" I do have a lot of stories to tell", Marcy voiced calmly as the ladies smiled in excitement while she accepted her cup of tea from one of the serving maids.
She was seated comfortably on one of the plush couches in the room, opposite her was Princess Fallon sipping tea in her most elegant way.
Marcy was surrounded from all corners by the ladies while Rosamund's innocent but evil eyes stared at her with curiosity from her right side.
" Sadly I do not wish to make the ordeals of my marriage known", she finally stated in a blunt voice causing imminent sighs from each sides yet only one mocking chuckle. She took a sip of the tea from the cup in her hand and she had to admit the tea was very well made.
" I know you wish to hear me speak of such but then I wouldn't want you all to start comparing your futures to mine. You are all fine ladies either soon to be married or better still, engaged. It would not be nice if you begin to have dreams from the story I tell, only to meet the opposite in the nearest future", continued Marceline like a wise old fox and some of the ladies agreed that she was right.
Fallon sighed loud enough as she passed her teacup to one of the serving maids for a refill while she elegantly crossed her legs.
" Spare us the lectures sister in law and be more open. Do not fret because I can assure you we all here know better than to dream for a life like yours. Or perhaps you have no tale of interest to tell", She said as she collected the tea cup once it had been filled up.
" It has indeed been three days since your marriage with the prince, yet I can firmly say I have never seen the both of you together, tell me First Wife, is your marriage not settled?" inquired Rosamund with eyes as innocent as a lamb's.
She sat quite mannered, her tea cup resting on her thighs with the support of her gloved hands, an inquiry look adorning her young girly face.
Marcy fiddled with her cup searching for the right words in her head. She was one blunt creature and she had to do her best to not turn the quiet environment into a quarrel like one.
" You have such a sharp eye Lady Rosamund and you simply have no other important business that is why you think it best to worry about me but I can assure you that it is my marriage and I know what I am doing. Stop wasting your time observing I and the prince and use it for much better things", retorted Marceline in her most simple way as she took a long sip of her tea much to the despise of Princess Fallon and Lady Rosamund.
The other ladies could not help but chuckle outwardly due to the insult directed at the not so innocent Rosamund but because of Princess Fallon's stern face, they immediately quietened down.
" Let's move on to important matters then sister in-law. One of our own, Lady Freya Campbell has invited us to a soiree with her father being the host and by us I mean all, including you, sister in law", Fallon said calmly as she had one of the maids pass a scroll to Marcy which Marcy took while placing her tea cup on the nearest table.
After going through the scroll, she passed it to the maid, noting down that the said soiree was three days from now.
" Your presence will be well appreciated First wife", one of the ladies said in a praiseful tone and Marcy gave her one of her simplest smiles.
" I will see if there is time, until then we wait", stated Marceline in a vague manner as she grabbed the tea pot and poured herself another cup of tea not waiting for the serving maids while Fallon glared at her in distaste much to the notice of the other ladies present.
All through out the gathering, Marcy had more tea and listened to sweet gossips coming from the ladies mouths, chirping in from time to time.
It wasn't as boring as she thought it to be as she did come across so many informations and it was more like listening to a talk about somebody's life story.
She hurriedly made her way to the Royal Chambers as soon as the gathering had ended because she could no longer bare the tightness of the dress.
" Fetch me Gwen", she said to a maid that was approaching her as she made her way into the Chambers and locked the door behind her.
She lifted the gown up and started struggling with it while the maid from before remained outside not knowing who to call. Before she could ask, the lady had already shut the doors in her face and it would be considered rude to knock abruptly.
As the maid was contemplating on what to do, she saw the crown prince approaching and she immediately bowed her head as a form of respect not daring to look back up.
" What is it?" , Ashton asked before he could walk into the room. Currently he was armed with his gun ready to go for hunting while Colin waited for him at the horse area.
" Your Grace, The Lady wanted me to call Gwen but I do not know who Gwen is?", the maid said in a soft voice as she stood there unable to breathe properly.
She was standing in the presence of the crown prince and she was scared that she would do or say something wrong.
Ashton stared at her not knowing who Gwen was either. He dismissed the nervous maid and without knocking, walked into the room only to meet Aurelia struggling with her gown as though she would faint any moment.
She quickly turned to stare at him and immediately straightened her gown and his blue eyes roamed over her. She looked so unladylike, one of her gloves on the floor, her hair in a messy knot and her gown ruffled in all areas.
" Thank Goodness you are still around. I thought about it and yes I would like to join you both for hunting", she voiced noisily as she approached him.
She had been worried thinking that she would have missed them and they would have already left for the forest so she quickly wanted to change so she could catch up with them.
" There is no need for you to take Colin's word seriously and besides hunting is not an activity meant for a lady of Noble status such as yourself Aurelia, you shall not go", Ash said as he made his way towards her.
" What do you mean?", inquired Marceline bluntly, her voice clothed in frustration, both from her hastiness from earlier and from her desire to so badly go out and hunt. Ashton paused in his footsteps as he stared at her feisty green eyes which stared back at him like they were being treated unfairly.
" Are you saying that a woman like me cannot take up an interest in the field of hunting just because she is of Noble birth?", she asked glaring daggers at him as she approached him fiercely causing him to subconsciously take two steps back.
Ash thought about it, he did not mean that, but he did not wish her coming anyway so if that was going to stop her from accompanying him and Colin, then so be it.
" Yes", he replied deeply and she stopped moving forward as soon as he decided to stand his ground.
" Then you are wrong. I shall accompany you and Colin to the forest and I shall show you that hunting is more than just a man's activity", she said bravely and he stared at her blankly, his head taking in all that she had said.
Marcy took a step back and turned away from him. " I assume you came for something, take it and leave, I wish to change my clothing. As you can see, this dress is not suitable for hunting", she stated fairly as she turned away from him.
Men and their stupid ways of thinking. They felt as though they were better than other human beings and so every one else was actually beneath them, how could he even think like that?
Gavin was never like that. He never saw hunting as a man's activity only, he was actually fond of doing it because he knew she adored it.
How she missed him so dearly, she wished to be reunited with him immediately for this substitution act had done nothing but put a stop to her actual life.
Marceline felt a hand on her wrist as she was swiftly turned around coming face to face with the prince.
" You wish to accompany me still, even though I have refused you?", Ashton asked as he stared at her small pale face, his hand still on her wrist as his eyes met hers with the same fierceness.
Something about that gaze made Marcy think of backing down but she stood her ground instead. " Yes, I will accompany.....", she replied firmly but couldn't say more as his index finger came resting on her lips as a sign for her to say no more.
Something about this posture made her stomach twirl, one of his hands was on her wrist and the other rested on her lips. She stared at his face, glancing once at his lips before resting her eyes on his handsome face.
" Then I shall see you Aurelia in the stable, fifteen minutes from now else you can kiss yourself accompanying I and Colin goodbye", Ashton stated coldly unaffected by her shocked expression as he walked out of the room not without keeping his royal crown safely, which was a symbol of his identity as crown prince.
Marcy stared at the empty room dumbfounded, was he threatening her, would he leave her behind if she did not make it in time?
She angrily kicked the nearest single chair as she worked her way towards removing this annoying dress.
Authors note:
Dearest readers, it has indeed been a wonderful break but I may have forgotten to tell you that updates only happen on weekdays so if you were upset then be upset no more because Aurelia is back on your screen. Say Hi if you are here right now..