((Private))
Crown Prince Jaume de Trastámara retired to his chambers, done with his daily duties at court. The moment he was alone, he got himself a bowl of water and splashed his face. He rubbed vigorously at his skin, hoping that by doing so he could wash away his nerves. Ever since his uncle had named him prime minister, he had felt sick to his stomach. He was only 17, still a boy, and yet he had this burden placed upon him. What did he know of ruling a country? The emperor had done his best to teach him such things over the past few years, but it was all so daunting. The fate of millions of souls hanging in the balance of his every decision. But worst of all was his mandatory attendance at the court meetings. Jaume detested public meetings, being forced to talk with people he hardly knew. Even worse was having to present to those same people his ideas and knowing they were judging his every word. It would be so much easier if you could carry out his duties entirely from a desk, away from court and all the people. What was even more terrifying was that he was only prime minister and not emperor. What would happen if his uncle passed away and he ascended to the throne? All that attention, all those people waiting for instructions and direction; he didn't want to think about it. Jaume prayed that Joan would live to 100 and spare him the ordeal.
"You know you're quite cute when you're nervous."
The unexpected voice breaking the silence startled Jaume, making him jump and accidentally spill the bowl of water all over the floor. The bowl, made of wood, bounced and rolled away. He placed his hand against his chest as though the very fright had given him a heart attack. When he turned around and saw who had spoken, he relaxed. "I'm not nervous."
The welcome intruder grinned. "You're a terrible liar. And you should stop worrying so much. Life is full of far too many pleasures to get caught up in the unpleasant bits."
"That's easy for you to say. You're not heir to the throne." Jaume grabbed a cloth and knelt down to wipe up the water, and then went to retrieve the bowl. Before he could, his guest picked it up and offered it to him.
"You'll make a great emperor one day, if you just take the time to relax." Smooth hands found their way to Jaume's shoulders, slowly working the tension out of his muscles.
Jaume calmed down a little bit more with each touch, letting some of his worries slip away. Still, a few could not escape him. "Perhaps, if only I have the time to learn. I find the idea of leading such a large empire quite daunting."
"You'll just need to surround yourself with wise advisors and competent ministers. You will have little trouble ruling with someone capable by your side." The massaging hands started digging in Jaume's back, and the crown prince found himself gravitating towards the bed.
Sitting down on the edge of his bed, Jaume purred contently as delicate fingers caressed his skin. Despite that, his mind was still an anxious whirlwind. "And that is another thing. My uncle has married me off to some Greek princess I have never met. What if she's cruel or stupid? What if she weakens my future reign rather than strengthens it? She could be a complete bore and I'll be stuck with her forever."
"Stop worrying," Jaume's guest said with a laugh. "Perhaps she will be a bore, and maybe even look like the rear end of a horse, but as long as you bed her every once and awhile to produce an heir, you can ignore her all you want."
"You don't think the court would respond poorly to me neglecting my wife? They could use her against me."
"I believe Empress Francesca set a fine example as to why the emperor's wife should never be let even remotely close to the reins of power. No one would dare side with the empress over the emperor."
"A fine point." Jaume let out a contented sigh as the massaging hands worked their way down his back. There was still one more matter to worry about though. "Once my wife arrives at court though, we may not be able to see each other anymore."
Lips pressed against the back of Jaume's neck and he suppressed a shiver. "Ashamed that your wife might find out about your lover?"
"Well it's not exactly something I want her or anyone else finding out about."
"Then continue to keep it a secret. It's not like you're going to be parading me around on your arm at court anytime soon."
Jaume wasn't entirely convinced. "But she'll be around me often, and we'll have to share chambers at some point. She'll find out."
Gentle hands grabbed Jaume's shoulders. "How many times do I need to tell you to stop worrying? No one has found out about us in the two years since we started this whole thing and you getting married won't change that."
"Perhaps we should end this before we get caught," Jaume said, his nerves getting to him again.
Jaume found himself spun around to face his lover, chocolate brown eyes staring into his. "If we end this now, I can guarantee you'll regret it. You'll miss me."
Jaume couldn't help but smirk. "I probably would, but it's getting dangerous."
"Then perhaps I should remind you of exactly what you would be missing."
The crown prince was forced down onto the bed, his clothes soon tossed aside. And in the throes of passion that followed, he knew that there would be no ending this affair.
