Chapter 1

Feeling the warmth of her next to him, he stirred.

"Ugh, my head." He groaned, clutching his pounding head as he sat up, feeling the softness of the silken sheets and the gentle arms still resting around his waist.

Rubbing his eyes, he took a look around the room clearly. 

The gold trimmings of the bedside tables, walls, door, couch and the large armoir shimmered in the sun that filtered in through the sheer, nearly see through curtains.

The four poster bed which was in the center of the room matched the rest of the furniture of the room with the white wood and gold trim accompanied by light, red fabric that hung around the bed, swaying in the breeze.

"Mmm. Awake already, Darling?"

Looking at her as she raised herself on one elbow, he saw her beautiful face; the face of a Goddess with her emerald green eyes, perfect smile and long silver hair.

Looking into her eyes, a warmth spread over him as her pointed Elf ears twitched.

"What? Am I so beautiful that you have no words to say?"

Smiling and reaching for her, he hugged her tightly. Within her arms, he felt comfort and safety while hiding his face in her silver hair.

"Aw, my Darling is such a cuddle bug this morning." 

Rubbing his back as she hummed happily, she felt him breathing and clinging to her like a baby would to his mother.

"You know that we'll have to get up sometime, don't you? We don't want to miss breakfast again, and Father wishes to ask you for some help with thos pesky Demon spiders in the forest." 

Sighing and nodding his head, he released her. Smiling as a knock on the door broke the silence.

"Princess Philomena, Sir Inoue!? The King and Queen are awaiting you in the dinning hall. Breakfast has been served and they are awaiting you to eat together." 

Hearing the calm, comforting voice of one of the castle staff, Philomena pinched his cheek and cued before rising from the bed in one swift motion.

"Do tell Mother and Father that we will be along shortly, Maribell! Now, come Darling. We wouldn't want to keep our dear parents waiting."

Standing, he looked at his armor on the armor stand by the armoire, its pristinely gold material and inlaid multi-colored gemstones causing a rainbow of lights to dot the walls.

"Do you like what I've done? I thought that you deserved armor befitting a Prince. After all, you are my husband. Your old armor was so plain and simple. Besides, it was made by that woman in the village. She probably made it weak and prone to dents to steal more gold from your pockets."

As she explained the reason his armor had changed, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself agaisnt his back, whispering in his ear.

"Only the best for my Darling after all." 

He opened his mouth to speak but was quickly stopped when she pulled him into a quick kiss before leading him toward the bedroom door.

Upon exiting the room, she led him down an ornate palace hall with floor to ceiling stained glass windows that depicted heroes and deities along with hundreds of maids and butlers bustling around, busy at work that consisted of all races with some female Orcs and male Beastkin visable.

Entering a large dinning room with a large table, Philomena bowed to her parents, the King and Queen who were nearly identical to her with their gold trimmed, royal attire matching with their crowns shimmering and their hair perfectly styled.

Sitting next to her, Inoue bowed his head to them as Philomena began to feed him until a loud buzzing noise echoed in his ear.

Swallowing what was in his mouth, he sighed as the world around him stopped moving, perfectly frozen in time along with Philomena, the King and Queen and even the maid that was refilling the King's coffee. Yet, he could swear he saw Philomena's eyes watching him as stood before the world faded into darkness.

Sighing heavily, he placed his controller down and pushed himself backward in his computer chair to silence the alarm that was blaring.

"God... Time for another day again." 

He sweapt his grungy, unkempt hair back from his eyes as he grumbled with despair, once again pulled from his game world. The only place he felt truly alive, truly loved and wanted.