* * * *
"M'lady! M'lady!" Nancy yelled entering the room. Irisa looked up toward her from the scroll she had been reading, "what is it, Nancy? What rumors have you brought to me now?" she asked almost rolling her eyes at her panting maid.
Nancy sat on the cranky bed and smiled, "we are going to the palace!" she almost yelled making Irisa frown.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, The crown prince is back in the capital and there are rumors that he is going to take your sister as his wife. The King is throwing a feast for him and his men for succeeding to conquer the enemy state Silkon valley, we were invited! I was so shocked when they made the announcement."
"Are you sure about this?" she asked skeptically.
"I am not lying to you, my lady! The king's guard announced to the first prince. He didn't seem shocked! I think he knew beforehand."
"Alright, I will inquire when supper comes," Nancy nodded.
"Where is the book I asked you to search for in the library?" Nancy smiled sheepishly. She stood to her feet, "I am sorry, m'lady I was... I was carried away... I will go fetch the book as soon as possible."
She ran out of the room with Irisa shaking her head, "can you imagine?" she asked shaking her head and going back to the scroll reading
* * * *
"Mother!" he bowed a little, The Empress quickly pulled him up, smiling. "My son! You are here! I am so happy you are here!" she hugged him tightly, and tears of joy fell from her eyes.
She hadn't seen her beloved son in months now and she couldn't contain her happiness. "I am so happy you are here! Come! Come in my son! We have all been eagerly awaiting your return!" she wiped her tears away and sniffed making Donald smile.
"Mother you are over dramatic, Tis being what several months we saw we saw, I have sent my regard through letters to you. To make sure you understand that I am fine!"
"Oh please, we those excuses! I haven't seen the son that I birthed in months and you want me to be rest assured?"
"Mother, common now! I am a grown man now, and I have responsibilities, especially with my father's old age. We have to make sure the kingdom is protected at all costs."
"Even to the detriment of your life?" she asked seriously as the maid helped her to take sit on her stool not far from the large tearoom's balcony.
"I am just saying, mother... The kingdom comes first... We can't expect everything to handle itself... People do not know of their father's illness but if they know, it could cause an uproar... Silkon Valley will finally have its way into the kingdom... We must ensure that doesn't happen."
"Well." his mother sighed knowing he wouldn't take what she was about to say well, "your father... He has asked you to return because he wants you to take his diplomatic responsibilities from him..."
Donald pursed his lips, "my father or you which one of them desires this mother?" he asked seriously raising an eyebrow and staring intently at the woman.
"That isn't important my son! I am not just comfortable with that thing! Having control and making decisions in your father's name, I mean, can't you see giving that much importance could give him ideas, he could start feeling more than what he is."
"Oh please mother, all this is in your head. Aaron is a Margot that was born to serve me. I think that it could that he do something meaningful after all there is nothing he wants to do with his wasteful existence..."
"Don't think about it like that! You need to know about diplomacy... A king not only needs the skill of a painter, the heart of an artist, the intelligence of a scholar, and the bravery of a soldier, you must have all of them, you can depend on anyone especially not that abomination!"
Donald sighed, "I have heard you mother, I will try to fulfill my duty as the crown prince, be patient." she finally nodded giving up.
"Well..." she dragged making him narrow his eyes in suspicion.
"What are you up to mother?!" he asked knowing he wouldn't like the result to the question he had asked.
"Well, I have found a suitable bride for you, she is beautiful, well-mannered, cultured, and certainly going to suit your personality." The empress smiled.
"Mother..." Donald groaned, "we have spoken about this earlier... I want to take a wife of my choice,"
"And when will that be?" The Empress inquired sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"Mother, can you just... There is much time to be doing that at a later date, why not let me handle everything one step at a time, I can't do everything at once, the kingdom comes first... We can talk about my marriage later..." Donald tried to dismiss.
"I am not buying this, Donald!" she stated, making him sigh.
"Can we discuss it after I see father, how is he? I hope he is doing better?" he asked almost worriedly.
"Not exactly... I mean the physician has done everything he could to stop the illness from spreading, but nothing is working." the Empress sighed.
"I am just myself you know... I just every time, I remember his state, it saddens me." she looked down in despair.
"Mother, please do not be sad... I will talk to some foreign physicians that I know... Maybe bringing new physicians could help?" he suggested, rubbing her back to comfort her.
"I am not sure my son but whatever can restore my husband to his former glory will be my utmost desire. I just want him back..." she said sadly.
"We will have him back in no time mother... Nothing shall happen to him, I will make sure of it." Donald said with determination shining in his eyes.
