The days continued much like that. While the empress was quite busy and so was Will, they still found time to secretly indulge their desires. And the empress never slept alone either. She had Will sneak into her room every night. Seeing as Will was the only one allowed in the upper halls, it was quite easy and no one suspected. In fact, the ladies of the court often flirted with the handsome champion. One in particular irritated the empress, the lady Katelyn. She and all her conspirators were then shortly and promptly dismissed on royal orders for accusations of prostitution and adultery. All swiftly enforced by the empress who was law. None were killed, for she was merciful, but they were simply barred from the castle. Will simply chuckled. But one night as they were cuddling, he asked her about her actions.
"They had nothing but lust in their eyes for you. You wouldn't want them and they would have distracted you with their advances."
"Oh? I am unmarried, promised to no one, and enjoy sex. I do not see a problem with their advances."
And with that he was promptly pushed out of bed. He could tell he had went too far. Rather than get back up, he rolled under the bed and surprised her from the other side with a long kiss. She at first resisted but realized she couldn't any more.
"I love you." spoke Will. "You're absolutely right and you knew from my eyes that I only can and will ever love you."
But the empress was just silent. Will's heart stood on the verge of breaking.
He called her by her name, but she corrected him.
"That's your highness. Now leave me at once Captain. That's an order. Or do you want to be executed?"
Silently, Will got up and left, but before he touched the door, he turned around and shouted.
"I confessed my heart for you. You knew from my eyes and my actions that I live for you. That I give all I have for you. And yet I make a joke and you push me out. That is not fair. I do not say I love you easily. In fact, I have never said it with this much strength and passion ever before. You are the love of my life. And I refuse to let you believe otherwise."
But before he could reach her, she shouted, "Get out and go fuck yourself, or better yet go fuck the lady Katelyn. You know you want to and you know she wants to."
With that, Will shed a single tear and said softly. "I would never do that. I only love you."
And he left. Both lovers spent many nights crying but none dared speak a word to each other. Will still accompanied and protected her, but there conversations lacked any passion.
(Present)
I was stupid. I should never have made that joke. Will was shortly interrupted by a transmission from the Emperor's castle. It was propaganda for the emperor and why his regime had instilled order and security in the world. The Emperor was right. There was order. But his calculations had led to removing all elements of free will from life. And that was what life was worth living for. That and love.