Chapter 12: I heard you've done it in places women could only imagine.

The threat to our Estate was defeated by the armies of Polaris led by Prince Jonah himself after a single day. Naturally, since we are in debt to his service, we have to grant his wish. And the wish he asked for was simply to have an audience with me. And though I have made it clear to our families that I do not wish to see him, I am still obliged to. Damien who's still injured badly is not happy with it, of course. Both our reputations are tarnished due to us being rescued, and the Prince he loathes was the one who saved us. On top of that, Jonah will be granted to see me.

I sat here, waiting at the pavilion for Jonah's arrival. He was supposed to arrive minutes ago.

"Hey," he says, tapping my shoulder. I turned to face him. He looked happy and uninjured. He even had a bouquet of flowers in hand and a warm smile. "I missed you," he said, pulling me into a hug.

I pulled away from him almost immediately. I gestured for him to sit, pouring him a cup of his favorite tea made of peach. "Please," I said, "Enjoy the snacks we have prepared for you."

"You didn't like the flowers?" he asked, "I thought you liked them."

It didn't matter if I did. What he's doing isn't out of respect for me. He's driven by the intensity of the feelings he has for me.

"I am married now, Jonah," he said, giving the bouquet to my lady, Hera. "Please, keep that in mind."

"You never responded to my letters," he said, "I was worried about you."

"I hadn't received any letter from you," I said, "Damien and I agreed it best if I no longer see you. This may be the last time we meet." I never received a single letter from him. Certainly, Damien has something to do with it.

"Don't tell me you have fallen for him already," he said, tilting his head. "Was he that good in bed that you're willing to forget everything he has done?"

I slapped him hard. The disrespect coming from his mouth was too much to bear. He knows me well enough to know that I will never forget the things that the Cross's have done to my family and the innocent. How dare he question me like this!

"You are no friend of mine," I said, "I thank you for coming to our rescue, Prince Jonah. I believe it is time for you to leave."

"Angelique, forgive me," he said, taking my hand, "I went too far."

"You went too far?" I withdrew my hand, "Jonah, I will never forget everything his family's done to many of our people just because he is good in bed! For you to question me is greatly insulting! Do you have any idea what it's like to be in my position? No, you don't! I have been in loneliness since I left my home. And just so you know, Damien hasn't even touched me since our wedding night! My husband has been canoodling with other women. He leaves early at dawn and returns in the dead of night. That is how I live now." I was angry. So angry. I wanted to hit Jonah.

He pulled me into his arms, planting a kiss on my head. I shouldn't have said what I said, but it's nice to finally say them to a friend.

"I apologize," he says, "I didn't mean the words I said. I must've said them due to my jealousy."

"I don't know how to do this with you, Jonah," I said with all honesty, "I am married to Damien who loathes you. I cannot see you knowing that you still have feelings for me."

"Angelique," he says.

I raised my hand, saying, "Don't try to deny it. I can see it in your eyes, as I know you can see it in mine. We cannot be friends knowing that we both love each other." Tears started flooding my eyes as I found myself trembling. Now that it's said, I am certain that this is the last time I will see him like this.

He held my hands, looking deep into my teary eyes. "I love you, Angelique of House White," he says, "But I do not wish to see you this way. If I am making your situation worse, I will leave. I apologize." He then says, "But I must ask you this. You had the chance to leave Damien to die; why didn't you?"

"I don't know," I said, "I told him it's because I didn't want our unborn child to not know his father."

"You're pregnant?" he asked.

I shook my head, "Not for certain."

He nodded, breathing heavily. A single tear dropped from the corner of his eye. "I shall bid you farewell, Princess Angelique," he says, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall. "I shall see you again when the time is right. When both of us have moved past this." With that said, he left.

Damien came in right after he left. "That was quick," he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Come on," he says, handing me a letter with my family's seal. "We're both summoned to the Capital. Your parents will meet us there."

I opened the letter.

Dear Angelique,

Word of the attempt on your lives had spread. We need to act on this as soon as possible. There will be a meeting held in Palace Cross where all allies will attend.

It has been more than a week since your marriage. I trust you will give us good news. A baby on the way perhaps? Let this be a reminder of what you were sent there to do. You must provide an heir to ensure peace between both families. If you fail to do that then your marriage has been for naught.

We shall see you soon.

Your mother,

Queen Coraline of White

I handed the letter back to him in disbelief. Of, course. My mother has no interest other than knowing if I am with child or not. This meeting will be a way of pressuring us into becoming parents.

"You read it, haven't you?" I said, "You read every letter that's addressed to me. Is that why I never received the letters Jonah claims to have sent me?" I hit him violently on his unhealed wound. "You treat me as though I am not here, fucking different women each night, and hide my letters! You dare to do all that?"

He pushed me back down on my seat much to my displeasure. "I thought we settled everything last night when you took care of me," he said.

