The sun, a tentative finger of warmth, nudged you awake. A low groan escaped your lips, the residue of a deep sleep clinging to you like a comfortable blanket. Your eyes fluttered open, focusing slowly on the soft curve of a cheek resting against your chest. Ro. Her breath, even and gentle, feathered against your skin. A tangle of blonde hair fanned across the pillow, framing a face serene in its slumber. The pale morning light caught the delicate curve of her jawline, highlighting the faint blush still lingering on her cheeks – a testament to the passion of the night before. A wave of contentment, warm and expansive, washed over you. You traced the line of her jaw with a fingertip, feeling the soft skin beneath. The memory of last night – the laughter, the whispered secrets, the intoxicating taste of her – flooded back, vivid and sharp. The air still thrummed with the unspoken intimacy you had shared.
You leaned down, your lips brushing against her forehead in a soft, reverent kiss. The scent of her – a blend of something floral and inherently her – filled your senses. The feeling was both intoxicating and grounding, a perfect blend of exhilaration and comfort. Then, you kissed her lips, a soft press at first, then deepening as the sleepiness faded from your own senses. The kiss was tentative, exploring, a silent conversation of shared intimacy.
"Y/n—" She stirred, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Her eyelids fluttered open, her eyes still drowsy, meeting yours. A slow smile spread across her face, a reflection of the happiness you felt blooming in your own chest.
"Good morning," you smiled and pulled her closer, your arms wrapping around her. Ro's hands found their way to your hair, her fingers tangling in the strands. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of you, locked in an embrace.
Then, a shadow crossed her face, breaking the spell. Her eyes clouded with a sudden apprehension. She pulled back slightly, her gaze drifting away from yours, focusing on something beyond your reach. "I… I have to go," she whispered, her voice barely audible, tinged with regret.
The sudden shift in her mood hit you like a cold wave. The joy of the moment, the intoxicating intimacy, threatened to evaporate. You tightened your arms around her, reluctant to let go.
"What? Why?" The question was a protest, a desperate plea against the dawning reality. She hesitated, tracing the lines of your chest with a trembling fingertip. "I… I don't remember if I told you about my family. They must be looking for me." Her words were laced with a sadness that mirrored your own.
You tried to remember. "The animals?"
"Yes, Tika, Sagi and Azul. They must be waiting for me at the greenhouse. I have to go." Ro pulled herself of your embrace, beginning to gather her clothes off the floor.
"Let me help you dress." You got up from the bed, offering to lace her dress up.
"Thank you, Y/n."
"When can I see you again?" you asked, kissing along her neck.
"Soon, I'll just check on my family and tell them where I'd been…last night." Ro gasped as you nibbled on that one sensitive spot on her neck.
"I have a meeting to attend at midday, after that maybe we can meet by the gardens again?" You asked, hoping that Ro did indeed reciprocate your feelings of love.
She smiled up at you, "I'll be at the greenhouse."
As you finished tying her dress up, you walked Ro towards the door. You hated to see her go, but felt hopeful when she pressed a quick kiss on your lips. "I can't wait to see you again, Y/n."
"The greenhouse. This afternoon. I'll be there." you promised.
As the doors closed and you heard her footsteps fading away, you sighed, both out of sadness to see her leave but contentment from the events of last night, and relief in your heart that she wanted you back. You couldn't wait to see her again, but you remembered you were here on a job after all, and this important trade meeting couldn't be skipped. Mind still in a daze from last night's passion, you began to start getting ready, hoping the afternoon would come soon enough.
…
When you were finally free to meet Ro, however, you were setting yourself up for disappointment and heartbreak. You waited at the greenhouse, only to find no trace of the island girl.
Has she changed her mind about you? Has she chosen to pursue the Prince after all? Perhaps she met the Prince along the way and he came up with a way to convince her to stay? Maybe she was preoccupied with something else? You couldn't tell.
