Tensions and resolutions

[A/N: Co-written with ScarletRabbit.]

Lucas's mind felt like every last thought was tangled into one incomprehensible mess. His blood pressure jumped in fear, even higher than when he was confronted by Ophelia. The startled stare of his amethyst eyes was aimed straight into Nimue's green. Her surprise turned to suspicion when she gazed at Seraphina. Her thin brows furrowed.

Seraphina's calm demeanor exuded an air of authority she did not show when she was one-on-one with Lucas. The oceanic blue of her eyes glimmered with inexplainable wariness. She spoke not a word, but her hand grasped the basket firmer than before.

"Why is Princess Seraphina here? Why is she with you...?" Nimue's eyes focused on the green-haired elf. Lucas could not help but feel her stare show a bit of hostility.

Seraphina, hearing her name, stood slightly closer. Her breast brushed against Lucas's arm gently before being replaced by her own. Lucas's heart almost jumped at the contact, but she appeared none the wiser, all her attention focused on the maid.

"=You...=" her voice quieted down almost immediately. Ponder entered her face as she scrutinized Nimue from top to bottom. "=...I remember you,=" her eyes squinted, but she did not speak further. There was something about Seraphina's form that betrayed a layer of caution she held, her eyes momentarily jumping to Lucas as though gauging his actions.

Nimue's eyes shone, but she did not reply in any way, looking at Lucas as well. She appeared to be searching for some reaction that the man failed to provide.

Seraphina broke the silence, "=...I believe I should go. It was nice to talk with you, Limen,=" she said, stepping back a little. The pause of her movement was punctuated by her eyes gazing at Nimue again.

"!" Nimue's ears jerked upward, her fists clenching almost involuntarily. Her green eyes immediately locked with Seraphina's blue. Hostility seemed to pour from her spirit.

"=What...?=" Lucas's head tilted almost involuntarily.

"=Ah, I apologize,=" Seraphina seemed to almost gasp, her attention turned to the white-haired man. "=A slip of the tongue. Goodnight, Lucas.="

Seraphina took her steps away almost immediately after. The quiet steps, compiled with the fleeting nature of her dress, made the elf look almost like a specter. Lucas could not help but notice the gentle, natural sway of her wide hips, which were somewhat covered by the wavy, thick wall of her green hair.

...

His gaze slowly went to Nimue. Strangely, she did not stop looking at the elven princess, watching her movements with great attention. Her tensed-up body and dagger stare aimed at Seraphina's back did not escape his discerning look.

"...Nimue?" he started. 'I understand she's upset about the situation, but... she seems to be on the defensive for some reason...'

The black-haired maid slowly turned to him. The emotions her eyes held before were replaced by a tinge of concern. She didn't speak a word; one step to the side was all she had to do.

Lucas almost skittered into the confines of his room. The door's click behind him informed him that Nimue followed suit. Turning to face her, the man felt a cold shiver travel down his spine. He knew what she felt. He knew that the concern for him must've been eating her from within.

"...why was Princess Seraphina with you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The concern in her eyes was evident, her skin pale.

"Uh, Nimue, this was not what it looked like," Lucas started.

"No?" she asked, her countenance twisting slightly in displeasure. "To me, it looks like you snuck out at night to chat with Princess Seraphina when you were explicitly told not to. Am I wrong?" her gaze turned piercing. She was mad at him.

Lucas swallowed hard. The lump in his throat didn't want to loosen as he searched for the right words. "Nimue, I... I swear it wasn't intentional. I just went to eat, and she came by."

"Young master... if anyone learns of this..." Nimue didn't finish her sentence. She seemed as conflicted as Lucas, the memories of his previous punishment's aftermath still vivid.

"I know," he said with a defeated tone. A hand went through his hair. "I know. I asked Seraphina not to speak of it."

Nimue's brow shot up.

"I mean, Princess Seraphina agreed not to speak of meeting me," Lucas corrected himself hastily.

The black-haired maid sighed. Something was clearly on her mind, but she was not voicing it as she scanned Lucas's form.

"...sneaking around like this will only lead to further trouble, young master," she said quietly. "What if someone else saw you? What if her retinue noticed that she was gone? If... Lady Ismeria learns of this..." she looked to her side. Lucas could see that tears appeared in the rims of her eyes. "I don't want to see you like that again..." her whisper barely reached Lucas's ears.

Lucas's heart thumped strongly. Nimue's words stirred a part of him that felt remorse beyond anything he could bear. He didn't want to see her sad like this. He knew how loyal she was. He knew she wouldn't speak of this to anyone, even if she were pressed. But he knew she was right; if the situation from yesterday were to repeat by some chance, he'd be facing punishment not from Ophelia but from his mother. That would go way, way worse.

He took a slow step forward. Less than half a meter of air separated him from the maid.

"Nimue..." he said. His hand, almost as though acting on instinct, went to her chin. He caressed her skin gently, feeling her tremble at the contact.

She looked at him. The concern within the green met the apologetic gaze of his amethysts.

He pulled her into a hug. Nimue didn't resist at all. Her hands tied behind his back as she rubbed her nose in his chest. The two stood like this for several seconds, no words necessary to convey the moment.

