The sound of two slow breaths could be heard in the room. One of them cut off slightly and the eyes of one person opened, scanning every detail in the darkness of the room. His left hand squeezed the other person's a little while his right arm tightened its grip on the second man's waist, sleeping peacefully on his chest.

Orias gently pushed his husband away and leapt abruptly from the bed, sword in hand, intercepting a dagger thrown at him in extremis. The sound of two blades clashing followed, and the second prince quickly avoided the blow, then slid up to the aggressive shadow and slid his weapon down his arm, before cutting it off, blood splattering his dress. This action stunned the intruder, who tried to escape, but his opponent didn't give him the chance and struck him in the stomach, taking his breath away. The whole fight, apart from the sound of the two swords, had been conducted in absolute silence. The other man fell to his knees, clutching his stomach with one hand, his breathing erratic.

The prince glanced quickly at his fiancé, who still seemed to be fast asleep. He mumbled some inaudible words and then turned away, looking as if he was looking for something. The victor refocused on the assassin and crouched down, still on guard, and whispered to him in a threatening voice:

"Tell me who sent you.

- I'd rather die, replied the criminal with a sneer.

- Wish granted", Orias agreed with an icy smile.

At the same time as he spoke these words, he stood up and cut off the head of the undesirable man, the blood spilling onto the carpets and the floor as the head rolled across the floor before coming to rest at the feet of its executioner.

"How am I going to clean up all this mess?" he breathed.

He looked down at his blood-stained dress and sighed in resignation.

"Maybe you need some help?," whispered a teasing voice.

The prince turned in the direction of the voice, surprised to find this person here. He was sitting on the bedside table, as if it were the most comfortable seat in the world, one leg dangling, the other folded against his chest and his head resting on his arm, resting on his knee. A few rays of moonlight allowed a glimpse of his face.

"Master Fury. It's an honour to see you here, Orias greeted in a low voice as he knelt down.

- No, please, Orias, I didn't come here to make you kneel before me. Please stand up, intimated the blond with a wave of his hand, I was just passing by.

- It's still an honour, even if... circumstances don't allow me to present myself as I should, explained the prince gently, rising to his feet.

- You don't have to worry, you can speak out. I've put your husband into a deep sleep and no one else can hear our conversation, said the god.

- I... In that case, Master Fury, why did you insist that I marry this person?

- Don't you already have the answer? Doesn't he look like the one you see in your dreams?" added Fury, tilting his head to one side inquisitively.

At his words, Orias remained silent, reflecting on what the man had said.

"You have to be able to let go of the past," the blond man suddenly whispered to the prince.

The dark-skinned young man stiffened, unsure of how to react.

"I'll give you time to think, but don't let the opportunity slip through your fingers, replied the aforementioned master, on that note, I'll take care of the body, so you have nothing to worry about."

With these words, Fury disappeared completely from the Second Prince's field of vision. He looked at his nightclothes and saw that they were perfectly clean, then at his sword, which was also completely clean, the body having vanished at the same time as the blond. Orias shook his head and made his way back to the bed. He put the weapon back where it had been and lay back down. Almost automatically, his husband slid down to him and curled up against him. The prince put his arm around the other man's waist again and let him rest against him, on his chest.

"Orias..." breathed the other man, in a fit of grief and pain.

He kept his eyes fixed on the one who had called him and his left hand came to caress his cheek tenderly.

"I don't know why I'm behaving like this towards you... You look so familiar... Have we met before, other than in our dreams?" he asked, his voice a whisper.

There was no answer to his question.

Orias closed his eyes and let himself be lulled to sleep by the other person's heartbeat, falling asleep in spite of himself for once.

....

The sun's rays filtered through the curtains and caressed my face, waking me up at the same time. I gently opened my eyelids, blinking several times before I could really see. I buried my nose a little more in his neck and glanced at my husband's face before realising that the bugger was already awake.

What?? Already awake? Dawn has just broken and he's already awake! How does he do it?

He seemed to be concentrating on something and I followed his line of sight, seeing that he was winding his finger in my long hair and playing with it.

Ah??? Did all Orias have a particular fetish for long hair?

I didn't feel like moving an inch, though, wanting to enjoy this kind of moment a little longer. However, the scenario threw a violent "no" in my face when someone came knocking at the door.

"Your Highness, it's time, you have to go to Court this morning, don't forget", a servant's voice reminded him.

The second prince sighed wearily and I closed my eyes, noticing at that moment that his arm was around my hip, not really allowing me to move. I looked at his hand again when I felt his searching gaze.

"Are you awake?" he said, watching me intently.

I looked up at him, curling up against him a little more. A thin smile came over his face.

"You look like a little hamster," he remarked.

I frowned at the comparison.

"I'm not a hamster, I added.

- In fact, you're too bad-tempered to be one," Orias asserted, his smile deepening even more.

I rolled my eyes at his answer and stuck my tongue out at him, before burying my face in his neck. He suddenly burst out laughing at my childishness. I lifted my head and felt nostalgic.

