Zena's POV
When Zena entered her highness' room, after talking to the prince, the young woman had tears streaming down her face again.
— Oh, my sweet princess. It breaks my heart seeing you like that. Please, do not stay so depressed.
— Leave me, Zena. I do not want to have company today.
— I dare not leave you by your own devices in this shape, my princess. I shall step out to bring you something to brunch, then I will stay with you for the rest of the day.
— Have I not told you that I have no appetite? I do not intend to eat anything.
— I am sorry, but I have received orders to not let you starve yourself.
— Orders? — The princess squeezed her eyes. — Whose orders?
— His… — Wait. What now? Was this also something his highness wanted her to not tell the princess? Well, if she was crying because she was angry toward his highness, then learning that he left orders for her to eat would make her even angrier and stubborn, so she would probably not eat at all. Or maybe… maybe she then could feel better knowing he was taking care of her and be encouraged to eat?
— His? Zena, tell me at once. — She spated, impatiently.
— His royal majesty, the King, your highness. — Zena decided that it would be better to obey his highness's direct orders. — I dare not disobey an order from him.
The princess sighed, looking disappointed, then rolled her eyes.
— Fine. Bring me only a light meal, please.
— I shall do this. If you'll excuse me, now…
On her way back to their highnesses' bed chambers, a squire approached Zena.
— Lady Zena, good morning. His royal highness, the Second Prince, Rhovian Kozhar, has departed on his journey and ordered me to deliver you a message to be relayed to her royal highness, the princess Ylenna Behrman.
Zena stopped on her tracks, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at the boy. Why did he have to say their whole titles and names like that, especially amongst only servants?
— Spit it, boy. I am bringing her highness' meal, I shall not take long.
— Prince Rhovian has asked me to tell you, so you can tell her highness, the following: "I will be out for a few days."
The squire stood in the same solemn position. Zena stared at him blankly, her lips tightened in displeasure.
— Is that all?
— It is, my lady.
— Okay. I will relay the message.
— Good day, my lady.
"Honestly… so much for not taking long. If that was the message he wanted relayed, he could have told me before departing, in his office."
— Your highness, — she opened the door, entering the chambers and heading to the bedside. — here is your breakfast. Light mushrooms porridge with a slice of the finest bread, and a cup of warm tea. Not to worry, I have checked with three physicians that this tea is not harmful to the womb.
The princess scoffed, shaking her head in mockery while starting to gulp down spoons of her porridge.
— As if there would be any difference.
At her words, Zena could only swallow dry.
— Are you gonna visit the puppy today, your highness?
— As I said, I am not leaving my bedroom today, Zena. And tell the King that I apologize, but I will not be able to comply even if he tells me to.
— Ha… Haha… your highness is so funny. Fortunately, his royal majesty has not ordered this for me. — Zena could only sigh in relief that his highness hadn't asked her to make the princess go out, only to make sure that she would be distracted from her sad thoughts, from time to time. She could do so by reading a book or embroidering something.
"Oh, I almost forgot!"
— His highness has sent a message, my princess.
At the mention of the prince, her face gained new color, momentarily.
— What… has he said?
— "I will be out for a few days.", that's the whole and exact message relayed to me by the squire.
— He... will be… Has he departed yet? — She asked with an urgency tone.
— I am afraid so, your highness.
As expected, her highness' shoulders dropped down again after hearing that that disappointing one-line message was the whole effort he made to tell her about his outing. She finished her bowl of porridge and cup of tea with much struggle.
— Good. I hope he will make it more than just a few days, then. He can stay there for the rest of Earth's days, for all I care. — Declared her, tucking herself inside of the blankets and turning on her side to sleep.
As promised, Princess Ylenna did not step out of her bed chambers, not only on the first day, but also the second and third ones. Even though Zena and her other maids showered her with words of incentive and pleas, her highness simply ignored all of it and napped as much as she could. When she was feeling a bit better, she would read a bit or stare at the birds through the window.
— Your highness. Her majesty, the Queen, has sent an invitation for you to have tea with her this afternoon. Shall I bring your summer dresses so you can choose one?
Princess Ylenna's gaze to her was almost perilous.
— Should you not be asking me first if I intend to go?
— I am afraid this is not a question I will be asking, your highness. So, I will choose your dress myself.
The princess rolled her eyes and waved a hand, meaning that Zena could do as she pleased.
One of the advantages of being a princess' personal maid was that Zena was allowed to stay nearby whenever she had a meeting like that, meaning she could stay alert for the conversations happening at the moment.
— I am so happy you have indulged in my tea invitation, Princess Ylenna. — The queen, Tinae, smiled gently at her. — Please, take a seat.
— I am the one who is glad, your majesty. It is an honor to pay you company.
