Adelaide cleared her throat. She was caught off guard by his behavior.
"We had a peaceful journey, Your Highness," Adelaide replied while she fiddled with her fingers. She could not see through Ethan which left her feeling lost.
She was afraid that his actions were all a farce. Perhaps, he was trying to make her feel at home, then attack her.
Adelaide could not be blamed. She had heard numerous rumors about him, and sadly, those rumors could not be changed. She would rather do as her mother had said, tread carefully while she related with him.
"Brother, my Sister-in-law looks tired, so it is best she rests," the little girl spoke up, and Adelaide's attention was drawn to her.
Adelaide smiled on seeing her.
"Hi, my name is Pearl, and I'm Ethan's little sister, so that makes me your Sister-in-law, you can be friends with me," Pearl, the little girl introduced herself with a smile to which Adelaide returned with a smile of hers.
*******
Adelaide had been brought into Ethan's courtyard. After Ethan dropped her, he informed her to get used to the place, before he walked out hastily.
Adelaide sat on the big bed as her eyes observed the room. It was a big room, twice as large as hers.
She heaved a sigh, genuinely understanding that she had just been married.
How did she get married? She signed a contract. No ceremony befitting for a princess, but she did not mind. Her people were more important.
While she was in deep thought, someone walked into the room.
"Ohh, you are Ethan's bride," the person scoffed, which got Adelaide's attention.
Adelaide raised her head, and her eyes landed on a fair lady. She was dressed in gaudy clothes, but that did not diminish the lady's beauty.
"Yes, I am his bride, please who are you?" Adelaide asked politely. She didn't know who this lady was, and it was better not to offend her.
"I am Ethan's favorite concubine, do you understand what that means?" The lady replied as she raised her chin up with pride.
"Ohh!" Adelaide drew out with a blank expression.
She did not find it offensive. After all, Ethan was a handsome man, and also the Crown Prince. It was only normal for him to have women around him.
She would prefer he had women with him, as that would make him stay away from her. She was not ready to have any intimacy with him.
The said concubine frowned. Adelaide did not react the way she wanted her to. She thought that Adelaide would have thrown a fuss, then she would have used that to give Adelaide a bad name.
"You won't throw a fuss? Your husband has countless women surrounding him, don't you feel jealous?" The lady asked. She was trying her best to get on Adelaide's nerves.
"What is there to be jealous about? I just met him, and if he wants to be with the ladies, who am I to stop him? I am not an unreasonable lady," Adelaide replied with a natural tone.
"Penelope, what are you doing here?" The door to the bedroom was opened, and Pearl walked in, asking a question.
Penelope swallowed immediately. She feared Pearl. She was the youngest daughter and the only girl of the royal family, and Ethan spoiled her immensely.
"I asked a question, the proper thing you should do is give me a response, and not keep me waiting," Pearl was authoritative as she glared at Penelope who had her head lowered.
Adelaide watched the entire situation with widened eyes. She had no idea that the sweet girl who she spoke with earlier could change into someone different, her worldview seems to have been shattered.
"I only wanted to see Prince Ethan's bride," Penelope replied at once, her voice trembling in fear.
"Is that so?" Pearl asked with narrowed eyes.
"Yes, I promise, that is what I came here for," Penelope replied, her fingers shaking.
Adelaide, on the other hand, was quiet. Penelope was not telling the truth, but she would not comment on it. It was not her business.
"Now that you have seen her, what are you supposed to do?" Pearl asked, stressing each word.
"I understand, I will take my leave, have fun, Your Highnesses," Penelope answered, scurrying out of the room.
Pearl scoffed before she turned to look at Adelaide, who was staring at her with awe.
"Why are you staring at me that way? Is there something on my face?" Pearl asked as she touched her face uncertainly.
"Nothing, I am just awed by your actions," Adelaide replied stupidly, while Pearl chuckled.
"I know she was here to make trouble with you, actually, she is my brother's concubine in name, I can assure you that my brother has never slept with her, or any other woman," Pearl explained with a confident look.
Adelaide was at a loss. She wondered why Pearl was telling her this, it did not make sense to her.
"There are rumors that your brother had previous wives, and they all died, is that true?" Adelaide blurted out the question.
She only clamped her mouth shut when she realized that she had asked the wrong question.
Pearl chuckled in reply.
"I guess rumors fly faster than the truth itself," Pearl mumbled as she took a seat beside Adelaide, who became uncomfortable.
The young girl was enigmatic, and there was something about her aura which pulled people to her. Adelaide did not want to get close to her for fear that something could happen, and she would be blamed.
"What do you mean by that?" Adelaide asked curiously.
"My brother has never gotten married to anyone," Pearl laughed, finding the rumors to be unfounded.
"But the rumors," Adelaide protested.
"You said it yourself, rumors, it is not true," Pearl defended.
"Then if it isn't true, why is it making grounds? People tend to believe what they hear," Adelaide continued as she observed the girl, who had a thoughtful look on her face.
"Because that is what my brother wants, I have no idea why he did that, though," Pearl replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
Adelaide parted her lips to speak, but no words could be uttered.
She pondered on why someone decided to smear his name, and for what reason.