Now the room was incredibly quiet. Colt kept his room fairly clean and organized. Or he'd cleaned it before she arrived. Maybe guards were expected to keep their rooms clean? Some day she might ask about that. It was such a menial question, so not important, but she couldn't help wondering about it while she sat there, on Colt's bed, looking at the small room. Her closet was larger than this room.
It certainly gave her some perspective about her station.
She climbed out of bed, and what could she say, but that she was a little disappointed. It was not what she had expected her first sexual encounter to be like.
"Rather boring." She put her shift back on. However, it did the job.
There, on the bedding, was a small spot of blood. She wasn't particularly sore like she'd been told she would be, but it didn't matter. She was no longer a virgin.
No longer a product that her father could sell to the highest bidder.
She pulled instant cleaner out of her bag and sprayed it all over the bedding. It dissolved any remaining organic debris from their encounter, including the spotting of blood.
Fresh and clean for him.
And protected him from anyone knowing it was Colt who took her virginity.
She got dressed and pulled on her plain gray hooded robe. It covered enough of her face and hair that she should not be recognized as she made her way back to the royal house. As long as she didn't look anyone in the eyes, anyway.
She'd look like any servant heading to the main house, as there was always a stream of people going back and forth inside the royal complex. She proceeded out of the guard's lodgings and walked along the stone sidewalk back to the main castle.
When she reached the gate, she merely had to touch the pad, and the door would let her in if there was any kind of lockout. However, this time of day--early evening--there was no reason there would be. Normally, she was dining with her sister, and tonight, she asked her sister to take her meal in her room, which meant Eleanor would do the same. It allowed them to protect one another if something had to be done.
She did not have long though, before she might be noticed if she didn't hurry.
She reached the main entrance and palmed the door's locking mechanism.
The door opened.
And two guards were there, waiting for her.
She attempted to walk past them like she had all her life.
"Imperial Princess," one said. "You are to come with us."
"I don't think so," she said and went on. Her hands trembled under her robes, but she maintained her composure.
"The Emperor demands it."
"Tellmy fatherI am not feeling well, and I will speak to him tomorrow." Sometimes, just a gentle reminder of who she was got her out of many a summons by her father.
"That will not work this time," the guard said.
"And what are you going to do if I don't?"
He grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?"
"Exactly my orders. You are to come with menowto meet with your father."
The second guard came to her other side and latched onto her other arm.
"What is the meaning of this! You cannot do this to me! I am an Imperial Princess! Guards! Guards, stop them!"
She cried out with all the authority she could muster as they dragged her--quite literally--to her father's throne room.
As she walked by one cluster, Colt was one of the guards.
