"Jackson!" His mother reprimanded.
"I'm highly disappointed in you! Is this the son I raised?" She glared harshly at him.
"It's not her fault you both got married!" She added.
He watched his mother for a while, and turned his gaze on the woman he was now married to. It actually wasn't her fault, but he couldn't stop that voice in his head pinning all the blames on her. Their both parents had made this decision for them years ago, not minding how they would feel about it. Of course they might have done it for their own selfish interests or perhaps for the betterment of their children. But still, he couldn't help but think that if only she had fought this union as much as he had, then they wouldn't be having that conversation. He didn't hear the end of how he was the disobedient one, he didn't hear the end of how she was compliant and he wasn't.
"I said what I said Mum. We didn't even sign any legal papers after all. Once I get Dad off my case and business, I'm getting out of this sham of a marriage." Before anyone could say anything, he walked out.
Ella had never felt so hurt or humiliated. When everything was done, she was the one who would bear the brunt of it all. Why did it seem like everything was going down hill? Why did it seem like her life was going down hill?
"I want a separate room from him." She blurted. Her voice was heavy from so many emotions.
"Doing that would hinder any form of a make up between you two." Ella couldn't stop herself from fisting her hands in horror. She felt like the pawn in their dirty games.
"I would have a maid show me to a separate room in our building." She forced a smile on her face as she stood, paying no mind to the woman's words.
"My daughter you have to try-"
"I can't try!" She suddenly blurted.
"I'm sorry but, this is not on me." She added, staring unblinkingly at the queen who stared at her for a long time before saying,
"I understand."
"Good night, my queen." Ella mumbled while walking out. "Good night, Bella."
*
*
In the confines of her room, Ella inhaled, breathing in the musty smell that lingered in it. It obviously had not been in use for sometime now, the dusty surface of the bedside drawers were enough proof. This would have to do.
Wanting to take a bath, she wriggled out of the body con lace dress that she had been wearing since early that morning, already regretting turning the maid's offer to help her settle in, down. After taking a warm bath to suit her aching muscles, she got dressed in a crimson coloured night dress. The crimson coloured one; it was the one her mother had laid out for her special night with the prince, but with how things were, nothing was happening between the both of them anytime soon, if ever.
However, she was relieved that she didn't have to give herself to any man just yet. It all felt rushed in the first place, she didn't think she was ready for it.
She reached for her hair with the intention of taking out all the pins and beads in it, and as she did that she let her mind wander to the heated disagreement that had taken place at the sitting room of the main palace building. She couldn't help but feel like she and the prince were the pawns in the games of their parents. What did they get by making sure they both got married? What did she get? Was it a secured future? If yes, what did the prince stand to gain?
After taking out all the foreign objects in her hair, her braids were let loose, and she laid down on the bed, staring up at the fanciful ceiling. The room was plain with just a bed, bed side drawers and a chair at the far end. It wasn't fit for a princess, but it was okay for her, she wasn't a princess until a few hours ago anyway.
Reminiscing the events of the day and imaging how differently everything would have turned out if it had not been a loveless marriage, but a marriage of love, she soon fell asleep.
Morning rolled by too soon, but she had to get up and prepare breakfast for her husband. She stood to her feet, groaning loudly as she stretched. She found her way into the bathroom despite how tired and sleepy she felt and was out in about fifteen minutes. It was just six in the morning, and she really could have decided to remain in bed, but she had a goal to reach.
She had a heart to win.
After thinking everything through at night, she had come to the conclusion that it wasn't the prince's fault, it wasn't bad to be upset.
He had the right to be, but she planned on working towards changing his mind and making the marriage work. Whether she liked it or not, he was her husband, her responsibility. Her starting point in making the marriage work was preparing his every meal.
As the saying went, 'the way to a man's heart is his stomach ' She wanted to experiment on that saying. With that in mind, she got dressed in a loose lilac coloured dress which reached just above her knees before she pranced her way out of the room in a content mood.
When she was finally able to locate the kitchen, she was greeted by a shocking sight. There against the fridge, was a maid having her face sucked off by a guard. Ella stood transfixed for sometime, not knowing what to do. Should she interrupt or should she just go back out and pretend like she never walked in on that? She had never beheld a real life make-out session. She only read those in books and some of the times, watched them in movies. But this, this was different. Her poor innocent eyes.
"Ahem!" She cleared her throat to get their attention, only to have them jump apart from each other like the other was on fire. "Did I interrupt something?" She cocked a brow up in askance, feigning innocence.
"N-no mm-y p-rincess." They stuttered in a chorus. "It's not what you think, my princess." The guard bowed deeply. "Hm. If what you think I'm thinking is actually what I'm thinking, then it's very well what I think," She folded her arms behind her.
"You both should be doing duties, but here you are sucking each other's face off. What should I do with you both?" She mumbled seriously.
"I'm sorry my princess, it wouldn't happen again." The maid said. Her fear was palpable, while the guard had a neutral expression on his face. The maid was the same one who had offered to help her settle in yesterday, while the guard, she wasn't sure she had seen him before.
"Forgive us, my princess. It is actually my fault, i-" Ella held up her hand, making the guard go silent mid sentence.
"Next time when you want to do something like this, do it far away from me and my kitchen." She warned. "Yes princess, it wouldn't happen again." They both chorused. She waved the guard off, and turned to the maid who played with her fingers nervously, looking everywhere but at her.
"What's your name?" Ella asked. "Arinze, my princess." She curtsied. "Call me, Ella when we're alone." She demanded. "Yes, prin-Ella." Arinze quickly corrected herself.
"Good."
"Did you need something, Ella? You're not supposed to be here." Arinze stared at her expectantly, eager to serve the new addition to the royal family.
"Why?" Ella frowned.
"Because you're a royal now." Arinze stated like it was the most logical thing to say. "Who laid down that silly rule? Royals not entering the kitchen? Pft! That's lame!" She scoffed.
"It isn't a rule, it's just that roy-" Arinze started to say, but was cut off by Ella.
"I beg to differ, Arinze. I'm unlike any other royal you've ever come across. I'm my own person, and I determine what I do as a ROYAL, and from today, I choose to make my husband's every meal." She said, moving around to inspect everything in the kitchen.
"Oh." Arinze gaped.
"And of course, you're welcome to assist me if you want." Ella added with a wide smile. Was this real or was it a dream? Arinze thought. Most female royals she had ever encountered couldn't even cut onion, and here was one offering to cook. She had to remind herself that Ella wasn't a born royal, but even at that. Arinze could swear on her life that if she was ever opportune to become a royal, she would never step her foot in the kitchen all in the name of cooking.
"Of course, I will assist you, Ella. It's my pleasure." She smiled.
"Alright! Lets get started then. My husband needs breakfast to function for the day." She enthusiastically stated, while Arinze blinked.
"He doesn't eat breakfast." She blurted out.
"What?" Ella asked with a look of shock on her face. Who doesn't eat breakfast?