Over the course of the next few weeks a routine had settled in between the new arrivals and the royal family. In the mornings the Uchiha heirs would spar with the royal guards (usually Lee) and then have a light breakfast and get cleaned up for the day. Then Itachi would go off to continue negotiating the peace treaty with Neji while Sasuke went off in search of the queen. When he found her they would spend time together wandering the palace and the gardens simply enjoying each others' company as they chatted away.
Neither prince nor queen noticed that they were slowly but surely getting closer to one another. While the prince was secretly in love with her majesty and he only wished to spend his time with her, it seemed without knowing it he was wooing her. She was falling deeply in love with him but she knew being head over heels for him was forbidden.
She was a married woman and her husband was the KING of her homeland. It was simply unacceptable and unheard of, she was not only a faithful woman but a dutiful one. She wouldn't risk war just for her love of another man, she isn't that selfish. But even so, she couldn't deny the feelings he brought about in her. How she would secretly lust for him or nearly beg the gods for another moment to be with him, it was all so frustrating for her.
As for now the two of them were enjoying a small chat in the library. The quiet atmosphere making it all the more comforting and peaceful for them.
"So your grace, you've never told me that story about you and Captain Lee." Sasuke reminded her of their previous talk
"Well I'll tell you if you stop with the formality Prince Sasuke. What have I told you about that?" she playfully scolded him
"My apologies Lady Hinata, please forgive me." he said with equal amusement
"You're such a stubborn man, but I suppose that's the best I'll be getting out of you then, isn't it?" with a nod for confirmation she sighed again and chose to continue her earlier tale of her childhood with Lee, "Well I'm sure you remember what I told you from before, right?"
"Indeed. You told me that you knew him before he was adopted."
"Mhmm," she said while sipping her jasmine tea, "He and I grew up together. You see neither of us was of noble birth."
"Really? I thought surely you would have been."
"Actually I'm sure you're not the only one who's gotten that impression. The only thing is that's not the truth. I was an orphan as well. My biological mother had died giving birth to me and my father had died in battle so I was left on my own as a baby. I was taken in at the same orphanage as Lee, the only difference being that I was adopted sooner while he had to wait until he was nine before anyone came around for him."
"Ah, I see now. But are you sure your real parents weren't nobles themselves?"
"Actually I'm not but that was what I was told by King Hizashi before he passed away." she informed him
"True that you'd believe your lord's words but that doesn't make them true. The reason why I asked that is because of your eyes. They're rare in the world as it is, only native to your country from what I am aware of, and those whom have it are nobles. There is an entire clan of noblemen and women that have those eyes, hell even the current king does. So I was just curious that maybe your parents were part of it."
"I understand where you're coming from with that Sasuke," she began and he nearly got lost in a daze from hearing her say his name on such familiar terms, "but the fact that you didn't know is there was a split in said clan decades ago during a civil war and one half became the royal clan you know of while the other was of commoner status." she continued on once she was sure he was taking it all in, "King Hizashi must've known that my parents were from the peasant branch of the clan and not the noble clan. I was simply taken in by his younger brother, Hiashi, as a toddler, which allowed my social status to change from that of a simple villager to that of a royal. And that allowed the arranged marriage between Neji and I to take place." she ended her explanation
'Damn you Fate. She would've been mine if you didn't allow that change to take place. I wouldn't be forced to restrain myself around her, and I could've courted her and swept her off of her feet if it weren't for you! Damn you to Hades!' He cursed her fiercely in his mind, he was so sure she was laughing at him up in the heavens.
"I see. So it was not a love match?" he just had to be sure
"No, most certainly not. To be perfectly honest, when I first met him I wanted nothing to do with him. He was a mean little boy, but he was kind to Lee and actually looked out for me while I adjusted to the life of a royal. He still has his mean streak even now, but he can be… sweet at times." she finished softly
"I take it he's only 'sweet' with you." he deadpanned although he nearly snarled at the word sweet
"I suppose, I'm not actually around him all the time so I can't really be sure if he's only like that with me." she responded a little doubtful
"Were there times that he actually left the kingdom?"
"Yes." she answered not sure where he might be going with that
"Perhaps he's like that with other people, I mean the man does have a nice side to him I'm sure. Ah well, in any case I'd expect he'd be treating you like the queen you are and were always meant to be." He sent an alluring smirk her way that caused her heart to speed up with an anticipation she's never felt before.
"He treats… treats me well." she managed to gulp out past that ever-present lump of excitement that forms when he gives her that look
"Well? He should be treating you extraordinary, showering you with love, and affection and all the things you could ever want. Well just doesn't seem to cut it in my opinion, you deserve better than well, you deserve perfect." He finished without realizing the love he had for her was shining brightly in his eyes.
But she noticed it, oh did she ever, and it made her freeze every time she saw it because no one, not even Neji, ever looked at her that way. It made her heart melt and her resolve to be a good wife crumble.
