Aileen waited anxiously for his arrival. And when she saw the carriage arrive in the palace gate, she nearly broke her ankle with how fast her ran in her heels.
Just as he reached the top of the steps she burst through the doors and leaped towards him. He spun her around laughing as they hugged.
"Ah there's my girl, how have you been."
Aileen smiled and said muffled into his shoulder. "I'm better now that you're here."
Sebastian let out a laugh and then put her down.
"Let's go inside shall we?"
Aileen nodded and then wrapped her arm around his.
From the outside it could look like a romantic relationship, but it had always been that way with them, from a very young age they had been affectionate towards each other.
It was early morning so Aileen had loads planned for them to do today. There were five days until her marriage and Daniel had been gone for five days already and would be back in 3 days.
Aileen gave Sebastian a tour of the palace, and all her favorite spots she had discovered since being allowed to roam the palace freely.
She even brought him up to the terrace of the music room. He even played the piano for her, she sat next to him and tried to play a simple song, and when she failed he made fun of her.
However what Aileen was oblivious to was the look Sebastian had towards her. Another thing she didn't see coming was the fact that Daniel had alerted his parents he was on his way back, as there was a problem and they were sending him back. He hadn't traveled far either, maybe about two hours away.
So as the clocked ticked Daniel arrived back at the palace.
As he came down a hall with his advisors, he heard the loud laugh of Aileen before he saw her.
And then she rounded the corner as Sebastian chased after her, picking her up and spinning her around.
Daniel paused where he was walking, his advisors stopping as well. With a wave of his hand he dismissed them.
He stared down the hallway, his mood darkening.
Aileen was still laughing until she looked up and saw Daniel.
She gasped and then whispered. " Put me down."
He put her down carefully and then looked in her direction, and then he saw Daniel.
Aileen approached him. "Greetings your highness... I thought you weren't supposed to be back for another three days..."
Daniel looked down at her with disdain.
"Well that's no longer the case... I need to speak with you."
Aileen was confused and looked back at Sebastian mouthing to him "Wait for me". And then she felt a strong grip on her wrist pulling her down along the hallway.
They went down the hallway until they reached his office.
He flung the door open and pushed her inside before him.
Aileen was still confused and sat down on a sofa in the room.
Daniel paced the room, seeming like he was trying to find the right words to use. Then he faced her, the same glare on his face.
"Do you think it's appropriate for you to be seen with a man so close like that right in front of your betrothed, your future king?"
Aileen let out a laugh. But more of a shocked laugh.
"I'm sorry, since when did you care."
Daniel scoffed.
"Dont flatter yourself, I could care less about who you spend your time with, what I mean is being that close with another man right in front of the advisors."
Aileen twisted her face.
"Excuse me? And he's not just some man, he's my closest friend, and we've always been that way, I'm not going to ruin my friendship just because yo-"
Daniel cut her off, "And I'm not going to look like a fool because there's a child running around my home who only wants to do and say foolish things!!"
Aileen fought back the tears.
"I'm not a child, you are so quick to call me out on your status and title, but don't forget I'll be right there beside you, as your wife and as queen. I understand that you don't like me.... Actually No, I don't understand why you have such contempt for me. I don't know you, and you don't know me, and this marriage wasn't my choice. If I could go home right now I would, but I was told I'm doing my duty, so I'm sorry if you can't agree with that. But I'm tired of being treated so poorly by a man who is the last man on God's green earth that I would ever ever want to marry! You call me a child but you are the one who has maintained the same personality as you had seven years ago! I was willing to be cordial but it's hard to do that when someone looks at you like you're the scum of the earth Everytime they see you!!"
Aileen was fuming now, she had even raised her voice at him, and as he stood watching her, she got up and slammed his door open before the harsh clicking of her heels faded down the hallway.
Aileen had rounded the corner and ran almost right into Sebastian's chest.
"Leena?" Sebastian called her by her nickname.
She was trying to hold her tears back. But she knew it was no use, Sebastian would know.
So instead she just walked forward into his embrace. And then they walked back up to her room.
He sat on the edge of her bed next to her and she started to explain.
"I don't know why he hates me, it's honestly so ridiculous. He's hated me since the day I met him, you would think after seven years he would have forgotten whatever it could have been that I did to upset him that day, but no. He looks at me like I'm the dirtiest thing on this planet, and he makes me feel like I'm just going to be miserable and worthless here... I mean it's not like I want to marry him either, so I really don't know what his problem is."
Sebastian patted her head.
"I think you will be okay, and if it doesn't work, he'll realize what he lost too late, and you can come home and be happy, and he'll be stuck here miserable that he missed his chance with the awesome Aileen Chiron."
Aileen laughed. She knew he was trying to make her feel better because she doubted Daniel would ever feel that way towards her.
She said goodnight and Sebastian went back to his guestroom.
As she lay in bed she grimaced at the thought of facing him tomorrow.