From: "A.K." Sent: Sun, September 2, 2007 3:57 am Subject: The Gilded Cage 7/11 (Historical) ---------------------------- THE GILDED CAGE by Andrej Koymasky (C) 2007 written on November 8, 1993 translated by the author English text kindly revised by John ----------------------------- USUAL DISCLAIMER "THE GILDED CAGE" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic scenes of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family, opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to read this story. But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcomed guest. ----------------------------- CHAPTER 7 - Love, friendship, complicity... When Reinhardt went near the bed, he put down his lantern and took Jakobus in his arms. "Oh, my love, at last!" Jakobus sighed, curling against him. They kissed and their tongues played gently, intimate and warm. Jakobus lowered his hand to caress between the legs of his lover. "I've not yet touched you here, but now I can, can't I?" whispered. "Not can but must, my love. My body now belongs to you!" "And mine to you!" Jakobus started to unbutton the youth's clothes. "But... you are wearing nothing under your uniform!" "No, sure. To save time..." Reinhardt cunningly smiled. "I can now admire your naked body, Reinhardt, and enjoy it with all my five senses." "But I too want to see and enjoy what you are hiding under this long shirt." The youth said, slipping it off over Jakobus's head. And they finally were naked, one in front of the other, kneeling in the centre of the wide bed, and admiring each other. "You body is really virile and exciting, Reinhardt." "And you are as desirable and beautiful as a Greek god." Their bodies slowly approached, adhered, were tightly in each other's arms. They again kissed intimately while sliding down on the soft mattress covered only by a white topsheet. "Oh my god, Reinhardt, I'm feeling as excited as if this is the first time I am making love..." "This is the first time. Also for me. I never felt such a beautiful, a strong love, before now." "You are right, this is the first time. It is beautiful being able to say I love you." They explored each other for a long time, without haste, each enjoying the shivers he was able to arouse in the other. Jakobus lightly passed a hand on the hairy ypsilon adorning his friend's chest, starting from the clavicles, uniting between the nipples and going down in a thinner and thinner line to the navel. From here a narrow path of hair went down then widening on his pubis to embrace the stiff and straight shaft. His hand lingered on the smooth and warm rod, caressed it, gently grasped it. Meanwhile Reinhardt was making almost the same journey on the smooth and hairless chest of his lover, and reached the young prince's member at the same moment. They mutually touched, explored, gently groped, never tired of admiring each other. It was like a spontaneous erotic and sensual massage so that they didn't know if it was giving more pleasure to the one receiving or to the other giving. "It is like... playing a musical instrument, isn't it so?" "Yes, and we are searching for the right tunes to create a melody." "Yes, a symphony..." Jakobus said smiling him. "And I do like your smile so much!" "You gave it back to me." "I hope it will never die out." "Never for you, Reinhardt." The young guard bent down to suckle the pink nipples of his lover, then started his journey down, gradually approaching the coveted goal. Jakobus was holding back his breath, shivering in anticipation, waiting for his lover's lips to reach and suck his pulsating erection. And when the sweet contact happened, he moaned his pleasure. He abandoned himself to the very sweet sensations that his lover was giving him. The tower bell struck two. Reinhardt went lower to suck one of his testicles, and then the other before he resumed his caresses, but the opposite way, lingering on the navel, then on the hardened nipples, and on his neck, going back to kiss his mouth. "Jakobus, I feel I'm dreaming!" "And I as if I'm in heaven." Also the young and handsome prince wanted to cover the same journey. When he reached the trembling rod of his lover, he let it slip completely inside, right into his throat, pushing his nose on the thick bush of the young guard and inhaling its musky and sweet aroma. Then after having greedily sucked it for a while, he too went down to work with his tongue on his testicles, tickling, titillating them, then going even lower, making his companion spread his thighs well to reach the furrow and the hidden hole. Reinhardt opened to that inquisitive tongue emitting soft, delighted moans. Jakobus, intoxicated and excited, was licking, smoothing, lapping, penetrating the sweet sphincter and with the tip of his tongue, he carefully prepared it, wetting it with saliva, lubricating it until Reinhardt, seized by a feverish, burning and