How long had it been since I'd had hear that clear, sincere laugh? Feel the warmth of his body? To the gentleness of his actions? Even if he behaved differently from my Orias, he remained profoundly the same.

I smiled too, pressing myself ever closer to him. His laughter stopped and his eyes returned to me.

"All right, fine. Granted, you're not a little hamster... But it's a shame, you look alike, you're just as cute as each other," added the second prince, still smiling.

My cheeks reddened in spite of myself and I shook my head in despair at his childish behaviour.

"What do you mean? Don't you like it? Then why are you smiling?

- Oh, well... No... It's just that you look happy and that makes me happy too," I explained as my mind wandered through a few such memories.

My answer seemed to surprise the second prince. His smile disappeared and was replaced by an expression of surprise before turning into reflection. He shook his head, then let go of my hip and gently pushed me away.

"I've got to go," he said simply, as he rose from the bed.

I nodded vaguely and he seemed satisfied with my answer. He went behind the screen and changed into other clothes. He was now dressed in a black robe with golden clouds and feathers, and fairly wide, long sleeves. A light golden thread ran down the length of the robe, tracing a few arabesques around the clouds and feathers. I saw that the bandage around his wrist had mysteriously disappeared.

He turned to me with a rustle of robes as I sat cross-legged on the bed.

"You must go and visit the Empress as soon as you can, to give him the necessary greetings," Orias advised.

I agreed. He seemed to hesitate, then came closer to me and said softly:

"Manio is not known for his good nature... If the situation becomes dangerous, don't stay. I'll leave you a special servant. Don't hesitate to send him to fetch me if you feel like it".

With that, he turned and left the room, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance.

I was genuinely touched by his concern, but I didn't dare say anything for fear of offending the man.

"SOLIÈSSSSSS !!!!!"

The scream startled me and I nearly fell backwards. A distraught Auteur rushed into the room, followed by several equally alarmed servants.

"We haven't been able to stop her, breathed one of the maids, exhausted, he claims to be one of your servants."

Auteur rushed to my side, clinging to my arm like a lifeline.

"SOLIÈÈÈÈS! THEY WOULDN'T LET ME IN OUAAAAAH (ﾉД')"

"It's all right, it's a servant sent by Lord Fury, it'll be fine," I declared with a smile.

The maids were surprised, but quickly came round and one of them stepped forward and said:

"Well, Your highness*... If this is a servant given by Lord Fury, then he can stay. Of course, this will be checked. To return to His highness, we need the sheets...".

Some of them blushed at the end of the sentence. As for me, I just sighed and stood up.

Four maids came to take the sheets and untie them, while three others took me to another place, Auteur following at my heels, almost clinging to my ankles.

They quickly led me through a door that finally connected the bedroom to a sizeable bathroom. I let out a surprised 'o', stunned by such beauty.

I was undressed without consideration, one of them asking me if I felt any pain in particular places.

"Yes, I feel a slight pain in the back," I lied.

It was only a lie, but it had to be developed in order to build a minimum alibi.

"Do you want us to call the imperial physician?, asked a maid with pigtails and chestnut hair.

- No, that's all right, the second prince was gentle enough. I just need to relieve this place..." I continued.

Their eyes widened, however, so they said nothing and just got me into the bath and washed me.

I glanced at Auteur and saw a complicated look on her face.

Had she really believed my lie? As if.... AAAAAAAH!!! I'd have to explain it to her afterwards....

I was led out of the bath, leaving the hot water with a sigh of resignation.

I was dressed and sat down in front of a dressing table, leaving the maids to comb my long hair. It now reached down to the small of my back. Fury's hair went down to his ankles, mine was short compared to his. Auteur's went down to his hips.

"Your highness, began a maid as she entered the room, the concubine would like to meet you."

I frowned at this surprising admission.

I already had to get to know the Empress and now the concubine too! What's more, Orias had a concubine! But... it was...

My heart sank at the thought that my husband was to be shared with someone else.

"Does His highness have other concubines?, I asked.

- No, just one male concubine, Your highness", the servant replied flatly.

I nodded and got up, having finished my toilet, and followed the maid through the corridors, past a magnificently decorated garden, with trees of all kinds scattered everywhere, though strangely geometrically placed.

A small gazebo stood in its centre, a sort of sky-blue wooden honeycomb, and someone seemed to be waiting for me at a small wooden table, a steaming cup in front of him. His long blond hair waved along his hips, while his white dress with discreet golden lotuses, blue along the edges and sleeves, seemed to emphasise his height and pale skin.

"His highness Soliès", announced the servant, bowing.

The other man turned towards me, his identity surprising me and leaving me speechless.

"This concubine, he introduced himself, is Missi Solène and is delighted to meet His highness."

_________________________

*Highnesss ≠ highness. "Highness" will be used for princes (and princesses) while "highness" will be used for husbands or wives. For concubines females and concubines males, it will be "Miss" and "Missi". ("Missi" doesn't exist, I just invented it).