Aria took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "Alright," she said finally, her voice quiet but determined. "It's...it's Lady Emily." The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them, almost as if they had been waiting for this moment to escape.

Emily was the daughter of their father's closest friend and ally; she had grown up in the palace alongside them, always just a little out of reach. Over the years, Aria had watched her from afar, admiring her strength and resilience in the face of court politics and expectations. Little did she know that Emily felt the same way about her.

"And I...I've loved her for so long,"

Aria stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You can't be serious," she whispered. "We...we can't." But the hope that flared in her chest was impossible to ignore. She had never imagined that Maxim would feel the same way she did; it was like a ray of light piercing through the darkness that surrounded them.

"But what if we could?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if we found a way to be together? To make this work despite everything?" Her heart raced as she considered the implications. They would have to defy everyone and everything they had been taught; their families, their kingdoms. There would be no going back from such a decision.

"

Aria sat down on the edge of James' bed, feeling weary from the encounter with the two princes earlier. She sighed heavily and looked up at her brother. "I'm sorry I didn't handle it better," she said softly, "but I didn't want them to hurt you." Her eyes flickered momentarily before returning to meet his gaze. "And... thank you for always being there for me, James."

She paused, unsure how else to express her gratitude.

Aria felt tears prick at her eyes as she nestled closer to her brother. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "And I promise I'll do everything in my power not to put you in danger like that again." She took a shaky breath and wiped away a stray tear before looking up at him once more. "But... can we please talk about something else now? Something happy?"

Aria felt her cheeks burning even hotter, but she forced herself to meet Dandy's gaze head-on. "Alright," she said slowly, trying to recall the details of that particular encounter. "It... it happened one day during training. We were sparring and she managed to get me into a position where I was... vulnerable."

She paused, feeling her heart race as she tried to find the words to describe what came next. "She... touched me there," she whispered, blushing even deeper. "

It hurt at first, but then... it felt good." She closed her eyes, trying to block out the memory of the sensation as her body responded instinctively to the touch. "And then she... showed me how to make it feel better," she said softly, opening her eyes again and meeting Dandy's gaze.

Her siblings exchanged glances once more, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement. But they said nothing else as Aria continued with her story, describing the experience in greater detail for them.

Aria drew in a deep breath, trying to calm herself before responding. "Our relationship is not about age or physical attractions," she said carefully. "It's about respect, trust, and understanding." She took another sip of wine, hoping it would help ease the tension between them.

"Lady Althea has been through much in her life," Aria continued, "and I appreciate all that she's shared with me.

Aria laughed softly, feeling a little more at ease now that they were discussing something else. "I assure you, brother," she said with a wink, "my first time was nothing like you're probably imagining." She paused for a moment before adding, "And I hardly need your help to see Lady Althea whenever I please."

Her siblings chuckled at her response, the tension seeming to dissipate somewhat.

"That was lovely, James," Marianne said softly. "Truly." Emma nodded in agreement, her cheeks still flushed from excitement. "I swear, you should consider becoming a bard when all of this is over."

Aria smiled at her brother, pleased that she had been able to lighten the mood for a moment. "Perhaps we could all use some music more often," she mused. "It seems to have a way of bringing us together, even in our darkest times."

James smiled back at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yes, perhaps we could." He glanced around the dining hall again, this time with a different kind of longing in his gaze. For just a moment, she thought she saw him wish for something else entirely. Something more than just a fleeting moment of connection amidst their royal duties and responsibilities.

Marianne's cheeks flushed even deeper at the sound of his moan. "Well," she said, trying to regain her composure, "we should discuss how best to help you." She glanced at Emma, who nodded in agreement.

"We can try a few things," Emma began, her voice steady despite their shared amusement. "There are some lust-dampening potions we could make up for you, or perhaps a charm to lessen the effect of whatever curse is upon you." She paused, considering further options.

"A position?" Aria repeated, arching an eyebrow. "I don't quite understand." She glanced at her sisters again, who both looked equally confused.

Everett blushed deeply, realizing his mistake. "I mean, we could try having me spend time with Marianne in hopes that the... intensity fades over time," he stammered. "It's just a suggestion." He cleared his throat and looked away from them once more. "Or we could try one of those other options Emma mentioned."