After a few minutes, Vaughn could hear Zenia's even breathing. He got up and walked to the door. He looked at the sleeping Zenia before he walked out of the room and shut the door. Zenia was too tired and did not notice that Vaughn already left the room.
Vaughn visited the local stable, only a few steps away from the inn. The seller had a good eye for spotting someone with money. He left the first customer he was attending and immediately entertained Vaughn.
"Good day sir, we have horses that have just arrived. They were properly tamed and ready. This way, please." The seller ushered Vaughn to the inner part of the stable.
He inspected the ears of the horses that the seller pointed to him. They were good horses indeed. When he confirmed that they were not stolen from his stable, he chose a sturdy brown horse for Zenia.
"I will take this horse." Vaughn handed the payment after the seller told him how much it was.
Vaughn groomed the horse first as the seller left him behind. The seller spotted another wealthy customer. Everyone knew the young miss who visited the stable. She had been in Solaria for a long time already, and they knew her temperament. They also knew that she was the Left Minister's niece, and it was the sole reason they tolerated her rude behavior in the past six months.
"Good day my customer," greeted the seller as he entertained the young, beautiful woman.
"Good day sir, our miss is looking for a good horse. Please give us the best one you have." The servant of the young miss greeted the seller.
The young miss was none other than Verone. When Vaughn, together with the brown horse, reached the front of the stable, Verone saw him immediately. She did not hesitate and walked toward him. She was smiling from ear to ear. Vaughn thought that it was an eyesore.
"Hello, we meet again." She did not hesitate to greet him.
Vaughn looked at her with creased eyebrows. "Do I know you?"
Verone couldn't believe her ears. He did it again! It was the second time that he humiliated her.
She tried to compose herself and remained calm.
"We met at the restaurant earlier, don't you remember?" She flashed the sweetest smile she could muster. Vaughn was annoyed about seeing it.
"I really don't remember, I'm sorry but I'm in a hurry." Vaughn nudged the brown horse to move forward.
Verone stood in Vaughn's way. "Can I invite you for a drink?"
Vaughn looked at her with angry eyes. "Madam, my wife is waiting for me. Now, move!"
Verone almost fell when Vaughn shoved her. She shouted after him.
"You will regret this! I am going to be the Crown Prince's second wife, and I will make sure you'll pay for this."
Zenia suddenly woke up due to Verone's loud shrill. The people around them were already used to Verone's antics. They did not take anything that came from Verone's mouth seriously. They used to believe them, but her statements were mostly false in the end.
'Crown Prince's second wife? The heck…' Zenia got up and headed for the door.
Vaughn suddenly turned around and walked back to where Verone was standing.
'Hmph, I knew you would come back. Just who are you to treat me like this? As soon as I marry the Crown Prince, I will throw you to the dungeon.' Verone looked so smug.
"What did you just say?" There was anger in Vaughn's tone.
How come he didn't know that he was going to take in a second wife? He was yet to marry Zenia and now this? He had a wild guess who was behind it all – the Left Minister.
"I am about to marry the Crown Prince…" Verone had not yet finished her sentence when Vaughn interrupted her.
"Crown Prince of what kingdom?"
Verone was puzzled by the question.
"Of Tissuria, of course!"
"The marriage of the Crown Prince of Tissuria is already set, and it will take place in a month."
"I said I am the second wife, and my marriage will take place in less than one month. The Crown Prince will marry me first." Verone declared proudly.
Vaughn let out a burst of melodious laughter. "You must have some loose screws, why would the prince marry a second wife before he marries the first wife? To be precise, why would he marry someone like you?"
Zenia heard Vaughn's statement as she walked out of the inn. Verone sensed that Vaughn was mocking her. She had never met a man as arrogant as the one before her. She sneered.
"I suggest knowing who you are talking to before you mock me. I am the niece of the Left Minister of Tissuria, that status alone should be worthy enough to be the Crown Prince's wife. My status is surely higher than that of Zenia Anisen, and I am sure that the Crown Prince will surely favor me."
Vaughn snickered at the brazenness of the woman. Just a mere niece of the Left Minister and she was already so proud of her status? She even dared compare her status with Zenia.
"Ovid Anisen can be more powerful than the King of Ishelon himself and you dare boast about the Left Minister's status? Ovid dotes on his daughter so much. Zenia Anisen can be more powerful than the king!" Zenia declared proudly and without batting an eyelid.
Vaughn grinned from ear to ear. He was not expecting Zenia to join in the fun. 'If she wished for the entire Ishelon to fall in her hands and asked her father for it, then it will be done.'
Verone looked at the source of the voice and saw that it was Zenia. She scoffed at Zenia and walked to her.
"Even so, I heard that Zenia Anisen is a hideous woman. She got no marriage proposals because no man would ever marry her. This wedding is nothing but a political marriage. Her father dotes on her so much because he knows that no one will want his daughter." Verone stood there looking so haughty and arrogant.
'I'm ugly? She said I'm ugly! My flawless face is considered ugly? What the heck!' Zenia wanted to say those things out loud but managed to stop herself.
"Do you even know what the Crown Prince looked like? They said that his face is so hideous that even he, himself, cannot tolerate looking at it." Zenia grinned.
Vaughn looked at her in disbelief. 'Is that what she thinks of me?'
Verone turned pale upon hearing it. Zenia sensed Verone's fear and took advantage of the situation. She continued saying her piece as she walked around Verone while keeping her hands behind her back.
"I also heard that he cuts off the head of anyone he finds unpleasant to the eye. Be careful that he won't regard you as an eyesore. Even I think that you are one."
Verone looked at Zenia with angry eyes. "Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?"
Zenia shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just giving you a warning and my honest opinion. If you don't believe it, go ahead and try marrying the Crown Prince. After all, you may never get the chance to regret your decision."
"Are you cursing me?" Verone was already furious. She was more agitated because the woman who seemed to curse her was the wife of the man she fancied.
"What if I am?"
"You slut!" Verone lifted her hand and had an intention to slap Zenia's face.
Slap!
The sound of a crisp slap reverberated in the air. Everyone was stunned and did not know how they should react.
"Oops! My hand slipped." Zenia declared casually.
Verone's left cheek had visible fingerprints and became swollen. Tears rolled down her cheeks and it made the swollen part more painful.
She stomped her foot and walked away from Zenia. She was so embarrassed. 'I will make both of you pay.'
"Young miss!" Her servant called after her as she ran after her master.
Vaughn was lost for words. He did not know that Zenia could be like that. Zenia felt Vaughn's stare and guessed what he was thinking.
"What? She woke me up with her loud shrill." Zenia looked like she was wronged.
Vaughn shook his head and smiled. 'This little devil can really turn black into white effortlessly.'
Back in the Crown Prince's courtyard, Redivo had decided to send a secret missive informing Vaughn of the Left Minister's plan. They should thank Verone Rocca for delivering the information ahead of time.
"I think we need to go to the capital now. I'm not sure what's happening there right now."
Zenia felt ill at ease when she thought of her mother and father who were supposed to begin their journey anytime soon.