"What is the gift?" Amy asked with wide eyes.
"Me, Of course." Nathan spread his arms wide gesturing himself and Amy rolled her eyes.
Jasper chuckled at that. "Huh, the princess would have appreciated a kitten more."
"Go to hell, Jass." Nathan glanced back at Aaron.
"How are you?" Aaron asked slapping him on the shoulders.
"Really good. Her Majesty wanted me to sit directly at the supper but I wanted to meet you first."
Aaron nodded. He took him and Jasper back to his study for a drink.
Charles offered to escort Amy.
"Remember to tell me the secret of your hair," Amy winged a finger at Nathan and left with Charles. Nathan had dark, smooth hair upto his shoulders and women were always the admirers of that.
Aaron informed about the sealed documents to Jasper as they entered the study, and asked him to take them to the ministers tomorrow.
The three of them sat leisurely.
"Where have you been busy?" Aaron cocked his brow up at Nathan.
His friend put his glass down and ran a hand through his hair. "Father handed me a part of vast estate to take care of and people there are awfully incoperative. I worked really hard to gain their good opinions for two years." He bobbed his head.
Since Nathan was the second son, he was never been burndened with the kingdom's affairs much. Having him take care of the land must have been an experience for him.
"Why do you want their good opinions?" Jasper asked after emptying his glass.
"On their opinions, father will decide if whether or not I will assist him in the council. He is hellbent on making me a part of it and I am also bored from idol life. So no harm in joining the council." He shrugged.
"What is their opinions, then?" Aaron asked rolling his empty glass on the desk.
"I can say I've good opinions of the women there. Men are more likely to kill me."
They chuckled.
In between, Jasper's stomach growled. "Let'go for the supper. I'm starving."
Aaron gave a nod. "Go ahead. I'll have a bath and then join you all."
Jasper moved ahead of the study and Aaron and Nathan stood up too.
"Finally changed the chain, did you?"
Hearing Nathan's words, Aaron eyed his wrist and wrinkled his brows. The silver chain has again turned into the bright golden one.
What the fuck!
He rubbed it with his other hand and cleared his throat. "I'll wear the old one again tomorrow". 'Hopefully', Aaron added in his mind.
As promised to his mother, he couldn't say anything to Nathan. So for him, like everyone else, the chain was a family heirloom.
After having his bath and changing into the fresh pair of clothes, Aaron and Charles strode towards the dining room. He knew all his guests who wanted to impress him must be waiting for him for he was the monarch and they wouldn't start the supper without him.
"You kept them waiting for so long,
Your Majesty," said Charles casually.
Aaron smirked. "The kings think they are mightier than me. Their sons wants my alliance. Their daughters wants my attention. Let them all wait, Charles."
Aaron knew they were all his granny's guests and all they wanted from him was his favour. Being happy for Amy's birthday was not their cup of tea.
When he descended the staircase, he saw Princess Priscilla standing there with her maid. Hearing his footsteps she turned, cat eyes shining and smiled brightly.
"Ah, Your Majesty! I was waiting for you," she said in her breathy voice.
Aaron raised in brow. "You could have waited in the dining room, princess." He walked in relaxed strides towards her, Charles behind him.
She came close to him and touched his arm. Flaring up her breasts, she whispered."Oh, without you the room holds no charm."
"I'm flattered, princess," he bowed with a smirk.
She giggled and wrapped her arm around his and Aaron, being a gentleman, couldn't help but offer it.
"Shall we go to the supper, Your Majesty?"
"Sure."
During the supper, Aaron made sure to dangle his sleeves down to his wrists and button his cuffs. That kept the chain away from his family's eyes. Mother would have his head if she saw that colour change again and it wouldn't matter if it was or wasn't his fault.
After finishing the supper and answering many questions of his guests about where he had been all day, Aaron retired to his chamber. He stood in his balcony, placing his hands on the railing and breathing the cool night air.
