Thanks as always to the lovely Emma Kendrick for providing her thoughts on the chapter!
"You're quite tense for someone who just had their brains fucked out."
Deiara giggled, nuzzling back into Baltar, the warm bathwater sloshing slightly.
"Maybe you didn't fuck my brains all the way out."
Baltar chuckled, caressing at her shoulder.
"Something on your mind?"
"Just thinking about the princess."
He chuckled again.
"What else is new?"
She pursed her lips.
"I don't know why she suggested Lucien stay here. It'll only weigh on her mind."
"She's bound to marry him soon. Might as well face it."
"Oh, she'll face it, but she'll complain to me the whole time."
"Aren't you used to that by now?"
"Of course."
"And anyway, there are more important things to worry about in life."
She shrugged.
"She doesn't have much else to worry about. Everything in her life is taken care of."
"Makes you wonder why she complains in the first place. Her life is a breeze compared to so many other people."
"She didn't choose her life though. She has complaints, even if they don't compare to other people's complaints."
Baltar chuckled wryly.
"I doubt any other common Freelander would think the same way. They'd trade places with her in a heartbeat. Living in a castle, all the food and safety you could want, the most luxurious clothes. Just have to marry a boring nobleman and pop out children."
"You forget I'm not from the Free Lands. It gives me a different perspective."
"Right, you're from the Shattered Lands. But you've lived in the Free Lands for how long now?"
"Seven years or so."
"You've learned their language quite well, even with that adorable accent, and you've adapted to their culture. I'd say you're a Freelander like the rest."
She shrugged again.
Baltar moved a few strands of hair from her neck and leaned down to kiss there.
"You're certainly my favorite Freelander."
She giggled.
"How many Freelanders do you know?"
"Not many. But none as well as I know you."
She leaned back for a kiss, one that was gladly given.
"I should go get breakfast for the princess," she said afterwards, easing herself from the bath, grabbing up a nearby cloth.
Baltar shifted to give her more space.
"And I don't have an accent," she told him, unable to stop a smile from sneaking across her lips.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
...this is a surprise.
Deiara blinked, hands on her hips.
In the bed before her, Gwennalyn and Lucien lay sleeping, not quite cuddled close, but near enough.
The handmaiden reached out to muss the former's hair.
The princess woke up, groaning softly, eyes opening and focusing on Deiara.
"Morning. Your breakfast is waiting."
The princess yawned, and then glanced over to Lucien, before glancing back to Deiara.
"This isn't what it looks like."
"You mean you didn't fuck your husband-to-be? Because that would be quite the scandal if you did. The gods themselves would be mortified."
"It wasn't like that at all. He walked in on me getting it from some of the guards."
Deiara drew back in surprise.
"What?! How did he get here without the guards on duty noticing him?"
"He used a shortcut I showed him yesterday."
Deiara hesitated, eyeing Lucien, who was stirring.
"Judging from the fact that he's in your bed...I'm going to assume he wasn't upset."
"He wasn't."
"Uh-huh."
Gwennalyn leaned over and shook Lucien gently. His eyes eased open.
"Good morning, Lucien," Deiara said, bowing her head politely.
His eyes widened, and he looked over at the princess.
"This isn't what it looks like."
Deiara cocked her head.
"So I hear. Then what is it?"
He looked back at the princess.
"You can tell her," Gwennalyn assured him. "She knows my secrets."
"Yes, the guards did mention her. In a way that made that clear."
"And I trust her with my life."
Lucien nodded, then looked over at Deiara.
"I walked in on her and some guards last night."
The handmaiden nodded back.
"She filled me in on that part."
He hesitated, obviously uncomfortable.
"We had some...premarital bonding, you could say."
Deiara raised an eyebrow.
"A horseback ride out in the country? A picnic under the sun?"
Lucien stared back at her, and then looked over to Gwennalyn, blushing slightly.
"We...took them...the guards. Together. Well, not really together, but at the same time...and near each other."
Deiara blinked in surprise.
"And...did you enjoy it like she does?"
"I...wouldn't say I took exactly the same treatment she did."
"Few do."
He nodded.
"But I did enjoy what was done to me. The guards were...enthusiastic. And strong."
"That they are."
He nodded again.
Deiara hesitated.
"So...you enjoy other males, then?"
He nodded a third time.
Her eyebrow stayed raised.
"...what about females?"
This time, he hesitated before shaking his head.
"Huh. That at least explains why you were always so unsatisfactory with the princess. And why you wouldn't want to marry her."
He laughed sharply and looked over to Gwennalyn.
"Are there details you perhaps don't share with her?"
The princess shook her head.
"Like I said, I trust her with my life."
"Don't worry, Lucien," Deiara murmured, "your secret is safe with me."
Lucien nodded in gratitude.
"And anyway, it's breakfast time. There'll be enough for you. The princess doesn't eat much."
The handmaiden padded from the room and took a seat in the main room.
The soon-to-be spouses soon joined her, Gwennalyn in a robe, Lucien in trousers.
"You two need a bath, and then some elder salve," she told them. "But first, eat."
The spouses dug in. Deiara snagged a piece of bacon for herself.
"By the way," the princess spoke up a few minutes later, "Lucien is going to accompany me to the guards' lounge later. Just thought I should let you know."
"Ah, really?"
Lucien nodded.
"She recommended it. I'll see how it is and if I enjoy myself."
"And...do you have plans to stay a while?"
"I might. Depending on how the day goes."
"And on how much you enjoy getting fucked by the guards?"
Another blush bloomed on his cheeks.
"...yes. That too."
"Perhaps I'll stop by. The guards would love to have all three of us there."
"Yes, they mentioned you a good amount. I presume you visit them often too?"
"I do. Not as much as the princess, though."
Lucien nodded, his attention returning briefly to his breakfast.
"And besides that," Deiara asked Gwennalyn, "do you have any plans for today?"
"I'm visiting the priestesses after dinner. I'll probably end up staying the night."
"Priestesses?" Lucien asked.
"Your darling wife-to-be likes cunt almost as much as cock. The priestesses host her and the prayer devolves into lust."
"Lust can be a form of prayer," the princess said wisely.