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chapter nine, I won't tolerate it.
OFTEN TIMES, after dinner, all ten girls and Aaron would all just talk. Today was one of those days, and Francesca wanted nothing more than to not be there. She found herself dreading conversations with these boring, lifeless women that Aaron chose. Aaron felt the exact same. However, both were called out on sticking near each other and giggling in the corner, so they could no longer do that.
Right now, while Aaron was mingling two girls, Kate and Anna, Francesca was talking to a few other girls, Linette, Clara, and Marie.
Linette had the tendency to be....well, a bitch. Francesca and Aaron decided early on that they did not like the girl, and her loud mouth. No, she didn't talk out of turn but when she did talk she practically squawked. It was obnoxious, really. It was so annoying to the point that Francesca couldn't hold in her laugh, and she often blamed Aaron for having to put up with the annoying girl.
"Come on, let's be honest," Linettes annoying voice sounded Francesca's ears, causing the girl to roll her eyes. "I'm probably gonna get picked, so say hello to your new Queen," Linette smirked, laughing—well, more like squawking.
"What makes you think that?" Francesca piped up, looking directly at Linette. The group stopped talking and looked at the brunette, a thickening tension in the air.
"Um, what wouldn't make me think that? I'm perfect."
"I wouldn't say all of that, but you can believe what you want!" Francesca smiled, fake of course. Linette scoffed, her eyebrows furrowing. "I mean, not to be rude but no one is perfect. Well, everyone has an idea of perfect and who's to say you are his idea of perfection."
"Oh, please, you're only jealous because you know he only chose you because he needed one more name. You know you won't gain his heart, nor the crown."
"That's not my goal here," Francesca stated, rolling her eyes at the girl. Linette stepped closer, the wine in her glass splashing dangerously near Francesca's light colored dress.
"Good. You shouldn't have a place here, and don't think for one second none of us haven't realized how close you and the Prince are. Rest assured, when I am Queen you will be banned from going near him." With that being said, Linette flicked her wrist, sending all of the red wine onto Francesca's torso. A gasp sounded from the girls lips as the cold liquid seeped through her clothes, staining them instantly.
The gasp caught the attention of Aaron, his eyes flickering between Francesca, her stained dress, the empty glass, and Linettes face. His eyes darkened, his body tensed. He instantly walked away from Kate and Anna, ignoring their calls. He walked over to Linette, Clara, Marie and Francesca, his face stone cold. It was as if something inside of him snapped inside of him the second he heard the gasp fall off of Francesca's perfect lips.
The girls, besides from Francesca, all curtsied before Aaron. Aaron glared down at them, "Get up," his harsh words were as cold as ice, mirroring the look in his eyes. The three instantly straightened up, their eyebrows furrowed.
"She tripped, if you're wondering," Linette tried to cover up, Clara and Marie nodded their heads trying to agree with the girl, but Aaron cut her off with a wave of his hand. He turned around, looking at Francesca. It was as if the world paused, his once cold, mean features warmed and softened. He wiped a bit of wine off of her arm, his eyes scanning her to see if she was alright. Francesca stood still, her body completely entranced by the spell that Aaron often sent to her. He brushed some hair out of her face, seemingly forgetting that he was in front of people. It felt like it was just the two of them, and deep down, they wished it was. Aaron turned around, the coldness returning as he looked at Linette.
"If you ever harm or even speak to Miss Francesca in a way that could even remotely be seen as mean or rude, you will be thrown out of this castle. Your reputation would be ruined, you would be ruined. Do I make myself clear?" His voice boomed, his presence looming over Linette, who seemed to have shrunken into herself.
"Yes, my Prince," her voice was shakey as she answered, her face flushed with embarrassment. Every single statement she had made prior to the wine incident had been revoked with every breath Aaron took.
"And as for you two, the same goes," Aaron said, looking at Clara and Marie who just nodded their heads and scooted away from Linette. "You are all dismissed for the night," Aaron continued, watching as the rest of the girls scrambled to leave the room in fear of what harsh words would be said to them. Aaron turned around to see Francesca there, and once again, his features softened and warmth spread his body.
"Are you alright?" He asked softly, cupping Francesca's cheek and wiping off some wine that splattered on it. Francesca couldn't resist to melt into his touch, her body becoming jelly in an instant. As she did this Aaron smiled, he enjoyed that she was comfortable enough around him to relax into his touch.
"I'm fine, it was just wine," Francesca mumbled, her eyes not looking away from Aaron's. The two stood in silence for a few minutes before he offered to walk her to her room, a proposal she gladly accepted. The two talked in silence, comfortable, but silence nonetheless. Despite Aaron's mood change when he was with her, Francesca could tell he was still upset about earlier that night. However, she decided not to push the subject further. They bid their good nights, sealing it with a soft kiss to Francesca's hand.
That night Aaron lay awake with thoughts of Francesca in his mind, her laughter, smile and voice swirled around in an almost tornado like wind in his mind. It was the one tornado Aaron liked. He thought of how sweet she had been, even when she was publicly embarrassed by Linette. Linette, oh how he hated her. He didn't care for her before but now that she had done something so cruel and humiliating to his sweet, precious Francesca, he hated every fiber of her being. Nothing will and would ever change that.
