Kyrisse

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

Hye Jin turned to look at Alessandra. She really didn't like Adrian's handmaiden and as soon as she became Queen, Alessandra would be the first she would throw out of the castle. She didn't care where she ended up or if her husband becomes angry at her. The sooner she was out of her sight, the better. For now, she will just have to bear her presence. "Bid your Prince goodbye. When he returns, we will be married and you will never be allowed to stand before him, beside him or even behind him," she glared at Alessandra before she turned and walked away.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

Hye Jin scoffed at Alessandra. She couldn't decide which was more laughable. Her inability to see that the Crown Prince was smitten by her or her superior attitude towards her, the future queen of WhiteHaven. She was just about to shoot her a particularly mean retort when Adrian stepped out of the bathroom. He was wearing one of his formal wears but this time in blue. His cheeks were just as flushed as it had been the night before. He looked at Hye Jin and obviously avoided looking at Alessandra.

Hye Jin immediately turned towards Adrian and gave him a smile. He himself isn't aware of what it is he feels for this low life, she thought amusedly to herself. "Your handmaiden is simply wonderful, Adrian. I am glad you have her to take care of your health. Perhaps she will wait on me while you are away?" she suggested sweetly.

Adrian gave Alessandra a quick glance. "I am pleased that you find her to your liking," he replied. "If it pleases you, Princess, you may avail of her services while I am away," he agreed.

"Hye Jin," she gently corrected as she gave Alessandra a mean little smile.

"Hye Jin," Adrian repeated. "Well, if I may take my leave, ladies. I need to receive my father's orders before I set out," his smile was a little strained.

"How long will you be gone?" Hye Jin followed after Adrian.

"I believe only a month's time," Adrian permitted her to walk alongside him.

Hye Jin pouted. "And I was hoping we would be able to get to stay by each other's side this 6 months before our wedding. This is as I feared. And the reason why I suggested to be married at the earliest time possible," she said.

Adrian's smile was still strained. "I shall consider it. Let us speak about this more when I return," he replied.

Hye Jin stopped when they were at the throne room's door. "Have a safe journey, my future husband."

Adrian gave her a small polite bow before he stepped into the throne room.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

Hye Jin was sitting on Adrian's bed when Alessandra walked in. She gave the handmaiden an overly sweet smile that was meant to be mocking. "Oh, no need to worry your little head about that, my dear... What was your name? Aliana?" she gestured towards the bathroom. MY Adrian is already awake. I took the liberty to awaken him and drew his bath this morning. That is what a good wife should do, am I correct?" she made sure she enunciated and emphasized the word 'my.' She stood up and walked towards Alessandra. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Make no mistake. I will not lose to you. You may have bewitched him with your.." she looked at the blonde girl from head to foot. "...charms. And you may have his attention. But I will be his queen and as soon as we are wedded, I'm afraid your services will no longer be needed. His attention and his affection will no longer be yours," her voice dripped with venom.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

The kiss that Adrian thought would only last a few seconds lasted longer than that. It wasn't just one kiss but several, each making the crown prince just want more. An hour later, both breathless and flushed, they finally stopped. The prince sent Alessandra back to her own room.

He laid on his bed wide awake, his thoughts on what had just transpired. He tried to make sense of everything. Wanting to kiss her so much, feeling annoyed by a smile she shared with Henry, feeling almost angry at how she had been so happy seeing Adam back in the castle, how his heart had beat so loudly in his chest. He shook his head. Why did he feel so possessive when obviously, she can't be anything more to him than a handmaiden.

His thoughts shifted to how willing she was in kissing him. Did she feel the same confusion that he felt? Or was it just the heat of the challenge she herself issued? Did she imagine him to be Adam while she kissed him?

All the confusing thoughts swirled around in Adrian's head until he finally fell asleep near dawn.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

Adrian's eyes drifted down to Alessandra's lips and doing so undid him. He felt that pull, that need to kiss her. And seeing her want it the way he did only made the pull a lot stronger. What in the world has come over you, Adrian Havensworth? the words ran through his head like a far away voice. He didn't care anymore. He would give in to it now and then puzzle it out later. He reached out, laid a hand on her cheek and then leaned down and pressed his lips again on hers.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

Adrian raised an eyebrow at how boldly Alessandra challenged him. She always was a little outspoken even to him. And perhaps that is the exact reason why he allowed her to stay close to him. She was not at all boring. He crossed the distance that separated them and stood close to her. He looked down into her eyes, his brown eyes dancing with amusement. "Are you certain that you want to kiss me again? Kissing me might come with a hefty price to pay." he challenged back.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

She does worry about my health. Nothing else, Adrian thought to himself at Alessandra's refusal to go. He looked at her and tried to avoid looking at her lips. If he were to be honest with himself, he would have her stay and continue where they left off. Kissing her was... He stopped himself. Thinking about it was useless and would just confuse him more than it already has. He gave her a cheeky grin. "You may stay if you wish to watch me sleep. Or...Did you want to kiss me again?" he asked, wondering how she would react to his question.

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

"This is the responsibility that comes with the crown. I'm afraid it is something I will not be able to escape even if I wanted to," he stopped and looked thoughtful. He opened his mouth to speak again but hesitated. He looked at Alessandra and noticed her eyes drifting towards his lips. Memories of the kiss they shared came crashing down on Adrian and he turned away in confusion. "I believe I should turn in early tonight. You may take your leave. I would not want to have Hye Jin question your honor again."

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

"Does it really matter if I do or don't?" he asked. "An arranged marriage is just what it is. A joining of families to strengthen kingdoms or to gain power. There's rarely love or even fondness in it," he said. "The most I can really hope for is that we get along."

More Than A Lifetime (Kyrisse x Neno 1445)

Adrian looked at Alessandra, his heart accelerating as he remembered the kiss he had shared with her only a few minutes ago. He cleared his throat and shook the memory out of his head. "Then why do you look close to tears? he asked in a lazy tone he almost always used with her. And then he did something completely surprising. He sighed. It was the first time he did it in Alessandra's presence. "There is no need to worry about me. Being Crown Prince lets me get away with a lot of things. And that includes speaking the way I did. I assume Hye Jin will let that pass because of her great desire to become queen," he further surpised her by speaking his honest thoughts out loud.