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At long last, the ball was over.
Her father insisted on throwing it annually to ensure benevolence between his kingdom and his allies, but it was mostly just an excuse for the kings to indulge in far too much drink and dance, and for their sons to attempt flirting with neighboring princesses in hopes of forming alliances.
That left Princess Alexandra dodging hopeful suitors at every turn. Her father, King Maximillian, had raised her since she was young to someday be queen, with or without a husband. After her mother died, the king refused to remarry. He knew he would never find the love he had with his queen again, and dedicated all the time and love he could to his only daughter, his only heir.
With no pressure from her father to marry if she did not wish to, Princess Alexandra devoted her time to studying all things that would help her eventually run the kingdom, from foreign relations and economics to ethics and geography. She really wasn't all that interested in finding a husband at the moment, and wasn't sure she ever would be, but that didn't keep foreign princes from trying to woo her at the ball.
In all truth, she truly did enjoy the ball, it was just the fact that near every unmarried male she wasn't related to flirted with her any chance he could that made her a bit antsy.
Thankfully, she never had to be too worried about a prince taking it to far or not accepting her rejection because of her loyal knight, Sir Raphael.
Sir Raphael had been apprenticed or employed in the castle since Princess Alexandra had been a little girl. In a way, they had grown up together. She watched him grow over the years from a lanky apprentice into a formidable and capable knight, and he watched her develop from a playful and childish princess into an elegant and well-respected dignitary, a future queen.
Raphael had been assigned as her escort for nearly a year now, shadowing her not only to her studies and appearances before the royal court, but also in her leisure, be that spent wandering the castle gardens or riding her horse within the palace walls, he was with her always. The only time he truly parted from her were nights, when she retired to her chambers, which were guarded by a pair another of knights, and he to his quarters.
In spending so much time around each other, they had, inevitably, grown quite close. Raphael would often recount stories of his early life and tales of magic and mystery to the princess, and Alexandra would share in depth the joy and drudgery that came with being royal to the knight. Each saw the inner workings of the other in a way few do, and grew in trust not just as a princess with her guard in his duty to protect her life, but as companions in a world that had great expectations for them both.
As Princess Alexandra treaded quietly through the palace walls in the wee hours of the morning after the ball, she heaved a breath. The night had been fun, but she was tired and her feet ached and she longed for nothing more than to free herself from the confines of her gown and jewels and crown and collapse into her bed. Sir Raphael followed close at her side, hands held open in front of him as she began stripping herself of her jewels and handing to over to him.
"Another year of friendship between nations brought forth by drink and revelry," She remarked as she passed a bracelet glinting with sapphires to the knight.
"And another year you have successfully evaded the marriage proposals of near every unmarried nobleman there, your highness." A smirk ghosted on his lips as he said it.
He knew the attention and desire of the noblemen exasperated her manners to no end, but Raphael couldn't help but find the excuses she would come up with to get away from them slightly humorous, and even more so when no excuse to leave could be made and she was made to smile and laugh as if she didn't want nothing less than for every man there to cease harassing her forever.
"Oh, and how they will use every day until the next ball trying to seduce me or impress my father enough to win my hand," Alexandra quipped back.
"A fruitless endeavor on their part, princess. Truly."
She gave him a sweet smile at his words. He understood and respected her desire to remain unmarried for the time being and was willing to defend her wishes and her life with his own life if necessary, and she knew it. He had protected her from overzealous princes and snarky nobles more times than she could recall, and her gratitude for him grew every time.
Alexandra had tried to give him more compensation for his works in the form of higher pay, better living quarters, finer armor and weapons, and much else, but he rejected her offers time after time.
"If the only payment I ever received was serving Your Highness and the kingdom, I would see no need for more when being by your side brings me more riches than gold and jewels ever could," He had told her. His words made something in her chest flutter and was so taken aback that all she could do was stare at him before throwing her arms around his neck and pressing herself against his chest. He had tried to push her away, muttering about royal protocol, but she cared nothing for it in that moment.
"Let me give you this, then, at the very least," She had said into his neck, "let this be worth whatever you wish it to."
Only then did Raphael circle her waist with his arms and pull her flush against himself, letting one of his hands come the back of her head to comb his fingers through her hair. The pair stayed like that for a several long moments, breathing in the scent of each other and feeling the other's warmth before the princess let go and bade the knight goodnight.
