Aurora approached her father, Emperor Alexander, with curiosity piqued. She had been thinking nonstop about the third prince of Surlian, Asher, since the previous night's banquet where they had danced together. The memory of his touch and the way he had looked at her sent a shiver down her spine.
"Father," she began, her voice filled with intrigue. "Can I ask you something about Prince Asher?"
Emperor Alexander looked at his daughter, noting the excitement in her eyes and the rosy blush on her cheeks. He smiled, recognizing that look all too well.
"Of course, my dear," he replied, his tone warm and affectionate. "What is it that you would like to know about Prince Asher?"
Emperor Alexander looked at his daughter, noting the excitement in her eyes and the rosy blush on her cheeks. He smiled, recognizing that look all too well.
"Of course, my dear," he replied, his tone warm and affectionate. "What is it that you would like to know about Prince Asher?"
Aurora took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts."Well, I was just wondering... what kind of person is Prince Asher?" she asked, her voice slightly hesitant. "I only spent a few moments with him at the banquet, but I couldn't help but feel drawn to him."
Emperor Alexander chuckled softly, his gaze softening as he looked at his daughter. He was familiar with the effect Asher had on people, especially women.
"Prince Asher, eh?" he began, his tone gently amused. "He is quite the charmer, that one. Many ladies swoon over him, but there is more to him than just his charm and good looks."
"Asher is a kind-hearted and respectful young man," Emperor Alexander continued, his voice tinged with pride. "He has a sharp mind and a strong sense of devotion to his kingdom and family. He can be quite serious and aloof at times, but he has a soft spot for those he cares about."
He looked at Aurora with a knowing glance. "Is there a reason you're so curious about him, my dear?"
Aurora's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink at her father's question. She had hoped that her curiosity wasn't too obvious, but it seemed her father had seen right through her.
"Well..." she began, her voice a bit timid. "I just... I found the Prince quite interesting, and I was wondering if I would ever have the chance to see him again."
Emperor Alexander smiled, realizing that his daughter's interest in Prince Asher went beyond mere curiosity.
"I see," he said, his tone laced with understanding. "You're wondering if you'll have the opportunity to meet him again, perhaps even get to know him better?"
Aurora nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "Yes," she replied, her voice slightly breathless. "I just... I can't stop thinking about him. I want to learn more about him, spend more time with him."
Emperor Alexander chuckled softly, recognizing the familiar signs of infatuation in his daughter's voice and expression. He could see how much the prince had captivated her, and he found it both amusing and endearing.
"Well," he said, his tone gentle. "You never know when fate may bring you together again. Maybe another occasion will arise where you can spend more time with Prince Asher."
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Aria's mind replayed the moment when Archer had grabbed her waist and pulled her close, right in front of Ethan. She was still trying to process what had happened. Why did he do that? They are enemies, aren't they? The memory of the feel of his hand on her waist sent a shiver down her spine.
Mia, who had been quietly attending to Aria's hair, sensed her lady's unease. She knew something was troubling Aria and decided to speak up.
"Your highness," she began, her voice soft yet concerned. "You seem troubled. Is there something weighing on your mind?"
Aria looked up at Mia, her eyes reflecting a mixture of frustration and confusion. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking.
"It's just last night," she began, her voice tinged with a hint of irritation. "Archer... he did something that I can't stop thinking about."
Mia raised an eyebrow in curiosity, sensing that there was more to the story.
"Go on, your highness," she prompted, her focus firmly on Aria. "What did the prince Archer do that's got you so bothered?"
Aria's cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled the moment. She couldn't believe she was discussing this with her maid, but she felt the need to talk it out.
"He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me closer to him," she explained, her voice laced with a hint of embarrassment. "It was so... unexpected. And he did it right in front of Ethan."
Aria smiled slightly at the memory of elbowing Archer in the stomach. "I elbowed him in the stomach, of course," she said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "I wasn't going to let him just pull me around like that."
Mia chuckled softly, amused by the princess' tenacity. "Good for you, your highness," she said, a small smile on her lips. "You showed him that you won't let him get away with such behavior."
Aria huffed in frustration, "Not only did he grab me by the waist and pull me closer," she said, her voice tinged with irritation, "but he also had the audacity to call me 'Ari'! Can you believe it? I told him only my family can call me that. And do you know what he said in response?"
"What did he say?" Mia asked.
"He said," Aria continued, her tone growing increasingly frustrated, "that one day, he might just become my husband. And then he would have every right to call me 'Ari.' The nerve of that man!"
Mia listened intently, her eyes widening in surprise at Archer's arrogant declaration.
"The prince certainly has a lot of confidence," she said, a mix of amusement and disbelief in her voice. "He really believes he stands a chance to marry you one day?"
"It seems that way," Aria replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "He clearly thinks highly of himself. As if I would ever consider marrying someone like him."
"Let's go outside." She said.
Mia nodded, understanding that Aria needed to clear her head. "Of course, your highness," she said gently. "A little fresh air might do you good."
Together, Aria and Mia stepped out into the garden, the cool morning air brushing against their faces. The garden was a haven of tranquility, with the sweet scent of flowers wafting through the air and birds singing in the trees.
Aria took a deep breath, savoring the freshness of the morning. Her frustration from earlier was still there, but the peaceful surroundings helped to soothe her troubled mind.
As they walked through the garden, Aria's eyes spotted her half- sister, Aurora, seated on a nearby bench. She was deep in thought, her gaze fixed on the flowers in front of her.
Aria approached her half-sister, her steps soft and careful. "Aurora?" she called out gently.
Aurora looked up at the sound of her name, her gaze meeting Aria's. She smiled slightly, acknowledging her half-sister's presence.
"Aria, hello," she said, her voice soft and quiet.
Aria sat down beside Aurora on the bench. As she did so, she couldn't help but wonder where their other sisters were.
"Have you seen Stella or Scarlett anywhere?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Aurora looked up and smiled. "Stella is hanging out with Matthew, per usual. And Scarlett is most likely in her room, reading the love letters from Austin for the hundredth time."
Aria nodded, a hint of amusement in her expression. "Ah, typical. Stella and Matthew are always together, and Scarlett can never get enough of Austin's love letters, it seems."
Aria sees no distinction between Aurora being her half-sister or her own sister. To her, family is family, and she loves Aurora just as much as her other sisters, Stella and Scarlett.
"So, I noticed you were enjoying yourself on the dance floor last night," Aria said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Who was that handsome prince you were dancing with?"
Aurora's cheeks flushed slightly at Aria's question, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Oh, you mean Prince Asher?" she replied, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "He was ah quite a charming dance partner."
Aria feigned surprise, "Charming, you say?" she teased, a smirk forming on her face. "Did you happen to enjoy his company a little too much, my dear sister?"
Aurora's cheeks grew even redder, and she looked away. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled, trying to hide the hint of a smile on her lips. "He was just a friendly dance partner, that's all. Nothing more."
Aria chuckled softly, clearly not buying Aurora's feigned nonchalance. "Oh, really?" she said, her tone filled with playful sarcasm. "Just a friendly dance partner, huh? I saw the way you were blushing and giggling during your dance with him."
Aurora was growing flustered by Aria's persistent teasing, so she decided to make a strategic retreat.
"I have to go," she mumbled, standing up hurriedly. "I have some things to do." With that, she scurried away, leaving a smirking Aria behind.