impatient desire, begged Jakobus to penetrate him. "Oh, take me, my love! Take me, please. I want you inside me!" Jakobus then leaned against him, pushed his very hard shaft on the hole, pressed it in, sank further into him, pushed it in even more, and so penetrated him, invaded him with heat, bliss, ardour and rapture. "Oh, my love, here you finally are!" "Yes, I am all yours, Reinhardt... And you are mine!" Keeping well wedged into him, he started to move in and out in a rhythm, with all his youthful vigour. His companion was in ecstasy and rejoiced at the rhythmic, virile strokes with which his lover was telling, expressing, revealing to him all his passion and his love. Reinhardt received and kept it in himself, sweetly abandoned, and urged him with tender words, with caresses, with moans of pleasure. Jakobus' excitement turned into frenzy, and the frenzy culminated in his orgasm. He unloaded into him, emptied in a set of darting lunges, nothing restraining him any more. Reinhardt eyes were looking at him, glassy with emotion, loving, luminous. Jakobus went limp onto his lover's strong body, sweating and exhausted while Reinhardt softly caressed him. "Oh, Jakobus, you are a real colt. You have been wonderful. I never felt so well desired and craved for as now. You seemed to never have enough of me. It was totally splendid!" "Love..." the young prince murmured, still shuddering for the last after-orgasm contractions. "Was it worth waiting so long?" "Yes..." "Are you satisfied?" "No..." "No?" "No, my love." "Do you want... start again? For me it's alright." The youth said, slightly surprised. "No, my Reinhardt," Jakobus giggled happily, "I am not yet satisfied, because I now want you to take me." "Oh! Do you want me inside you?" "Do you doubt it? Of course I want it." "But it's late... it has already struck three..." "I didn't hear it. But who cares? I want you inside me, now. Are you not lusting for me?" "Well, yes, of course... Of course I desire you, and also very much." "Then take me. Make me yours, now, at last. Fill me with your marvellous tool..." Reinhardt made him lie on his back and after having again kissed and licked all his body, he prepared him for the penetration. Skilfully he made him assume the right position, making Jakobus legs rest over his shoulders, willingly backed up by his lover, and plunged it all inside him. "Oh, Jakobus, it's way too beautiful!" he moaned in ecstasy. "Yes, love. Go on!" the prince spurred him to enjoy that powerful sceptre well embedded inside him. "If I was a colt, let me feel how much of a thoroughbred stallion you are." He again urged him. "let me feel that I belong to you completely!" he insisted. Reinhardt started to move back and forth and murmured, "The fact is that even now I feel I am all yours." "Do you love me, Reinhardt?" "Yes, of course, with all myself." "Do you like me?" "More would not be possible." "Do you like taking my taut ass?" "It makes me die with pleasure!" his lover answered and going on hammering inside him with his firm mallet, had him raise his shoulders a little in order to kiss him on the mouth. So tightly united, swiftly and skilfully moving his pelvis with determination, Reinhardt moved his piston for a long time, with growing vigour and energy inside his beloved Jakobus. The boy lightly pinched him on his nipples and that triple action, of the tongues searching and intertwining, of the fingers teasing and titillating his hard nipples, and of his member that was unceasingly slipping back and forth in the tight and warm hole of his beloved one, rapidly brought Reinhardt to his orgasm. With a last vigorous stroke he sank completely inside him, keeping him tightly against himself, and his seed burst out, spurted, gushed out vigorously and Reinhardt moaned aloud his incredibly intense rapture. "Oh, my male, my beautiful male!" Jakobus murmured happily then, holding him tightly to himself, and added, "No, stay in me! I love feeling it throb while he slips away by himself..." "Oh, love, I would like never to be parted from you..." "I love you!" "I too, my prince!" "Reinhardt... is it possible you can't forg..." Jakobus started to protest. "Shush! You are my prince, because now you have become so!" Reinhardt sweetly whispered him. "Oh... you are a darling! If I am your prince, you are my crown, my throne and my sceptre!" "Am I your crown with my mouth, your throne when you take me, and sceptre when it's me to take you?" Reinhardt jokingly asked him. "Well, yes, also in that way..." Jakobus answered with a smile. When they heard the hour strike four, even though reluctantly, they decided to leave each other and go back to their places. "Reinhardt, are you able to find your way back?" "I am not really sure..." "I'll guide you now, but you have to learn the way. And not only to this room, but also to my study and gradually all the network. One day it could be