Jared knew he was acting with Alexa, he did feel guilt over the fact that he was always touching her and maybe giving her mixed feelings about them but he had to swallow his guilt, telling himself that it was probably better that Alexa fell in love with him and thinks that he loves her too because it would make their marriage easier. “Sometimes, I wonder what goes through your mind.” Alexa mused out loud as she watched Jared stare at her unblinkingly, like although he was with her physically with his head on her laps as they enjoyed a pleasant day in the sun, his mind was a million miles away. “The thought of your beauty?” Jared suggested and Alexa snorted a laugh. “Please, you can definitely do better than that, me and beauty do not compliment each other in a sentence.” “No.” Jared continued. “I am definitely right, your beauty is something which is so usual but that does not mean you are not beautiful, I could go on all day if you want me to throw compliments at you, I would compliment your hair being all shades of black and when the sun hits it just right like it does right now, your hair has a bluish tinge to it. I can compliment you but do not think that they are lies.” Jared ended when Alexa used her hands to cover his mouth. “Okay, that is enough, stop trying to embarrass me.” Alexa said through her discomfort, trying to frown at Jared but failing woefully. “And the fact that you do not know that you are beautiful just adds to your beauty.” Jared added as he took Alexa’s hand which was over his lips and kissed her fingers. “I am proud to call you mine…” And just so he could fool with Alexa, he paused, when Alexa eyes narrowed, he added cheekily. “Just like how I am proud to be called yours too.” “You better be proud.” Alexa grumbled and Jared could not help but smile at Alexa. God, if only he was not as broken as he was, he would have pursued this thing that he felt between Alexa and himself but they already had something beautiful, it would be wrong of him to ruin it. Jared experienced a brief moment of panic when he placed Alexa’s hands on his chest like he could not stay without her hand on him and although he would have prefer she raked her fingers through his hair like she did before but he found that he enjoyed that too much and he did not like that fact. The fact that he was also growing attached to Alexa’s touches were something else to worry about, he knew that that meant to him but he was not ready to think about that just yet. Maybe he could shut his brain and ignore the meaning for a little while. Just a little while. So he could pretend like they were each other choices and she felt the same intensity of feelings for him like he had for her. ************* “I am sorry but I do not understand why you would want to stay in the same kingdom which cannot prepare a plate of stew to your satisfaction. Would it not be better if you go back from where you came from?” The queen stated with a smile but even a smile could not hide what she meant with her words. “Contessa.” The king voiced a warning, Flynn watched as the queen eyes jerked to her laps and her lips tightened in anger before releasing back to their normal shape, other than those signs, the queen gave no outward appearance of the fact that she was annoyed with her husband’s scolding. Just like how Flynn also did not give any appearance that he hated the words of the queen. “Why would you want to remain with us Prince Flynn, I thought you did not stray far from your kingdom since the incident that happened with your sister.” The king asked. Flynn gritted his teeth, not knowing which of the two royals in front of him he hated most at this moment. At least the king’s own was not intentional, the king was just usually that dense. Even the queen who corrects her husband’s blunders before did nothing to inform the king of his blunder. Then and there was when Flynn decided that the queen was the royal he hated the most. Her eyes were swimming in delight at his anger and loss. “Please I prefer it when no mention of my sister is being made and yes I stay more at my kingdom but I think I would rather change that. What is your reply to my request?” Flynn asked. “Thank you for graciously choosing to change your preference with Asteria, we are humbled that we were the first kingdom you decided to change for but however we would prefer if you get the trade negotiations to your father as soon as possible.” The queen stated. “Of course.” Flynn responded. “I would also inform my father that I was driven out of this kingdom and that we are not welcomed to visit anymore…” “I am sure what my wife means is that, you are welcome to stay for a little while before your father gets concerned about the negotiations and of course your wellbeing.” The King replied quickly. “Thank you for your concerns, my queen but I will send a letter to my father and then go with the trade negotiations next week. I would like to go for a ride now though. We would see at the evening meal.” Flynn suggested with a smirk. “Of course.” The queen gave a smile too wide to be real and after Flynn left the room, she slammed her hand on the table. She hated that over bearing, pompous arse but she has to endure him for a little while longer. She would relish giving him the boot very soon. Flynn, his family and their entire kingdom along with the trade negotiations. ************** The very next week, Flynn was in his kingdom when he got the news that Arianna was waiting for him. He had sent for her and she came. Flynn knew that when he was going back to Asteria, it will be with Arianna in tow and now he just had to know the price of her co-operation to do his bidding. He wondered what sort of woman would have attracted Jared’s attention. The only woman who not only attracted Jared but held his heart prisoner even when she left. Flynn was expecting a temptress, someone who had enough charms but instead, the woman who was waiting for him in his library was the epitome of innocence. “Lady Arianna?” Flynn asked, just to be sure that the footmen sent the right person to wait for him and when the woman curtsey, Flynn’s mind started to think of other alternatives. “I have to say that I am very surprised to see you looking like this, I was expecting someone who was more…” Flynn looked at Arianna over and over and could not find a single compliment for her. “More.” He ended. “Most people thinks I am more too. I heard that I was called because you had a preposition for me regarding Jared?” Arianna started, choosing to ignore the prince words. She had heard rumors about the royals of Corthin and just being in this man presence for less than five minutes have already proven that each and every of those rumors were correct. “Straight to the point.” Flynn nodded. “A quality I definitely admire.” “Thank you.” Arianna nodded and waited for Flynn to continue. “I want you to sabotage Jared’s marriage. You will be paid heavily for it…” Flynn started but Arianna cuts him short. “Will I get to keep