New conditions.

Alex.

In the morning, we gathered for breakfast in the kitchen. I was telling Sam and his wife about the time I spent at the boarding house, and he, in turn, was telling how they managed without me. Then I asked Sam to take care of our horses, and I locked myself in the dining room with Sebastian since there were no other suitable places to discuss my terms with the king. We were interrupted only for lunch, and then we resumed our discussion until dinner. Before dinner, Sebastian and I had a heated argument as we couldn't come to an agreement on any of the points in my demands to the king. He insisted that the king would not accept such radical conditions, while I stood my ground.

We went downstairs for dinner in a bad mood and listened in silence to Sam's account of his day, during which he went to the border villages to find new servants and happily informed everyone that the duchess had returned to the castle.

After dinner, I headed to the study, and Sebastian went to his room to write a letter to the king and draft conditions that he might agree to. This routine continued for another week. We brainstormed conditions, argued, walked together to the rift, and then dispersed to our rooms for the night.

In the morning, I met a breathless Sam in the kitchen, who was holding a letter with the royal de Seen crest. It seemed that the news of my presence in Savoyar had finally reached Christoph.

Exchanging glances with Sebastian, we quickly closed ourselves in the dining room. "I'll check it now, don't open it yet," Sebastian said, taking the letter from me and checking it for magical traps. After a few minutes, he handed me the letter, saying, "It's clean."

I opened the letter and leaned against the table. Sebastian stood next to me, and I unfolded the paper so that he could also see the text.

Dear Alessandra,

Happy coming of age! I would like to congratulate you on this important milestone in your life. You are becoming a grown woman, and of course, it calls for a special celebration.

In light of this, I am delighted to invite you to a ball that will take place in two weeks to honor your coming of age. It will be a splendid event that will be talked about for years to come. I wish this evening to be unforgettable and filled with joy for you.

I also want to emphasize that as your closest relative, I consider it my duty to ensure your well-being. It is important to me that you enjoy this special time in your life, and I want you to feel my support and protection.

Therefore, Alex, I strongly urge you to attend the ball in your honor. It is not only a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your coming of age but also a chance for me to see you and spend some time together. I am looking forward to the day when we can meet.

Please, consider this invitation as a heartfelt request. Your presence at the ball means a lot to me. Be prepared for this special evening and get ready to be the center of attention, as the entire court will be there to congratulate you.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Christoph de Seen

"Nicely played," remarked Sebastian. He looked thoughtfully at the sheet of paper I held in my hands.

"What should we do? It's an obvious trap, and poorly disguised," I asked, staring into Sebastian's eyes.

"I won't be able to accompany you. Before, they might have invited me, but surely rumors of you being found with my foster-mother have reached the King by now," Sebastian rubbed his temples, trying to relieve tension.

"Yes, if you weren't a prince, you could accompany me without an invitation, pretending to be my fiance," I smiled at Sebastian and exclaimed, "Exactly, Rainn!"

Sebastian tensed up and looked at me attentively, "What about Rainn?"

"Isn't it obvious? He's a subject of the kingdom, with not very high status, and he can perfectly well accompany me as a pretend fiance," I started developing the idea about Rainn, walking around the dining room and paying no attention to Sebastian. - "I hope he won't be too busy. What do you think, would he agree? We got along so well. By the way, do you know if he has a fiancée? Maybe he's courting someone?" - On the last question, I poked Sebastian's chest, and he grabbed me by the shoulders.

I raised my head and met his angry gaze, "Sebastian?"

"As far as I know, he doesn't have a fiancée, Your Highness, and I have no idea whom he might be courting," he still looked at me with anger.

"Alright, then I think you should write to him," I said, sounding less cheerful, trying to step away.

"You think so?" - He released me, but his voice was laced with sarcasm. Sebastian stopped drilling me with his gaze and took a deep breath to calm down. - "We need to secure the alliance with my father before the ball; there's no time to hesitate. Without that, no fiance will be of any help. Unless you go as my bride, but my father won't allow it, at least for now."

"Hmm, your bride? Yes, indeed, I don't look so appealing compared to existing ones. Besides, the risk of becoming a widow quickly won't strengthen your position in the kingdom," my sarcasm was filled with venom. It was strange to discuss my status as Sebastian's bride, even theoretically, but it felt natural and didn't provoke internal protest.

Sebastian approached, kissed me on the temple, and whispered, "Focus on the alliance, my little jealous one. We'll discuss the rest in the evening." - He often did this after the battle at the rift. Passionate moments between us gave way to tender and unobtrusive displays of attachment. Sebastian would often come to me, lightly hugging my waist, touching my shoulders, or most often, kissing my temple or crown, caressing my hair.