As they reached her chambers, Raphael opened the door for her and bowed his head as Alexandra entered the room. Normally, one of the other two knights on guard at her door would do the job, but they were still down in the hall monitoring the party and guarding the palace gates as dignitaries and nobles left the ball. He followed her in and closed the door behind him as the princess tossed herself onto the bed with a groan. Sir Raphael chuckled as he unbuckled his scabbard from his belt and approached her.
"You do not plan to sleep in your gown and shoes, do you princess?" He asked her. The princess groaned.
"I plan on sleeping the moment I am physically able, be it in my gown or not. I feel able to fall asleep at this moment," she said into the pillow. Raphael took a step closer and clucked his tongue at her, almost scolding.
"Now, your highness, I know you do not wish to hear from your maids about the state your clothes will be left in if you sleep in them, nor do I truly believe you wish to sleep in them." He paused, considering her arrangement on the bed before continuing, "I can help you prepare for bed, if you would like, Princess." His voice was lower now, an edge of vulnerability to it.
She cracked one of her eyes open from where her face was resting against a pillow, considering his proposal.
"Alright, but only if you offer," she said at last, readjusting herself on the bed just enough not to be completely laying down anymore.
Sir Raphael nodded and stepped closer to her, hand outstretched to undo the laces at the back of her dress. He loosened them for her before holding out his hand for her to take to stand so he could lift the fabric of the gown over her head.
Next came the several layers of petticoats, then the tighter laces of her corset before the princess was left in her loose linen chemise. The knight gave her a gentle nudge to sit back down on the bed so he could undo the laces of her shoes and remove them from her feet along with her stockings.
Raphael started to reach for her hair but paused. "May I undo your hair, highness?" He asked softly. Alexandra nodded, eyes growing heavier by the moment. She sat still as the knight carefully undid the elegant updo her hair was in before gently running the brush from her nightstand through it until the strands were like silk falling through his fingers. Raphael set the brush back down and helped the princess beneath the blankets.
The knight stood back and bowed to the princess. "Goodnight, your highness." Raphael turned to leave the room, but Alexandra's voice stopped him.
"Raphael, wait," Her voice was heavy with exhaustion, but still sure as ever. Sir Raphael turned back to her.
"Yes, princess?" She was quiet for a few moments before extending her hand to him and speaking.
"Stay." It wasn't a formal command, but there didn't seem to be much room for negotiation either.
The knight was still a moment before taking a small step closer to the bed, slowly extending his hand to meet the princess's. Their fingers touched. Alexandra gently intertwined her fingers with Raphael's. A breath passed between them where both stayed still, simply observing the gentle tangle of their fingers.
Alexandra gave Raphael's hand a gentle, almost uncertain tug. He let her pull him closer until he was sitting on the edge of her bed. She shifted backward and pulled him more.
"Your highness-" The knight started to say.
"Shh," The princess pulled him closer, down toward the mattress, unphased by Raphael's protests.
"Alexandra," He said firmly.
Not 'princess'. Not 'your highness'. Not titles. Just Alexandra. Her God-given name. She stopped pulling and met his eyes.
"Alexandra, I...I cannot know you in such a way as that......" His voice was soft, not wanting to hurt the princess. She tilted her head.
"Carnally?"
"Yes, princess..." Alexandra sat up and searched his eyes.
"Raphael, you know I would never...I do not desire you in such a way. I only wish to be near you..." Her eyes were soft, their rich brown color glinting golden in the candlelight.
“Just…come here. Please.”
A plea from royalty.
The knight was still for a moment, searching the princess’s eyes for any hesitation. He found none. His decision was made.
He loosened the straps of his leather armor and pulled it off, followed by his boots. The princess watched his every move, tugging part of the blanket back. Raphael finished removing his armor and belt and shoes and slowly crawled in beside Alexandra, eyes trained on her the whole time. The pair just looked at each other once he'd finally settled himself beside her, neither moving for a few moments.
Alexandra shifted first, tugging Raphael closer to her. She pulled him so he was eventually pressed up against her, his head resting on her chest. He didn't move, drinking in the feeing of laying on her; the warmth of her body, the soft of her chest, the scent of her like soft roses and sweet vanilla surrounding him. But what overcame him most of all was the fact that she had initiated this.
"I only wish to be near you..."
Raphael only wished to be near Alexandra. He would follow her wherever she went, even if it was to death. If it was for her, he would do it.
The princess ran her fingers through the knight's hair, making him lean against her more and let out a soft hum of pleasure. She smelled so good, and her body was so soft, and her nails scratched against his scalp so deliciously-
"What are you thinking about?" The princess's voice interrupted his racing mind. Raphael had to take a second to form words, thoughts clouded but clear in one aspect.