"I'm sorry," he said, gently stroking her back. "I will be more careful next time, I promise."

Her ears perked up with surprise. "You... will see Princess Seraphina again?" she asked hesitantly.

Lucas slowly broke the hug. He still kept Nimue close, but now he looked into her eyes. "I... I can't just leave her like this. She's not a bad person. She actually understands me. And she said she doesn't like being with them upstairs."

"...I'm not your mother, young master," Nimue answered quietly. "I won't tell you who not to meet. Just... please," her eyes looked at him with even more concern. "Be careful."

"I will," he rubbed her shoulder with care, staring deep into her emerald eyes. "I promise I will."

...

A few seconds passed. Lucas slowly released his hold on Nimue. The woman appeared hesitant at his action. It was like she wanted it to continue yet felt too bashful to admit it. Her eyes skittered sideways, too sheepish to meet his gaze anymore. However, she did not move from her position.

"...now that I think about it," Lucas broke the silence. "Why were you here, at this hour no less?"

"!" Nimue's ears jerked slightly at the question. "I... your robe," she pointed at the article of clothing spread on a chair. "I had it fixed some time ago, so I came to give it to you, but you weren't around. So... I waited around in case anything happened."

"You just... waited here?" he raised a brow. 'I've been gone for hours...'

Nimue nodded lightly, her eyes glimmering with question. She took a small step toward the door, but she was still waiting for anything he'd want, her ears poised and ready to catch any of his words.

"...thank you, Nimue," he said softly. His shoulders suddenly felt heavier. "It must've been difficult to just... wait."

"It's nothing, young master."

"No, it's not nothing," he objected. His heart beat with more strength as he approached her. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You... you're always there when I need you. I... I just can't thank you enough."

"Y-Young master, it's not something you should thank me f-for," she stammered slightly, feeling the man's hand rub her shoulder with care. Her cheeks became tinted with pink, her heartbeat accelerating.

"No, Nimue. I really should," he rejected. "Always helping me when I need it... and even staying up this late to see if I'm alright... I..." he let his head down slightly. His nose was centimeters away from hers. "I'm sorry I can't... show how grateful I am. Words just... aren't enough."

"I-It's a-alright, young master," Nimue stammered. Her heart thumped faster by the second. "I'm j-just glad you're--!" Nimue suddenly stopped speaking as Lucas's lips met hers.

Lucas could not explain how it happened. They were just so close... and he felt some form of a magnetism pull him toward the black-haired maid. It was a subconscious feeling of safety and warmth he longed for. It was like with this simple gesture of his lips approaching hers, his worries would melt away.

The kiss lasted for a few seconds. The momentary awkwardness was further accentuated as Nimue slowly responded, her lips parting slightly as she accepted Lucas's. The movement was clumsy, but she was visibly getting into the act, her eyes closing to savor the feeling.

Her heart felt like it would explode out of her chest. Her pointy ears trembled unsteadily, but the motion went unnoticed. Her body shook, both in anticipation and strange fear that this moment was just a dream.

...

They parted slowly. Their light breaths mixed between, a thin strand of saliva slowly breaking the connection between their lips.

Lucas's eyes looked deep into Nimue's. He saw the concern within, mixed with her surprise, melt away slightly, showing a glint of affection and happiness lurking beneath. Her fair skin reddened quickly as she looked away in bashfulness.

"...thank you, Nimue," Lucas whispered tenderly, letting go of her shoulder. "For everything."

"...i-it's my d-d-duty..." she stammered unsteadily. Her legs trembled as she turned around slowly. "...s-sleep w-well."

"...you too."

Her hand shakily went for the door handle. She pressed it with lacking strength, just barely able to open it. The black ponytail did nothing to hide her neck or body, showing Lucas that her skin was quickly flushing. A few droplets of sweat started appearing, and her breathing appeared gone.

"G-Goodnight, y-young master," she said without facing him. Then, she took a slightly wobbly step out of the room and closed the door, not turning to face him for one second.

...

Lucas felt his face. His skin was hot, no doubt as red as Nimue's. The sudden situation surprised them both in equal measure. He still could not comprehend why he did what he did. It just... felt right.

...

'Gods... I really messed up, didn't I?'

-Meanwhile-

Nimue supported herself on a wall. Her legs felt like they were made of cotton and jelly, every next step unsteady and shaky. Her heart beat with a power strong enough to shatter her chest, should it decide to. Her blood pressure could shoot her to the moon and back.

She felt her face beaming heat. The shade of her skin was likely not shy of a tomato. Her breathing was shallow, almost too shallow to be an activity altogether. She felt like she was about to hyperventilate.

Her tongue slowly exited her mouth, brushing her lips. She wanted to feel it more; the smell, the taste, the texture of Lucas's lips on hers. Nimue tried to savor it to its fullest, not letting it fade. This would no doubt be seared in her memory for years to come. Her first kiss was taken by the man she longed for. Her legs quivered at the very thought.

-In the morning, in the Breshnaw mansion-

Illan's muscles felt slightly stiff. Shifting in his sitting position, the man fixed his robe before standing up from his bedside. His steps went to the wide window at the gate leading out of their territory. The warmth of the morning sun welcomed him like a servant greeting their ruler.

