The Peasant and the Princess
by DJlurker
"The princess?!"
"Yes," Rachel, daughter of the duke, affirmed. "My cousin, Princess Clarissa, is coming to visit within the next week. And I feel the need to warn you that she doesn't look too kindly upon the... lower classes."
Her beloved Thomas, a peasant who lived and worked in the fields nearby, sighed in resignation. "Which likely means she won't approve of our relationship, even though His Grace has given his blessing..."
"I fear you are right," Rachel nodded grimly. "That being said, it wouldn't hurt to try and give her a good first impression... get you cleaned up and dressed nice... Though I doubt anything can be done with tangle of hair on your head."
The peasant's hand instinctively went to his thick, dirty blond hair. "Well, even when I was a child, my mother always had difficulty in washing it... But I shall endeavor to treat Her Highness with utmost respect."
"Do you think you could exercise control, even if she disparages you?" Rachel inquired critically.
"I can weather any insult she slings at me, as long as you are at my side, milady," Thomas replied.
The young duchess-to-be smiled at this. "Excellent. Then perhaps this visit will go decently, at least... Of course, Father will be there as well, so she'll probably restrain herself..."
A few days later...
"Your Grace," the knight announced, "Her Royal Highness, the Princess Clarissa, has arrived!"
Thomas took a breath to try and steady his nerves, even as Rachel gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, the duke himself standing behind them... Soon, enough, the princess came into view, wearing a pink frilly dress, a small tiara atop her head of slightly curly reddish-brown hair... She carried a slightly arrogant air about her, her small, somewhat pointy nose stuck up in the air as she slowly and deliberately walked into the room... Thomas noted her face having more than a passing resemblance to Rachel's, even having a few freckles on her face as well, though said face was slightly thinner...
"Clarissa!" Rachel cried in happiness. Immediately the princess' eyes opened, revealing hazel-colored orbs just like her cousin's...
"Rachel!" she cried in response, her earlier haughty aura vanishing as she ran to embrace the duchess-to-be. "Oh, it is so good to see you again, cousin! How I have missed thee!"
"Likewise," Rachel responded, "Indeed, we have not seen each other in person since..." she trailed off.
"... Auntie's funeral," Clarissa finished for her. "Still, you seem to be holding up well despite her leaving us far too soon... Oh, and hello, Uncle," she acknowledged the duke. "Forgive me, I did not mean to dredge up painful memories..."
"It's fine," the duke nodded. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't still miss her terribly... but I try to focus on what I still have. Like my daughter, for instance."
"Of course," the princess nodded, before turning to Thomas, who had been dressed in white nobleman's clothing. "And who might this be?"
"Ah, Clarissa, this my my beloved, Thomas," Rachel indroduced him.
"An honor to make your acquaintance, Your Highness," Thomas said as he bowed from the waist.
"What's this? You have a boyfriend?!" Clarissa gasped. "Why did you not tell me of this in any of your letters, Rachel? Honestly, I would have liked to know beforehand...!"
"I suppose it just slipped my mind," Rachel shrugged, keeping an eye on Thomas as her cousin looked him over...
"Hmmm..." the princess looked at Thomas with a critical eye. "Well, I suppose you could have done worse... though he is in bad need of a hairdresser."
"I tried, believe me," Rachel sighed, "but 'twas nothing that could be done, short of shaving him bald..."
"Fair enough," Clarissa conceded. "So tell me, Thomas, what house does thou hail from?"
"Um... th-the rickety shack by where the path splits going into the forest," Thomas stuttered. Rachel promptly buried her face in her hands, as her cousin looked shocked for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Ah-hahahahahaha! You are too amusing! But seriously, where do you hail from?" Clarissa gasped between laughs.
"Uhm, that IS where I live, Your Highness," Thomas said uncertainly.
The redhead was no longer laughing. "Surely you jest! For that would mean that you live among... the... peasants..." Clarissa's eyes went wide as realization dawned. "Oh my God! You're a peasant, aren't you?!"