useful for us to disappear into a corridor and then reappear in a room..." "Yes, my love, I will learn, don't doubt it. I will do any and every thing in order to be with you." Reinhardt did indeed get to know, gradually but quickly and easily, the whole system of the secret passages. Although the time they could spend together in intimacy was short, too short for both of them, they passed happy months. When they were making love they united with fantasy, with passion. At times with extreme sweetness, at times with all the vigour of their youthful virility. They loved each other more and more, always better, and they were getting to know each other more deeply. When they were in public, one was the Crown Prince, and the other just one of the noble guards. But when they were alone, they were simply two lovers, without the least distinction. Jakobus turned twenty and there was a party at court. He received several gifts, his cousin Johann gave him a set of precious parade dress-swords with the hilts overlaid one with ivory and the other with agate bas-reliefs. When they could talk without being overheard, Johann asked him, "So, then, did you consider my proposal?" "Yes. But really I haven't the least intention of marrying." "Did you acquire some lover?" "But how? I am watched over day and night..." Jakobus lied, as he didn't want tell him about Reinhardt. "If you agreed to get engaged, they would stop or at least relax their surveillance, I presume..." "No, nothing would change." "You are ruining yourself with your own hands, Jakobus, refusing to follow my advice. You know I am your friend. Why don't you let me help you?" "As you helped me with Walterus?" "Your page? You still have not forgiven me for that, have you? But what could I have done?" "What did you try to do? Nothing. How can I believe in your friendship if, when I really need it, you step back?" "I am sorry, Jakobus. I hope I will be able to show you one day that I am your friend, even though you now refuse me. But I don't forget our month spent up there. And I see that you too have not forgotten it - five years have elapsed and yet you still have my pendant on your belt..." "It was a really beautiful month, that one. The Johann of that time... I still love him very much. But I am no more able to see him." "I hope you will still be able to see him, one day. And realize that he is still me..." That night Reinhardt was on duty, therefore they could just see each other for short moments, alone in the antechamber. As soon as Reinhardt saw him enter, he extracted from his jacket a little packet. "For your twenty years, love!" he whispered, "Now put it away, you will open it only when you are in your bed..." "Thank you. So I will feel less lonely, tonight." "You are never alone - I watch over you continuously." The noise of a door surprised them. Reinhardt stiffened at attention and Jakobus had put his hand on the handle of his bedroom door when the corridor door opened and the king's attendant entered. "Ah, you! What are you doing here now?" Jakobus asked him coldly. "His Majesty your father charged me to inform you that tomorrow morning at seven o'clock he will be waiting for you in his study." "Well, thank you. Do you know the reason?" "I am not authorized to tell you, Royal Highness." The officer answered, ill at ease. "This time, sir the attendant, your presence here is for something agreeable or disagreeable? You can at least tell me that?" The man tightened his jaws and lips in a kind of angry gesture but resuming at once his formal stance, with a hint of challenge in his voice, asked, "This time? What are you meaning, Royal Highness?" "Well, last time, if you remember, you came to take me to the bedside of the dying queen mother..." the prince answered in an angelic tone, "therefore I am asking you if your presence here now is as disagreeable for me as that of that earlier night..." "I think I can say not, Highness." "Oh, happily." Jakobus sighed. Then, with a soft gesture of his hand, added, "You can retire, now." The officer saluted clicking his heels, made a right-about-turn and strutted away. When he closed the door and they heard his steps going away in the corridor, Jakobus and Reinhardt looked each other and hardly held back laughter. Jakobus greeted him sending him a kiss and went in his bedroom. He would have liked to open at once the small packet received from his lover, but he had said "when you are in bed". Therefore he went near the bed and slipped it under the pillows, Then called the page, who came immediately. "I would like to go to bed, Roland." "Of course, Your Highness. I will call for the service." "Can't we avoid it? I turned twenty, now, I am able to undress, you know, and to wash by myself!" the prince exclaimed, exasperated. "The etiquette, Your Highness! I have to call and..." "Call, call then. When I will be forty I will still be treated