You can't really deny Anastasia can you?

"I would be delighted your Highness." You say with a bow. She'd asked you in public nothing you could do but accept.

"Excellent follow me, you will bath before you join me." She said walking away from the arena.

You look at Vatarie who was chewing her lip, clearly wanting to come with you. It had been a few days since you spent some real one-on-one time with her. If you didn't need to speak with Anastasia in private about what had happened today you might have invited her.

Asune was smiling at. A quiet promise to continuing 'training' Rasia, another thing you needed to speak to Anastasia about. No matter her involvement in Edin's abduction leaving someone to the hands of Asune was not something you wanted to be a guilty party in.

Following after Anastasia you noted an absence of other followers and observers. Every time she had gone anywhere her fellow students gathered around her. Now the two of you were being left alone. You were moving towards the Dorms so it wasn't because you were going in a different direction. You looked behind you at the arena and saw the students gathering around Vatarie and Asune. They must be trying to learn some of their ranged attacks. You were tempted to ask Anastasia about hers but were holding off in anticipation of the nature of the discussion that was coming.

When you reached the turn for the Dorms Anastasia keeps walking straight ahead. You recall the birds eye view you had seen of the academy. The buildings that you had seen that she could be walking to included three possibles. One was the building just behind the Dorm, it was a slightly smaller replica of the Dorm building so you doubted that would the destination. The second was more a kin to a green house with several large glass windows, you were inclinded to think it was exactly what you assumed. That left the final option. A two story building hidden slightly in a glade a trees that were taller than it. Even as the final option you weren't sure, it seemed a little limited to be considered a Royal Estate.

Anastasia and you walked in silence. You could see conflict in her aura you put down to the discussion she also knew was coming. You had gone to rescue Edin, even under your persona that could be easily ignored or accepted. Anastasia was a princess and used her authority to board a ship of the merchant guild and take the son of noble off it with a clear announcement of ****. She wasn't going to come out of this easy, even if she had tried to be diplomatic about it how it went down. Your intervention by throwing the captain into the water may not have helped matters. You should have been more retrained.

Anastasia made a turn and you walked towards the two story building in the glade. You'd guessed right.

When you reached the door it was opened for Anastasia by a familiar older woman. She bowed deeply as she stepped out of the way. Her aura showed no reaction at all to your presence so Anastasia must have told her you were coming. Which meant her lack of any acknowledgement of you was a little odd. You expected at least a nod.

Walking into the foyer left you suitably awed. Lush red carpet coated white stone slabs, tapestries depicted various works of art, some showed landscapes other personal portraits. You vaguely recognised everyone depicted, all ancestors of Anastasia no doubt. You'd seem some art work at your fathers estate and the odd few around the academy but the concentration in this room meant there was a lot to take in.

"Bath first gawk later." Anastasia said.

"I think I can do both." You say looking at a tapestry of a familiar landscape. The city pre-expansion. Hills unadorned with noble estates, field of grain sprawling out when would soon be buildings. More interesting was that it was a birds eye view that couldn't have been accomplished without either extraordinary care and mathematical calculation or a literal birds eye. Maybe people were capable of flight after all.

"So you your gawking has been at my tits or ass. If I didn't know better I'd say you might be interested me." She swayed her hips as she walked to you. A predatory glint you had been so long without you forgot had existed. "Though I do," she stopped just before you her lips almost grazing you, "and I know interest is understated." She let out a breath and you felt the warmth breeze across your lips.

"I –" you are cut off by her fingertips touching the back of your hand.

"– would make a formidable match for myself." As the tip of her finger ran up your arm your sleeve split. Leaving your arm exposed to the air.

"I –" the damaging of your uniform pulls you a bit back into yourself.

"– want to see me as much I want to see you." Her fingertip ran along your chest and your top feel open. Her eyes looked down and drank in your form.

Her attention overcame you feeling about a damaged uniform. "I –"

Her uniform burst into a very soft flame and she was left naked. Her face was still just too close your to see her body. "– am more than I could have ever dreamed of." Her face came closer once more until your lips were also meeting. "Shame about the smell." She pulled back had a devilish grin on her face. "Hence the bath."

You stared into her eyes and felt a smile break out. The walk here had been done in silence, the tension between the two of you had built with each step and she had just completely removed it. She might not be a great queen, but she'd be a competent leader, maybe that was enough to start with. "I didn't want to say anything your Highness." You reply testing for her reaction.

Her smile feel and she glared at you. "You dare suggest my Royal personage would smell anything less than perfect." She closed the difference between the two of you again, her aura lashing at you as she leaned forward with hand on hips.

Your smile drops and you lean forward to meet her face. Without an aura of your own she could only ready your face and remember your personality, "Your Royal personage stinks."

She glares at you for a long moment. "I wish Edin was here." She says leaning back and stepping forwards to press a hand to your stomach. "I want to see you ravish someone for me." She bites her lip, "To hold them down and push this," Her hand lowered and your pants slip along the seam revealing your totally naked body except for your only remaining sleeve still holding at your shoulder. "deep inside them." Her fingertip tapped your crown. "Making them moan out your name as you take them." Her hand moved down to rub her palm against your tip. She suddenly stopped her moment and looked into your eyes.

"I –" you start before getting interrupted once again.

"Christopher if I asked would you be my King?" She asked it was an earnest worry, a hint of fear at your possible rejection.

"I –"

"Sorry." She stepped back and fidgeted. You say her aura swirl and for the first time you saw a discernable image, it was barely more than a rectangle but you recognised it, your **** Contract, the one you nullified before you'd ever signed it.

You'd been wrong about something. You'd limited your relationship with her because of that contract, at least you'd tried to. You thought she had been more open with you because of it, but that image, she'd been holding back because she knew you couldn't really say no.

You stepped over to her and put and hand on her shoulder. She must be very lonely. Is all your thought as you pulled her into a hug. She hesitated for a moment then hugged you back. Together you let out a sigh as the moment passed. "You know you aren't putting that inside me any time soon." Anastasia said making you aware of you still present erection.

"So I am putting it inside you then." You say with a grin. Anastasia recoils as you make by far the most provocative joke with her yet.

"Not until you have a bath." She grins back and reaches a finger down to gently flick your crown. It wasn't enough to do anything but send a dull jolt of pleasure through you.

You both laugh and she leads you to the bath. You pull off the sleeve hoping the destruction of your uniform won't be that bad in terms of consequences. You also hope she has something for your to wear to back to your room after this.