The Crown's Entrapment

Xenia stirred in her sleep. When she finally opened her eyes, she quickly sat up only to see a man with a familiar build with his back to hers. He was drying his hair with a towel, and she couldn’t help but stare at him even as she composed herself.

“We’re at the encampment?” she asked as she forced herself back up to her feet.

Darius turned at her with a smile. “We are..” He then asked, “How are you feeling? Did you have a good rest?”

Xenia had to hold her breath for a while upon seeing Darius in his light and cheerful mood. He looked enticing with his messy hair like that; loose strands of his dark swaying lazily over his face. He looked so breathtaking and- No!

Xenia quickly shook her head, snapping herself back to reality as she reprimanded herself. She could only hope that the king didn’t notice her drooling around from his manliness.

‘Oh heavens… What is wrong with me!?’ she inwardly cried out.

“Ah, you can stay here while I call for some of the servants to prepare a bath for you,” Darius absently commented. “After that, we’ll have our meal together.”

“I think I want to eat with my brother instead…” Xenia responded in kind. “Or, well, we can all eat together if you’d prefer that? It’s been a while since I last saw Ezekiel, and I’ve missed him terribly.”

“Very well. I’ll give you some privacy to have a moment with your brother then,” Darius nodded in understanding. “Take your time. In the meantime, I’ll go out and check on my men.”

He then turned towards the door before he added, “By the way, you’ll be staying here in my tent. Remember, you promised that you wouldn’t run away from me. That means we’ll be sticking together at all times, and that includes sleeping together in the same tent.”

And with that, Darius left her to her lonesome. Xenia didn’t even manage to formulate a response. She had wanted to question him, but he didn’t even give her a chance.

‘Ah, right… I promised I won’t run away, but that’s a totally different thing…’

Xenia sighed. Having nothing left to do, she quickly moved to take a bath as soon as the servants told her it was ready. Taking a dip into the hot water, she sighed as she let the heat relax her body. It felt nice to have a good, warm, and refreshing bath after that journey. Closing her eyes, she let her body sink into the comforts of the water.

Eventually, however, the bath had to end as she sighed with lingering regret. Drying herself off, she put on nice clothes. It felt nice being back to wearing a dress that wasn’t too thick for her to breathe. It fitted her curves perfectly, and it was also in the color she loved; a green dress with brown overlays. Seeing it was autumn, her dress came in a sleeveless design with a low cut between her bosoms.

It was her usual wear, but she suddenly reddened, thinking that it somehow looked a bit too much. It was an unusual feeling. Was she that used to hiding her bosoms already that it honestly made her uncomfortable showing her feminity?

‘Ah, whatever!’

Shrugging at her own emotions, Xenia left the topic as she let her hair loose and stopped the servants from putting accessories on her hair. She then stood up and was about to leave the tent when a helper came to her with a message.

“Your Highness, your brother has asked for your presence to dine with him and the rest of his entourage once you’re ready,” the helper relayed. “Please let me escort you to the dining area at your leave.”

Heeding the helper’s words, Xenia nodded and followed the servant out. Looking around as she walked, she noticed that the encampment was too wide for it to be easily defensible in case of a breach.

Their tent was also located at the center, while the entire encampment was located in an open space above a hill. In retrospect, their strategic location allowed them to easily spot enemies arriving from below, and it also counteracted their camp’s relative openness.

Looking out below, she smiled upon seeing that the forbidden forest also was not far off from their location. Truly, her brother was a very calculative man, and she didn’t expect anything less than for their camp to be easily defensible. A true tactician and a great future ruler of their kingdom, Ezekiel held all the cards, and she was so proud of him that her smile widened the moment she saw him.

“Xenia!!!” Ezekiel warmly called to her as he hastily got up from his chair and ran to her with his arms wide open.

“Brother!!!” Xenia joyfully replied, pouncing on her brother with glee as he then lifted her up and swung her around. It was a beautiful sight, and they didn’t mind that they were in the presence of others for them to hide their familial love.

“I missed you!!!” Both of them beamed in chorus.

“Look at you losing weight! I feel like I haven’t lifted a thing!” Ezekiel scolded as he gently put Xenia down.

“Hmmph! Before you always complained about how heavy I am. And now that I’m not heavy, you still complain!” Xenia scoffed with a pout.

Ezekiel heartily laughed as he held her hand, pulling her onto the table where she saw everyone had gathered. It was a high-profile meeting, with Ebodia’s high-ranking officers along with their head wizard Lurio, Jayra, together with Darius, Bartos, and Gideon.

Sure enough, she gulped when her eyes darted towards Darius.

‘What’s with that look? It looks as if he wants to eat me alive…’ she inwardly thought even as she gave out an awkward nod to everyone present.

Taking her seat, she was right next to Ezekiel as she pushed herself into the table. In front of her was Darius, who was also sitting next to her brother.

“How are you?” asked Atlas, taking the other seat next to her.

Xenia smiled, “I’m feeling good, Atlas. I guess I was exhausted enough that I slept longer.”

“That’s good. That you’ve rested well, I mean,” Atlas commented with a warm smile.

“If everyone’s already present, please feel free to dig in and have your fill of the food,” Ezekiel declared with a smile.

Smiling at her brother’s words, Xenia started eating like the rest of the people present. However, the longer the dinner went on, the harder it was to digest everything with Darius constantly keeping his eyes on her.

“King Darius,” Ezekiel called out.

‘Oh thank the heavens!’ Xenia thought out in relief when her brother pulled Darius’s attention off her.

“Yes, Prince Ezekiel?”

“If possible… Do you think you can allow Xenia to go straight to Cordon instead? I’m honestly worried about her stay here,” Ezekiel suggested. “I do believe it will be safer for her if she is to stay under the protection of your kingdom while this war is going on… Like how Mineah is now currently under the protection of the Kingdom of Valcrez.”

“No!”

It was Xenia who answered, bringing all eyes on her as she said her piece.