like a child... Glory to the holy etiquette!" he said, resigned. And he underwent to the long and boring ritual. When at last, wearing his ridiculous night shirt, he could slip into bed, and after the page had closed the canopy curtains and was back in his small room, Jakobus took the gift of his lover out from under his pillow. He carefully unwrapped it. There was a small wooden box. He made its lid slide out. It contained a pocket watch. He opened its silver case - inside there was an engraving representing two rampant colts playing. Inside the back lid was engraved "JSMFA" and "1885/5/12" and under it were carved, stylised, a crown, a throne and a sceptre. Jakobus smiled and looked again at the little box. The bottom was lined with light blue velvet. He lifted that and, as he had thought and hoped, there was a tiny paper sheet folded in four. He unfolded it. In an elegant handwriting that had to be Reinhardt's was written: "Two colts, you know who they represent. JSMFA is you, above are your crown, your throne and your sceptre... Best wishes, my love." Wisely, there was no signature. Jakobus kissed the watch. Then he had a second thought. He got off the bed and, with bare feet, went to the antechamber door, silently opened it a little and peeped out. Reinhardt, who at once stood up to attention, looked at him and smiled. Jakobus beckoned to him to draw nearer, when he was close by, threw a glance to the other doors, then signalled him to come even closer and gave him an instant kiss. "Thank you, love!" he whispered. "But... Your Highness!" the youth whispered pretending to be scandalized, then he too gave him a light kiss and immediately went back to his place. Jakobus winked at him, closed the door and went back to his bed. He blew out the candles, put the watch on the pillow near his ear, and set about sleeping, thinking that the tick-tack was their hearts beating at unison. He decided he would always have that watch on himself. The following morning, at seven o'clock sharp and accompanied by his father's attendant, Jacobus presented himself at the king's study. "Well, my son. I asked you to come this early because today I shall be really busy. I have to begin a series of meetings with some of the ambassadors. This is why I wanted to talk you beforehand. You are now grown-up and I think it will be good for your development you start a tour of the European courts. Let's say a different court every six months or so. But before making agreements through the ambassadors, I want to hear your opinion." "Six months at each court? This means I would have to be absent far from here, for years..." "You will go and come. You will be guest of our cousins or allies for three, four months, then a couple months back here..." "And... should I go alone, without anybody accompanying me?" "Of course not, your attendant, a page, a guard, a lackey... the minimum. It is not appropriate to be too numerous... Would you like someone to go with you?" "Well... possibly a noble of the court, more or less of my same age..." "Do you have in mind somebody?" "My cousin Johann Mathias, for instance." "No, I have tasks here for him. Somebody not having a charge at the court." "I have then to think about that. Is it... is it really necessary to have my attendant going as well?" "Why? Do you have complaints about him? It seems to me he is a very good officer." "Very formal and boring, but yes, a good officer, efficient. But if I could have a younger attendant, at least for my travels abroad..." "I don't see the need for that." "As you think better, papa. About the page, may I have Petrus with me?" "As you like." "And as the noble guard... Reinhardt Martinus." He said and his heart began to beat strongly. "To tell the truth, he is the only one without a title, but... all right. At least he cuts an agreeable figure. Good, so we agree on that. Let me know who, amongst the noble youths, you desire taking with you, provided he has no court charges, as I told you. I will start taking the necessary arrangements..." "Thank you, papa. May I now go?" "Yes, you can. Ah... and your tutors seem to be happy with you, I am receiving good reports from all of them... I hope you are finally sorting yourself out, my son." "I am doing my best, papa." "Good. I will keep you informed, then. It will be good for you visiting the other courts. It will widen your horizons and allow you to make interesting and useful relationships. Before each journey I will tell you about the various courts and the personages you have to mistrust and those you can trust... You can retire, now." "Thank you." Jakobus went out of that meeting, feeling rather happy. He managed to have Reinhardt with him, and this was really the only thing he had at heart. He said to his attendant he wanted to meet his cousin, duke Johann. When he was alone with him, he told him about the project of his