"You heard me. How many girls have you slept with?" I asked, wanting an honest answer. Damien gazed at me, trying to cover up that he was taken off guard.

He hated feeling like he didn't have the upper hand.

"I don't know how to answer that." He gazed at the locked box behind me.

"Don't act foolish with me, Darius." I used his real name, and his eyes immediately cut back at me. I felt like a mother having to reprehend a man-child.

"I'm being honest, Annalise. Many of the girls were from clubs that I don't remember. I only used it as a distraction, kind of like drinking or taking mesgra." He scratched behind his ear, I could tell he felt guilty about it.My eyes softened, realizing it was another coping method after his mother's death.

"Could you have a disease?" I asked in all seriousness.

He immediately laughed, grabbing onto the chair for support,"I haven't slept with that many girls, shortcake. I think I would know by now," he winked at me,"I haven't slept with a girl since I met you."

"I would hope not." I bluntly stated.

"Is that jealousy I see yet again? You are feeling a lot of envy today," he smirked at me.

"I just don't want to be another one of your... distractions." I explained, taking another sip of the xamba juice.

Damien's smirk dropped, letting his wall down. I watched as his pupils dilated, and a soft smile appeared on his face,"There are many things that you are to me, Annalise Woods. Ever since I met you, I have felt like the Darius before my mother passed. Simply put, a distraction is certainly not what you are to me."

The seriousness of the conversation made the air deafening. I slowly took another sip of the juice, realizing we were having quite deep conversations and I needed to be more drunk for this.

I changed the topic,"What was your first time like?"

"I was young, probably around fifteen. I was highly intoxicated with my stable friend from the kingdom. We were wandering the streets at night foolishly, chanting Deltora cheers and making quite a ruckus. We passed by a pleasure house, and I remember a young girl was apprenticing there. She approached me, giving me more alcohol and the rest of the night was a blur." He swirled his drink around the cup.

"So you've never been with somebody whom you've actually had feelings for?" I curiously gazed at him.

"No, but I have heard it is quite different." He peeked up at me, intrigued in my response.

"How so?" I wanted him to continue, taking the bait.

"Being with somebody whom you love... you are having intercourse with them because you like them. Not just that you want a quick fix, gaining pleasure from the feeling and not the person. With somebody you like, it seems it would be more intimate. As if you want to pleasure them and not just for personal gain because you love them. I believe it would be more pleasuring watching them become undone then yourself."

His gaze was intense as I took in his words. I slowly understood that with the look that Damien was giving me, he wanted to one day do so with me.

We were taking things slow, and I believed it was because Damien held more respect for me, as well my body. I then understood doing so with him wouldn't be a "distraction", that it meant something special to him.

"What if I told you I had already lost my virginity?" I asked deviously. His face morphed into something nasty, a grimace prominent on his face.

"Who was it with? Was it with jack." He stated, his voice going low. He seemed as if he was ready to murder somebody.

I laughed," You're the first boy I've ever done anything with, Damien."

"And hopefully the last," he muttered with a sigh, happy with my answer.

"What did you say?" I cupped my ear, playing with him.

"I hope that the day you choose to have intercourse, it shall be with me." He confidently spoke, catching me off guard. I gulped, taking my hand off my ear and knitting my hands together.

"You lied, I asked you what you had said before that." I quickly took another sip of the grape xamba, chugging it down.

"Are you not going to comment on what I had just said?" He took my drink and placed it back down, gazing at me seriously. I was drinking too much and he knew it.

I gained courage,"I have already chosen you, Damien. I wouldn't want to be with anybody else."

I knew it was wrong to want such things, as dangerous as our relationship was: I couldn't deny how the idea of having sex with Damien sounded very appealing. I couldn't imagine doing so with anybody else.

A smile slowly lifted at the corners of his lips. He grabbed my hand softly and kissed it,"I am quite honored, Princess."

"You throw around such titles like they mean nothing, Darius." I smiled.

"Well I am sure as hell going to keep treating you like one. You don't need a crown to be a princess in my eyes, shortcake." He winked at me.

You do to become a queen.

"What are princesses like?" I asked him curiously.

"Good question. They are all after one objective."

"Which is?" I wanted him to continue, but he purposely kept chugging his juice. I rolled my eyes at his immaturity, impatient for his response.

He sighed as he set down his drink,"This is an important lesson sweet cheeks: if you listen closely for what people want, you can give them what they need. Princesses figure out what kind of prince you are in order to appease them and marry."

"I see it hasn't worked on you?"

"Being the Prince of Deltora, I already have everything I could want and need. Deltora has been the most prosperous kingdom since Descuvi fell."

"Then what was different about me?"

"Your intention was not to appease me, and never asked for anything in return. Slowly, my view on the world has become more kind, thanks to you." His smile was full. I gazed back in only happiness. Our conversations on this "date" simply had me smiling from ear-to-ear.

As Damien opened up more to me, I could see just how kind his souls was. It was shrouded with pain and anger, but slowly he was beginning to learn how to trust again.

I can't wait to see the proud look on his face at the Targle event.

I'll make sure to score a goal for you, Damien.

"Now to the right," I told her to place the handkerchief to the right, yet again.

Handkerchief A: purple, with dark undertones of blues

Handkerchief B: purple, with dark plum and pink undertones

But which one was lighter!

The terrified maid looked back at me, arms shaking from moving the handkerchief so many times.

"What do you think?" I asked for her input. Usually I wouldn't do so, for many aren't educated on the world of fashion. She only stared back at me with terrified eyes.

"I think you are right, that one is darker. Hand it to me," I exclaimed, and her arms heaved as she passed me the handkerchief.

My interrogation outfit had to be perfect.

Today was an important day, for I was going to find out the truth of Landon Apa. A little visit to Isabelle Daniel's house was arranged to discuss such matters. I sent her a letter stating that I had recently found out information she would like to know that I had acquired, concerning her family.

I folded the purple handkerchief with a sigh, placing it in my suit pocket. I grabbed the briefcase full of documents, glancing in the mirror one last time.

Damn, I look absolutely divine.

Now it's time to blackmail some bitches.

I wonder what Henry has on Isabelle 👁👄👁.

I love you all