And he continued kissing her, enjoying the softness and warmth of her lips. His hands moved down her neck to her breasts. He squeezed them, and Abril complained, “That hurts.”
“I’m sorry,” he replied.
Alessandro caressed Abril’s breasts gently and asked, “Is this better?”
“That feels strange. Why are you touching me there?” She questioned.
“Because they’re soft.”
“But…”
Alessandro silenced her with a kiss and said, “You talk too much.”
Alessandro continued caressing her body and kissing her lips, giving short kisses that gradually became deeper, something that began to frighten Abril. She began to tremble. Alessandro noticed.
He moved off her and said, “Actually, I’m very tired, and I have to get up early tomorrow because I have to go out and inspect the kingdom. It’s best to leave it for another day.”
Abril was relieved, as she didn’t feel ready. Alessandro rested his head on the pillow and said, “I’ll be gone for a few days. While I’m gone, you don’t have to stay in the palace if you don’t want to, but you must continue with your magic lessons.”
Abril smiled broadly and said, “Really?”
“Yes, but you should hide your happiness a little.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter. You had better get some sleep.”
Abril got under the covers, rested her head on the pillow, and said, “Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
Alessandro turned off the lights with his magic, plunging the room into darkness. “Goodnight, princess,” he replied.
The next day, when Abril woke up, the king was gone. She was about to get up when she heard a knock on the door. It must be the maid who helped her get dressed in the mornings. Abril gave her permission to enter. However, when she saw who had entered, she wished she would leave that very instant. It was the same maid who had been rude to her the day before. She looked at her with hatred and said, “Get changed, or you’ll be late.”
“I told you it wasn’t necessary for you to come.”
“The head maid sent me. If I don’t do my job, they’ll fire me.”
That maid helped Abril get dressed and said, “I’ll do your hair. Sit down.”
Abril sat on a chair in front of a mirror. She found it strange that the maid wanted to help her with her hair, but she did as she was asked. While she was combing her hair, she pulled at it, making her cry out in pain.
“Stop complaining so much. It’s your fault for having such tangled hair,” the maid said.
When the maid finished combing her hair, Abril had a headache from all the pulling, and she swore never to let her comb her hair again.
Abril was very happy to be able to sleep in her little house again. When her magic class ended, she went to look for Cassian. She wanted to be with the little fox since she would have time to take care of him.
Cassian was in the garden. As she approached hirm, the little fox ran towards her. Abril took him in her arms, petted him, and said,
“I’ve missed you too, little one.”
“Hello, Cassian,” she greeted him with a smile.
“I’m glad we found each other. I was just going to look for you.”
“Me?”
“Yes, I wanted to bring your pet to see you. I think he misses you.”
“Thank you so much for taking care of him.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“His Majesty will be away for a few days as he has to inspect the kingdom. During those days I can go back to my house, so I will have him with me for a few days. I hope I can count on you afterward to take care of him.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you very much.”
***
The days Alessandro was away, Abril felt she was free again. She went to her magic classes during the day and in the afternoons she worked in her garden. Although doing that was tiring for her, it was better than living in the palace. There, she could see the blue sky, feel the warm rays of the sun touching her skin, she could feel free. She had lived her whole life locked up, and although she knew it was only temporary, she was glad to have had it.
Abril was in her magic class when Sirius had told her to try to feel her magic. When he said that, she couldn’t help but laugh and said, “How do you want me to feel something I don’t have?”
“Try it and stop arguing, princess.”
“Alright, what do I have to do?”
“You must close your eyes, search deep inside, and try to feel your magic.”
Abril did as Sirius told her. Although she knew it was useless, she tried as she had promised.
She searched deep inside, trying to find her magic. She submerged herself in the depths of her being. She saw a small light and wondered if that would be her magic. She tried to touch it, but it disappeared and, with it, her consciousness.
The princess began to glow. It was a warm light that made him feel calm and flooded him with peace, but he could also feel it nullifying his magic. That only lasted a few seconds.
She fainted and fell to the floor. That day Abril was unconscious all afternoon. When she opened her eyes she was in an unfamiliar room. Cassian was by her side. He asked her,
“Are you okay?”
“What happened to me? What am I doing here?”
Sirius approached her and said,
“You fainted in the middle of the class.”
“What was the last thing you remembered?”
Abril tried to remember, but she couldn’t. She said,
“I think it was when I closed my eyes and I tried to feel my magic as you instructed. After that, I don’t know what happened.”
“I see.” Sirius said.
“Did I do something strange?”
“No, you just fainted. You haven’t eaten. I’ll have them bring you something light to eat,” Sirius said, and left the room.
“Thank you.” Abril replied.
When Sirius left, Cassian handed the little fox to Abril and said,
“Since I didn’t know if you would wake up today, I went to get your pet.”
Abril stroked the fox’s head and said, “Thank you so much.”
“You must be tired. I’ll let you rest.
“See you tomorrow.” Cassian said, and left the room.
Cassian found Sirius in the hallway and asked,
“What happened to the princess?”
“She just fainted.”
“I don’t think that was all, after hearing what you asked the princess.”
“I must go and check on the princess. See you later, prince.”
Cassian knew that Sirius was Alessandro’s faithful dog. No matter how much he insisted, Sirius would not tell him anything unless Alessandro authorized it. If he wanted to know what had happened, he would have to wait for Alessandro to return, because he would be the only one Sirius would tell exactly what had happened.
After that day, Sirius stopped her classes until the king returned. Abril was perfectly fine and happy to have more time for herself and not have to go to the palace.
But since she had returned to her house she felt as if someone was watching her. She thought it was her imagination and stopped thinking about it.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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