Crown Prince Jaume de Trastámara retired to his chambers, done with his daily duties at court. The moment he was alone, he got himself a bowl of water and splashed his face. He rubbed vigorously at his skin, hoping that by doing so he could wash away his nerves. Ever since his uncle had named him prime minister, he had felt sick to his stomach. He was only 17, still a boy, and yet he had this burden placed upon him. What did he know of ruling a country? The emperor had done his best to teach him such things over the past few years, but it was all so daunting. The fate of millions of souls hanging in the balance of his every decision. But worst of all was his mandatory attendance at the court meetings. Jaume detested public meetings, being forced to talk with people he hardly knew. Even worse was having to present to those same people his ideas and knowing they were judging his every word. It would be so much easier if you could carry out his duties entirely from a desk, away from court and all the people. What was even more terrifying was that he was only prime minister and not emperor. What would happen if his uncle passed away and he ascended to the throne? All that attention, all those people waiting for instructions and direction; he didn't want to think about it. Jaume prayed that Joan would live to 100 and spare him the ordeal.
"You know you're quite cute when you're nervous."
The unexpected voice breaking the silence startled Jaume, making him jump and accidentally spill the bowl of water all over the floor. The bowl, made of wood, bounced and rolled away. He placed his hand against his chest as though the very fright had given him a heart attack. When he turned around and saw who had spoken, he relaxed. "I'm not nervous."
The welcome intruder grinned. "You're a terrible liar. And you should stop worrying so much. Life is full of far too many pleasures to get caught up in the unpleasant bits."
"That's easy for you to say. You're not heir to the throne." Jaume grabbed a cloth and knelt down to wipe up the water, and then went to retrieve the bowl. Before he could, his guest picked it up and offered it to him.
"You'll make a great emperor one day, if you just take the time to relax." Smooth hands found their way to Jaume's shoulders, slowly working the tension out of his muscles.
Jaume calmed down a little bit more with each touch, letting some of his worries slip away. Still, a few could not escape him. "Perhaps, if only I have the time to learn. I find the idea of leading such a large empire quite daunting."
"You'll just need to surround yourself with wise advisors and competent ministers. You will have little trouble ruling with someone capable by your side." The massaging hands started digging in Jaume's back, and the crown prince found himself gravitating towards the bed.
Sitting down on the edge of his bed, Jaume purred contently as delicate fingers caressed his skin. Despite that, his mind was still an anxious whirlwind. "And that is another thing. My uncle has married me off to some Greek princess I have never met. What if she's cruel or stupid? What if she weakens my future reign rather than strengthens it? She could be a complete bore and I'll be stuck with her forever."
"Stop worrying," Jaume's guest said with a laugh. "Perhaps she will be a bore, and maybe even look like the rear end of a horse, but as long as you bed her every once and awhile to produce an heir, you can ignore her all you want."
"You don't think the court would respond poorly to me neglecting my wife? They could use her against me."
"I believe Empress Francesca set a fine example as to why the emperor's wife should never be let even remotely close to the reins of power. No one would dare side with the empress over the emperor."
"A fine point." Jaume let out a contented sigh as the massaging hands worked their way down his back. There was still one more matter to worry about though. "Once my wife arrives at court though, we may not be able to see each other anymore."
Lips pressed against the back of Jaume's neck and he suppressed a shiver. "Ashamed that your wife might find out about your lover?"
"Well it's not exactly something I want her or anyone else finding out about."
"Then continue to keep it a secret. It's not like you're going to be parading me around on your arm at court anytime soon."
Jaume wasn't entirely convinced. "But she'll be around me often, and we'll have to share chambers at some point. She'll find out."
Gentle hands grabbed Jaume's shoulders. "How many times do I need to tell you to stop worrying? No one has found out about us in the two years since we started this whole thing and you getting married won't change that."
"Perhaps we should end this before we get caught," Jaume said, his nerves getting to him again.
Jaume found himself spun around to face his lover, chocolate brown eyes staring into his. "If we end this now, I can guarantee you'll regret it. You'll miss me."
Jaume couldn't help but smirk. "I probably would, but it's getting dangerous."
"Then perhaps I should remind you of exactly what you would be missing."
The crown prince was forced down onto the bed, his clothes soon tossed aside. And in the throes of passion that followed, he knew that there would be no ending this affair.