The steam from his bath relaxed him, his entire body submerged within the hot water, his hair falling over his crimson gaze. Zant's thoughts were filled with visions of yesterday's scenario, with Celeste alone in his study. The mere memory of her soft porcelain skin beneath his fingertips stirred something within him, and though he groaned in recollection, his head resting upon the basin of his tub, he closed his eyes in contentment.

For years, he'd known her feelings for him were more than simply adoration. She confessed to him, albeit, surprising even himself but even so, he couldn't stop that inclination from moving closer to her and trapping her beneath him on the couch. The woman possessed a pleasing aura, one which certainly calmed his wavering thoughts, and yet, he realized her mere presence aroused him and his curiosity.

"Celeste…" He murmured, pressing his fingertips through his hair, eyes still closed.

Two days had passed since then, and even so, it was no surprise she avoided him, perhaps, even embarrassed by the scenario, but even so, he did not chase after her, but respected the distance she placed between them. It was somewhat baffling, their relationship, and yet, all the more tempting it felt.

Realizing his thoughts were focused too intently on Celeste, he removed himself from his basin, grasping a large velvet red towel from his chair and dressed himself. It was nearing evening already, and earlier, he'd been notified from an advisor to meet with his Majesty before the commencement of the evening party.

Zant adorned himself in a white long-sleeved button up shirt, polished black shoes and long black slacks. Dark hair was pulled out of his face, although still wet, a few strands of his fringe fell over his eyes. As he surveyed himself in the large ornate golden mirror, he couldn't help but imagine Celeste atop his lap, her lips capturing his in a searing kiss, his hands roaming her body before ultimately beginning to unfasten her dress.

He closed his eyes, and leaned over his chair beside the mirror. He was starting to lose focus, and right now, he needed to distract himself with anything but her. With a deep sigh, he regained his straight posture and reached for his black cloak, adorning it before taking one last look in the mirror and exiting the room.


A sigh escaped Celeste's lips as she sat in front of her vanity, her eyes staring into her reflection dazedly. The front of her hair was swept back into a long braid while the remainder of her white hair fell over her back. Celeste was adorned in a light blue knee-length dress, her white stockings high. The top of her bodice was opened, slightly revealing cleavage and many small bruises Zant had left behind two days ago. Celeste faintly recalled the feeling of his lips pressed against her skin, how her body felt like putty within his hands. It was strange, that sensation she felt when he touched her, whispered to her, and somehow, it almost drove her to oblivion.

Flash Back

"Z-Zant…" She breathed, her eyes closing as she soon felt his lips upon her neck, his wandering hands reaching for the ribbon tied at her chest, securing her bodice in place.

When he noticed her trembling, her small hands suddenly wrapped around his wrist, he paused, noticing her eyes nervously shifting from his hands to his face. "Forgive me. Am I moving too fast? If you would like, I can stop."

Celeste shook her head, and despite her own heart pounding loudly in her ears, she wanted this, she was certain of that. "No…"

Since this was likely her first time being intimate with a man, he decided to take it slow, removing his hand from her leg and cupping her cheeks as he kissed her forehead. Gently, he removed her hair accessory from behind her ear, allowing her hair to fall freely around her, his face pressed against her neck, lips sucking upon her soft skin.

Unable to withstand shivering as his tongue glided upon her neck, another gasp escaping her, her hands clenched his maroon shirt, his own hands wandering up her arms and towards her bodice.

Feeling her nervousness fade away little by little, she relaxed against his touch. It was obvious Zant was being mindful of her, caressing her skin gently, and watching her reaction each time he went further and further, and yet, she didn't stop him. Somehow, she felt safe. Zant would never hurt her; he was kind and sweet to her, and was always looking after her.

Celeste's back was pressed against the back of the sofa, as he placed himself between her legs, his lips tracing her cheeks, her neck, her wrists and even her skin beneath her unfastened bodice. Soon after, she felt his lips upon hers, playfully biting her lower lip which caused her to shiver once more.

There was a certain hesitance that overcame her at that moment, and yet, she pulled him closer by his shirt, eager for more of his delightful kisses. Zant guided her along the mystery that was romance, the sense of touch she felt and the thrill behind it, and along the way, her confidence grew.