"And what is wrong with that, Your Highness?" Thomas kept his tone neutral.
"No, this cannot be!" the princess stepped back. "Rachel, please tell that this is just some sort of sick joke...!"
"'Tis no joke, cousin," Rachel stated disdainfully, "It matters not to me if he is lowborn, for Thomas has a soul as noble as any of Father's knights!"
"No, no, no!" Clarissa shook her head in denial, before turning to the duke. "Uncle, surely you do not approve of this!"
"If I did not approve, he would not be standing here," the duke pointed out. "And though you may be the princess, Clarissa, you do not have any say over who my daughter is allowed to love! I do, and I say that Thomas here has proven himself more than worthy in my eyes!" The peasant actually blushed slightly at this.
"E-even you, Uncle...?!" Clarissa gasped in disbelief, shaking her head. "This is a nightmare...! Yes, yes, that's it! A nightmare, that's all this is! I shall go to bed, and I shall wake up, and none of this shall ever have occurred!"
"You wish to retire to chambers? So be it," the duke said. "Melissa, escort Her Highness to her guest room."
"Yes, Your Grace," the auburn-haired maid bowed. "Come, Your Highness..." She put a hand on the princess' back as she gently led her away, the redhead still shaking her head with disbelief...
Thomas heaved a forlorn sigh. "Forgive me, Your Grace, Lady Rachel... I feel I have failed you..."
"No, no," Rachel disagreed, "this meeting went pretty much exactly as I expected it would... but for now, you may as well head back home."
"Do not worry about the princess," the duke added, "for my daughter and I shall do our best to make her see reason."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Thomas bowed to him, before turning to leave...
"Just a moment," Rachel stopped him, before whispering something into his ear. The peasant blushed slightly before nodding vigorously, walking off at a slightly faster pace.
"And what was that all about, Rachel?" the duke inquired with a knowing smile.
"Oh, um..." the young duchess tied to bury the toe of her footwear into the floor. "I just told him to meet me tonight, so Clarissa would not interfere..."
"Going frolicking in the swamp again, I take it?" her father guessed.
Immediately Rachel's face paled as her eyes went wide. "Wh-wh- N-no, of course not! S-surely you jest, Father...!"
The duke just chuckled. "Just remember to be good and clean before you retire for the night..." Rachel blushed deeply before running off... "Well," he sighed to himself, "if an obsession with sinking in the bog is the worst vice she commits, then I think I've done a decent job. Wouldn't you agree, dear...?" He looked up, imagining his wife looking down from heaven...
A short time later, in the guest room...
"Honestly, the world has gone mad!" Clarissa ranted as she stripped out of her dress. "What in the world could my cousin and uncle possibly see in that plebeian?!"
"I believe that the fact that Sir Thomas saved Lady Rachel from being defiled by a ruffian might have been a factor," Melissa spoke up.
The princess turned to her assigned maid. "I don't remember giving you permission to speak freely, servant."
"With all due respect, Your Highness," the maid bowed briefly, "I have never had to ask His Grace for permission. He encourages us to speak our minds."
Clarissa stared at her a for a long moment. "...Fine then, I may as well pick your mind. Did Rachel fall in love with the peasant upon being saved, like in those fairy tales?"
"Not exactly," Melissa shook her head, "seeing as not only did she nearly get raped, she had also nearly drowned in quicksand just beforehand. It took her a while to recover fully from that trauma... Also, 'twould be fair to say she befriended Sir Thomas' mother before falling for the man himself..."
"His mother...?" Clarissa closed her eyes in thought. "How soon was this after Auntie's death?"
"A little less than a year after."
"I see," the princess nodded, "So it's possible she latched onto another mother figure after losing her own... I can see that happening..."
"She takes after her father," Melissa continued, "In that both she and His Grace judge others not on their station at birth, but the content of their character. I know this firsthand, for His Grace hired me when he had every right not to trust me..."
