A plan—that's all I need. I overheard some of the maids chatting about the vibrant night markets where the city's most handsome men gathered to have fun. I decided I wanted to go, but I knew my father and brother would never allow me to venture out alone, especially not at night.
That settled it—I would sneak out. Maybe I would even meet someone special. As night approached, I made my decision. I would escape through my bedroom window. My room was on the second floor, but it wasn't too high to climb down. I had done it before, especially since my father was so strict about my comings and goings. I carefully opened the window and climbed out. Just as I reached the ground, one of the knights spotted me. Thankfully, it was my personal knight, who was like a best friend to me.
After some convincing, he agreed not to tell anyone if he could accompany me. I was relieved—it wasn't safe to be out at night alone. Together, we made our way to the night market. As we arrived, I was struck by the beauty of the place. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of street food, and twinkling lights adorned every stall. It felt like a magical paradise, and all around me were people laughing and enjoying the evening. I did catch glimpses of some incredibly handsome men, though the elusive duke was nowhere to be found.
As we walked through the bustling market, I stumbled across a brothel. My knight didn't say anything, but I noticed he seemed somewhat familiar with the place. I hesitated, contemplating whether I should enter. It was a moment filled with anticipation, and to my surprise, my knight stepped in confidently beside me, his demeanor calm and collected. I was caught off guard, realizing he knew several of the women inside. This revelation opened up a new layer of complexity to my adventure. I was both intrigued and uncertain about what this night would bring, but I knew one thing for sure: this wasn't just a regular outing. The night was filled with possibilities, and I was ready to embrace them.
"Should I have some fun tonight?" I asked my dear knight, a hint of mischief in my voice. He looked flustered and hesitant, clearly torn between his duty and my insistence. "I'm not some naïve little girl," I continued, my frustration bubbling over. "I know what I want, and I want to experience life. Just let me enjoy this moment!" He sighed, glancing around as if the shadows themselves were listening. "If your father or brother were to find out about this, they'd be furious—probably both would seek to punish me." I crossed my arms defiantly. "They won't find out. I promise I won't tell them. I've made up my mind; I'm going to have fun tonight!" My knight, still hesitant, tried to stop me, but I was already scanning the room impatiently.
That's when I saw him—the notorious duke, with his striking black hair and captivating red eyes. My heart raced as if it would pound right out of my chest. As I approached him, there was an undeniable magnetic pull between us. He seemed to recognize me, his expression shifting from curiosity to intrigue. "What could a person like you be doing here?" he asked, a playful smirk gracing his lips. I raised an eyebrow, matching his playful tone. "And what would a duke like you be doing in a place like this?"
"Would you like to find out?" he asked, his voice low and inviting, in a way that made me blush.
Before I could respond, he reached out and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. At that moment, my knight stepped forward, prepared to protect me at any cost. It was clear he was ready to confront the duke, tension crackling in the air.
"Stop!" I urged, placing a hand on my knight's arm. "Just wait out here or, better yet, go have some fun yourself I won't tell this is your only time!" Against my knight's better judgment, I took the duke's hand, feeling a thrill run through me as he led me to a private room away from prying eyes.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement and uncertainty. I knew my knight was close by, but as the door closed behind us, it felt like the rest of the world faded away. Inside, the room was adorned with plush cushions and warm candlelight, creating an intimate setting. The duke turned to me, his expression softening. "So, tell me, what is it that you truly seek tonight?" I took a deep breath, feeling bolder than ever. "I want to explore—experience things I've only dreamed about. And right now, I want to enjoy this moment with you." The duke smiled knowingly, and with that, the night stretched out before us, filled with the promise of adventure and the thrill of the unknown.
As laughter and music drifted from outside the room, I felt a sense of freedom I had never known before. This was my night to cherish, and I was ready to embrace every second of it.