Joseph could not seem to forget Natalia, who had been absent from the banquet for nigh an hour. Aye, something of her lingered within his mind—a presence he could not shake. Her great, dark eyes, heavily lashed and smoky with seduction, did seem to haunt him. The half-lidded, constant gaze of temptation she wore did sharply contrast with Angela's serene hazel eyes—almond-shaped, calm, and authoritative, ever watchful, ever wise. Angela's gaze held a vulnerability Joseph had long cherished, yet this night, the pull of Natalia's temptress aura did seem to overshadow his wife's gentle calm.

A deep sense of guilt welled up within him as thoughts of Natalia clouded his mind, though he stood in the presence of a woman like unto Angela, who had e'er been his rock. As his inner turmoil raged, Angela made her way toward him. She looked radiant, her queenly grace as breathtaking as ever, but Joseph's heart was heavy with the weight of his thoughts.

"My lord," quoth she, her voice soft with a hint of playful sadness. "I am quite disheartened to know that thou hast not come to me this day to tell me how I appear." Her eyes, filled with innocence, gazed up at him, her tone feigning sadness, though her countenance did hold the charm of her usual strength.

Joseph met her gaze, and were it any other night, he would have laughed at her endearing playfulness, finding her mighty queenly demeanor giving way to moments of adorable vulnerability. But this night, something held him back. The guilt gnawed at him more deeply, knowing how occupied his mind had been with Natalia.

Without a word, he reached for Angela's arm, gripping it gently but firmly. Surprised, she blinked up at him as he led her away from the lively banquet, guiding her toward the balcony, a place where the noise of the court life faded away. The moon was full, casting a silvery glow upon the stone balcony, and it was the only source of light about them. The cool air wrapped them in a serene quiet as they stood 'neath the sky, facing the glowing moon.

Ere Angela could speak again, Joseph turned to her, his eyes dark with a mix of guilt and longing, and without hesitation, he leaned down and captured her lips with his own. His kiss was slow, deliberate, filled with a desperate need to escape the thoughts of Natalia. Angela, caught unawares, closed her eyes and leaned into him, her lips moving in soft, tender rhythm with his. There was sweetness in the way she kissed him back, an unquestioning love that spoke of years of loyalty and understanding.

Joseph's hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer, and for a brief moment, the guilt melted away. He held Angela in his arms, her familiar warmth grounding him, her lips tasting of the purity of their shared life. The tenderness of the moment was a stark contrast to the turmoil within him, yet he hoped—nay, he willed—that this kiss would cleanse his mind of Natalia.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other, away from the noise and eyes of the court, Joseph tried to focus solely on Angela—the queen he had vowed his life to. He kissed her not just with love, but with an unknown desperation, clinging to the hope that being with her could push away the temptation that had taken root in his heart.

Angela, oblivious to the storm within him, kissed him with naught but love, her eyes still closed in peaceful pleasure. The moonlight bathed them in a soft glow, casting the scene in a perfect moment of love shared between a king and his queen, away from all the drama and demands of court life. Yet, deep inside, Joseph could not ignore the guilt that lingered. Even in Angela's arms, Natalia's shadow still hovered at the edges of his mind.

As the banquet finally came to its close, Joseph found himself drawn to the palace gardens, his favored refuge from the burdens of courtly life. The cool night breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers. He walked slowly, savoring the quiet moment, far removed from the noise and intrigue of the banquet hall. The gardens were a sanctuary for him, a place where he could escape the endless stream of worries and responsibilities that did come with being king.

His thoughts drifted to Angela, and the thought of going to her bedchamber brought a smile to his lips. The familiar comfort of holding her in his arms at the end of the day was something he cherished, a rare reprieve from the weight of the crown. But as he walked, the comforting image of Angela was disrupted by a feeling—a presence that sent a shiver down his spine. It was magnetic, lingering just behind him, pulling at his attention in an irresistible manner.

Joseph stopped in his tracks, his senses heightened, and slowly turned. There she stood, Lady Natalia, the woman whose dark, smoky eyes had haunted his thoughts throughout the banquet and even during his tender kiss with Angela. Her great, heavily lashed eyes met his, half-lidded in that familiar look of intrigue and temptation. She was no longer dressed in the elegant attire she had worn for the evening's festivities. Instead, she wore the modest yet refined garb of the queen's chief lady-in-waiting—an understated gown that was meant to denote her rank and function in the royal household. The fabric was simple yet elegant, a deep shade of burgundy with a high collar and intricate embroidery along the edges, befitting her station yet far more subdued than the lavish dress she had worn earlier. Her hair, now pulled into a neat twist at the nape of her neck, gave her an air of formality, but there was no denying the seductive energy she radiated even in this understated appearance.

Joseph's eyes trailed from her attire back to her face, and as their gazes locked, Natalia did a deep, graceful curtsy. Her submission and respect were clear, yet there was an undeniable undercurrent of seduction in the manner of her movement. The garden's moonlight played tricks, casting shadows that seemed to accentuate her allure.

"Lady Natalia," Joseph greeted her, his voice deep and husky as he continued to examine her, still striving to steady his thoughts. He was the king, and yet, the power she seemed to hold over him in that moment made him feel almost vulnerable.

Natalia rose from her curtsy, her expression composed yet her eyes betraying that familiar seductive spark. Her tone, though formal, carried a sultry edge as she spake. "Your Majesty, the queen hath sent me to speak with thee regarding a matter that hath come to her attention. She wisheth to discuss it with thee personally, in the dignitaries' room. Grand Duke Edmund hath also been summoned."

Joseph's brow furrowed at the mention of a late-night clandestine meeting with Angela and the Grand Duke. He knew that whatever issue had arisen, it was serious—Angela would not have called for such a gathering without cause. Yet Natalia's presence and the manner in which she conveyed the message, her tone respectful but dripping with allure, made it hard for him to focus solely on the matter at hand.

"Go on," Joseph said in his authoritative tone, though the distraction of Natalia's presence made it difficult to maintain his usual composure.

To Be Continue.....