Rhovian's POV
The journey to the site of the conflict between the two states was free of dangers and went quite smoothly. Except for one thing.
Since he departed, Rhovian's body felt even more the symptoms of yearning for Ylenna.
'How can it be that I am desiring her even more now?' He thought to himself, after waking up from yet another lustful dream. It was the fifth time in only two nights.
After each one of them, the man had no choice but to relieve himself from that agony with his hand.
'I am so glad I got to rent a private room for myself at both the accommodations we have stayed in. Had I ended up with Nivan's company for the night, I would be doomed.'
For his luck, they arrived at the conflictuous site before the end of the third day. It was a camp between the states of Yornin and Turga.
— Let us set camp here. We cannot stay in either lord's castle for now. — He announced to his knights, who quickly began to mount the tents.
Thankfully, a clean stream was found not too far from their camping site. He could free himself from the horse's stenching smell before heading back to his tent to get some rest.
'Rest' he had thought. But not half the night had gone when he rose up from the covered ground, sweating profusely and with a painful tumescence. The image of Ylenna's body, slightly visible through her wedding night gown, still vivid in his memory.
'Damn it… I am alone here, but… these tents are way too thin. No sound can go unnoticed.'
But the memory of his wife standing barely dressed, in those nuptials chambers, still pounded his head.
As soon as he entered, he could not figure out too much, except that she looked insanely pretty and attractive. His groin pulsing frenetically.
That night, Rhovian's resolution about not taking any woman almost completely crumbled down. Better, they did crumble down. When he saw her that close, rightfully his and waiting for him, he suddenly decided that he would have her. At least for that night, he would claim her body and do his best not to leave his seed inside of her, though he doubted he would be able to avoid it.
It was her shaking and avoiding his gaze that pulled him back to reality.
It did not matter whether he had taken the decision of not fathering children or not. When he saw her lips shivering, her fingers clutching nervously to her gown and her eyes that could not even look at his, he was reminded of the hatred she felt towards him.
Or so he thought to be true, back then.
'Maybe it was for the better.'
Had he known before that he was wrong about that, she could be bearing his child right now. And he would never forgive himself.
With that thought, Rhovian got to pull himself together and calm his body enough for the rest of the night.
The conflict he went there to solve was about the construction of a new road that the Duke of Yornin was planning to build, but, because of the terrain, it would end up being built a bit closer to Turga's Duchy and approaching the site of the well that was claimed to be theirs. Turga, on the other side, didn't want the well to be within the travelers' reach and claimed that Duke Yornin should use the old bridge nearby, instead, declaring that it would bring the same results for traveling. But for that, the bridge had to be reformed, and Yornin was not intending to do so, claiming it should be Turga's responsibility.
— Your highness, this scoundrel wants me to rebuild the bridge, forgetting that it would benefit him a lot more than myself. The bridge is closer to the Turga state, not mine. — Bellowed Duke Yornin after they had filled Rhovian in about the whole economic situation and tradings going on in both states.
— Watch your mouth, you uneducated scum. I won't have your men getting that close to my property. Who knows what are your plans behind that? — Duke Turga replied.
— If we could refrain from such vocabu- — Rhovian tried talking.
— Oh, look who's talking about lack of education. Close to your state? You call that old, dry well your state? That land is not even marked as your or anyone's. You're such a greedy bastard.
— Gentlemen, please, if we could-
— Greedy? You're the one who's trying to expand your business at the cost of other's losses. You have so much to gain from the bridge renovation and you're playing the altruistic kind? You're just as hypocritical as you're a salvage. — Turga retorted.
— My lords, please…
— Well, just as you have. You want me to go through all the trouble and spending to rebuild the bridge so that you can use it as well, and also, who knows if you're not gonna start demanding taxes for its use, since we both know most part of it is located in your land? Being the stingy money-eater you are.
— I am really- — Rhovian tried once again.
