Contrary to my fears, the two weeks passed relatively calmly. Well, as calm as it could be with someone like Sebastian as my "guardian." The morning after our magical duel, Sebastian locked himself up with Rainn in his study again. After a few hours, Rainn excused himself, citing some work-related matters, and left, promising to send me a messenger as soon as he sorted things out.

I don't know what they discussed with Sebastian, no matter how much I tried to pry, I couldn't get an answer. I must admit, I missed Daniel. Over this time, we had become friends, or maybe it was just me getting attached to him.

Surprisingly, after that morning by the sea, Sebastian's attitude towards me changed. He was still composed, but the former coldness was gone. We trained a lot, and when the village was bustling with people, we would go to the sea in the evenings.

Sebastian told me about their family magic, the connection through the artifact, and the rituals they could perform with its help. I understood that there were still some things he didn't disclose, but I listened to him with interest. That's how I learned that the ring I had put on was given to him by his mother for his future bride. After I put it on and we established the connection, I could only remove the ring voluntarily, and then the connection would be severed. No one could forcefully take it off, for example, if they severed my finger, the artifact would lose its power. The performed ritual couldn't be considered a bound marriage without vows by the Ancient One. From Sebastian's vague explanations, I understood that the Ancient One was a tree that grew near the borders of the Borderlands and was the source of magic, a sort of living artifact that accepted lovers' vows and united souls. They didn't tell me anything more, and I didn't press further, as I wasn't particularly interested in marrying the prince. We agreed with Sebastian that after my birthday, he would accompany me to de Savoyarie in a week. And to sever the connection and remove the artifact, I would have to wait until we dealt with the King of the Seas' schemes, which suited me just fine.

After that incident by the sea, Sebastian behaved quite politely and decently, as if he never allowed anything "inappropriate" before. It was strange, but the attraction between us seemed to have evaporated. I reacted calmly to his touches during our training sessions, and he, in turn, didn't cross any boundaries. Our relationship could almost be described as friendly.

Only occasionally, during walks by the sea, when I gazed at the water and lost myself in my thoughts, I would catch Sebastian giving me some strange looks. But I didn't pay much attention to it, as it was like a fleeting shadow that disappeared as soon as he realized I noticed it.

____________________________________________________________________

The days went by, and my 18th birthday arrived.

I had no idea what Lady Price had planned, but she often conversed with Sebastian when I was in my room or out in the garden. Whenever I appeared, they would abruptly stop talking, and when I asked, Nena would just smile mysteriously.

In the morning, as I stepped out of the bath, I found a huge box on my bed. My heart skipped a beat as I opened it and saw what was inside. Before me lay a dress of light blue, almost white. The bodice was adorned with small stones that shimmered, reflecting the light from the window and creating an image of little rabbits. The dress was so ethereal and light that it seemed to be crafted by elven magic. No other kingdom could create such elegance and beauty.

My heart raced with excitement at the sight of this magnificent dress. I couldn't tear my eyes away from it, captivated by its exquisite charm. Every detail, every ornament looked so skillful and elegant.

It was clear to me that this was an extraordinary gift that Sebastian had prepared for me. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said, still unable to take my eyes off the dress.

"It's me, dear," Lady Price entered the room, also dressed unusually, as if preparing for a ball. "Happy birthday, my dear," she said, coming closer and smiling.

"I hope you like Sebastian's gift," Lady Price gazed at the dress with the same enchantment as I did.

"Good morning, Nena. Thank you. Yes, it's very beautiful," I practically breathed out the words.

"Let me help you get ready. The carriage is already waiting for us," Lady Price took my hand and led me towards the table, where my hairbrush and hairpins were placed.

"The carriage?" I turned to her inquisitively. She smiled mysteriously and winked at me, "It's a surprise."

For the next hour, Lady Price treated me to mint tea with pancakes and tried to style my unruly hair into a proper hairstyle. After the third failed attempt, she gave up and simply pinned back the front strands, leaving the rest cascading down in loose waves. I lowered my eyes and applied peachy gloss to my lips; such an elegant dress didn't require bold makeup.

About two hours later, Lady Price and I left the house. At the end of the alley, there really was a carriage waiting, harnessed with white horses.

At that moment, I felt like a princess; everything was as in my childhood fantasies when my mother used to tell me stories about the first ball, princesses, and brave knights.

Mom, how I wish she could see me today. She always tried to make a lady out of me, and I'm sure she would have been proud of me today. Sitting in the carriage, I remembered my parents, and I felt a little sad. Lady Price noticed my sadness and took my hand, "They would have been very proud of you, dear," she smiled sympathetically.

"I believe that too, Nena, and I miss them very much," I squeezed her hand in response.

After some moments of contemplation about my parents, I came back to myself when we crossed the border of the Forest Kingdom. I looked at Lady Price with concern, and she just smiled, "Don't worry, my dear, no one will know you're here. Sebastian took care of everything."

