.
Stupid, stupid, I thought about the High Chancellor, as I lay there, on the bed, basking in the brief moment of solitude, before my anxiety took over and I sat up straight.
The High Chancellor was thickheaded, kiss up, sure, but he wasn't stupid. King Balor wouldn't have let him come otherwise.So what was his game?
Why did he push his luck?