Disclaimer: I do not own anything (except my OC)
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Flashback"
{Message}
(Telepathy)
*SPELL/ABILITY/MARTIAL ART*
*[METAMAGIC]*
A/N: Here is chapter 4 for you! The start of Calca's birthday. I meant to make it one chapter, but it got away from me lol. This is the first one that contains smut... No, Cael and Calca do not fuck, but they do get more intimate in this chapter... just read and find out
Two weeks. That was how long Cael had told Calca he was hoping it would take for them to be together. Calca wanted nothing more than to be with Cael at all times and stop the sneaking around.
They had grown even closer in their time together, and Calca was now more comfortable with everything about Cael. She had grown to love his home and subordinates as well, maybe even more than Hoburn's Royal Palace.
She could be herself here with no worries about what might get said about her. She could love Cael openly here and no one would bat an eye. The servants of the Palace of Ascension actually seemed to enjoy seeing her with Cael.
Calca loved his home and servants so much that for the past week, she had been sleeping here instead of her own bedroom. She had even been sharing a bed with Cael the whole time as well.
Their intimate relations hadn't progressed much at all in the whole time though. Calca could tell that Cael knew she wanted their first time to be as husband and wife. She did, for she wanted to see if the woman was right all those years ago.
It didn't make it any less difficult not to take it farther. Their kisses had become much more passionate, and their hands had explored each other's bodies further. She loved the feel of his muscular body.
Cael was covered in muscle and somehow also soft to the touch. Not that she or he had felt much skin in all this time. They might have started to feel each other, but it was always over their clothes whether that be their everyday clothes or nightclothes.
She was grateful Cael slept with a shirt on for now. He had told her he normally didn't, but he did when she started staying. She wasn't sure she'd be able to keep her hormones in check if she was laying on him while he had no shirt on.
There was very little she would change about her life right now. Of course, she wished she could tell her two best friends how happy she was. She wished she could sit side by side with Cael every moment of the day.
But for now, it still couldn't be. Cael's two-week plan was already past, and Calca was frustrated in more than one way. There was a very simple reason even if there were multiple reasons for her to be frustrated.
Two weeks had passed two weeks ago.
It had been a month now since Cael came into her life. Her frustration at having to leave him every day was getting to her. And even if it took her five days to admit to herself, she was sexually frustrated as well.
She had never felt anything akin to it before so it took some time to realize what was bugging her so much. When she finally realized it was because she wanted Cael in every way she could possibly have him, it came at the absolute worst time.
That time had come just a few hours before at the Royal Palace of Hoburns in the middle of a council meeting. Her birthday was tomorrow, and the suitors were getting aggressive again. It was getting impossible to mask her disgust at the thought of anyone but Cael touching her.
She knew she was doing poorly at it lately. Many of the suitors who came got looks of disgust at the mention of it and she couldn't do anything to hide it. She had done it so often the last week, her councilors had brought it up.
That is when she fucked up, maybe big time.
Cael was no doubt wondering why she had been relatively quiet the entire time she had been here. They were already ready for bed and she had said only a handful of sentences to him. She was trying to figure out what to say to him. She needed to tell him what she did, but she was worried he would be angry.
He was supposed to put his plan into motion in three days finally, and she couldn't keep her mouth shut. Calca really hoped he wouldn't be mad. She has no idea what she would do if he got angry at her.
"What's wrong, love?"
It looked as if Cael had waited as long as he could for Calca to tell him what was wrong and was now looking for answers himself. Calca should have known he would know something was off about her. It was time to fess up and hope he wasn't pissed at what she did.
She was already mad enough at herself. She was supposed to be a Queen, not some lovesick fool who let her emotions get the best of her, but that is what she did today. Calca took a deep breath and resolved herself to tell him of her foolishness today.
"I messed up today, and... I'm afraid you'll be angry at what I did..."
"Why? Did you kiss someone else today?"
Cael was joking, of course, he didn't think Calca would do anything like that. Calca, on the other hand, was so focused on trying to tell him what happened today that she missed his joking tone and his grin.
"No! I would never!" Calca finally sees his grin. "Oh, you bastard! You are just messing with me!"
Cael laughs and brings Calca in for a hug. He wanted to relax her a bit. He knew whatever was worrying her was serious. She looked scared to tell him whatever she was trying to.
"Sorry, love. I wanted to see you smile. You haven't done enough of it today. Whatever happened, you know we can work through it together so please tell me what has you so worried."
"I... As you know, there are a lot of nobles in the capital right now, and most of them are there trying to seek a betrothal with me. I know I'm the Queen and the proper way to greet me is to kiss the back of my hand, but every time one of them does, it makes my skin crawl."
'He still doesn't know they do this every year because it's my birthday. I only told him my birthday once and I doubt he would remember or even know the day. I'm not sure he keeps the same calendar we do. Maybe if I did tell him, I wouldn't hate my birthday and we could make happy memories on this day. Next year, I'll tell him next year.'
Cael was about to chuckle, but Calca looked focused on telling him what happened so it held it in.