Pulling away, he noticed her parted lips, her breathless expression, and her eyes staring dazedly into his. "Celeste, would you like me to continue?"

"Yes…"

Feeling bold, his hand reached for the remainder of the buttons on her bodice, pulling them open one by one, his eyes never leaving hers. "Celeste, may I touch you?" He asked, her ribbon falling onto the floor at their feet.

"Yes…" She replied, nervously watching as his hands searched through the lace material, his fingers tracing small lines across her bare skin. With her eyes closed, she felt him move closer to her, unbuttoning the back of her dress and sliding her sleeves off her shoulders.

For a moment, it was silent, and as she opened her eyes, she noticed his staring. Looking down, she blushed, her entire upper body slightly exposed before his eyes, and yet, he didn't fully undress her as her ample breasts remained slightly hidden.

Was this a dream? Could it truly be possible, Zant, of all Twili men within this world, was with her at this very moment, slowly undressing her and giving her affection? Would the gods of twilight be so cruel to make this only a dream?

It felt real, the feeling of his touch lingering on her body, his mouth warm and his tongue gliding upon her bare skin. His lean body was pressed up against hers, his heat arousing goosebumps all over and there was a strange desire kindling within her.

A shiver swept through her as Zant slid the remainder of her gown off, the entirety of her dress spilling onto the floor. Dressed in only her undergarments, which was merely a knee-length satin white gown, she watched as he unlaced the front, her breasts suddenly free from their encasement, her small pink buds erect.

Feeling embarrassed, she quickly wrapped her arms around her body. Somehow, she felt shameful and worried he would grow uncomfortable seeing her like this, but he surprised her when he pulled her arms away.

"There is no reason to feel timid in front of me." He grasped her wrist gently, bringing it to his mouth where he pressed his lips against her skin, the small affection somewhat easing Celeste's worries. From there, he leaned closer, his lips falling upon her neck, and soon, her pearly white mounds.

She was in a position where she couldn't move, as his entire weight was upon her, and although she wanted to push him away, she couldn't find it in herself to do so. She wanted this, but she also knew it was wrong. It was wrong to sneak into his study and it was wrong to touch each other so intimately, but she didn't want it to end. This feeling overcoming her, the passion within Zant's gaze, she wanted to experience more.

"Zant…"

"Hmm?"

"What if someone…"

He smirked, his eyes gleaming in the darkness of the room. "No worries, Celeste. The door is locked. I won't let any trouble fall upon us." His tongue traced the outline of her buds, eliciting a small moan from Celeste. Despite pushing herself further into the comforts of the couch, he did not stop his ministrations. His entire mouth engulfed her buds, twirling his tongue in small circles, his teeth slightly pinching her skin, enough to cause her back to arch and her legs to tighten around his waist.

He chuckled at her reaction, her eyes closed and her mouth parted, so much so, he found this moment enjoyable. "Celeste, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were enjoying yourself," He teased.

Celeste only murmured a slight moan at his words, feeling a strange dampness between her legs. Zant must have also noticed this, but he said nothing, and continued kneading her mounds and suckling on her buds.

After a few moments, he suddenly stopped and pulled away, this time, sitting against the couch, similar to Celeste, much to her confusion. He was watching her, his eyes glossed over as his gaze traveled her entire body, despite still being clothed. "Saddle me."

She swallowed. Saddle him? As in, sit in his lap and facing him? The mere thought embarrassed her. "I … I…"

"Don't worry. I won't bite … this time," He replied, still teasing her.

Not wanting to sit there and make a complete fool of herself, she grew bold and crawled on top of him, using his shoulders as leverage before situating herself upon his lap. "Like this?" She asked in a small voice.

Again, he chuckled. He grasped both her hips and pulled her closer to him, until she was seated upon his girthy bulge. "That's better…"

She flinched at the feeling of his swelled member beneath her, pressed against her most intimate area. Now that she was seated upon his lap, what did he want her to do?

"Celeste."

"Yes?"

"Touch me."

Her face couldn't get any hotter. "W-what?" He was joking, right? By the look on his face, he surely wasn't. He was serious. She'd never touched a man so intimately before.

"Touch me the same way I've touched you."