Each time he showed how deeply he felt for her, her soul would float out of this world and make her want to cry out to the gods to let her be able to love this wonderful man back the same way. Sadly their love for each other is forbidden.
Would either of them be willing to risk war just for the sake of their doomed union? She didn't think he would but she wasn't so sure about herself any longer because she seemed closer and closer to saying to hell with it all and giving in to the passion that runs wild in her whenever he's around. 'Oh Sasuke, do you know what you do to me my love?'
"Excuse me, your grace? I came in to find you; Lord Neji wants me to be near you at all times of the day. I hope I didn't interrupt something." Lee said uncertainly
"Uh, no, not at all my friend. I was just finishing my tea with her highness here." Sasuke said to swiftly cover for the slight eye gazing moment they had a moment ago
"Please Lee come have a seat. It would be lovely if you joined us. Your company is always welcome." Hinata also said trying to hide their small slip up and Lee obliged his queen and took a seat next to Sasuke, "So Lee how are all of the preparations for the festival coming along?"
"Quite nicely actually. It'll be ready in two days your grace." he responded
After that a kind of awkward silence settled upon the trio causing the atmosphere to tense further. Clearing her throat with a cough and standing up Hinata said, "Excuse me while I head to the Ladies' Room. I'll be back shortly." and then she left the men alone
"You know, I heard it all Prince Sasuke." Lee said out of the blue after a few minutes of silence
"Heard what Captain?" he said coolly trying not to show his surprise
"Everything. What you and Lady Hinata were talking about just now, and even what you spoke of with the goddess nearly a month ago. I've been monitoring you my friend since you've arrived as it is my job to do so and I've witnessed how you have slowly been getting closer to her majesty. Now normally I'd have to say something to his highness about this but I've seen how much happier you make her than Neji ever did and I must say her joy comes before my duty to his grace because no matter what I always put my 'family' first. So rest assured that I won't say anything of this to the king." Lee told him solemnly
"Thank you my friend." Sasuke sighed in relief.
"But be warned Prince Uchiha that if you hurt her in any way I'll make sure you suffer a painful punishment before your death." he threatened him
"Trust me, I would never do such a thing to her. For she is the woman I love more than existence itself and I would never harm her in ANY kind of way." he responded from his heart
"Good. Make sure it stays that way. And as for that innuendo about the king's faithfulness to her majesty, I hate to say it but you were right. He's cheated on her on many occasions while away on 'business' and as much as I wanted to beat the living daylights out of him I couldn't because it isn't my place to do so. I even tried talking some sense into him about it but as stubborn as he is he wouldn't listen. So I had to let him off and promise to keep quiet about it for obvious reasons. So long as you're not the same I can live with letting you love her, because she needs unconditional love and someone loyal to her no matter what. Are you truly that man, Sasuke?"
"Yes I am. And thank you for telling me all of this." Sasuke said as he and Lee both noticed Hinata returning looking a lot more comfortable and relaxed than before
"Oh, well would you look at that? I must take my leave because I do believe I owe your brother another spar later on. Just one thing before I go." he said catching the couple's attention, "Stop acting like you're having a secret love affair because you aren't fooling the servants. Don't forget the maids know all." he finished with a devious grin before exiting
That effectively shocked the lovebirds. "Did that just happen?" Sasuke asked, "I believe so." Hinata answered before asking, "Does that mean he knows?"
"What's there to know? We haven't done anything yet that I'm aware of." he said innocently although she knew he was teasing her, judging from the fact that he said YET in that statement
It caused her to turn unbelievable shades of red. Sasuke laughed at her mortified expression while saying, "Did you want something to happen between us so he'll know because I'm more than willing to…"
"No, no, no, no, no, no! That's okay. Don't go finishing that sentence." she said completely embarrassed by his teasing which only made him laugh harder
"Hahaha! I'm just kidding my love. You're so adorable, do you know that?" he said calming down while watching her blush deepen, he didn't even realize that he called her his 'love' and 'adorable'
She noticed and turned nearly lobster red from it but calming herself down she promised to get him back eventually. Changing the subject she invited him to the gardens with her to which he promptly accepted.
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In the courtyard are two men dueling with their swords surrounded by a circle of other men, some of which are guards and others whom are servants to clean up things should it get ugly. The two fighters are only having a light spar but are sweaty and tired none the less. As one of them prepares to charge in for another attack he is suddenly halted by a messenger running into the middle of their fight.
"Captain Lee!" the young boy called out
"Yes? How may I help you?"
"I've come to tell you that your wife has finally arrived here safely from your home in the north and is waiting for you at the village inn." he finished with a bow before leaving
"Ah, thank you!" he called after the little boy then he turned to his opponent with a bright smile, "Well I am sorry to say this Prince Itachi but I must cut our spar short today." Lee informed him before he too bowed to the crown prince
"It's quite alright. I was tiring anyway so it'll allow me to rest. Thank you for the spar Captain Lee." He returned the bow and then walked away heading toward the baths.
With a happy grin Lee ran off to go get cleaned up and then retrieve his wife.