Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 288: Violet: I Can’t Make You Stay
It ended eventually, though it felt like a very long time to Violet. Leo grunted and cursed and she felt his cock twitching inside her. With one final grunt, he collapsed and lay sprawled over her body.
Violet lay quietly beneath his sweat soaked weight, trying to catch her breath and wondering what the right thing to say was.
Was she supposed to say thank you, even when she didn’t feel especially thankful? 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
The next moment, Leo’s weight was gone as he pushed himself off her.
As he withdrew from her body, Violet felt a gush of warm liquid oozing from between her legs. Both confused and embarrassed, she quickly rolled over onto her back and grabbed the edge of the bed’s blanket to cover herself with. Now that it was all over, she wasn’t comfortable being naked in front of the prince.
Not that it really mattered, as Leo wasn’t even looking at her. In fact, he was already on his feet and busy pulling on his trousers again.
A horrible thought struck Violet.
He was getting ready to leave? Just like that, without any further words or gestures?
She’d given him the most precious thing she had and he was just going to stride off as if it had meant nothing?
You know exactly how gats what he’s going to do to you, the mean little voice in her head chided. Why would he do anything else? You remember how he treated Kathryn Danner. Then there’s the red haired maid and probably dozens of other women Leo’s dallied with.
No, no, no, she argued with herself in a sudden burst of fury. I’m not letting him carelessly toss me aside like those others. I’m better than that! I deserve more than that!
However, she knew Leo well enough to know that attacking with anger wasn’t the way to keep him at her side.
No, what a spoiled, arrogant man like him wants is adoration.
She made her voice deliberately small and plaintive when she asked him, "Do you really have to leave so quickly, my lord? Can’t you spare even a little time with me?"
Leo looked up from his belt that he was in the middle of buckling and chuckled. "Did you want me to stay a while?"
Violet nodded meekly, eyes wide. "Nothing would make me happier than your company for a while at least."
After shrugging and looking bemused for a moment, Leo sprawled himself out on the bed again, still bare chested, next to Violet. He made no attempt at conversation. She sat very still next to him, knees tucked up against her and the blanket pulled up to her chest.
She was willing to play the role of the deflowered maiden who was full of gratitude, to stroke his ego, if that’s what it took. She’d make him think she worshipped him, if that’s what it took.
"Was it pleasurable for you, my lord?" she asked, eyes cast down demurely.
"What? Uhh. Yes." Leo mumbled, his eyes looking sleepy as he lay back on a pillow. After a few moments, he finally thought to ask, "Are you alright?"
The area between her legs felt as if it had been rubbed completely raw. There was no point telling him that, though. "Oh yes. It was just heavenly. I had no idea."
Leo’s eyes popped open when he heard those words. He turned his head and smirked up at her with obvious pride. "Is the so, Lady Violet? I must admit, I never expected you to be the type to be so...enthusiastic. Most maidens complain about the pain afterwards."
Maybe they were in pain because you just threw them onto their belly so you could plow into them, without any thought about their feelings, she bit back silently. Did you ever think of that?
Of course, there was nothing to be gained by pointing out the man’s selfish ways as a lover.
"Will you lie with me again, Your Highness?" she asked instead. She was willing to endure the stinging pain in her groin again if it helped him feel more bound to her.
Leo’s eyes were closed again. "Hmm. Another time, perhaps."
Violet didn’t like his noncommittal response one bit. "Why not now?" She gave him her most coquettish smile.
"Because I’d need to rest for half an hour or so before I can perform again. And I can’t just lie around waiting that long." He pushed himself up and off the bed and grabbed his discarded shirt from the floor. "I must be on my way."
"But couldn’t you at least stay-?"
"Look, Lady Violet. This has all been pleasant enough. But I can promise you nothing." Leo buttoned up his shirt, then pulled his tunic over his head. He refused to meet her eyes the entire time, clearly eager to end the conversation.
Violet clenched her fists. Why did he have to make it so goddamn obvious he wanted to flee the room? Where was the care and consideration Leo had supposedly shown her sister?
But he didn’t want to stay with her.
And she couldn’t force him to stay, no matter how much she wheedled.
Checking his collar was sitting tidily, Leo then walked over to the bed. Violet looked up at him, still not wanting to accept he was about to leave. She’d just given him her virtue and he all her could think of was bolting?
"But I love you, my lord!" she managed to force out, even though what she felt in that moment for him was nothing even close to love.
He mumbled something vague about having to meet with his father and seeing her at dinner. He kissed her forehead and patted her head awkwardly, like trying to calm an angry puppy.
Violet nearly screamed out loud in rage.
Then he was gone.
She sat there, wondering what the hell she could’ve done differently to stop him from all but fleeing the room.
She’d been docile and compliant, hadn’t she? She’d followed all his orders and let him use her body as he pleased. She’d praised him and even spoken of love.
What the fuck more could a man want?
The mean voice in her head that always spoke in her lowest moments tried to pipe up again, but Violet refused to let it speak. This wasn’t the moment to deeply examine her own darkest thoughts. She’d drive herself mad.
Instead, she threw the blanket back and climbed off the bed. Standing up on shaking legs, Violet looked down at her body. Did she look different now that she was no longer a maid?
Her breasts were pocked with little bruises and bite marks. She’d have to be very careful when bathing so that Ilse wouldn’t see anything. There was sticky fluid between her legs and droplets began rolling down her thighs. Apart from that though, it was the same pale body she’d always had.
With a disgusted grimace, Violet tried to clean herself off with the crumpled blanket, before tugging on her chemise and gown. The gown seemed to take an age as she had to pull the laces through the eyelets as much as possible first, then carefully slide it up her arms without the laces coming undone again.
She managed it after her third attempt and yanked the laces tight and into a messy bow. Violet quickly tidied her braids, crammed on her veil and stepped into her shoes. One last glance around the bedchamber made it clear what had happened inside but gave no clues as to who the lady had been.
She silently cracked the door open and peered into the adjoining corridor. It was empty. Violet slipped out the door and scurried down the corridor, taking a few sharp turns to put as much distance between her and the scene of her deflowerment.
Soon, she was back in the large corridor leading to the dormitory she shared with the other ladies-in-waiting. When she stepped into the room, she was relieved to see it was almost empty.
Almost. Kathryn Danner was sprawled face down on one of the beds, aimlessly tracing the patterns of the bedclothes with her finger. She jerked her head up in surprise and gave Violet a suspicious look.
"Where have you been all this time?"
"Just going for a walk through the woods." Violet replied vaguely. "Where is everyone else?"
"Some of the knights have organised a ring tossing competition in the entry courtyard and all the ladies are there, placing bets on their favourites."
"Oh."
Kathryn’s voice took on a nasty edge with her next words. "I’m surprised you’re not taking part and trying desperately to get the attention of a man, Lady Violet. Any man."
Violet shrugged. "I suppose I could’ve taken part if I wished. Unlike others who would’ve been chased off for being a whore if they’d shown up."
Kathryn looked away, obviously stung by the reminder of her ruined reputation.
Violet sat down on her assigned bed, trying not to wince at the sting between her legs. She looked over at Kathryn, who was back to lying despondently on her bed.
Look at us both, she thought bleakly. Both bedded by the same man. Both of us thinking it would benefit us and yet here we both sit, unwanted.
No, we’re different. Violet nodded to herself.
Kathryn’s downfall had been her lack of discretion and her willingness to give up early. I won’t make those mistakes. I’ll show that bastard of a prince that I’m not the kind of lady to be shunted aside without further thought.
