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Cerberus was close to Valda, sitting right behind her. The tip of her fluffy tail waved from side to side. As soon as the cat saw Maris, she blinked slowly and released a soft happy chirp. At least someone was happy to see her.

Valda’s stoic features seemed distant until she heard the door opening. Her emotionless façade dissolved, replaced by curiosity. It was as if Valda wasn’t expecting her.

“You may leave,” Valda murmured to the young maid before pulling her leg back.

The servant nodded and quickly made her exit.

After the maid was gone, Maris took a deep breath and turned to Valda. “Princess, please forgive me for being late. I—”

“I understand,” Valda interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. “It was my fault,” she added standing from the bed.

Gaze roaming Valda’s body, Maris’s admiration of the black chest wraps was impeded by recognition that the lower half was already dressed with the same outfit she wore on her birthday. Valda tried to fix her leather belt, moving it about as if wanting the buckle to be right underneath her belly button.

Maris walked towards Valda, her fingers lingered over the buckle before she fixed it. Looking up now, she noticed the dark circles under Valda’s eyes. She must’ve had trouble sleeping, hopefully for different reasons than Maris.

“What do you need?”

Valda tensed her jaw before she answered. “I need my black silk dress shirt, my jacket’s uniform, and the box with my medals in it. I need them for the coronation,” Valda said.

Maris nodded and quickly did as she was told. She placed both the jacket and shirt on the bed before going back for the box. It was wooden with a simple latch. Looking inside revealed numerous gold and silver medals. All of them had different sizes and ribbon colors. It was going to take a long while to put them all on her.

“Did you find it?” Valda asked, her voice surprisingly soft compared to last night.

“Yes, I got it,” Maris answered going back to Valda. “I got the shirt and jacket too,” she said, helping Valda put both on, checking for wrinkles or specs before patting her shirt’s collar. Maris then turned to the box. “You should sit down for this.”

Valda nodded and searched for the edge of the bed before sitting. “I wasn’t feeling well yesterday.”

Maris nodded but knew that she wasn’t able to see her. She wasn’t ready to talk about what happened just yet. She was still processing the way her body reacted to Valda, and what she wanted from her. Now, she had known about lust. She had been intimate with men and women before entering the castle. After her mother’s death, she found solace in the arms of people that worked with her. Misery loves company.

But with Valda, it was different. She burned for the princess, aching to be touched and be near her from the first time she saw her. She wanted every interaction to be with her. Even now, as she pinned the many medals onto the jacket, Maris still wanted to feel Valda’s hand upon her skin, whether it was on her neck, waist, or breast. She wanted it all, and she still couldn’t believe that she had been seconds away from agreeing to be the princess’s lover or heart mate.

“I understand what you are going through. Sorrow and grief can cloud your judgment.”

“I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable,” Valda said, tilting her head as if looking at Maris.

Maris shook her head. “You didn’t,” she said but then noticed the mistake of her confession. “I mean, I was uncomfortable, yes, but I understand. I am a good listener, and if you need to talk to someone, I can be that person.” Maris raised her gaze to Valda’s, whose eyes were now closed. “I do ask you to do it at more accommodating hours, though…”

Valda scoffed and hid her laughter.

Maris almost melted when Valda’s shoulders relaxed.

“If my roommate would have woken up to see us, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

“Yes, I was about to mention that. She didn’t wake up?” The princess bit her lower lip as she stifled a chuckle.

It was Maris’s turn to laugh. “I hope not! I don’t think I could keep a straight face if I told Melvian that the Princess of the Sky Kingdom had managed to find my chamber drunk out of her mind.”

“I wasn’t that far gone,” Valda scoffed.

“You were. You basically asked me to be your heart mate.”

Valda’s playfulness was washed away from her features in a matter of seconds. “I wasn’t that far gone,” she repeated sternly.

Maris took a deep breath and placed the final medal around Valda’s neck. She decided it was better to change the subject. “Should I get the Heaven Sword?” she asked but didn’t wait for a response. She stood up and walked to the bureau.

“I spoke the truth,” Valda said, sending a shiver down Maris’s spine. “Even if you decline my offer of being my heart mate, I want you in my chamber at all times. I already spoke to a room keeper, and they will bring a bed and settling you in here.” Valda stood up, towering over Maris.

“I do not wish to sleep here,” Maris said, looking up at Valda. “I have a room, and I have personal belongings that I would like to keep protected.”