Marix laid her down on his luxuriously large bed. It looked like something out of a fantasy: dark wood four posters that led up to a sea of dark green canopy which floated down the sides for extra privacy.
Eilownia reached her arm out and slowly slid her palm along the bedding.
The dark champagne silk sheets were cool to the touch and felt like water gliding underneath them.
'This feels like a dream~ It's so soft and smooth~ And this bed? It feels like I'm laying on a cloud~! I've never felt anything so heavenly before~'
Marix climbed on top of her, his long dark purple hair slid over his shoulders as he ducked down and began to kiss along her jawline.
'O-Oh~? Except for that~'
She smiled and instinctively tilted her head to allow him better access to the spot on her neck he was giving special attention to.
'Yeah~ Except for that~'
His large, calloused hands slid down her sides, igniting a blaze behind them like freshly lit flint.
She let out a content sigh as her eyes fluttered shut.
In all of her life, she was sure she'd never felt so relaxed. His touch felt smoother and lighter than the bed did.
'Is this happiness? Is this love?'
Eilownia's mind reeled back to the novel she always read, the words that were practically part of her very DNA at this point, the way Lord Harris loved the princess…..the way she felt in his arms.
She let out a soft giggle, 'He must love me very very much to make me feel this way~'
"Are you amused? Are you enjoying yourself…..Whin?" Marix asked, his voice low and heavy with breath as he continued to trail his kisses down to her collarbone.
"Mhmm~ I like that~" Her breathing matched his as her heart rate had also picked up.
"This?" He went back up to her neck and nipped it, sending a shiver up her spine before he began to suck on it again.
"M-Mhmm~!"
Marix got up on his elbows and stared down at her reddened face, how breasts heaved with each ragged breath, her brown hair fanned out around her, and the way her body trembled ever-so-slightly.
"Good." He smirked as he gripped her hips and yanked her closer to him, eliciting a delighted laughing from deep within her stomach; a laugh that she hadn't known existed before now.
Eilownia wasn't sure how long they'd spent intertwined or when they'd stopped, but she did know for sure that everything that transpired between them felt better than....well she was sure it was better than the best thing out there.
For the first time, she felt safe, her body let down it's defenses and drifted off into a painless sleep. There were no splinters to poke her back, no warped, hard floorboards to make her limbs ache, no worries to be had, no cares to be given, no-
Wait!
She shot up with a gasp, her eyes snapping open. She grabbed her head which throbbed painfully. The cool morning air swept over her bare body and she quickly grabbed onto the sheet to shield herself.
Marix's room was quite dark, the curtains were drawn on the windows still.
What time was it? The maids! The maids would come to give her breakfast, she had to return home! She hadn't meant to stay out all night.
Eilownia frantically scrambled out of bed and searched for her dress which had been strewn aside in their passionate love making.
It was then that she noticed Marix standing in the corner, pulling on his shirt.
Her heart stopped a moment before it began to beat even faster than before, as if it had restarted itself.
A large smile spread across her face.
Maybe she didn't have to go home. They could get married and she could live with him and all would be well. She'd never have to go back ever again!
"Marix? I don't want to go home. I want to stay here with you. Would you consider it?"
She slowly approached him and could barely make out his face in the darkness.
"Of course, Little Flower. I would have it no other way than for you to stay here for the rest of your life."
Tears filled her eyes with happiness as relief washed over her.
"Thank you! THANK you! I can't wait to st-"
But she was cut off.
"GUARDS!"
Her eyes widened as 12 guards marched into the room, surrounding her, clad in full armor.
Marix moved to the windows and yanked the curtains open, causing her to squint against the sudden harsh light.
"G-Guards?" She questioned, staring around at them confused.
Two of them approached on either side of her and roughly grabbed onto her biceps.
"Wh-What's going on? Marix why are you calling the guards on me?"
Marix began to casually button up his shirt as he turned his back to them.
"Arrest her. Have her thrown into the dungeon and log her officially as a prisoner of Viraaz to be questioned as a fugitive spy of Sola." He commanded.
"Yes sir!" The guards said in unison as they began to drag her out of the room.
"Wait! Wait! Stop! What do you mean spy?! I'm not a spy! I promise!"
"Wait!" Marix yelled, holding his hand up in the air.
The guards stopped without hesitation, holding firmly onto their new prisoner.
Eilownia smiled. "Yes, let's wait! Just listen to me, okay? I promise, I've done no wrong!"
Marix waltzed over to the chair in the corner of his room and grabbed his jacket off it's back. He tossed it towards her which one of the guards caught.
"Ensure she is covered. Even if she's a prisoner, I'd prefer if rumors were not spread. Leave my sheets, I'll need them for when I sleep tonight."
"Yes sir!"
"Wait! I'm not a spy! I swear, I'm not! You have to believe me! I haven't done anything wrong! Marix please!"
They dragged her out of the room and her pleas and protests faded down the long hall as Marix continued to get ready, wincing a bit at all of the yelling.
Once he was done he grabbed his sword and headed out of the room, descending the stairs into the dining room.
The staff had already set up the long oak table with a fresh table cloth baring the Viraaz symbol. At the head of the table was a large, white, porcelain plate also engraved with the Viraaz symbol, next to cutlery and a cup of steaming coffee.
Various plates laid across the table; ones filled with grapes, sliced apples, citrus and various other fruits native to the kingdom, others had sausages of varying sizes and bacon slices, one held a large helping of scrambled eggs, and a basket full of steaming croissants.
There were also jugs of milk, orange juice and water available for his choosing.
Marix sat at the head of the table, a maid had already scurried to the chair and pulled it out for him.
Once he had sat down, another maid piled food onto his plate and offered him the drink choices, to which he shook his head.
Just as he had began to eat, his Lieutenant General, Briggs, entered the room.
"Sir." He greeted with a bow.
"What is it, Lieutenant Briggs?" Marix huffed as he twirled his fork in his eggs, eager to eat his meal.
"I came to discuss with you about our recent findings, but it appears to me that you caught the spy already. I thought I might as well update my information and greet you while I am here."
Marix pointed his fork towards one of the empty seats and nodded his head for the maids to start piling his plate.
Briggs' eyebrows shot up as a mischievous smile spread across his face. He practically skipped over to his chair and sat down, nudging Marix's arm.
"Nothing beats breakfast at the General's."
Marix rolled his eyes as he shoveled a forkful of eggs in his mouth.
"So, I hear this prisoner isn't just a prisoner, huh?" Briggs teased.
Marix shot him a death glare, but his teasing smile never faded.
"Don't spread any rumors now."
"General Marix, the known womanizer, seduces and captures a spy? Tara will love to hear this."
"Keep my business away from that gossiping wife of yours, that's an order." His voice was low and grumbly as he tore a piece of sausage in half with his teeth.
Briggs let out a laugh.
"Alright, alright. If word gets out, it didn't come from me. How did you know she was a spy anyways, General?"
"Her back was covered in scars. She's clearly a Solan. Unwed yet arrived without any escort. Had enough money on her to buy loads of wine. The scent of it was so strong you'd think she'd sprayed it like perfume. And wouldn't you know, she happens to fall into the arms of the General of Viraaz."
He explained casually and calculated, in between bites of his breakfast.
"Well, well. When will you interrogate her?"
"Later today, after I inform the King of her capture."