"I have gotten very bad at masking that feeling. So bad in fact, that my council felt it necessary to remind me that I needed to produce an heir one day, and..." she shakes her head. There was no need to relay the entire awkward conversation they had. "Anyway, we started arguing and I let my emotions get the best of me and blurted out that I was already betrothed."
Cael was a little surprised at that. Calca was very good at keeping her emotions in check. He knows it was taking longer than he anticipated, but never expected this level of frustration from her. Perhaps he is partially to blame for it as well.
He shouldn't have told her a timeline when he really had no idea how long it would take. He didn't know the demi-human tribe leaders rarely met, and he was too eager to be with Calca to wait and to think it through after he had all the information.
He was frustrated as well, in every way she was too. He knew her frustration was more than just not being able to be around one another all the time. He could feel her willing herself to stop from taking their intimacy any further every time they kissed. It wasn't hard to discern her other kind of frustration when you noticed that.
Still with all that being said.
"While that does surprise me. I don't really see the problem. Perhaps now the jackasses will leave you alone and I won't have to crack their skulls to keep them away from my future wife."
Cael was hoping to get a different reaction from Calca then her keeping her worried expression. Apparently, neither his reassurance nothing was wrong or his teasing helped her mood at all.
"That... That isn't the bad part. I..." Calca sighs and has to say it. "I told them the King of the Abelion Hills would be arriving in the morning to finalize the details we had been discussing through messages."
Cael wasn't a little surprised at that, he was stunned. He was honestly speechless. He could certainly understand the first part. It wasn't too damaging, but he had no idea what possessed her to say he was coming tomorrow. He didn't get too long to think as Calca explained.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just... I can't stand being away from you. I know I'm a Queen and it sounds so stupid, but I can't help it. I just... I miss you all the time. I can't think straight when I leave you. I know I sound ridicu-"
Calca never got to finish as Cael pressed his lips to hers. She knew what he was saying. He felt the same. Her needy, possessiveness was not one-sided. Her wants and desires were not one-sided. She was not the only one madly in love. Cael made sure she understood all of that before he broke away from her lips.
"Don't apologize, my love. You are all I think about when there is so much I should be learning about this world. I should be looking for threats beyond the Abelion Hills and Roble Holy Kingdom, but I have a hard enough time focusing on those two things when you are not here. I will just have to show up at the gates of Hoburns tomorrow."
"But how are you..."
"Let me worry about that." she sees him stop for a moment and it looks like he is thinking about it. "Give me a moment love. I need to speak to someone."
Cael kisses her on her brow and walks over to the door. She can hear him speaking to someone just outside of it but can't hear what they are talking about.
Calca hugs her middle waiting for Cael to return and gets lost in her own thoughts. She hopes she didn't screw this up and now it would be even more difficult for them to be together. She wasn't sure how this was going to play out now.
When her councilors asked if he was a demi-human, she had already started storming out of the room and hadn't answered. She knew he wasn't, but wasn't sure how much he wanted to reveal to them.
Calca didn't notice Cael had finished speaking to whomever he was speaking to until she felt his strong arms wrap around her from behind. He laid his chin on her shoulder, and when he spoke into her ear, it sent a chill down her spine that was getting very hard to ignore.
"Now, are you going to tell me the other reason you're frustrated?"
She knew exactly what he was talking about, and his lips being so close to her ear was not helping her. It took all her willpower to force those thoughts away and it made it impossible for her to answer him so he did for her.
"I know what you want, Calca~" the shivers were instantly back and her effort was for nothing. "Let me take care of you. You won't regret it, I promise you."
Calca believed every word he said, but there was still a part of her that needed to know. She had to see if it was true and that could only happen when they married. Finally, she was able to speak.
"Cael... I want to, but..."
Cael started kissing her neck and trailing his tongue up her pulse and it put a stop to her words. He had never done that, and it felt so good Calca could feel herself heating up. Before she could tell him to stop, he stopped on his own. His lips were still right next to her ear though.
"Do you trust me?"
This time, her response was immediate and required no thought.
"With all my heart and soul."
Cael placed a few more kisses on her neck while he ran his hands up and down her sides before saying.
"I know you wish to be a maiden when we marry. I promise you, when I'm done. You will feel much better and still be a maiden."
Calca didn't need to see his face to tell if he was lying or not. She could hear the honesty in his words without needing to see. She wasn't lying when she said she trusted him with her heart and soul. She couldn't think of what to say so she nodded her consent.
Cael went back to kissing her neck from behind, but before she could lean back and wrap her arms around his neck, he slid his fingers along her shoulders, and her robe hit the floor.
What she was wearing to bed here would be considered quite risque in the Roble Holy Kingdom. When Saera showed her sleeping clothes from the Palace of Ascension though, they were considered conservative.
They were nothing more than a silk robe and sleeping dress but were much more revealing than what she normally wore to bed. The silk was the softest she had ever felt, and it felt like a cloud was caressing your skin every time you moved.
