Ether took his help, his hand feeling warm compared to the temperature outside which was cold as it was still early morning.
Once seated inside, she turned to face him, her eyes showing the confusion from Asterion's earlier statement as she waited patiently for him to answer.
"I am sure that the news about your disappearance must have reached the Royal palace. Yet there is no action from their side.
Yesterday, it was already quite late hence that was acceptable. But not now.
Either they are already on their way to pay me a visit. Which would be a little hard as this will include hiding you from their eyes.
Or maybe they are waiting for me to show up and explain, which would be suspicious given the circumstances. They shouldn't remain so calm after all." Asterion spoke as his mind seemed elsewhere.
Ether stopped questioning, knowing she shouldn't be prying much into the family matters as she was still new to the place.
She instead turned her attention ahead, identifying that the coachman was the Titan, the vice captain.
Her brows knitted in confusion as she recalled that the Prince had mentioned his captain knowing about her presence.
'Did he also inform the vice captain? I don't think so. Then what happened to the captain though?' Ether thought, knowing that something was wrong.
Ether had always been like this, carefully assessing everything in her mind without telling others about it. She kept everything to herself because the number of people who treated her well could be counted on fingers.
Though very few people were aware of how quick witted she was. Her analysis was usually on point, though she never mentioned it out loud.
"I changed the captain." Asterion said as if reading her mind.
Ether had always maintained her calm exposure, not giving away anything that went through her mind.
But her experience with Asterion from yesterday spoke the opposite. Even her parents never succeeded in guessing what she was feeling if Ether wanted to keep it from them.
Yet the man sitting beside her was capable of reading her mind, as if she was an open book, that too not just once.
"Your highness-" Ether wanted to speak when the carriage came to a halt.
"We have arrived." Titan announced.
"Let's go." Asterion said to which Ether nodded before getting up.
They both climbed down the carriage, walking a few steps before Asterion stopped near a turn.
"You will have to stay here. His family will be there." Asterion said, hinting that according to others she was still missing.
Hence she shouldn't be seen at a public place like this.
"Yes, your highness." Ether said while stopping there as Asterion nodded and left.
She watched the entire ritual from the shadows, countless thoughts crossing her mind as she watched the family of four mourning right in front of her eyes.
By the time Asterion returned to her side, she had somehow managed to compose herself.
"I will drop you and pay a visit to the Royal Palace. Have some breakfast till then." Asterion said on the ride back home.
"If you dislike anything in our chamber, you can get it changed. I will return by noon and we can have our lunch together.
I feel guilty for not giving you proper time since our wedding. But don't worry, I won't leave you again." Asterion affirmed.
Ether only nodded.
Asterion knew that he would have to put in more efforts for Ether to open up to him. He could only imagine the kind of past she had experienced to turn this way.
Her brain was always thinking about one thing or the other, but none of them was expressed in front of anyone.
"We have reached." Titan announced as the prince and princess climbed out of the carriage.
Asterion had decided to walk Ether back to the chamber and then visit the royal palace when someone called out loud.
"Brother!! Brother, where are you?" A female voice shouted.
"Nerine?" Asterion sounded puzzled as he held Ether's hand and walked ahead while hiding her behind him.
Asterion was holding Ether's hand in a gentle but firm grip, his mind on high alert while crossing the corridors of his palace.
Ether was blindly following him, unaware of what the situation was when Asterion suddenly stopped in tracks.
The sudden stop caused Ether to collide into Asterion's back making her head dizzy.
"Careful, princess." He said, a momentary smile visible on his face which faded away instantly.
Asterion turned sideways and opened the door to what looked like some guest chamber.
"Stay here for sometime. Do not leave this room." Asterion instructed before turning around, and opening the door.
He took one last glance at Ether before closing the door behind him.
As the sound of footsteps faded, Ether walked around the chamber. Just like the remaining palace, this chamber too was painted in blue with gold accentuating the overall sight.
'His highness is a little.. mischievious I must say.' She thought to herself while replaying his small smile.
Her mind went back to her country, her parents, family and friends. Now that she was all by herself, she missed them more.
'Do they know about me? I hope they won't. They already have Vesta to distress upon. I don't want to be a headache to them even after leaving the country.' Ether thought.
"We won't be meeting each other again." Suddenly Vesta's last statement rang in her mind countless times.
She pondered over it, again and again before her eyes went wide with disbelief.
The scenes from last evening - the falling of the old tree, a huge rock hitting their carriage - all those moments playing in front of her eyes.
"She wants me dead?" It wasn't a question but more like a correct guess which she voiced out loud.
But the fact that she had been attacked twice said the other way.
No one was stupid enough to play such measly tricks for killing Prince Asterion. Forget killing, but this wouldn't have even harmed him in the slightest.
Which only meant one thing. The target was her, not him. And unfortunately, they had almost succeeded in completing the deed.
'I shouldn't let down my guards.' Ether told herself.
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- Kizy