Tears welled in Cyrene’s eyes, spilling down her cheeks as Areos continued to expose her, as if to show her off. Her face, streaked with a mixture of pleasure and shame, her bouncing br*asts and perfectly formed legs became a spectacle he seemed to enjoy displaying.

Tears trickled down her cheeks and Areos grew more fervent, thrusting into her with increasing intensity. All Cyrene could do was let out helpless, sobbing moans, her voice a fractured mixture of screams and gasps.

Worst of all, her body betrayed her, responding to the situation with unrelenting waves of pleasure. Another climax, she’d lost count of how many, swept through her entire being.

“Mmmmmm…!”

Her scattered thoughts vanished completely as her trembling body gave in to the overwhelming sensation. She felt it throb deep inside her, spreading its warmth once more. The sticky liquid trickled down, seeping to her hips as her vision blurred and her eyes fluttered shut in exhaustion.

***

“Ahhhh.”

Cyrene winced, her shoulder shaking from the sharp sting of pain. Her delicate skin was covered in small scratches and abrasions, the result of scraping against walls and carpets throughout the day.

“Your skin is very sensitive.”

Areos clicked his tongue softly, his usual mocking fingers now tending to the reddened, scraped areas of her skin, applying ointment with surprising care. On the rare occasions he acted like this, feigning tenderness, it felt so unfamiliar that Cyrene didn’t know how to react.

“Ahhh!”

A small gasp escaped her as his hand pressed against a bruised spot on her shoulder. Another click of his tongue followed.

“I suppose I’ll have to have the carpet replaced.”

Would it be too much to just avoid doing that in such public places? If they were in the privacy of his bedroom or office, she would comply with all his wishes without hesitation – spread her legs, take him in her mouth and moan as he wished. But she couldn’t understand why he seemed to take such pleasure in making love in the open air, where many people could see them.

Having finished with her back, he turned her over and held her shoulders tightly. His hand moved deliberately over her swollen br*asts, tracing the curves as if gauging her reaction.

Was he going to do it again?

Her whole body, exhausted from the ordeal of the day, felt weak and tired. As his hand stroked her br*ast, it slid down her flat stomach and cupped her soft inner thigh.

Her body jerked at the sudden pressure, a sharp shiver running through her. Areos lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. That familiar expression – it was as if he remembered every detail of her face, down to the delicate flutter of her eyelashes. His gaze was piercingly intense, almost frightening.

Cyrene looked up at him, her eyelids quivering with each blink. When his fingers brushed her lips and he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on them, a small gasp of surprise escaped her.

“Ahhhh.”

Almost instinctively, she extended her tongue to lick his lips. It had become a habit, ingrained in her over time. A small chuckle escaped him.

“Hmmmm.”

She licked his lips again and again, repeating the motion like a pet seeking approval. He didn’t devour her mouth, as she had feared. Instead, he pulled her into an unyielding embrace, holding her so tight it felt like her body might break.

“That’s enough.”

Her head rested on his arm, and as his hand slid down her back in a soothing motion, her eyes closed. When she opened them, she noticed that Areos had already closed his. Was he showing her that it was time to rest? This was the first time they had shared an intimate moment together.

“Good night.”

In response, his hand gently stroked her hair, quietly but lovingly.

***

Cyrene looked at Areos cautiously. It felt strange to experience a peaceful moment like this – no spreading of legs, no commands, no demands. She nibbled carefully at a biscuit, trying her best not to make any noise. The faint crunch still echoed softly.

It must have attracted his attention because Areos suddenly turned his head sharply. Startled, Cyrene froze, her eyes widening in alarm. His dark eyebrows furrowed slightly and her shoulders hunched instinctively, fearing she had done something wrong.

“Cyrene”

“Yes?”

Areos brushed his hair back, irritation showing on his usually calm face. The Crown Prince, clearly angry, grabbed a bundle of papers and threw them across the room before standing abruptly.

“Do you want to go outside?”

“Pardon?”

It was an unexpected question, so much so that Cyrene doubted she had heard it correctly. In over ten years of living in this place, she had never set foot outside the Crown Prince’s palace. He had never allowed her to leave, and she had never even considered it. Why was he asking now?

