Even.

Letharia's POV

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Aven ripped off the tassels on his skating attire, I silently walked with him I watched Aven grind his teeth. We finally approached his room, he immediately sat at the foot of his bed covering his face with his hands. He sniffled, and for the first time, I felt pity for Aven. I closed his door and remained frozen at his doorway. I became the first person to see Aven at his worse. I remember how I felt when my mother went missing. I approached him then sat on the bed next to him. "I'm sorry".

He looked up at me his eyes red "I would never treat you how my Father treated my Mother and I swear on my life I'll keep you safe".

"Aven, I can keep myself safe", I smiled.

He looked at me questionably "Darling if I can break your fingers and hurt you someone else definitely can".

"Don't ruin it. I actually had fun with you tonight".

"Really?", he raised a brow.

"I'm not repeating that. Thank you for catching me when I was about to fall."

"No problem, doll".

He took off his shirt "I'm going to take a shower and head to bed, the ball was a little chaotic".

I nodded, we stared at each other for a while before I dropped my gaze.

"Would you like to join me, Letharia?", he held his shirt in his hands.

"No", I looked up at him.

"Okay, well at least get ready for bed then".

He actually accepted my answer? How confusing.

I started to think about him, from the first time I met him till now, should I give him a chance?

Watching him skate made my heart skip a beat and the way he caught me as well.

The shower stopped running, and the door began to creak open. I started to approach the door. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair wet. He stared at me, I then began to take one dress strap off my shoulder.

I then wrapped my arms around his neck, I got ready to kiss him then he turned his head away.

"Are you sure you want this?"

"Mmm", I replied

I tried kissing him again he then turned his head "I need an actual answer, Letharia".

He turned assertive.

I finally found a chance to kiss him on his lips and I did it.

He leaned forward. I pulled away "Yes, that's my answer".

I tried to take the last strap off my dress.

"No, darling let me have the pleasure to undress you", he whispered in my ear.

I felt a tingling sensation throughout my body, I was not in love but I was lustful.

Aven's hands were warm on my body, it made me shiver a little.

He lifted my dress above my head. He lifted me up and threw me on his bed, he enjoyed every second of it.

It hurt tremendously but he held my hand.

He was so exhausted he had fallen asleep on my breasts.

I thought about pushing him off but with the day he's had it would seem cruel to punish a puppy who had lost its mother.

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Through my sleeping eyes, I had felt the sunlight peering through the window. I sat up. Aven was in his wardrobe looking for a belt.

He looked back at me "Morning".

"Morning".

"It's a little too early for you to be awake, are you sure you wouldn't like to go back to sleep?"

"It depends, where are you heading?"

"I have a meeting-"

"I'm going to sleep".

He chuckled "Alright then."

Before he left he looked at me "Thank you for holding me last night, I needed that".

He shut the door.

I sat in bed flabbergasted before my exhausted body went back into a dreamless slumber.

——————/

Jessi's POV

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I couldn't sleep all night. I thought about Illy, and what Nero would do with her. I opened my door and walked to the council hall. I saw Nero sitting in the head chair "Good Morning".

I ignored him and sat in my chair.

"Where did you place her for the night?"

"Say Good Morning and I'll tell you".

"....Morning, your majesty".

"Good, I had her sent to the servant's chambers".

"Why?", I asked in a solemn tone.

"Because if she is no longer married to Galloway she will go back to being a palace slave, and just before you think of anything insane only royal blood or permission by royal blood which I'm never going to approve can get married to a palace slave or servant or whatnot".

"My lord... please grant me permission".

"Only if you do what is asked Evander, I cannot stop Galloway if he wishes to get married to her".

I slammed my fists on the table "I will take your blood!"

"Jessi... really all this because of a palace slave".

"It's my fault, now she's going to marry someone who abuses her.... do you even understand".

He sighed "You know you're my favorite so prove yourself worthy in your endeavors then I'll give you my blood, behave yourself from now on".

"Yes, my lord", I sat down.

Aven walked in and sat in a chair with his arms crossed.

"You're late", I spoke

"Yes well, I was too busy banging your sister".

I seethed. Nero started laughing "That's a good excuse my son".

Aven took a seat " I want to know about my mother".

Nero stopped laughing "What about your whore of a mother?"

Aven stood up about to hit king Nero, I stood up and grabbed his fist "Out of my way", he clenched his teeth.

"No, listen to me Aven both of the people we love are at stake unless you obey him".

I pushed him away from Nero "She's my mother Jessi", Aven spoke.

"She is no whore, but my father makes her out to be! If she seeks favors from men who actually give her attention and love and if affection from such suitors such as Zane Vellis counts as treason then by all means call that treason, the only thing she did wrong was marrying you!"

Aven continued "As for you Evander, you are dead to me from now on, good luck getting your girlfriend back".

He brushed past my shoulder, "Stop in your tracks boy!", Nero yelled.

Aven stopped only to pull out a pocket watch then he simply smiled and walked away.

I sat back in my chair confused, their relationship was a strange one.

—————

Aven's POV

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I grabbed booze from the kitchen, I drank all throughout the palace halls, I spilled some on the red and golden rugs. I leaned against the white walls looking at the paintings of all the kings, I could feel my face turn red, I panted. I had a pill in my pocket that could turn me sober in a matter of seconds, I hated the feeling of despair and loneliness so I numbed what I could feel. I looked up at the portraits of former kings

"Why did I have to be born in this cursed monarchy?!", I screamed shattering the bottle of booze.

I drew the attention of palace slaves "My lord!", they shouted.

They tried to pick me up "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!", I screamed.

Why did I have to be born to a Father who never loved me and a Mother who tried so hard to make her husband love and accept her and her son? The servants had caused a commotion. I watched Letharia run to my aid, my fingers had been cut with glass, I never wanted her to see me at my weakest. She ripped a part of her dress and tied the cloth to my finger. She touched my forehead "You have a fever", she gently spoke.

Her voice had soothed me, I calmed my breathing. I touched her face with my bandaged hand, her beautiful green eyes had reflected concern and her white hair in a messy bun looked so elegant to me. Her soft round face felt soft to the touch.

"Let's go shall we?", she softly spoke.

I nodded she took my hand and escorted me back to my room. She lay me down on my bed, unbuttoning my shirt. She then had a maid bring her a rag and a bucket of water. She put a cold towel on my forehead and my eyes began to feel heavy. Before I went to sleep I remember mumbling something to her, my last sensation before slumber was her parting lips.