The robe and the sleeping dress were both white. Well, the ones she was wearing tonight. The robe was only slightly loose as opposed to the very loose robe she was used to. It tied in the middle just like hers did, but it didn't even go past her knees.
The dress she was wearing was not what she was used to either. It only came down to mid-thigh. It was held up by two thin straps around her shoulders, and it was the only material above her chest showing off more skin and cleavage than she ever had in her whole life.
At some point, Cael had not only lost his robe but also moved her to the bed. She didn't notice either until the back of her legs touched the bed. When she saw Cael without anything covering his upper body, she knew he made the right decision to sleep with a shirt on when she stayed.
He was even more perfect than she thought. Everything from his abs to his pecks, to his shoulders, was muscled to perfection. She wanted to reach out and feel him but stopped herself.
He was still kissing and licking her neck and shoulders. She thought if she felt him as well, it might be too much for her to handle, but Cael had other ideas. He saw her hand twitching to reach out and feel him so he went a little faster than he wanted to. He could make it up later.
Calca felt his arms wrap around her and his hands moving up her back. Before she knew it, the straps holding the dress up were being pulled apart and it was sliding to the floor a few feet from where the robe lay on the ground.
She suddenly felt self-conscious standing in front of Cael like this. The only thing left on her body was her panties, and no matter how much Cael professed his love for her, she still felt a little inadequate compared to the women from his home.
She instinctually went to wrap her arms around her chest, but Cael grabbed her wrists before she could. She knew he wanted to see her, but what he said and did next she did not see coming.
He gently pulled her wrists toward him and set her hands on his exposed chest. She soon realized he felt even better than he looked. She could feel his hard muscles all over his chest and abs, but his skin was as soft as silk.
"I'm all yours, Calca..."
Before she could say anything, she felt his tongue swirling around her nipple and she tried to clench her fists to stop her moan. Her hands were still exploring Cael though so all she did was dig her nails into his skin as she let out a...
"Mmm... gods..."
Cael took her nipple in his mouth and sucked on it before releasing it and giving the same attention to the other one. One of Calca's hands left his front and she threaded her fingers into his hair.
When he sucked on that nipple, she felt his fingers slide down her mound. He trailed the tip of his finger up and down her wet lips but never inserted it. She was about to shove it in in frustration, but Cael trailed his tongue back up between her breasts, up her neck, and to her ear before he whispered.
"Are you ready?"
Calca could only nod and she didn't think she did it fast enough. What happened next, she was not expecting. She thought he would finally insert his finger and she would finally get her release. She could already feel the eruption building in her core, but he didn't do that.
Cael gently laid her down on the bed. He continued trailing kisses and his tongue down her front until she was laying on her back. He removed his fingers completely from her, she felt the loss immediately and sat up.
"What are you... OH... GODS!"
She never finished her question as Cael's tongue slid straight down her wet lips. He went back up and circled her bundle of nerves a few times before sliding back down and pushing his tongue in a little farther.
"CAEL... CAEL... CAEL!"
Calca's cries were somewhere between a moan and a scream as Cael probed deeper and deeper into her with his tongue. She grabbed the top of his head, clenched his hair into her fist, spread her legs wider, and tried to get him even deeper inside of her.
She had never thought she could feel this much pleasure at one time. Cael was circling her bundle of nerves as he pressed harder and harder into it with his tongue. When he slowly slid a single finger inside of her, she went to another level of pleasure.
"BY THE FOUR! YOU ARE... GODS! YES!"
Calca can't stop anything that is coming out of her mouth right now. It feels like Cael is everywhere inside and outside of her. His magical tongue circling her nub, his strong finger slowly rubbing the perfect spot inside of her, and his other hand kneading her breast and pinching her nipple lightly.
She was overwhelmed with pleasure and it felt as if every nerve in her body was firing off at the same time. The eruption that was building in her core was now spreading out over her entire body. As soon as his finger was deep inside of her, she exploded in wave after wave of blissful pleasure.
"YES! YES! YES! CAEL! MY LOVE!"
Cael didn't let up on Calca in the least as he felt her coming undone around him. He kept his finger slowly going in and out to prolong her pleasure as he lapped up all her juices. She tasted so sweet and he couldn't get enough of it.
Finally, her grip on his hair loosened, her body stopped shaking and went limp. He slowly stood up placing soft kisses inside her thighs, then on her stomach, then her perfect breasts, and finally her pulse before he looked down into her eyes.
She looked relaxed finally and a little blissful. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't proud of that. Calca had started to come to her senses, and he saw what she was about to do.
"Calca, I..."
She didn't let him finish or back away as he was about to do when her lips met his. He never got to say, I taste like you. Are you sure you want to kiss me? Her passionate kiss and tongue fiercely exploring his mouth let him know she didn't care apparently.
Cael didn't want to crush her, so he rolled over and brought her with him. She was now on top, but she was still pressed up against him. She was determined to use every second of oxygen she could to explore his mouth once more it seemed.
