society

Only half a day spent here and she was bored out of her mind. She now appreciated spending her time in Old Mick's store and the defense school even more. Also she was dreading the night she would be spending with Zaccai. And she didn't want to think about how her presentation to this society was going to go. One thing was sure, she wasn't going to enjoy it. 

"Eli!" She yelled walking away from the window at last. 

"Yes miss." 

"What exactly am I to do with all this free time?"

Eli smirked before answering. "Respectfully my lady you aren't exactly meant to have such free time."

"What do you mean?"

"Well it is the day after your wedding. You were to be otherwise engaged."

"Engaged?" Crown asked. She was lost for a moment but then she realised. "You don't mean. . ."

Eli bowed her head and wisely hid a smile.

"Why would you even say that?"

"It's just the order of things princess. The Prince was to attend to all your needs for the next two days."

"And you?" 

"Rightfully I was to begin working for you tomorrow but the prince had me summoned earlier."

"And now you are here."

"Yes my lady."

"What do you think of me?"

"It's not my place to form an opinion of you."

"But surely you have one."

"It doesn't matter if I do. It mustn't be voiced out anyway. I'm trained to care about you, not judge you harshly for whatever you choose to do."

"Am I the only human in Tahu?"

"Yes." Eli said sadly but continued when she noted a change in Crown's mood. "It's truly an honour to have you here. A lot of us think that. Most can't wait to see you or meet you."

"Why is that?"

Eli fell silent. She had lied out of desperation to please her new mistress. Everyone knew she was just an instrument for fulfilling a punishment and nothing more. She was the 'unlucky' human the prince had to marry to serve out his punishment for as long as it drags out, nothing more. "Most of us haven't met a human in all of our existence, it will be a pleasure to get to meet one, one who is as beautiful as you is an honour indeed." She said at last, all of which was true.

"Thank you Eli. I do not know for sure if that eases my mood but I guess I can count on you to offer words of comfort when I need it."

"At your service always your highness."

The day went by quickly and crown was almost grateful for it. Dinner with Zaccai wasn't different from the morning. They ate in near silence and each departed when it was over. 

Thankfully he didn't ask her about her decision on the matter that hung above them. She wasn't ready to go down that path yet and with any luck she will be let to do so on her own time.

THE NEXT DAY. 

Crown got finally introduced to her other personal staff that morning when she woke up. 

"Your highness, should you not send a gift out to the prince." Eli asked as she placed the last pin to hold Crown's hair in place.

"Why?"

"Today marks his ninety and twentieth year."

"Is it?" She didn't forget but it hadn't occured to her that she could do that. Also she wasn't sure she wanted to. "I do not know which is better sounding to the ears Eli. That I am a twenty-four years old woman married to over a century old werewolf or a twenty year old man." She stood up. "I will not be sending anything to him."

"Yes ma'am." Eli almost bit her tongue. "Should we head down for breakfast then."

"Lead the way."

"Are you set for tonight?" Zaccai asked her looking at her in a way she wasn't sure if he was annoyed or amused that morning .

"Set?"

"Are you ready to truly be a part of my world, as you get introduced to society?."

"You and I both know I'd never be ready for that."

"You will tire yourself out with that soon enough seeing that right now you belong nowhere else but here."

"I have a home back in Ashford."

"Your father has a home in Ashford. This is yours, well not technically. Yours is getting built but you don't seem to care about that."

"What do you care what I care about?"

"This is our third day in marriage, shouldn't you be planning to drop the attitude." He frowned.

Crown looked up from her plate and faced him. "Forgive me for taking up valuable time to get used to the fact that I am married to a werewolf and live in a city where I'm the only human and could very much be a magnet for harm from whatever creature calls here home."

Zaccai rose and stared at her for a long moment that she was starting to feel uncomfortable. When he spoke again his voice was so void of expression that she couldn't tell if he hated her guts or knew she had told the truth and felt some pity for her.

"I wonder if anyone ever taught you how to trust the process of things princess. But that doesn't matter," he continued. "We do not have the time to talk about your misjudgement and opinions. Tonight's event is to celebrate our marriage in some way and let everyone know who you are and whose home you belong to. So I must tell you to behave, more than you've ever done in all twenty-four years of your life. All eyes will be on you." He paused. "You represent the house of Zeror, so do well to act accordingly."

Crown looked down at her scarcely touched food trying to hide her true feelings on the matter.

Then Zaccai said in a gentle voice. "Oh not to worry, you will have some fun. I'd see to it that you do."

With that he left her to go about his day. 

The event was to take place at sun down and the ceremony was set in the Great hall, Crown knew that much and nothing more. 

Though it was some sort of a celebration, Crown couldn't help but feel it was a funeral. She was to lay to rest her old self and become what this society and her new family demands of her. . .