I walked along with Aiden as he was putting his hands inside his pockets. I was looking at him from the corner of my eyes before I was looking at the moon. It was full tonight and everything was perfect in this little moment.
I did not know what came over me but my mouth was humming the lullaby that my mother always sang to me whenever I went to bed. And I was doing that right now as Aiden was looking at me strangely.
"How do you know that lullaby?" he asked me before I turned to look at him. His emerald orbs were shining under the moonlight.
"Hmm? What?"
"That song you were humming. My mother used to sing that to me as well," he said with a hint of sadness before I stopped humming it altogether.
"No, don't stop. It just…no one ever heard that before," he said as he turned to look at me. "until you,"
I smiled before I was humming again the music that haunted both of us. My mother never told me where she learned the melody but it stuck with her until her death.
And this time, it will be my legacy to sing it to my future children.
"Perhaps my mother learned it when she was younger? I don't really ask her when I got the chance and right now, I think I would never know where that melody would come from," I said with a little sadness for I know that my mother will never answer my question back. I sighed before a little brush on my arm. I turned to look at Aiden and he was gripping my arm now with his hand.
"I'm sorry. I did not know that your mother was…"
"It's okay. Not everyone can show their emotions. Not me, especially," I said and before Aiden can ask more about my private life, the door opened, revealing Nana as she was smiling at both of us.
"You're ready to have that dinner? It was getting cold and I think it will be a waste that Arabella cooked for all of us and you don't even get to try it," she said with a smile before Aiden groaned beside me.
"Stop it, Nana. Sarcasm did not suit you at all," Aiden said but I saw that he was smiling before he moved toward the door. I was still standing, did not know what to do if Aiden wanted me inside his house or not.
Sensing my indecision, Aiden turned back and took my hand inside his. Electrics were running through my body before I was looking at him with a start. He smiled.
"I promise I will behave tonight and perhaps we can come with a solution tomorrow to get the stuff that you used tonight," he said as he was pulling me inside the house with a smile plastered on his face.
My heart was beating so fast and I don't think I was stirring the demon inside me once before. But right now, it was coming out and I was afraid that Aiden might not like what will he discover later on.
******
"We thank the might Lord for this food on this table and more to come, Amen," Aiden said the prayer as Nana and his grandpa echoed him.
"Amen,"
Perhaps that was the custom of the commoners, to thank the might Lord that they believe in as I was sitting here, holding their hands and did as they were accustomed to. I whispered the soft words as I don't know if it would offend them if I did not.
"Help yourself," Nana said as she was helping her husband to get the food that he wanted. I looked at their interactions and it was too cute to bear. Something was tugging me inside my heart and I was feeling a pair of eyes were watching my face. I turned and saw that Aiden was looking at me over the rim of the champagne that he drank.
"Don't be shy now, Arabella. You cooked all this and I hate to waste anything," Aiden said but this time, there was a playfulness behind his voice that made me smile. I did not know what was happening at first but I think I don't want to forget this feeling, right here whenever I go back to Royal Molftus.
Royal Molftus, the capital of Niapachad Island. My castle was located there but somehow, it never felt like home before and right now, I was never felt like this.
Laughter and warmth that seeping through me like I truly belonged and whenever I looked at Aiden and his smiles, I know that somehow I will lose it and replace it with someone that barely know as my husband, the prince consort.
If only I can tell him who I really was but judging from the reaction, I don't think he would welcome the Princess more than the idea of me belonged to the gentry.
Even I was the ruling monarch of his country.
*****
After dinner, Nana and grandpa went to bed early, she was complaining about her joints were being painful and that she wanted to get a full rest. Her husband was following her around like a lost puppy but I can see the love in his eyes.
He loved his wife and will do anything to please her.
I sighed as I was twirling the glass that was inside my hand as I was sitting in front of the fire. The woods crackled before I sipped some of the champagne that Aiden told me was for the special occasion. And then, I told him I will pay for the dinner and ingredients that I used for the month.
I sensed his body heat before Aiden was sitting next to me, with his glass in tow. I was looking at the fire before I pulled the blanket tighter to my body as if I was trying to protect myself.
From what, I don't know. But I know I will be vulnerable to Aiden if I was not being careful enough.
Hearts and all.
"So, how do you plan to pay for the ingredient, Arabella? It seems to me that you don't have anything but the clothes on you now since your horse ran away last night," he said before I turned sharply at him. I thought he was trying to get an ire from me but his relaxed face told me otherwise.
Aiden was really considering the possibility of me paying for my lodging and food.
I sighed before I was sipping on the champagne again. It was bubbly and I felt warm inside me before I was clearing my throat.
"Perhaps you can help me get a job around here. I can cook, clean, and do something involving counting. I can read and write as well," I said as I was looking at him. Aiden arched his eyebrows at me before he shook his head.
"What?"
"Nothing,"
"I know you have something to say so just spit it out before it eats you from the inside," I said before I was sipping on my wine again. Aiden chuckled before he took a sip of his glass as well.
"Sometimes, I forgot that you are an educated gentry. It's not always common when a lady can read and write as well as count. It was…uncommon for a literate woman in the village," he said sadly before I paused as I turned to look at him. Aiden was twirling his glass inside his hand before he was sipping it again.
"Was that why you hate the gentry?" I asked him softly before he chuckled.
"One of the reasons. There are so many things that can be improved if the monarchs decided to change things up. I hope the princess will just come around see if she can change anything in her own damned country," he said bitterly before I was gulping the rest of the wine.
"I am sure that she will be working on something," I said as I was looking at the fire that was slowly turning to ember. Aiden sighed before I turned to look at him again.
"No, she won't. she never graced us with her presence so why would it change now? The monarchs and the gentry kept to themselves and for the first time, I think I prefer that. Present company excluded of course," his emerald eyes were shining as he turned to look at my face. I felt the heat on my cheeks and it was not coming from the fire. Aiden was leaning closer before I cleared my throat and stood up.
"I think I will retire now. Tomorrow, I will be working to pay off my debt then," I said before I escaped to the kitchen, hearing the chuckles that escaped and a mumble that said 'A very dangerous woman indeed,' before I escaped to my room and closed the door.
I leaned against it as I was thinking about what Aiden said about the village. Perhaps I can survey them and note something that I would like to change later.
After all, I was still their ruling monarch and it would be an honor to do some changes around since it was my time to reign.