The Forbidden Fruits

Inside Xe’Reth’s house, the flipped table and all of the spread out belongings has been arranged neatly by Taryna while Xe’Reth sits on one of his chairs that he has. There’re only two of them because he only needs for him and his mother, though she has never even used it. Malinda is seating next to him while looking with worried eyes, those eyes of black eyeliner which has now been cleaned to not show her dreadful appearance that she was in before.

Taryna stands beside the stove as she’s very curious at what lies beyond the door which Xe’Reth leaned at before, but she keeps her curiosity in check.

“Xe’Reth, please, tell me who did this to you. I need to know… Please?” Malinda asked as she grabs his hand while she squeezes it, feeling his smooth skin complexion.

“It… It was the brother of the one you threw in prison. He wanted me to tell you to release his brother, otherwise if I didn’t tell you… They would've hurt my mother,” Xe’Reth said with newly blank eyes as he stares down at her beautiful hands that’re holding onto his unworthy filthy hand. “I’ve had my dealings with them before, they’ve treated me like I am nothing, and that’s why they think I’ll do as they command. Because I have… I have done things I’m not proud of Malinda. Things to keep my mother from harm… Heh, I’m so pathetic… but what can I do other than to obey them? I’m no one special, only my black eyes and hair is what makes me different, but that has only gotten me into more trouble.”

Xe’Reth gives a painful expression as he takes away his hand which Malinda is holding, and that makes her show an opened mouth which is scared because Xe’Reth doesn’t even look at her. He’s in terrible pain, the pain of fake conflicted emotions.

“I knew that this wasn’t going to work out… I’ll only bring you harm if I was to be with you… I… I can’t let you be with me even after your lovely response. Because I will become a weight that holds you down. I’m completely worthless and you’re utterly priceless. The two doesn’t go well together… I’m poor and you have a fortune that can’t be extinguished,” Xe’Reth said as he becomes extremely depressed while gloomily lowering his head.

Malinda, however, now gazes at him with eyes of kindness that looks at… her lover. A gentle expression is showing on her relaxed eyebrows and her curves that has turned upwards, forming into a cherished smile.

‘You even care about me to this extent. To not want me to get harmed by your low status. Oh Xe’Reth, I’ve truly fallen for you, I love you more and more. It hurts my heart that you’ve gone through such hardships. But no more, no more will you be looked down upon, I’ll make you my lover and through my power I’ll make you into someone who stands at the top… Yes, you and me at the top,’ Malinda thought as she gazes with her affectionate eyes, the eyes of complete absolution.

Her face becomes scarlet all of the sudden, and she starts to breathe a little quicker as if she’s preparing for something.

As they sit there next to each other, Taryna looks at Xe’Reth, she sees his pains and gains a somewhat knowledge of how he has been living these past years. He isn’t worthy of her Miss, but at the same time she can’t help but feel happy for her since she has found someone so caring.

He cares more about her than himself, but of course, an act is always an act. Xe’Reth’s masks are flawless. Somehow he can make his ambiance seep out of him without him even noticing it. Xe’Reth simply thinks that he’s a skilled con-artist. He never feels anything strange about how easy he can make people believe in him. Though of course, sometimes he has failed miserably in his swindling.

Malinda’s hands of beauty turns Xe’Reth’s head so he looks directly at her, which makes his eyes open wide in surprised.

“Xe’Reth, I want you to love me as I love you,” she said as her own head moves closer and closer towards him, but what she’s aiming at, is his lips… Those lips that she wants to taste for the first time in her life. She has never kissed anyone before so she’s extremely nervous that she might fail desolately, but she pushes further and locks her red colored lips on his mouth.

She closes her eyes tightly as she just keeps them sealed while Xe’Reth has his wide eyes, eyes of complete astonishment.

‘Oh Divine, I didn’t think that she would be this daring of a woman,’ Xe’Reth thought but he too closes his eyes and moves his arms around her, one hand goes down and around her waist to rest on her lower back while the other one goes around the other side to rest just below the neck, holding her affectionately; to take in all of her emotions, which makes her jump from the sudden stroking touch, but she keeps on kissing him with all her heart put into it.

Though, Malinda’s kiss is that of someone who has never kissed anyone before, a kiss of a child, but Xe’Reth just plays along, because if he would begin some tongue action it would seem that he has experience.

It’s better to make her think that he has no familiarity with women of any kind.

“Mm…” Malinda puckers her lips immensely so they form a circle while Xe’Reth just lets her take responsibility of her own forwardness.

