All Chapters of Where Loyalties Lie: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The Day of Magia arrived soon after, and so the palace prepared for the departure of the top three people in the empire: The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prime Minister. The small number of magic practitioners in the capital congregated in the palace to join the Emperor’s procession to the Temple of Hypnotite. Ursa decided to pack light, seeing as the trip would be short, and the temple practiced simplicity in life to feel closer to the manna. “I don’t feel manna,” she had rebutted when Orlov informed her, noticing the papers of dress ideas her handmaidens had left on her desk. “Why would I need to underdress?”“You have a point… though you will feel a bit out of place with all that lace on.” Ursa quietly stuck the papers in her drawer, clearing her throat out of embarrassment. 

Ivan laid on his side, watching his wife’s figure as she slept. After provoking him, she became demure, hiding her face in the sheets. Oh well. He did promise he would not do anything to her until she was ready. He won’t break his word. But as he watched her sleep, he noticed her quiet shudders under the thick covers. He noticed her erratic movements, her bothered expressions, the sweat beginning to form on her brow. Ursa laid on her back on the bed next to her husband, but her brain brought her somewhere else. Images, scenes, people she had never seen before-- all flashing before her like a montage-- a cacophony of voices and sounds drilling into her ears. She was standing in the palace in Ichares, wearing crimson robes with lavish furs lining her ostentatious dress. The hallway was ab

The shrine wasn’t far, according to Chlaesis, it was just a bit hidden due to its age. Ursa was unsure of this, seeing as she only just met these girls, but she had no reason to distrust them. The sky was beginning to darken though it was still early morning, not even past ten yet. The air was beginning to feel a bit moist, but otherwise it was a fine day. There was a dirt pathway covered by trees and other flora that Ursa recognized from Chlaesis’ description. It was very scenic, with all types of little birds and small forest creatures darting around under the underbrush and bramble. The path had a certain energy Ursa had never felt before in all her life. A warm feeling rushed from her heels to her head, leading her along, an invisible shepard gripping her control hard. Ursa was brought to a clearing that lost most of its beauty from

“Where are we?” Ivan asked. He never really stopped to think about where he was going, all he knew was that he had to find his wife. “We’re under an old shrine. I didn’t know there would be a cave system… what a find…” Ursa mused. She held onto his hand tightly while Ivan’s other hand produced a small, flickering flame from his fingertip. The couple made their way down the tunnel, hoping to see just a slant of natural light. “How’d you get here? Why didn’t you go with everyone else to the morning prayer?”“A few priestesses recommend I check out the shrine instead. They told me it was a tourist attraction, but now I see that they were just being great businessmen.”&ld

CW: kind of sexual content but like not reallyUrsa sighed into her skin as she watched the small flame slowly begin to dim. She had managed to rub the sticks together enough so a small fire could burn, but she knew it wouldn’t last. From her peripheral view, Ursa noticed Ivan’s fingers beginning to twitch. His eyes fluttered open, but he didn’t move his body. “Your Majesty! You’re awake!” she exclaimed. “Yess,” he slurred, “but I can’t move.”“What do you mean? Can you feel your body?”“I can only get my fiingerss to move.” Ursa resisted the urge to throw herself in the fire. “Undress me.”