Beautiful Ocean Moon

Welcome To The Palace

Sitting in the carriage with Asher and Jax I was still calming down but Asher must have decided he wasn’t going to wait any longer. “I am not saying she was right for that but you are definitely in the wrong to Ares.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t even you are one of my best friends and my future king but you are my friend first and you know damn well I will tell you when you are wrong and you were.” Asher sighed and shook his head. “You do know that she is one of the women being pitched to be your bride right.” I blinked surprised at that and shook my head no. “I figured as much. Two of the Dukes are backing her, two out of the four Dukes Ares do you understand what that means.” It wasn’t an actual question and I didn’t intend to answer. “It means that she is a strong and legitimate candidate for the title of crown princess and it means that the very person who is supposed to one day be your sword may in fact be your bride-to-be but not if you keep this up.” “Asher I am not seeing whatever point you seem damn set on making so f*****g make it already.” I growled at him getting annoyed with all this. He sighed again and then rubbed his eyes before looking at me again. “Ares, she isn’t like any of the ladies at court or the ladies from other noble houses that have visited and tried to worm their into your bed. Hell, she doesn’t even care you’re the prince. So stop treating her like all the other women or I promise you, she is going to kick your ass and not care who sees it.” I went to respond but then Jax spoke up. “And your dad won’t be able to do a damn thing and that’s if he even wanted to.” I growled at them and thought 'So much for calming down.’ “Be pissed all you want man but your dad has never bothered trying to restrict anything the Archduke did or does. Your father doesn’t even question Kain’s loyalty because everyone around knows he doesn’t want the crown or anything to do with it. So tell me right now do you think your dad will do anything about Kain’s daughter beating your ass other than to stop her from killing you, or seriously maiming you.” Jax as usual was blunt and tactless. “Ares please just stop treating her like the others and get to know her after all you two will have to spend some time together between her being a candidate and this investigation.” Asher finished speaking and I closed my eyes in frustration but gave a single nod in acceptance.

About half an hour later found us back at the palace. And I was the first out followed by Asher and Jax. I looked to see the twins Jay and Cameron get out of another carriage followed by Seth and Max. I looked at the third carriage and without thinking I walked over to it. I reached it just as the door opened and I saw Mira. She stopped and looked at me, clearly surprised I was right there. I offered my hand to her and she looked at it blinked and then looked back at my face. I didn’t move and I figured she realized I wasn’t going to until she took my hand so she slowly placed her hand in mine and then stepped down from the carriage. She was surprised when instead of letting her hand go I placed it in the crook of my elbow and stepped forward. Thankfully she didn’t try to pull away she just simply followed me holding onto my arm. I could smell the confusion in her scent at what was happening but she didn’t ask. I knew Asher, Jax, and the others were all behind me as we walked through the palace gates to meet the head servant. I told him to take our guest to the rooms that had been prepared in advance for when we were to come back from the village for the summit and to finish the investigation or at least try to. As soon as I had finished speaking I grabbed Mira’s hand from my elbow and bent over it placing a kiss on the back before letting it go and taking my leave. ‘Hopefully, she knows that was an apology.’ I thought to myself as I headed to go greet my father.

Mira’s P.O.V

Me, Lily, and Rayna were sitting in the suite we had been given which from the mark I saw on the door was a suite that was maintained for whenever the off chance my family or someone from the household came to visit. “I must say that was surprising I wasn’t expecting his highness to do something like that.” Lily said. “It was an apology.” I said though I wasn’t sure how I knew that but I did. “Mira you need.” “I know, I know I need to make sure I apologize. You were right back I should not have gone off like that and said what I said to him. I promise I will make sure to apologize after dinner so that we can actually talk about it. And you were right in saying mother would have been disappointed in my behavior.” I interrupted Rayna who gave me a reassuring smile. I sighed but smiled back at her. “Let’s go get cleaned up and then relax until we need to get ready for tonight’s meal. Not going to lie not looking to this I hate having to dress up especially having to dress so formally.” Rayna gripped and I grumbled an agreement. Lily just laughed at us she knew how much we both hated it, it was one thing at home mostly because we didn’t do it often and when we did it we could normally be barefooted because it was outside. Even in the winter, it was like late spring inside the palace walls even the garden stayed a comfortable temperature year round so it was never an issue about any party being outside. But here regardless of temperature today this event was a formal welcome dinner to all of us and to some of the other noble guests that had arrived today as well for the summit. ‘Even though it doesn’t start for another five days. Though I guess I can’t be surprised either since from the looks of it on the doors only my family and the four Dukes have permanent suites inside the palace. Everyone else will basically be a first come first served or in this case, the first to come are the ones with closer accommodations to the Royal Family.’ I thought to myself as I followed Rayna, and Lily out of the room and headed to the bathing room that only the Archduke and the Four Dukes had access to. We had been given a quick tour of the floor we were to stay on so it wasn’t hard to find which I was grateful for. Arriving we opened the door to see two more doors one marked for males and the other for females. Walking into the one marked for us we found little baskets for our clothes and directly under the shelf where the baskets were was another basket for our dirty clothes. Stripping out of our clothes I noticed there was one basket that already had some clothes and I smiled. Once finished I walked over to the sliding paper door and pushing it aside I found Jay. “Hello, Jay.” I said stepping into the room and heading for the waterfall shower. “Hello to you all as well. I am glad we will be sharing a floor.” Jay was the daughter of Duke Summer so she and her brother were placed into Duke Summer’s suite though I didn’t know which one it was.