Chapter two - Aaron

"Can we talk?" Prince Aaron said calling my attention. We were sitting in the royal family table, while everyone was dancing.

At the distance, I could see Tomas talking with Florence of Orchid, I knew the moment she met him she would try to get him under her spell.

Florence and I met at the Academy she was my roommate but we never really got along.

Prince Aaron was offering his hand so he could take me somewhere else, I had the prince of Olympia offering his hand and all I could think was about was of not ripping Florence's head in front of everyone.

"Mmm...Rowena?"

"I'm sorry... You were saying?"

"Would you come with me please?" he paused... He seemed nervous "I want to talk to you"

He offered his hand again

"Sure" I took it knowing Tomas was observing us.

The prince and I had met before, we used to play together when my dad had to come to meetings and brought me with him.

But when Tomas's parents died my dad decided that it was safer for me to stay at home, because they still weren't sure if the car crash was really an accident.

His Highness and I walked to the gardens holding hands. We walked for ten minutes when I realized where he was taking me.

We used to hang out here all the time when I came, it was like our little club, the king asked the staff from the palace to build his son a playhouse that looked like a castle in the top of a tree.

"What do you want to talk about your Highness?" I said once we were inside the playhouse.

"Rowena... You know you don't have to call me like that" he reprimanded me "We have known each other for forever and know we are engaged"

"I know it's just weird when I was little and called you by your name my father would reprimand me about it," I said nervously scratching my arm. "And know that I'm used to it you want me to call you Aaron."

The prince laugh.

"Of course I want you to call me Aaron" he moved closer to me, I could almost feel his lips against mine "after all you're going to be my wife"

I could feel his breath against mine, our noses were touching and all I could think about was Tomas. I could hear him in my mind telling me to stop.

I stepped away from the prince and I saw Tomas watching us, he looked sad and disappointed. He probably thought I was going to scape or my fiancée was going to have a mysterious death, but I couldn't do that to Aaron.

"Your Highness, Lady Rowena your families are expecting you in the king's office," Tomas said Before he left.

(...)

"Rowena you will move immediately to the palace." Grandma Petra said with a little smile.

She wanted to get rid of me

"Don't you think it's too soon" Aaron took my hand over the table while my father tried convincing the king and Petra out of whatever Petra was planning "They just meet and..."

He missed having me around I could see it in his eyes, he thought after the engagement I would have been able to go back with them.

"It's best for Rowena's safety" the prince almost immediately interrupted.

"We were attacked a few weeks ago" the king explained " I know you have amazing security in Liphima but we don't want to take any risks"

My mother started crying. I never thought she would be sad because I was leaving or maybe it was all an act.

"Aaron please take Rowena to her new room." the King asked nicely.

(...)

I could hear Aaron talking while he walked me to my new room but all I wanted to do was go to bed, eat Nana Ravenna's chocolate chip cookies while Tomas hugged me.

I hated Petra I know she is trying to do what she thinks it's best for me and our family but she is ruining my life.

"Rowena... you look really distracted tonight" he faced me. "Are you okay?"

Of course, I'm not okay maybe you're not a stranger we've meet before, but I still don't know you and you are the prince and I don't want to be a princess and I don't want to marry you because you're not the man I love.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I tried to smile "I'm just a little overwhelmed that's all"

"Oh! I'm a little overwhelmed too" he continued walking "but I'm glad my father choose you"

"Why?" I shouldn't have asked that, why couldn't I have kept my mouth shut and only say thank you.

"Rowena you're amazing, I know I don't know you but since I knew about the arrangement I started observing you and  that totally sounds creepy." We both laughed "You may not have the best behavior but you are good and kind with other people and that's all I want in a wife, in the mother of my children and the queen of my people."

I'm definitely not going to have children with him.

"I know it sounds really intense but we're supposed to spend the rest of our lives together and..." I stopped hearing him when I saw a man running towards us with an ax.

Quickly I looked around for something to defend myself so I took Aaron sword "quickly get down" I said as the man got closer and before he could hit any of us with the ax I cut his head off with the sword.

When I turned around there was a lot of guards looking at me really surprised, the prince was on the floor also surprised at what just happened. In the back, there was a proud Tomas looking at me.

"We have to get you two somewhere safe" one of the guards said helping the prince to get up.

The other guard opened a secret and pushed us in.

The prince, Tomas, and I walked in a dark hallway until we reached a door.

"We'll stay here until we know the palace is safe" The prince said closing the door behind us.

In the refugee, there were 10 beds and lots of food.

Tomas and I sat down in what was the living room.

Hours past and no one came...

"So how are you two related?" Prince Aaron asked watching us laugh from the other side of the room.

He seemed kind of stressed, but I couldn't decide if it was because of me and Tomas or if he was concerned about what was going on outside.

"He is my best friend"

"I'm her adoptive brother" Tomas answered at the same time.

The prince looked at us confused.

" It's complicated" I answered quickly I didn't want to tell him everything about me and my life especially not about my relationship with Tomas.