Skipping lunch due to our negotiations, Sebastian and I had dinner that Samantha brought to the dining room. She threatened to break the lock at night if we didn't open the door. Throughout the day, Sebastian and I reached an agreement on many points. I had to concede on some matters, but I also cleverly concealed a few ideas that I used as my final trump card in the negotiations. Sebastian looked at me suspiciously, not expecting me to hide such arguments. However, to implement these ideas, we would need to work together, or he would have to take on a significant part of the responsibility. But I was confident that the King would appreciate it. Closer to midnight, we finally retired to our rooms.

Usually, Sebastian would open the door to my bedroom and then leave, but today, I heard the door of my room close behind him, followed by a flash of light.

"Um, Sebastian?" - I didn't know what to say, just watching as he approached me with the grace of a cat, taking off his coat and rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

"I promised to discuss something with you this evening, princess, and I intend to keep my promise," he said intently, rolling up his sleeves.

"Alright, why do you look as if I should start calling for help?" - I backed away from Sebastian until I hit my back against the windowsill.

He chuckled, "Does the brave warrior get scared by an unarmed man?" - He showed his hands, as he often did when trying to show that he posed no threat.

"What are you planning?" - I tilted my head and eyed him from head to toe, causing Sebastian to laugh again.

"Like what you see?" - He spread his arms, pointing to himself.

"Not bad," - I shrugged, and he laughed once more.

Sebastian came closer, and I pushed my hands against his chest, feeling him tense. "Before you head to the ball with Rainn, I want to show you something, princess. Trust me, but let me know if you don't like it," - he leaned towards me, running his hands along my back, sending shivers down my spine. I let out a shaky breath.

Smoothly running his hand from bottom to top of the back, he moved his hand forward, the second holding me from behind by the waist and made a movement, leading his fingertips from the top of my shoulder down to my chest. Slowly unbuttoning my dress, button by button. I tried to hold the dress, but he removed my hands, letting the dress fall. I didn't resist, but watched his movements carefully, breathing heavily. A wave of excitement swept over my body. I stood in front of him in one bottom dress. He stepped back and looked at me.

Smiling, Sebastian picked me up and went to the bed, laid me on the snow-white sheets and gently leaned over, leaning on his knee. He began to run his hand along my leg, rising from the tips of his fingers, I sighed again, which caused him a satisfied smile. Sebastian repeated the movement with the second leg again, but this time he moved higher and began to unlace my underwear.

I raised my head, "Sebastian?" - I wanted to protest against such liberties.

He leaned towards me: “It's too early to protest, princess,” he climbed onto the bed and parted my legs with his knee, leaned over and gently grabbed my lips. He kissed me slowly, allowing me to relax, a familiar warmth spread through my body, and excitement grew below.

With his hand, he lifted my leg so that I clasped his thigh, and the kisses became deeper and more insistent. With my other leg, I felt his arousal, and he rubbed himself lightly against me, unable to restrain a quiet moan. I dug one hand into his hair and pulled him even closer, arching my waist slightly.

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I desperately wanted to feel the warmth of his skin, and I broke the kiss.

“Should I stop?” Sebastian looked at me with a slightly misty look.

I shook my head and pointed to his shirt, "Take it off" - he smiled, stood up and pulled his shirt off, exposing his toned, tanned chest.

The prince froze for a few seconds, allowing me to appreciate his appearance. His hair was tousled, his eyes burning with passion, his lips slightly swollen from kisses, formed a self-satisfied smile. He had a well-built chest and a toned torso, with a tattoo of ancient runes on one of his arms. He stood on his knees, hovering over me, waiting for me to scrutinize him with my gaze.

I also lifted myself onto my knees and began to run my hand over his chest and torso. Sebastian closed his eyes and breathed heavily. With my other hand, I traced the tattoo on his arm.

"Similar to the one on my back. It's a mark of distinction, only tattooed on powerful fire element magicians to aid in their control," he spoke in a low, slightly husky voice.

"Show me," I asked, and Sebastian sat down, turning his back to me.

I followed suit, sitting closer, and carefully examined his tattoo, running my fingertips over it. The muscles on his back were tense, as he restrained the desire surging within him, allowing me to set the pace and explore his body.

I leaned closer and kissed the runes drawn on his back. He flinched, tilting his head back and softly moaned, "My little tigress, what are you doing to me?"

I chuckled softly and whispered into his back, continuing to pepper it with kisses, "Seducing you?"

Sebastian also chuckled, swiftly turned around, and pinned me down on the bed. He hovered above me and growled, "My turn." He kissed me, and I wrapped my arms around him, tangling my fingers in his hair.

