That evening, Aaron summoned Jasper to his study after their supper. He waited for him while sitting on an armchair near the hearth, holding a glass of brandy in his hand, watching the night sky through the window in front of him.
And his ideal mind summoned Miss Mariana in his thoughts. Those brown eyes were huge with anger when she realized he was teasing her with the ferret.
A soft chuckle left his lips remembering how she had screamed at him. But he was helpless. She was sad while speaking about her family. And even if he excused that, he couldn't bear the awkwardness she showed in his presence.
He wanted her to be his little saviour she was the first time he met her. Fierce, strong amd outspoken. And that part of her only emerged when he teased her.
Thinking about her heated face, red with anger and shiny eyes blazing fire, Aaron gulped a sip of his brandy. And then the heat and blaze he felt inside the body was whether because of brandy or his little angry saviour, he wouldn't know.
Because the next moment Jasper entered his study.
Aaron's smile vanished when he saw his red-haired idiot friend in front of him.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty? For a drink?" Jasper asked leaning his back casually on the wall.
Aaron kept his empty glass over the mantel of the hearth. "Yes, I would like to make you drink something different. Poison".
"What?"
Aaron stood up cornering his friend to the wall. "You heard me. I will make you drink poison if you repeat again what you did today".
"What did I do today?" Jasper asked fearfully confused. "I promise I will practice sword fight tomorrow again".
Aaron closed his eyes in annoyance. "No, you dipstick! I don't want you to tease me in front of Miss Clifton again". He looked at him the way that would make him see that Aaron was dead serious.
Jasper swallowed. "Did something happen? Did Miss Clifton say something?"
Aaron shook his head. "No. But if you want yourself capable of ever saying a word, you will stop your pathetic goading. I don't want her getting uncomfortable or worried in my palace. She is here for my sister and I want her to feel safe and valued. Not an object of someone's humor. Am I clear?" He asked raising up a brow.
Jasper swallowed again and nodded his head.
All these words must actually be said to Aaron himself. He was the one who should stop teasing her. But he was a bugger. Her annoyance towards him made him feel good.
But anyone else doing the same to her seemed ugly. He saw how uneasy she had felt today when Jasper was behaving like an absolute fool. He didn't want her to think of herself a low or unvalued person, that too, under his roof.
Amy would say him anything but he knew she would never say anything ridiculous in front of Miss Mariana. But Jasper wasn't so thoughtful.
Seeing his friend agreeing to what he asked, Aaron moved backward.
Jasper released a breath which apparently he was holding till now.
"Oof!" He straightened his coat. "She really has caught your eye".
No one catched his eye. He merely enjoyed her annoyance.
Aaron glared at him and he raised his arms in a defensive gesture.
"I swear I won't say anything to her. But she is not here now, is she?"
Aaron groaned and left his study and heard a faint sound of Jasper chuckling.
The next morning, Aaron finished his sword practice and immediately got a message that some of the guests for Amy's birthday ball had arrived.
He and Charles entered the larger dining room, that was used when guests accompanied them and found some people who he knew and some who he didn't know. They all immediately showered him with greetings, eager to acquaint themselves with him.
Seeing him, a short man came towards him and smiled in his moustache.
"Your Majesty! I hope you are fit and hearty.".
Aaron nodded at him remembering him as the baronet of his kingdom. He talked with him a moment and then just as he was free of him, he found another man coming towards him. Introducing himself as the military general, the man spoke about his army and it's progress.
Another man, a prime minister of the nearby kingdom shook Aaron's hand. He introduced his daughter, a lovely lady, and very loudly, said that she intended to find a groom. Aaron bowed at the lady's hand, kissing her knuckles and she fluttered her lashes.
Every time he took a step, he found himself greeting another guest or having a daughter or a sister shoved at him. Perks of being a king.
Thankfully, one look at Charles made him realise that Aaron needed his help and he got every person down at the table.
With great difficulty, they started their breakfast.
Aaron leaned towards Amy at his right and whispered, "Isn't any of your friend married?"
"My friends are not even here yet. These are all granny's and mother's guests".
Aaron released a breath. Just as granny was intended to marry off Amy, he never realised she would want to do the same to Aaron.
Finishing their breakfast, they were leisurely sitting and talking when a guard appeared and announced, "King Albert of Caeroun kingdom with Prince Lucas amd Princess Priscilla."
A plump middle aged man entered with a younger and handsomer version of him and another pretty daughter.
Aaron's granny and mother stood up and moved forward to welcome them. Rest all stood up too, and started to greet the king of his nearby kingdom.
Aaron spoke with Amy about the guests when their granny brought herself on the arm of prince Lucas.
"Aaron, meet His Higness, prince Lucas of Caeroun".
"Your Majesty", the prince curtsied. "Your kingdom is majestic. Thank you for having us".
Aaron nodded at him, a young and handsome man with blond hair and gray eyes. "Welcome to Heavengate".
"And this is my grand-daughter, Princess Amelia". Granny gestured at Amy.
Amy smiled and offered her hand and the prince bowed and kissed her knuckles. "Enchanted, Princess Amelia".
Aaron cocked a brow at his granny who ignored him. Looked like the old woman brought many suitors for his sister.
"Amelia, dear. Would you please show around to the prince", she said to Amy.
"I'd be delighted". Amy took the prince's offered arm and giving Aaron a helpless look, his sister left.
Granny began to greet other guests and Aaron found him with King Albert.
"Good to see you again, King Aaron. You really changed the kingdom for better than the last time I was here". The plump man said eyeing his dining room.
"Tried the best I can", Aaron replied.
King Albert introduced his daughter on his arm. "My daughter, Priscilla".
The young woman eyed him with fascination. She had the same blond hair and gray eyes as her brother but they were more cat-like with thin lips. She offered him her hand which wasn't gloved. Aaron kissed her knuckles. "I hope you like, Heavengate princess".
"I love everything about Heavengate, Your Majesty". The princess said with breathy voice, raising her breasts towards him.
Aaron raised a brow. He realised he would have to look at those breasts many times until they leave back to their kingdom. This was not the first time women tried to lure him like this. He sighed.