Three Years

That night she turns in early. She was clean, in her warm bed, her stomach full of food, and under the same roof as the people she cared about. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Sometime during the night, she felt Raiden crawl into bed with her and scoop her until she laid on top of him. When she felt his arms wrap around hers, she quickly fell asleep. Before the sun could rise, Jewels felt Raiden's heart beat, beat faster and faster. Waking up she looks up at him as sees sweat dripping down his forehead and tears streaming down his eyes. He grunts and moans in agony as his head jerks from side to side.

Alarmed that he was having a bad dream, Jewels, cups the side of his face.

"Shhhhh," Jewels hushed him. "Everything's okay, Raiden. You're okay. You're with me. Your golden gift. You're safe with your golden gift by your side."

Raiden's subconscious heard her and he quieted down. "Sleep, Raiden, sleep and I'll watch over you. So sleep."

His tense body slowly relaxes, but his arms still wrapped around her body tightens, bringing her closer to him.

"I'm here." Jewels said as she kissed his jaw before whispering into his ear.

"Sleep, I'm here."

Raiden finally lets himself go and he falls back asleep. It took her a long time, but she also fell back asleep. When she wakes up, she see Raiden having tea in her room and the day has mostly pasted well into the afternoon.

"Hi," Jewels said shyly.

"Hello." Raiden said as he smiled at her. "Come, the tea is still hot and the pastries fresh."

Jewels gets off her bed and walks over towards Raiden. When she pulled out the chair to sit next to him, Raiden instead pulls her towards him and forces her to sit in his lap as one of his arms wraps around her. Raiden hands her a freshly brewed cup of tea and fixes it to her liking as he pushes the pastries closer to her.

"General Jude tells me that you and your family have started packing."

"Hmm." Jewels said getting back at him.

"Going to Redbane with me then?"

"Hmm." Jewels mumbled as she ate a pastry.

"You and your family are going to live in the palace with me." Raiden declared.

Jewels stopped chewing and looked at him. She didn't think this far through her plans. She figured that she could buy a home for her small family to live in and Raiden would visit when ever he wanted to. She didn't want to be in any political agenda or be used as a puppet.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Jewels said slowly as she put down the pastry in her hand and quickly washed the pastry in her mouth down with tea before continuing. "You're the Crown Prince and I'm sure you have the support of your father and most of the government ministers. However, in any government, there are people who are against you, no matter how small or quiet they are, there is a group that will always oppose the current ruler. True?"

Raiden's cold demeanor hits Jewels hard, but she doesn't give in, she fights it and sees him nod his head yes.

"If you bring me into the palace with my family, we will be nothing but a liability to you. We will be subject to political intrigue and agenda. We could be used against you and I wouldn't forgive myself should you lose your crown to somebody else."

"Its going to take a lot more than you---"

"Yes, I know," Jewels interrupted. "But just the thought that anybody can use me or my family to hurt you or your family or the people you care about, would make me feel horrible. If we lived near the palace, we would have no political ties or power and won't be able to be used to hurt you in any way. If we lived near the palace, I could always visit you or you could always visit me. I would be able to go about town and have the freedom to visit my Master. He still hasn't taught me everything he knows yet and I want to keep learning from him. I would be free to move around and study and practice my craft with out worry. I would be free of the back palace, where all the concubines and your mother resides. I wouldn't have to deal with any jealousy or scheming or poisoning or what ever they do in the back palace that makes them jealous of one another and want to kill, embarrass and pull down one another. I would get bored so easily that I would probably sneak out with Roku and get him into so much trouble and trust me, I can convince him to do anything if I put my mind to it."

Raiden smiles that the last sentence as Jewels continues.

"If you need me to attend any functions, I'll go and be your date. If you need me to visit because you miss me and you're too busy to see me, I'll come and visit you so you can look at my pretty face."

Raiden smiles even wider.