Cael didn't waste the opportunity of her finally being naked on top of him. He had wanted to run his hands over every inch of her silky smooth skin since he laid eyes on her. He ran his hands up and down her back as they kissed, and he didn't skip groping that perfect, firm ass Calca had.
Calca finally needed to breathe and pulled back enough to stare into those sexy prismatic eyes. Every day he proved to be better than she ever dreamed, and she tried to convey that love through her eyes.
"That was..."
She didn't have the word for it. She could think of a lot of them; perfect, amazing, life-altering, magnificent, but she didn't think any of those words did what she just felt justice.
"I know, my love."
That was all Cael had to say. He looked just as pleased as she did, and Calca had no idea how. She had done nothing to him and he only worried about her pleasure. Before she could think too much about it, Cael said.
"We have a big day tomorrow, my love. Let's get some sleep so we are ready for it."
Cael gently laid her next to him and got up to retrieve her sleepwear. He was pleasantly surprised when she said.
"Just the robe, my love. And don't put your shirt back on. I need to feel your skin against mine."
Calca didn't realize the time, but she easily drifted off to sleep after receiving the best birthday present she had ever gotten. Cael, on the other hand, relished every moment of lying here with Calca like this.
She may have put her robe on, but she didn't put anything else on before she fell asleep. She didn't even bother tying the robe. He laid there until morning was coming, enjoying the feeling of her laying on top of him in such a state.
When he finally did get out of bed, it was with great skill and swiftness. He managed to get out without even stirring Calca. There were things he needed to do before she awakened.
Calca smiled before even opening her eyes. She hadn't ever slept that soundly in her life. She should probably still be worried about today, but she found she didn't care. After last night, she doubted anything could ruin her day today.
It was the first time she had looked forward to her birthday for the last ten years. She didn't feel Cael next to her so it wasn't a good start to the morning. However, she smelled something divine near her.
She finally opened her eyes and was surprised at the sight. There were Prismatic Rose petals scattered on the bed, Cael was standing next to the bed with a tray in his hand, and a brilliant smile on his face. His words nearly brought Calca to tears.
"Happy Birthday, my love."
Calca had to use her entire willpower to avoid crying like a baby. She had only told him once and didn't think he would remember. She should have known better by now. She was fairly confident that Cael knew her better than she knew herself at this point.
Cael moves to put the tray in front of her, but she grabs his shirt and pulls him in for a kiss. She didn't care that she just woke up. She didn't care if she looked a mess right now. She needed him to know how much he meant to her.
"Good morning to you as well, beautiful. I take it you like the start of your birthday so far?"
"It's perfect." Calca points toward the wood tray. "What's that?"
"This, my lovely Queen, is for you." Cael sets the tray down and removes the lid. "Breakfast in bed for the Birthday girl."
Calca looked at the tray and couldn't believe her eyes. She had plenty of food in the palace so far. It was always the best meal she ever ate, but this was quite the sight.
The entire tray was filled with food. There was a plate with eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, toast, and biscuits on it. The top of the tray was lined with drinks from coffee to tea to milk. On both sides of the plate were small bowls with a different fruit in each one, there was about ten by her count. Calca would need about a week to eat all this food herself.
"It looks wonderful, my love. Are you going to join me?"
Cael smiles at her and Calca returns it immediately. He brushed the rose petals next to her into his hand and took a seat. She was curious why he was so delicate with the petals, then she realized he had destroyed a Prismatic Rose to do this for her. No, by the look of how many were on the bed, he had destroyed quite a few of them.
The thought of him destroying the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen made her feel a little guilty. Cael had brought her Cosmic Roses as well, even told her they were his favorite, but she preferred the Prismatic Roses. They not only reminded her of his eyes, but they were also the best smelling flower she had ever smelled.
Cael didn't eat much, just some fruit and toast, but he still found ways to pamper Calca. He rubbed her feet and calves as she ate her breakfast, and she was tempted to try and eat all this food so it never ended.
She had dreaded her birthday for years now. Cael was erasing those memories in the span of a single morning. She had a feeling she would never hate a birthday again and that this one would be remembered by her for as long as she lived.
When she finished, he took the tray and she realized she ate a little too much for breakfast. She never wanted the massage to end, and didn't pay attention to how much food she was shoving in her mouth.
When he moved toward the door to hand the tray off, Calca fell back into the pillows with her arms above her head. She sighed in complete contentment and closed her eyes.
'Best Birthday Ever!'
She had only been up for a short while, and she already knew that to be true. Cael's voice made her open her eyes and come back from her daydreams.
"That is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen."
Calca had no idea what he was talking about. Cael noticed and motioned up and down Calca's form. He realizes now, she has no idea how incredibly sexy he thinks she looks laying in his bed like that.
Calca looked down and realized why he said that. She had never tied her robe, and it was pooling around her sides covering up only her arms. She had never put anything else back on last night so she was basically laying naked in front of Cael.
Surprisingly to Calca, it didn't bother her at all. With how self-conscious she had been about the women here, hearing him say that made her even more content. He had never looked at anyone the way he was looking at her now.