You asked some of the palace staff about her whereabouts, but they all seemed way too busy to prepare for the Prince's wedding. You learnt that the wedding had been moved up and was happening the day after tomorrow and that's why the palace staff suddenly got so busy. You kept asking whoever you could, but no one seemed to know. But you also learnt that apparently there was a new disease outbreak spreading rapidly among the animals. A type of sleeping sickness and apparently wild animals from the South Seas were to be blamed.
Then it hit you.
Ro must have been asked to leave the palace premises, or forced into captivity somewhere.
It wasn't like you could send royal guards to search her for you. Disheartened, you started walking back to your room. But on your way you overheard someone mention island girl.
You quickly rushed to the palace maid, "What about the island girl? Where is she? Do you know?"
"Uh, the island girl is in the…dungeon." the maid said.
"The dungeon? Why?" you asked frantically. You couldn't believe what you had heard.
"Her animals have brought in a new disease. All animals in the Royal palace are fast asleep. The king and the royal scientist think Ro and her animals caused the disease."
You couldn't believe what you had heard. It was a possibility that animals from another habitat would bring in foreign pathogens, but why would Ro have to be put in prison?
You needed to see her. Get her out of there.
"I must visit the dungeon. I need to see Ro."
"I'm afraid you aren't allowed to. Only the royal guards can go into the dungeon."
Guards.
That was all you needed to know.
You saw plenty of them run patrol around the palace premises. Blue attire, blue hats and boots.
"Do you know any of the guards in the castle?" you asked the maid, hoping this was going to work.
"Uh yes, my husband is a royal guard." the maid confessed, oblivious to your current plan.
"Perfect." you smirked. You were a merchant, you had money. Maybe not as much as the king, but this would be enough to get the job done.
…
The Royal guard uniform suits you perfectly.
"So, do I get my reward?" the maid asked from behind you as you looked into the mirror.
"The plan goes a bit beyond just letting me borrow the spare uniform." you turned around to face her. "Lead me to the dungeons entrance next."
You saw her twist her lip in disapproval.
You couldn't help but roll your eyes. "Fine. I'll add another hundred. Just lead me to the place."
You saw the smug smile on her face. "Done."
…
The entrance to the dungeons had your heart palpitating. As you walked through the dark corridors you only felt your urge to get to Ro as soon as you could and get her out of here, get her out in the sun and wind where her spirits truly belonged.
You didn't know which path you would take to find her. There were several passageways and sections split into the sections, it felt as if you had entered a maze and would probably end up stuck here yourself.
Swallowing the lump in your throat, you took a step forward. However, as soon as you started to walk you heard,
"Hey, you."
You halt in your steps, slowly turning around.
Another guard, or at least, to you, a real one.
You didn't know if you should be scared—what if he blows your cover and you also have to end up spending the rest of your life in this grimy prison?
But to your relief, the guard asked, "Are you here for the island girl?"
Your eyes lit up. However you couldn't let that show.
"I am." you said sternly. "Lead me to her cell."
"Follow me."
As you followed the guard down the endless stretch of dimly lit corridors, you wondered how Ro would react when she'd see you. Hopefully she'd not blow your cover by getting too excited. You lowered your hat to keep your face covered and practiced putting your best straight and grim expression.
"This island girl…you saw her before?"
"What?" You were distracted from your thoughts when you heard the guard speaking to you.
"She's beautiful. Very beautiful. Blonde hair and the prettiest blue eyes. I can tell why the Prince wants her more than the Princess."
You felt a spark of jealousy ignite within you when you heard the other man compliment the girl you were in love with. You tried to change the subject. "You don't think she's spread any of the disease, do you?"
"Nah, it's a slight possibility but the prince always brings back new animals and plants into the kingdom when he comes back from his travels. A disease outbreak like this didn't happen back in the past." the guard shook his head.
"So you think she's been put to prison without a fault?" you asked.
"I think it's more that the king wants her to stop seeing the prince. Keep her away from him." the guard answered. "The king can't stand her."
You recalled with your conversation from Ro last night how the king and queen disapproved of her. The fact that they would put her into the dungeon with a false accusation just so she could stop seeing their son didn't surprise you at all.
"The king plans to have her and her beasts banished by tonight. Sending them back to her island."