"If you want me to spend several days with you in the palace, I will. I am willing to work with you on what you need. But please, the one thing I can't do is live in the palace as your golden gift. I would be too much of a weakness that anyone can target. If I can come and go, I won't be able to make any strong connections or alliances and won't feel beholden to help any of them. Please Raiden." Jewels says pleadingly. "Please agree to this?"

Jewels rubs her nose against his, giving him Eskimo Kiss. Raiden gives in to her with a heavy sigh.

"Fine." Raiden said unhappily. "And who said I was going to have you live anywhere near the back palace?"

"Well, considering your mother is Queen and lives in the back palace, I would have to visit her if she invites me and I would then have to meet all the concubines and then start maneuvering between who to trust and who not to trust and if they come visit me if I lived in the palace, they would come visit me and if I say or do something wrong, it'll reflect badly on to you and one thing would lead to another then it will all get so complicated so quickly and it gives me a headache just thinking about it." Jewels said all in one breath as if she was panicking.

"Okay, okay, okay." Raiden said as he brushes her long black hair back over her ears. "Fine, you and your family can move into a house near the palace. Are you able to afford it? Do you need help purchasing a property?"

"No, we can afford it. I struck gold when I went on Sky Ship."

"I didn't see you bring anything back and the others told everyone that you weren't able to find anything either."

"As if I would tell them what I found on Sky Ship." Jewel scoffed. "I'm not that dumb."

Raiden chuckles and picks up his tea.

"What did you bring back?" Raiden asked as he sipped on his tea.

"1000 year old ginseng." Jewels told him.

When Raiden heard he started choking on the tea that was going down his throat when she told him. Jewels puts down her tea cup and pats him on the back while he coughs.

"1000 year old ginseng?!" Raiden exclaimed.

"Yep." Jewels said as she grabbed more pastries to eat.

"You can sell that for a fortune."

"You see, I can afford living near the palace."

"Hell, you could by three properties near the palace."

"And I'll still have enough left over to redecorate!" Jewels smiled at Raiden.

"How many did you find?"

"Oh, I don't know, I didn't see any use in counting after I counted twenty."

Luckily he wasn't drinking anything when she told him.

"My golden gift is even more rich than I am."

"Yea, pretty much." Jewels teased him.

Jewels got up and reached into her bag and pretended as if she was taking the ginseng out of the bag, but in actuality she went into her grey space and pulled one stalk of ginseng from storage. When the ginseng came out of the bag she walked over to Raiden and gave him the one stalk.

"Here, for you." Jewels said to him.

Raiden received the gift with two hands as he gently held the 1000 year old ginseng like a precious child.

"I can have this?" Raiden questioned.

"I'm giving it to you aren't I?"

"Can I really take it?"

"I only do things, I want to do and I want to give this to you." Jewels said with conviction. "Its a gift. Please accept it."

"Raiden looked at the ginseng and then he looked at her and back at the ginseng.

"Thank you." Raiden said.

"You're welcome."

Jewels went to the drawer and took out white hemp cloth. She spreads the cloth out and places the ginseng in the cloth and wraps it up gently and gives it to Raiden. Raiden receives it with both hands again and kisses her cheek.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure." Jewels said. "Let me know if you need another one. I can give you more if you need it."

Raiden's mouth drops open. The 1000 year old ginseng is so rare that the last known 1000 year old ginseng was recorded at auction 100 years ago and Jewels was talking about it as if it was nothing.

"How many do you really have?"

"I told you, I decided not to count after twenty. There was not point into counting after that."

"I thought I miss heard you when you said that."

"No, I really did stop counting after twenty."

Raiden puts his ginseng on the table and pulls her into him.

"You're a wonder you know that?"

"Well, you're lucky I became your golden gift."

"Yes, yes I am." Raiden said as he kissed her.

When they pulled apart the tea was cold so Jewels ate the pastries with cold tea.

"So any word on your engagement situation?" Jewels asked as he nibbled on the corner of a pastry.