She could feel her confidence growing by the second and moved her arm toward him and beckoned him forward with one finger and a sultry smile. Cael crawled toward her and never stopped or broke eye contact until his lips were claiming Calca's.
Cael snaked his hand around her neck and deepened the kiss. Truthfully, he wanted to touch Calca everywhere again, but that could wait, and he intended to do just that. Calca may have thought she messed up, but what she really did was make it so they could marry faster.
As long as he handled today's meeting with her nobles correctly, he intended to marry her in three days. It would be the day after he interrupted the demi-human tribe leaders meeting and told them who their new king was.
After they learned who each one was. Cael ordered Ariel to focus on nothing but finding out the strength of each tribe leader. From what she learned, he was confident he could kill all of them at the same time if he needed to. The strongest of them was only the equivalent of a tier 5 caster, and that wasn't many of them to begin with.
The ones that were fighter types, most of them, he could probably have Parisa and Azrael take care of if he needed to and they were only level 35. Well, they were making their way toward 36 now, but he realized it would take a while at this rate.
Everyone was gaining experience, but it wasn't much. Ariel, Parisa, and Azrael had gained the most. He believed it was because they were doing so much more than anyone else. They were using stealth, gathering intel, mapping the area, and a few other things, but even they hadn't gained much experience.
All the servants except the guards had started to gain experience as well. It was also very little, but that didn't make that much of a difference. The fact they were gaining experience doing things like cleaning, laundry, and making beds was a bonus enough even if it would take a while for them to get several levels.
It was obviously going to be easier for the maids, cooks, etc... They were only level one, to begin with, so they needed much less experience to level. The level one hundred's though. The rate they were gaining experience was barely noticeable even if they were doing the most tasks.
If they kept up getting experience at this pace, he was guessing they would hit level one hundred and one in a few centuries. It was that slow for them. He had a feeling if they killed something, they would get a lot more experience. Calca finally ran out of air and broke away. Cael had to ruin the wonderful morning by saying.
"As much as I'd love for you to lay in our bed like that forever, we have a big day ahead of us so you might want to get ready."
Calca pouted adorably and kissed Cael again. He didn't let this one drag out too long, no matter how much he wanted to. Calca was not happy when he pulled away too early for her liking.
"Bring those lips back here and I'll stay in this bed for as long as you like~"
Cael loved hearing Calca try to be seductive, his body enjoyed it quite a bit. He felt a shiver travel down his body and his cock stir immediately. When she tried to be sexy, Calca was almost irresistible, but like he said, almost.
He did kiss her again, but just a peck on the lips before getting out of the bed. She pouted again and it was hard not to go kiss her again, but they really needed to get ready. Plus, some of the servants had a surprise for her.
"I know you usually get ready at home-"
Cael definitely had more to say, but Calca needed to amend that statement immediately.
"No, I usually get ready at the Royal Palace. This feels like home to me now."
"It makes me happy that you think that." Cael couldn't help kissing her one more time before continuing. "Saera and some of the other maids asked if they could help you get ready today. They have a surprise for you."
"Truly?"
"Of course, they love you. You thought they wouldn't want to do something for you for your Birthday?"
"I don't expect to be happy on my Birthday. This is the first good one I've had in ten years."
"Well..." Cael puts his hand under her chin and makes her look at him. "I'll make sure everyone you have from now on is the happiest day of the year for you."
Calca started to tear up and could only get out.
"Thank you, Cael. I love you."
"And I love you. Can I call the maids in for you?"
"Please do, I'm excited about their surprise now."
"Do you want to..."
Cael trailed off as he motioned toward her basically naked body. He thought she'd want to cover up, but apparently not.
"No need. I'm used to it, my maids help me bath sometimes and dress me every morning. As long as they are all women. I don't mind."
"There is no way I'd ever let another man see you in such a state. I'd have to kill them if they did..."
Cael was only half-joking. He probably would at least rip their eyes out. If it was intentional, they would definitely die.
Cael opened the door, and to Calca's surprise, five maids came in. Saera had been the only maid she talked to regularly because she attended Cael's room, but she had talked to all of the ones coming into the room now.
Saera, Joanna, Celeste, Trinity, and Solaria had all come into the room after Cael had opened the door. The women looked exceptionally happy to Calca. It made her smile even wider when she saw them.
'This really is the best Birthday ever already!'
Calca was sitting at the chair to the vanity, and Cael knelt in front of her to give her one last kiss. He was tall enough that she didn't even have to lean down to catch his lips. It was over before she wanted it to be, but she knew they had company.
"I'll leave you to get ready, my love. I'll come to see you off before you must go back to the Royal Palace."
Cael quickly left the room at her nod and the maids moved in. They all wished her a Happy Birthday. She was on the verge of crying at how wonderful this Birthday already was and it got to the point where she did cry when the maids presented her with a box.
When she opened it, that is when the tears started. Inside the box was a brand new robe for her to wear. It was pure white as her old one, but the quality of this one was astonishing.