In the meanwhile as the couple kisses, Taryna stares in complete bafflement. Her Miss is actually kissing a man right in front of her, not even caring about her presence being there. But that’s a normal thing, especially among women servants, because the handmaidens are supposed to support their designated mistress so nothing happens. For they’re like a shadow of the person they’ve committed themselves to.

Xe’Reth had seen the landlady’s handmaidens who didn’t even leave when they had sexual relations between each other, because they’re her shadows, they aren’t allowed to fornicate with anyone. But if they’re given permission, they can find their own love or… even join in. Sometimes the female partner can get worn out if the male partner is highly active, and that’s where the handmaidens comes in, they can be concubines if the need arises, though most people in the kingdom despises such activities severely.

If two persons gets married, then those two should only be with each other and no one else. That’s what most people think is the right way to go about love, and not to have some strumpet in their midst.

Xe’Reth is the first to unlock their newly wet lips from one another. As Malinda opens her eyes, she’s all flustered with blushing cheeks, and she’s in a slight daze from all of the excitement. Her eyes quickly looks away as she sees his dark shadowy eyes which looks at her with so much appreciation and warmth.

‘I… I can’t believe what I just did! I kissed… I really kissed him!’ she thought in a panic.

“We… We should stop, you are still injured,” she gulps as she feels his scent of saliva running down her throat, “I… I don’t know what came over me. I just… I don’t want to lose you,” Malinda said with a saddening tone, but as she remembers what Xe’Reth said, about how it was the brother of the one she herself sent to prison, she becomes severely depressed as she droops her head in disgrace. “It is… It is my fault that you ended up in this situation. They have hurt you, they have threatened you… I… I promise, they won’t get away with this.”

“But, are you feeling better now? Are your wounds hurting? Do you need anything? Please tell me, and I’ll get it for you,” Malinda asked as she bombards him with questions; bandages are on his body. His well-trained chest hasn’t hair only a smooth muscled surface, but now it’s covered up by the bandages which Taryna did for him.

“Heh, I am alright, I just need time to heal, that’s all,” Xe’Reth said to comfort Malinda, but he suddenly puts on a startled face as he plays his game. “We… we just kissed, didn’t we? Yes… You said that you love me. Wow, I… I am, I… I couldn’t think clearly before, but now that I…—”

“Shhh, it is okay Xe’Reth,” Malinda hushed as she places one finger on his lips to silence him. “Let me say it again, now that you have a clear mind.”

“I fallen in love with you, Xe’Reth, and I, Malinda Tertin, hopes that you will love me back.”

“…Malinda… I have already said my peace to you yesterday, so you know how I feel about you,” Xe’Reth said as he strokes his thumb on her lower lip to remove the red smudge that she got when they kissed each other. And she lets him do it without flinching away, but this time he is the one who boldly kisses her.

The four petals joins together and she gives off an “Mm!!” sound as she’s surprised, though she closes her eyes to take in the scent of his saliva which waters her lipstick-covered mouth, making smudges all over.

Having done the first kiss before, Xe’Reth goes in, he sticks his fruit inside her mouth which makes her eyes go wide in shock as she feels this new foreign sensation. He’s being very aggressive but yet very gentle.

Malinda is sitting there next to him on the chair as they’re kissing each other, though Malinda wants to touch that fruit that is in her mouth with her tongue, her own forbidden fruit which has never been touched by another one’s tongue.

She begins tilting her head to the side as Xe’Reth tilts his. Her tongue had retreated in, but she relaxes her mouth as she touches his tongue with hers, and she feels that arousing flavor as Xe’Reth gives Malinda such a deep kiss.

Taryna, though, stands there by the stove with two hands over her mouth, she’s bewildered at how daring they are. It is as if they are a true couple that has been together for such a long time. She gulps as the warm emotions reaches her while she can’t even keep her eyes on them anymore. Her head turns and she closes eyes while she hears the sounds of smooches and moaning which Malinda gives off, rather seductively also.

‘Such an innocent slave, huh. Well, that is for the better,’ Xe’Reth thought as his eyes are widely open while he sees the handmaiden being embarrassed about their kissing. For a thirty year old, this is a rare sight to see indeed. To see such a woman blush only because her Miss is kissing a man. Xe’Reth is very pleased because she’ll be easy to handle if he plays his part right.

Malinda is putting her whole soul into her kissing, but this time, she’s the one who breaks off their lustful practice.