* * * *
"My prince," Irisa bowed her head and greeted, the prince raised his hand and greeted her with dismissal. She almost sighed taking her seat. She was sick of his attitude really and it was unfair that she had to live like that, she wasn't asking for his love, of course, it would be foolish if her to think he even loves her but they could be friends, It would make sex easier for her.
"How are you doing today?" she asked taking a mouthful of beans into her mouth and smiling nervously.
"Very well thank you," he answered shortly as ever before. She nodded and continued eating. Looking up after a while of silence, she expected he told her the news about the crown prince's arrival and their invitation to the palace.
"I am done eating," she stated trying to get his attention. He simply nodded, dismissing her. Standing, she stared at him for a while and gulped when he looked up from the scroll he was reading. Even crippled, he always had an air of dominance in him that she felt intimidated by.
She swallowed and looked down not meeting his eyes while greeting him goodbye. She walked slowly out of the room thinking he might still call her back, he either did this or anything that could count as telling her she was going to the feast with him.
* * * *
Irisa sighed as she entered the bath her maid had run her, she closed her eyes thinking about how boring and uneventful her life had gotten. The first prince wasn't what she initially imagined him to be nevertheless, he was still far from her prince charming.
Nancy had given up a long time ago trying to reassure her that things were going to get better. They were rumors in the capital that the crown prince was going to marry Beatrice. It was going to be the perfect union between them. She swallowed knowing it would leave her in a tighter sport. Her husband worked like a slave day and night for little to no pay and she had to manage the responsibilities of the manor, with her little savings.
"Princess," Irisa's eyes short opened startled, her heart nearly jumping to her throat. He was standing right there staring her down indifferent to her naked state. Realizing this, Irisa sank deeper into the water and covered her bare chest with her hands feeling startled.
"My... My... Prince... Prince... What... How are you... Hum... Doing here?" she stuttered.
"I thought you were studying, my apologies for interrupting your bath." she shook her head and nodded not knowing what exactly to do.
"I will be by the garden, I want to speak to your dress, and come." he turned his wheel and moved out of the room. When did he even enter? She thought about it seriously, how he entered the room was a mystery to her, she hadn't heard any wheels until he called her name, was she that deep in thought that she could hear nothing?
She pulled herself out of the bath and walked toward a clothing rack, carrying the simple undergarment she was going to wear to sleep, she slowly walked out of the room, steadily and treading carefully.
Reaching the garden, her husband was there as expected, looking around the garden, he looked up back toward Irisa, "you have done well with the manor princess." she frowned, even his compliments sound cold and forced. She shivered and rubbed a part of her arm. She watched him force a smile and look down, "hum... You have also..."
"What is it you want exactly prince Aaron, I know you haven't come here tonight to merely complement my gardening skills." he opened his mouth and closed it, he blinked looking for something to say but finding none.
"I have realized that hum... You have been making effort to make our relationship better and I have not been doing anything. I want to change that and make us finally you know... Hum... A couple," she scoffed, someone was definitely forcing him to say all those things because it could not be the truth. A real couple?! What was that?
"I was having a good bath prince Aaron, you should not have disturbed me. Goodbye, I am sure can return to your chamber from here?" she voiced our and bowed in greeting before turning and journeying back to her room.
"Wait!" he yelled and sighed, she stopped and turned tilting her head and waiting for his next words. She looked at him intently as he opened his mouth once more. Sighing, "tomorrow there would be a feast at the palace, you and I were invited."
"Well... What does it have to with our reconciliation exactly?" sen inquired folding her mouth.
"I want nothing to go wrong, I was thinking of trying that approach. Do not tell them of our living conditions, that isn't important. You should stay by my side always! And no matter what they said to you, do not talk about or reply." she shook her head and smiled not believing what was happening.
"I am done with this bullcrap!" she threw her hands up, upset.
"Language!" he scolded making her glare at him.
"I am trying as much as possible not to lose my patience here Aaron! First, you disregard and dismiss every time, then you come here and say you want to make amends just so you could turn and tell me what I can and can not do! I do not understand you! One minute I think we are fine, then the next you behave so cold to me." She took a deep breath closing her eyes.
"I am so sick of myself trying to know the man I married, I am sick of trying to make something out of this practically non existent relationship."
"I never asked you to do that!"
"You never did but I am not doing it anyway and I am not blaming you but at least show interest and stop behaving as if I am forcing myself on you! I am just trying to make our relationship better if there is even one." she shook her head.
"I am not going to act of order don't worry and I am also not going to come and seek you, you can rest assured but please just stay away from me," she turned and walked away angry than she had been in a while.
* * * *