At some point, I felt Sebastian's hand sliding towards my lingerie, and while we were still kissing, I froze and gently stopped his hand.

"Sebastian, forgive me..." I tried to catch my breath and gather my thoughts.

He rested his forehead against my shoulder, breathing heavily. "Forgive me, my dear, I didn't mean to overwhelm you. Everything will happen when you're ready."

"It's not about that, Sebastian, it's just... I'm not sure if we should," I crawled out from under him and moved closer to the headboard of the bed. Today had been so passionate, but he reminded me of what I had been thinking about ever since the visit to the castle.

After uttering those words, Sebastian lifted his head and looked into my eyes. "What are you talking about? I'm not rushing you. It's your first time, you have all the time you need, little one."

I cleared my throat; for some reason, I felt very embarrassed and scared to delve into this topic. "It's not about that, Sebastian. I just can't be with you now, knowing about her. I saw how you look at her, how you smile and hold her hand. I'm drawn to you, and it's hard to resist, but in a week, you'll go back, and then what about me? What will happen to me when I remove the artifact and the bond disappears?" I clasped my knees with my hands and lowered my head onto them, trying not to cry, even though tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't want Sebastian to see them. I felt ashamed that I couldn't resist the bond, that I had forgotten about his betrothed, that I felt weak again.

Sebastian hugged me and silently stroked my hair. I wasn't expecting an answer; I knew he didn't have one.

After a prolonged silence, Sebastian rested his chin on my head and said, "Forgive me, my dear, I won't lie to you or play with your feelings. I can't promise you that we will always be together. I'm sure my father won't approve of our union. I can't declare eternal love to you right now. You've become dear to me, you mean a lot to me, I want you, but it's not the kind of love you dream of, the kind that can endure through the years. The attraction you feel isn't solely because of the artifact. It may enhance it, but what you feel is real. It's a part of you, my little tigress. Look at me," Sebastian moved away slightly and gently wiped away my tears. He affectionately smiled and brushed away another tear with a tender kiss.

I gazed at him, realizing that I was the one destroying our bond, and there would be no going back. "Sebastian," I almost sobbed rather than spoke, and he shook his head, indicating he wasn't finished yet.

"Now, listen to the promises I intend to keep while we are together, my beautiful princess," he took my hand and caressed the ring, then looked into my eyes again. "As long as you wear this ring, no other man will touch you, and no other woman will touch me. Consider it our joint vow of fidelity," he smiled, seeing my eyes widen. "As for Alicia, you have nothing to worry about, and there's no reason for jealousy. Since the ritual was performed, I've minimized my interactions with her and kept everything within the bounds of propriety, and it will continue to be that way," he kissed my hand. "I cherish you greatly and will protect you. I'll do everything to make you smile. I'll be your faithful ally as long as you need me. I will not betray your trust, even in the interests of myself or my kingdom," Sebastian looked at me and gently caressed my cheek. "Do you accept my vows, my princess?"

I was stunned by the words he spoke. It was more than just empty confessions or promises. I barely whispered, "Sebastian, you shouldn't have... It's a vow on the artifact, you understand that, right?"

He kissed my hand. "I need your 'Yes' again, my princess, and I am fully aware of the consequences of my vow, yet I give it willingly," he indicated that it was my turn to speak my part of the ritual.

"I accept your vow, Prince Sebastian," my voice trembled. I had just gained more than an ally. Sebastian voluntarily bound himself with an unbreakable oath, risking the loss of his magic or even his life if it was broken.

After completing the ritual, Sebastian moved away, intending to stand up, but I held his hand. "Sebastian, stay with me, I don't want to be alone," I couldn't believe he would agree. Our relationship had now changed, and he had no reason to be in my room anymore.

"Give me a few minutes, my dear, I'll be right back," he stood up and left the room.

I too got up and headed to the bathroom; I needed to wash away my tears and compose myself. After a few minutes, I emerged, wearing a nightgown, and climbed into bed. Perhaps he wouldn't come; maybe he just didn't want to refuse me.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I heard a soft knock on the adjoining door. I approached and opened it, finding Sebastian standing there with still wet hair, wearing only casual trousers and no shirt. He took my hand and led me to the bed. Then he came and closed the door to my room, so that no one from the staff would accidentally enter.

I nestled on his chest and whispered, "Thank you" - I could sense his smile and feel his kiss on my forehead. We slept in each other's arms, and I could feel him holding me close throughout the night, as if I were his dearest person, which he had indeed become to me.

When I woke up in the morning, Sebastian was still with me, gently stroking my hair and looking at me with tenderness.