"...Dare I ask what you did before you were Uncle's maid?" the redhead ventured uncertainly.
Melissa hesitated before responding. "I was... a sporting woman, out of necessity."
Clarissa's jaw nearly dropped. "Dear God... you're a prostitute."
"Was, Your Highness," Melissa stated firmly, "WAS a prostitute. Never again. From now on, the only man I shall give my body to is the one I choose to be my husband. I was only a prostitute before because I believed my body was the only thing worth any coin... Thankfully, His Grace disabused me of that notion."
Another pregnant pause. "...I see. Well, if Uncle trusts you to amend your former wicked ways, then I suppose I shall give you the benefit of the doubt as well."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the maid nodded. "So why not give Sir Thomas the benefit of the doubt as well?"
"...SIR Thomas?" the princess raised an eyebrow as she slid on her nightgown. "You would address that peasant as you would a knight?!"
"As Lady Rachel herself said, Thomas is as noble as any of His Grace's knights," Melissa stated. "In fact, he and Sir Barnes get along rather well..."
"E-even Barnes...? Has that lowborn truly bewitched everybody?" Clarissa gaped.
"Or perhaps he really is what everyone says he is," the maid retorted.
"...Permission to speak freely hereby revoked. Please leave."
"So be it, Your Highness," Melissa bowed with a frown. "Be sure to ring the bell if you need anything..." With that, she turned and exited the room, leaving the princess to stew in her own thoughts...
Later that night...
(I should've known better than to retire so early,) Clarissa lamented as she tossed and turned. (Now it's the middle of the night, and I'm as awake as awake can be...)
Just then, the door opened. "Your Highness!" Melissa whispered.
"What is it, servant?" the redhead lifted her head up. "Do you have any idea the time...?"
"Lady Rachel is missing!" the maid cut her off. "I've searched the whole palace, and nothing!"
"What?!" Clarissa sat up. "Are you certain?"
"Yes," Melissa nodded. "I was about to look outside, but I fear getting lost in the dark all by my lonesome... and seeing as she is your cousin..."
The princess considered for a moment, before throwing off her bedsheets. "Very well, I shall accompany you... though you likely know the lay of the land better than I..." She looked around for her footwear, before Melissa held up a pair of slip-ons. "Ah, thank you," she nodded as she accepted them and put them on.
"OK, let's go!" said Melissa as she turned to leave...
A short time later, outside...
Though the night was partially lit by a half-moon, Clarissa still squinted as she moved through the courtyard. "Rachel!" she called audibly, but not too loudly, as she didn't want to wake anyone else and cause a panic.
"Your Highness!" Melissa called as she ran up. "I think I may have found her footprints!"
"You did? Where?" Clarissa demanded.
"This way!" the maid beckoned before jogging off, the princess following after her. "They go into the woods... perhaps she went for a midnight stroll..."
"Well, let us hope she didn't get lost," Clarissa responded. "And that we do not get lost along with her..."
"Don't worry, I know this area fairly well, as you yourself have surmised," Mellissa reassured her as they entered the forest. "Just be sure to follow me. There are one or two swampy areas about, and it would not do for you to founder in quicksand like Lady Rachel nearly did..."
"Duly noted," the princess acknowledged as she kept pace with her companion. The two proceeded in silence for a while, Clarissa keeping her gaze focused on the bow on the back of Melissa's uniform... occasionally she would look down, to try and see the footprint trail, but she saw nothing... (This had better not be a trick of some sort...) Melissa then abruptly came to a halt, the princess nearly colliding with her.
"Do you hear that, Your Highness?" the auburn-haired maid whispered.
"Hear what?" Clarissa asked... then she heard it- what appeared to be wet sucking and squelching noises, from a distance...
"I think I know where they are," Melissa nodded. "This way!" She turned to her left and dashed off, Clarissa running to catch up...