"You, your highness."
Alexandra inhaled a soft breath and wrapped her arms around him tighter, fingers tangling more in his hair. She leaned down and pressed her lips to the crown of his head.
"And what else?"
"How beautiful you always are....in the way you look, and in the way you speak, and act..." He trailed off as she pressed another kiss to his temple, losing his thoughts again under her touch, breath catching in his throat.
"Alexandra..." Raphael whispered. She hummed in response, continuing to run her fingers through his curls.
"May I speak openly, your highness?" His words were a breathy whisper, only intelligible to someone as close in proximity to him as the princess.
"Yes," She whispered back. He was silent a moment. He had her permission to tell her what he felt so deeply and truly in his soul.
"You have graced me with your presence all these years. I have seen your ability to rule grow and grow without ever hindering your goodness or blinding you of your kindness-"
"Raphael, you don't have to-" The princes started to say.
"No, your highness, listen," He interrupted her, "I have heard storied of princes and kings and lords becoming possessed by their power, only seeking more. More riches, more land, not once caring about the cruelty they inflict. But you..." He lifted his head off her chest and looked down at her, mapping out the patterns of her freckles and trailing his gaze across her face. Her eyes were wide as she listened to his words, lips parted slightly as she processed their meaning.
His fingers came up to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the gesture causing warmth to well up in his chest. He had to tell her.
"You lead without malevolence. It's so... it's... I don't even have to words for it...." He chuckled. The princess smiled at him, hand coming down from his hair to cup his cheek.
"You do not have to flatter me with words, Raphael..." She started, a playful glint in her eye, "I...I do not think you wished to speak freely so you could compliment me...." The knight swallowed.
"No, Princess, I..." His words broke off, throat becoming dry. His pulse raced so hard he was certain the princess could fell it through where he lay on her chest. Alexandra just kept giving him that soft, kind smile. He cleared his throat and looked down at her, running a finger down her jaw and sweeping his gaze over her face. Oh, she was beautiful.
"Princess, I... you..." He couldn't say it. The words caught in his throat. Alexandra tilted her head slightly, eyes softening.
Words were not needed for her to understand him.
"Raphael..." She whispered, fingers stroking his cheek.
"I would devote myself to you, princess, in every way, every day of my life if you allowed me..." He whispered back. The princess was silent a moment, eyes searching the knight's face for something. She spoke at last.
"I would allow you...I would allow you to be near me, every day, forever if I could.... but..." She didn't want to finish the sentence. He knew why. A princess could not marry her knight, and certainly not a queen. Not if she wished to keep her throne.
"Then let us just be this then," Raphael whispered, lifting one of her hands to his lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles, "If you wish, let us be this."
A hesitant smile crept on to Alexandra's lips before she nodded, slow at first and then vigorous, a grin of utter delight spreading across her face as she wrapper her arms around Raphael, who did his best to return her embrace without crushing her under his body.
He pulled back to look at her face, a hand coming up to touch her cheek, his eyes darting between hers and her lips. Alexandra understood his meaning and tilted her face into his, a soft brush of lips before leaning closer and pressing more fully together.
It was bliss.
Alexandra's lips were soft and warm and sweet, and Raphael never wanted to pull away.
Despite his desire to never part his lips from hers, though, he did, looking down at her with all the tenderness and devotion a man could.
The princess yawned, as if remembering she'd spent her entire afternoon and evening preparing for and attending a ball. Raphael chuckled.
"Tired, highness?" He asked. Alexandra nodded in response and let her eyes flutter shut a moment. He huffed another soft laugh before rolling off of her, eliciting a whine from the princess before he pulled her back flush against his chest, an arm circling her waist and tracing small circles on her hip.
"I could spend every night like this, Raphael." He pressed his nose into her hair, inhaling the sweet scent before responding.
"Then let every night begin tonight, your highness." Alexandra sighed happily and leaned back closer to him if possible.
This would never be their public life, but neither needed it to be. Alexandra was more than fit to rule as an unwed queen, and Raphael would always be devoted to her. They would be this.
"Goodnight, Raphael..." She muttered, already half asleep.
"Goodnight, Alexandra...." He replied.
Both were asleep minutes later, bodies pressed close together under the blanket, a love between them that could never be broken by time or trial. They would never marry, but they didn't need to. After this night, they would never be anything but Alexandra, heir to the throne, and Raphael, her most devoted knight.