"Sex is not only to fulfill a duty." Amaya's words returned to Sakuno's mind. She was laying on her side and she smiled as seeing her husband asleep. His features were finally relaxed, the eyebrows smooth. The elf queen wished to know about the things he dreamed about. She analyzed the details of his face and torso. Her finger started to wander slowly and softly on his skin. Touching his cheeks, she pushed one of the long blue bangs away from his face. His wife wondered if he had inherited his handsome features of his strange father or deceased mother.
On such short time, that human had changed so much of her. Akio had taught her about the heat of someone else's body and desire. His mere touch was capable of sending goose bumps all over her skin. Just looking at the grey eyes and hearing his low voice made her entire body respond in anticipation. Touching a deep scar near his heart, she wished to be able to feel it. How many times did he bleed for her? Was he ever afraid of death while pursuing a life by her side? There were so many questions she would like to ask him.
"Good morning." Akio said, with a husky voice. His grey eyes opened lazily.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. Is it time for you go get up already?"
"Not really. But, you do not need to have breakfast with everyone. You can stay here and I can ask a maid to bring it to you."
"I will accept it, then."
"I am going to take a bath and change, so you can continue to rest. It must be tiring, coming and going like this, right?" as she tried to get up, her husband's arms stopped her, holding her close.
"Can you stay for a moment more?"
"Yes." She smiled inside his embrace.
"Are you very busy on these days before our trip?"
"Not really. The counselors deal with all the arrangements. I still have the meetings on the morning, but, I am free after them."
"Can we stay here, inside your chambers?" the grey eyes interrogated hers. "I wish to spend this time just the two of us."
"I would like that." His palm was placed against her flat belly and his grey eyes were soft.
"Maybe, next time we see each other, you will be already expecting."
"That would be nice." She smiled at him. Climbing on his body, the sunlight from the opened windows bathed her naked skin, making the red hair glow. Her round breasts were on his full view. "But we can also enjoy ourselves before that happens."
"Of course." He responded before the elf queen descended to kiss him.
###########
"Ragna?" Ryoma asked, after eating some fruit. He was having breakfast with the counselors.
"She is a white elf, a very ancient being. She lives inside Lubjica's mountains."
"How can she help me?"
"She is an oracle. She knows about the past, the present and future. Although she will not give you straight answers, there is much she can unveil."
"When are we going?"
"Tomorrow night. We still need to arrange some things over the queen's absence." Kunimitsu replied, quietly.
"Is Sakuno going too, Shuichirou-san?"
"Of course. There is no way you could be alive around Ragna without royal blood."
"Not even Shuichirou-san can visit her, even though he comes from a strong lineage." Syuusuke said, drinking some juice.
"Are you two going as well?"
"With our queen gone, we must stay to take care of the capital on her absence."
"I understand."
"Good morning, I am sorry I am late." Sakuno approached them, with a smile.
"Where is Akio-sama?" Kunimitsu asked. "Is everything all right with him?"
"He is tired of coming back and forth, so he is spending the next two days resting inside."
"Did you tell him about your trip?"
"He did not oppose." She smiled at Syuusuke. "But, he is not going with us, he is returning to Murasaki before we go."
"Really?" Syuusuke was amused. "It must be hard to be away of such lovely bride for so long." His word made her giggled.
"He has his own responsibilities; I cannot ask him to stay by my side for so many days."
"Indeed." Kunimitsu said. "He needs to use his free time well. Once the heir is born, his presence here will be needed more."
"Yes." The queen smiled gently.
############
"What do you mean, you don't know where he is?!" the tall man with short black hair and purple eyes looked worried at Koharu. She was kneeled in front of him, the light bangs in front of her eyes. They were inside of a human castle.
"It has been days since we last speak to each other, Momoshiro-sama. He never stays away for so long."
"The elf queen is still alive?"
"Yes. Akio-sama is with her at Aubree." Looking up, the green eyes were concerned. "He already received the stones from Shigeo-sama."
"What?! And you didn't do anything to stop him?!"
"I would not survive if I tried to engage a combat against Akio-sama." Her voice was serious. "Not even your brother was able to do it. I believe me knowing his steps are in much better use to you and the other lords."
"What are we going to do?" walking around in circles, he tried to find an answer. "It will not take long until the queen is expecting. We will have no chances when this happens."
"We can only wait Ryoma can succeed on his mission. If he sends me any news, I will contact you immediately." She made a reverence. "If you excuse me."
"You can go. Please, tell us if anything happens."
"Yes, Momoshiro-sama."
Koharu took a deep, tired breath, as reaching her chambers on Murasaki castle. Discarding her clothes on the floor, she thrown herself on the futon and looked up to the ceiling. Her chest was tight from concern. She cursed herself for being stupid. But, above all else, Koharu felt extremely useless, as Ryoma's absence was becoming even greater with the passing days. She was a utterly fool for falling in love in such circumstances. The young human still could remember the last time they shared a bad, under a terrible storm. He would travel to the elf country on the next day and she wanted to imprint his warmth on her skin. Putting an arm in front of her face, Koharu promised herself she would punch him hard as seeing him again. But, above all else, she just wanted to be sure he was alive and safe. She just wanted to see those deep golden eyes again.