('They?') the princess pondered the servant's choice of words. (Could she possibly mean that peasant...?) Melissa then came to a stop again, Clarissa slowing to a halt as well. She could smell the mustiness in the air... they were definitely in one of the swampy areas.
"Watch your step, Your Highness," Melissa cautioned as she slowly proceeded through some brush, her companion carefully following her lead... the foliage began to open up a little on the left side, the maid walking forward a bit more, looking to her left, before stopping and pointing. "There," she whispered.
Clarissa crouched down beside the maid, her eyes squinting as she tried to follow where Melissa was pointing... then she made out Rachel's familiar ponytail. The duchess was face-to-face with a messy mop of hair... (The peasant,) Clarissa deduced. (But why are floating in the water like that...?) Then Rachel shifted, moving in closer, the surface rippling and showing a gritty texture in the moonlight. (Wait, that's not water! That's... quicksand?!) She was about to call out when she heard Thomas' voice...
"I'm so sorry, Lady Rachel," the peasant lamented, as he and his girlfriend settled to their shoulders in the moist mire. "I couldn't save you, only get stuck with you myself..."
"Don't apologize," Rachel shook her head. "At least this way, we'll be together forever..."
Clarissa was about to run out to them, only to be held back by Melissa's arm. "Don't be foolish, Your Highness," the servant hissed. "There's nothing you can do for them..."
"But..." Clarissa's reply died as she saw Rachel engage Thomas in a firm, intense lip-lock... the two lovers moaning as they descended to their chins... The princess watched in horror as the mud rose over their joined lips, their noses, their eyes...
"NOOOOOOO! RAACHELLL!" The redhead screamed as she broke away from Melissa and ran towards where the tops of their heads were vanishing... she managed to get a fair distance across the swamp through sheer momentum, before finally plunging into the slop, her arms becoming buried up to the elbows as she tried to break her fall... Her eyes went wide with shock as she realized what she'd just done... looking ahead, she realized she was too late- her cousin and the peasant had both vanished beneath the surface, only a few ripples remaining...
Clarissa took in a breath as she felt her bosom press into the cool, wet mud... leaning back, she pulled her chest clear, only for her rear end to sink under... "Argh! Melissa, help me!"
"I can't," the reply came, Clarissa turning her head, seeing the maid sunk to her chest in the bog, her arms also sunk in... "I'm as stuck as you are, Your Highness..."
"No..." the princess' voice cracked as tears began to well up in her eyes... She then shivered as she felt the quicksand pushing up on her chest once more, looking down at the slightly heaving surface... "Why did I not listen to you... now we will all founder in the bog, and no one shall ever find us again... Oh, my poor cousin..." But just as she was about to give in to despair, the mud in front of her suddenly bulged upward!
Clarissa gasped in surprise as two muddy heads emerged from the quicksand, separating and gasping for air... their arms then slowly emerged, wiping mud off each other's faces until they could see each other again...
"Phew," Rachel sighed as she worked herself up to chest-level. "That was quite the experience, wasn't it?"
"Indeed, milady," Thomas gasped out as he floated up to the same depth as her.
"You're alive!" Clarissa cried out, the two turning and screaming in surprise!
"C-Clarissa?!"
"Y-Your Highness?!"
Then the sound of laughter was heard, the princess turning and looking at Melissa, who pointed at the trio with one muddy arm. "Oh, the looks on your faces! That was so worth it! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Clarissa blinked a few times, until suddenly everything clicked. "Y... you rank bitch! You tricked me! You knew they weren't in any danger!" The maid only laughed louder at this.
"Oh, for the love of...!" Rachel crossed her arms in anger. "I'm not usually inclined toward profanity, but what the hell, Melissa?!"
"I feel so embarrassed right now," Thomas groaned, bowing his head, wishing he could just disappear into the mire once more...
"YOU'RE embarrassed?!" Clarissa growled. "What about me?! At least you were out here of your own will...!" She tugged at her trapped arms, to no avail. "Argh! How did you free your arms from this slop, Rachel?!"
