"Sit down, Raymond, Zelda" Lillian said, showing the large empty couch to the left side of her.
Lillian sat down. The others immediately followed her actions. Ray made sure Zelda was comfortable before he sat down beside her, resting an arm around her waist. He was especially touchy around her family to comfort her. To remind her of his presence.
The queen turned towards the old butler and said "Go ahead, Albert. Prepare some tea for my grandson and granddaughter-in-law "
Albert bowed his head and went to the teapot on the table. After making some warm fragrant tea, Albert went back to his position. The queen looked at Madam Hales. Madam Hales left the room after ushering the maids and the butler out before closing the door. They respectfully bowed and left the room in silence.
" Your majesty—" the older man who sat far away from the queen's place tried to say something.
" It can wait, Mr. Barclay" the queen glanced at the man with a sharp look on her face. The man looked unconvinced but had to shut his mouth after the order from the highest authority.
Zelda raised a brow at his actions but didn’t comment on it. Her teenage self would have, given the history she and her uncle shared but she was done. Done with this man and this family.
Her mother, Evelyn, and her father, Oliver, had concerned looks on their faces. Her mother was the opposite of her. She was a gentle, sweet woman who could be easily manipulated by anyone. She was once a beauty with hazel eyes and brown hair, now turning white but intense care was making sure she looks younger than her age.
Her father, Oliver Barclay, was the head of the family despite being the youngest child in the house. He was a stereotypical man with stereotypical thoughts trying to understand the new innovative thoughts and ideas in the new era. She and her father inherited their emerald eyes from his father and his hair half turned gray from dark blonde.
" Hello mother, father! " Zelda offered a polite smile to her parents. It wasn’t as bright as when the queen welcomed her or when she told her majesty that Ray was taking care of her. It was too distant. The one that she gives to strangers.
Madame Barclay smiled somewhat awkwardly," good to see you, dear " Although there was longing in her tone, their presence there overshadowed everything.
Queen Lillian observed the whole exchange and sighed internally in disappointment at the Barclay family. She turned her attention to her grandchildren. The Barclays straightened in their seats while future rulers continued being relaxed.
" What happened last night, dear?” the queen asked Zelda. There was no interrogative look or tone in her voice.
Zelda directly noticed the disappointed look of Lillian knowing she felt that way towards her parents, not her. She smiled softly and Lilian understood what she was trying to convey.
" I apologize for distressing you, Grandma" The crimson haired felt a bit guilty. "Last night I went out in disguise with one of my female bodyguards named Lilly. Because of working nonstop for today's show, I couldn't take a break. Last night I got some for myself”
All of them started paying attention to her now, especially her uncle Owen, Oliver's elder brother. After all, they came here to apologize for Zelda's "reckless" behavior. The moment they received the news, they immediately contacted the queen's butler for " forgiveness ". Queen Lillian then invited them to have a" discussion ".
" I randomly commented the performance of a car and the racer heard that. They asked me to apologize to them and be their partners for the night”
Ray was controlling himself, his hand resting on her waist held her tight. Everyone noticed him getting angry, so, Zelda leaned more on him. She rested her hand on his knee, relaxing him to a certain extent.
" When we declined, they challenged us ", Zelda continued. "Lily decided to call the back up and I accepted the challenge. It’s as if they knew I wouldn’t back down from a challenge”
Owen interrupted with a worried expression at Zelda with a doubtful gaze “ Why did you go out late at night, Zelda? "
Electric blue eyes glared at the elder guy. Ray felt annoyed when he heard the question. Right from the start, he didn't like this person. At times, he hated him for various reasons.
He always brought his daughter along with him every time Ray showed up. He wanted his daughter Irene Barclay to tag along with Zelda every time she visited the palace.
He wouldn't have the title of Crown Prince if he couldn't see what Zelda's uncle was trying to do. Owen molded his daughter exactly the way he wanted as if trying to prove that he has the perfect daughter.
But there was a particular reason why he hated Zelda's uncle. When Zelda wanted to pursue her career in singing, he said something he shouldn't.
'Women in the entertainment industry are equal to a woman in a brothel. I believe she is not fit to be a queen.'
Ray almost killed this man on the spot, but Zelda was able to overcome his rage. The queen heavily criticized Owen and even banished him from entering the palace. This was actually the first time he actually entered the palace since then because of the urgency of the matter.
The thoughts of women empowerment, and working women in noble and royal families were still a bit new to them.
However, Queen Lillian was determined to change this society's norms. She openly showed her support for Zelda about her career choice by attending her first-ever concert.
" Because I wanted to, Uncle Owen," Zelda looked straight in his eyes giving her reply.
" But you should have gone to a better place" Oliver, Zelda's father, supported his elder brother but she didn’t look surprised or betrayed. He betrayed her long before she realized.
Ray's lips twitched in annoyance. His fiancé noticed it and tried to calm him down by petting his knee.
" Continue, dear," Lilian looked at Zelda in an encouraging look to complete her part of the story.
" The race was going all fine until I realized my disguise was going off." Only the royal family and very close people knew that royals could use magic. So, Zelda chose her words carefully.
