CORA

CHAPTER 7

LEON'S POV

It was morning already, waking up, I could perceive the wine I took last night and thoughts of yesternight came flashing back. Last night was a great one. I had fun at the towns wine house with Atlas, we made merry with other merchants and traders who were around. Some of them came to celebrate their successful purchase or sales while for the rest it was a normal ritual.

I and Atlas only came here once in a while and it was always fun. There were magicians who used the opportunity to display their tricks Na dancers who performed all for the entertainment, courtesans who wanted a rich merchant were also present. When I got home it was late i got to the room and there was Phoebe in her naked glory. It had been quite sometime since i enjoyed such s****l desires and it was the perfect time. We had s*x a couple of times and I dozed off.

When I woke up Phoebe was already gone. The tub was filled with water already and so I stepped into it. I felt relaxed the moment the water touched my skin.

"Can you be quick and get out of the water so we can head out"Atlas queried.

"Man, didn't even know when you came in" i said.

"You seemed pretty lost" Atlas said.

"I was lost indeed" I said.

"What troubles the heart of a strong man?" Atlas asked with a grin on his face.

"I am not troubled my friend" I corrected him.

"Could it be a woman" he asked.

"No woman has such power over me" I said

Atlas burst out laughing, he didn't believe what I said and I didn't believe myself either because I was thinking of a woman.

I did want to waste anymore time and so I rushed my bathe and got dressed and then we left. I and Atlas went through the market path, Atlas noticed a little commotion and drew my attention to it.

"Look something is going on over there" Atlas said pointing in the direction of the noise.

We quickly went over there. I saw some palace guards dragging an aged man and I was livid. The noises were too loud and no one noticed my presence, I tried to stop them but they didn't hear me and so the next sound I made drew all their eyes and attention to me.

"Stop!!!" I shouted.

The palace guards stood still and bowed before me.

"Why are you treating him like a thief?" I asked.

"He has failed to complete the p*****t of his tax Prince Leonidas" one of the palace guard answered.

"Please my Prince, I have giving them all I have and they say it is not enough, I have nothing left for my family and I" the aged man pleaded.

"Prince Leonidas I have given them all I have too, the constant increase in the tax is affecting us all" another woman amongst the crowd said.

"Yesss!!!" All the others shouted in agreement.

"We barely have anything left with us" another man said.

"Who ordered an increment in tax p*****t?" I asked one of the guards.

"The king did Your highness" he answered

I was angry again, my father was not being fair. He made the farmers bring most of their harvest during the harvesting season and still collect taxes from them. I turned to the people.

"I apologize on behalf of my father, and I promise no body will bother you over taxes or your harvest" I announced.

And they all cheered with joy, hugging each other. The old man who they had been humiliated came over to me and thanked me.

"You will make a great King" he said and then left

"But My prince" the guards tried to protest

"It is an order, leave here this minute" I ordered and they obeyed.

Atlas who witnessed everything looked worried.

"Your father won't be happy with this" he said.

"I don't care, and I have to speak to him this minute" I said as I walked faster not further but back to the palace.

Atlas tried to stop me but I was too fast and he could barely meet up. I got to the palace and went straight to the throne room, but he was not there.

He would be in his room, I thought

I rushed up to his room.I knocked on the door, but there was no response and so I opened it. And what I saw was what I least expected. There she was. She was just lost, she was lost admiring the portrait. She didn't know she had company. She kept looking and touching the portrait like she had not seen a portrait before. I watched her for a little while. The light raid from the window shun on her and it showed gave her skin a beautiful glow. The lilac gown she wore hung on to her body and it showed her perfect curves and round hips.

You could be flogged severely for being an inch close to that picture you know?" I said.

She was startled by my voice and almost lost her balance, i did mean to scare her. She turned to see who her company was and I was captured by her big hazel eyes. Those eyes dod not fail to keep me expecting and wanting. I heard her say something but it was not clear enough.

She was so beautiful, and her lovely brown hair obeyed the wind as they blew. She had me feeling differently. There was something about her that made me confused each time I see her and I didn't know why. She was captivating . The silence was getting awkward, I did not want her to think the prince of Winslow was a weakling.

"Are you the new maid?" I asked.

"Y... yes" she stuttered.

"Name?" I asked.

"Cora" she answered.

"Cora... Cora" i repeated the name and it was a beautiful name.

"The last time we saw, you seemed super excited" i added as I drew closer to where she stood with a grin on my face.

She tried to go back but then realized she had reached a dead end of the room and now i was just a breath away from her. I noticed she held her l breath, i was now close and I could feel her skin , the hairs on my body became alert. I could feel a stir in my lower region, the same I felt the first time I held her and the second time she hugged me, I could not get that out of my head. I felt like dragging her back to me, the feel of her against me kept taunting me even in my sleep.

"You wanted my attention and now you have it" i whispered as i caressed her cheek.

It felt like she tried to push me away, but stopped. She watched my every move and I kept my eyes on her. I circled my arms around her waist and she was pressed into my chest. I could feel her full breast through the fabric rubbing on my chest. As my face went to the side of her neck and I could feel her shiver. I noticed she had goosebumps on her skin.

Then i brought his face to face her like, her lips were tempting I wanted to taste them,I was drawn to them, our lips were just a breathe away and then there was a knock on the door and I came to my sense and she quickly freed herself from my embrace.

I remembered Atlas was probably still waiting for me outside. Cora had the power to make me forget. And so I walked to the door, when i got there, I turned to take one last look at her.

We weren't done, I would stop at nothing to entice her to my bed. I thought.

She gave me a shy look and then I smiled and left the room closing the door behind me. Orion was right outside the door.

"What is the problem" I asked.

"The king just got back from the woods, he went riding" Orion said.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"In the dining, and he asked me to send for you" he answered.

I rushed back to the dining hall and there he was. He was seated already at the dining and the cooks and maids were trying to arrange the meals properly.

I sat down opposite him. I felt really uncomfortable. I wanted to voice out what was eating me up.

"Father" I called out.

"I heard what you did at the market today" King Castor said.

"It is unfair and unjust to rob the villagers of their sweat" I said.

"You had no right to go against my orders" my father said angrily.

"I have every right especially when I know what you're doing is wrong" I shouted.

"Eat, we still have a lot to talk about" he said calmly.

I didn't feel like sharing the same space with him and was about to leave when Cora stepped into the dining hall with a tray of food. She was serving us too. I watched here intently and I could tell she noticed my gaze was on her. She tried to avoid my eyes and I noticed it. She gently placed the tray on the table and turned to leave. I watched every mood she made and I noticed the sway of her wide hips.

"You do realize she is just a maid" my father said

I didn't want to leave the dinning anymore. She might just return I thought.