"Princess—!"

You run through the palace and towards the gate, but before you could— swish—!

A blade thrusts forward. Stopping an inch away from your throat.

"The 'princess' cannot leave." Your chambermaid barks. You scoff, she's the one who forced you into playing pretend— all to keep up appearances.

No wonder the real princess ran away.

These people don't care at all.

You're trapped, lost— not even in the same reality.

"It seems rumors of the Princess's salacious escapades are true." Rafayel teases.

You send him a look before dragging him— your favored consort, back into your bedchambers. How did this happen?

While investigating fluctuations in the desert, you and Rafayel were dragged into an ancient mural— you woke inside the palace, surrounded by gold and grains of sand.

Now, you sit on bed with Rafayel, the map you two snuck in spread out on the sheets.

“Fruit?” The chambermaid bursts through the doors.

Rafayel leaps onto the bed in an attempt to hide the map. You lean into him, acting intimate.

The chambermaid simply glances over, placing the fruit bowl at the bedside.

She’s suspicious and unconvinced.

“I hope there won't be any more attempts to escape, ‘princess’. I'll be standing outside.” She leaves.

Damn her.

You need to up the act.

In bed, Rafayel stiffens as your hand runs up his thigh. He lets out a breath,

“.. so intense.” He mutters, glancing towards the door— the chambermaid most likely listening.

Grabbing a berry— you press the fruit against Rafayel's lips. His tongue darts out to lick, tongue tasting your fingers. You hold your breath when he takes your wrist, lips pathing down your forearm.

He traces you like he did, the map— focused, determined. Now, intense.

You drop the berry and watch it trail down his body— it stops on his abdomen, just short of the area between his legs.

“..sooo far away, get it for me?”

Your hand pauses on his chest, you feel his heat under your palm. His eyes don't stray from yours.

“Your hands need to go.. lower than that, princess."