You were thankful that the guard only kept providing more and more information about Ro and what was going to happen to her next. It seemed that the guard also had a soft spot for the girl, you wondered if perhaps you could persuade him into helping her escape her banishment.
You just wanted to take her back to your kingdom. Then everything would be alright. You confessed to Ro that you loved her this morning and she fell in love with you and was ready to go wherever you went.
"We're here." The guard stopped in front of the cell. "There she is."
You tried to contain your feelings when you saw Ro sitting at her cell, looking into the ground in despair. You felt anger boil inside you at this treatment, you couldn't wait to take her out of there and leave.
You were grateful it was so dark that Ro probably wouldn't be able to recognise you. You tried to keep your face concealed under your hat as you waited for the guard to tell you what to do next.
The guard opened up the door to her cell, "You're to be sent back to your island tonight. King's orders."
Ro's face fell.
You couldn't bear to see it. You couldn't let that happen. You wouldn't let that happen.
"Please," she said with every ounce of sincerity in her voice. "Just let me save the animals first. I know they have been poisoned by an herb and I can cure them!"
You trusted her. You recalled your conversations with her from last night again and remembered the wealth of knowledge she had about different herbs and plants from her island. She was a kind person and she would never want the animals to die from this presumed 'illness' when she could save them.
"No one will believe you. The king has her mind set on getting you out of the kingdom." You said sternly, stepping in. You saw Ro's face fall, knowing that what you said was probably true.
However you had a different plan.
"Thanks for leading me to her cell. I can take it from here." You said to the guard with a tip of your hat.
The guard nodded, "I suppose the leader let you know where you are to be taking her?"
"I do." you lied. "They're waiting for me at the entrance. Her ship's waiting at the port, we're to take her there."
You seemed to have convinced the guard enough with your story. Putting on disguises and making up stories were a part of your expertise that you had gained in your years of travelling to different countries and meeting different people. You learnt to quickly adapt to different situations and act like a local and speak within their context to convince them for your trade affairs and such. And this skill was coming in extremely handy in your current situation.
The guard started walking away. You waited until he was out of eyesight before you entered the open cell slowly.
"Ro, it's me." you whispered, letting her know of your presence.
"Y/n?" Her eyes sparkled when she heard your voice, your real voice instead of the deep, harsh one you had put on earlier to impersonate the guard.
"You were a guard all this time?" she asked in disbelief.
"No, just one in disguise for now." you explained. "I'm here to get you out of here."
"Please, I can't leave just yet." she shook her head. "The animals…I can't let them die. Let me save them!"
You quickly had to think. "How can you save them?"
"There's a flower in the greenhouse. I can make medicine out of it." she answered quickly.
"We can sneak our way out of the dungeon and get into the greenhouse if we're careful enough." you suggested. "But the animals…they'll get us caught. Can you leave them here for now while we make the medicine?"
Ro looked at her animal family sadly, but understood. "Alright. Let's go."
"Wait, there's something I bought for you as well." you opened the buttons in your jacket to reveal a palace maid's uniform, one that the maid you spoke to earlier had let you borrow. You knew Ro's vibrant blue dress that caught everyone's attention at last night's ball would get her instantly recognised, so you came prepared.
"What's this?" Ro said, taking the clothes from you.
"Uniform of a palace maid. Put this on and it can stop you from getting recognised. At least for some time I hope." "Alright." Ro said, and as she started to change you turned around to keep watch.
"Quickly." you said. "Leave the dress behind, hide it under the bench for now."
Ro did exactly as you instructed. In a matter of minutes she stepped out of her cell, fitting perfectly into the palace maid uniform and made sure to strategically use a handkerchief to wrap it around her face, covering some of her face.
"Perfect, now let's go."
Using your memory, you led Ro out of the dungeon. You were lucky there weren't any guards outside of the dungeon so you and Ro were able to quickly sneak past the gate. Ro seemed to have more skill than you when you came to exiting the dungeon, her years of living in the wilderness with animals had equipped her with superior instincts and she was able to hear if guards would be approaching and would catch you both in disguise of the palace staff. Her instincts saved you both from getting caught a few times in a matter of half an hour you both found yourselves in the greenhouse, ready to make the medicine.