Where the blue on her robe normally was, it was instead prismatic. Calca had no idea how they accomplished such a thing, but it was right in front of her. The inner stitching was done in black, but the hems were the shiniest gold Calca had ever seen.
She couldn't hold back the joy as she took it out of the box. On the front of the robe was the symbol of the Roble Holy Kingdom. When she moved the robe to see it from different angles, she noticed the symbol changed in the light. It turned to the symbol of the Palace of Ascension when the light hit it at a certain angle.
She could tell that from the waist up, it would be much more form-fitting than the robes she normally wore, but she loved it. The black almost gauntlets that normally held her robes at her forearm were prismatic as well, black and gold stitching outlined them.
She was so grateful she immediately hugged Saera who happened to be the closest one to her. The maid was stunned as well but hugged her right back before she broke away and hugged all five of the maids in the room with her.
"We are glad you like it, your majesty. We all helped to make it with Lady Seraphina. She wished to be here as well, but she is out following Lord Cael's orders at the moment."
To say Calca was stunned that Seraphina was one of the people to help make this was an understatement. She got the impression that Seraphina was one of the few that didn't like her. She was happy as well. If the woman would go out of her way to do this for her, surely she didn't hate her, right?
"I will be forever grateful that all of you took the time to do this for me. Please, give Seraphina my thanks as well, ladies."
"You are to be our Queen, your majesty. Any of us will do anything to make you and Lord Cael happy."
Trinity expressed what they were all feeling to her. Their only goal for their wonderful Lord who stayed behind with them was to make him happy. Many wished they were in Calca's position, but none would forget that she was the one who saved them all, to begin with. It made it a lot easier to focus on Lord Cael's happiness.
"Thank you, all of you, you have made this place feel like my home and I'll never be able to repay you for that." After holding back a few more tears, Calca continued. "Now, how about we get me into this gorgeous outfit so I can show it off!"
"We were hoping you would be alright with us doing everything to get you ready today. We know you have your own personal serv-"
Joanna was cut off by Calca before she could finish.
"I would love it if you ladies would. After taking your own time to make me such a wonderful gift, I couldn't think of anyone who should help me get ready to wear such a wonderful item."
All of the maids beamed at her and started to get to work, except one. Solaria stood in front of her and pulled out a piece of paper. Calca was wondering what she was doing but she got her answer quickly.
"While they get you ready, your majesty. I will read the instructions Lady Seraphina left for your new robes."
"Wait? Instructions? I'm sure the six of us can figure out how to get me in those robes."
Calca laughed a bit and so did the others. This was unlike any morning she had ever had. Her normal servants were always stiff as a board getting her ready.
'Perhaps Cael wouldn't mind if some of them came with us to the Royal Palace of Hoburns?'
Calca loved that idea. They were not only getting her ready faster, and much better than her own personal servants, but she could also talk freely with them and even joke apparently. She hoped he didn't mind when she brought it up later.
"Yes, your majesty..."
Solaria didn't get to continue as Calca wished to see how normal she could be with these women.
"Please, Solaria and everyone else. When it is just us, it would bring me the greatest joy if you would call me Calca."
Calca could tell they weren't sure if they should do that. They were all looking at each other waiting for one to see if that was alright. Thankfully, Saera nodded and everyone smiled at her.
"Very well... Calca." Calca likes hearing her name from them. "Lady Seraphina wanted us to inform you that your new outfit is not merely for cosmetic purposes. They are also enchanted to increase your casting abilities, raise your physical and magical defenses, and make you immune to things such as poison, petrification, disease, and several other effects."
Calca shouldn't be stunned by any of this anymore, but she still is. Her old robes were of the highest quality the Roble Holy Kingdom could produce for a divine caster, and these robes were leaps and bounds more powerful than she could dream of.
"I can't... I mean... Is it really alright for me to have these?"
Calca didn't mean to sound like that, but it was overwhelming. She felt she had been receiving everything she had ever wanted and given nothing in return. Their kindness was a balm to her soul, but also made her feel guilty.
"Of course it is, Calca." Solaria had apparently gotten used to saying her name quickly. "If anything were to happen to you, we are not sure our Lord would recover from that. We wish to keep you safe just as much as he does."
"Thank you again, all of you, you have made this the best Birthday I've had in a very long time and it has only just started. I think finding out Seraphina didn't hate me would have been enough for this to be a great day."
Calca laughed but the others didn't. They looked at her seriously and Calca thought she might have said something to upset them.
"Calca, Lady Seraphina never hated you. She is just protective of Lord Cael and wanted to make sure you would make him happy. Lord Cael is all we have left, and we didn't want anyone to take advantage of his kindness."
Calca understood now after Saera's words. It also explained Saera's initial reaction to Calca when they first met. She was glad they all cared for Cael so much and it lightened her heart knowing he had so many people to look out for him.
With that said, they all got to work. They did her hair, painted her nails, and even removed her hair with some strange device. Saera explained it burned the hair off instead of cutting it so it didn't need to be done very often.
Calca always felt beautiful, but after they helped her get ready, she felt like a million gold. When they helped her don her new robes, she felt the effects immediately. She almost sat back down in shock as she felt her MP more than double the moment her robe was secured.
