AN: There is some erotica in this chapter, some foul language, you have been warned.

Xander

It was a few days before I could get up and walking normally without assistance. Laslow and Peri accompanied me wherever I went and when one wasn't there, then a guard from the Lord in the manor accompanied me instead. Corrin would be with me walking around and assisting me in the smaller things. She quite frequently told Laslow and Peri to take breaks and seemed to almost care for them in a small manner. It was astounding to watch her interact with the help, the maids, the footmen, the butlers, and the retainers. She treated them as her equals and even helped them in many of their duties. Watching her, she got along well with everyone. She was quick to smile and to laugh with them, enjoying their company.

But, when she was around me, it was harder to see those smiles and to get a laugh out of her. She seemed more reserved around me, but with others she was easy going. It made me wonder what I have done to her to make her that way. You cheated. The thought came to me unbidden and I was drawn to the night that I was with Nyx a few days ago.

Nyx was arguing with my retainers. She let herself into the room and slammed the door behind her, even though she was just arguing, her face was a mask of calm. It was one of the reasons I loved her, she was a mystery and she always kept a calm about her. She waved her hand at the door and I saw the door get a small glow tint to it, and then I heard Laslow or Peri trying to open it. She magically locked the door. She approached me slowly and I watched her, I was so tired.

She was wearing a purple and black dress that hugged what little curves she had. Her breasts were smaller than the average woman and she didn't have much of a shape, but I didn't care. I loved her for her brilliant mind and her sharp and quick tongue. She was perfect. Her long black hair fell down her back and her purple eyes gazed at mine. She smiled at me and she sat on the bed next to me.

"Darling, what have you done to yourself?" She asked lowly to me. Her hand went to touch my cheek and she caressed it softly.

"It wasn't intentional," I defended with a half-hearted smile. She grinned at me and leaned down to kiss my lips. I kissed her back, the kiss wasn't heated or passionate, just a loving one.

"Nothing ever is, with you, my love," She said. "I've been trying to visit for days, but your… wife has been here." I noticed how vehemently she said wife and I blinked at her. She wasn't normally the jealous or vindictive type.

"I'm sorry, love," I said. My eyes roved over her face and I took her hand from my face and held it in mine. I kissed her hand softly and gave her a small grin. "I'll be up and back to my old self in no time."

"Well, in the meantime, is there anything I can do to… help?" She asked coyly. I felt her hand remove it from mine and pull the covers down. She snaked her hand to my small clothes and then slip under it. I hissed. It had been weeks since I had been intimate or had any release and the touch on my now growing erection felt amazing.

Her hand moved over my length, running her fingers up and down and keeping her touch light. I groaned and my head pressed back into the pillows more. She moved her hand to cup my balls and I felt my body tense up. The tensing let loose a small shoot of pain from my shoulder, but I chose to ignore it. This felt too good to give up. Her hand kept moving and then her other hand pulled my small clothes down. The cool air brushed against my cock as it grew more in length and I finally loosened my muscles and started to relax into her touch.

Then, I felt her breath on my erection and my eyes flew open. Her mouth hovered over my manhood and I felt like I could burst right then and there. The look of lust in her eyes as her tongue snaked out to touch the tip had me melting into the bed.

"Do you want me to…?" she asked in a seductive voice.

"Mm, yes my love, I want you to," I told her.

As if needing no more invitation, her mouth closed over my erection and I cried out, pushing my hips upward and into her mouth even more. She started moving her mouth up and down and it felt so good I didn't want it to stop. Her mouth continued up and down and then her hand gripped my balls. I groaned and I came. I came into her mouth and she took it all. I felt her pull up and spit out what she had taken from me on the floor.

She put my small clothes back on me and she waved her hand at the door, allowing the lock to be opened again. In rushed my retainers and she gave them a haughty look.

"Clean up your prince and the mess in here," She said with finality. Laslow was the one that moved forward but I saw Peri's face change and I smiled ruefully.

"Peri go stand guard," I ordered. Nyx smiled at me and she walked out, I felt my heart drop at her not staying longer, but I knew she must have other duties to attend to. Peri followed her out and she shut the door behind her. Laslow approached me and started to help me get clean.

"Xander, I think we will be leaving tomorrow," a voice assailed my ears and I turned my attention back to the present. Before me stood my wife, and she was looking up at me with a questioning look. "Camilla will be with us this time. Your father and other sisters and Leo left yesterday. Your father said they had to prepare for the wedding as it was postponed. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, I think that's fine," I answered her. "Camilla will add extra protection, and I think it would be wise if we stayed in the carriage to eat from now on."

"I agree," She replied. "We wouldn't want you taking another arrow."

"No doubt," I said with a smile. She was making jokes now, how cute. "Speaking of being safer, I have someone I want you to meet."