— Oh, please. Let us not do this. You can call me just Queen Tinae when we are not at official events.
— Ah… Then, I appreciate it… Queen Tinae.
— That, much better. — She smiled again, gracefully. — Actually, I dream of the day we will be close enough to call each other mother and daughter. But I do not want to haste things and make you think I am not of right mind.
— Oh, I would not dare. — Princess Ylenna answered with a hearty smile.
— Now, please. Tell me: How has life been in the Kozhar palace? It has been one week now since you have arrived, if I am correct?
— It has been… pleasant. The food is really tasty. And the servants are all very respectful. The garden is also beautiful. I do enjoy taking strolls around. I have always only come here during fall, but it is splendid in the summer.
— This is good. I am happy that you find it to your liking. And how has my son been treating you?
Zena noticed when the princess faltered while trying to answer, but the Queen waited patiently, pretending not to notice.
— Prince Rhovian has been… quite respectful.
— I see. I assume that is good. I will pray to the goddess of fertility that we will hear of your achievements soon.
— Thank you… Queen Tinae.
— Now, I believe I should tell you a bit about the costumes in the Kozhar Kingdom. I have noticed that you have brought your gowns all from Behrman, but our fashion is slightly different here, as you may have figured by now. My son, Rhovian, would surely find it more suitable for you to dress up as a real Kozharian citizen. Now, before we get started, does the tea suit your taste?
— Oh, Gods. That was overwhelming. — Princess Ylenna dropped down into the bed, looking drained of all her energy. — Does she think I care about what her so-called son thinks of fashion? I should not be worrying about my clothes, in my situation. Quite the opposite. I should be worried about why he does not ever take them off.
— Your… your highness. I am afraid this kind of speech doesn't suit your pretty face and prestigious position…
— Oh, and do I care? — she sat back in bed. — Had I known my role as a Second Prince's princess would be to fruitlessly hope for the day he would decide to bed me and make me bear his children, I would have been born a snake. So I could sneak furtively and bite some stupid self-entitled men from time to time.
Zena could not suppress her laughter fast enough, but tried her best to get back into character:
— Your highness! Do you hear yourself? Please, refrain from making such horrendous commentaries.
— You laughed, so you cannot judge me.
Zena sighed and shook her head.
— But… your highness… tell me: has the prince… not been fulfilling his… duties? Nothing happened after the wedding night?
The princess bit her lip and looked away, seeming uneasy.
— Your… your highness. I have been your maid since you were just an infant. You know you can trust me. What is actually happening? Why have you been so disheartened and depressed about the Prince?
— Nothing… happened… on the wedding night.
— Noth… nothing. Pardon, your highness?
After a heavy sigh, Ylenna told all the truth.
— He… is he really not into… other lads? — Zena lowered her voice to as much as a whisper.
— I believe that not to be the case… but right now I can neither confirm nor deny anything.
— Well… that's… curious. But, his highness can't continue to avoid you like this, my princess. We should think of a strategy to make him unable to say no to you. But first things first…
She glanced at her highness with an embarrassed look.
— What?
— If your highness wants it to work, you'll have to understand first the… details of the intercourse, my princess.
— Wait… the man introduces… what? And… where?! I… how does anything fit… I have never even dreamed about something like this happening!
— I believe you, your highness… but trust me. It does fit. Quite well, actually. It's even more than just fitting it's like… like two puzzle pieces…? They… go quite smoothly, one with the other.
While Zena quickly tried to recompose herself and hide the rubor on her face, her highness seemed flustered and distressed.
— Now, here is what you should do to get this right. When his highness returns from his journey…
After hearing Zena's plan, Ylenna felt her whole face burning. She gulped down to avoid the mental images piling up in her head.
— Okay, Zena. Let us start… again, but slower. You said that I should wait for him… completely… undressed.
— Yes. But make it a bit mysterious. Your hair falling around your chest will do.
— Gods help me… and if he tries to refuse, I should make him sit down and… climb… to his lap.
— Precisely!
— Totally… not covered?
— Not a single piece.
— And if he still finds the strength to try and push me… I should kiss him and place my hand upon… his pants.
— And if you feel something hard, it means he wants you. And there's no way he will continue to push you away, then.
Her highness took a deep breath, shaking her head.
— And this hard… part of his body. That is not always hard, but will be hard, unless he is not inclined to women… will be the one to penetrate me. In the same place from where I bleed monthly.
— Exactly.
— Will it hurt? — She looked worried.
— It can hurt… but it is bearable. Some women don't feel more than a pressure. It all depends on how good he will make you feel, as well.
— How good? It sounds more like a nightmare, not something that could ever be good.
— Now, your highness… I believe we need to lay out the details of the plan. And you should try rehearsing your actions a bit.