journeys. "Listen, Johann, you can now show me your friendship..." "Tell me." He answered, brightening. "During these journeys I would like to be able to amuse myself. You know what I mean, don't you?" "Yes, of course." "But I will always have my attendant in my way ..." "I see." "So, I asked my father to have also another companion, a noble youth more or less of my same age. He told me I can choose who I like, provided that he has no court charges. I had in fact suggested your name, but he then posed this condition. Now, what I need is a... an accomplice. Therefore I would like you find me this special companion, the right person." "Somebody on his twenties and loving men like us, you mean." "Exactly." "I possibly do know the right person. He is moreover also a handsome boy. Very likeable and above all beyond suspicion." "Who is he? Do I know him?" "Yes, you do. He is count Franz Julius." "Who, the cadet of the Admiral?" "Yes, him in person." "I didn't think he was one of us. He is always surrounded by women..." "A skilled masking." "That can be useful for me too." "Yes. Do you want me to ask him?" "Yes. And if he accepts, let me meet him as soon as possible." "I would have to tell him that you too..." "Of course... if you are certain he will keep the secret..." "It's one of his virtues. I never came to learn even the slightest gossip from him. In spite of being so extroverted, he always keeps his mouth shut about everything he gets to know from others or about others. This is why I thought of him." "Very well. And he's the same age as me, isn't he?" "Yes, right, just a couple months more than you. Is there anything else I can do for you?" "No, but thank you. I'll be waiting." That same night, when he was alone with Reinhardt, he told him about the journeys. "Oh my god! So, for three, four months we will not meet?" his lover wailed. "Of course not! You will always travel with me!" "Really?" "Certainly. Even if this doesn't mean it will always be easy to make love, I think." "But at least I can see you..." "I am anyway trying to arrange matters so we can have opportunities to make love..." "It would be splendid." "Do you know that I love you very much?" "Yes, I know." "So, then... why are you waiting to start making love with me?" the prince ardently concluded. Three days later Johann accompanied count Franz to Jakobus' study and left them alone. "Have a seat, count." "Thank you, Royal Highness." "Did the duke mention the business to you?" "Yes, and it seems really interesting." "Would you like accompanying me?" "Yes, very much." "Did he tell you the reason why I asked for your company in particular?" "Yes, he did. And I thank you for the trust you are showing me letting me know about your... inclinations." "Well, I too now know about yours..." Jakobus said with a smile. The count smiled too, "It is just fair and natural..." "Moreover, my cousin duke Johann assures me that you are able to keep secrets." "Without any doubt." "Now, if I tell you another secret, will you bind yourself to keep this one also?" "Of course. You have my word of honour, Royal Highness." "Well. What I am going to tell you, nobody else, not even my cousin the duke Johann, has any hint about. But if you are going to be my companion, you have to know about it." "You can fully trust me." "Well, in reality I don't need your complicity and help to find adventures abroad..." "Ah, no?" "No. Because the fact is I already have a lover here at court." "I don't understand... and you chose me as your companion? Could you not ask to be accompanied by your lover, then?" "Oh yes, he will accompany me. But there is a small problem. He is... one of my noble guards." "One of... and which one of the two I saw out there?" "Neither of them. Another one. As I told you, you are the first to know about this. And of course you will get to know who he is. But also a lackey, a page and my attendant will accompany me. And the two latter will keep watch on me. You will have to help me to... neutralize them." "So that you can safely withdraw with your lover..." "Precisely. Will you help me?" "Certainly! I will do my best. But, forgive me asking you... the guard is just your close friend or... or you are in love with him?" "We love each other. I love him hugely." "Oh, my poor friend!" "Why?" "Because it is so hard having to love amongst a thousand difficulties and hindrances." "Yes, but as I told you, he too loves me with all of himself. Therefore I consider myself very lucky." "If you loved somebody who was your peer, everything would have been much simpler. But it is true that we cannot love at will." "Totally true. And anyway love makes us peers." "Yes, I understand you but society won't understand. Society can be cruel, and mainly with those like us. He must certainly be an exceptional person, this guard, to have captured the Crown Prince's heart." "He is exceptional. You will become