I guided her to the servant's quarters and weaved our way through them and looked over my shoulder to see her following. She had her hair pulled up today and was wearing a deep blue dress. The dress was lower cut than her normal attire and it hugged her waist then flared out. She had on the jewelry she wore at the wedding and she looked like royalty today. I was wearing a simple white long-sleeved shirt that was loose and tucked into my black pants. I felt I looked more like a pirate than a prince. I still had my circlet on, but that was the only item I wore that showed I was nobility.

As we entered a room, a silver haired man stood there in a black and white suit. His hair was long, and he was tall, but slim. He was speaking with Corrin's other handmaiden, a middle-aged woman whose name was Lenore if I recalled correctly. He turned and faced us, and he gave us a smile. Corrin was at my side on my left and she was so close we were almost touching.

"Your highnesses, how do you do?" He asked politely. He bowed at the waist and looked at my wife.

"Jakob, it's a pleasure to see you here. I wanted to introduce you to your new liege," I said with a nod at him. He gazed at my wife and I felt her tense by my side.

"Milady, it is an honor to serve you," he said with a bow to her. "I am Jakob, a butler with the royal family."

"It's nice to meet you," she spoke with authority, but I could tell she was caught off guard. "I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job in serving me."

"Ah, that's the catch," I spoke up. She looked up at me with quizzical eyes. "He also has abilities in other areas I think can be of use to you."

"Other areas?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"Yes, milady, I have some knowledge in daggers. I have been employed to serve you, but to also protect you," Jakob answered her question. "King Garon and Prince Xander thought it prudent to give extra guards to keep you safe. I will be serving you, but I will also be protecting you."

"It's one of the things we are doing to keep you safe," I emphasized to her. She looked up at me again and nodded.

"Thank-you, both of you. I will try my best to help you all make your job easier," She said with a smile. Her face lit up when she smiled, and I felt something pull in my chest. That was odd.

"Just stay safe, little princess."

Corrin

It was nearly two weeks later, and we arrived in Nohr's capital. There were no more incidents along the way and Xander, Camilla, and me made it safely. Camilla and I grew very close over the last couple of weeks. She trained me on Nohrian etiquette and made it clear what was acceptable and not. She drilled it into my head over the last few days. Xander had made comments here and there on the society rules, and he seemed more open during this trip than the last one. We had slept in the same bed together in Cheve and since we now stayed in the carriage during the two-week trip, we hadn't really touched much since.

The carriage was pulling us through the streets of the town that Castle Krakenburg was in. The temperature in Nohr was considerably colder and I was given a fur coat about a week into our trip. The streets of the town were bustling with activity, but there was a solemnness to the town. People weren't happy looking, and they seemed to be almost withdrawn. Their clothes were tattered, and their bodies were gaunt and boney looking. They were starving. The people of Nohr were starving. This is what my family did to this country, took their main source of food and kept it away from people that needed it. Guilt washed over me, I couldn't believe we did this to them.

People bowed as the carriage passed and I looked out the windows, feeling the chilly breeze seep through the carriage. The horses pulled up to a large gate that was inlaid into a massive wall that surrounded the castle. Castle Krakenburg. It lived to its name. It was monstrous, huge, and eerie. It had towers that looked menacing and lights were flickering all within the castle. As we pulled through the gate, I noticed that there were shops and even more houses behind the walls. These houses and shops seemed of a higher scale than the others. The people milling about through these areas had on silks and jewelry that told me they were nobles. They kept the nobles and the peasants separated. This wasn't so in Hoshido. We viewed servants as equals and we tried to help where we could because we were all people.

Once we passed through the castle gates, the horses pulled to a stop. Xander got out first and walked around to my side of the carriage. He opened the door on my side of the carriage and held his hand out to help me out. I picked up my royal red dress and stepped out, taking Xander's hand. The dress I was wearing today was long-sleeved and thicker than the others I had worn. It was made of velvet and it was heavy on my body. I had never worn such a luxurious dress in my life. The coat was covering most of the dress, but I knew that it had roses adorned on the dress made of a velvet material as well.

As I stood out of the carriage, I noticed that we were being greeted by the local nobles. There were two lines on either side of the carriage. Camilla was helped down out of the carriage as well, being helped by Kaze. Xander was wearing his normal armor and clothes, his blond hair even looked perfect right now. As we walked down between the line of nobles, they bowed to us as we passed. I saw that some of the nobles regarded me with a wary eye, still judging me to see if I was cut out for royalty here. My hand was still in Xander's and I felt myself squeeze it in trepidation. This was new to me, we didn't have this in Hoshido. My own mother would even help in the kitchen if we were short help. That's how I was raised, not to be of a haughtier nature.

"Prince Xander, Princess Camilla, Milady Corrin, welcome to Castle Krakenburg," A male said at the end of the line. He had greasy black hair that was long and fell down his back. A golden headdress was on his head and he had black eyes that reminded me of a snake's. He was garbed in long garish robes and he held the air of someone important. I also noticed, he didn't regard me in my honorific of a princess. "Your father wished to be here, but he had matters to attend to."