I tried to smile, but the inner anxiety wouldn't leave me.

We rode for about another half-hour, and I noticed that the forest was becoming less dense, and in front of us, a driveway appeared, leading to a large white mansion.

The snow-white mansion stood before me, like something out of a fairy tale. Enormous columns supported the building's facade, giving it an air of grandeur and elegance.

At the entrance, a wonderful sight awaited me. Numerous white and pink peonies adorned the flowerbeds. Their fragrance filled the air, creating an atmosphere of tenderness and romance. This floral paradise was too beautiful to be real; it was as if someone had deliberately created this beauty, knowing of my arrival.

Sebastian stood by the entrance, his black hair neatly styled, giving him a noble appearance. He wore a light blue waistcoat that perfectly complemented my dress.

There we stood, at the threshold of this magical place, and I felt like the whole world had paused in that moment.

Sebastian raised his hand in a welcoming bow, his eyes sparkling like stars. We gazed at each other, and I drowned in his eyes. He had never looked at me like this before. In his eyes, I saw admiration that made my heart beat faster.

Amidst the soft rustle of my dress, I walked towards Sebastian, never taking my eyes off him. There was a connection between us, like a magical attraction. With a gentle smile, he greeted both Lady Price and me, offering his hand to lead us through the bright corridor.

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We entered the spacious and brightly lit dining room, where the table was already set. The aroma of fresh flowers and delicate dishes filled the room, creating an atmosphere of coziness and refinement. The table was adorned with candles and floral arrangements, adding a touch of romance and mystery.

With grace, Sebastian pulled out the chairs for us to sit. Our gazes met again as he moved my chair. For just a moment, he leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "You look beautiful, Alex." His warm breath sent shivers down my spine as if his thumb had accidentally brushed against my exposed shoulder, making me shudder.

We began the meal, savoring the exquisite dishes that showcased the skill of the chefs and their desire to delight us.

After dinner, Sebastian showed us the garden and the library. He shared more with me than with Lady Price, telling me about his upbringing in this house and how Lady Price used to catch him misbehaving. We laughed together at his childhood stories as he guided us through the house.

Lady Price and I were assigned rooms for the night, as we were only planning to return to her house in the morning. To my surprise, I found several more dresses prepared for me in my room. It seemed that Sebastian took Lady Price's instructions about my wardrobe very seriously.

During the dinner, we conversed, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company. It felt like in this world, in this mansion, time and troubles faded into the background.

After dinner, Lady Price excused herself, citing tiredness, and left Sebastian and me alone. If it weren't for her mysterious smile to Sebastian, I might have believed it.

"Let's go; I'll show you another place," Sebastian gently took my hand and led me towards the garden.

We walked along familiar paths we had strolled during the day, then turned aside. I was about to ask Sebastian where we were headed, but he beat me to it. Parting the green fence, he led me through it, and my heart stopped in admiration. Before us opened a magnificent view of the lake and a snow-white gazebo.

The lake was calm and crystal clear, reflecting the setting sun in its waters. A living fence surrounded the lake, creating a natural boundary between its serenity and the outside world. It was unclear how one could access this place since there was no visible entrance. It was as if this place was inaccessible to outsiders.

Sebastian smiled as he saw my delight and led me to the gazebo. On the table, two glasses and a fruit platter were already set.

Seated in the gazebo, Sebastian poured us wine with a smile on his face. Taking a sip of the wine, I couldn't help but smile. This was an unusual Sebastian, far from his usual seriousness and strictness. He looked relaxed and was in a wonderful mood, and his smile was playfully romantic.

"Very beautiful and romantic. Thank you for the gift and for this day," I smiled at Sebastian.

"It's not over yet, princess," Sebastian placed his glass down and moved closer to me. "May I?" he asked, taking my hand and bringing it to his lips. I nodded slightly.

"You look stunning today, Alex, like a fairy tale princess. And every princess deserves a handsome prince," Sebastian gently caressed my hand and continued, and I didn't interrupt, not quite understanding where he was leading. "And it's every handsome prince's duty to give his beautiful princess a true first kiss." He softly touched his lips to my hand, first on the back, then turning it over and kissing my palm.

My breath quickened from his gaze, from these mysterious words, and from such tender kisses. My head was spinning, whether from the wine or from Sebastian, I couldn't tell. I gave a slight nod as he seemed to expect a reaction from me.

Sebastian let out a subtle sigh, apparently relieved that I didn't push him away. "Would you allow me to be your handsome prince today, Alex?" His words were tender and filled with some hesitation. I noticed that he was breathing more rapidly, waiting for my response. I didn't say anything but looked into his eyes and leaned in for a kiss myself.

Sebastian embraced me and began to kiss me gently, as if during a ritual. Fearful of scaring me away, he showered my lips with kisses, caressing my hair and back. He didn't rush, as if we had all the time in the world, and there were only the two of us in it. He kissed my face, my cheeks, and my neck.