Several thoughts occured in his mind. What must be the reason for this chain turning gold? Was it really a warning? But Erasmus had said it wasn't. Was this chain signaling somethimg to him? Was it trying to indicate something? Did it change when it was a particular day? Or perhaps a particular night. He looked up to see the moon shone in an incomplete shape. It wasn't a full moon. So, that cannot be the reason.
Aaron thought deeply and suddenly remembered a thing. Was it possible that whenever he encountered a witch, the chain changed the colour? If the woman in the market was a witch, then it was possible the chain changed the colour because of her presence.
But the last time it did, that day there was no encounter with any of the witches. Aaron growled inwardly. He ran a hand through his hair in distress. Bringing his fist to his mouth, he walked back and forth thinking about the possibilities. Perhaps it was the witches. He had met the proverty-striken witches, the day before when the last time it had happened. It might be possible that the chain reacted slowly then and today, the reaction was a bit quicker. Aaron haulted his steps. Only a witch could answer this.
Mariana woke up as the sunlight grazed on her face next morning through the gaps in her windows. She stirred lazily and opened her eyes. Lying on the bed, she merely blinked looking at the canopy of her bed.
Whenever she woke up before, she had to just run to her shop and once a month, purchase things in the village. But since she'd had the work at the palace, her days consisted mostly of travelling. And surprisingly, she enjoyed this. The independence, the travelling, facing the world. She took a deep breath. She was loving how she was handling her life. This was what she had wanted to do since always. To bring her business more and more favour and progress.
But in between these, Caelen's thoughts made her loose a bit of her enthusiasm. She really would have preffered if Caelen had proposed her after the princess's birthday, after she was done with the palace's work. Although her answer wouldn't have changed, she would atleast had the time and energy to face it all.
She had always thought Caelen was thougtful, but apparently, he was not.
With a sigh, she got up from the bed. Even during her bath, she kept thing about his proposal. It was true her shop and family would stay near her if she married Caelen. But that was not the reason on which she wanted to rely and marry.
She wanted love.
She wanted a person whom she could love as much as aunt Penny loved her dead fiance, where even death couldn't lessen the feelings.
She liked Caelen but never in a romantic way. No matter how much Caelen was ready to wait, she must give him a 'no' as soon as possible. Deciding to talk to him after her meeting today, Mariana finished her bath.
Wrapping a towel around her body, Mariana started to rummage through her clothes. Remembering the king had said the guests had started to arrive at the palace, she decided to wear something good. There would be all influential people and royalties present in the palace and Mariana did not want to appear clumsy between them.
First, she thought about repeating the skirts and cravat she wore on the first day at the palace. But then, she saw her mint green gown, which she hadn't worn much. Taking it out, she unfurled that gown and placed it over her body to look at the mirror.
It was beautiful with narrow skirts, full sleeves and tight bodice. Since working continously throughout the day in her shop demanded comfortable clothes, she never bothered to wear something so tight and heavy. But now was a good time to use the dress and Mariana decided to wear it. It was high necked and hugged her whole body beautifully.
When she took a twirl in front of the mirror, she found that her curves flaunted in the gown. Her hips were flared and the gown hugged he dip of her waist scandalously. Mariana bit her lip, happily seeing that she looked really good.
She made her chignon, gathered her things and ran down to the kitchen.
"Aunt Penny, do I look much bolder in this gown?" Mariana twirled in front of her aunt who was sitting at the dining table, reading the newspaper. She removed her spectacles from her nose and eyed Mariana up and down.
"Where was this gown until now, Marie?"
"In my cupboard. Does it look bad. Shall I change?" Even tough she asked, Mariana didn't want to change the gown. She liked how she looked in it.
"Don't you dare change it. Oh, Marie you look fabulous!" Her aunt smiled at her brightly.
Relieved, Mariana sat at the table. Aunt Penny had prepared eggs and toast for the breakfast as she had insisted last night screaming about how not doing any work made her bored to death.