"Slow movements, Clarissa," Rachel instructed. "You have to give the mire time to flow around your limbs, or it will just clamp down on you... Which is likely how most people meet their end in quicksand, because they panic and thrash about... And Melissa, you still haven't told me your reasoning for this irresponsible prank..."
"Hee hee hee... Well, to be frank, milady," Melissa began, "I've always wanted to try this for myself... though I knew better than to go alone, in case I got hopelessly stuck... Also, I felt Her Highness could use a small lesson in humility..."
"Well, I am most certainly completely and thoroughly humiliated," Clarissa growled, even as she finally managed to extract her forearms from the mire. "At least it was only my nightgown that has been soiled, instead of one of my expensive dresses..."
"Well, Lady Rachel seems to have no issue soiling her sexy evening gown," Melissa countered with a chuckle.
The princess blinked, before taking a closer look at her cousin... despite the mud covering her body, she could make out that Rachel was indeed wearing an off-the-shoulders gown, and a pair of opera gloves as well... "What in the world... Rachel, why would you dress in such a manner, for a mud wallow?!"
"Well, Thomas seems to like it," Rachel shrugged, the peasant looking away at this, likely blushing, though the mud covering his face hid this fact... "I confess that I also rather enjoy the sensation of the mud pressing on my body, rubbing this gown against my skin... not to mention the feeling of the muck flowing around my gloved fingers when I clench them beneath the surface..." As if to demonstrate, she let her arms sink into the quicksand once more... "Of course, I also enjoy playing the damsel-in-distress on occasion..."
"I understand what you mean, Lady Rachel," Melissa agreed, "I also rather enjoy feeling this mire suck at my clothes... almost as of it is trying to disrobe me..."
"Of course you would feel that way, you prostitute," Clarissa sighed.
"And what about you, Your Highness?" the maid shot back. "I've yet to hear you complain about how disgusting and yucky this mud is..."
Clarissa turned her body to retort that she *did* feel that way... but then her reply died in her throat as she felt the quicksand shifting around her body from that action, embracing and massaging her submerged body with its gritty texture... though the mud was cool, it was bearable, and said coolness seemed to enhance the feeling of its shifting and rubbing against the princess' body... She shivered, not from fear, but from something else, breathing deeply as she slowly undulated in the quicksand's embrace, her nipples hardening under her pink nightgown as the mud gently fondled her bosom...
"So, you *do* enjoy it," Melissa said with a grin, snapping the redhead out of her reverie.
Clarissa felt her face heat up at this. "E-even so, that doesn't mean I'll let you enjoy watching me!" Scooping up a handful of mud, she threw it at the maid...
Who simply tilted her head to one side, the projectile flying by harmlessly. "Missed me!" she taunted, only for another glob of mud from behind Clarissa to nail her in the face. "Ack! Blech! Ptooey!"
Realizing the projectile had come from her right, Clarissa ventured, "Was that you that threw that, peasant?"
"You had the right idea, Your Highness," Thomas confirmed. "And I rather tired of seeing that grin on her face..."
"As do I," Rachel concurred, lifting up another handful of mud. "This is hardly a fitting punishment for Melissa... but it's a start."
The maid finally finished wiping the mud from her eyes, only to see the trio in front of her have mud-balls at the ready. "Uh-oh..." she whispered as her eyes went wide.
"FIRE!" cried Clarissa as she threw her projectile, skimming Melissa's shoulder. Thomas and Rachel followed suit, both of their mud-balls hitting their target. Melissa tried to fight back by throwing mud herself, but she was hopelessly outnumbered, as repeated chunks of mud hit her face, causing her own hurled projectiles to go wide... it wasn't long before the maid was completely covered in muck from her head to her bosom...
"Agh, stop, stop! I yield! I surrender!" Thankfully for Melissa, the barrage promptly ceased, allowing her to wipe her face clean again. "Three-on-one is completely unfair...!"
