What stood before Ave was a massive black antique gate its feature barely noticeable as the path was decorated with as lush fern which brought out its beauty even more. The inside of the garden wasn't visible, we could know it was one only because of the trees that crossed the wall's length. She stood hesitantly wondering if she made the right choice, her hands' distance from the lock got closer. 'Should I enter she wondered or should I go back?' As she was about to finally open the gate, giving in to her desires she felt something wrap around her wrist gently but firmly.
Ave followed the hand which led to the person who stopped her, Jack. He didn't look happy, though.
"What?"
"You can't go inside." The man glared at her as she let loose of her hand.
"Why?"
"It's an order." He said as he looked away. He didn't know how to explain it to her.
"So orders work for me too." Ave stared at him. She tried to look into his eyes but he kept averting them.
"Go." He ordered.
"Whatever." Ave turned around to walk away as Jack grabbed her hand again.
"Wait. The welcoming party... it will be tomorrow. Get ready. The preparations are almost done and the guests were already notified." Jack spoke as he slowly let go of Ave's hand again.
"Ok." She coldly replied and walked towards her room.
Jack's heart stung as if he took poison. He inhaled and exhaled as he turned to the opposite side to go to his study.
"Your majesty." Yves hesitantly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to have something to eat or drink?" the servant asked with a trembling voice. He was scared he would be guillotined tomorrow. Yet, he dared to ask such a thing, thinking perhaps if he did so, the king might keep his head.
"No. Go to your work." Jack calmly replied as he headed towards his study room.
***
"Who does he think he is?! He dares order me! I thought he loved the old owner? Why is he being such an asshole?!" Aveline yelled inside her bedroom venting out her anger. "Wait, is it for another woman??" she asked herself as she recalled the moment he left with his cousin. "Oh that... Son a—!" She stopped as she heard someone knocking. She gasped and quickly covered her mouth with one hand as she glanced towards the door.
'Who is it? Did they heard me?! Ah no, I'm going to die! I should've controlled my anger!!' She thought as she slowly approached the door.
She coughed you clear her voice before speaking. "Who's it?"
"It's me, your majesty. Your personal maid." A woman's voice was heard from the other side of the door.
Ave sighed and slowly opened the door with a cold poker face.
A woman with grey and light brown hair was standing in front of her. She looked quite aged yet she looked young. She was wearing a plain brown dress, unlike the other maids.
"Come in," Ave said as she took a seat on the bed.
The maid followed the order.
"What's your name?"
"Anna." The woman replied with a slight grin on her face.
"Alright, Anna. Prepare my dress for tomorrow with the other maids." Aveline smiled as she laid on the bed.
"Alright." The maid bowed to her new mistress as she walked outside of the room.
***
Jack went to the study room to calm down his anger. As he opened the door, he found the person he wanted to meet the least, Laila.
"Cousin!" The female excitedly jumped on Jack who avoided it causing her to hit the wall. "You're so mean~" Laila cutely grabbed his arm tightly against her chest. She stared at him with seductive eyes for a second.
Jack shoved his arm away from hers as he walked towards his chair. He took a seat as he crossed his arms.
"Did your wife give you a bad time?~ don't worry, I'm here for you." Laila walked behind him as she wrapped her arms around the young man's neck.
Jack frowned, slapping her arms away from his neck. "Go away." He finally spoke with a deep and cold tone.
"Are you mad because of her? How dare she!" Laila was about to go out of the room when Jack grabbed her hand not letting her go.
"Don't go to her." He ordered with a sharp glare.
"What is going on here?.." Aveline slowly muttered as she opened the door, seeing her 'husband' holding the hand of the same female that has taken him out the other night.
"Avi..." Jack mumbled her name in a low voice.
*** A little earlier ***
After Anna left for the preparation, Ave got bored from waiting. So she decided to go visit Jack, who is probably very upset with her behaviour earlier.
'Well, at least he didn't kill me! I should thank him for that, right?' She questioned herself as she reached out of her bedchamber. She walked through the white hallway, unable to find any room at all inside the huge palace.
"What the f*ck is this place?! So confusing..." she sighed.
"Your majesty?" A familiar male voice asked.
Ave turned back immediately, knowing whose voice it was. Yves, the servant who gave her the visit earlier.
"Hey!" She exclaimed.
"What?" The servant confusingly asked as no one talked like that in the kingdom. "Hey?" He asked as his expression was filled with confusion.
"I mean, hello." Ave corrected herself as she coughed. "Ahem. Where if the king?" She asked approaching the man.
"Uhm... maybe it's better if you don't meet him right now." The servant hesitantly replied, looking down.
"Why?" Ave asked with a cute, innocent face. "Have I gotten him so mad that he won't meet me?" She asked with a pitiful face, making the servant feel bad.
Eventually, Yves gave up.
"He's in the study room."
"Guide me." She asked with a soft smirk on her face.
"Alright." Yves led the queen towards the study room.
Arriving there, she heard a loud noise. Out of curiosity, she peeled through the door. Then she saw Jack grabbing Laila's hand.
'It's that woman again!' She gritted her teeth in anger as she slowly opened the door.
"Oh my, what is going on here?" She asked with a neutral face.
*** Back to present ***
Jack quickly shoved Laila's hand as he rushed towards Aveline.
"Aveline, it's not like that." He spoke nervously, as he put his hand on her shoulder.
Aveline sneered as she slowly took his hands off her shoulder.
"My dear king, I don't mind what you do. After all, a king can have several wives from what I heard about this type of kingdom. So don't worry. I'm not mad. You have your fun." She smiled as she slowly walked away.
'It's ok... it's ok... I don't care. It's none of my business.' Ave told herself so as if it would actually make her not care. Her heart was already stinging as if someone had shot her or stab her with a knife.
"Avi..." Jack stood there speechless. He never thought his childhood best friend, the woman of his dreams, the love of his life would misunderstand him at this point. "I thought you knew me better..."
"See. She doesn't deserve you, Jack." Laila smirked grabbing the chance of adding fuel into their fight. "You should marry me. I'm not like her." Laila hugged the man from behind caressing his chest, feeling his well-built body.
Jack frowned as he pulled her hands off him and turned around to face her.
"How dare you?" His eyes glowed red for half a second before returning yellow.
Laila shivered at the sight. She started trembling as Jack's aura got overwhelming for her to bear. She rushed out of the room in a hurry.
'What was that?... Did I see it correct?.. His eyes...' She wondered while running out of the castle.