The Bite of a Snake - Chapter 3, Part 3

Vincent was walking in the garden with Lord Spacone as they discussed architectural work. He figured the princess was alone and didn't want to be found for the moment so decided he would show the lord the area where he wanted the pond.

"So I understand your majesty, you want an artificial pond with a surrounding structure similar to those found in Luminare? With water lilies." Vincent nodded as he tapped his chin, maybe she would accept it as a token of apology, at least he hoped so.
"Alright I can...." Lord Spacone started but suddenly stopped walking and blinked. "God's above..." He whispered softly causing Vincent to look in the direction the man was looking.

All color drained from the king's face as he froze on the spot and fisted his hands at his sides. He began charging but Lord Spacone put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be too rash..." He began once again only to be interrupted by the king's glare.

"What is this?!" Vincent bellowed with rage as he walked towards the princess and the baron.

Nemny startled awake, her eyes fluttering open. "What...?" Looking up she flinched and huddled against the Baron as she saw the anger in the king's face. The Baron lightly draped an arm around her waist helping her sit up before he stood offering her a hand and helped her up.
"I found her sleeping here. Figured I should let her sleep and when she wakes I'll bring her back." Said the Baron calmly.

Vincent parted his lips to speak but was interrupted by Nemny who quite surprisingly shushed him.
"Oh hush! Like you are one to speak? Not like you found him between my legs with my skirts up!" She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Vincent parted his lips once more but shut them of his own accord. He had no argument for it but he wasn't about to let her have the last word."Remember what I told you Nemny. If I ever see you with another man..."

Nemny crossed her arms over her chest and cocked a hip, who the hell did he think he was. "Coming from a male whore that is very ironic isn't it? What? You thought I didn't know about your reputation. I was right from the start; you are nothing but a barbaric brute and buffoon. I'm going to my quarters. Do not bother me." With that said she turned around and began walking away from three astonished men.
Vincent evidently refused to let it be like that and grabbed her arm yanking her back. Nemny whirled around and lashed her hand against his cheek in a loud resonating slap.

"Do.Not.Touch.Me." she said slowly as she glared at him and into his honeyed eyes. "Ever." She turned around and began walking but stopped and turned again. "Worry not I won't humiliate you and leave at the altar, you've humiliated me enough for the both us. But I will be cold and dead before I ever allow you to touch me. Evidently, it's not like you need to." She curtsied at an amused Lord Spacone and a stoic Baron Van Meerschen before she turned around and walked away from the maze.

Vincent turned to look at his cousin and in a flash had him pinned to the tree by the throat. "Stay away from her." He said slowly as the Baron tried to pry his hand off his neck.
"I did nothing; you've screwed this up for yourself. Not my fault she likes me better. Because this is what it's about right dear cousin?" The Baron smirked as Vincent loosened his hold to finally let go.

"You are dismissed Armand. Just go home"
"Your highness" The baron said before he bowed and turned around walking out of the maze and away from Vincent who was taking deep breaths of air to try to calm down as his hand stroked his reddening cheek.

Lord Spacone placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a light squeeze. "So...that pond?"
Vincent smiled inwardly. Spacone was a smart man. A change of mind wouldn't be so bad. They spent the next hours depicting the placing, the stones, the stone work and many other details. As they reached the crack of dawn, the lord excused himself and Vincent walked back into his castle walking towards his room. He brushed a strand of hair back and clenched his jaw as he walked pass Nemny's quarters. Protecting her was going to get more difficult now because of his actions and he had to figure out a way to do it, without her noticing.
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With three days left, the countdown to the wedding was on. Nemny has spent her morning and half of the afternoon getting adjustments to her dress, picking the hair style as well as making a few last minutes adjustment to the ballroom. She had decided she wanted both kingdom colors in the ball to celebrate the joining. Well celebrating wasn't exactly the correct word. Nemny was now sitting on a simple wooden chair, wearing a simple soft blue cotton bohemian dress, the sun still high in the sky though they were approaching six in the evening. A book in her lap, she was lost in her train of thoughts when she heard someone behind her. Startled, she nearly dropped her book as she glanced back.

"Gods above and below you frightened me Florica." She said to her friend though she smiled softly.
Florica leaned down and kissed her cheek before she gently patted her head before sitting down in the opposing chair. "Talk to me..."

Nemny scrunched her nose and shrugged lightly. "Nothing much to talk about." She said simply as she looked down unto the city, the orange roofs of the houses making it seem as though gold was spread along the city as the sun illuminated it.

Sighing softly, Florica palmed her chin following Nemny's gaze. ''You know what I mean Nemny."
Looking back at her friend, the princess gave a light shrug. "What do you want me to say Florica? We both knew this wasn't a marriage based on love, but a mere transaction, me being the prize. Whatever he does on his own time is his business, as long as he doesn't interfere with my own." She stated firmly as she closed the book and set it on the small wooden table before her.

