Something to while away time

The night had gone by so fast and Alice sat on her bed with a foul mood.

"My Lady, you need to get dressed." her ladies-in-waiting said as they attempted to prep her up but she was in no mood, not when she was on bad terms with her sister.

Leon had cancelled their lessons with the governess for the day and when she had tried to go see her sister, the guards had said that she was not allowed and the king had placed a restricting order for Amie to stay there and ponder on her despicable acts.

She too had been asked to rest and get a hold on herself.

"What do I do for the day?" she turned to Naomi, one of her ladies-in-waiting, searching for an answer.

At least, if Leon had let her just go to the governess, even though her time with the woman was always boring, she wouldn't have to sit here feeling bad that she was at fault for provoking her sister.

"I don't know, My Lady. All the guests that you could spend time with have departed for their various homes." Naomi said with a sad face as she felt for her princess.

"My Lady, it's all Lady Brena's fault. You shouldn't blame yourself. Your sister decided to overreact." another one, Roshni said with an annoyed expression. "Now, she's gone back to her father's house and has left the problem to be dealt with by you." her resentment towards Brena could be heard in her voice but Alice ignored it all. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"My Lady, why don't you just get dressed first, then maybe we could help you decide what to do for the day," Naomi suggested, ignoring Roshni's words.

Alice sighed before she dropped the pillow and headed for the dresser where her maids took their time to get her properly dressed and prepared. Unlike yesterday, they wore her usual decent gown that was light blue with simple embroideries.

Alice's face turned red remembering how revealing her dress had been yesterday and how King Albert had commented on it.

She sighed with frustration. Was this usually how men commented on everything a lady wore? All the men she had ever come across always liked to voice out how they felt about her including Julian.

At the thought of Julian, her heart turned light knowing she no longer had to get married to him anymore.

However, that didn't reduce her anxiousness that he was planning something wicked and vicious. He wasn't the type to let things go without taking revenge. She just hoped he wouldn't harm her family.

And Lord Vitale? The man wasn't the type to be problematic but with Amie's odd behaviour, she knew Vitale was tired and frustrated with her sister.

She just hoped Amie hadn't tarnished her image yesterday by acting the way she did or she was certain Lord Nicholas would as well break off his son's betrothal to Princess Amie. The thought of that alone was embarrassing not just for her sister but for her.

It was different when the royal family member or the lady was the one to cut off the betrothal. When it was the man cutting off his betrothal to a princess, it was considered shameful.

"My Lady, your hair is done," Naomi said with a smile, bringing Alice back to reality.

Alice returned the smile and stared at her reflection in the mirror. "Oh my, Naomi. You sure outdid yourself today," she commented on how well she had styled her hair for her.

Her hair was braided into a bun to the back and the strand was left to fall at the sides of her face.

"Thank you, Naomi." she appreciated Naomi's work and the girl bowed. "It's my pleasure, My Lady."

Seeing Naomi and Roshni look at each other, Alice's eyes narrowed at the both of them. "What are you two planning?"

The two of them smiled at her before one spoke, "My Lady since you are not going to be doing anything today and the king has given you some liberty, why don't you read those books?" Naomi asked hopefully and Alice's eyes widened at her words before her cheeks turned red.

"What? No!" she shouted. How could she read those books? The last time she did, she was caught by her father and brother and it had been miserable for her. They were so disappointed in her. They even burnt the books.

"If Brother Leon finds out, I'll be in big trouble," she said and began to walk away but her ladies were prepared to persuade her.

"But my princess, you are now of age to know such things, aren't you? I'm sure the King won't find out anyway. We already have a plan.." the two looked at each other and Alice gave them a pointed look. "You both should not..."

"We already planted the books in the library without anyone knowing. You can go there and read one since no one is in the library. It would look like you only went to do some research!" Roshni told her and she opened her mouth at the girl, not expecting her to have made such a move.

"Roshni, do you understand the gravity of..."

"Of course, I do, my Lady. But you know..." she moved to the princess's side with dreamy eyes. "Sometimes, you just have to take time from life's stress and enjoy a good book. It's a lovely feeling."

"Those books are erotic!" she yelled at her.

"That's what makes it better, my princess!" she retorted and Alice looked over to Naomi who gave her a nod.

Alice folded her arms in disbelief as she stared at the two of them, "So you've been reading such books?" she figured out and frowned at them.

"You know what will happen if my brother finds out those books are still in the palace after he gave a stern warning!" she scolded them.

They were digging their graves by doing something ridiculous just to get some time of pleasure.

"But he didn't find out. We read them without anything to worry about. By the way, he just became king. Don't you think he has more important things to worry about than an erotic book? Come on, My Lady. Free yourself." Roshni and Naomi kept persuading her and even though she fought such a thought, she couldn't help but entertain the idea of reading such a book again.

