The sun rose high in the sky sending its beautiful golden rays through the palace curtains and windows. Aria's room was no exception to this beautiful morning scenery. The rays washed over her flawless skin sending waves of warmth through her young lush body. She fluttered her emerald eyes while yawning like a cat.
"Your behavior never ceases to amaze me, your highness."Aria turned her attention toward the direction of the voice and saw Greta flashing that motherly smile at her. She was about to smile back at her but then remembered that she had taken part in her father's plan yesterday. Greta knew that she was mad at her since then. She had every right to. But Greta was only following orders.
"Look princess, I know you are mad at me because of yesterday's incident. But if you could put yourself in my shoes, you can understand."Greta said, a glimmer of hope lighting her amber eyes.
"I totally understood why you had to do it. And I'm not mad at you of all the people, "Aria told happy calming her now sad spirit. Greta,s mood brightened and she suddenly hugged Aria out of the blue. When Aria did not hug her back, she broke from the hug embarrassed.
"Forgive my manners your highness, I just could not control myself."
"It's alright Greta. Come here and give me a hug."
"Really Princess.What if I am caught?"Greta asked fear evident in her voice. Aria gave her a nod and a reassuring smile sending the fear away from the poor maid. The two women hugged for what seemed an eternity, probably immersed in an emotional turmoil, before they broke away from the hug. Greta collected herself and went to fetch breakfast for the princess.
Meanwhile, Aria decided to take a bath before Greta came with breakfast. She picked a set of silken robes and went to her favorite bathing spot in the garden. She bathed here whenever she wanted to be alone.
Aria walked through the gardens of the palace, the lush greenery providing a natural barrier from the rest of the world. She walked past neatly trimmed hedges and brightly colored flowers, the sweet scent of blooming roses filling her nose.
As she reached the far end of the garden, she came upon a secluded spot she had discovered when she was younger. A small pond was surrounded by willow trees, and it was hidden away from prying eyes. The sound of water cascading over rocks and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze created a peaceful atmosphere.
Aria smiled as she remembered the first time she had found this spot. She had been running away from her lessons and had stumbled upon it. She had been enamored by the tranquility of the place and had made it her own secret place.
She approached the pond and sat on the bank, dipping her feet in the cool water. The water was clear, and she could see the fish swimming beneath the surface. Aria closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. The tension of the last days, the fear of being forced into marriage, it all slowly began to fade away as she sat in the peaceful garden.
She stood up, slipped out of her clothes, and slowly stepped into the pond. The cool water enveloped her, causing her to gasp for a moment before she settled into the sensation. She dipped her head under the water, washing away the stress and the tears of the previous days.
As she floated on her back, she opened her eyes and looked up at the sky, the sun shining through the branches of the willow trees and casting dappled light on the water. Aria felt at peace, and she knew she would come back to this spot, her secret sanctuary, whenever she needed to escape the weight of the world.
Minutes had passed and Aria needed to head back and have her breakfast. Greta was right. She needed strength to cope with everything that was happening in her life. Putting on the silken silky robe, she hurried through the hallways to her room. She didn't want to meet with her father lest he spoils her mood at this early hour of the day. As if talking of the devil himself, she almost ran on him while engrossed in her thinking. "Looks like you are blind nowadays your highness, "King Marcus asked Aria sarcastically. Aria did not want to get in trouble with the king so she ignored him and continued to her room. Marcus stood there surprised by his daughter's reaction. Had she started to hate him now? That fast?
Aria slammed the door to her room and leaned against it sighing heavily."Phew! That was close."She said speaking to no one in particular. Her thoughts were quickly disturbed by the sweet aroma of eggs and oatmeal displayed on the table and her stomach growled immediately. She had not eaten well these last few days of her fear of magic powers being discovered. Yesterday was when she had regained some appetite but it had been ruined by the unexpected news from her father. Today, she had nothing to stop at. She made her way across the table and put several eggs on her plate. A hot cup of coffee was waiting for her to do it some justice which she gladly did. She gulped its content down her mouth all the while stuffing eggs and oatmeal at the same time. Within a span of minutes, the whole table was clear. She picked an apple from the fruit dish and headed towards the garden.