'Splendid.' he smirked, basking in the sun's rays. 'Today should be a pretty lazy day. I could listen to my old man's words and pay a visit to Ophelia...' he pondered, stepping toward the door to his room. 'Her mother made the issue look quite grand, but I'm sure they'll overlook it. I'm the only person fit for her anyway.'

Stepping into the corridor, he immediately spotted a small maid trekking by.

Her attention was turned to him. Bowing her head in a greeting, she didn't dare look directly at him.

"Greetings, master Illan," she said in a pretty voice matching her alluring frame and clean face.

He nodded, a sly smile appearing as his eyes gazed upon her curves. Rita, as he remembered the maid's name to be, was in her late twenties. Her body was mildly pronounced, but she sported naught a tinge of fat in the wrong spots. There were no doubt cuter and more sexy women out there, but she was alluring in her own right. A commoner would be easily charmed by her looks, and even Illan found himself looking her over sometimes..

"Rita," he said. "How pleasant to see you."

"Likewise, master Illan," the maid replied, slowly lifting her gaze. Seeing his expectant gaze, she formed a slightly questioning expression. "Is there something you need?"

"Yes, actually. Send someone to the Stormrider Mansion and request permission to visit Ophelia in the afternoon. They have guests currently, so I want to make sure that she has some time."

"Of course, I will get to it right away," Rita said before walking away.

Illan watched her derriere sway gently in the outfit. He smirked at the sight.

Illan took his steps in another part of the corridor. The walls, adorned with exquisite tapestry, were home to multiple paintings and decorations that lit up the place. Windows on the side let some cool morning air in. The thick carpet under his feet muffled all the sounds of his movement easily. This place was luxurious, even if it wasn't grand like the Stormrider's manor. He liked it.

The lightweight steps he took guided him forth. Turning a corner, the Breshnaw heir almost noticed a familiar face. His mouth curved in a smile.

"Hey, Ester," he called out, approaching his sister.

"Oh, brother," she turned to face him. "Already prepared?"

Her question barely registered as Illan's brown eyes scanned over his sister's posture. She was clad in her nightgown. The gray dress covered her from around her armpit level to about her knees. However, the bulges of her sizeable breasts were easily visible, and the movement of her somewhat pronounced hips was hard to miss. The dress's design allowed Illan to see a nice amount of cleavage. She was so... alluring. She could not compete with Ophelia, but not calling Ester sexy would be a morbid crime in his eyes.

Ester's still sleepy gaze seemed to not register his glance. Once she rubbed her eyes with a hand, Illan's stare was already fixed on her face.

"You really slept in, to be walking around in your pajamas, didn't you?" he asked, a sly smile appearing.

"My classes are a bit later today, so I took the chance," Ester shrugged. All the upper curvature the woman sported jiggled gently.

"Slept again in the library, didn't you?" he approached, rubbing her head with his rugged hand. He chuckled as his sister looked away, not wanting to show him her mild embarrassment. "I swear, all that reading will make you build a house of books one day," he got a hand over her shoulder, giving her a light hug.

Ester almost immediately reciprocated the gesture. Illan felt her large breasts press into his chest delightfully. Despite his sister wearing a bra, he felt her large nipples press into him.

But the hug had to come to an end. Illan felt Ester pushing him slightly, and he relented.

She stared at him with her black eyes. Illan could only wonder what was going on inside his sister's head. Ester took a step back, escaping his range completely.

"I'll go get dressed," she said. "Good luck in the Academy today," she gave the man a light smile. She seemed none the wiser to how the man ogled her before.

Illan smiled back. "You too, little sister."

Ester walked away to a door leading to her room. Illan stood in one spot, watching her. In particular, he focused on how her hips moved, pushing against the delicate fabric. The delightful backside did not stop inviting him for one moment. Oh, how much he wished he was not tied to her by blood...

As his sister escaped his sight, Illan sighed, his tone punctuated by a frustrated undertone.

'Stupid bloodline. Stupid rules.' he scoffed, going in a direction.

He never understood it. The world was such a dangerous and unjust place. His sister would surely be taken advantage of by some stupid brutes, or worse yet, corrupted and unclean nobles. Why was it that he, her own brother - a strong, noble man with a clean heart and outstanding abilities - could not offer her the protection she needed?

'...when I become a Marquis, getting a few consorts will probably be in order.' he mused, his brows knitted. 'At least three aside from Ophelia, to show my status properly. Yet, even with that position... I wouldn't be able to take Ester in.' he groaned quietly. She was perfect, with a splendid mix of a seductive body and a quiet personality. Why was he **** to see her go to some savage when he, her own brother, was more than willing to shield her from the cruel world?

Illan almost snorted. His mood was already broken.

...

'...Academy... Gods, how I hate that place...' he huffed. His blood, already boiling with irritation, now felt like it could evaporate through his skin.

...suddenly, he felt an idea encroach his mind. He didn't need to attend all his classes, now did he?

'You know what, scratch the Academy. I'll just go have some fun.'

---

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