Betty was on her way to get a present for Jared from Alexa in the market when she bumped into him and her heart stopped for the first time. He was like a dream, her very own fairytale fantasy which was strange because they rarely did fairytales about people like her but Betty did not think of that fact. All she thought about was that she was in love and so her tongue loosened. Flynn was waiting in his disguise, it took a while for him to transform his appearance but it was needed, nobody ought to know his real identity and he needed to have the kind of information that could come from only someone close to the sickly happy couple and that was either Betty or Mona. Mona would never betray Jared, not after she knew what it was like to be tortured because she was and Betty was too loyal to be bribed and yet because of feelings, something intangible that allows you to trust someone completely, she still found herself betraying her kingdom unknowingly but no one could blame her. After all, the thing she said was to the supposed love of her life called John, a peasant farmer who loves her just as much as she loves him. He was also nothing but a character, a façade created by Flynn and played by him too. “John.” Betty hugged him as Flynn steeled him, hiding his disgust for the maid who thought it was her right to hold him and hug him, doing things which he hated for people less than his status to do near him. “Hello my love. You kept me waiting.” Flynn replied, biting his tongue before he reprimanded Betty, it was out of character for John to do something like that and apparently, people condone your excesses when they love you. Flynn had tried that with Betty as she had allowed it, it was his turn to do that and in the long run, make her more relaxed whenever she was with him. “I am sorry about that, my mistress always acts overly needy of my services any time she has a special outing with her husband.” Betty smiled. “Of course she does, you are amazing.” Flynn responded as Betty blushed. “Then again, you keep mentioning your mistress but you never do say who she is.” Flynn said flippantly and when Betty eyes went down because of his forwardness, he sighed. “You do not have to tell me anything. I understand the reason for the secrecy, I know that you work for a noble and that is enough for me.” Flynn added, softly removing Betty’s hair from her face and then leaning back on the hay in the barn of his supposed farm. “I work for a royal. The princess is my mistress.” Betty replied. Flynn’s body froze. “You know that you did not have to tell me that if you did not want to.” “I know but I trust you with me so I see no reason keeping it from you.” Betty smiled at Flynn. Flynn knew he was getting closer to making Betty open up to him about the inner workings of the castle and the princess life. “I am surprised at your reaction though.” Betty said as Flynn dragged his attention back to her because even though he was staring at her face, his mind was far away. “You did not seem surprised at the news.” “Believe me when I say I am. I am still speechless that my woman is an important person to this kingdom.” “Woman?” Betty asked shocked and Flynn looked down bashfully, playing the role of the shy farm hand perfectly. “Yes, that is if you will have me.” He stated and when Betty flung herself into his arms and hugged him tight before kissing him, Flynn sighed partly with disgust and in relieve. Just a little more, he was paying the sacrifices for the results which he would certainly have. Results which he deserved. ************** Alexa knew she had to get the perfect gift for Jared on his birthday, lately, he has been moaning and whining like a child of how his sword was different from the designs of those used in Asteria and apparently all swords of that design which he had seen was not for him. Alexa understood what it means for when a sword and its owner to be in perfect harmony and for that reason she needed to choose something which was worthy of Jared and she will not get that in limited choices which will be the only option if she had requested the swordsmith to come to the castle. And there was also that fact that if he had come to the castle, it will no longer be a surprised gift and she needed it to be so, she loved to see Jared eyes light up as he was caught unaware by thing he liked. That initial confused state of his was the only time she could refer to her husband as cute because it was not pretense but rather real and his features at that moment was uncontrollable. Alexa entered the store only to see somebody who she wished she would never see because forever would be too soon of a time but she was also somebody which Alexa could not avoid since she and the person who brought her has taken up permanent residence in her home. “Princess Alexa.” Arianna greeted, bowing her head in a mock bow that made Alexa grit her teeth. She was supposed to control her feelings around her husband ex love but that is very hard to do when all the lady did was to throw herself at Jared no matter who was in front of them. Because of the lady, everybody in the castle, from her parents down to the huntsmen that follows Jared and Alexa to the forest already knows that Arianna wants Jared and she was not ashamed of the fact that people knows that. “Arianna.” Alexa returned and she watched as Arianna brow raised. “Come on, your highness, I know you hate me but you should watch the way you disrespect another kingdom noble in public.” Arianna stated, her tone still normal and people in the store turned to look at the two women. Alexa was not well versed in tongue cutting remarks but she knew how to use the truth and she knew enough truth about Arianna that she was not willing to let this go. “But your own kingdom’s nobles hate you, down to the crown prince. Words from the gossip vines say that you are a bitch and you have exhausted your visitation rights to a lot of nobles houses there and that was why you chose to continue your unwelcomed stay in my home.” Arianna glared at Alexa who folded her hands and cocked her head to the side waiting for what Arianna return would be. “Still, you should respect me…” “I will give respect when it is due, you are a visiting noble of the same age as me, my rank is higher than yours and you have no right to talk to me this way.” Alexa returned. “I am a married woman…” “No, I am a married woman who you are going after her husband and it might not have changed my status but my status is still higher than yours and you are a widow not just married, so start acting and dressing like one.” Alexa cuts in, purposely staring at Arianna low cut gown. Arianna glared at Alexa as she breathed hard, not willing to show she was rattled but the fact that everybody was staring at her. Her dressing