Chapter 2: The Cold Princess
It was Princess Maria, and she had heard every word they had said. A sudden chill filled the room, the heavy scent of wood smoke and sex now mingling with the icy tension that hung in the air. Kalryn's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he tried to formulate an explanation. He stiffened, his grip tightening on the pommel of his sword, as he turned to face the princess.
"Your Highness," he began, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within him. "You startled us. We were not expecting you. Please, forgive our language. It was not appropriate for a lady's ears."
Princess Maria stood in the doorway, her dark eyes ice-cold as they swept over the rumpled bed and the remnants of Kalryn's hasty attempt to don his armor. Her expression was one of barely contained fury, her lips pressed into a thin line as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I see," she said, her voice like thunder rolling in the distance. "I see what you're doing here, Kalryn Zilantov."
Kalryn's pulse quickened, but he maintained his composure, his jaw set in a firm line. "Your Highness, I assure you, there is no— " He was thankfully now, that he had placed his helmet back on.
She cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. "Save your breath, Kalryn. I have no interest in your pathetic excuses." She took a step into the room, her gaze sweeping over the disheveled bed and the remnants of Kalryn's hastily donned armor.
Garrick, standing at attention, may as well have been a suit of armor himself, his expression unreadable as he watched the scene unfold. Princess Maria's eyes narrowed as she took in the evidence before her, her lips curling into a sneer of disgust. "I have always known you to be a man of questionable morals, Kalryn Zilantov, but I had no idea you were so crass as to use your quarters for such... debauchery."
Garrick's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to remain silent, his loyalty to Kalryn warring with his duty to the princess. He shifted slightly, his armor creaking softly, a stark contrast to the tense silence that filled the room.
Garrick stepped forward, his broad shoulders squaring as he moved to stand beside Kalryn, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. His eyes, a stormy blue, met Princess Maria's icy gaze, his expression serious. "Your Highness," he began, his voice steady and respectful, yet edged with a subtle warning, "Kalryn is a man of honor and integrity. Whatever the appearance, I assure you, he is not acting inappropriately."
Kalryn shot his friend a grateful look, appreciation shining in his burgundy eyes. Garrick's loyalty was unwavering, and his support meant the world to him, especially in the face of the princess's wrath.
Princess Maria, however, was unmoved by Garrick's intervention. She merely raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sneer.
"I am no longer a child, Sir Garrick. I may be new to my majority, but I am not so naive as to misunderstand the actions of men like you and Kalryn." Her gaze swept over the rumpled bed, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "I know what I saw, and I know what I heard. It is clear that you both are nothing more than lustful beasts, preying on the innocent women of this court."
Garrick's expression softened, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "Your Highness, I do not wish to offend, but sometimes, the actions of adults can be misinterpreted by those who are young and inexperienced. It is possible that you have seen only a small part of the story, and that there is more to it than meets the eye."
Princess Maria scoffed, her arms crossing over her chest.
"I am well aware, Sir Kalryn, that you were not alone in your debauchery." She flicked her gaze to Garrick, a cold sneer curling her lips. "You may hide behind his skirts, but I know, as does half of the court, could guess who it was that shared your bed today."
Kalryn's eyes narrowed, that was a lot of words for someone who knew the answer. He began raking over the princess with a scrutiny that was as much about assessing the threat she posed as it was about appraising her appearance. Her dark hair was pinned up in an intricate style, with a few loose tendrils framing her face. Her eyes, a deep brown, were sharp and piercing, her cheeks high and her jawline strong. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but there was something about her demeanor that put him off.
She was too confident, too sure of herself, and she had a smirk on her face that made him want to wipe it off with the back of his hand. But he knew better than to react so impulsively, especially in front of the princess.
It was Garrick who laughed at that, "Princess, you know how often the ladies of the court refer to Sir Zilantov as 'the Red Dragon'"?
Her answer was immediate, "Yes, all the time."
Kalryn followed up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he leaned against the bedpost, his helmet still firmly on his head. "And how many of the court do you think has seen the reason why, Your Highness?"
Princess Maria's eyes narrowed, her lips pursing as she considered his question.
With a deliberate step, she closed the distance between them, her skirts rustling softly as she moved. The room felt smaller, the tension palpable as she stood before him, her eyes never leaving his. "I wouldn't be surprised if many have seen your 'red dragon' in action, Sir Kalryn," she said, her voice low, dripping with venomous insinuation. "Although, assure you, I have not and I find that... intriguing."
Kalryn's eyebrows furrowed, his grip on his helmet tightening as the princess stepped closer. The scent of her perfume, a mix of jasmine and vanilla, filled the air, a stark contrast to the lingering scent of sex and wood smoke. Garrick's gaze flicked between the princess and Kalryn, his expression one of concern.
After all, this was not the first time the princess had caught them in a compromising situation. But just as he was about to intervene, he immediately cleared his throat, trying to divert the princess's attention. "Your Highness, perhaps—"
Princess Maria cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. "I'm not done with you yet, Sir Garrick and neither am I with you, Sir Kalryn." She took another step closer to Kalryn, her cold eyes never leaving his.
Kalryn straightened up, his stance widening as he prepared to face whatever the princess had in store for him. He knew better than to underestimate her, especially when she was in one of her moods.
He knew that look in her eye, the one that said she was about to do or say something that would make their lives a living hell. He took a step forward, his broad shoulders squaring as he moved to stand between Princess Maria and Kalryn. "Your Highness," he said, his voice steady and firm, "perhaps this conversation would be better suited for a more... private location. Let's say I shut the door?"