aware of that, meeting him, I think." "Well, I'm really longing to meet your lucky lover." "May I then notify your name to my father the king?" "I would be grateful. To me too, this set of journeys will be an instructive and valuable experience." "And... count, I hope we can become friends." "I would really feel honoured. Royal Highness." The count answered and the two youths shook hands. Then Jakobus told everything to Friedrich. His brother asked, "Why amongst the pages did you choose Petrus?" "For two reasons - he is the one who knows and served me since my first childhood, therefore he is the most affectionate to me. Moreover he is the one with a sounder sleep at night... You have to hear how much he snores! Therefore he will be the one raising fewer problems." Friedrich laughed, than said, "If you could just get rid of your attendant..." "I hope to neutralize him too." "With the count's help?" "Exactly." "What type is, the count?" "Very likeable. And above all, trustworthy." "I would like to come with you..." "I would be happy too. But you know the court rules. You and I will never be able to travel together, unhappily. "Is everything proceeding well with your Reinhardt?" "Wonderfully. I feel I am the most lucky man on earth, being loved by him." "Ever since you have been with him, you have bloomed again. I feel grateful to him, and even love him just because of that." "You love him?" "Yes, of course. Because he loves you and you love him." "Thank you..." "You and I are always united, don't you remember?" "Yes, certainly. I am also lucky having a brother like you." The preparation for the journey were proceeding rapidly. The first "invitation" came from the Berlin court. Then from the court in London, then also from Vienna and from the court in Rome. Reinhardt was informed that during each travel abroad his pay would be doubled and this amused him. Petrus was excited and happy he could travel. Count Franz Julius for the occasion was named Knight of Saint Martin's order, so he could show off the beautiful collar at the foreign courts. And Friedrich, spying from the corridors of the secret passages, had overheard a conversation between his father and his brother's attendant. The king said to the officer he had good reasons to believe that his son had sorted himself out and that, above all abroad, the surveillance could be relaxed and that he could anyway take turns for that with the count Franz... Friedrich ran to report the good news to his brother. The date of his departure for Berlin was approaching. Jakobus wardrobe was renewed, as well as that of his companions. Petrus got new liveries and Reinhardt was named a maniple-commander so that he could wear more elegant and more braided uniforms. In short, by these means they were trying to accrue prestige to the small train of the Royal Prince. A little before departure, the king together the Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs Minister and their Ambassador to Berlin, described to Jakobus the situation at the Berlin court. He received some letters, both official and private, then, accompanied by the Ambassador who was going back to his post in Berlin, they departed. The train was composed of six coaches escorted to the border by the King's Light Horse Corps. Reinhardt had to travel in the same coach with Petrus and the lackey. In another there were the Ambassador's wife and children, Jakobus and Franz were in another, in the fourth coach were the Ambassador with the attendant and finally two more coaches were loaded just with the luggage. "Your Highness, may I tell you something?" "Certainly, count." "Your lover is a really beautiful person, he has lively features, intelligent eyes, and he is... sensual..." Jakobus smiled and said, "But above all he is good-hearted, honest, sincere, strong, tender... and much more." "I have no doubts, but for the moment I could notice only his exterior appearance and that is already remarkable. But, I'm asking myself, you are in love with him and you say he is in love with you..." "In fact." Jakobus answered with luminous eyes. "Therefore, logically, yours will not be a fleeting relationship." "Certainly not." "How long will you be able to keep it secret? And when it would be secret no more, how will the court react? You will face moments, or rather more than just moments, which will be very hard. And even if you managed to live for a long time, let's say forever, your relationship being secret, you would be yourselves only in the moments of intimacy... that is very seldom. Also now he has to travel with the servants and you with me, when it would have been so good and right that he could be here with you..." "We both know it will be hard and difficult. We are both ready to hold out, to fight for our love. And I have an advantage, I have my brother Friedrich and you, who now know and help me, and also my cousin the duke