Accusing stares

Lily had finished bathing and found out a dress was already laid for her on the bed together with a hair comb and some slippers.

She wondered why Aziel was being so thoughtful towards her lately, but she couldn't find an answer.

She picked up the dress that was of quality but already worn out from too much use. The once white color has already faded and now displays a milky brown color.

To Lily, this was a normal pretty dress. She never had the opportunity to dress prettily in silk dresses like the ladies of the higher society. The highest money she ever held was 5 silver coins and that was after years of extensive saving.

Her mother had died just when she was three and the villagers were the ones who took care of her. Simon's mother especially treated her like she was her own. She had no idea what her mother looked like but from the stories the villagers told her, her mother seemed to be a really nice person.

Living in the village made the amenities of the rich scarce, so she had never yearned for them except for times when she had to run some errands in the town.

Not until Denise reached out to her and exposed the secret behind her mother's death.

She didn't know when she could return to her simple life now that her priority in life had changed. More than getting her life back, all she wanted was to see the royal family in shambles.

***

Aziel, Adrian, Edward, and Elena were together in the guest living room as they discussed Adrian's wedding that was to happen in three days.

It was very rare to see the gathering of the siblings together like this without their father.

"How many guests are we expecting?" Elena asked Edward, who sat on the cushion opposite her with his legs crossed.

"A little over two thousand. Could be more," Edward answered thoughtfully.

"Has all invitations been sent...what of King Sebastian of Drysdale?"

"Adrian, did you pass an invitation to him?" Elena asked and waited for a reply but none came.

Adrian had no plans of actively participating in a wedding he was was very much interested in. The vampires take the `till death do us part` seriously and are never free from each other until one of them dies. Adrian didn't want that type of burden latched onto him. More ever, his heart was already elsewhere...

"Who cares if the old man comes or not? I'm sure he must have gotten wind of it," Adrian said passively. He was only here to honor his father's wishes; he didn't care who came or who didn't.

"That is not the right disposition a groom is supposed to have before his wedding day that's fast approaching," Edward pointed in his elderly brother tone.

"How I treat my wedding should be none of your business," Adrian replied coldly.

"Ok fine. I'll ask someone to send an invitation to King Sebastian," Elena said trying to clear the tense air.

All the while, Aziel's eyes were fixed on some who hid behind a pillar observing all that was going on downstairs.

Lily was about to go downstairs when she heard the little argument that went on between the siblings. It would feel so awkward if she walked in on them arguing, so she hid behind the pillar and waited for the argument to die down.

She was surprised to see everyone here. She had thought Aziel had kidnapped her, but this was not looking like a kidnap at all.

Besides, this place was just like a castle almost like the one at Arendell.

From what she had observed so far, Adrian was an unhappy groom who was dragged into a marriage he had no will in.

Lily hurriedly came out from behind the pillar and came down the stairs. She didn't want to walk in on them arguing, so she came out now everywhere was calm.

"Have you gone to see...Oh, Lily, you're here," Elena beamed when she saw Lily walking down the stairs.

'So they knew I was here' Lily thought and pondered on how possible that was. She had been stuck in the room all along, so how did they know she was there?

"Come sit here," Elena patted the couch next to her and Lily meekly went to sit on it. She tried as much as she could to avoid Aziel's piercing gaze that never seemed to leave her.

"How are you feeling now?" Edward asked which had Lily startled.

"I'm feeling better," Lily answered with a smile.

"That's very good, I'm glad the medicine I sent helped," Elena spoke with relief.

"You sent me medicine?" Lily asked confused. The only person that sent her medicine was Aziel or was she mixing things up?

"Didn't Delilah deliver any medicine to you?" Elena asked confused. She had asked Delilah to deliver some medicine to Lily, or did Delilah not deliver it?

"I'm so sorry, I thought..." Lily looked at Aziel accusingly and Aziel stared right back at her with his brows shot up in a 'what did I do' manner.

"Never mind, thank you so much milady, the medicine did help." Lily appreciated Elena.

"And oh, the clothes fit you perfectly. I noticed the clothes you wore when you came in were dirty, so I asked the maids to get you some clothes. Your blonde hair looks so smooth as well," Elena couldn't stop talking to Lily. She needed a break after dealing with the men and all their arguments.

Lily once again passed Aziel an accusing look. She had been giving credit to the wrong person all along. Why did she think Aziel would be so thoughtful to do all these things for her? Maybe the medicine was still messing with her.

"You're ever so kind milady, thank you," Lily said sincerely.

"Since there's nothing more of the wedding I need to know about, I'll be leaving," Adrian said coldly and took his leave.

"I need to tend to other pressing issues," Edward stood up to leave as well.

The only people left were Aziel, Lily, and Elena.

"There would be a women's tea party in the evening, would you like to come? You're not doing anything, and you'd be bored," Elena proposed.

Lily knew Elena was correct when she said she'd be bored, but was she open to the idea of joining women of the higher ups in drinking tea? No.

"I'm not sure..."

"Don't worry, it's not a bulky gathering. It'd just be me, you, Adrian's bride, and her mother. They are all lovely people." Elena reassured. Lily didn't want to protest any further, so she just nodded her head.

"Okay then, I'll send it for you when it's time," Elena said before she stood up and left.

Now that Lily and Aziel were alone, Lily finally glared at him to her heart's content.

Aziel ignored the burning haze that was directed at him and asked with a mischievous smirk lingering at the corner of his lips.

"So you have blond hair."