CHAPTER EIGHT
1317 Words
Soon enough, Aria found herself making her way towards the drawing room. She could hear the sounds of laughter and soft music as she neared the entrance, and of course, she could hear Lady Yvaine’s voice rising just a pitch higher than the others. She blew out a breath as she shook her head subtly.
Was she truly going to condemn herself to a whole day of misery?
She pushed the thought aside. Her steps became more determined and she only stopped when she got to the door. The guards stationed there bowed their heads respectfully before opening the door for her. Her own guards joined the others just as she made her way into the room.
It suddenly went quiet as she stepped in, and all pairs of eyes stared at her as though she was a person who had died and resurrected. The silence lasted for a moment before the ladies stood up and dipped into graceful curtsies.
“Princess”. They greeted.
She almost rolled her eyes at the formalities. They had all known each other their whole lives, yet they treated her as though she wasn’t one of them.
“Good to see you all”. She lied as she made her way to a seat to settle down.
Lady Yvaine, a golden-haired lady with mesmerizing hazel eyes, was the first to straighten up and return to her seat. She was also the one who didn’t do so well in hiding her dislike for Aria. Aria didn’t like her either; she had an air of arrogance and pride around her, plus, she acted like she was better than the other ladies.
Then there was Lady Eulalie and Lady Elowen, both golden haired and green eyes, who were just as nasty as Yvaine. Like her, they also had an air of arrogance and pride. The three of them felt superior to the other ladies and so they made the rules. It had been they who had told the other to be unwelcoming towards her.
Of course, she hadn’t bothered to tell anyone because she hadn’t cared; she still didn’t.
“So, have you all been well?”. She asked when they were all seated again.
”Very well, thank you”. Yvaine responded. “And you, Princess?”.
She nodded.
“Likewise”. She replied.
“Has your training with His majesty come to an end?”. Elowen asked her.
She obviously couldn’t directly ask her why she was there sitting with them instead of training.
She was about to respond when Eulalie spoke first.
“Why, His majesty is away on the King’s Consultation”. She said. “It’s probably why the Princess came to join us today”.
Aria felt her throat clench at the mention of Alder being away.
“Really? But her birthday is just around the corner”. Yvaine said, her tone being one of scorn and mockery.
“He’ll be back in time for my birthday”. She said, she tried to sound unbothered.
“I heard father telling mother that His majesty will be taking a wife soon”. Eulalie said, causing Aria’s eyes to widen in shock. “He probably went to discuss it with the council. I’m sure they’ll be more than glad to offer their daughters to him”.
The news came as a surprise to all the ladies, and they began murmuring at once.
Tears suddenly began prickling the back of her eyes, but she blinked them back quickly. She couldn’t cry here, she wouldn’t cry at all. After all, she had told herself she would have suitors soon and find a husband of her own, a good one at that; she was the Princess of Althea.
“Why does His majesty need their daughters when there are noble ladies like us in Althea?”. Yvaine said almost bitterly.
“Indeed. I’m rather surprised”. Elowen said.
Unlike Aria, they were beautiful and arrogant ladies who were confident in themselves and their beauty. While she feared her attraction to her master wasn’t right, they were assertive about theirs. And while she tried to hide hers, they were open about theirs.
“Althea will have a Queen soon; there hasn’t been one for as long as I can remember”. It was Lucette that spoke now. A beautiful lady with vibrant red hair and green eyes, she was taller than most of the ladies here and often carried an air of grace with her.
Aria, on the other hand, happened to be the shortest among the ladies; even as children she had been the littlest in size and height, and till now has remained that way. She had once told Nerissa that she wished she would be taller; as tall and beautiful as Lucette, but she had told her that her mother, the most graceful Queen Althea had ever had, had been just like her in size.
She had been loved and adored by all, but sadly, she had passed away while birthing Aria.
Aria had been more confident about her size since then.
“Do you think things will be different?”. Yvaine asked.
“Of course, especially for the Princess”. Elowen said.
Aria cleared her throat quietly.
“How so?”. She asked.
Elowen offered her a smile, one which she saw right through.
“His Majesty’s priorities will have to change when he takes a wife”. She said.
Aria felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach.
She was right; she would no longer be as close to Alder as she was now, things would be different between them. And what if the new queen didn’t like her? They’d get her married and send her away from Althea, away from her home, away from……him.
She probably couldn’t hide the horror from her eyes because a slight smirk curved Yvaine’s lips.
“Don’t worry, Princess, His majesty has always been kind to you”. She said to her. “It won’t change because he takes a wife”.
“Or don’t you think so?”. Elowen asked her.
She shook her head while clearing her throat quietly.
“I’m not worried”. She lied. “Why would I be?”.
Elowen shrugged.
“We’re just saying”. She replied.
Aria’s gaze flickered around, and she found everyone in the room giving her a patronizing look. She hated that, and also the fact that they were probably thinking the exact same thing she had thought about. She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat before rising to her feet; she couldn’t stay there, she wasn’t going to put herself through this.
“Are you leaving so soon?”. Eulalie asked her.
She nodded.
“I am. I’m afraid I do not feel too well”. She replied. “I’d like to take a nap”.
They began rising to their feet, but she shook her head.
“There’s quite no need for that”. She said. “It was lovely seeing all of you”.
And with that being said, she turned around and headed to the door. The guards opened it the moment she knocked once.
She walked out and began walking away. Her pace quickened with every step she took, and her guards had to hurry to catch up with her.
“Where to, Princess?”. One of them asked her quietly.
It was obvious that she was upset, plus she wasn’t heading to her chambers, so they had to ask.
“The waterfall”. She replied.
She felt like screaming, felt like crying; she needed to do something to expel some energy from her body else she would lose her mind.
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