Johann who can also give me a hand, three people with whom I can open my heart, to whom I can ask for advice, for support, in whom I can confide. He, on the other hand, has nobody but me." "Yes, I understand. I don't know if I have to envy you for your beautiful love, or whether to be sorry for you, for the difficulties and obstacles you will meet in order to live your love. I anyway sympathize with you, Highness." "Thank you. But you, count, have you not a lover?" "No, not at the moment. Some adventures, or the parties with the boys.." "The boys who are paid to... to satisfy men's wishes, isn't it so?" "Yes, they are mainly young soldiers, but also some working class boys, or some middle class offspring." "And they do it for money?" "They usually do it because they love doing it and if on top of that the can also make some earnings... of course they don't decline them." "But... when you organize these... parties, don't the servants ... understand?" "Oh, but the servants are also... of our side, so to say. Whoever amongst us has such servants, takes them to the villa for the service." "And... you have sex all together?" "Yes and no. Whoever wants to can withdraw to a room with the boy he has chosen, but also whoever wants to do so can meet in small groups... or else he can pass from one group to another, with the utmost freedom. You seem astounded, Highness..." "Well, yes... I would never have guessed something like that could exist ..." "Would you not like to take part in them?" "No. Not now that I am in love..." Jakobus answered, with a smile. "Ah, l'amour, l'amour!" the count exclaimed returning the smile then, leaning against the seat back, said, "Do you know, Royal Highness, that at the presentation ceremony I almost became infatuated with you?" "Really?" "Yes, especially when after the ceremony you came to talk with each of us... You were so affable, kind, brilliant... So beautiful in your high uniform and your insignia... You were, if I can dare say so, the real Prince Charming of the tales." "Do you still believe in tales, sir count?" Jakobus asked, smiling. "Yes, in part. And anyway, is it not a beautiful tale that a simple noble guard is loved by the Crown Prince?" "Thanks heaven no, it is not a tale, but a beautiful reality." Jakobus laughed, then added, "But it is odd that a dreamer, as you seem to be, doesn't have a love story." "Oh no, I don't have one now, but I did have. But unhappily it came to an end. Or possibly it never really started. Not for him, at least. It was I who was deceiving myself and loved him hopelessly." "It still hurts you?" "Not now. I was sixteen, he was thirty-one. He was a friend of my father. That summer we were guests at his house, and once he caught me in the garden of his mansion while I was spying on a couple of his servants who were flirting. The maid had pulled out it from the boy breeches and was kissing it. I spied on them, fascinated... when I felt a hand pressing on my shoulder. I froze. It was him. He made me go away without disturbing the couple... And he asked me if I ever saw such things. So, from word to word, he got round to asking me if I wanted to try with him what the maid was doing to the boy... I had already had some experiences with boys of my age, friends, relatives... and agreed at once. "I adored that man. I became his boy and was his lover for two years. I was ready, to please him, to do for him anything he asked me. But he, besides being married, had also another lover, a man of twenty-nine. So, after several months he was making love with me, he talked with me about him and asked me to give satisfaction also to his lover... and we started making love, or I should say having sex, the three of us. But I gradually became aware I was just an... accessory for them. I think they where really in love. Thus they were just using me for their pleasure. One day they took me to one of those parties... "It was there that I decided to leave them. And I got besotted with sex. After that, I just passed from bed to bed, from adventure to adventure. Never twice with the same man, or with the same boy. Or, rather, if that happened and I did it again with the same person, it would be only after some length of time, after several other adventures. Because I don't want to be bound to any other person..." "Until you find your true love..." "Yes, admitted that he really exists. But I have not yet turned twenty-one, so I have plenty of time." ----------------------------- CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 8 ----------------------------- In my home page I've put some more of my stories. If someone wants to read them, the URL is http://andrejkoymasky.com If you want to send me feed-back, or desire to help revising my English translations, so that I can put on-line more of my stories in English please e-mail at andrej@andrejkoymasky.com ---------------------------