" Crown Prince", the three ladies said simultaneously as they curtsied for Ashton as a sign of greeting. Afterwards, without waiting for anything else Rosamund hurried towards Ashton as though she did not want Aurelia to speak before she could.
" Ash, you should have heard what she said, she just insulted us although we came to congratulate her on her wedding with you", Rosamund lied through her teeth while Aurelia remained mum not caring about the fact that Rosamund was turning the story upside down.
" I am Princess Fallon Walton and all I did was tell you the truth about your marriage with my brother but you make it your job to insult me afterwards, just who the bloody hell do you think you are?", Fallon asked in an almost loud voice, her nose flaring as if she would not be able to take what Aurelia had said just now.
" I am Princess Aurelia Hastings, I have the same title as you do Princess Fallon so don't think you can bully me and I also spoke the truth as well, you came to tell the truth about my marriage and I told you the truth about your life", Marcy replied without holding back, she would never allow herself be bullied even though she was not actually a princess.
" How dare you?", Fallon said feeling as though in any moment she would give that pretty cheek of hers the smack of its life. Who knew this mum doll actually had such a sharp tongue?
" Do you see this Ashton, do you see the way she's talking to Princess Fallon, It simply means all these while she had been pretending to be simple when in actual facts she is a cunning fox", Rosamund said in a stretched out manner and Aurelia remained ever head strong. She would never let them get the best of her.
" That's enough. You women make lots of noises when you argue, your voices are even starting to top the one's of the music players. Fallon, Rosamund you carry on, Aurelia come with me", Ashton said in a reserved manner so therefore, Rosamund and Fallon had to let the issue go but they would never forget this insult.
Aurelia stood there rigid as she stared at the disappearing silhouettes of the two ladies. Somehow they had managed to ruin her mood and if they had gone too far, they might have had to settle the issue village style, through some good beatings and she was sure she could take them both.
Even though she looked slim and delicate, she still had some skills in fighting, after all, her father was an hunter and she was a Swordswoman, she was good at doing things men could so it wasn't a big deal. But she was just eighteen and her strength could never compare to someone of 23, Sir Gavin Woods.
She felt someone hovering around her and she turned around to see if it was one of those intruding guests only to come face to face with her husband who seemed to be standing patiently and just staring at her.
Her furrowed brows calmed down and her face became stiff, why was he staring at her?
Suddenly he appeared in front of her showing off a small smile that enhanced the beauty of his blue eyes.
" Why did you suddenly change your facial expressions?", he asked her calmly, his voice giving off a feeling of strength and protection, she sort of liked his voice.
" What do you mean?", she asked speaking more calmly, a slight nervousness kicking in.
Ash smiled instantly wanting to elaborate further because she seemed to be unaware of her actions just now.
" Just now, after Fallon and Rosamund left your face began to change expressions, sometimes it would show anger, sometimes pride, sometimes anger and then sometimes it would even turn fierce", he explained very well as this was clearly the first time he had seen her show different new expressions than the normal ones she always wore which in his case was boring to the eyes.
" Forgive me but I can not help but feel nothing nice towards them so my facial expressions easily gave way for what I was feeling. I do not like liars so therefore I know your sister and that friend of hers would never get along well with me", Marcy replied in a matter of fact tone as her expression once again turned fierce.
She didn't realize she was openly speaking to the crown prince. A well respected prince who was now her husband by law.
" So you've never once told a lie, is that why you hate liars?", he suddenly asked and her gaze quickly returned back to his face. Her green eyes became calm as water.
" I have surely told a lie, many a times they were all for good reasons but now that I think about it, I just do not like people who meddle in others lives, it is quite annoying", Marcy said feeling a bit calmer now that she was talking about her true feelings with someone.
" I believe you Aurelia, very annoying it is, can you believe a man who I have trusted for almost a decade, who I have accepted within as a part of my household could easily betray my trust for something as stupid as a thousand gold coins, that is to say, his intentions were just to meddle in my life and find out my secrets", Ashton said as he started walking forward while she followed behind as expected.
" Well a thousand gold coins isn't truly a small money so I do understand the man's greed but to betray a relationship of almost a decade, I must say this man had evil intentions from the start", Marcy said giving her honest reply and she didn't realize the slight smile that appeared on his face as she herself tried to imagine how she would feel if someone were to do that to her.
Everyone stared at them with curious eyes. Ashton managed to give a nod to them as a sign of humble greeting while Marceline remained lost in thoughts of his situation.
" You must feel hurt", she said openly not holding back. For some reason she felt so free talking to him like he was someone she could easily say something to and he wouldn't react the way other royalties would.
" I did feel hurt but it's not really the first time someone has broken my trust, I just settled the issue in a way I felt was right", he said softly as he made a turn.
Marceline had noticed they left the hall quite a long time ago but she was unsure of where he was taking her. Currently they were outside the castle building walking around the castle grounds.
" What way did you feel was right, you let him go?", she asked cautiously not thinking any one who offend the royal household would actually go Scot free.
" The method I used is for me to know and for you to not care about, a delicate lady like you should never sully your ears", he said softly as he stopped walking.
Aurelia was the delicate lady and Marceline wasn't any delicate but she was pretending to be Aurelia so therefore she had to feign delicate and avoid asking more questions.
She stared around at their surroundings and she realized he had simply brought her to the outer most part of the palace, the stable where they kept the royal horses.
It looked quiet and as she turned to stare at him, her Jade eyes meeting his blue ones, she started to reconsider her idea of just willingly following him.
" Why did you bring me here Crown Prince?", she asked in a firm but wavy tone, her feet ready to make the run if anything stupid were to happen.
He turned to her as the smile on his face disappeared and he stared at the stable with focused eyes while she stood behind him.
" Aurelia Hastings please do not expect too much from my marriage with you for I do not even wish to consummate this marriage just yet. I do not want children and as much as this marriage willingly happened, it is more of a forced relationship in my case", Ashton said while staring back at her with utmost sincerity.
He had come looking for her simply because he wanted to explain things to her and he had almost ducked out of it when he saw that she had some fiery character within but he felt as though he couldn't play with her feelings so it was right for him to tell her.
Marcy stood calmly now and she took a deep breath as if relieved to hear what he said. Ashton thought she was bothered by the sudden declaration so he quickly went out for plan B.
" Aurelia I will surely compensate you. Even though I will not treat this marriage as true marriage, I will make sure you get the respect you deserve as my wife outside", he said dutifully, his aura suddenly giving off the feeling of protection.
Marcy stared into space for a while, she was happy on the inside about this revelation but this was Aurelia's life and she had to make sure Aurelia had it comfortable when she returned.
" I have three conditions, if you can accept them I will let you off but if you simply cannot then do not expect a dutiful wife when you yourself are not dutiful", she said more firmly like the strong headed and smart person she was and he couldn't help but nod, quite enchanted by her quick thinking and management of the situation.