Chapter 21| The Feast

A rack of dresses was hung infront of me. On the other side were bright colors, and on the other were a collection of dark shades. The maids looked at me expectantly, patiently waiting for me to finally pick one, but it was hard.

The majority of the dresses had deep cleavage, which I did not like. I scanned my eyes throughout the rack but I can't just pick one. It was hard. I did not want to wear something revealing, but it seemed that it was impossible to do so due to the style of the dresses that this kingdom have.

A pair of arms snaked around my waist and I tilted my head to see Julian, gazing at me intensely with his mesmerizing amber eyes. I always get lost in its depth, but every time I reach for the surface, it's just impossible. It was as if they were holding you captive just by a single look.

"What's that matter, my queen?" Julian asked in a gentle, deep voice. My cheeks burned due to the fact that Julian called me his queen, and on top of that, a few people witnessed our interaction. I swatted his arms playfully as I leaned back to him. Suddenly, he took my hand and put a ring on my finger. It was beautiful, a blue crystal was sitting on top of it. I gasped.

"Wha-"

He stopped me. "Shhhhh. That is for you because you are the only woman I intend to have on my life. Now, what is the matter?"

I decided to let it go for a moment. "I can't choose between the dresses. They..." I shifted my eyes to the dresses before groaning, "They just show a lot of cleavage, and I don't want to show a lot of skin,"

I then swept my gaze over to the maids who had their eyes downcast. I smiled apologetically at them. " Do you have any dresses that does not show a lot of cleavage?"

It was their turn to smile apologetically at me. A woman with greying hair and dark eyes stepped up. She bowed her head before replying, " I am afraid that we do not have any, your highness. These all the ones with the finest silk of all Risalam,"

I just nodded in response I sighed. This was taking forever to choose. If I had known that this was the case, I should have bought my dresses with me. Although it was an insult as Royal guests were required to wear the finest clothes this kingdom has to offer.

"Take out the ones with the least cleavage," I said in a soft manner. The maids started to retrieve the dresses that showed least cleavage and hung them on a different rack.

"That one," Julian, who had been silent for the entire time, suddenly spoke up. He pointed to a red dress that was hung with the rack. The maids held it in their hands and showed it to me. It was beautiful, but I don't know if it looked beautiful on me. "Are you sure, Julian?"

"Yes," he smirked at me before he went to the bed and sat there. He was propped up with his elbows, as he peered over to me with a dark, intense look. I gulped.

The maids dressed me in the dress and when I turned around to look at my reflection in the mirror, I was shocked. The maids truly did a good job with my features. My hair was groomed in a low bun, jewelry was draped on my head as it's crystal hung on my forehead and my makeup was done perfectly. It was natural.

And the dress, oh god the dress. I thought it showed a little cleavage, but I was wrong. It showed a lot. My smooth back was completely exposed, due to the 2 strips of fabric that covered my breasts which went on over my shoulders and to my back. Those two strips were the only ones that were used for the dress to hang to my body. The dress flew in waves of crimson, which reminded me of blood.

Behind me, Julian released a deep groan as he stood up and went to me. He took in my appearance. He closed his eyes for a moment before pulling me flush against his chest. Tingles erupted and my body released a toe-curling sensation.

"You look delicious," he said. Heat shot up straight to my core as I processed what he said. Did he call me delicious? Oh. He inhaled my scent before releasing another deep, guttural groan. He started to place kisses on my neck, which caused me to close my eyes in pleasure and unconsciously tilt my head to give him better access.

He started to suck on a certain spot between my shoulder and neck, but wherever it was, it was giving me intense pleasure. I stifled in a moan.

"J-Julian..." I panted. "We will...Aahhhh... W-We will be late,"

He withdrew from me and smirked. "That way, everyone will know that you are mine,"

I was confused but when I faced the mirror, I was mortified. There, sitting on the area where my neck and shoulder met, was an angry, red bruise. I gasped while I watched Julian with eyes as large as saucers.

"H-How dare you!" I spat out, feeling angry with him. I tried to rub it, but it just wouldn't go away. He just chuckled. "Come. We are late for the Feast,"

When we arrived at the hall where the feast was held, everyone stopped what they were doing to look at us. It was quiet, and I could feel their burning gazes on me, or was it Julian? Alot of people graced the hall, all dressed in bright colors. Music was booming, and entertainers danced at the center. It was lively.

"Ah, the couple finally graced us with their presence," a smiling Cavill stood up from his throne and immediately looked at us, or more specifically, me and the red bruise on my neck.

We approached him. Julian and him shared a brotherly hug, while he bowed at me. I curtsied back to him and I was aware of my cleavage, so I decided to hasten my moves and stand back up.

"I am glad that you could make it," Cavill said.

Julian just chuckled before he looked at me with a glint in his eye. "I was just caught up in... some things with my wife," he turned to me. "Right, Aurora?"

I flushed when I suddenly realized what he was referring to. The bruise on my neck! Darn him. I cleared my throat as I looked at the two gentlemen who were staring at me expectantly.

"Y-Yes. Some... Things caught in the way that's why we are late. I sincerely apologize, Cavill."

He just shrugged it off. "Of course, but to make up for it, I'm afraid that you owe me a dance,"

Julian stepped in our conversation, effectively saving me from Cavill. "And I'm afraid that I must dance with my wife first," he had a tone that held no room for argument.

"Yes, if you may, seize the dance floor, my friend." Cavill joked before walking away.

Julian and I started dancing, and my emotions were going haywire. All I could feel where his warm hands on my bare back as he spun me around. I felt the weight of the stares the people were giving us, and it was uncomfortable.

