Royal Trouble (NSFW) - Chapter 6 - A'mara Books

6

.
“I have never been so tempted to concoct a poison!” Sister Vasana said as Klara joined her in the herb garden.

“Has he hurt you?” Klara asked, concerned.

“Only my pride, I assure you. I thought I was done with that bastard! Only for him to return to me in my old age. But I will allow him to abuse me long before I allow him to hurt another under my charge – especially one who could still give him a child.”

“You realize, Sister, that if Prince Finn gives me the child he intends, you will be my mother-in-law.”

Vasana nodded. “Of all my myriad daughters-in-law, you will always be my favorite. Of course, you may be the only one I ever meet. I have grandchildren all around the kingdom no doubt, and know none of them.” She looked around the herbs. “I can’t poison him… Finn would undoubtedly turn on the rest of you.”

“You could poison them both.”

“Only one has harmed me,” she replied. “And he hasn’t even done that. He’s a scoundrel, but I have no right to take my son’s life. If I did, it would come back to haunt me for sure.”

“How is it okay for them to rape us?”

“It’s not okay. But neither is it a good reason to kill,” Sister Vasana insisted, looking Klara in the eyes. “No matter how we are treated, we must behave as our Patroness would have us behave – not like the scum who overpower us. I recommend some time in the Vasana meditation garden until the men return. Ask her everything you have asked me and act according to your heart.”

Klara nodded. “I’ve never been asked to accept anything so difficult until today. I will meditate.”

“I pray you will be granted wisdom. I find it difficult to advise you on this matter.”

Klara returned to the meditation garden in the Cloisters. She sat beside the fountain, listening to the water wondering how she could survive this challenge.

♥

Sister Wren took the empty buckets down to the spring, them hanging from the yoke on either side of her. As she walked, she thought about Sister Klara. She had never known Klara to lie about anything, yet she had seen what had happened. Even pretending to want the Prince’s attentions hadn’t prompted Klara to tell her the truth. Rather, her friend was frightened of the man, yet had submitted to him twice.

Despite knowing what the Prince was, Wren couldn’t help the tingles of arousal she felt within her. Maybe there was someone else in the King’s Guard who would be better behaved.

“May I assist you?” a man asked, joining her, halfway to the spring.

“Who are you?” she asked in reply.

“Kevin. I am part of the King’s Guard. You?” he asked.

“I’m Sister Wren.”

“Where are you going?”

“To refill the buckets. Without them, we don’t eat tonight.”

“I will carry them for you,” he offered, taking the yoke from her and carrying it awkwardly over one shoulder. His free hand reached for hers.

She didn’t resist. His hand was warm around hers.

“Let’s sit on the bench over there,” he suggested. “We can get to know each other.”

Wren smiled.

“You are very young to be in a convent,” Kevin commented as they sat. He put the buckets on the ground with the yoke.

“I had no one to look after me, so it was here or as a pub prostitute. Thankfully, Sister Vasana and Sister Klara were in Erion that day, so they brought me here.”

“I’m glad they brought you here. You’re too good for a life of prostitution.”

She smiled again. “You work for the King and the Prince,” Wren said.

“Yes. But they only pay my wages. They do not own my heart.”

She nodded. “It is being said that the King took our eldest Sister to her bed almost immediately.”

He nodded. “If I say anything, it could cost me my head,” Kevin replied.

“I saw Sister Klara being screwed by the Prince earlier. It didn’t look like she agreed with it either. She won’t talk to me about it.”

“If she does, the King will execute her for sure,” Kevin replied. “It would be treason.”

“Treason!” Sister Wren nearly shrieked. “Treason to share what he did to her?! How!”

“Shhh!” Kevin said quickly, looking around them. Then he put his arm around her and spoke into her ear. “I don’t make the laws. I only know why others have been executed.”

“That’s ridiculous!” she replied.

“I agree. Now, listen to me carefully. I can only speak frankly with you when we are alone. You are the same age as the Prince, if I’m not mistaken...”

“I believe I’m a year older.”

“Close enough. Trust me when I tell you that you’re not safe around him.”

“But he’s already screwing Sister Klara. He’s very clear that he wants to give her a bastard.”

“And you really think that keeps you safe?” Kevin asked. “There are rumors around the Castle that all the pregnant and lactating staff there were covered by him. Believe me, if he finds you, young and fertile as you are… he will have you too. He will force you to have his bastard too.”

Wren shuddered. “He wouldn’t!”

“You think he would wait for you to decide?” he asked.

Wren shuddered again, knowing the answer.

Kevin continued. “You ask Sister Klara and Sister Vasana their opinion on the matter… but carefully. You don’t want them to be beheaded for sharing too much.”

Wren shuddered again. She looked at Kevin and an idea formed in her head. “What would your recommendation be?” she asked. “How should I avoid Prince Finn raping me?”

“I’m not sure – other than not being alone with him – at any cost.”

“Sister Klara was avoiding him. I know that because she completely disappeared at breakfast rather than remaining to help. She would never have done that otherwise!”

“Apparently, it wasn’t enough. Once the Prince knows what he wants, nothing stops him. That’s why I’m worried about you.”

“What if I am with you instead?” she asked, looking into Kevin’s eyes. “What if you have me first?”

“What?” he asked, looking at her, his mouth agape.

“Then, if I were to have a baby as a result, it would be yours – not the nasty prince’s. I could live with that a lot better!” she leaned closer to him. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been thinking about it ever since you joined me to come down here with me...”

She pressed her lips to his.