"I took a look at the papers. Most of the agreement, Redbane could afford to lose, but there's one clause in the agreement that might hurt Redbane and I'm trying to find a way to solve it."

"What is it? Maybe I can help. I am rich you know." Jewels teased.

"The only clause in the agreement that I'm hesitant about is the dealing with the Rowen Trading Company. It states that after the marriage, Rowen Trading Company would start trading with Osamu Enterprises exclusively for ten years. Osamu Enterprises is my great grandfather's company and at the moment, its barely making any profit. My brother is doing all he can, but right now, Sato's Trades has a monopoly in the market. If I can get Rowen Trading Company to trade exclusively to Osamu Enterprises without the marriage, I will be able to break off the engagement with out hesitating."

"You dummy, is that all you're worried about?" Jewels swipes his hair away from his forehead. "Have you forgotten that I am the beloved granddaughter of Duchess Rowen of the Rowen Clan? My Grandfather Harper Rowen is the head of the Rowen Trading Company. One word from me, and Grandmother and Grandfather will help me."

"Do you think they'll agree to signing a contract with Osamu Enterprises if you ask them?"

"Of course, we can ask them today when they visit. Grandmother would do anything to ensure my happiness." Jewels told him.

Raiden sighs a great sigh of relief.

"If they can sign the contract, I'll break up the Princess Anna after the 4 Kingdoms Peace Talks papers are signed. I'll make a formal announcement in front of everyone."

"Isn't that a bit mean though? I say this, because I had that happen to me, I mean, to announce it to everyone, it can really mess up a girl."

"Don't worry, if I don't do it this way, she would hang on to the engagement until she is an old maid. I want her to move on with her life and live for herself and not for me. It will hurt at first, but it'll be for the best. Besides, Roku investigated her and she wants to kill you so she's pretty much fair game."

Jewels not liking the situation at all didn't agree or disagree with him and let him deal with Princess Anna.

Zeze knocked on the door and announced the Rowen's were downstairs in the sitting room and left. Jewels quickly took a shower and Raiden helped her get ready. Jewels takes out a 1000 year old ginseng and wraps it up in white hemp cloth to give the her grandmother as a gift. They then made their way down to the sitting room.

Everyone was already there when Raiden and Jewels arrived. Jewels greeted everyone and gave each person a hug before sitting down next to Raiden.

"Here, this gift is for Grandmother." Jewels said as she gave the ginseng to her. "Its my gift to the Rowen Clan."

Duchess Rowen looks at Jewels in curiosity before opening the hemp cloth. When she opened it there were quite a few gasps as they all stared at the 1000 year old ginseng and then they looked at Jewels and then back at the ginseng.

"I cannot---" Duchess Rowen started, but Jewels interrupted her.

"Yes, you can and you will." Jewels told her firmly. "You will accept this gift, because your granddaughter gave it to you."

"How did you come across this?" Uncle Sam said as he reached out to touch the ginseng.

"In Sky Ship." Jewels told them an extremely condensed version of her 5 days there. She left out the scorpions, the gorillas and the wolves. She also left out the castle that she went to as well. "In Sky Ship, I made my way through the jungle with one thing on my mind. And that was to look out for rare herbs and plants. That's how I survived. I kept my head low and looked towards the ground. That's when I found the 1000 year old ginseng on the third day there. I found more than one stock so I'm giving one to Grandmother and the Rowen Clan hoping that it will save you or someone important one day."

"Why did the other survivors say that you didn't find any treasures?"

"Grandmother, why would I tell anyone that I found 1000 year old ginseng? They would try to kill me and the people celebrating would try to steal it, hell even the King would have tried to steal it from me. I kept it a secret so I can take it home safely. Now only the people in this room knows of this so you guys can take it home safely."

"How many did you find?" Aunt Nora asked Jewels.

"Just three." Jewels told them. "I'm giving Grandmother one, I already gave Raiden one and I'll be keeping one for us. That way, only the people I care about each has one."