You helped Ro pick bright pink flowers which she crushed in a clean empty flowering pot with some water. In a matter of minutes, she created a light pink, pearly tonic that she claimed would save the animals from this 'sleeping illness'.
"I heard that all animals in the kingdom have caught this disease." You said to which Ro looked at you a bit disapprovingly.
"Oh, I—I meant, poisoned." you quickly corrected yourself, not wanting to offend Ro. "All animals have been poisoned with the 'sunset herb' as you said."
"I can't believe someone would go that far. I don't even know if there's enough island roses here to make enough tonic for all the animals in the kingdom." she said worriedly.
"I'm sure once the king finds out you have the cure he'll make sure all animals in the kingdom are given the medicine. Let's just start with animals in the palace, first?" You said, looking over to the stables.
"Good idea." Ro said, holding up the bowl of the tonic. You followed her to the stables and kept watch to make sure no one would interrupt her as she fed small doses of the medicine to the pigs and horses in the stables.
Within a matter of minutes, the animals woke up from the deep slumber and were walking around again.
"The animals are probably starving and will try to eat the same food that has been poisoned. I can't let them eat the same food again." Ro said worriedly. At the same time, you saw the stable boy approach the royal stable. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the animals walking around again.
"The animals…they're cured now?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes, they are. I made a tonic out of island roses in the flower that can cure them." Ro said quickly. "But you have to quickly get rid of the food in the stable, it's been poisoned with an herb and if the animals eat it again they will start sleeping again."
"A-Alright." the stable boy said, quickly starting to dispose of the old food from the stables.
"I need to get to Tallulah now." Ro came out of the stables, holding the remaining tonic in the bowl.
"Who's 'Tallulah'?" you asked.
"The queen's monkey. I know her room in the castle."
"You're going to go inside the castle?" you felt worried. While you had provided Ro with the disguise maid uniform you weren't sure if she'd get recognised by the other maids in the castle.
"I have to." Ro said, "She's the closest to a family member I've had since I arrived in civilization."
"I understand." You nodded. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Can you inform the king or someone important that the animals in the stable have been cured?" Ro asked. "It's already sunset. We don't have much time. We have to cure them as quickly as we can."
"Alright, I'll do what I can."
"Thanks, Y/n." Ro smiled at you. "I don't know what I would do without you."
You weren't ready when Ro gave you a quick one-armed hug. You quickly returned the hug.
"I think once I have cured Tallulah I can just take her to the queen myself." Ro said.
"I'm sure the queen will be grateful that you cured her pet, but what if they put you into the dungeon if they find out if you've been disguising yourself as a palace maid? I don't want anything horrible to happen to you, Ro."
"Don't worry about me, Y/n." Ro smiled. "The worst that will happen is they just tell me to leave the kingdom, which I am completely ready to do. Once I have cured the animals I don't have a reason to stay in Apollonia any longer."
"Good luck, let's hope this works." You pulled out of the hug and gave a quick kiss on the face. "I hope we can meet soon. If I get banished for disguising myself as a royal guard then let's hope they put us on the same ship."
"I wish that too." Ro chuckled, the sound of her laughter made your heart swell. You loved this girl and her persistence to do what was right, and you were ready to go wherever she would go and you promised to never let her go.
This time she kissed you on the lips, and you two finally parted to continue with your part of the mission. You know Ro with her island instincts would surely find her way into the castle. You informed Ro of a servant's entrance on the other side of the castle that you remembered the maid had led you to when you asked her to borrow the guard uniform. Ro would be fine. You fixed your stance and started walking towards the castle door in the pretense of a guard who was simply patrolling the palace grounds.
You knocked on the door. As usual it was opened by the royal butler who looked at you inquisitively.
"I bring news for the king." you said firmly. "During my patrol I observed that the animals in the stable were awake again. Someone seems to know the cure."
The butler looked at you in surprise, "Right this way." He opened the door for you and started leading you to the king's throne room.
