EIGHT | RUDE AWAKENING

~Nadia~

It was the harvest season, and I finally got a chance to get out of the palace. My grandfather worked in the orchards and was involved in moving the harvest to the cellars or for processing.

I accompanied him along with my nephew, Ethan, who was six years old and loved plants just like I did. Ethan always helped me around the garden as well, and we had a great time moving cart fulls of peaches and apples today.

I watched the sunset on my way back, feeling happy that it was the third and last day without Ian. Another night to go and he would be here tomorrow morning.

I returned to the palace in high spirits, only for my excitement to be immediately cut short.

"There she is!" My mother was delighted to see me which was a horrible thing in itself. I hoped that she didn't sell me off to some foreign merchant while I was away.

Lydia patted my back as if I returned victorious from a war or something.

"What's going on?" I asked, not wanting to know.

"Here's your first proper income sweetheart. You won't believe how much you made!" Julia's mother handed me a thick envelope. I was confused. What did I make this money for? A feeling of dread washed over me.

"Your Prince Charming is very generous. He paid you even for the day that you rejected his group sex invitation. Four hefty payments in total. And he counted all your failed performances as private sessions." My mother said with a proud smile.

"You still shouldn't let go of the opportunity to be his mistress. If he approved all your payments before leaving on his trip, there is hope that he still wants you," said Julia's mother.

She was the reason behind all this mess and my tangled up feelings, to begin with. She was so wasted on my birthday that she had drawn Ian's attention with her babbling, putting an abrupt end to my carefree life.

Until a few minutes ago, I was just lovesick and sad about falling for such a man, but now I was feeling like a true prostitute. Ian paid for every moment I spent with him. If I had any doubts about him feeling something more for me, he utterly cleared them all.

"I love your strategy, Nadia," Julia said, with admiration in her eyes. "It looked like a bad move at first to give up on such a privilege. Did anyone of you guess that the Prince would have taken it as a challenge? A bold trick for sure, Nadia!"

"Yes, and he is not going to back off until he gets what he wants. So, a couple more private sessions and a lot more money. Oh my! I won't be surprised if you make a year's worth in your very first month." My mother was building castles in the air.

They would probably kick me out if I told them how I really felt. Not sure if saying that I felt heartbroken was an exaggeration. Was I really some sort of a challenge for him? The petty ways in which he troubled me a few days back definitely showed that his ego was hurt and he wanted revenge.

So all those things he did, treating me differently and making me special, was just his way to make me sleep with him? And when he failed, he got pissed and decided that I wasn't worth his time. Oh well... I should blame myself for expecting anything different from him. I guess I forgot who I was. I needed this rude awakening. 

I went to sleep, thinking about all the plants and garden supplies that I was going to buy with the money I got. I will buy a nice foldable platform trolley for my grandfather. He is too old to be lugging such heavyweights from the orchards to the carts. Ethan and I helped but we weren't really very useful, especially Ethan, because he ate most of the peaches he carried today. 

                                *********** 

Ian just returned this morning, and his stupid sex party was in the evening. He couldn't wait even for a day before scheduling it. 

"You still need to come and watch unless you are sick." My sister reminded me.

"Hmm... I can't really use up all my sick passes." I needed them for when Ian's brothers sent out invitations next week or later. I hoped to go unnoticed as long as possible.

"Are you sure? You actually look sick today."

"I am fine."

I will have to watch Ian fuck other women to get over him. I need everything there is to convince my dumb heart that he was not worth the tears or heartache. I avoided him all day by skipping kitchen duties and spending time in the orchards. But evening came pretty quick and everyone was dressed up and heading out of the courtesan quarters.

I usually sat with the other under eighteen girls to watch these events but it felt different today. Not getting an invitation was a sign of failure. I wasn't supposed to be in the audience anymore, so I could see a lot of questioning and judging eyes when I stood by the large glass window. The viewers were not allowed in the same room to lend some privacy and quiet to the participants.

I hated how my heart sped up instantly when Ian entered the room. His stormy grey eyes made me weak at the knees. With those strong arms, firm chest, and soft sharp lips, his presence made everyone turn flushing shades of red.

Part of me wished to run toward him, to stroke his silky strands of hair and kiss that tight angular jaw. I remembered the way he had closed his eyes last time when I ran my lips over his face. The sight of his muscled bareback, and the thought of how those little stubbles on his face poked my skin was turning my panties moist. I needed to get ahold of myself.

What I watched next scarred me for good. He ripped the black lace off Julia's pale skin and pressed her face into the bed before pounding into her savagely. Her whimpers of pleasure soon turned into screams and the bedpost started to shake. His ragged breathing and low grunts reminded me of our time together when I was the one pleasuring him, his breathy words replaying in my head. It hurt like hell that it wasn't me he was pounding into.

Next, he was riding the other girl who turned eighteen on the same day as me. He flipped her over and wrapped his arm around her neck. I closed my eyes, not wanting to know if he pulled her into him. I couldn't stand the thought of him looking into her eyes.

His sex was always rough and animalistic, but I found it extremely arousing before. I was jealous of all those women of course. Unlike those countless lonely nights when such visuals made me orgasm, they cut me like a sharp piece of glass this time. I wanted to be the first and last thing that he touched and tasted. Some other woman trembling under him and gripping at the sheets made me burn up with anger.

I wanted to push myself to see it till the end, to soak it all in no matter how bad it hurt. My vision turned cloudy with tears spilling out endlessly. Unable to stand on my shaky legs, I ran down the hallway, accidentally knocking a couple of tall ornamental vases. 

"Whoa, easy there, lady!"

Someone loomed up ahead of me, blocking my way.

"I am sorry, I will have it cleaned."

I looked back to see if I created too much mess. He didn't move out of my way. I wiped my tears to get a good look at him.

"Who are you? And what's going on? Is there a problem?" He asked in a concerned voice.

I introduced myself but failed to give a logical explanation to his other two questions. I never saw him before but he sounded nice. Unlike the younger men in my family, he had a warm, friendly aura.

"Very well. I am Noah, Chief Grenadier of the Assault Operations wing."

"The army?"

"Yes, the army," he chuckled.

"Nice to meet you. I have to go now, excuse me."

"Can I walk you to wherever you are going?"

Um... "Okay. Tell me more about yourself. Are you married?"