"You got what you deserved," Clarissa stated with a hint of anger. "And mark my words, Uncle is going to hear about this..." she then stopped, turning back to Rachel and Thomas. "U-unless you rather this remained a secret from him, Rachel..."
"Oh, he knows," Rachel shook her head. "After all, why else would he insist that I am clean and dry when I retire to bed? When such a thing should usually go without saying?"
"M-Mother usually says something to that effect as well..." Thomas grunted.
"Hmmm..." Clarissa crossed her arms as she closed her eyes in thought. "Tell me something, peasant... was it you or Rachel that initiated this romance between you two?"
"I-it was Lady Rachel," Thomas answered. "While I thought her attractive, I dared not hope for anything more than friendship between us... In fact, when she kissed me the first time, I protested, saying that it could never be... Only for her to embrace me firmly and kiss me even more deeply..."
"Needless to say, he did not protest any further after that," Rachel supplemented with a smile. "And even you have to admit, Clarissa, he is rather cute, even when he's all dirty..."
The redhead slowly digested this as she looked over at Thomas again. "...cute? Perhaps, in a lowborn sort of manner..."
"Well, I certainly think so," Melissa finally spoke again. "Honestly, Lady Rachel is quite fortunate to have met such a man, peasant or otherwise... Had she not made a move on him, I would have been tempted to do so, myself."
"Please, stop it..." Thomas half-heartedly protested. "I feel as if I'll die of embarrassment right here if you keep this up..."
"Oh, Thomas," Rachel chuckled as she drew the blond into a romantic embrace, draping her gloved arms around his neck. "You would die from being complimented? Whatever am I to do with you? It wouldn't hurt to be a bit more assertive every now and then..."
"You mean like this?" Thomas said, before suddenly engaging the duchess in a deep, heartfelt kiss... Rachel's eyes widened in mild shock, before relaxing and settling into the lip-lock, moaning softly...
"Ah, true love," Melissa sighed happily. "Truly, there is no stronger force in all the world..."
Clarissa's breath caught in her throat at seeing such an outward display of the lover's romance... (My God... they're... they're really serious...) She watched as the two moved closer together, their bodies now pressing firmly against each other as they gently rocked back and forth, causing slight ripples over the surface of the mire... Eventually, they separated, staring into each other's eyes, uncaring of their audience... (I've never seen Rachel so... happy...) Taking a deep breath, the princess finally spoke, "Well, cousin, if you are truly that serious about your love for him, then I won't interfere..."
"I thought that might convince you," Rachel smirked as she turned to look at her cousin once more. "Not even you can deny the blatantly obvious, after all..."
The princess exhaled through her nose, before stating, "Well, let us hope he is as noble as you say... for if he does the unthinkable and breaks your heart, I shall have him tortured and executed myself!"
"Th-then in that case, I should be safe from your wrath, Your Highness," Thomas said, "for I have absolutely no intention of doing so."
"Good," Clarissa nodded sharply. "Just consider yourself warned... anyway, Rachel, can we get out of this slop now? My feet are starting to go numb..."
"As are mine," Thomas agreed...
A short time later, the quartet had worked their way to the edge of the pit, now laying in somewhat horizontal positions, still encased up to their chests in the quicksand, their heads laying on the shore as they looked up at the night sky...
"How beautiful are the stars," Melissa sighed. "No wonder you deigned to come out here tonight, milady, it's quite a romantic setting..."
"Indeed," Rachel chuckled, "though part of me still wishes that you hadn't tricked Clarissa into interrupting our moment... Father will hear of this, make no mistake..."
"I'm well aware of my impending punishment," the maid acknowledged. "But I think that this will have been worth it..."
"You are truly insane," Clarissa sighed in disbelief.
"Am I, Your Highness?" Melissa smirked. "After all, you've been wearing a content smile since we made our way here..."
"I-I have not!" the redhead mildly protested.
"Actually, you have," Rachel concurred. "Which makes me glad, since now I know my interest in mud doesn't make me an outlier..."