Seeing the king and queen had your heart palpitating. This wasn't your first time meeting them, in fact you had talked to the king just this morning during your meeting about expanding trades between Apollonia and your kingdom, Paladia.
You lowered your head, informing the king and queen of what you saw in the stables earlier. Relief washed over the king and queen's face, and it surprised you. You would've thought they probably arranged the poisoning of the animals themselves just to frame Ro and banish her from the kingdom so they could keep her away from the Prince.
"When did you see this?" the king asked.
"Just less than half an hour ago. There is a stable boy there currently making sure to dispose of the old food in the stables. The food appears to have been poisoned by a foreign herb." You probably spoke more than you were allowed to in front of the king but you didn't care. You wanted to let them know everything. You wanted them to know that Ro was innocent and she deserved to be free.
Just then, the queen's monkey walked into the room and climbed onto the queen's lap. The queen cried in happiness. "Oh, Tallulah! You have been cured!" The king watched the joy in the queen's voice.
"Is this really a case of poisoning the animals, or is it simply just the disease wearing off with time?" the king asked skeptically.
"Poisoning."
You heard a familiar voice speak out.
Her voice.
"Ro…" you looked at her standing proudly.
"The island girl…" The king's eyebrows lowered. "How dare you escape the dungeon…and now you're impersonating a palace servant!"
However, Ro didn't seem intimidated at all by the king's glare. She continued to speak. "The animals have been poisoned with an herb. I have been curing them with a tonic only I know how to make."
The king settled in his seat. He looked over to the queen who nodded, gesturing to him to listen to what Ro had to say.
"What…do you know of this medicine?" the king asked reluctantly.
"I will reveal the cure if you free my animals from the dungeon. One of my animals has also been poisoned which proves that we aren't spreading the illness. I want to cure all the animals and then I will leave the kingdom."
The king seemed convinced at her reasoning. "Alright. Tell me everything you know."
You watched as the throne room quickly got busy with guards and other servants rushing to recreate more of the tonic while some guards were sent to free Ro's animals. You wanted to make sure they would be freed and brought outside safely, so you joined them.
When you reached the dungeon again you carefully lifted the sleeping peacock in your arms, hoping to get him to Ro as soon as you could. You also remembered to take Ro's dress with you, and found yourself blushing when you remembered taking it off of her last night when you and Ro indulged in each other's passion. You remembered how beautiful she looked wearing it and couldn't wait to see her in this again.
Once you were out in the open you led the other guards to take the animals to the greenhouse. You remembered watching Ro create the tonic earlier and you remembered how she made the medicine quite well, a couple of flower petals would be enough to cure a single animal of a smaller size. You fed the peacock exactly two petals and took it near the fountain to let some water down its throat. Within a matter of minutes, the peacock woke up, though it was quite scared to find itself in your arms instead of Ro's. It started squawking at you to which you laughed and let the animal go, watching it fly to the branch of a tree. Ro would come back to check on her animals soon.
Since you had finished your mission of getting Ro out of the dungeon you supposed you didn't need to be in the guard's disguise anymore. You started walking back to the palace to your room to get changed into your normal attire, making sure to carry your promised reward for the palace maid who greatly helped you in your mission today. You made your way to the servant's quarter and instantly found the maid who was waiting outside her room.
"Thank you for everything." you handed her the guard's uniform along with the reward. Her eyes sparkled when she heard the coins inside the pouch. You made sure to let her know the pouch was heavy, and maybe even put in some extra just because you couldn't have done any of this without her help.
"Ro has your dress." You said. "Once I meet her again I'll make sure to return it to you."
The maid nodded, and with that you started making your way to look for Ro. You guessed that she was probably at the greenhouse already, and you were right, when you went back to the greenhouse and found her there, leading some maids on how to make more of the tonic.
However, there was also someone else there. Someone's presence you despised.
The Prince, who stood perhaps a bit too close to Ro. You also watched another shorter and older man with glasses quickly scribbling down notes on a small diary, probably recording the recipe to the tonic, you thought.