She glanced at Ray before holding his hand tight as if trying to stop him from flipping out. Ray, who noticed, looked at Zelda to say something, but she opened her mouth first.
" And when I realized that the car was tampered "
The redhead held his hand tightly and thought that it was a good thing that she held him. Because his reaction was exactly as she expected. He almost stood up to go and find those bastards, but Zelda tugged his hand back.
Ray blinked his eyes, coming back to his senses from his blind anger and pain, listening to gasps from everyone. Except for the queen and madam Hales, everyone had a shocked expression.
" Oh lord! " Zelda's mother, Evelyn, was shocked.
" Don't worry, mother. I am alive ", Zelda said, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. The smile felt strange.
Receiving such a smile from her daughter, Evelyn didn't understand how to react.
When they heard the news of Zelda destroying the racetrack, their first reaction was to call the queen's assistant to beg for forgiveness.
They didn't even bother asking Zelda what happened exactly. They thought about handling this matter without informing her and later made her understand that as the future wife of the Crown Prince, it wouldn't be good for her to act as she wanted.
Evelyn guiltily at her daughter, who was explaining what happened next.
" Even though the car was tampered with, I could still control the situation. It was only after my disguise came off and I understood their plan, I destroyed the racetrack to make a scene and escape from there after Lily alerted the guards"
Silence. There was only silence after she explained the situation. Oliver Barclay and Evelyn Barclay were too guilty to even look at their daughter.
After the silence, Queen Lillian finally set the teacup aside, ready to talk. All of them raised their heads, watching the queen.
" This matter – "
" Let me handle this matter, grandmother" Ray hissed, suppressing the anger inside his heart.
" No one is more qualified than you to handle this issue, my dear," Lilian gave her permission knowing how grumpy her grandson would become if she left it to the Barclays. Moreover, she personally doesn’t believe the Barclays to handle this situation well. She gave them a chance a years ago and they horribly failed.
Ray calmed down a little bit after listening to that. Good. He could just handle the matter before the night and attend Zelda's show.
" Anything else, Mr. Barclay? "
Zelda was still maintaining the smile on her face. No matter how nonchalant Zelda acts about her family, he knows she’s hurt with their actions. They always cared more about her actions than her pride and safety.
" We......." Oliver spoke up. He couldn't even raise his head properly or look at his daughter. “Are sorry”
" She doesn't need it," Ray said coldly before taking her out of the room. Before stepping out of the room, Zelda turned her head back to see her parents in disappointment. Ray tugged her to leave the room.
The queen sighed after she watched her grandson taking her granddaughter-in-law away before sharply looking at the couple who were already feeling down.
"Why don’t you put more trust in your daughter before coming to any decision?” Her voice was calm but the authority was unquestionable.
Oliver and Evelyn felt even more ashamed. But they still think that she shouldn’t be going out at night and to top it off, she went to a car racing event.
" Celia, see the guests off " the queen stood up as the rest followed. She saw her trusted assistant waiting for her orders.
The Barclay family stood up and gave a respectful bow, waiting for the queen to take her leave.
Celia Hales, the queen's assistant, led them out of the study room.
The door was slammed shut after the crown prince dragged his lady towards his bed. He was so mad, but he couldn’t do anything.
How could this happen? How did he let this happen right under his nose? If there was a tiny mishap in Zelda’s plan, things could have gone so bad. Raymond could feel himself shaking in anger imagining the mishap consequences.
He left her hand and sat on the edge of the bed, lowering his head. Zelda looked at him with a hint of guilt and sadness in her eyes. More than anything, there was a regretful expression on her face. Regret that she didn’t tell him when he asked. Regret that she hid it from him. But she also knew that, if she revealed it to him when they were having their breakfast, he would have gone to kill those people the next moment. She knew it.
Ray didn’t say anything. He just bowed his head after they entered his room and sat on the edge of the bed. He didn’t say anything. Zelda raised her emerald green eyes and noticed him gripping onto the sheets tightly, his fingers turning paler with each second. He was trying his level best to control himself. To not flip out.
Zelda sighed, stepping towards him and standing in between his legs. She slowly placed her hands on his shoulders. Keeping her pace unhurried, she ran her hands down from his upper arms to his lower arms, steadily reaching his fists and gripping the sheets. Her slender soft fingers slowly rubbed his hands to let the sheets go.
Her hands did the magic. He was calming down. He was still fuming inside but with her in his arms, he didn’t feel like running and killing off those bastards. Zelda let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into her arms. Even with him sitting, he was reaching her face to face.
Raymond grumbled something incoherent under his breath before wrapping his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck, taking in her unique rose scent. A picture of the rose garden he made for her in the palace came into his mind.
“Ray…….” the pop singer whimpered, feeling his lips peppering kisses all over from her neck to her chest.
The Crown Prince grunted in annoyance feeling the denim jacket that had diamonds encrusted on front in the shape of a semi butterfly. He tugged the jacket and she shrugged it off, giving him all the access, he needed to have her. With a simple heave, he had her on the bed, her legs hanging down the bed. He kneeled on the one side of her waist, taking her shoes off before he straddled her balancing himself on his knees.
