Ari entered the room quietly and walked around the edge to her seat next to the Othan prince. Of course, she was still noticed by the attendees and several of them spoke and laughed while looking at Ari pointedly.
The seat placements were unusually close, making both Ari and Arellan nervous, though neither showed any sign of apprehensiveness. She glanced at the man seated next to her. It was the same man from last night, undoubtedly, but today he seemed perfectly fine. And clean. And healthy. His ash blonde hair was short on the sides and purposefully tousled on top. His dark green eyes looked stern and showed no hint of emotion. His jaw line was strong and his cheek bones were high, giving him a strangely godlike aura. She noticed he was actually wearing very flamboyant clothing for an Othan and with a closer look, he must have purchased ornate clothing from a merchant of Algeva. Which made sense, considering how tattered and filthy he was only just this morning.
Ari glanced at him again, willing her eyes to see through his clothing. 'How did he heal so quickly? I didn't use enough magic for him to be looking like nothing at all happened yesterday. I only used enough to keep him alive...' she thought to herself.
"If you keep ogling me so, people will think that you arranged this engagement yourself." Ari looked up at the prince's face. His eyebrow was cocked and a corner of his mouth was smirking slyly. He WAS quite handsome, but Ari plastered on a fake smile.
"I've been quite taken aback by the engagement, actually. I had no idea any of this was in talks. I feel a little betrayed by my family." Ari sipped elegantly from the wine on the dinner tray in front of her.
Arellan squinted his eyes, trying to read Ari's face before admitting, "This was actually a surprise for me as well. I was told to come here as a negotiator for trade. If my father had mentioned that I was negotiating my future wife, I may have been better prepared."
Ari chuckled, swirling her wine glass. "I'm not a fan of being referred to as a negotiation. But I am interested in how you would have better prepared yourself?"
Arellan's heart skipped a beat. Ignoring it, he drank from his own wine glass. "I would have dressed nicer."
Ari laughed, not expecting that response. "Nicer than THAT?" she asked, gesturing to the flashy, traditional Atranian outfit. He was dress in a long-sleeved, v-neck kurta in a rich green with gold trim and slits on each side. It was snug across his larger chest and shoulders but form-fitting down his waist. The embroidery on it was immaculate and the pants were the same gold color, though loose around the ankles. His shoes were also green with gold trim. He would almost look as if he belonged in the royal court, if not for his foreign looks.
Arellan's mouth turned up slyly again as he caught Ari staring at him. "Why? Does this outfit suit your taste? We don't have clothing like this in Otha so if this is what you prefer, maybe I'll purchase a few more for the return trip."
As Ari was about to retort, she heard doors slam obnoxiously and pounding footsteps before her brother, Aasif, and his guard, Jai, entered the hall. Aasif was the commander of Atrana's small army and normally looked fierce, but his guard and closest friend was absolutely feral and ferocious. Every time Ari saw him, he reminded her of a black panther. His dark eyes burned angrily as he glided behind Aasif.
"What is the meaning of this?" Aasif asked his father garishly. "I've been informed that you announced an engagement between Sister and a prince of Otha."
King Assur cleared his throat and looked at Aasif sharply. "Indeed. Tonight is a celebration of that fact."
Aasif turned to Ari. "And did you agree to this?"
Everyone was silent and gazed directly at Ari. She lifted her chin and nonchalantly answered, "It was a splendid surprise."
Aasif's jaw tensed and he was about to speak again, but his guard cleared his throat softly, looking pointedly around the room at the anticipating audience. Aasif closed his mouth and squinted at Arellan while saying, "I'd like to speak to you tomorrow, Father." He then turned on his heel and strode out of the room, his guard bowing gracefully and following after him.
It was still quiet in the hall as the footsteps faded until Assur bellowed out, "My apologies for the interruption. Please, carry on with the festivities!" and the music resumed playing while the court chattered and gossiped.
As a maid refilled Arellan's wine glass, he noted, "It seems like that man is against the marriage." Ari looked at the prince's stern face, which looked almost bitter now. 'Is he... angry?' she thought. She had to turn her face to hide her sudden amusement from him.
Straightening her expression, she said, "My brother is probably not the only one. Otha has a bad reputation here. It's only expected that there are those who react in defiance to marrying their only princess off to a kingdom said to be filled with nightmares and death."
Arellan cocked an eyebrow at her, somewhat amazed. "You speak as if you are fine with those things. You're not afraid to leave this country behind?"
Ari faked a sweet smile and shrugged. "Leaving my country is less terrifying than the permanence of marriage."
Arellan raised both eyebrows. "Ah, the truth comes out. So you're afraid of commitment."
Ari glowered at him. Who was he to be trying to get under her skin like that? "I'm not AFRAID of commitment. I just don't agree to marrying someone that I know nothing about. I only described this surprise as 'splendid' so as to not alarm my family and those of the royal court. And, no offense Your Highness, but the men in your country are known to have a questionable morality so you can see why I'd be even remotely hesitant to bind myself to someone of that nature." Ari stood up abruptly, not giving him the chance to refute. She bowed, a tight-lipped smile on her obviously angry face. "I'm tired so I will be resigning. Good night, Prince Arellan."
Arellan huffed to himself, running a hand through his hair, and watched as the princess promptly left the royal court. 'I guess I pushed a button.'