Duchess Rowen stands up and gives the ginseng to Aunt Nora to hold while she comes to Jewels and gives her a hug.

"Grandmother will remember this. If there is anything you want, Grandmother will make it happen."

Jewels looked at Raiden then she looked at her Grandmother and bit her bottom lip.

"Something did come up, I was hoping Grandmother can help me with." Jewels said. "And if you can't that's okay, Raiden and I will figure something out."

Duchess Rowen eyes Raiden and Jewels before letting them continue.

"You see, Raiden wants to break off the engagement to Princess Anna. He said that in the agreement, there is only one thing that is making him hesitate in not breaking it off. And--"

"I know what it is." Duchess Rowen said. "I helped write the agreement."

"You did?"

"Yes, I did. The one clause that made you hesitate was the 10 year exclusive contract with Rowen Trading Company and Osamu Enterprises, correct?" Duchess Rowen stated.

"Yes." Raiden answered.

"You want to ask for a 10 year exclusive contract with Rowen Trading Company and Osamu Enterprises with out the marriage contract with Princess Anna."

"Yes."

Duchess Rowen took a moment to think. She had to weigh her options before making a decision. Princess Anna's marriage to Prince Raiden would benefit both countries greatly, however if the marriage falls through, there would be no damage financially. Rowen Trading Company would still get the contract and make them stronger and her Granddaughter would be happy.

"I have one condition," Duchess Rowen said.

"Go ahead." Raiden answered.

"If we agree for a 10 year exclusive contract with Rowen Trading Company and Osamu Enterprises, it will be a given that you break off your engagement with Princess Anna."

"Yes."

"My one condition is that you have to take responsibility of my Granddaughter and marry her. She will be your Queen. The next Queen of Redbane."

"Deal." Raiden answered quickly.

Jewels sat there so still. She didn't think her Grandmother would ask Raiden of this. She knew she wanted to be with Raiden, but Queen? She is not Queen material.

"We can't get married too quickly." Jewels blurted out loud. "There's so many things I want to do. Three years, give me three years and I'll marry you."

"Why three years?" Raiden asked her.

"There's something I need to do. You see I need to finish my education with my teacher." Jewels said slowly while looking at Raiden. "I also need to go somewhere to help a friend."

"Where and what friend?" Raiden asked questioningly.

"I'll tell you about it when we're alone. I promise." Jewels said. "And I don't know anything about Redbane history or etiquette or even how to be a Queen. So I would need a tutor."

"That could be arranged."

"And I want you to court me." Jewels threw in. "For at least a year. Planning for a royal wedding will also take a year, so in three years time, I'll walk down the aisle and marry you."

"From what you just said, that sounded like it would only take two years."

"Remember I told you that I need to go somewhere to help a friend, I don't know how long it will take, it might take a couple of months, it might take a year."

"Or it might take a five years." Raiden questioned.

"No more then a year, win or lose, one year helping my friend. That I promise you."

"Would you be putting yourself in danger?" Raiden asked.

"It would be a dangerous trip, so yes."

"I don't like it." Raiden told her.

"I know, but I promised my friend I will help him way before you agreeing to make me your Queen. I can't just tell him I can't do it. He saved my life several times, I owe it to him." Jewels told them.

"We'll talk about this more later." Raiden told her. "And I want to meet your friend."

"Okay." Jewels answered.

"So its a deal then? A 10 year exclusive contract with Rowen Trading Company and Osamu Enterprises as well as Crown Prince Raiden Osamu of Redbane marry Lady Jemma 'Jewels' Brooks of Madewell and make her, your Queen." Duchess Rowen stated.

"Deal."

"In three years time." Jewels interjected.

"In three years time." Both Raiden and Duchess Rowen said at the same time.

"I'll have my people draw up the papers tonight and bring it over tomorrow morning for you to look through and sign." Raiden said.

"That would be fine." Duchess Rowen answered.

