"Had I not met you prior to this, I might have had a bad impression of you, Princess Vesta." Asterion raised his eyebrow, his meaning clear that he was displeased by her suggestion.
"No your highness, you are perceiving me wrong-" Vesta was still speaking when Asterion cut her off.
"Is that so?" His voice dropped by an octave.
"A maid will accompany you to my cousin's house. You should return back home with his majesty King Ignis tomorrow." Asterion said before taking a sharp turn and leaving a furious Vesta behind.
But she knew her limits. If she was to push this matter any further, she would lose Asterion's trust, which was the last thing she wanted.
Soon, just as Asterion had said, Doris entered.
"Your highness, I am here to accompany you to her highness Scylla's palace." Doris bowed before informing.
Left with no option, Vesta smiled meekly before following Doris to the gate where a carriage was waiting for them.
On the other hand, Asterion entered his chamber, only to find Ether the way he had left her.
"Which thought is occupying my wife's brain that she forgets about her husband this easily?" Asterion said in a serious tone, but after hearing Ether laugh at his statement, he could feel his heart melting.
"Asterion, honestly I don't want to hide anything from my father. But since you are lying to your parents for my sake, I can do the same.
But I had a request." Ether said, her voice lowering.
"Command your orders, my lady." Asterion said, bending to Ether's height who was sitting on the bed.
Ether blushed, lowering her head as a strand of her hair cascaded down her shoulder. And Asterion could feel his world slowing down there, at that very moment.
'I will protect her, even at the cost of my life.' It was a promise he made to himself with the pale blue walls, the majestic chandelier, the intricate golden hanging and some random ornaments being his witness to it.
"Can.. I watch father from afar?"
'Why are you stuttering again, fool?' Ether scolded herself again.
"On one condition." Asterion said, his tone serious.
"What condition?" Ether raised her head.
"This smile, it will only belong to me. No man gets the right to make you smile or laugh this beautifully. Will that do, princess?" Asterion tucked the hair strand behind her ear.
Ether stopped breathing. She could feel the lingering touch of his fingers over her cheek, and her ears, the most sensitive part of her body. But the worst was with her heart. It was beating so fast that she felt her chest might explode.
'Breath fool, breath.' She had to remind herself as the pink blush turned into full fledged tomato red, creeping all over her neck.
Asterion, feeling contented, finally rose up to his full height before extending his hand.
"Should we take a walk in our garden?" Asterion asked.
"Will that be alright? I mean what if anyone watches me or gets to know about my presence here?" Ether tensed up a bit.
"Let your husband worry about that." Asterion gave a mischievous smile.
Ether instantly placed her hand in his, getting up as well, a genuine smile replacing her tensed expression.
As expected, the halls, corridors were already cleared and no creature could be seen anywhere Ether went. But she felt grateful for having Asterion who was concerned about her during all this chaos.
They had been discussing how Asterion came up with this garden, how much effort the flowers needed, what flowers symbolise and a lot more.
Suddenly Ether stopped, her gaze locked on the ground.
"Are those Dianthus?" Ether asked, her expression changing ever so slightly.
"I am not sure. I do love paying attention to the garden, but lately I am not doing it." Asterion replied.
"How long have these been here?" Ether asked again, not giving much from her tone.
"Those were planted very late. Just a few months ago." Asterion just looked at Ether, not questioning anything.
"It would be better if you got those removed soon." Ether said, her eyes not diverting from the flowers.
"As you wish, princess." Asterion agreed without any buts.
Ether turned back to him, a little surprised about how Asterion didn't question her, or even reject her advice.
"Those are considered to snatch opportunities and you face failures. It won't be good for you, given that once the matter involving me dies, you would be crowned soon." Ether explained her intentions.
"They must have been planted without any knowledge. But thank you princess, you saved me from misfortune." Asterion smiled.
Ether nodded, before the couple resumed walking, enjoying their own little time.
"That's krocus right? I used to love that a lot back in our garden." Ether said before excitedly moving towards the plants of krocus.
"Yeah, the kitchen spends a lot of effort on cultivating and using them in my meals." Asterion explained.
"Can I pluck some flowers? My mother loves to use scents made from those!" Ether felt excited while reminiscing the past.
"On one condition." Asterion smiled again.
"No more teasing, your highness." Ether said while remembering the scene from their chamber earlier.
"Asterion. Call me Asterion." Asterion repeated.
"No, your highness. We are out right now. Even though no one is watching or listening, it would be unethical for me to call you by your first name." Ether turned back to face him, before her attention was back to the plants.
'I made the right choice.' Asterion felt.
"You can have those." Asterion said before holding her by shoulder and making her face him.
"This garden, every nook and corner of this palace, including the person standing here in front of you, belongs to you. So yes, you can literally destroy this entire place even if you want to, I won't mind." Asterion said, already on the path of making his wife the most spoiled princess in the world.
"Your highness." Ether said, turning back towards the plants, tears threatening to fall.
Nobody had treated her with this much importance as Asterion did. She tried to take deep breaths, hoping to calm herself down when suddenly her eyes opened wide.
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What happened to Ether? Don't forget to comment your opinion. Also, I would be grateful if you all could take out a few minutes and leave a review for the book. Thank you lovelies!!
- Kizy