“Oh, I am sorry, did I go too far?” Xe’Reth asked but he can see her expression of pure ecstasy on her shuddering eyes of dizziness. Feeling those deep kisses must have gotten her in such a daze that she forgot where she is.

“N-No… Ha… It is not that. Haa... It is just… overwhelming. I feel…” Malinda shakes her head as she places her palm on her forehead. “I feel slightly dizzy from all of this…”

“Say no more, but I must admit, that felt relaxing. Though as you said, it is too much. Heh, heck we have only known each other for a whole day, yet we are still doing these kinds of things, and so openly, too,” Xe’Reth said while chuckling as his gaze travels to Taryna, he gives her an embarrassing smile as she had indeed seen them kiss. “Kissing in front of other people is… well, awkward to say the least.”

“Hehe, don’t worry about Taryna, she is a highly trained handmaiden. She has been sworn to celibacy as every other handmaiden that’s in our household, except for our head-handmaiden. But enough about that. Here, your mouth is covered in my lipstick,” Malinda said as she takes out a gorgeous handkerchief that’s embroidered in many different girly patterns, mainly in the color of pure pink.

But as Malinda sees her handkerchief in her perfect hand, her eyes goes wide and her eyebrows raises themselves to their highest peak while she hastily puts it back into her side skirt pocket.

“Hmm? What is the matter?” he asked as his scarred eyebrow raises itself.

“T-Taryna, y-you put the wrong one inside my pocket,” Malinda said with a shaking voice of worry. “You… forgot to pack down a regular one.”

“What…? Oh no… I’m terribly sorry Miss,” Taryna responded as she becomes fully aware of her mistake.

“Wait, did I miss something?” Xe’Reth asked as he becomes truly confused by the sudden conversation as his head turn side to side.

“Ah, Xe’Reth, well, I, you… It is nothing,” Malinda said to not reveal her horrendous interest; her girly side which only her family knows about. She thought, ‘I can’t let him know that I like to embroider my own possessions as a hobby! He’ll think that I am crazy for doing something as childish as that!’

She does actually enjoy sitting in a quiet place as she sews and stitches her own variety of patterns when she has free time.

When she isn’t free, she mostly does what Celyssa tells her to do since she is the mother figure in their household. Malinda herself isn’t exactly a commander of the Ebon Wall, only her sister and brother, though she is in the number one squad of the middle gate as her brother, the General. Though she is the Second-In-Command of that squad, but her brother mostly handles the business.

She has duties in that squad but they’re rather relaxing, so he does get a lot of free time. One time when she had free time, Malinda remembered how fun it was to make beautiful designs when she was a child, so she took up that hobby long ago to make the hours go by quicker, while sometimes her handmaidens even joins in to converse about certain events that goes around the city when they've their own free time.

It had become a fashion long ago among young girls, and children both male and female, but most grows out of it as they become mature, though, the professions are always there to make clothes and other merchandise.

“You don’t need to worry about it, Xe’Reth. It… It is a woman’s thing, yes! So forget about what you heard,” Malinda said anxiously as she turns her head to look sternly at her handmaiden who messed up. “Taryna, give me something to wipe off my lipstick off of him.”

--

While sitting on the chairs, Xe’Reth and Malinda are very close to each other, for she’s looking at his bloody lip. She had felt the blood scent when they kissed but she didn’t mind, for she has bathed in blood on the battlefield. Slashing, thrusting, and bashing her opponent into a heap of gore.

“Hmm… You still have that cut on your lip, but it seems to have stopped bleeding. Good,” Malinda said as she wipes her red lipstick off of him while she sees Xe’Reth’s scarred left eyebrow. She touches it, “How did you get this scar?”

“Oh… It… It was a noble who treated me like nothing, but it’s all in the past now, nothing to worry about,” Xe’Reth said as he remembers that woman who bought and destroyed his mother’s store while he had been removed by force as he sat there crying; he was thrown away as he hit a sharp edge which made the scar. And that scar did not heal properly, as if it’s there to remind him of something.

“Is it…unpleasant to look upon?” Xe’Reth asked as he raises the scarred eyebrow jokingly.

“Hehe, no. It is quite appealing to me actually, it makes you look rather dangerous. But appearances can be deceiving, because you are so kindhearted,” Malinda said as she touches the scar casually while her hand moves down his face, to rest on his cheek as she stares directly into his eyes.

Her heart is pounding as if someone is punching at her chest, but she keeps a calm appearance.

“So Malinda, you like dangerous looking men?” Xe’Reth asked curiously because he wants her to know him better, or at least what he wants her to know about him; made up memories, emotions, and events that can be easily thought as real.