"I thought you were traumatized from nearly foundering in the bog," Clarissa lifted her head up to get a better look at the duchess. "Or was the maid lying about that, too?"
"Oh, no," Rachel shook her head. "Melissa spoke the truth about that... I used to have nightmares about being swallowed completely by the bog, with no one to rescue me... So I decided to return to that very pit, with Thomas accompanying me, so I could confront my trauma head-on... but when I stepped into the deep part and started to sink, I found myself quite... fascinated with seeing the smooth, shiny mud slowly take me in, inch by inch... even when I stopped sinking at chest-level, I still stared at the rippling surface like in a trance, until Thomas' yelling brought me out of it... I had him promptly pull me out, but that experience would forever remain with me..."
"That is so like you, cousin, to confront your problems and insecurities head on," Clarissa admitted. "Sometimes, I wish I had your fortitude..."
"Honestly speaking, I fear milady can be a bit too head-strong at times," Thomas spoke up. "I feel as if I have to caution her not to go too far, and not just in manners pertaining to her fascination with quicksand..."
"I thank you for your diligence, Thomas," Rachel replied. "A fine quality to have in a future husband..."
"I-if you s-say so, milady," Thomas grunted as he felt his face heat up again.
"Heehee, you are so cute when you're embarrassed, Sir Thomas," Melissa laughed. "Hmm, is it just me, or is the sky starting to light up?"
"Wh-what?!" gasped Clarissa. "It's sunup already?! Have we truly been out here for so long? Uncle is going to kill us...!"
"I hadn't been planning on staying out here this long," Rachel admitted, "but then, nothing really went as I expected it would tonight..."
"Perhaps we should get out and clean up, quickly," Thomas suggested, as he grasped onto the shore with both hands, slowly pulling himself free of the mire's suction. He then moved over to his girlfriend, getting his hands under her armpits, pulling her free as well. "If you make haste, you may be able to get back to the castle before your father awakes..."
"Perhaps... here, let me help you, Clarissa," Rachel said as she observed that her cousin was having trouble extracting herself.
"Thank you, Rachel," the princess sighed as she was slowly freed from the quicksand, noting that Melissa had pulled herself clear easily. "Are you sure this is your first time, servant?"
"Well... perhaps my first time in the deep stuff," Melissa smirked. "Anyway, I will go on ahead and get the bath ready. See you back at the castle, Your Highness..." With that, she turned and ran off giggling.
"Bitch," Clarissa growled. "You be sure to have Uncle punish her good, Rachel..."
"Oh, don't you worry about that," the duchess-to-be reassured her. "Come on, let's hurry back so we can clean up... Would you like to join us, Thomas?"
"U-ummm... with all due respect, milady, I'd rather not," Thomas deferred. "If it were just you, it wouldn't be a problem, but if Her Highness is joining us... well, I'd rather not feed any unsavory rumors. So I think I'll just go clean up by myself..."
"Fair enough, Thomas," Rachel nodded, walking up to the peasant. "Then I suppose this is farewell, for now..." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Farewell, Thomas. I love you."
"I love thee as well," Thomas said with a smile. "Until we meet again..." He turned and walked off.
Clarissa watched him go. "...He has taken baths with you before?"
"He's always been a perfect gentleman," Rachel insisted. "Yes, he's seen me nude, but he's never done anything inappropriate, I promise."
"...Well, that's one point in his favor," the princess conceded. "Well then, let us make haste to home... but, Rachel?"
"Yes?"
"If it's not too much trouble..." Clarissa hesitated. "Perhaps sometime we could come back here, so you could... show me how to escape the swamp without being hopelessly stuck or foundering...?"
The ponytailed girl blinked, before smiling knowingly. "Certainly, cousin... it would be my honor to tutor you."
And so, the two noblewomen hurried back to the castle, as the sun started to peek over the horizon...
~*Fin*~
Let me know if you liked it!
A pleasant read.