— NOW, you listen here, you stupid son of a-
— ENOUGH! FOR GOD'S SAKE, BEHAVE AT ONCE! — Rhovian rose up from his seat, feeling his face burning. His words came full of spite and impatience, way too louder than he normally spoke. — You both are well over your thirties, and yet you sit there bickering like two young kids over a toy?! I am trying to get somewhere here, but it is impossible with you spitting offenses at each other! Damn it! What is the problem with you?!
Both men stared at him incredulously, then rose up and bowed to the prince, apologizing. With muffled words. Rhovian breathed slowly and deeply, trying to calm his nerves before sitting back down.
— Let's do the following. — He said as he regained control over his mouth. — You are both gonna share the costs of the bridge reconstruction equally and build a small road from the bridge to the Duchy of Yornin. And both sides are gonna use it freely for your own interests. You may collect fair taxes from passing merchants, but only once, at the exit of the bridge, which will depend on what state the people are going to.
He took a deep breath, staring at both men's faces with a challenging look.
— Now. Any complaints?
— N-no… your highness. I accept your conditions. — The Duke of Turga replied.
— I as well, your highness. — The Duke of Yornin followed.
— Good. Two of my men will stay here to oversee the renovation alongside you. Now, if you can please leave.
He watched as the lords left the tent and turned to one of his men:
— Lorrel, you stay here with Cassius. Find an inn close to the bridge site. — He took a bag with coins and gave it to the pair. — Report back to me on a weekly basis.
— Yes, your highness. — Both lowered their heads.
— Now, leave. I need to get some rest.
That night, laying down with only his tunic, Rhovian started reflecting back on his earlier outburst.
— I am normally quite calm and collected. What is happening to me? — Suddenly, Ylenna's face showed in his thoughts. He shook his head, scoffing. — Could it be that I am getting impatient because of my longing for her?
Something told him that it was the most likely possibility. Yet, he couldn't believe he was that out of control.
— I'm screwed, truly.
Having solved the issues between both lords, Rhovian sprinted back home as fast as the horses could possibly handle. Though he'd only told his men that he didn't want to take long to report back to the king, Rhovian only wished to see her face, even if it was her crying face. He would find a way to make amends and make up with her for being that insensitive.
Upon his arrival, though, the prince was dumbstruck with the sight in front of him. Ylenna waited for him at the hall, alongside with their servants, bowing deeply in respect.
— Welcome back, husband. — She smiled warmly towards him, extending a goblet of a warm spiced wine that he drank to placate the thirst he felt. She wore a beautiful dress with a V neckline that showed up a bit more than the other ones he had ever seen her wearing, her hair loosen around her chest, falling down to her waist.
Rhovian found himself unable to close his mouth to answer for a few seconds.
— How was your trip? — She approached, getting on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. That was the first time since the wedding that they had any kind of physical touch more than her holding his arm while walking together.
— I… It was… — What was he saying, again?
— Come. I had the servants prepare you a nice and warm bath. Our meal will be served at our chambers. Our father, his Majesty, has given his permission for you to delay your report until tomorrow.
Something… Rhovian had something to do, but he could not quite remember.
Before he could say anything, he was sitting on a bathtub, his male servants scrubbing his body off of the horse, sweat and dirt stenches and stains. They washed his hair thoroughly, then dried him with a towel, applied perfumed oil on his skin, slid a chemise over his head and got him in slip-up trousers and a pair of light sandals.
— Please, accompany us, your highness. — Declared them, leading a quite confused Rhovian out of the bathroom and into his room, closing the door as soon as he entered.
And there she stood, completely naked, only her loose hair barely covering her brownish nipples. A red, provocative lipstick painting her pretty mouth.
Rhovian could not move, his eyes could not leave the woman in front of him. He had longed so much more for her since his departure that each moment felt like a whole week. Now, having indeed taken a week to come back, finding her like that, his member felt as if about to burst.
— Welcome back, Rhovian. — The woman whispered, approaching him dangerously. — I have learned more about what a couple does in bed. And now I want you to show me in practice.