The Rowen's spent the rest of the afternoon with Jewels and her family before departing. Jewels invited Raiden to stay for dinner and he accepted knowing that they have to have a long talk about her male friend.

After dinner, Jewels told them that she had to tell them something important so they went into Uncle Jude's study. Jewels created a three layer sound barrier and finally told them the truth. She first began telling them about her animals to call. She told them about Nemean and his story and that he's the friend that she promised to help. She then told them about Fenghuang and Roc and their story and how they are reunited love birds from centuries ago. She called them out from her bracer and they came out in their human form. She then told them the truth about Sky Ship. And what happened there. She told them about the scorpions, the gorillas and the castle. She told them about the wolves and the treasures she found. She even lifted up the sleeve of her shirt to show them the blue dragon skin that she was wearing. She told them of the field of 1000 year old ginseng and told them she stopped counting after twenty and that she and her animals probably harvested 300 ginsengs. She told them about the grey space in her Infinite Galaxy and how it can store anything in it no matter how big. She told them of killing Aaron and Olivia at the entrance of the portal site to save the other three survivors in Sky Ship. She told them everything and left nothing back. When she finished the whole room was quiet.

"So you see, I do plan on buying a house near the palace for all of us to live in. Uncle Jude, you can walk around all you want and do what ever you like. I can cure Pop pop and Pop pop can do what ever you want and go where ever you want to go. Zeze can live a life she wants to live. If Zeze wants to get married and start her own family she can do that because I can provide for her a big dowry. Thomas could also get married if he wants and---"

"Thank you, young miss, but I plan on serving this Brooks household until I die." Thomas interjected.

"But you can still get married and be the head butler, it just that now you will have a higher pay! Don't you see, our lives are going to change once we move to Redbane and we can do whatever we want, say whatever we want, live however we want. With all the treasures I found in Sky Ship, I can provide for everyone here for over 500 years! So Uncle Jude, go find someone nice and get married and start living your life. Have children, adopt children, I don't care, just start living your life that you deserve."

Zeze comes up to Jewels and hugs her tightly.

"Zeze wants to serve young miss for life too." Zeze told her. "Your thoughts are touching, but Zeze will serve this Brooks family until the end."

"But that doesn't mean you don't have to not get married. I want you to find someone who loves you and you love back. I want you to see you hold your child and have that child call me his godmother. I want you to be happy and if you love someone and still want to serve me and my family, you're welcomed to do both!"

Happy tears fall down Zeze's face and she quickly wipes them off.

"As my mistress wants, this servant will follow." Zeze told her.

With Jewels's news, everyone felt it was unbelievable. A fresh start in Redbane. A new start where they weren't being oppressed or humiliated or degraded. They could finally be free, thanks to the wasteful trash, the Youngest Miss of the Brooks family, Jewels Brooks.

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That night as Jewels laid in Raiden's arms, their naked skin touching, Jewels initiated their love making taking it to the next level after a series of oral sex that they usually preformed on each other . When Raiden held back on taking her virginity and he told her he wanted to wait, Jewels over ruled his reasons on why they should wait and teased him until he begged for release. When he entered her and broke through her hymen, Jewels bit down on his shoulder so she wouldn't scream in pain. He stilled his body once she bit down on him and waited until she told him she was okay and for him to start moving.

He took his time, the first time with her. Pumping into her slowly, even when she begged him to go faster, he held his needs back as well and kept to his plan. He could feel her walls tightening around him, he knew she was close to cuming. Raiden demanded for Jewels to look into his eyes as Raiden kept his pace of love making and they each saw the love in each others eyes as they both came at the same time. Raiden moaned loudly as Jewels called out his name. Afterwards, Raiden got up and went to the bathroom to wet a towel to clean her up. He came back and slowly took care of her then went back to the bathroom to rinse the towel. Raiden came back to bed as Jewels started falling asleep.

"You're mine, forever." Raiden whispered out loud. "Three years, I'll give you three years."