"Honoria."
She smiled and walked in his study gracefully. Her auburn hair glinted firey in the lamp light, her skin fair and golden. Tall and beautiful, he smiled at the princess and also, his former mistress.
He extended his palm up and she placed her gloved one in it. He kissed her knuckles. "How are you?"
"Very fine, thank you. You although look tired," she said with clever eyes.
"A bit," he admitted. "Would you like to have a seat?"
She nodded and sat on the other armchair. Aaron sat and offered her the drink which she denied by shaking her head.
"When did you arrive?"
"In the morning. I think after you had just left the palace." She sat regally, just as the princesses were taught to sit. Her gown was the most beautiful shade of pink that enhanced her eyes.
"Amelia invited me. She said she would really love it if I come. I hope you are alright with it?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course, Honoria. Last time when you left I had told you that you will always be welcomed here. Your friendship with Amy won't be destroyed because of anything."
She smiled. Honoria was Amy's friend, a year older than him. Her father visited Heavengate many times with her and she had spent time with Aaron too.
One day she had confessed she liked him and Aaron remembered the time she was madly in love with him. After he had said he had no intention to marry her, she was even ready to be his partner in bed if that meant she could spend time with him. He would never have degraded his sister's friend by making her his mistress but she literally begged to be one. And Aaron was only a gentleman. Gentle, but still a man. He accepted her offer.
A rush of chilly wind flowed through them and Honoria rubbed her arms. Aaron had spent some of his nights in those arms. He closed the windows and added a log of wood in the hearth to increase the heat.
"I hope nobody subjected you to any kind of disomfort?" Aaron would have their heads if they did so. Honoria deserved every bit of respect and dignity as any other princess.
She smiled and shook her head. "They knew you won't spare them. You have announced it the last time I was here".
They chatted about their kingdoms, the gift she brought for Amy, the birthday ball. Aaron liked that she was mature amd sensible enough to be here as Amy's friend. There was nothing between him and her now but no matter what had happened between them in the past, he would always respect her as a woman, a princess and his sister's friend.
When Aaron was on his way to the dining room for supper, he knocked on the door of the chamber assigned to Nathan. The bastard had wanted to visit Heavengate's council. Aaron was supposed to be there later, but he couldn't make it because of the busy day.
He knocked again but no reposnse came. He asked the guards standing nearby. "Is Nathan in?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Nathan!" Aaron knocked harder.
Finally, the door opened and Nathan's sleepy face stepped out, his eyes scanning the surroundings and hand scrubbing his head. "Is it already morning?" His absent-minded face asked.
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Let's go. It's supper time."
"Oh," he yawned. "Let me wash." He stepped back in the chamber and Aaron followed him.
"How did you find the council?" Aaron asked sitting on a chair while Nathan splashed water on his face near the washstand.
"Your council is really disciplined," he replied while shaking his hands to get rid of the water flowing from his hands. "Everything is impeccable. Good work, friend." Nathan sounded impressed.
Aaron smirked proudly. His ministers had always obeyed him about the council being all well. "Learn from me, then".
Nathan chuckled.
"When exactly did you return?" Aaron asked him. He was disturbed earlier and almost forgot about Nathan's visit to council.
"Late afternoon. I asked for you but you were not there. I asked for Miss Mariana and she too, had left then-"
"Miss Clifton," Aaron enunciated like he did in the morining. "You are not on the first name basis with her."
Nathan smirked at him. "Alright. I searched for Miss Clifton and-"
"Why did you search for her?" Aaron wrinkled her brows. This bastard friend of his had no business with her.
That bastard friend smirked again. "She is cute."
Aaron glared at him and he laughed out loudly. Wrinkling his brows, Aaron asked, "What's so fumny?"
Nathan tried to stop his laughter and began brushing his hair in front of the mirror. "Relax. Miss Clifton is cute but not my type."
Why was Aaron feeling relaxed?
Nathan continued. "Jasper just told me to find her when I was finding you. He said you probably must be near her."
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to that fucker."
"I wouldn't have had I not seen myself." Nathan looked at him through the mirror.
"See what?"
"Your glare when I talk about her," Nathan chuckled.
Aaron drew a hand through his hair. "It's nothing. Jasper always teases."
"Hmm." Nathan donned a fresh shirt after removing the earlier one. He began fixing his cufflinks. Both he and Aaron, from the adolesence itself, never needed a valet or servants to help them wearing clothes like other princes did in their institute. They both found themselves capable enough to do the task.
"Why didn't you come to the council? We waited for you." Nathan asked.
Aaron sighed and told him about Tamira and that blasted colony.
"Good god. Is she alright?"
"She is fine. A brave little girl. She lives alone."
Nathan sat on the chair beside him. "Do you think she is a witch."
Aaron shook his head. "I can't say. But I intend to find out."
Nathan nodded and after clapping a hand on Aaron's back, he stood up.
"I love when I'm here. Can roam freely in shirts. My father always wants me properly dressed in three piece." A smirk formed on his lips. "Thank God he haven't seen me with my lovers."
Aaron chuckled and they both drifted out of the chamber.