“You’re mine”, he looked straight into her eyes with all seriousness.
The crimson-haired woman smiled and replied “I’m yours”
The crown prince crashed his lips on to hers once the words left her lips in a throaty whisper. Moans and groans escaped from their consensual pleasure, eliciting desire in their bodies. He couldn’t control himself from punishing her for all her teasing and hiding the information.
He started kissing her roughly, biting her lips, nipping her while running his knuckles from the side of her neck to her breasts teasingly. Touching her yet not really touching her. He smiled into the kiss, listening to her almost groan at his torturing speed and phantom touch.
Zelda felt his smile and cursed him inwardly. That asshat! He was kissing her so passionately but ahhhh ……….. His phantom touch was driving her crazy. He suddenly pulled back from the kiss and continued his gentle yet teasing assault kisses on her jaw, his fingers moving from her neck and chest slowly.
The pop singer threw her head to the side in pleasure when he started licking her sweet spot.
“Ray!” she moaned, feeling his teeth gently grazing her sweet spot, feeling jolts of pleasure. “Ahhhhhh………”
Enjoying her moans, the prince gently bit on her sweet spot before kissing and lapping her there, enjoying her moans, her sweet scent of roses and their mixed body heat.
“Zel” he groaned, feeling her turning on even more and at her attempts to rub her body against his.
“Ray…..plea….please……. I can’t…….”
“I know” he hissed, continuing to kiss her from her neck and slowly going down.
Zelda continued running her fingers in his luscious ash-blonde hair, gripping from the roots and tugging at him every time she felt the jolts of pleasure.
Kissing her all over her neck, his lips slowly and torturously reached her bosom, the sweetheart-shaped neckline of her dress. He looked up at her, his electric blue eyes asking for permission. Zelda, breathing heavily, nodded her head in a yes, something he doesn’t need to ask but he still does it every time. This man would be the end of her. She sighed.
___________________________________________________________________
As a young prince, he saw the true faces of the people who wanted him to be on their side. They tried to manipulate him to get on the royal family’s trusted allies while mocking his young age, almost orphan status and his cold attitude. For some reason, he was able to understand the world a bit too soon. He tested people often. Due to that, he hardly had people whom he can call true friends. He only cared about genuine relations he had with people he trusted. That’s when he met Zelda. And for some reason, he always had to be assured that she wouldn’t leave him no matter what.
“You’ll never leave me” It was not a question but assurance on Ray’s side as he looked down at her, his arms around her naked shoulder.
“I’ll never leave you” Zelda confirmed, eyes filled with love and determination to be with this man forever and always.
Emerald and electric blue. He stretched out his hand, slowly touching her cheek, deeply staring into her eyes. He pulled her closer, her eyes closed softly, feeling his lips on her forehead in the softest peck.
“You should have told me, but I also get why didn’t” Ray pulled himself back a bit to see her again.
Zelda leaned more into his touch and said “I didn’t want you to run around as soon as you woke up. You just returned from a business trip that you rushed just to come back soon”
Ray frowned a little even when he felt his warming up with her care, “I’m not that tired or anything”
Zelda touched his hand that was on her cheek. “Yes, Yes, you are not. It’s just that--” Zelda raised herself a bit, hovering over him and kissing him on his forehead before continuing “I didn’t want you to leave me” and looking into his eyes.
Ray held her waist and pulled her down into his embrace. As long as she was safe, he would do anything. Despite saying that he wasn’t that tired, he was out like a light in a few minutes.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The sun continued rising until it reached half of its daily journey. Half-naked, in each other’s arms, the couple continued sleeping.
The modern room, with a hint of vintage, was luxurious but minimal according to the crown prince’s wishes. He decided not to decorate it much since he and Zelda would be moving into the king and queen’s wing after he takes over the throne.
Knock! Knock!
Raymond frowned and opened his eyes at the first knock. He looked down at Zelda in his arms before carefully leaving her on the pillow. He almost chuckled when she mumbled, looking for his pillow.
Knock! Knock!
He looked at his door again, getting off bed. Once he opened the door, he saw his grandmother’s trusted servant waiting for him.
Butler Albert was taken aback by his highness’s half-naked form. This was no big surprise for him though. The crown prince and Lady Barclay mostly spent nights together every time they stayed. Although rumors did start in the palace after they openly started sleeping in each other’s rooms in the palace after their engagement, they were quickly started shut down by her majesty. When they were in a relationship, they used to sneak into each other’s rooms.
Butler Albert sighed, understanding why the palace maids squeal whenever the prince is half-naked. Except for a few scars that he knew where exactly they came from, his body was well-sculptured and beautifully sun-kissed with all the physical training he does at the tower grounds.
“Good afternoon, your highness. The lunch hour is nearing. "Her Majesty sent me to remind you of your schedules”, the old servant replied to his prince.
“Thank you, Albert”, Ray addressed him in an official tone since there were other servants and guards. “Send the servants in a few minutes to help Zelda. I will wake her up in the meanwhile.”
“Yes, your highness”, the butler took a bow. He waited there until Ray closed the door.