After spending more minutes discussing about random topics, the two young ladies finally decided it was time to step out of the cozy cottage to enjoy some fresh air. Mary had changed from a plain cotton gown into a fine blue linen dress with a white skirt apron. Her hair was swept up into a simple bun with a basket in hand as they had decided to stroll the town.
"I wonder if they have any of those lovely scent candles at the market." Mary said, she paused and turned to look at Aurora. "Do you remember the ones with jasmine scent we saw the other day?" She added, her mind wandering back to the time they had visited the market together and came across those scented candles but Mary didn't have enough coins with her so she had missed out on a good deal but now she had saved enough.
Aurora's lips twitched to the side. "That…I already bought that last week."
"Oh." Mary muttered, a small frown settling on her face which she quickly replaced with a smile. "Aren't you a lucky one." She said and turned the handle to the door.
Something about the was she said those words sounded off to Aurora, thinking her friend was upset she said. "I am really sorry. I…
"Why are you apologizing like you did something wrong." Mary chuckled and took a step out the cottage. "You really are too kind."
"I thought you were upset." Aurora's brow furrowed with concern as she followed her friend from behind.
"Why would I be?" Mary said and Aurora sighed in relief.
Mary and aurora both came from a poor background but few years back, Aurora's father business suddenly struck gold. This allowed them to renovate their shabby old cottage and have given Aurora access to more valuable items, one Mary still couldn't afford and although Mary assured she was fine, Aurora still couldn't help but feel off talking about things she own.
Outside, Aurora spotted Adrian chopping down woods with the axe he held earlier. She also noticed that Adrian had removed his shirt, revealing a toned set of abs. He was clearly putting a lot of effort into his task, swinging the axe with precision and strength. With each stroke, a small groan escaped his lips, as if he was pushing himself to the limit.
Aurora's gaze lingered a moment too long, and she quickly looked away, feeling a flush of heat rising in her cheeks. She wasn't sure if it was the sight of Adrian's physique or the way he groaned.
"Where are you girls off to?" Adrian asked, his tone teasing and his breathing heavy.
"That's none of your business," Mary replied, her voice firm.
Adrian scoffed, clearly not deterred by his sister's cold response. He turned his attention to Aurora, whose eyes were fixed on her feet, as if she was trying to avoid eye contact. "What about you, Aurora? Are you going to tell me what you're up to?" he asked, a playful smirk on his face.
Aurora glanced at Adrian, his attention fixed on her. She then turned to Mary, who shook her head, indicating that she shouldn't divulge too much information. Aurora hesitated for a moment. On the one hand, she didn't want to give away any information that Mary didn't want to share. On the other hand, she felt compelled to be honest with Adrian, who was clearly expecting a more detailed answer.
After a brief pause, Aurora replied, "Uhm... well, we were going for a walk," keeping her answer simple.
Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with the answer. "Just a walk?" he remarked with a glint in his eyes.
Seeing her brother wouldn't give up so easily, Mary stepped in, her voice firm. "Yes, just a walk, Adrian. Now, if you'll excuse us, we'd like to enjoy our stroll in peace."
Adrian let out a dramatic sigh, but he relented, taking a step back. "All right, all right, no need to get so serious. Have a good walk, ladies."
With that, Mary and Aurora continued on their way to the market, leaving Adrian behind, still swinging his axe in the hot sun.
"Why did you lie to you brother?" Aurora asked as they already went along distance from her cottage.
Mary glanced at Aurora. "I didn't exactly lie," she explained. "I just didn't want to share too much. You know how Adrian is, he can be quite... persistent. And sometimes, it's better to keep certain things to ourselves." She said.
Which was the truth, as although Adrian could behave in a childlike manner, he was also very protective of Mary and dealing with that was way worse than dealing with a man child.
As Mary and Aurora made their way to the town market, the sights, sounds, and smells of the bustling town assaulted their senses. The market was a vibrant, colorful place, where vendors sold all manner of wares, from fragrant fruits and vegetables to colorful bolts of fabric and glittering jewels. The air was thick with the savory scent of meat cooking on grills, making their mouths water. The clamor of voices rose and fell, as people haggled over prices and bartered for the best deals.
Mary's eyes lit up as they approached a stall that displayed an array of scented candle. The candles were arranged in different, shapes and sizes and the scent from them were delightful. She picked on up with a lavender scent and gave took in a gentle sniff, a smile spread across her face.
"This one smells wonderful," Mary commented, holding the candle out for Aurora to smell.
Aurora leaned in and took a whiff, her eyes closing briefly as she savored the fragrance. "It does," she agreed. "Do you want this one then?" Aurora asked.
Mary stared at the candle in her hands, thinking for a moment before shaking her head. "Let's get the one with jasmine scent, that's why we came here in the first place isn't it?" She said, her eyes searching for the jasmine candle among the rest.
Aurora's fell on a stall showcasing intricate handmade jewelry, where Aurora admired a delicate silver necklace adorned with a small sapphire.
"Isn't this beautiful?" Aurora remarked, holding up the necklace for Mary to see.
Mary's eyes widened as she admired the necklace. "It's absolutely stunning," she replied. "Do you think you might get it?"
Aurora gently placed the necklace back on the stall. "Not today," she said with a small smile. "Mother said I should be more careful with my spending."
Mary looked over at her friend, she shook her head and returned to her attention to her scented candles.
As Mary admired the scented candles, Aurora's attention drifted once more to a familiar face in the bustling market. Her expression soured, and she muttered under her breath, "Not him again." She let out a frustrated sigh, casting an annoyed glance in Richard's direction, who was busy flirting with few other maidens.
Mary, noticing Aurora's discomfort, turned her gaze in the direction of the unwelcome admirer. She smiled and called. "Richard!" Waving at him.
Aurora groaned silently hoping to be swallowed from the face of the earth. Her frown only deepened as he now walked in their direction.
"Good day Mary, Aurora." His gaze shifted from Mary who bowed her head slightly and then to Aurora.
Aurora glared directly at him, as her hand clenched to the side. She wanted anything than to be here with in his presence.
"Why do you always look discomforted by my presence, I've told you, a frown doesn't suit your face." He said and made to touch her face but she took a step back and he returned his hand to his side. His fist tightened, trying to refrain himself from acting out of control.
"I think you know the answer to that." Aurora replied, her eyes rolled to the side. But this little gesture only made Richard let out a deep chuckle. Everything about her was so mesmerizing, no matter how hard she tried. He was still fantisized over her beauty.
Mary noticing her friend's rude behavior cleared her throat and chimed in. "She's just having a bad day. That's all." A smile graced her face as she stared directly at his blue eyes. Unlike Aurora, Mary had a thing for Richard, not only did he come from a very wealthy family. He was also quiet and handsome young man who had a thing with the ladies.
It wasn't unknown to them how many girls he had laid with, and that was one of the reasons for Aurora's deep-seated resentment towards him. He seemed solely fixated on her physical appearance, always seeking an opportunity to pursue her. In a town where women were forbidden to even be alone with a man, it was a stark contrast to witness how men enjoyed their freedom, often praised for their conquests and escapades.
Aurora didn't want to have any involvement with a man who only lust over her beauty, as she knew they would only fade away as time passes. Then what happens next? She would be thrown aside while her husband entertain the young and fresh. She just couldn't deal with that, she thought staring at the man before her, her frown only deepening.
Instead she wanted a man who was strong and hardworking, a man who was handsome of course and one who value and respect women. A man like Adrian.
A small smile creeped in the corner of her face thinking about Adrian. An image of his toned abs flashed in her mind, which only caused her pale cheek to stained with a pink pigment.