-Emelia’s POV-
After the music ended Red and I parted from the floor. I smiled and he did the same. He was nicer than I’d expected. My brother left with his new bride as the next song began. Sir Val still stood where I last saw him. I walked up close to him and asked if a dance would be something he would be interested in. He seemed reluctant to accept.
But he still walked forward toward the center of the dancing. He turned back and slightly reached his hand from his side as a sign of agreement.
I walked toward him and the dancing started. But I wasn’t with him yet, I walked through the people and stumbled a bit into his arms.
Val: “Are you alright, Princess.?”
I laughed it off and grasped his hand and shoulder.
Our bodies were close together just barely touching.
I think this was the most willing he’s been to be against me.
We swung around the floor and went with the music.
His scent was quite fresh and masculine.
He looked down at my unfocused face, which stared at his chest. He breathed out an unsteady breath.
His hand gripped mine tighter and his hand went slightly more around my waist.
My chest was firm against his, our lungs were in sync.
The music ended too quickly. I didn’t realize it was over till his hands left me and our bodies parted.
We stood there on the cobblestone dance floor.
Sir Val: “Thank you for the dance, Princess. But...”
I asked a question.
My head was slightly down. No one was paying attention to us.
Emelia: “Um, Sir Val, could I speak to you for a minute in private?”
I looked up to see and hear his reply.
His eyes showed worry, confusion, wonder, and every other type of foreshadowed expression someone could have when not knowing what will come.
He shook his head and I grasped his hand tightly as we walked out of the event.
—————-
The two were in the greenhouse where they first met.
The humid and heavy air of the room caused the two to breathe with a bit more force. The smell of her perfume and the natural scent of his pheromones dispersed quite well in the enclosed room. Both their senses couldn’t get enough of their opposite’s smell. She was always quite confident and forward. However, she was never so forward as to push herself against him for a kiss.
He was surprised and pulled away after a moment. Her hands didn’t leave his chest. And her eyes couldn’t leave his.
She noticed a little bit of lilac color linger in and out of the center of his eye as he spoke.
Val: “We can’t, we...”
His hands clasped her arms as if about to push back. However, they only tightened.
Their lips couldn’t help but inch closer and closer together. Their breaths, the sounds, and the heat kept provoking the desire. His nose slightly brushed past hers with an open heavily breathing mouth so close to hers, he couldn’t control himself.
The sweet lips of the girl in front of him were so luscious and savory. His hands fell to her sides. His eyes opened and closed as his breath let out a hot flow upon her lips. One could see on his face the inner turmoil, the agony. He felt as if he destroyed her chances of true realistic prospects, almost as if he stole her chastity by only kissing her. But even with such inner torment, his lips didn’t want to leave. Only inches away was as far as he could stand to venture, before thirsting for more.
His hands-on her waist began to tighten and pull her closer.
The scent from him made an impression with every one of her breaths. A protective and intimidating scent she’s never detected from another man. Was it the powerful blood of a long royal lineage of demons that ran through his veins? Was it just his natural pheromones? Either way, this primal scent was working in luring a female.
Neither wanted to hesitate but hesitation was present and within a short moment Sir Val came to his senses. He took a deep breath, trying to inhale something other than her perfume.
He ran his hands through his hair about halfway and stopped. His body was crouching as he relived the devilish temptation that he gave into. He stood quickly and turned the other way walking down slightly before turning back.
His dark violet eyes stared at her as he spoke.
Val: ”Princess, as I’ve said you can’t do that, it’s..”
Emelia: ”I can’t? You kissed me just as much as I did you.”
Val: “If you hadn’t provoked me, I...”
Emelia: “Provoked, am I poking a bear. All I did was kiss you. I’m sorry if I felt content sharing this precious memory with you.”
Val: “Princess provoking a bear would be child’s play, in this situation. I’ve...”
Emelia: “Do you not like me, is that it? Do I annoy you so much...?”
Val looked down at Emelia who seemed hurt, he spoke with a less aggressive tone.
Val: “Princess we just can’t be together...”
Emelia: “Why, why can’t we? This entire time, you have been the only one to comment on my actions. My parents aren't against our contact, they only wish for us to be happy, and the common people don’t care who we marry or choose to love. I’ve been raised to express myself, and how I feel. You have been the first and only person to truly say I couldn’t.”
She sounded as though she was pleading with him.
Emelia: “Why, why do you keep saying no.”
He took a deep breath and breathed out just as deeply. A swallow in his throat hinted at a bit of tension.
He showed no compassion now. His expression and tone matched when they first met within the greenhouse.
Val: “Princess. It seems we are more alike than I thought. We both have morals we must uphold. Your father and mother may have raised you with lacking self-respect since neither has been royalty when their lives were impressionable. They still have a lax and common demeanor that no high form of nobility has. I on the other hand was raised since birth to have a noble attitude.”