"Of course, he did, Iago. Thank-you for the welcome," Xander answered.

"Oh, you're welcome, your highness. Your father had given orders for you to gather in the dining hall for supper with the rest of the royal family." I saw Xander's look of surprise at what Iago said to him. "Your father has some news for you."

"Thank-you Iago, we will head that way now," Xander replied and he took his hand from mine and put it on the small of my back and directed me to enter the castle.

As we weaved in and out of hallways, I noticed that the servants all stopped and bowed to us as we passed. Xander nor Camilla really acknowledged them and they just breezed past. I tried to smile at those I could, but I could tell they weren't paying me any attention. I was an outsider, an interloper, why would I be noticed when you have the royals that have been here their entire life? It wasn't long before we were standing in a very massive room.

The room was huge, bigger than the entire Hoshidan royal banquet hall plus its throne room. In this room, there were tables every where and there was a level that elevated above the rest where a long table sat. The seats were more ornate, and I noticed that Xander's siblings were there. We walked up to where his siblings at and Xander pulled out my chair and had me seated before he sat on my left side. In the center of the table was the largest chair of all and it was on Xander's left side. It sat there empty and I assumed it was where King Garon sat.

"What are we doing here?" I whispered to Xander. It had been a long journey and I was ready to lay down in an actual bed.

"I'm not sure, but if father has us gather here, it is for an important reason," Xander said. I noticed his voice was deep, but smooth and full. It was like a warm bonfire. Every word he enunciated had me gripping for another sentence.

Azura sat on my right side and she was adorned in a bright slim blue dress with long sleeves. On the other side of the empty chair sat Camilla, Leo, and Elise. They were all chatting amongst themselves. It was odd being in this large room with just us in there, no other people to fill the room. It seemed very lonely, now that I thought about it. I hoped all their family dinners were not like this.

"All stand," Came a loud ringing voice from somewhere in the hall. Xander and his siblings stood up immediately and I a little slower than the rest. I saw Azura hide a smile at my reluctance to stand.

King Garon walked in from the entrance of the dining hall, and beside him was a girl that was taller than I. She had blond hair that was almost silver it was so blond. She had bright blue eyes and a cute enchanting face. She wore a white dress and she stayed close to Garon's side. King Garon himself wore dark clothing that was covered by his black armor. A long fur cape was draped over his back and he had a stern look on his face. Once he was closer to the table, the siblings bowed, and I remembered Camilla's words from the carriage and did so as well.

"Well, well, my children, please sit," Garon said with a wave of his hand as he too sat in his own seat. We all took our seats and were looking at him with questions in our eyes. I could tell this was not a normal thing now, by looking at how uncomfortable Elise looked.

"Father, it is good to see you again," Xander spoke up.

"Yes, it is good. Let me introduce the ambassador from Izumo, this is Xion," Garon said. The girl was standing in front of the table in front of us and she curtsied to us.

"Hello, I'm here from Izumo to attend the royal wedding festivities," She said. She had a high soprano voice and she was beautiful.

"Yes, nations all around are sending ambassadors to attend and observe your wedding, Xander, which shall take place in two days' time," Garon rumbled out. I blinked.

Two days? That was an awfully short amount of time to be married in. They must have seriously been working to get everything in order. I shudder to think what would occur for the wedding. I saw how women dressed normally, and a large occasion such as a royal wedding would be more flamboyant than what I already saw. Xion looked at me and a strange look came over her face as she looked at me. I tried to avoid her gaze, I didn't like it.

"Two days?" Xander bit out. I was assuming this was news to him as well as myself.

"Yes, we're already late on the wedding because of the incident with the poison. No time like the present. Xion will be accompanying you for the next few days, my daughters, and she will be recording the events for her own country's record," Garon said. "As for my sons, I will need to speak to you privately about greeting the rest of the ambassadors over the next few days."

"Yes father, whatever you wish," Leo said with Xander nodding along.

"Which countries are attending?" I asked. I saw Camilla look at me sharply, Garon didn't like it when we spoke out of turn. Blast, I already forgot. This earned a stern look from the king and he put a hand on his chin.

"Izumo for one, Notre Sagesse is coming as well, and I believe Hoshido, a few other small countries will be attending," He said in thought.

Hoshido. Someone from Hoshido was coming. My mind raced as I tried to figure out who my family would send to attend a royal wedding. At the Hoshidan wedding, all the Nohrian royalty came, but my family would only be sending one. I felt uneasy at that thought, I was really hoping to see my family on the day of the wedding that took place here. I missed them, but surprisingly they hadn't crossed my mind much on the trip over to Castle Krakenburg.

"Yes, father, we will be more than happy to see to our guests," Xander said, casting a glance at me.

"Good, then I believe it is time to eat. I'm sure you're hungry after your trip," Garon said and he signaled to the servants to serve the food.

And we ate.