"Why should I even be surprised he has a Mistress or two or three or ten? He's barbaric. It's his nature." She said firmly as she looked back at the city, scrunching her nose at the dunes of sand surrounding Dahonea.

Florica looked at her long time friend. Nemny was known for being one of the most beautiful women in Luminare and now in Dahonea. Her usually sparkling sapphire blue eyes seemed dulled out and strained. Though Nemny tried to put up a front, Florica knew it had affected her more than she would admit. Standing up she hugged her friend tightly. "I love you Nemny, I have to go, Marco...Lord Spacone invited me for supper. You want to come?"

"First name basis now uh?" Nemny teased softly, chuckling as she saw her friend lightly blush. "No, go ahead, I'd be more of a uninteresting third wheel." She smiled gently. "And I love you too. Now off you go, have fun." She forced a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Florica nodded softly and kissed her forehead. "Take care, rest yourself ok." She said before she walked out, softly closing the door behind her.

Nemny sighed softly and stood up stretching slowly as there was a sudden knock on the door. Raising a brow, she made her way to it and opened it partly. "Yes Francis?"She said, opening the door wider for the butler. Francis walked in with a vase filled with white roses.
"What is this...?" she asked confused.
Francis smiled lightly and awkwardly cleared his throat, not that the man was ever really awkward. "The king sends them."
Nemny's gaze darkened. "Out, out ,out!" She yelled the last one. "I want nothing from him. He wants to get married so be it he pays for it. But beyond that, I want nothing from him. Send them back with my best regards." She said as she pointed the door.

Francis sighed and nodded softly. "Yes princess." He walked out vase in hand and Nemny slammed the door shut behind him. Who the hell did he think he was? Like she would warm up to him for flowers? He can rot in the pits of hell for all she cared.
Scrunching her nose, she slipped on sandals and decided to take a walk around the castle.

Vincent sighed softly as Francis walked back in with the vase in his hands.
"She didn't want it I presume?" He stated more than asked, Francis nodding in agreement. "It'll take more than flowers to get her to enjoy your presence Vincent." The familiar butler said.
Lightly slamming his palm on the desk Vincent let out a curse. "Damnit...I'm such an idiot..."

Francis let out a soft chuckle and nodded. "Indeed you are. Barely a week before the wedding Vincent, couldn't you control yourself?" The butler gently scolded him.

Vincent sighed and stood up, folding his hands behind him as he paced back and forth. "What should I do? How can I get her forgiveness?" The butler gently patted his arm. "That my friend is up to you to find." Turning around, he left the room leaving Vincent deep in his thoughts.

Groaning lightly, Vincent sighed and brushed his now untied hair back and exited his room only to nearly slam into Nemny as she was walking down the hall. "Nemny.." He said softly as she stopped and looked at him.
"Yes your majesty?" She said reverting back to formality as her gaze was unreadable.
Vincent felt like a young lad in his teens and stammered nervously. "Don't... don't you think we should... discuss the matter?"

"We have nothing to discuss" She coldly looked over his form stopping at his eyes. "You don't owe me an explanation. Now is there anything else? I trust you have another woman waiting for you."

Vincent let out a low sound close to a growl and he step forward causing her to step back until her back was to the wall. "Stop it. Can't you forgive me for being a man?"

To that Nemny's eyes narrowed unto his as she tried pushing him back in vain."I'll leave that to the Gods. Where I am concerned, I want nothing to do with you. Never did, never will. Just leave me alone King." She said refusing to state his name.

Slamming his palm against the wall next to her head, Vincent grabbed her chin with his other hand and forced his lips unto hers as she struggled to push him away. He kissed her lips harshly, as if to punish her and was satisfied to hear her whimper softly as she debated against him.

Finally releasing her lips, he leaned his forehead against her as he gaze into her deep blue eyes. They were both panting and she had stopped trying to push him away.

"I loath you..'' she whispered against his lips before they found themselves kissing passionately.

Her previous whimper had now turned into a soft sound as the hands which were pushing him away earlier were now clutching him tightly. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip before he slipped it between her soft buds and coiled it with hers. Vincent could barely contain himself at this point and pressed his body to hers letting her feel just how much he wanted her.

Nemny's eyes flew open as she felt his bulge and everything came back. Her mind cruelly flashed once again the image of him between that woman's legs and she suddenly shoved him back sending him stumbling a few steps.

"Wha...Nemny...?" Vincent said as he looked at her startled.
"I will not be another one of your whores. Damn you Vincent! Damn you to hell!" She trembled softly as she yelled at him then stormed down the hall and down the stairs leaving a very aroused and very confused Vincent.

"Someone seriously needs to start thinking of writing an instruction manual for women..." He whispered to himself as he wiped his lips.