In that moment, I felt a desire for more, more kisses, more of Sebastian. I pressed closer to him and exhaled, "Sebastian." As if sensing my desires, he captured my lips in a deep kiss. We merged into one breath, not holding back, completely losing ourselves in the moment.

I felt passion engulfing us, and our movements became more impatient and demanding as he started kissing my neck again, gradually descending lower. I couldn't hold back a moan and a gasp, "Please, Sebastian." He froze and stopped.

Sebastian lifted his head and looked into my desire-clouded eyes. "Should I stop?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

"No," I whispered, caressing his chest. Sebastian sat me on his lap and resumed covering my neck with kisses. "Just tell me what you want, my beautiful princess," he said, his kisses no longer as demanding, as if he was giving me the opportunity to set the pace.

I lifted his head again, cupping it with my hands so he would look at me once more. "You," I whispered against his lips, continuing to kiss him, "I want you, Sebastian," I whispered, deepening the kiss.

I felt him tense up after my words, as if hesitating, but Sebastian lifted himself up and pulled me closer, settling me on. He lifted the hem of my dress so that my legs were spread apart, and I sat on his thighs.

"I'm all yours, my insatiable little princess," he said, capturing my lips once again, while one of his hands slid under my dress to my thigh.

He caressed me without stopping the kisses, eliciting soft moans from me as the fire inside my abdomen ignited, and desire surged.

For a moment, he paused and whispered something. I let out a disappointed groan, burying my forehead in his shoulder.

"Hush now, my impatient girl," Sebastian chuckled, and above us, a dome of light illuminated. "My sweet, impatient, insatiable girl," he whispered, lifting my chin and kissing me again.

With one hand he held my waist, with the other he reached my bottom dress and ran it along the inside of my thigh, I flinched, “Sebastian?” I grabbed his shoulders and wanted to pull away.

But he held me back, "Just trust me, my sweet." His hand reached where I wouldn't touch myself unnecessarily and I trembled.

"Don't be afraid, my dear" - he buried his hand in my hair and held the back of my head, giving gentle kisses, from which goosebumps crawled over my body. Gradually, I relaxed again and then Sebastian deepened the kiss, and his fingers began to stroke my folds, pulling out quiet moans. He caught each one with his kiss. With his thumb, he made circular motions at a sensitive point and my body reacted, I moved my hips slightly, repeating the movement of his hand. Downstairs, everything was shrinking and I could feel the tension rising. My groans were no longer quiet, I clutched Sebastian's shoulders more tightly.

“My sweet girl,” Sebastian whispered as my tension reached its peak and spilled into a wave of sweet spasms in my lower abdomen. At that moment, Sebastian again covered my lips with a kiss.

I felt like I could lose consciousness at any moment. A strange mix of incredible relaxation and lightness engulfed me. Everything around me seemed to spin slightly. Sebastian withdrew his hand and gently moved me away.

"Hang on, my dear. Just need to freshen up a bit, and then we'll go to bed," he said, giving me a kiss on the temple as he steadied me and adjusted my dress. I stood there, holding onto the table in the gazebo, unable to move or speak.

Sebastian looked at me with a tender smile, and there was something new in his gaze, but I couldn't quite figure out what. My condition was too unstable; all I wanted was to lie down on a soft bed and close my eyes.

After fixing our attire, Sebastian removed the dome, and he lifted me up in his arms, carrying me back to the mansion. I rested my head on his chest and couldn't resist the urge to close my eyes.

In that moment, listening to Sebastian's quick footsteps and feeling the rapid beating of his heart, I realized that mine seemed to be in sync. What had happened was more significant to me than mere attraction or passion. I realized that I had fallen in love a long time ago, in love with the ever-changing and unpredictable Sebastian. But with this realization came fear - fear of loss and fear of being hurt.

And what was this evening for Sebastian, a mere game or something more, just like it was for me?

As if I could see the answer on his face, I lifted my head and looked at the prince. He sensed the movement and met my gaze. "We're almost there, my dear," he said with a smile, kissing me on the temple before ascending the stairs to my room.

In a mysterious way, without letting go of me, he opened the door, carried me into the room, and laid me down on the bed. "Need help with the corset, my dear?" His question took a moment to register, but then I nodded and turned my back to him.

Sebastian, still smiling, circled the bed and loosened the laces while I held the dress from the front to keep it from falling. "Goodnight," he said, and I felt a light kiss on my back.

Sebastian was already heading for the exit when I turned around, "Sebastian..." He stopped, turned back, approached me, cupped my face with his hands, and kissed me gently but quickly. "Sweet dreams, Alek," he said, running his thumb over my lower lip, then he smiled and left my room with a determined stride.

Struggling to get up from the bed, I took off my dress and put it on a chair. I didn't have the strength to go to the bathroom, so I simply crawled under the covers and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.