"How are the preparations of the ball going on, Amelia?" Uncle Granville asked when the women were finished with their banters.
Amy wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I am not doing anything this year, uncle. It is all in mother's and aunt Daisy's hands. Though hopefully tomorrow I'll finalise my dress".
Aaron's ears jerked up hearing that.
When his little saviour had said she was here to meet the princess, he had guessed her to be the seamstress.
'Miss Mariana', the man in her carriage had called her. A very lovely name.
"Did you not like the seamstress you met today?" Aaron asked without looking at his sister, feigning disinterst.
"Oh, I loved her", Amy sounded excited. "She chose the most spectacular colour for my gown. There are some remaining things to decide. We will do it tomorrow when she comes".
"She is coming back tomorrow?" Aaron smirked.
"Hmm"
They finished the supper, talked for
a bit and then Aaron retired in his chamber for the day.
The hot bath he had ordered was kept ready in the washing room. He got rid of all his clothes and soaked himself in the steaming tub.
Aaron smiled when her image came in his mind. Wide brown eyes with the most delicious red cheeks. She had mistaken him for a servant, his little saviour. He wanted to correct her for her benefit but the awkwardness he had found on her face when she saw him again was endearing. And even more endearing was her fierce determination to save him from the thugs.
It was a fresh variation from the usual flirtateous, frightened and awed expressions he got from the ladies.
But he would like to see her face when she realized the truth.
She really impressed him with her will to save him earlier. Though there was not much presence of mind, she proved she was a good person.
After finishing his bath, he wiped his body and hair and don his robe. He laid down on the bed, legs folding on each other and hands clasped under his head.
He bagan to plan his day tomorrow in his mind. First thing, he was to go to the town to meet the mayor. The blasted man was the topic of many complaints Jasper got this week other than the thugs. As the latter were handled today, he would take care of the former tomorrow.
He was engrossed in his thoughts until he heard a knock on his door with a soft, "Aaron?"
"Yes, mother". He sat up. His mother opened the door, entered in and sat beside him.
"I knew you wouldn't have slept, dear. How was your day? Charles told me you alone took care of some theives in the kingdom".
Aaron chuckled. The old man never kept anything about him from his mother.
"I enjoyed that, mother. But I wasn't alone. I had a little saviour". He smiled secretly, thinking about her.
"Well, good for you". His mother looked distracted. A frown marring her forehead.
"I know what you are thinking, mother", Aaron said softly. "The red moon".
His mother looked at him alertly. That damn thing had taken away his mother's peace since as long as he could remember.
He was ten years old when she had explained everything to him and Amy, when he insisted on removing the chain. His mother thought it would be better to make them aware about it so she made them sit and told everything.
Aaron was as unaffected as a mountain but Amy was broken. She was shocked first and when the shock was gone, she cried like a teething infant.
Mother had consoled her and had promised them that everything would be fine once Aaron found the woman to sacrifice his heart.
Then and now, Aaron found everything to be horseshit.
"No need to fear, mother. Nothing is going to happen". He consoled her now in a soft voice.
"This is the year, Aaron. Red moon will take place this year". His mother's voice shook. According to her, this was the last year of his life granted to him by a so called 'witch queen'.
He looked at his mother whose chin wobbled. He hated it when anything disturbed his mother. This beautiful face of his mother was filled with lots of worrying frowns whenever she thought about him. It was not the way he wanted her to think of him.
"If I'm going to die, I will die anyhow, mother".
His mother stood up with an angry expression on her face. "You are not going to die".
He stood up too. "I have fought many wars since I became the king. I could've died then, too. I will need to fight in the future, too. There are chances I could die even before the red moon".
Of course he could. His mother was trying so hard to prevent his death from the curse. But what if somebody killed him before that? Poisoned him? Or he died because of illness. We couldn't change the destiny, could we?
His mother took his face in her hands which were now small, as his face had out grown them. "I just know one thing. You will not die for
your father's sins".
He touched her wrists. "I am not going to die, mother".
His mother smiled weakly. "Of course, you won't. You will find the woman who will save you".
He removed her hands and turned. "There is no woman, mother. I do not believe it"
"I do, Aaron. I have seen that witch die after cursing you. Now I know I will see a woman who will uplift that curse".
He closed his eyes irritated. Why did his mother have to hold on to something so illogical?
"No witch is so powerful to control our death. Unless they come in person to kill me". He walked towards the window and placed his palms on the railing. Looking at the dark sky, he continued. "You must stop stressing yourself, mother. If I'm going to die, no sacrifice can stop it. If I'm going to live, no curse can stop it".
Mariana reached home very late that night. She dropped Mr. Roberts on the way and sat happily in the carriage, thinking about the productive day she'd had.
She smiled looking at the boxes which contained gifts she had purchased from the town after leaving the palace, for aunt Penny and Voilet. They would be so happy.
Arriving at her gate, she got down from the carriage. Mr. Lawrence took all the trunks and boxes and she knocked on the door.
Aunt Penny welcomed her back with a wide smile and hugged her happily.
Placing all her stuff inside the door, Mr. Lawrence tipped his hat. "I'll park the carriage over at Mr. Caelen's and then be off for the day. Good night, ladies".
Mariana smiled and nodded. "Good night, Mr. Lawrence".
Aunt Penny also smiled. "Good night, Lawrence".
Mariana locked the door and turned around to find an anticipatory grin on her aunt's face.
"I am to go again tomorrow", Mariana informed her chuckling. "But I'm sure the princess liked my work and tomorrow she will give her final judgement".
"Oh, Marie", aunt Penny kissed her cheek. "I'm so proud of you".
Mariana felt herself tearing up. She never got to live with her mother for she died after giving birth to her. But this aunt of hers was no less than a mother to her. And seeing a proud shine in her eyes for her gave Mariana a very warm satisfaction.
Aunt Penny pulled back. "How does the princess look? Did you meet the queen? Did you meet the king? Was someone there rude to you?" Aunt Penny showered her with questions while they both picked up the trunks and placed them in the corner of the room.
"Angelic. Yes. No. No."
Aunt Penny frowned and Mariana relplied, "These are the answers".
Aunt Penny thought and then circled her mouth with an 'oh' when she put the answers with the questions.
They both entered the kitchen and Mariana narrated everything that happened while having her dinner. Voilet and aunt Penny had already eaten and as Voilet slept soundly in her room, aunt Penny sat there with Mariana till she finished eating and listening everything she said.
She obviously omitted the fight she fought against those men with the blue-eyed man for she knew aunt Penny would worry and would likely insist on accompany her everywhere she go henceforth. Mariana did not want her aunt to exert herself so.
Later, in the seclusion of her room, on her desk, Mariana drew the design she wanted to present to the princess tomorrow and did other necessary preparations.
Sleep came immediately to her once she lied on the bed. She was overwhelmed with the exhaustion of today's and the excitement of tomorrow.