Her hands upon his shoulders tightened, and swallowing nervously, her eyes scanned his body. Taking a deep breath, she reached for his cloak, unfastening the strings secured around his neck before sliding the dark material off his shoulders. As her hands worked towards his undershirt, lifting the fabric off from his waist, he aided her in the process until his entire chest was fully exposed.

Her mouth parted at this sight. This was the first time seeing Zant without a shirt. Sure, she accidentally glimpsed the soldiers on the training grounds shirtless, and once entirely nude some time back, thankfully it was from a distance, but seeing this up close, was entirely different. She felt intimidated, and apprehensive to touch him, but he was allowing her, just as she allowed him.

In the process of removing his shirt, his hair became slightly messy. Reaching out, she brushed back a strand of his bangs from his face, smiling softly. "I prefer your hair like this more…"

He smiled at this. "I'll be sure to keep that noted."

Without warning, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, biting softly on his lower lip while allowing her free hand to wander across his chest, thus eliciting a pleased moan from him. So far, he was enjoying it, and for that, she was pleased.

While this was completely embarrassing, she wasn't sure if she could go any further, but when she felt Zant's hand grasp her wrist and guide it, her blush darkened. He pulled her hand slowly along his chest and past his naval until it rested just above his bulge.

After which, Celeste watched as he leaned further into the couch, his eyes closed in contentment. Following the seam of his trousers, she pressed her palm firmly against him, palming the area and squeezing lightly. The action elicited a deep moan from Zant, and she felt his bulge twitch beneath her hand.

"Yes. Don't stop…"

And she didn't. In fact, she wanted to see how much further she could go with this. Removing her hand, she reached for the string of his trousers and untied them, causing him to look down at her with an arched brow, and yet, before he could stop her, she'd already leaned in against him, her lips beside his ear. "May I touch you?"

His face flushed at her words, both hands placed upon her waist as he nodded. He anticipated the touch of her hands upon his raw member, and before he knew it, her hands gradually moved beneath his pants. He felt her grasp his solid member, her fingers moving in the same rhythmic motion as before, and he pressed himself further back, moving his hips up further to enjoy her touch.

Satisfaction welled up within her, to know she could make him feel this way. It was a new world for her, one she never dreamt of entering, and yet, she did. It surprised even herself, and yet, she wasn't against it. At first, she felt too timid to do anything, but after receiving his affectionate kisses, she'd fallen under the spell of lust, something she only heard of in stories whispered by the maids.

Somehow, she wanted more, and she wanted to see how far her touch could take Zant over the edge. In fact, how good would it feel if she used her body instead of just her hands? Recalling how good it felt when his member was pressed against her nether regions, she moved forward, surprising him as she suddenly moved her lower body against him.

The action nearly sent him over the edge, and he couldn't help but push her further down upon him, feeling his loins become hotter and hotter. Gods she was a temptress. "Celeste … I don't know … how much longer I can hold myself back," He moaned, intaking a sharp breath as he felt her moistness soak his trousers.

Despite doing this, Celeste also felt it. Her body was moving on its own, her hands wrapped around his chest as her hips moved against him. It felt amazing, and she felt something occurring within her abdomen. It was growing bigger and bigger, but she didn't know what it was, only that she wanted to reach it. It felt so good. Was Zant also feeling this?

A few short moments into this, she felt his hips thrust against her, his member slightly penetrating her, and she gasped at this, a moan escaping her. Her mouth felt dry, and she was sure her legs were trembling, but he continued moving her hips against him.

The very noise and sight of her head falling back excited him. It was torture for him, and he was so close, he was afraid it would end too soon for them. Unable to withstand any longer, he pulled her away, startling her for a moment before forcing Celeste onto her back, his form towering above her unexpectedly.

"Zant?"

"I want you, Celeste. I can't hold back any longer. I love you."

He loved her? Were her ears deceiving her? Did he really just say that? "You…"

"And I'm not just saying that in the heat of the moment. I really do love you. I want to make you mine now. Will you give me permission?"

End Flashback

Embarrassed, Celeste covered her face in recollection. Somehow, she still felt nervous, as if she were reliving the very moment, and she leaned upon her vanity, her reflection revealing a scarlet face. Although Zant admitted his feelings yesterday, nothing else escalated after; in fact, the moment he'd asked for permission to go further, there had been a knock at the door and to her mortification, it had been her mother. Fortunately, the couch hid Celeste from view, and once her mother had left, Celeste had quickly dressed and returned to her rooms without a word.