His mouth twitched at the edge.
Sir Val: “Of course, I can’t say I’m royalty but my parents were, my mother, made sure that even if I wasn’t going to be king I was going to have an aura that presented as if I was.”
He got closer, their eyes a few inches apart. A slight bit of cracking made its way into his deep voice when he continued.
Sir Val: “She raised me to see a lady especially those of noble standing as individuals that must be protected and kept pure. This means allowing yourself to be so close, to casually touch, kiss, and rub against me isn’t proper. The way you climbed onto my back and pressed your body against mine as if we were lovers wasn’t something a princess should ever do for anyone other than her husband.”
Emelia stepped back slightly and continued to match his gaze. Her hands formed tight fists.
Emelia: “You enjoyed my company, you liked how I helped you that night. It’s not like we did anything untoward.”
He continued to get closer. His tone went back to an unemotional one.
Sir Val: “Any man would enjoy such pleasantries, you're lucky it was I who you chose to do that too. I have enough honor to treat that moment as innocence, Princess...”
Emelia almost screamed out. Her tone was almost sad.
Emelia: “Stop calling me that, please. I have a name. I would have hoped by now you’d at least lose the title.”
Sir Val: “Princess... Emelia, it seems you have been spoiled too much, you must realize that your standing is insurmountable compared to mine and because of that, it isn’t right for us to be together.”
Emelia: “Why do you keep saying that? I don’t understand why it’s so important to you..”
Sir Val: “Because... You are a princess. Don’t you understand, all I am is a knight. Standards, standards must be kept. As I’ve said, a lady such as yourself should marry those closer to your rank.”
Emelia: “But you are the previous Demon King’s son, you could have been a Demon...”
His voice became harsher and a bit of that lilac colors grow within his eyes.
His face got closer as he spoke to her.
Sir Val: “Don’t bring up my family, I don’t wish to hear it. Everyone I have ever met thus far, besides your brother has said those words to me.”
He spoke mockingly.
Sir Val: “Oh, you're the rightful king, your lineage shouldn’t be challenged.”
His turn reverted to what it was before.
Sir Val: “No one ever thinks how insufferable it is to be compared to a man I don’t remember, who was never faithful to my mother, and who was a tyrant...”
His tone lessened in strength and a bit of emotion broke out here and there.
Sir Val: “So I apologize Emelia for treating you like a Princess of the Empire should be treated. For trying to protect you, and teach you that a lady of your standing must never let herself be swayed by some random man she finds interesting.”
The amethyst color within his eyes faded quickly and he backed off slightly from Emelia.
A bit of silence fell after he spoke. Emelia looked down, as she gripped her dress tightly with her hands. Her eye seemed tearful as she turned to him and spoke.
Emelia: “You're not some random man, your a trustable friend of my brother and I know you're not going to use me, cheat on me, or hurt me. The reason I kissed you was that I really like you, your resistance only makes me want you more, and every time you compliment me or look at me I feel like the most desirable person in the world.”
He rubbed his head and sighed.
Sir Val: “It seems I’ve allowed this to go on for too long.”
He walked past her almost as though he was leaving but stopped and spoke with a bit more understanding.
Sir Val: “I can’t allow this to go on any further, Princess. I’m done. When His Highness is ready to leave for the capital, I’m going with him. I’ll be glad to not have this constant strain on my mind.”
She turned to him still holding her dress, her eyes on him.
Emelia: “Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted you, leaving a lady he was so desperately trying to protect, for the past three months... Yo.. you're a coward, Sir Val.”
He clenched his fists and was about to walk out.
He looked at the ground till something clicked in his mind he looked forward quite determined.
He turned covering her eyes with his hand and kissed her lips.
He pulled away and continued to hold his hand up.
Sir Val: “Think of this as your first kiss. Imagine it however you like, Princess. Just keep your eyes closed, so a coward like me won’t tarnish the memory. I apologize for this, but as you said, it’s my duty to protect you. I do hope you find happiness, though sadly, I can’t say it’ll be with me.”
He left out the door.
As he shut it behind him Red walked up just in time.
Red: “Hey Val, what's...”
Sir Val: “Leave me alone Red, I can’t deal with you bullsh*t right now..”
Just as he was left alone and thinking what Val’s problem was, Emelia came from the greenhouse. Red turned to her and spoke.
Red: “Hello, My Lady, What...?”
She quickly left him without a word or glance.
Red: “Does everyone think I’m annoying or are those two just venting.?”
———-
To be continued
If you enjoyed this or are interested in the full story, check out A Demon Lords Obsession. This part of the story started on chapter 194.