Seeing the prince's presence, you weren't sure if it would be appropriate to speak. Being a royal merchant had prepared you to understand the importance of maintaining a certain decorum when you were present around royals. The littlest things that would offend these royals…it sometimes irked you greatly.
Luckily, Ro saw you.
"Y/n!" she called out with a wave of her hand.
"Ro, my love…" You smiled. You didn't have to walk up to her as she quickly walked over to you, throwing her arms around you. You wrapped her arms around her tightly, resting your face into her neck, remembering when you kissed her there last night. You closed your eyes, and you didn't have to imagine the look of envy and hurt that would probably be etched all over the Prince's face when he'd see you embracing the girl he loved as well.
"Merchant Y/ln…" you heard the prince slowly approaching you and Ro. You and the prince didn't exactly know each other too well, but you had been on the ship with him once when you were planning new trade routes between his kingdom and yours. You didn't mind his company during your shared voyage, in fact you did admire his passion for exploration that had brought you the island girl you loved so dearly in your arms. In a way, you were thankful to him despite how much you feared that he would take Ro away from you. What if after all the animals had been cured, the king and queen allowed Ro to be with the prince? You were sure that Ro loved you back but until you left Apollonia with her, that fear still lingered within you.
However, it would be rude to not acknowledge the Prince's presence. "Your highness." you said softly.
"How…long have you known Ro?" he asked you, eyes widened in some disbelief.
"Since…last night, your highness." you answered. "I was at the ball and I met her there."
"Oh, right." The prince said with a firm voice, probably remembering how Ro had stopped dancing with him and then he didn't care to go after her. You were lucky he didn't, because that was what allowed you to meet her and you were surprised how fast things changed between both you and Ro in a matter of one night only.
"I guess you both got to know each other quite well in one night," he remarked. You tried to hide your smirk, recalling the events of the early hours of this morning, with Ro writhing under you in the sheets and her heels digging at your shoulders. You probably got to know Ro better in one night than the Prince did in weeks while on his ship.
"Once all the animals are cured, I'll be leaving with Y/n." Ro finally spoke, facing the prince.
You felt proud at what you heard, however you could still find a hint of skepticism in his face, as if he wanted to ask Ro if she was sure that you were the one.
And Ro was ready to address all his concerns.
"Y/n has done enough for me, he went to check on me after I left the ballroom last night. He let me pour all my feelings and concerns out to him. The moment he found out I was in the dungeon he started planning on how he could get me out of there and help me save the animals. I may have only known him for a night, but he has done so much for me."
You could easily translate her words into one single meaning.
Y/n has been a better lover for me than you could ever be, Antonio.
Hearing the words from the girl he loved himself, the prince took a step back in silent defeat. "Very well, Ro. And merchant Y/ln. I wish you all the best in your voyage."
With that, the prince started walking away from the greenhouse, letting you and Ro be.
You saw a hint of hurt in Ro's face, her cheeks flushed as she took deep breaths. You knew what she did just now wasn't easy.
"Ro, are you alright?" you asked sincerely.
"I–I am, just give me a moment." she stuttered. You noticed that she was still holding on to your hand and felt the grip tighten. She wasn't going to let you walk away. She needed a moment to herself to regather herself but wanted you by her side. You waited a moment before pulling her into an embrace again, and Ro buried her face into your chest.
You felt the fabric of your shirt start to dampen as warm tears soaked your chest. You ran your hand down her hair, easing her through it. It wasn't exactly the most attractive sight to see the woman you loved cry her heart out because she ended things with the man she previously loved, but you were grateful that she chose you to be the one to provide comfort in her distress.
And it's not like you were unfamiliar with heartbreaks yourself. You recalled how you yourself had to end things with your past lover, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes because they initiated it, because your lifestyle as a merchant always had you outside of home, travelling, and it was hard to commit to a person when your occupation hardly allowed you to be by their side.
But with Ro, you promised to change. You promised to never be apart from her. You would make your companion, forever together wherever you go. You would show her the world, help her discover her forgotten past and show her the world beyond her island.
You would never let her go.