Since then, she'd shut herself in her room, and it only furthered her worrying inclination towards Zant. Was it possible he felt burdened by her silent leave? She sighed, her hands playing absentmindedly with the buttons on her bodice.

"You sure seem happy over there. Are you daydreaming or did your chest get bigger?" Midna asked with mild amusement.

Celeste turned at this, her aqua blue eyes suddenly noticing Midna in her room, lying upon her bed with a mischievous glint in her eyes. How she managed to sneak in remained a mystery to her, and she flushed at her words. "Midna, when did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago, while you were fawning over yourself."

She flushed at the comment, her hand covering her cleavage. "I was doing no such thing," She replied, buttoning her bodice quickly. "So … how have you been? It's been two days since you locked yourself in your room. I was becoming worried…"

Midna waved it off, propping herself into a seated position on the bed. "I'm fine. I needed some time to myself. I don't forgive father for recklessly throwing my hand in marriage into the tournament, but after thinking about it, I realize I need to accept it."

Moving away from the vanity, she crossed the room and sat beside her. From her perspective, although Midna was usually childish in her antics, there were times she seemed rather mature for her age. She was glad Midna was no longer burdened by the idea of marriage, and while she understood her reasoning against it earlier, it seemed she was willing to accept this responsibility; the marriage would undoubtedly bring harmony within the land and the residents of Twilight would smile upon the ceremony. "You're right..."

Midna arched a brow. "What's with that look? Listen Celeste, I've already accepted it. It doesn't change anything between you and I. It's not like we'll never see each other."

"I know. I'm just glad you're not shut in your room anymore. As for the tournament … it seems Jo-Ho has won…" She replied somewhat worriedly.

She almost rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess I didn't miss much then. Anyways," Looking back at Celeste, her annoyance drifted away and was replaced with a sneaky stare. "I must apologize. You must have been miserable without me by your side for two days. However did you manage it?" She teased.

"Oh … I went to the competition…"

Midna arched a curious brow. "Really now? By yourself? I'm surprised. Usually you do not care for such sports. What changed your mind?"

"Well…" Celeste's hand grasped the sheets nervously. "I went to the magic division … to cheer on Zant…"

"What? You mean he actually participated?" Midna was exasperated. "I lock myself away and the whole Kingdom turns upside down. Let me guess, he won, didn't he? I can tell by that smile on your face."

She nodded, her cheeks slightly tinted in recollection of that day. "It was wonderful. He was wonderful. Oh Midna, you should have seen it. I've never seen magic quite like his before. He took the audience by surprise, even his Majesty!"

Midna didn't seem impressed, in fact, she was annoyed if anything. "Uh huh … I guess I didn't miss much if that was the only surprise to happen during my absence."

"Midna, do you truly dislike Zant that much?" When she noticed Midna's suspicious stare, she felt slightly uncomfortable. What was with that look? "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What did you call him?"

Celeste bit her lip hesitantly. "Zant…"

"Exactly," Came Midna's response, and she leaned closer to her sister, her eyes squinted. "You never call his name without some kind of honorific."

Realizing her mistake, Celeste flushed under her stare. That was true. All these years, she would refer to him as lord or master. It was no wonder Midna was suspicious. "Oh…"

"Did something happen during my absence?"

"No … what makes you say that?"

Midna wasn't convinced and she noticed Celeste's countenance flush under her gaze. She was hiding something from her, and somehow, she had a sinking suspicion she wouldn't like it. "You're hiding something from me."

"I'm not."

"Don't lie to me. I know you too well Celeste." Midna's eyes examined her attire, her gaze drifting low before settling upon her bodice. "Celeste…"

She nervously swallowed. "Yes?"

"It seems one of your buttons is undone. Why don't you let me help you with that?"

Looking down, her eyes widened in realization and she quickly covered her bodice, a weak smile upon her lips. "I-I can do it myself."

Unfortunately, this was not something Midna liked, in fact, it was obvious Celeste was hiding something from her. Reaching out, she grasped Celeste's hand and pulled it away from her chest and immediately seized hold of her bodice and without warning, ripped it open. She was greeted by the undergarment beneath it, followed with a slight view of her cleavage, and her eyes were fixated on small marks upon her collarbone and chest. "Celeste, what is the meaning of this?"

