Before Gareth could protest further, Evelyn surged forward, pressing her lips against his in a desperate kiss. His body stiffened momentarily, the effects of the potion dulling his resistance.
When she finally pulled away, Gareth's gaze softened, a dazed smile forming on his lips. He reached up to touch her face gently, his fingers brushing her cheek with an affection that made her heart race.
"Oh, it's just you, my love," Gareth murmured, his voice tender. "Where have you been all day? I've missed you so much, Margret."
Evelyn's breath hitched, her heart sinking as his words registered. Margret. Not her. Not Evelyn.
Her shock gave way to anger, a deep, burning frustration that twisted in her chest. The potion wasn't working as she had hoped—or perhaps it was working too well, amplifying Gareth's love for his wife rather than redirecting it to her.
She wanted to scream, to push him away, but as his hand caressed her face, a flood of emotions overwhelmed her. For the first time in her life, she was this close to him, feeling the warmth of his touch, the softness of his voice—even if it wasn't truly meant for her.
Evelyn hesitated, her fury warring with the yearning she'd buried for years. Deciding to seize the moment, she leaned forward and kissed him again, pouring all her longing and desperation into it.
Gareth responded, pulling her closer, his movements slow and dreamlike. The haze in his mind dulled his usual sharp instincts, leaving him vulnerable to the emotions the potion had stirred.
As their kiss deepened, Gareth's hands moved to her shoulders, sliding down her arms. Evelyn trembled as he began to untie her dress, his actions gentle yet deliberate. Her mind raced—part of her thrilled at the closeness, another part panicked at what she was doing.
But then Gareth paused, his hands stilling. His eyes, though glassy, flickered with a moment of clarity.
"Margret…" he murmured, his brow furrowing. "You feel… different."
Evelyn stiffened, her pulse pounding in her ears. "It's me, my love," she said quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm here for you."
She paused, biting her lip nervously.
Gareth brushed his lips again fully removing her clothes, leaving them scattered about the table in various states of undress. She felt goose bumps rise over her skin as he stroked her breast, drawing a moan from her throat.
Evelyn's body hummed with excitement, the sensations amplified tenfold by the potion. Gareth looked at her through hooded lids as he slowly lowered his head and began nibbling on her neck and shoulder. Her body tensed in pleasure, the sensation almost painful.
He moved up to her mouth, tracing his thumb along her lips before dipping inside. Her eyes closed involuntarily as she moaned softly, her body shuddering with anticipation.
As his lips brushed hers lightly, Evelyn couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at the absurdity of the situation—that she should be kissing Gareth after she knew he didn't love her. Even with the potion, she knew she would never be enough for him. If only she weren't bound to this life. Maybe someday they could have been together. If only she were more like Margret.
The thought made her flinch, sending waves of pain through her heart. She pushed the thoughts away, concentrating instead on the sweet taste of Gareth's lips and the intoxicating magic of the potion.
Evelyn broke the kiss with a gasp when a sudden wave of dizziness overtook her, her vision blurring around the edges.
Gareth got fully naked, taking advantage of the moment to take care of one last detail before releasing the potion's hold. Then, with gentle hands, he helped Evelyn lie back upon their bed.
With a gentle nudge, he drew Evelyn's knees apart and lowered himself between her legs. As he slipped inside her, a surge of pleasure flooded Evelyn's senses, her body instantly responding as if she'd been given a dose of ecstasy.
She wrapped her legs around Gareth, her arms around his neck. With every thrust, her hips lifted, grinding down against him in an effort to intensify the pleasure.
"Oh!! just like that!!!"
She moaned loudly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she came hard, Gareth's hot seed flooding into her. She collapsed onto the bed, her breathing labored. Gareth lay beside her, both of them still for several minutes, catching their breaths as she tried to gather her wits. It hadn't worked, not like she'd hoped. Perhaps she should have tried harder.
Before Evelyn could say anything, Gareth drifted off to sleep which made Evelyn slowly walked out of the room.
As Evelyn stepped out of Gareth's chambers, the cool corridor air hit her flushed skin, and her steps faltered. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions—satisfaction mingled with despair. She clutched her cloak tightly around her, trying to compose herself.
But as she moved down the dimly lit hallway, a pair of curious eyes caught her attention. The eldest daughter of the palace, a sharp and observant nine-year-old, stood at the far end of the corridor. Her wide eyes met Evelyn's, filled with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Evelyn froze for a brief moment, her heart pounding. The girl's gaze seemed to pierce through her, her innocence a stark contrast to Evelyn's guilty conscience.
"Lady Evelyn?" the child called softly, tilting her head.
Evelyn quickly averted her eyes, brushing past the child without a word. Her heels clicked against the stone floor as she hastened her steps, her cloak billowing behind her.
But even as she turned a corner and disappeared from sight, she couldn't shake the feeling of those inquisitive eyes boring into her back. Did she see something? Did she hear anything? Evelyn's thoughts spiraled, paranoia creeping in.
The young girl lingered in the hallway, her small hands clutching the hem of her dress. Something about Lady Evelyn's hurried departure and disheveled appearance didn't sit right with her. But being a child, she wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
Later that evening, the girl wandered into the queen's chambers, where Margret was sitting by the fire, a book in her lap. Margret glanced up and smiled warmly at her daughter.
"What is it, my dear?" Margret asked, setting the book aside.
The child hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should say anything. But then she remembered her mother's kind and patient demeanor, always encouraging her to speak her mind.
"Mother," she began cautiously, "I saw Lady Evelyn leaving Father's chambers earlier today."
Margret's smile faltered ever so slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Evelyn? What was she doing there?"
"I don't know," the girl said, shifting uncomfortably. "But she looked… strange. Like she was in a hurry."
Margret's mind churned with unease. Evelyn had been unusually quiet around her lately, and now this? She tried to brush it off as nothing, but a nagging feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
"Thank you for telling me," Margret said gently, kissing her daughter's forehead. "It's probably nothing, but I'll look into it."
As the girl left the room, Margret sat by the fire, her thoughts troubled. Something wasn't adding up. Evelyn's recent behavior, coupled with her daughter's observation, raised questions Margret couldn't ignore.
Meanwhile, Evelyn returned to her quarters, shutting the door behind her with a shaky breath. She leaned against it, her chest heaving as the weight of what she'd done threatened to crush her. She had gambled everything for this moment with Gareth, but the results were bittersweet.
Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. Even with the potion, his heart still belongs to Margret.