Encounter with the prince

It was my first day as the prince's personal bodyguard.

I was a bit nervous because my only encounter with him a few weeks ago was somehow strange. In addition, the warnings of the others were still buzzing around in my head.

Would it really be that extreme? He seemed a bit shameless last time, but he wouldn't keep me from my duties as a guard, would he? I quickly shook my head to regain my composure. He certainly wouldn't try anything strange. I had to tell myself that. Otherwise I would probably die from anxiousness.

I walked with halfway determined steps towards the prince's room, in front of which an already exhausted-looking guard was keeping watch. When the guard saw me and recognized my royal bodyguard uniform, his features immediately became a little more alert.

"You're the new one with us, right?" He started the conversation as I halted in front of him. He'd probably seen me in the royal guards' common room yesterday. It was where I was initiated into my new duties.

"Er, yes exactly."

"Are you here to relieve me from the shift?" His question sounded hopeful.

"Yes I am."

Judging by the guard's facial expression, he would have liked to have jumped for joy. He really seemed relieved. He must have had a busy day.

"Okay. Prince Cain always wants us to check in and out with him when our shifts are swapped. He always wants to know exactly who is in front of his door." He informed me while loosening his tie a bit.

I frowned in confusion.

"But why?"

"Don't ask me. It's a quirk of his."

"Alright. Whatever." I sighed. I had hoped that I would not have to face the prince directly. But fate wasn't on my side again.

"Okay, then go in and let him know. I'll take my well-deserved break. Standing here for almost ten hours nearly killed me." The guard only mumbled the last sentence tiredly under his breath.

I knocked cautiously on the large ebony door that led to the prince's bedroom. When I heard a 'come in', I opened the massive door and entered the prince's room with a somewhat uneasy feeling.

The prince's bedroom was huge and pompous. Everything was decorated in tones of gold and red, and the walls featured extravagant wood paneling and hand-painted murals that matched the luxury interior of the room. I quickly felt small and insignificant in here.

The prince was seated in a velvet, scarlet armchair facing the large window. With his golden hair and red clothes, he fit perfectly into this room. As if that beautiful golden human was another part of the decoration.

"I'm here to relieve the previous guard. I just wanted to let you know."I informed him briefly and indicated a bow.

When he turned to me, his expression brightened immediately.

"Ah, you're just in time. Help me getting changed." He suddenly said, which made me flinch a little.

The prince got up slowly and came towards me. He approached me with a small smirk, which only increased my queasy feeling. I had to suppress the urge to back away.

"I... am not your servant, Your Highness." I replied, slightly insecure.

In my opinion, undressing and dressing the prince was not the job of a palace guard. Let alone a personal bodyguard.

"And that's why you can't take orders or what? I thought you were smarter." Prince Cain scoffed.

My cheeks burned with frustration and shame. I pressed my lips together and stepped cautiously further into his bedchamber. Closer to him. Even if I wanted to turn around and flee on the spot.

"Good boy." Was all he said.

I swallowed hard once at his more than unequivocal comment. My cheeks turned a telltale red.

"What is it? Begin." He challenged me as I stood in front of him, still hesitating.

With trembling hands I helped him out of his robe and shortly thereafter undid the buttons of his shirt.

I avoided eye contact with him throughout this, knowing that his intense gaze would only make me more nervous. I knew he was scrutinizing me intently, studying every movement on my face. Nevertheless i didn't look him in the eye and concentrated on my task.

After a short time, his muscular upper body was exposed. His shoulders were wider than expected and his pecs were very defined. His skin was so pale, it reminded me of a vampire. His body looked like it was carved out of marble. Like a Greek god.

It was extremely uncomfortable for me to undress such a handsome man just like that. It just didn't feel right to me.

Still, I could feel the situation somehow turning me on despite my panic. It didn't really get any better when the prince stripped off his top completely and stood shirtless in front of me.

His whole body was muscular and well built. He was taller and probably stronger than me. I wondered why he needed a guard at all. Especially a guard like me. His abs could probably be used as a washboard. His v-line was also very prominent, it almost made me-

"Hmmm? I don't seem to leave you cold either..." He said with a meaningful grin while staring at the bulge, which was forming in my pants.

I almost choked on my own spit.

I desperately looked for an excuse. But I couldn't think of any with the best will in the world.

My heart was pounding in my throat. I felt myself starting to sweat.

It was pathetically obvious that I was attracted to him. And I couldn't even really hide it as a man.

Damned. Sometimes life as a woman was a little easier after all.

"Would you like me to... help you with your little problem?" He suddenly asked, making me jump.

"W-what?"

"Oh, how cute you are." He said as he grabbed my face like last time, forcing me to look at him.

"Tell me: is that what you want? Shall I give you relief, my pretty?" He asked again more directly. I felt chills down my spine.

"P-please I... I can't do this..." I just choked out scared.

I only heard him sigh once. It sounded almost disappointed. Then he let go of my face. I immediately stumbled a few steps backwards.

"Okay. You may go." He then said with a casual hand movement.

I stared at him briefly in surprise. I hadn't expected that he would let me off the hook so quickly.

He just looked at me a bit annoyed and then said:

"What? Would you rather want me to force myself on you or what?"

"N-no..."

"Then go before I change my mind."

"Your Highness." I said my goodbye with a frantic bow and then ran out of the room as quickly as possible. When I closed the heavy room door, I could still hear the prince laughing a bit.

I tried to take a deep breath, but couldn't even manage to do it properly. My cheeks were still treacherously hot as I leaned a bit wearily against the wall next to the door.

"Your first time with the prince?" I suddenly heard a female voice. I jumped up immediately.

"W-what?"

"I asked if you are new here and met the prince for the first time?" The maid asked me while she was dusting the pictures in the hallway.

"Oh yeah. Well I mean no...I...have met him before. But it's the first time I've been his personal bodyguard." I explained awkwardly, whereupon the maid only had to smile mildly.

"Ah I understand." She said, brushing some black curls out of her face.

She was pretty for a maid in her age. The enormous stress and the physical work certainly didn't do you any good here. I've seen many who looked much older than they actually were.

Based on her age, I would have guessed her to be in her late 40s. But of course she could be younger. She must have known the prince and the royal family for a while.

"He's quite special, isn't he?" Asked the maid with a mischievous grin.

"That's probably true." I said with a wry smile.

"Don't worry. You're not the only one this happens to. He won't do anything to you if you make it clear that you don't want it. Even if the rumors often say otherwise."

Somehow, her statement relieved me. I was glad that the supposedly demonic prince seemed to be more human than expected.

Maybe...but just maybe...this wouldn't be as bad as I first thought.