Mortified, Celeste quickly pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest, her face darkening. Of course, Midna wasn't happy about this, and she knew it was impossible to lie. Still, she didn't want to cause any trouble. "It's … not what you think!"

Her eye twitched. "It's not what I think? It looks like some man has been placing his mouth on you! Who?"

"Midna … please…"

Amber eyes widened, especially when she noticed Celeste's troubled expression. Immediately, she stood up from the bed, her hands clenched in front of her. "Did someone force themselves on you?!"

She shook her head from side to side. "No. That's not what happened."

"Then what happened? Why do you have marks on you? Why are you suddenly acting like this? You've never kept secrets from me."

"You're right…" She sighed. "I've never hidden anything from you, and I won't start now. But please, do not be angry at him…"

Somehow, the expression on her face spoke volumes to Midna and at the mentioning of him, and Celeste's knowing stare, Midna's mouth fell open in surprise. "Zant…" At her nod, her frown became more apparent. "That pompous arrogant stick in the mud touched you?!"

"Midna, please! Not so loud! No one else in the palace knows…" Celeste was on her feet in an instant, her eyes shifting warily towards the door.

"I'll kill him!"

When she turned on her heel and approached the door, she reached out frantically for Midna's arm and pulled her back, despite her loud protests. "No! Stop it! What is wrong with you? Why do you hate him so much?"

"And what is it about him that makes you love him so much?" She retaliated, her glare burning into her face. Realizing her question troubled her, Midna took a deep breath and exhaled. Just the very thought of that bastard touching her made her skin crawl, and deciding to hear everything, she pulled Celeste behind her and towards the bed, the two sitting beside one another. "Alright. Tell me everything."

"You … promise not to get angry?"

She stiffly nodded. "I'm already seething, but I'll try to hold back. How did it lead…" Trailing off, her eyes shifted to her chest once more. "to that?"

Noticing her stare, Celeste quickly buttoned her bodice, her hands sweaty from nervousness. "Well … I ran into the Council, and as usual, they never have anything pleasant to say to me…"

"Go on."

"He informed me about the cancelled lesson and then invited me to his study for some tea…"

She shot up at this. "That bastard lured you to his room?!"

"Calm down. Let me finish." When Midna reluctantly sat down beside her, she continued her explanation. "We had tea and our conversation centered around the competition and the rumors about Jo-Ho. People say he plans to ask for my hand in marriage. I don't know if the rumors are true, but I told Zant I cannot marry someone I do not love."

Midna nodded. "Well … that's something we can both agree on…"

"And because of that, he assumed I had someone already in my heart. So, Zant asked if there was anyone in the palace I held an interest in…" She replied, feeling her face grow hot in the memory. "Stupid me … I accidentally confessed my feelings for him."

"How do you accidentally confess to someone?" Midna rolled her eyes.

Twiddling her fingers, she nodded slightly. "Well … I wouldn't tell him the exact name of the person. I described him with little details, but my thoughts got a bit carried away. I told him his eyes were beautiful and that gave me away," She sighed, her shoulders dropping. "It's funny. It seems he already knew my feelings. I think he was teasing me." In fact, it was obvious he was teasing her. "But it was so embarrassing and awkward…"

Midna couldn't be more annoyed. "That doesn't surprise me. So, one thing led to another…"

"Well, it might have gone further if mother hadn't interrupted…"

This caught Midna's attention, her eyes widening. What a turn of events she didn't see coming. "What? Did she see you?"

"No. The couch was facing away from the door."

"You were both on the couch? You daring girl…" She teased. "I would have imagined you lying elsewhere with him … but the couch?"

"It was only innocent kissing. Nothing else happened…"

Leaning forward, Midna took hold of her bodice and pulled it down, her eyes examining every love bite. "This and this and that down there … clearly isn't innocent."

Smacking her hand away, Celeste kept one hand clasped upon her chest, the other on her lap. "But that's really all that happened. Just kissing…" Somehow, it was just too embarrassing to explain everything in detail, but it was clear Midna was not pleased by this.