“Are you a dangerous man, Xe’Reth?” Taryna asked with a suspicious tone as she interrupts with crossed arms while having lowered eyebrows, staring at him intently.

“Taryna!”

“It is okay, Malinda,” Xe’Reth said as he raises a hand, “Am I dangerous? Of course I am.”

“And what do you mean by that?” Taryna quickly retorted as her suspicion grows deeper.

“Well… I would do anything in my power to protect those I love. Even if I have to place my own life on the line to protect them, I would do it, without a second thought of the consequences. If someone were to harm my beloved ones, I would rip them apart. It is as simple as that. Taryna, I can be dangerous when I need to be, but luckily it hasn’t happened, yet,” Xe’Reth said without a hint of regret while giving her a smile.

“I… I see. I am sorry for interrupting Miss, but my curiosity flooded out,” Taryna said with a curtsy while she understands her mistake in asking him about it.

Malinda gives a nod as she accepts her apology, but she isn’t happy about how she acted so terribly rude.

‘Seems like Malinda doesn’t like to be interrupted much, and that her own handmaiden is suspicious of me, her new lover. Though if I were in her shoes, I would be the same. But I don’t need someone who watches my every move. She needs to be removed if she causes me a headache,’ Xe’Reth thought as he sees the two women turning somewhat melancholy.

“Come now, let us not turn gloomy. She asked and I answered. It is just that she’s worried about you, Malinda. Meeting me for the first time, even I would be cautious of myself. Because I do look…” Xe’Reth raises his hands to stare at them in complete sorrow, “…like a criminal with this appearance that I have. It isn’t something new, people has always regarded me with such mistrustful eyes, and I’ve just gotten used to it.”

“I didn’t mean to…—.”

“You have said enough. Go outside and tend to the horses, now,” Malinda retorted as her voice hissed with displease.

“I… I understand,” Taryna curtsied as she walks to pick up the medical supplies that she brought in, and as she’s about to leave, her voice doesn’t sound good at all, rather a known shame is turning her tone into sadness. “If… If you need me… call for me Miss.”

Xe’Reth thought as he sees Taryna go outside, ‘Nock, draw, and release, heh.’

He has made Malinda even turn on her trusted handmaiden who she has known her whole life by a little bit, but not much, only a tiny bit. Though, Malinda’s change is showing rapidly. Her mind is starting to be jerked into his direction… Into his sinister hands. Xe’Reth had been very bold with the second kiss, but since she was the one who started, he knew that she wouldn’t push him away.

“…It is as you said, she is worried about me, but… But I can see how she judges you only because of your appearance, your background. Though, she is my precious friend, so please forgive her,” she said while her eyes are pleading for his confirmation while her mouth curves down.

“Really, it is okay,” Xe’Reth said as he raises his left eyebrow in bafflement, “Wait… did you say before, that I was going to move out from this house?”

“Oh… Yes, yes I did. And I meant it. I know it is moving fast, Xe'Reth, but I want you to be as close to me as possible… You don’t like it?” Malinda asked as she awaits his response, but she cuts him off instead, “I don’t want you to bear your burden alone anymore. We’re together now, we are… together, hehe. B-But I will make it so you and your mother—, wait, where is your mother?”

“She’s in there, isn’t she?” Malinda asked as she points at the only unopened door.

‘So, it has finally come to this… Let me see how much you really like me, Malinda. When you see my ill mother, will you abandon me? Like everyone else I have met? Or will your love be greater than I imagined?’ Xe’Reth talked worriedly inside his head for the upcoming meeting between her and his mother.

“Yes, she is asleep at the moment, and thankfully she slept through the horrible break in by those men,” Xe’Reth said as he frowns deeply with a mask of unrest as he remembers.

He turns his black-haired head to stare straight into Malinda’s eyes. “You must steel yourself Malinda. This might be tough for you, because you’ve encountered this disease before. Three years ago, your father and mother had the same exact sickness, the Fire-Brand disease.”

“Wh-at…” her voice cracked as she said it. “H-how…? How can your mother still be alive if she has that atrocious disease? How? How Xe’Reth?!”

Malinda takes ahold of his hands and squeezes them hard, for she is mystified by this shocking news.

At the moment of her father’s death, Malinda witnessed his last and final breath before his heart finally gave in. No kind of medicine could help him, and as an Honored Family, they couldn’t act out of order to buy the forbidden herbs, because undercover DLO members of the kingdom had control of the ins and outs of the underground market to an extent.

