Please, keep your relationships level

Madeline

The hot water ran down my body, falling straight from the ceiling as I lathered up with the soap that would leave me with a not at all typical scent. The pressure of the water was relaxing, not as relaxing as a bath would be, but relaxing nonetheless.

I closed my eyes, smiling as I felt his hands gently circling my hips just before his lips traced the sensitive skin of my neck, clinging my body to his, rekindling all the desire from the night before.

" This smells great on you," Fred nibbled on my earlobe.

I moved into his arms, turning to face him before feeling the cold marble on my back.

" Your smell?”

" Exactly," he laughed, trapping me in the shower before kissing me.

But instead of allowing myself to enjoy that kiss any longer, I slipped out of his arms and opened the shower door, leaving him behind.

" I'm sorry, Fred. But we're overdue, your parents could be here any minute " I laughed at his disappointed expression.

" Would that be so bad? " he stepped under the shower, running his hands through his hair and tilting his head back, letting the water run over his body while I admired him from the outside, wrapping myself in the towel.

Fred wasn't the muscular type, he had a slim build, but for a sedentary smoker like him, he had his charm. Something about his manner made him look like a rock star, and that was exciting.

" If the queen finds out about our little... private celebrations... all the progress we made with that stupid party will be lost.”

I still remember how pleased Johannah was to see how much the country's gossip columns praised Louise for all her charisma and resourcefulness at Nina Augustine's party, and Louise could finally enjoy herself without worrying about a security guard following her around all the time. 

It was a win-win situation. 

" You've got a good point, I'll stay here a bit longer and see you later " he said goodbye, turning his back to me.

I ran my gaze down his body one last time, smiling at the memory of the night before. 

Fred had spent the last few days in Munich with his parents, so he couldn't go to Nina's party with us, but when he came home the day before Mr. and Mrs. Brandstatter, he called me, and I couldn't resist the invitation to spend the night with him. The big question now was to get out of that house without arousing suspicion.

I took a few minutes to get dressed and comb my hair, going out into the hallway with the strands still wet, but just when I thought I'd manage to escape unscathed, the sound of heels hitting the marble floor rang out, causing a small wave of panic to wash over me. I ran in the opposite direction, turning down the corridor just as Nadine knocked on her son's door.

" Fred darling, we've arrived.”

Great, I managed to escape. 

I hurried down the corridor with a small smile on my face, down the stairs that would lead me to the kitchen. I just needed to get out through the utility area, and...

" God! " Alberta Brie, the Brandstatter's cook, exclaimed when she saw me emerging from the stairs.

I signaled for her to remain silent, receiving a condescending look in return.

" You're going to get in trouble, Miss Lechner," she scolded.

That wasn't the first time she'd helped me get out of the house without being seen.

" Only if you snitch on me" I hummed before leaving through the service door.

Now all I had to do was cross the palace's inner courtyard and I'd soon be home. The courtyard was surrounded by U-shaped buildings, in the center was the royal palace, on one side was the Brandstatter house and on the opposite side was my parents' house.

The place was quite empty because of the time of day, and I crossed it quickly, feeling relieved to be home when I crossed the threshold after a few seconds. 

I went up to my room, ready to get some sleep, since my sleep the night before had been scarce, but to my surprise, there was someone waiting for me there.

" Where were you? " my mother practically growled, sitting on my bed.

I quickly searched my mind for a convincing excuse for my absence.

" I went for a run," I assured her.

" Wearing jeans? Who were you running from, the police?”

" Lizie had a crying fit and needed to be comforted," I added.

I should have thought of that excuse before. My mother got up and walked over to where I was standing, stopping in front of me.

" So I'm supposed to assume that you comforted her with sex?”

That statement made me choke.

" Have you gone mad? Why would I think something like that?”

" I know a hickey when I see one, Anna," she indicated a spot on my neck.

Instinctively I moved my hand to it, my eyes widening. I warned that idiot not to leave marks!

" Anna, don't tell me you were with the prince! " my mother moaned.

" It's okay, I won't say that " I circled her, throwing myself back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

A conversation about my sex life with my mother was everything I didn't want this morning.

"Anna, a scandal is the last thing we need. The queen won't accept another slip-up from you, just when she's starting to have some appreciation for you " Isla sat down on the bed.

" Mother, there's no scandal…”

" You having an affair with your best friend's future husband is a scandal, Anna," she said.

I turned my face to look at her, giving her a mischievous smile.

" To be classified as an affair, there would have to be feelings involved, and that's not the case.”

" So, can't you find someone less problematic to deal with your sexual needs?”

That statement made me laugh alongside the woman, who ended up joining me in the laughter.

" I'm just saying, you've got Phillip Brenner, Alexander Weisman. They're handsome.”

" Mom!”

I complained, still laughing, and she lay down next to me, watching the ceiling with me for a few seconds, before speaking again.

" Tell me, does he live up to the title of prince? " she wanted to know.

" Definitely not " I felt her questioning gaze on me, and I turned my face to look at her " when girls talk about a prince, they imagine a guy who's super romantic and kind. Fred is nothing like that.” 

She laughed, going back to staring at the ceiling. The two of us sat in a comfortable silence while my mind began to wander to a certain royal guard who had been inhabiting my mind for the last few days. Despite Matteo's polite demeanor, I sometimes wondered how his personality would translate into other situations.

I bet he'd be intense.

" I could ask one of the security guards to deal with my sexual needs. Some of them are quite interesting," I commented without thinking.

My mother sat up suddenly, giving me a haunted look.

" Anna Madeline, don't you dare! We already have enough problems!” 

I turned back to her with a lazy smile on my face.

" You know it's hypocritical of you to say that.”

My mother was actually Irish. Her family didn't even have that much money, but my father met her during a trip and fell in love. 

The rumor is that everyone expected him to marry the queen, so it was a surprise that my mother arrived.

" It's precisely because I know what I've been through that I can assure you, you don't want this for your life or for the person you're with " she stood up " get someone from the same social class as you, no matter who it is.”

No matter who it is.

Those words echoed through my brain as my mother left me alone. What does that mean? They expect me to marry someone important, as long as it's not as important as the prince, or even the last Brenner. I doubt I'd have the queen's support if I were interested in Phillip. 

And at that moment, not for the first time in my life, I wished I was someone other than the daughter of the queen's right-hand man.

Determined to put that aside, I curled up in bed, closing my eyes a little.