Cyrene watched his expression carefully, but found no clear indication of his intentions. She parted her lips slightly, unsure of how to respond. Depending on her answer, she might upset him, but she remained frozen and blinked nervously.

The Crown Prince frowned at her hesitation and strode towards her with determination.

“Prepare the carriage.”

“…Yes.”

A carriage.

At the unexpected command to prepare a carriage – a vehicle she had only ridden once in her life – Cyrene’s eyes widened in shock.

Why? Why now?

Would he abandon her? Or perhaps give her away, as he often did with half-veiled threats? The last time she had been in a carriage was the day she had been discarded by the Emperor’s hand.

“N-no, I don’t want to.”

“What?”

Areos eyebrows twitched slightly, his expression frowning in confusion. Before he could say anything else, Cyrene blurted out, her voice trembling.

“Please… don’t abandon me.”

For a moment, the Crown Prince froze, his face blank with surprise. Then, after a pause, he burst out laughing.

He lowered his head and planted a light kiss on her lips.

“You’re adorable.”

Instinctively, she licked his lips. Areos couldn’t help but laugh at the gesture.

“As long as you keep pleasing me, there’s no way I’m going to throw you away.”

Feeling strangely desperate, Cyrene rose to her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and licked his lips again.

“Mmmmm.”

When she let out a soft moan, he chuckled warmly and pulled her close around his waist.

“Don’t you want to go out?”

She paused at his words, pulling her lips away from his. His hand brushed against her cheek, moving with a rare sense of leisure. Was he not thinking of taking her to bed? The idea of going out piqued her curiosity.

He had said he wouldn’t throw her away as long as she pleased him, so it seemed safe for now. Clearing her mind, Cyrene shook her head.

“I want to go out.”

Could I possibly see Ilion?

The thought came unexpectedly and filled her with a small spark of hope. They had only met twice, and both times had seemed like fateful coincidences. Somehow the idea of “going out” made her feel as if he might be there, waiting.

“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”

“Good.”

Areos took Cyrene’s wrist and led her out.

The carriage was extravagant, as opulent as the one she had ridden in when she was first brought to the palace. She hesitated for a moment, standing awkwardly, but he lifted her easily and pushed her gently inside.

Each window was decorated with long, semi-transparent curtains. Although she could see the outside world, the view was slightly blurred. Curious, Cyrene reached out to fidget with the edge of one curtain, trying to pull it aside, but Areos caught her hand and pulled it back down.

“No.”

“Okay.”

Without much discussion, the carriage set off. For the first time since entering the Crown Prince’s palace, Cyrene passed through the iron gates. The clatter of the horses’ hooves and the slight bounce of the carriage were completely unfamiliar to her.

Sitting opposite her, Areos watched her in silence. His arms were crossed, his posture relaxed, his gaze lingering on her with an air of ease. What should she do? Should she kneel down and undo his trousers? Unsure what to do, she lowered her head slightly, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

“Hmm.”

He let out a soft sound, leaning slightly against the wall of the carriage. His head rested on one hand, his piercing eyes never leaving hers.

“Take a look.”

“Pardon?”

Too indifferent to elaborate, he simply gestured towards the window with a nod of his head. Cyrene hesitated before cautiously moving towards the window. Even though she couldn’t pull the curtain aside, there was enough to see through the semi-transparent fabric.

Unfamiliar faces of countless people. Another castle that wasn’t the crown prince’s palace. Long, winding roads and knights on horseback riding past the carriage. None of it was extraordinary, but to Cyrene it was all utterly fascinating.

As she looked out of the window, turning her head from side to side, Areos kept his gaze fixed on her. “Observing” seemed a more appropriate word.

“Is it interesting?”

“Yes.”

It was all so fascinating. It was hard to believe that she was walking through places she had never set foot in, outside the tiny world she had lived in, never taking a single step beyond its confines. She was captivated by the garden and the flowers she had never seen before, and when she saw the smaller but charming side palace, she couldn’t help but admire it.

Every time she turned her head, she heard Areos soft chuckle. She was relieved that it seemed to make him happy. When Cyrene looked at him, their eyes met.