The material also felt like it could stop a sword while also being incredibly comfortable and flexible. To say they were the finest robes she had ever worn or seen would not do them justice.
As she admired herself in the mirror, she didn't hear the five girls leave and Cael come in to take their place until she heard his angelic voice say right behind her.
"My Goddess of Beauty."
She blushes and can't help it. She should be used to his loving and awed tone when he speaks about her, but she is not. It's always the sincerity he says it with. She knows without a doubt he truly believes that.
"My Beautiful Angel."
She turns around, hugs him around the neck, and kisses him. She didn't linger long because she never felt those safe, strong arms wrap around her. She notices he has his hands behind his back hiding something.
"I was going to give you your next present, but you called me beautiful so..."
Cael trails off with a smirk on his face. Not that he didn't think Calca believed what she said, but he didn't like to be called beautiful. It just felt weird to him.
"Are you trying to see how many times you can get me to cry before I leave? I've already had the best Birthday in as long as I can remember. You don't have to keep giving me things, Cael."
"I know, but I wanted to and it keeps me occupied while you are not here." he grins at her before moving his hands in front of himself to show her a slim, tall glass bottle. "I know it isn't as fancy as your new robes the girls made you, but it is a perfume made from the rose petals that were on the bed this morning."
Calca looked at the bed and finally realized there were no rose petals. She never saw them get cleaned up. Obviously, Cael was a lot sneakier then she thought he was. Him doing something so amazing had her tearing up again. She'd be out of tears by the time she left if he kept this up.
She didn't reach for the bottle, she launched herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and claimed his lips again. She wanted to do so much more for how wonderful he was, but if today went well, that would come soon.
She broke away and took the bottle from his hands. She noticed now that even the bottle was incredibly detailed. This man was going to give her a heart attack soon.
"Oh, Cael... you're..."
"Please don't say beautiful..."
Cael chuckles as he interrupts Calca. She looked on the verge of crying again and he didn't want that. He was glad she was happy, but crying this much wasn't what he was going for. She didn't miss a beat though and finished her sentence.
"Mine!"
Cael took both her hands and leaned down to kiss her. He had no idea where that bottle went, but he was glad it somehow disappeared. When they broke apart, he leaned his forehead against hers and said.
"Don't forget you are mine as well, my love."
"Never. Especially today, I've never felt so loved and beautiful and comfortable!"
Calca planned on continuing but Cael interrupted her.
"I'm glad you finally came around to knowing you are the Goddess of Beauty I already knew you to be."
He kisses her cheek but she wasn't done.
"It's not just that. Everyone here is so wonderful and I can be myself here. The girls made me this incredible robe and even agreed to call me Calca when we are alone. This feels like home. I... I was wondering if I could ask you something?"
"Hmm, funny, I wanted to ask you something as well. You go first."
"No. I've... you've already done so much today, you go first."
"If my Queen insists." He smiles at her and it warms her instantly. "How would you feel about getting married in three days?"
Of all the things Calca thought he would ask, that was certainly not one of them. Her answer mirrored her feelings.
"WHAT?!"
"I was kind of hoping you'd say yes." Cael jokes to her. That wasn't what he was looking for but he did just say that out of the blue. "I know you think you delayed it, but I believe it is perfect timing. I will be King of the Abelion Hills in two days, all of your nobles are already in the city with their finest clothes since they are in the capital, and I really don't want to wait any longer."
"Y-You mean it?..."
"I do, please don't cry..."
Cael saying it only made it worse and Calca started to tear up again. It didn't last long before she said.
"Yes. I will marry you in three days."
Normally, this is when Calca launches herself at Cael, but that didn't happen this time. Calca didn't realize what happened until she was spinning and Cael's lips met hers. He moved so fast she didn't even realize he had picked her up, spun her, and kissed her until she was being kissed.
This was still unbelievable to Cael. He went from a twenty-five-year-old single guy living in a small house in a war-torn country to an angel with incredible powers about to marry a Queen. He still expected every day to finally wake up from this dream, back in his chair, hooked up to his VR, playing Yggdrasil.
Cael would love to kiss Calca all day, but he had already kept her here too long. The message Ariel just sent him let him know it was way too long. He set her down, pecked her lips once more, and said.
"We have a lot more to talk about, but you really need to get to the Royal Palace."
"I'm sure I have-"
Cael kisses her once more to cut her off then shakes his head as he breaks away.
"Your maids have been knocking for ten minutes. Ariel just told me they are so worried one of your guards went to get your friend, Remedios."
Calca panics a bit as Cael opens a Gate. Calca takes a hurried step forward, stops, turns and kisses Cael once more before stepping through the Gate. Cael teleports to the treasury as the Gate closes. He needs to grab a few things before departing for Hoburns.
Calca realized Cael was not joking a second ago when she stepped through the Gate and heard a loud pounding on her sitting-room door. She quickly opened the music box Cael left her, opened the door to her bedroom, made her way to the other door, unlocked it, and swung it open to say.