Jared?” She asked and when Flynn nodded she smiled. “When do we get to leave?” Flynn was surprised, that conversation went even faster than he had hoped. “Will you not ask me the reason why I would want his current relationship destroyed?” “Not really my business.” Arianna replied. She had learnt earlier in life that the least you know, the less you are implicated in schemes and just looking at Flynn, he knew that he was planning the biggest scheme which she will ever be part of and she had been in a number of schemes before. “Okay…” Flynn was slowly seeing what attracted Jared to this woman, he would very much have loved to figure out what made this woman tick and he thinks that was what had attracted Jared to Arianna too and although he did not see it, something about this slip of girl in front of him was enough to keep Jared interested and ensnared even after they were no longer together. “I want to know your story.” “Beg your pardon?” Arianna said confused. “I want to know what happened between you and Jared and why you want him back.” Flynn repeated. Arianna face fell into a fond smile as she remembered the best relationship which she ever had, a relationship which she was treated like a queen and one which she threw away and never tried to repair. Now she knew better, not all men could be as kind and loving as Jared and she wanted that back. All she wanted was Jared and this opportunity was giving her a chance to get her heart desires. This time, she knew she would fight for Jared with everything she had in her and she would not try to belittle him or ruin the man he was. It would be much harder to get Jared to be hers but she has faith in herself and the memories of the past. She looked Flynn in the eyes and gave her reply. “All you need to know is that Jared was the best thing that happened to me and I threw him aside for a couple of years and now I want him back and I will stop at nothing to ensure that he is mine.” Flynn smiled at Arianna answer. “I do not care if he is yours… Just keep him away from his wife and make him yours, ride off to the sunset with him if you must but he has to be outside my path and since we are on the same page, I think it is time you get ready for a ball, your first reappearance to your long lost lover.” “Ball?” Arianna asked. “Who is hosting and for what reason?” “The princess of Asteria and she is hosting to welcome her husband Lord Jared into the kingdom of Asteria.” Flynn replied. “I hope your court skills are still amazing because I have a feeling that we will be using them to charm everybody at that party.” “I am always the life of the party.” Arianna returned as Flynn smiled. ******** “You look breathtaking.” Jared whispered out as he stood behind Alexa as she smoothed out her gown, fidgeting. He knew that this was the first ball that she had ever planned, the first time she was going to act as a hostess and she was terrified of things not going as planned, and because she had that irresponsible fear, it is left to Jared to keep her spirits up and cheer her on every step of the way. And just because Jared knew the stress which this event had caused Alexa he was willing not to even let tongues wag today and he had even told the footmen to warn the guests because he will not be the happy prince people knew if someone hurt his wife feelings. He remembered that as he was giving the guards the warning, they were smiling at him like his concern for their mistress was endearing and although it might be, he was not willing to explore that thought because he was still denying what his mind has gone to several occasion. “What if…” Alexa started. “Have you ever been spanked?” Jared questioned. Alexa glared at Jared unreasonable change of subject but when Jared cocked an eyebrow like he actually expected her to answer, she sighed as she replied. “No, of course not.” “Good, then you will experience it for the first time if you try to put yourself down in my presence.” Jared touched his wife cheeks and as usual, he marveled at their softness. “You did an awesome job and everybody who will be in that ball today will have a good time and thank you afterwards for it.” Jared responded and when Alexa opened her mouth to argue with Jared, he frowned at her. “It seems like you are begging to just be ravished by me before going down for the ball and having everybody who looked at you to suspect us for what we will do.” Jared finished and Alexa’s mouth snapped shut. “Good girl, now let’s go and welcome yours guests.” Alexa placed her hand in Jared’s own and did not let go even as they moved around to welcome guests who saw them before mingling with 0thers. It was because her hand was on Jared that she felt the tension that passed him when Flynn came with a date who looked pretty mundane. “Congratulations your highnesses.” Flynn said and when Alexa nodded and curtsey to Flynn, Jared bowed to Flynn but refused to acknowledge the woman who came with Flynn. “You are supposed to kiss my hand Jared.” Arianna said, with so much intimacy on her voice that Alexa knew immediately that this was a woman from Jared’s past. “I think I would rather be best friend with your escort than to go near you.” Jared spat out and Flynn smiled. The great Jared was already losing his legendary cool. “Help yourselves to the banquet prepared and try not to make the celebrant angry and of course, you need to get going because we need to welcome other guests.” Alexa said smoothly while staring at the lady holding Flynn arm who suddenly did not seem all that plain to her again. The lady smiled at Alexa, a smile that hinted that she knew a secret which Alexa did not and judging from Jared stiffness, Alexa knew it was completely about Jared. Jared did not relax until Flynn and his guest was long gone. “Do you want to tell me about what I had just witness?” Alexa asked quietly to Jared, making it look like they were whispering endearments to each other as they moved around on the dance floor once more, greeting those who they seemed to have missed on their first round. “There is nothing there to tell. It is all in the past.” Jared response was instantaneous like that was his go to answer whenever the question was asked. Alexa sighed. If Jasmine has not left for Kythia last week, she would have asked her but no one other than Jared was around and getting the answer from Jared would be like pulling out a tooth. Slow and painful. “I thought that I told you that you should learn how to lie better.” “I am not lying, it is definitely in the past and you do not have to worry about it.” “Yes, you are not lying about that but you are definitely lying about the fact that there is nothing to tell.” Alexa shook her head, before Jared could defend himself, they were joined by the king and queen who congratulated their daughter for her first successful event and by the time Alexa parents had moved on, Alexa was tired of the ball, wishing she had not organized it and they still had a long way to go, they were just barely started.