The spies of the DLO exists everywhere, to keep the Honored Ones in check. That was why the Tertin Family had to just sit by, to watch their father perish while their mother committed suicide after she had heard of her husband's passing.

There are other medicines, but their effects aren’t as potent as the forbidden ones. It’s the DLO who had branded them illegal, only because once it had been used on one of the reigning Divine Queens, long, long ago. And through its use, she was violated until she was mind broken, but it was all a scheme to remove her, for a Divine Queen who isn’t a virgin, is no Queen of this Divine Kingdom.

The seat of royalty must permanently remain pure. For there are precious secrets in having such a Queen of celibacy.

It is an unpleasant and senseless law of the royal family that made the DLO brand them illegal. Many laws have been made only because the Queen herself said it. One law is that only couples can get married on their eighteenth birthday or upwards, and any misbehaving in the bed before the rite of joining, is considered unsightly. That is why men and women only wed once in their lifetime.

But that mostly are the rules of higher nobles, and the Honored Ones.

Though of course, there are people who thinks that's rubbish. But even if they think it is complete rubbish, they don’t openly show their own way of moral. For it can backfire completely, women especially since they are the representatives of the Divine Queen. If a woman is marries and cheats on its mate, that woman, if she’s caught cheating, can go to prison, same for the man if he were to cheat.

There’re many laws that the various Divine Queens had put under their own lifetimes. But what Xe’Reth hates is that magic is solely for the royal family, and that is pure selfishness on their side. Why do they need to keep such words of magic to themselves? Why not help its kingdom’s people?

Xe’Reth had wanted to go and try his luck in the Cathedral these past four years… But he hadn’t had the courage. What if he really can use the words? What will happen to his mother? Will he be able to take her along? Or will such a poor scarred woman be tossed aside by the royal family so Xe’Reth can grow his magic, if he had it?

But he can’t, he needs to stay away from such trouble… But now here in this kitchen of his, he’ll reveal his most precious secret; his ways of the illegal herbs.

“How I have kept her alive? It is simple, I've used unlawful means,” Xe’Reth said as he revealed his most precious secret at his disposal. “I use the Yran’Gilis flower to keep her alive. And that is the most illegal flower of them all.”

She removes her hands from him as if he himself is scorching lava and recoils back upon hearing what he said, sliding the very chair which makes grinding noises as the chair’s feet slides on the wooden floor.

“I am an immoral man, Malinda. I’ll let you decide how you will handle me. If you want to report me to the questioners, I will… obey and not resist,” Xe’Reth said as he shows his mask of utter sorrow upon his lowered eyebrows, because she acted so scared by the words he just spewed out.

Malinda frowns, but with a frown of concern, not dislike. Her expression turns into a thinking one, ‘So this is his secret, his most guarded possession that he holds inside of his mind. But how many years has he kept it a secret? Though he hasn’t even been caught.’

“Xe’Reth… You… You… You’ll be my doom. How can you just put this on me now? Sigh... But I've already made up my mind, so, I am now an accomplice it seems,” Malinda said as she shakes her head in utter dismay. She has chosen such a man to be her lover, though she’s glad that he came out with this secret, and not with some lie, because this can’t possibly be a lie, it is too big to be untrue.

“Heh, wow, I am truly blessed to have you. But now that I take a better look at you, you’re gorgeous, Malinda. You have dressed yourself…—Is that your favorite outfit?” Xe’Reth asked as he raises his scarred eyebrow while he becomes relieved that she won’t abandon him nor turn him into the law.

“D-Do you like it?” Malinda asked fretfully as she turns her upper body side to side to show her attire off since this is her favorite dress that has the silken and light-plate materials as its clothing components.

“Yes, I like it. It looks different than your other clothes that you wore yesterday. I like seeing you with these kinds of clothes, instead of those garments of heavy-plate,” Xe’Reth said as he looks at her clothed-covered body. But he doesn’t show a lustful face, only a face of truth. For she does look more womanly without such full-bodied plate clothes.

“Haa... thank Divine,” she said as she sighs out in relief. If he didn’t like it, she would’ve become so depressed and not angry, for she wants Xe’Reth to say words of praise, because she does enjoy hearing his soothing voice which says such verses. Beautiful, stunning, gorgeous and attractive, those words is what she desires to be called, by him and only him.

She makes a grimace of pure resolve; clenched teeth, a frown of beauty, and eyes which burns with passion. She says, “I want to meet your mother.”

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