lovely crown

Old Mick came out from the other side of the store then, his face showed he had been listening in. "Pay him no mind, if he shows up again, that book over there," he pointed to one that was about five inches thick and sat on one of the top shelves. "If wielded right, can knock a full grown man out." He smiled.

"Thank you," she giggled at the thought of doing that.

"Do you wish your circumstances were different?" He asked.

"Yes." Crown replied without hesitation. "I don't even know if it's really my life I'm living. I feel disconnected from something, I feel like a floating object on some days." She turned around to go stand behind the counter. "The only good I can see now is that I'm not going to marry Darius. I look back and I don't even remember why I agreed to such arrangement." She wiped the counter absent mindedly. "If only this prince wasn't what he was, I would be very grateful for it, but he isn't. And I fear I'm only going to suffer a worse fate."

"You will do well Crown."

"That's what everyone says, I'm starting to feel like it's all anyone can say in this matter." Her eyes stained with tears.

"Oh no child, I say that because I've known you all your years. I've never known you to go down without a fight, you are soft, yet strong. If a band of thieves were to walk in through that door now, guess who will dry those eyes and rise to stand against them?"

"Me?"

"No one else but you, my lovely Crown." He took a step towards her. "Tahu isn't ready for all that you are, and all that you can be. I'm sure you will hold up your own." He encouraged her. "Oh, you are going to shake their city from it's foundation and make your mark. I'm sure of it."

Crown smiled then. "Thank you Mick." Her voice gentle.

"Ah, do you hear that?" He put a hand to his ear like one listening for something.

"What is it?" Crown looked around furrowing her brows.

"Angels. They are fighting over who gets to watch you smile everyday for they've never seen something so beautiful in all ages."

"Oh old Mick, you say the funniest things." She laughed then.

"Oh child, you should definitely laugh more often. I make music, but nothing I've ever writing can touch a soul much, like the sound of your laughter, and even more beautiful is the vessel it comes from."

"I will miss you, and your words."

"We can say the same." His wife's voice came from behind them. "Will you join us for dinner tonight Crown?"

"Oh I can't impose." She started to reject.

"Impose? Why would you say that, you will be leaving us soon so it will be nice to host you to dinner before you get swept up in wedding preparations."

"Honour us," Old Mick added.

"You know what, it's settled. You will stay." Mila said. "I'd make sure your mother knows so she doesn't worry. I'd go start on dinner okay."

Crown nodded.

"I'd let you get back to work." Old Mick said as he followed his wife back where she came from.

When Crown left the home of Old Mick that night she did so with a smile on her face and a filled belly.

Dinner was delicious, and the company was a well needed delight filled with warmth.

Crown walked home quietly with an extra bowl of food that Mila had packed up for her to go with. Old Mick told her she was free to stop working whenever she wanted and that her full pay would still given to her. She said her good night and left them in a happy mood. 

"There she is, she's well deserving to be the wife of a beast." Someone said from a group of six men she passed along the way. 

"Of course, she always wanted to be part of that world so bad and now the stars have granted her wish." Another added.

"It's a death trap," someone else spoke.

"Who else deserves it but her." The first person replied. It was dark and she had no idea who it really was but she wasn't far enough from them to miss the voice of Darius in the group. She felt disappointed in him and once more was thankful their marriage fell through. 

Her once happy mood almost ruined, she clutched the bowl of food she carried closer to her heart. 

This was going to be the longest two weeks of her life.

She fastened her pace, she couldn't wait to be home for one, and the other she feared that if she didn't she was going to head back to Darius and give her a piece of her mind.

He was an immature man and wasn't ready to sit and talk through things with her. What a pity. 

If she was to be faulted for the turn of events, then his anger was to be very much justified but she wasn't. Although deep down, she didn't care much as to how it affected him and that was the only reason she believed his reaction was acceptable but if he continued in such manner, she would have to set him straight.