"Fine but you'd better keep your promise," she said after they told her the plan.

The two nodded. "Yes, My Lady. We'd be watching from afar and if anyone trespasses into the library, We'd let you know," they told her and Alice though apprehensive initially finally strolled to the library where she had been directed to get the book.

Unlike before, the place was guarded and when the guards saw her, they bowed. "My princess, the king has restricted your move-"

"I know. I only came here to do some research concerning what my governess taught me," she explained and the two guards that were stationed there stared apprehensively at her before they nodded and let her in.

Alice entered the library and when the doors closed, she felt her blood turn cold, realizing that even the library was restricted. That meant her ladies wouldn't be able to come in here to search for her or let her know when someone was coming. And now that she was in here, she didn't want to go back.

She wondered what her brother was protecting that made him put guards every possible where he could. Was it still the maid? She doubted he would go through all this just because of a servant. Unless something was brewing in him for the girl which could be a big problem since he already had a betrothed.

She let the thoughts pass and went ahead to look for the book where her ladies-in-waiting had claimed they hid it. Checking the shelves, she noticed two odd books at the dead end.

She almost chuckled at where they hid it. Were they serious?! Her brother would come in here to find this in no minute and they would be caught. Such horrible smugglers! She laughed and shook her head.

Looking around, she took note of how no one else was in the library and it was only her. Since guards were protecting the place, she doubted anyone would just walk in on her except it was her brother and he was very busy for the day. He needed to carry out a lot of tasks.

She walked over to the shelf and collected the two books. Seeing the cover alone, her face turned red from embarrassment. How could anyone even get to pen down and write such a book, and end up publishing and printing it for people to read? Didn't they have some shame? That was some different level of shamelessness.

She hid in the small room of the library where there was a comfortable couch before she sprawled herself on it and picked up one of the books to read.

The one she picked up was titled, 'Two Sides of My Heart.'

Such a boring name for an erotic book, she thought as she opened the book and began reading.

The book was a love triangle as she had assumed. It was about a king and a knight who fell in love with a princess and we're both willing to get her heart. While the knight was more straightforward in his approach to getting the princess, the king on the other hand was more gentle and relaxed, taking his sweet time to make the princess feel things.

That wasn't the only thing Alice noticed. She took note of how the princess seemed to be having a hard time deciding on who she wanted.

"Just take the King already!" Alice yelled as she read. There were so many steaming hot scenes that had unexpectedly turned Alice on. Even a little gesture from the male leads made her heart flutter as she read. Though both of the characters were obsessive, one was more controlling and the other liked to take it slow.

Now, Alice found it hard to decide. On one hand, she liked how the knight loved being straightforward and possessive as he dealt with the princess. She didn't know if it was a fetish but seeing him dominant made her like the knight. On the other hand, she also couldn't deny that the king knew just how to be gentle and striking when it came to the princess. He knew how to pull her heart with kind and cute gestures that would make a lady blush.

She yawned as she kept reading.

Naomi and Roshni's ideas weren't so bad after all.

Alice finally came close to the end and was shocked by who the princess chose at the end. She couldn't help but feel sad for the one who didn't get chosen at the end of the day.

She didn't realize she had spent hours in the library, 'researching' and she had instead enjoyed the book to the fullest.

And then the time came for the erotic scene. Alice felt her legs curl and excitement bubbled in her chest as she read through the scene where the male lead and female lead consummated their marriage. Those scenes were unexpectedly so hot, that she pressed her legs together as she read through, feeling heat everywhere.

She stood up from the couch and began to walk around as she read, forgetting that she needed to hide her presence.

Suddenly, she felt someone behind her and she grew alert but before she could even then around, the person trapped her and pushed her to the shelf, making her yelp and the book fell to the ground.

She managed to turn around and dread filled her face as she stared at the figure before her.

"Might I know what is getting the princess so excited...?" he said with amusement seeing how her face turned red with embarrassment.

He curiously raised a brow at her before his eyes moved to the floor where the book was sprawled and the front cover lay in view.

Alice's face reddened and she stretched her leg to cover the book before attempting to pick it up but Matthew beat her to it and since he was taller, his hand got to it first.

"My my, an erotic book," he commented looking at the front page and Alice felt the need to be swallowed by the ground with immediate effect.

She raised her hand to get the book but he raised his hand higher and as he was taller, her hand went nowhere.

"My not-so-innocent princess...is this the 'resting' King Leon asked you to do for the day, hmm?" he teased and he saw how she looked like she was about to cry.

Oh...the day was going to be very lovely, he thought.