Arianna Contos' POV
Okay, seriously, this abduction has been worst than ever right now. Here I was in my Gold suit for the thieving that I did back in the present time and I was being carried around by two heavy thugs as they were holding onto my arms.
I sighed as I was looking at Julian as he was walking inside the palace that stood grandly in front of me. I gulped before I was looking at the people that were talking inside the palace as it was echoey and I was not the only one that was staring at them.
They were staring at me, especially by the person that was sitting on the high chair on the dais.
"Julian, what is the meaning of this?" The man in the high chair was speaking to my supposed to be husband.
"Father, I have come to present to you your future daughter in law," Julian said as he was urging the thugs to carry me forward. I was looking at the man that was wearing a laurel crown on his head as I was trying not to stare at his handsome face.
Even for someone that was old, he was in good shape.
I was looking around as there were whispers and murmurs around me. I cannot bear it when people were talking about me and I was in front of them. I don't want to be at the center of attention.
"What's your name, puny one?" The king, I supposed, asked me as I was trying to control my anger.
How dare he called me puny. I show him!
"Father, do not be absurd! She will be my wife," Julian said before his father snorted at him.
"You have already been arranged to wed—"
"No, I have gone to the Oracle and she said that I will be married from someone that looked different from all of us. I mean, look at her. She was not wearing our clothes and she speaks a little differently from us but I think she can understand us. Please, father, give me a chance to get to know her. And if you see that she was unfit to be my queen, then I will gladly marry the person that you have arranged for me to be my wife," Julian said as I was looking at their interactions. It was estranged and a little restrained.
Maybe they were not that close, which I can use to my advantage.
I was looking at the man that was the king of this land before he sighed. He was taking a deep breath before he was staring at me.
"Very well. I will give you one week—"
"But, that would not be enough!"
"Silence! I don't think that you would go against your king, Julian or would you rather be in the dungeon for pulling this stunt when I was having a meeting with my council?" The king asked his son as he was arching his eyebrow at Julian. The young prince was staring at him before Julian bowed at his father.
"Of course, father. Your wish is my command," he said as he was looking at the ground before the king looked at me.
"Now, get her clean up and let the maids take care of her. I will not have this…peculiar outfit laying around when she was changed to be one of us. Burn it," the king said as I was staring at him.
He was starting to get on my nerves real quick.
"Of course, father," Julian said before he was nodding at the thugs and we were out of the throne room, I supposed before I was looking at the sudden change of Julian's mood.
"Do not fret, dearest. Father was a very busy man and I know he would be happy when I will be married to someone like you. And I know that you will be a great queen," Julian said as he was escorting, well I was being held by thugs but I was not complaining, as we were going around in the imperial castle.
It was nice and the natural lights were getting inside the hallway as I was trying to find an escape route when the night comes.
"Now, you will be staying in my mistress' chamber. It will be easier if you need anything and I was near to help you," Julian said as his eyes were staring at me. His silver eyes were not the same as Lucas. Lucas' was more mercury than Julian's.
I was looking at the long hallway before maids were coming at us. I can see that Julian was a very demanding person since he was a prince. I was looking at the maids as they were all bowing at Julian.
Except for one person, she was staring at me.
"Now, I want you guys to meet my fiancée, umm, I forgot your name dearest," Julian said as he was smiling at me. I was trying to control my eyes not to roll at him. He has the nerve to not knowing my name.
Not that I will give him anyway.
"My name is Adonia," I said as I was lying through my teeth. I cannot have this man to spread the word that Arianna was being the fiancée of the future king. It will be like putting on my head. I was looking at the bold maid that was looking at me.
"Ah yes, Adonia. Such a beautiful name," Julian said as I was trying not to gag at his proclamation. I was taking a deep breath before I was looking at the maid again.
"Now, if you girls would be kind to prepare my fiancée for dinner, that would be great," he said as I was looking at the chamber that we were entering now. I was amazed as I was speechless to say anything.
There was a bed at the end of the chamber before there were two open arches that went into the cleaning chamber as well as a dressing chamber. I think this will be my bedroom until I can escape finding the citrine. I think the citrine was the answer to all of this.
But the Citrine of Greece will be anywhere by now.
"Now, I will see you later, my bride in your capable hands. I will come back for dinner," Julian said as he turned to look at me and I was blinking as he smiled at me.
"And I will sure that my mother, the queen, will be delighted to meet you," Julian said before he was stepping closer to me and without any thought, he claimed my mouth.
To say that it was unpleasant, it was not. Julian was a good kisser but something was missing that I longed for when someone would kiss me.
Someone like Lucas Dow can be the only one who ignited it in me.
"Bye, for now, princess Adonia," he whispered before he was getting out of the chamber as the maid was releasing me from the clothing that I have been wearing the whole time. My black pants and the gold shirt was lost and I don't even know where my mask was the whole time.
I think I have exposed myself to the public that I was the Woman in Gold. If anyone knows who my alter ego was.
"Now, princess, if you would be so kind," one of the maids said as she was releasing me from my clothes that they just ripped it off. Now I know that I don't have anything to wear at my present time. I might be missing those clothing.
"This way, if you please," the one said as I was moving toward the pool that was inside the chamber. It was a fucking bathtub with steaming water inside them.
Well, I hope it was not that hot.
I was being groomed by the maids as they were pulling my hair up in an up-do and I was submerged inside the bathtub. It was nice because I have been dying to clean myself up.
Even with the help of a thousand maids right now.
"You are so lucky, princess Adonia. To capture the heart of the prince," one of them said before another sighed.
"I would do anything to be at your place right now,"
"Watch what are you saying! The princess is right here, even if I was not sure that she understands us. I heard she was from a faraway land," one of them said before I was rolling my eyes. But one maid did not say anything. I was beginning to question myself why.
After that bath, I was being wrapped in silk as I was moving from the cleaning chamber to the dressing room. I was being turned and turned before I was putting on a tunic and then a lengthy cloth that the maids wrapped around me as I was looking at the mirror that they have in the room.
Or glass that was acting as a mirror.
"You look wonderful, princess Adonia,"
"The prince will adore you!"
The maids said before I was looking at myself. They were putting my hair into a loose ponytail behind my back before they put something in front of my hair. It was like a wig but I don't think I wanted to keep wearing it.
"Can we lose this?" I said as I was pointing at the wig.
"But princess, it is a trend right now for this style,"
"And I don't want it. Please, it makes me look ridiculous," I said as I was speaking to them in Greek. Well, ancient Greek anyway, it was not much different from modern Greek.
Okay, maybe a lot actually, but we stood each other.
"Of course, princess,'' the maids said before I was looking like my old self again. I smiled before footsteps were inside the room again.
"It's time to go," Julian said and I was turning to look at him when I saw a very familiar face.
Of course, it was none other than Lucas Dow himself.