"I wanted to start anew and perform our duties as Maidservant Rose and everyone else advised," I said, "But that was before I found out you've been keeping things from me! All of the things you've done so far are so unfair!" I sounded like a whining child, but I didn't care. I had to let him know how awful it was to be in my shoes. Perhaps it wouldn't make any difference, but it felt right to tell him.

"Fine," he groans, "I apologize for hiding your letters. But Jonah just wouldn't stop trying to persuade you to leave me. I couldn't risk it."

"You don't trust that I'll honor our marriage?" I growled.

He fought back, "How could I trust you? You and I are destined to kill each other!"

I sighed, sipping on my tea. This stress isn't good for either of us. I could see that he too was in distress. Perhaps I hit him too violently as his wound has reopened. "I'm sorry," I said, applying pressure on his wound with a clean cloth.

"You apologize a lot," he said, holding my wrist. "To tell you the truth, you're not what I had expected. When I was told we were to marry, I thought I'd be marrying a cruel and heartless woman. You're nothing like that."

"I am, actually," I said, "To tell you the truth, I am much worse than you expected. Not only am I a cruel and heartless woman, but I'm also merciless. I was taught to be that way by my family. Every Queen born into our family is stronger than any King there was. The reason for that is our ruthlessness and our ability to make people fear us. If you think that I am "nice" you must think again. Perhaps I'm only being "nice" so I may continue fooling you."

He didn't utter a word. Instead, he just stared at me as though I was a puzzle to be solved.

"Everyone says that I must win your heart," I continued, "Winning your heart is the hardest thing. I know that's something I'll fail at. Even after studying the books, my family gave me, I know that winning your heart is nearly impossible. I won't even try."

He held my chin, making me meet his gaze. Sighing, he said, "You won't try?"

"I told you yesterday that I choose my battles; that's how I win," I say, "It's obvious that you will never fall in love with me just as I will never fall in love with you. So, why must I try? You yourself said that there will be no love in this marriage."

"That's true," he said, "So what do you plan to do? I know you already have a plan."

"I want you to put a baby inside me as soon as you can," I said, holding his hand. "When you fell asleep last night, I've read all the books. I understand now... We agreed that this—having sex—isn't a chore to be done. But unfortunately, for you and I, it is one." Blushing, I stood from my seat and walked over to him. Sitting on his lap, I said, "I understand my duty requires me to please you... That, I will try to do..."

"What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes staring at my lips.

"I will try to please you so that we may finally have a child," I said, closing my eyes. "Just... try your best to plant your seed in me. You don't have to worry about giving me pleasure; just do what needs to be done." I felt his hot breath brushing against my skin before he finally closed the gap between our lips. His tongue was hot and ready to fight for dominance. As I let him take the lead, I felt his hands roaming around my body.

"Princess," he whispers into my ear, "I appreciate your determination, but I cannot fulfill my duties if my partner isn't as satisfied as I am."

"What?" I pulled away.

"It means," he says, undoing his pants. "That I will make you feel heaven on earth every single time." Lifting my skirt, he guided himself to my entrance. A moan escaped my lips, feeling the tip of his manhood against my skin. I closed my eyes, allowing him entrance. I moaned, feeling every inch of him. Unlike the first time, I didn't feel pain but pleasure.

"Are you sure you wish to do it here in the garden?" he asked naughtily, guiding me up and down his shaft.

Panting, I said, "Too late to be ashamed now, Prince Damien. I heard you've done it in places women could only imagine."

He chuckled, burrowing his face into my chest. I could feel myself moving to the natural rhythm of our hearts even without his guidance.

"Damn," he says, "I never imagined you could move like that." I jumped harder and faster, trying my best to pleasure him. I could feel his breathing becoming more and more heavy, and his face turning blushed. He lifted me up, catching me off guard. "One thing you should know, Princess," he says, laying me down on the floor, "Is that gravity requires you to be beneath me if we intend to create a child." I trusted harder and faster, planting kisses on my neck. I could feel myself coiling around him, a sign that I was almost reaching my climax.

"I'm almost there," he says in between breaths, thrusting more roughly. His moans were like music—the type I never thought I'd ever enjoy listening to. By the time we reached our high, we were both panting and trembling. He fell on top of me, letting all his seed penetrate.

Unconsciously, my arms seemed to have wrapped themselves around him. At the same time, his face seems to burry itself on my shoulder. For a while, we just stayed like that in silence.

"Did I please you?" I asked, tracing my fingers on his back.

He got off, putting his pants on. He lay beside me, still breathing heavily. Looking at me, he said, "Yes. If we keep at it, then we're sure to have a baby before the year ends." He helped me up, carrying me like a baby.

"What are you doing?" I gasped.

"Taking you to bed," he says as he walks, ignoring all the servants. "Didn't your mother say "let this be a reminder of what you were sent there to do?" This is just us doing it." He smiled, planting a kiss on my forehead. It was warm and dare I say sweet. Something I never expected from him.

"So what do you say, Princess?" he asked, "We've got enough time before we need to leave."

Smiling equally as wicked as his, I nodded. "If it pleases you."