"What else happened? A young pretty girl like you, alone with him, of all men, I'm certain something else happened. You always have to watch for the quiet men, Celeste…"

"I don't know what came over me. I was lost in the moment. Next thing I knew … I was saddling him…"

Taken aback by her response, Midna's mouth fell open, the very image appearing in her thoughts. Timid little Celeste saddled tall dark and ugly? Seriously? "Celeste … that's a side of you I've never imagined before. How did it get to that part?"

She shook her head from side to side, her face becoming hotter in the memory. "Please don't make me say anything more…"

"There's more?" As much as she hated Zant, she couldn't help but wonder what else happened during her absence. "Celeste, I'll ask one last question."

"Ok…"

"You said your mother interrupted. Exactly how far into your love session did you both get before she showed up?" When Celeste seemed reluctant to say, Midna placed her hands on her own body, her fingers trailing from her bust to her legs. "Did he touch you here? Or here?" She asked, smirking when Celeste grew uncomfortably quiet. "Or maybe … here?" Her hands slid between her breasts and down her midsection, between her thighs.

"Stop. It's not funny, Midna…"

Funny was an understatement. The expression Celeste wore told her everything and she never knew her face could become so red. Midna threw her head back and howled with laughter. "I never thought you would lose your woman hood before me. You're not as innocent as you make people believe you are." Once she'd calm down, she crossed her legs and grinned at the girl beside her.

"I'm still a virgin. He never … We didn't get that far…" She replied, her hand covering her mouth. "That's when mother walked in, right when he was positioning himself…"

'Next time I see him, I'm going to kill him…'

Before anything more could be said between them, the door opened unexpectedly, and Ruth stepped inside. Dressed in her usual black and white attire, she approached the bed and bowed her head to both girls. "Good evening. Princess, I'm pleased to see you've left your chambers."

Midna merely nodded, noticing a white sheet of parchment held within her hand. "What's that?"

Ruth's smile only grew at the mentioning, she held it out for Celeste, who took it curiously. "It would seem, Celeste, you have a secret admirer."

A secret admirer? Unfolding the letter, she was greeted by beautifully written penmanship, the letter short and yet there was no signature at the bottom. Before she could begin reading it, it was unexpectedly snatched from her hands. "Midna!"

Amber eyes trailed over the writing, and doing her best not to burst into laughter, she grinned at Celeste. "My dear Celeste. How I adore your beautiful smile and gracefulness."

"Midna, give it back!"

"You are like a shining Twili Star amidst the everlasting Twilight Sea. How I miss you from our last encounter." Midna rolled her eyes. Of course, he would say that.

"Midna. The letter was sent to me. Not you."

Nonetheless, Midna didn't care, and she only continued reading the letter aloud. As she did, even the Nurse Maid leaned in and Celeste gave up her failed attempts to reach for the letter. "There is much I want to tell you in person, but it seems I can never find enough time due to my busy schedule. Meet me in the courtyard at sunset tonight. There is something I wish to confess."

Celeste blushed. The letter was probably from Zant, and she felt a sudden nervousness overcome her. Tonight, at sunset? Her attention shifted towards the window near her bed, it was almost evening.

"He didn't leave a signature," Midna commented, turning the letter over curiously. "I wonder who it could be…"

"It's almost sunset," She replied "I should hurry." Before she could get up from the bed, Midna pulled her back.

"Wait, you can't go looking like that."

"Why not?"

Midna rolled her eyes and stood up, her eyes traveling up and down Celeste's body. "Surely you aren't planning to meet him dressed in casual clothes? This man is going to confess his love to you, so we should get you into something that will take his breath away."

Celeste's eyes widened. "Wait. Do you approve then? Of me and—"

A hand waved in front of Celeste's face, and Midna only nodded. "As much as I really dislike him, if you like him so much, then so be it. I won't get in the way. In fact, you are of marriageable age. If this is truly what you want, then I'll support you. I only wish for your happiness."

Overjoyed to hear those words, Celeste threw her arms around Midna's shoulders. Here she believed Midna would resent her for what happened between her and Zant, but it seemed she was willing to accept it. She was so ecstatic, she felt tears prickling her vision. "It means a lot to hear you say that."

Pulling away from the embrace, Midna pulled Celeste behind her and approached the closet. Thrusting open the double doors, her smile lifted into a knowing smirk. "Now then. What should you wear? After all, we want you to look your best tonight, especially for the royal ball."