was normal for ladies who were not married and not normal for married ladies and even more so for those who had lost their husbands. In fact everything about her from head to toe and down to color deceived people of her status. “What are you doing here your highness.” Arianna asked, changing topic and unwilling to go without leaving with a few parting shots even though she did not win. “Getting a gift for my husband, what about you?” Alexa asked. “Getting a gift for your husband.” Arianna smirked as Alexa eyes lowered into a glare. “We do have history if you had forgotten so I noticed he was lacking a few things and so I plan on getting them for him, because I know his taste and although he says he has changed, there are just some things about Jared that does not change.” “You forgot your place, he is this kingdom’s prince and you will address him as such.” Alexa gritted out. “Of course. Prince Jared.” Arianna rolled the name on her tongue. “Anyway I have to go and present his gifts to him. I am sure that he would like them.” Arianna bowed and passed Alexa but Alexa put out her hand. “I want you to stay away from my husband.” Alexa stated quietly, she was done trying the woman version of laying claims on a man who had already said I do to her. Jared did not marry her because she acted like a typical woman but he married her because she was unique in her way and it was time to let her uniqueness show. “Are you trying to make a threat to me?” Arianna asked. “You picked the wrong location, everybody is certainly looking at us and people will know it is you if anything should happen to me.” Arianna smirked. Alexa kept her calm expression on her face. “Exactly, I want people to know that I did it, I want them to know that if anything happen to you and I am to be blamed that it was because you could not stay away from my husband, a man who told you that he wanted nothing to do with you. I want people to look and know that the next time you act like you know my husband more than me in my presence that it will not be funny to you. Do I make myself clear?” Arianna stared speechless at Alexa who advanced to her and made her shift backwards even though Alexa was not touching her. “Control yourself when you and Jared are in the same place because heaven knows that if you do not, I will come back here and get weapons to torture you with. You do not believe I can do it? Ask anybody what kind of person their princess is and they will tell you that I do not let my things be taken from me or take it lightly with those who try. This will be your last warning.” Alexa ended before she spun on her heels and went to the swordsmith who was by the counter. “I would like to see your collection of swords please.” Alexa said as the man bowed to her and went about bringing out several wrapped packages. Arianna lets out a shaky breathe as she turned on her heels and left the place, wondering if it was wise to still go after Jared after the warning which Alexa had just given her. Normally she was not scared of any lady but ladies do not give threats like that. ************* I knew I would find you here.” Arianna smiled as she saw Jared, sitting on a window in a darkened corridor, one of the highest points of the castle. Jared was still in love with high places, places where he could feel the safety of home and feel free at the same time. “I really need to change the things you know about me then.” Jared returned as he sighed then continued to look outside the window, when Arianna started to approach him, he cleared his throat purposely and when she stopped he smiled. She might still lack knowing about personal boundaries but at least, she obeyed when she ought to because he would have hated it if he had to leave the position he was in because she refused to stay away from him. “How long will you continue to treat me this way?” Arianna asked. “Eternity but then again, I never liked you coming close to me when I was at this edge… do not act like I have wronged you or something, the innocence is just an ugly look on you now.” Jared replied. “There was a time when it was my best feature and you loved it.” Arianna whispered, smiling at memories of those times. Times which she ruined and though they came back to haunt her, she was already miserable with her ill choices before then. She had no one to blame but herself and that was why she was trying so desperately hard to fix it or turn Jared back to the way he was before. When he was in love with her. “I was young, dumb and stupid then, thinking with my head and not necessarily the one on my neck.” Jared responded as Arianna sighed. “I deserved that…” “What are you doing looking for me Arianna?” Jared asked weary. He was tired of looking over his shoulders not knowing when Arianna was going to come at him and if he was strong enough to resist and if he was not, he did not know if that would be the same moment that his wife would chose to walk by and draw the wrong conclusion without letting him explain himself. “I never knew it was a crime.” Arianna rolled her eyes. “It is not but it should be.” Jared stepped away from the window which Arianna had crowded him in and escaped her and her coying scent. It always provided a heady rush to him, before it was characterized by a tingling and warm feeling but now it was just full of dread. “Especially when the married man is me. I do not know what game you were playing but it is enough, I want you gone from this castle by the end of the week or I will ensure that you are seen as a traitor in Kythia, all your properties will be seized and you will not be welcomed in your own home. “ “Jared…” Arianna cried as Jared shook his head. “It was time you went home and far away from my princess, you make her uncomfortable and that is something I will never allow.” Jared added. Arianna sniffled. “This time, all I really wanted to do was to give you your birthday gift because today was your birthday. I will leave your hair before the week runs out and happy birthday.” Arianna stated as she turned on her heels and left the corridor. Jared waited until her footsteps were distant before he opened the parcel and when he saw it was weapons, he smiled. Arianna was the best giving gift person, always able to tailor her gifts to things you need but things that you were not aware that you needed until you saw them. Jared knew he was committed to another and that was why, he squeezed his eyes tightly shut as she threw the gifts through the window which he was seating at not so long ago. When he left the place, Arianna eyes tracked him, peering heatedly and with hatred at him. He threw away her gift, the most likely last one before she gave up officially and for that he will pay, she did not how or why but she certainly knows that it was coming.