"What is the matter?" Julian asked. He seemed to notice my uneasiness.

I replied."They are looking at us."

His eyes scanned the room before settling back to my blue ones. He just smiled and stole a kiss from me.

"They are staring at you, you're too beautiful, that's why."

I scrunched my brows. Was he for real? We kept dancing, him twirling me around and my emotions going haywire once again.

"Too bad, you are already mine so all they can do is stare at you, admire you from afar, wishing that you were theirs. But guess what?" he whispered huskily on my ear.

"What?"

"I won't let them have you, even if it's the last thing I'll do."

The music stopped and we too. I just kept staring at his Amber eyes, it's intensity urging me to look even deeper and uncover his secrets at the same time. He crashed his lips to mine, and sparks erupted. He kissed me long and deep, and when I was having the need to breathe, he pulled back. I gasped.

I looked around to see the people in the room staring at us, and I immediately felt knots on my stomach. Good lord. They applauded and we walked off, but unfortunately, Cavill was waiting for us, for me specifically, to claim the dance I owe to him.

"It's my turn to steal your wife," he told Julian. Julian looked at me and asked me with his eyes if It was okay for me to dance with him. I held his hand and squeezed it before smiling at him.

He walked off, leaving me with a grinning Cavill. I sighed. Let's get this over with. The music started and we started to dance, but his cold hands on my bare skin were unnerving. I felt uncomfortable. It was different from Julian's warm ones.

"By the looks of it, Julian really did a number on you," Cavill commented, staring at the red bruise that graced my neck.

I wanted to roll my eyes but I did not want to look disrespectful. I did not answer, mainly because I did not know what to reply. My eyes kept wandering where Julian might be, and it zeroed on him dancing with Karill. My hands that were on Cavill's shoulders tightened as I continued looking at them. But then, I tried to reason with my self. They were only dancing, so why stress myself? I let my eyes linger on them for a moment. Karill threw her head back and laughed at what Julian said, while he also had a smile on his features. I narrowed my eyes.

"Jealous, I see?"

My eyes diverted to Cavill. He was grinning, as usual, and he had a smug look on his face.

"Why would I be? They are just dancing... And talking," I countered back. I looked at them again to see Karill whisper something to Julian, which resulted in him laughing. What were they talking about? I frowned.

Cavill shook his head as he spun me around. I looked back to his face to see him smirking at me. I furrowed my brows, causing my frown to deepen even more.

"In my eyes, it looks like they are leaving," Cavill whispered in my ear. I quickly turned around, almost giving me a whip-lash. Julian was leading a giggling Karill out of the room. What are they up to? My heartbeat drummed in my ears, and I was tempted to go after them, but I needed to finish this dance first. Leaving the king for other matters is seen as disrespectful.

"What is your sister up to?" I hissed at him, not caring whether I sounded as rude. I wanted answers.

He just clicked his tongue but did not comment. The music gradually halted and I wasted no time to get out of there, to chases after Julian and that Karilla.

Her giggles were everywhere, but I calmed and convinced my self that they were just having a friendly chat.

I searched for them, but it was impossible to find them. Just when I thought I would give up, I heard a faint talking outside. I decided to hide my self and listen to their talking.

"Julian... We shouldn't do this," I heard Karilla say in a hushed voice. What were they doing? My heart hammered in my chest.

Julian's voice followed soon after. It was louder. "I don't care,"

I gulped when I heard that. I heard some shufflings, and I thought that enough was enough so I walked out of my hiding place just in time to see Julian pushing Karilla to a pillar and kissing her feverishly.

Tears burned my eyes and I held a mouth to my hand as I looked at Julian pin Karilla's hands on either side of her and continue to kiss the hell out of her.

Karilla moaned and kissed Julian back with the same intensity as Julian's. All I felt was Anger, Resentment, and Betrayal run through my veins right now.

I can't take it anymore. A sob escaped my lips and tears flowed out of my eyes freely. It was as if a million daggers puncturing my heart every second. They pulled away from each other, Karilla avoiding my eyes and Julian looking at me with shock in his eyes.

"How could you?" I whispered. Julian just kept looking at me, his hair disheveled and his lips swollen from his make-out session with Karilla.

I exhaled a breathe, feeling more tears come out of my eyes. "HOW COULD YOU?!" I screamed. I walked towards him and threw blind punches on his chest, but he did not even budge.

I felt betrayed. I felt Anger. I felt Pain. I felt it all. It was like a punch to the gut- it was worse. Cavill came running to the scene only to freeze when he saw my tear-streaked face and Julian's shocked ones.

"How could you do this to me?!" I screamed. Julian snapped out of his daze and held my arms before yanking it away from him.

"How could I?! Ask your self Aurora. You won't even give your self to me, so don't you wonder why I chose Karill over-"

His sentence was cut off when I slapped him. I slapped him tight in the face, causing his head to jerk to the side, a red palm imprint appearing on the area where I slapped him.

"You ask me about why I won't give my body to you, then there you have it. You don't deserve my love or even my body, my temple. So do not use that against me," I gritted out. More tears came spilling out of my eyes. Julian turned to me with wide eyes before he registered what he just said in front of me, Karill, and Cavill.

"A-Aurora. I'm sorry... I-I didn't mean it..." he held my arms and kneeled in front of me, asking for my forgiveness. I hear Karilla gasp and Cavill too. It was rare to find a man with great power down on his knees, asking for the forgiveness of a woman.

I snatched my arms away from him and I hastily took off the ring that he gave me earlier and threw it at him. He caught it and attempted to put it back in me, but it was too late because I stormed out, sobbing.

He failed me.

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