The princesses lips curled into a smug smile, her eyes flicking to Garrick before returning to Kalryn. "Oh, Sir Garrick, always the valiant protector, aren't you? There is no need, I'm almost done making him squirm, for today." she said, her voice dripping with condescension, and dislike.
"As for your indiscretions, Sir Kalryn, I expect better from a knight of your stature. Effective immediately, you are forbidden from engaging in any form of intimacy with any of my courtiers or ladies-in-waiting."
Kalryn smiled beneath his helmet, amusement sparkling in his burgundy eyes. The princess didn't know, and that pleased him. He was tired of her meddling, of her trying to control every aspect of his life. He offered her a slight bow, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. "As you wish, Your Highness. I shall ensure that my... 'dragon' remains tucked away until further notice."
The princess's eyes narrowed, her smug smile disappearing as she caught the implication in Kalryn's words.
"You expect me to believe that you would willingly deny yourself the pleasure of a woman's company, Sir Kalryn? Especially a woman of such... enthusiasm as your latest conquest?" Her voice dripped with disbelief, her arms crossing over her chest. "I am no fool, Sir Kalryn. I know the power you hold over the women of this court. They flock to you like moths to a flame, and you—you lap it up like the cat that got the cream."
Kalryn's smirk never faded, but he knew better than to provoke her further. "Your Highness, I assure you, my indiscretions are a thing of the past. I have seen the error of my ways and I wish to focus on my duties as a knight."
Princess Maria snorted derisively. "Indeed? One of these days I will catch you red handed." Princess Maria said with a smirk that sent chills down Kalryn's spine, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on his armor, as if trying to see through it. Kalryn knew what she was thinking—that he was hiding something, that he was not being truthful with her. But he also knew that she had no proof, no way to back up her accusations. So he simply shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "Your Highness, I assure you, I have no idea what you're talking about. I am simply a humble servant, sworn to protect and defend the kingdom and its people." Princess Maria rolled her eyes at his words, clearly not buying his act. "Humble, my foot. You're a man who can't keep it in his pants, a man who uses his position of power to take advantage of innocent women.
In his head and under his helmet, he snickered to himself thinking that Valeria was anything but innocent. He remembered her fire, the way her passion had clamped around him with wet embrace, the way she had almost matched his intensity with an unbridled ferocity that had left them both breathless and sated.
Princess Maria's eyes narrowed, as if she could read his thoughts beneath the metal of his helmet. "Don't think I don't know about your little trysts, Sir Kalryn. I have eyes and ears everywhere. And I assure you, I will not stand by and let you continue to ruin the reputations of my courtiers."
She couldn't see it, but Kalryn's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He knew better than to underestimate the princess. She was cunning and resourceful, and she had a way of getting what she wanted.
Sir Zilantov knew this, and he also knew that he was no match for her in a game of wits. Still, he refused to bend to her will without a fight. In a low and threatening tone, Kalryn slowly said, "I didn't ask for this, for any of this... but I will enjoy it if they wish to use me so."
He watched as Princess Maria's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but her expression quickly hardened again. She was not one to be swayed by empty threats or posturing, and Kalryn knew that he had to be careful. He could see the gears turning in her mind, the way her eyes flicked over him as if assessing his worth. She was calculating, always calculating, and Kalryn knew that he had to stay one step ahead.
Garrick, sensing the shift in the room, stepped forward once more. "Your Highness, if there is anything I can do to assist you further—"
"Yes, there is, Sir Garrick." Princess Maria interrupted, her voice firm and resolute. "One of our most valiant knights is returning home to his family for a while, and I need a man of your caliber to fill his shoes temporarily."
Kalryn straightened from his relaxed position against the bedpost, a hint of concern in his burgundy eyes. "Your Highness, if Garrick is needed elsewhere, I am more than capable of handling any duties that arise."
The princess waved a dismissive hand. "I'm afraid not, Sir Kalryn. Your... indiscretions have not gone unnoticed, and I cannot trust you with such an important task. Besides, I have special plans for you." She turned her gaze on Garrick, her expression serious.
"That is all for now, Sir Garrick. You are dismissed." She paused for a moment, her nose wrinkling as she inhaled the lingering scent of sex and wood smoke. "Oh, and Sir Kalryn, you should open a window. The room smells terribly." With that, she swept out of the room, her skirts rustling behind her, leaving Kalryn and Garrick in stunned silence.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Kalryn shoulders sagging as the princess's footsteps faded down the hallway. "Well, that could have gone worse," he admitted, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He walked over to the window, pushing it open to let in a rush of cool air and the faint sound of voices from the courtyard below.
Garrick, however, was not so easily mollified.
As the sound of Princess Maria's retreating footsteps faded, he turned to Kalryn, his blue eyes narrowing with concern. "What's her game, Kal?" he asked, his voice low and intense.
Kalryn leaned against the window frame, the breeze ruffling his short light brown hair through the gaps in his helmet as he looked out over the courtyard below. He could see the princess's guards, their polished armor glinting in the sunlight, their expressions sterner than he had ever seen them. They were watching the external door that accessed his quarters, their hands never far from their weapons. It was a clear sign that Princess Maria meant business.
Kalryn sighed, his shoulders slumping as he turned back to face Garrick. "I don't know, Garrick. I really don't. She's always been...deviously cold and calculating. "
Sighing as his shoulders slumped again, as he turned back to face Garrick. "I don't know, Garrick. I really don't. She's always been...deviously calculating. "