"No need to pound on my door... Oh... Good morning, Remedios, Kelart."
Calca's tone was so convincing, even Remedios and Kelart didn't pick it up. It didn't take long for Remedios to apologize.
"I'm sorry, your majesty. The servants had been knocking for a while and couldn't get in. They got worried and sent for us."
Remedios bowed her head and now Calca felt guilty. If there was anyone she hated lying to about this, it was Remedios and Kelart. After today though, she wouldn't have to worry about it.
"It's alright, Remedios. I was getting ready and had some music playing. I didn't hear the door, it is also my fault."
They all buy that easily as they finally see, Queen Calca is indeed already ready for the day, and wearing the nicest set of robes any of them had ever seen. To say they were bewildered would be an understatement. They had no idea why she wouldn't wear them all the time if she owned them. She noticed their stares.
"I take it I did a good job getting ready? You all seem to like my new outfit."
"Yes, your majesty. You look... radiant."
Everyone nodded at Kelart's words. She quite literally looked like she was glowing. It wasn't long before Remedios asked.
"Are those new? I've never seen those robes or that necklace before. They are both very nice, your majesty."
Calca had completely forgotten about the necklace. It was hard to keep track of all the things Cael kept giving her, and it wasn't even the nicest of the things he gifted her.
'You should see the crown he gifted me, my friends. I suppose you will soon.'
The thing was a work of art. She was no jeweler or smith, but she knew that crown was probably worth as much as her palace.
"They are." Calca looks at the group and makes a decision. "Since I'm ready for the day, all of you are dismissed for now. Remedios, Kelart, why don't you join me in the sitting room and we can talk about it."
Everyone takes the dismissal immediately and Calca opens the door for her friends to enter. They each take a seat around the table and Kelart starts before Calca can.
"Since those are new I'm guessing they are birthday gifts?" Calca nods but Kelart continues before she can say anything. "It is kind of surprising you are wearing them. You usually throw out these suitors' gifts the moment you receive them."
"Well, these are from my betrothed, my friends. I couldn't do the same as I normally do."
That was when Remedios cut in.
"How did that happen anyway? We are your friends and we found out like everyone else did. Is that why you've been acting strange the past month?"
"I didn't want you to find out that way and I'm sorry. It's just..." Calca closes her eyes, lets out a breath, and realizes she could say something very simple and they would understand. "He's real."
It took Kelart and Remedios only a second to figure out what she was saying.
"You're telling me tall, dark, and handsome with prismatic eyes is a real person?"
Calca nods at Kelart's question. She knew there would be more and Remedios quickly followed up with.
"I still don't understand why you couldn't tell us?"
"I wanted to keep him for myself as long as I could. Once we get married, it's going to be different. I know it was selfish and I feel bad for not telling you two. I have just been so..."
Calca is searching for the right word, but Kelart already knew the right word to use.
"Happy."
Calca nods to Kelart for picking the perfect word and Remedios says.
"Is it sad that is the reason I thought you were acting strange? You were actually happy."
"Sadly no. It is all too common for royalty. You said it yourself the other day, Remedios. Even when we aren't in court and are simply walking the halls, you need to call me your majesty all the time. It's different for me to be able to speak with someone all the time without the need for formalities.
Remedios looked hesitant to ask her next question, but she ended up doing it anyway.
"You left the meeting quickly after Count Cohen asked if your betrothed was a demi-human. Is he?..."
Calca thought this might come up and she wasn't going to lie to her friends about it so she said.
"No, he isn't a demi-human."
"Well, that is a little bit of a relief. I don't think the nobles would agree at all if he weren't human."
"Cael isn't..."
Calca never got to finish as a frantic knock interrupted her reply to Kelart. Calca allowed the person to enter and a nervous-looking servant entered the room. She quickly bowed to Calca.
"Your majesty. The front gate sent an urgent message to us. They say there is a carriage at the front gate with a decree from you stating they could enter without inspection and..."
The girl hesitates and Calca pushes her.
"S-Sorry, your majesty. They say... it is... pulled by... Unicorns..."
No one missed Calca's smile at that. It obviously wasn't a surprise to her.
"That would be my betrothed. Tell them it is true and to let them pass." the maid bows but Calca stops her for a second. "And Lynn..." the servant turns to her. "Those aren't Unicorn's, they are Pegasuses."
The maid gives her a confused look before bowing again and leaving. Kelart and Remedios are lost as well with the same thought.
'What the hell is a Pegasus?'
"Come, my friends. I finally get to introduce you to Cael."
Calca stands and her friends follow. Kelart and Remedios both want to ask her what a Pegasus is, but don't want to interrupt their friend's good mood. She hasn't stopped beaming since that maid gave her the message.
So chapter 4 done... I hope the smut was alright even if it wasn't really that much... it will be in the story as you read in the summary so if you don't like it, I suggest not reading it lol... Next chapter Cael makes his debut in the Roble Holy Kingdom... I wonder how that is going to turn out... Until Next Time!