"Good morning, my sleeping beauty. It's time for us to get ready; the servants will be coming soon," he kissed my forehead.

"Good morning, my handsome prince," I smiled at Sebastian.

We got ready, knowing that a tense day lay ahead, as we had to draft a treaty for the king.

The following few days passed in the castle's affairs, as I coordinated some clauses of the treaty with Sem, and had to rewrite them considering his advice. A week before the ball at Christopher's, we fully agreed on the treaty, and Sebastian set off to de Forest for its finalization and the King's signature.

It took three days for Sebastian to persuade the King and the council that it was in their best interest to sign the treaty without making any drastic changes. He reached out to me using a magical artifact passed from the castle by one of the wizards, along with the latest amendments from the King.

Finally, three days before the ball, Sebastian returned with the signed and approved treaty, of which I could provide a copy to Christoph if necessary during the ball. Sebastian and I kept it as a last resort, one of the assurances of the wisdom of the King of Seas. Now, with the Alliance with the Kingdom of Forests, I obtained their protection.

According to the treaty, garrisons for two squads of the King's battle mages were to be stationed on the Borderlands' lands. Sebastian was appointed as the commander of these squads, and in his absence, he had the right to appoint a deputy from among the commanding officers of the battle formations. The Borderlands retained its special status, not being subject to the rule of any of the kingdoms.

As the appointed guardian, I was recognized as the ruling Duchess of the Borderlands, and this status belonged to me until its transfer to the heir on the day of their coming of age. It was planned to build a settlement near the castle, where the servants from the Kingdom of Forests could move with their families. The protection of the settlement was to be ensured by the artifacts of the Drow, which served as our trump card. These Drow artifacts were the only known items in the kingdoms capable of absorbing dark magic. Based on my father's knowledge, I assumed that if they were charged with rift magic, they could provide perimeter security and deter the Crowleys. Negotiations with the Drow regarding the artifacts were taken on by Sebastian.

During his absence, a few more servants and a stableman arrived at the castle, whom Sebastian had also arranged. They were loyal to him and trustworthy. From them, I learned that Countess Alicia was sent to her ancestral estate after several scandals in the castle, where servants were caught in inappropriate situations near the prince's door. It seemed that the count was angry and dissatisfied with the threat to the engagement.

I suppose he linked the signing of the Alliance and the sending away of his daughter, and in him, I found yet another enemy.

After Sebastian's arrival, he took charge of implementing our plans. He, along with Sem, studied the territory and selected suitable lands for the barracks and settlement. Meanwhile, I prepared for the ball. As we had planned, I would attend the ball with Reign as my escort, and the idea of a groom was no longer necessary since he received an invitation in his own name, by some obscure means.

When the time came, and I had to make my way to the palace, I was ready. Descending the staircase, lost in my thoughts, I didn't immediately notice Sebastian. I intended to smile at him, but his expression was troubled and serious.

"Sebastian, what happened?" I asked as I approached him. He looked at me with a serious gaze and replied, "We've been betrayed. Christoph recruited Rainn through his family. I believe he knows everything about the escape, the letter from your father, the ritual, and other details involving Daniel. I'm sorry, I thought I could trust him."

I embraced Sebastian, trying to comfort him. "You couldn't have known. I thought he was trustworthy too," I said, lifting my head to meet the prince's gaze. He caressed my cheek, and my breath quickened from his tender touch on my face, cheeks, and hair.

"But that's not all," he continued. "The King ordered me to attend the ball. The invitation came at the last moment, and I can't refuse."

"But that's good, you'll be there with me," I said, trying to uplift him, but Sebastian shook his head.

"I won't be alone. Alicia will be with me, officially presented as my fiancee. During the ball, Christoph will officially announce our engagement," he declared, looking at me, awaiting my reaction.

"How can another king announce your engagement if you haven't made a statement?" I asked with bewilderment.

"I don't know how they arranged it, but they presented it as a sign of trust and the highest honor they'll bestow upon the King of the Seas as a symbol of friendship and cooperation. I understand why Christoph did this, especially after Rainn's betrayal. But I can't fathom why and how my father agreed to it," he continued, caressing me once again. "I'm sorry I let you down, my princess," he said, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against mine.

We stood like that for a few minutes until we heard Sem coughing.

"It's time, my dear, or you won't make it in time," Sem said with some embarrassment.

Sebastian released me but continued to gaze into my eyes, reading my reaction to the information he shared.

I smiled at him and caressed his cheek. "It's still with me. Perhaps they know a lot, but there are things known only to us. See you at the ball, my handsome prince. I'll be in white," I said, smiling at Sebastian, and headed towards the door.

With a smile, he nodded. "Until then, my little warrior."