Chapter 61 - Pink

The Monarch of Holstein turned to the maiden,

"As long as it is up to the affront he committed, you can choose Prince Magnus' punishment," he conceded, to the perplexity of those present. Magnus didn't open his mouth, but his face contracted in a grimace of hatred.

"All dismissed."

The order of the Sovereign Prince quickly disbanded everyone, and Alexa was taken to the sumptuous chambers of Countess Godiva. After enjoying a soothing tea, as the Countess said she needed it herself, the older lady wanted to know,

"Lady Saskia, I know my nephew seriously offended you, but what do you have in mind?"

Alexa spoke without thinking,

"He needs to go through similar humiliation to what he inflicted upon me!"

"My dear, your pain is legitimate, but he is a Prince, and you will marry his younger brother. He may be the future ruler of this kingdom; please be wise in your retribution," advised the older woman.

Possessed by a fixed and persistent desire for revenge, Alexa could not absorb the wisdom of those words. No matter how much she saw common sense coming from experience there. She just craved REVENGE! REVENGE! REVENGE!

"Your Excellency, I'll think of a discipline that will serve your eldest nephew as a lesson in humility and maturity. If I pay any consequences in the future, it's because Prince Magnus cannot sympathize with a woman's suffering. Isn't it enough for him to mock his own bride?! All he's been doing since I arrived is treating me like I'm the cheapest of criminals. Why does he pester me this much?"

"You're a smart girl and you know that's not why Magnus chases you," said the Countess. "It's a man's attraction to a woman."

"I don't know any of that. All I know is that he always wants to have the last word."

"Well, no matter what feelings Magnus may have for you, it's your role to refuse his advances. It's a terrible sin, as both are compromised to other people. And you both will be part of the same family soon. But remember, when you are part of this family, you must join the effort to protect it. The legacy of one is the legacy of all," the Countess got up, and went to the bed, pulling the covers off. "Rest here tonight, and sleep as much as you can. I'll be with Konrad during the night. He is a little feverish. The attendants will help you change."

Alexa took pity on the poor Duke, and wishing him a good recovery, she obeyed the Countess.

An hour later, her eyes were still open in the dark, cracked only by a lamp inside a glass shield. From time to time she heard loud laughter and a subdued sound of music, which were part of the castle's private festivities.

She was unable to sleep, seized by endless recapitulations of the day's events. The Countess's words reverberated in her mind. She would soon be part of the Von Wuttenfal, and would cease to be a Dallassenos. 'The legacy of one is the legacy of all.'

While still trying to figure out what it meant, she heard a loud noise in what appeared to be a wardrobe on the wall. Startled, Alexa reached the silver candlestick next to the bed. She was just getting out of bed when the closet door, painted with an exquisite country landscape, opened with a certain fuss. To her utter surprise, the one who came out of the closet, now clearly a secret escape passage, was Prince Magnus.

"But ...!" The maiden preferred a thousand times that he was another murderer than the despicable First Prince.

"Shhhh, what are you doing? Aren't you in your room?! How can I talk to you if you are never doing what you should be doing?" The slurred speech, even if still coherent, revealed the Prince's alcoholic state. 'Gosh, this is the last straw!'

Still gripping the sconce, she sat on the bed, saying firmly,

"Go away, Your Highness. You are drunk. And we have nothing to talk about."

"You have a reservoir of tears, don't you? But I must grant it to you, you are the most fascinating person I have ever seen," he approached with a grin, reaching for the lamp and bringing it close to the bed.

"I'm going to call the guards," the maiden warned, struggling to contain her desire to smash the sconce on the prince's head.

"If you call the guards, I will say that we were reconciling, as lovers we are! That it was just teething troubles," he laughed.

'Ah, how pathetic!' she thought. Few men escaped being pathetic when drunk, and Magnus was apparently no exception. 'He's the seductive and romantic type when he's drunk, why isn't that even a surprise?'

Magnus sat on the bed, overlooking the threat of the candlestick, and setting the lamp down beside the bed. Alexa rocked the object in her hands from side to side, feeling its weight and getting ready to use it if necessary.

"Don't be ridiculous. How could we be lovers when I was a boy to you? Wasn't that the reason for your anger? What nonsense to say it was to save your family's honor! It was because you were horrified to beg for a boy's kisses!" She spoke contemptuously, savoring the truth of her words. But Magnus laughed softly, inclining his torso to rest his head on the cushions on the bed, while his feet remained on the floor.

"Yes. I was mad. I always knew you were a liar, but itching to make love to you with such yearning, and learning that you were a boy! I got crazy as hell! Crazed that you played with me like that. But look, I had reason to conclude it! I saw you doing things that I never believed a girl could do."

At least the last part should have filled her with pride, but it just pissed her off.

"I thought that it's because I don't have a fleshed and womanly body. Admit it once for all."

"Also this. You really aren't that hot to hug. But I go crazy about your smell, and your ... vulva ... It's beautiful. Pink and beautiful," he said dreamily, staring at the embroidered canopy of stars on his aunt's bed.

"Mine ... vuldfhh?!!!" Alexa felt herself starting to become apoplectic, especially since her reaction brought another chuckle from the drunk Prince. "Ah, you bastard!!!"

This time, she really lost her mind and tried to hit him with the candlestick. But Magnus, despite being drunk, was still agile and dodged, rolling to the side and running away from her. Alexa continued to chase him across the huge bed, though just hitting pillows and blankets while they both crawled on the mattress. Hunt and huntress.

"Come back here, I'm going to smash your head!"

"It doesn't change the fact that… I really want to make love to you!"

"Let's see when your head is bleeding! Get back here!" she pulled him by the leg, making him slide and fall flat, with his back to her in the middle of the mattress. She raised the candlestick very high to hit him, but the Prince still replied, apparently feeling very audacious and comical,

"It won't change my opinion!"

But at that moment, there was a knock at the door, and the call,

"Alexa! Are you awake?"

It was Cordelia's voice.