Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
chapter twelve, what is it like to be loved?
ANOTHER DAY AT THE CASTLE MEANT ANOTHER DAY OF SOCIALIZATION, and Francesca didn't know if she could handle it. The girls were currently in the dining hall, eating their dinner. The King, Queen and Prince were, for the first time, not there. Aaron would be coming in towards the end so he could pick out a girl to spend the rest of the time with.
Linette was back at it, criticizing Francesca for anything and everything. Her two little minions, Marie and Clara, sitting beside her and snickering when Linette said something. She wasn't funny, she was far from it but surly the three girls mothers had to of dropped them on their heads as babies, right?
Linette was happy to do this, especially since Aaron wasn't there to see. The blonde girl gazed upon Francesca, her mind reeling with disgust and critiques. The way she did her hair, the way her dresses fell upon her shoulders, the way her makeup was so minimal when it should in fact be heavy, well at least in Linettes opinion.
"I mean, don't you want to know Francesca?" Linettes obnoxiously loud voice rang through the brunettes ears, Francesca looked up and raised her eyebrows.
"What?"
"Don't you want to know what it's like to be loved?" Linette grinned, an annoying giggle escaping past her cracked, dry lips. Just as Linette said that Aaron walked past the door. He heard the snarky comment and decided to eavesdrop.
"Excuse me?" Francesca asked, her voice full of hurt and emotion. Linette was the worst person she had ever met, surly. Clara and Marie laughed at the fact that Francesca was clearly getting emotional over this.
"Well it's not like you know! You don't know what it's like to be loved, and you never will. You'll always be unloved and possibly even on the streets!" Linette giggled, the annoying and headache inducing sound ringing through the room.
Francesca stood up quickly, getting ready to defend herself. Just as she did that, Aaron walked into the room. He was announced but he paid no mind to the other girls. His eyes were solely on Linette, an unreadable expression on his face.
"I have made my decision," Aaron spoke sharply, his voice booming across the walls—it was the voice of a king. Francesca sunk down to her seat, a frown tainting her perfect lips and soft wrinkle creasing her eyebrows.
"Lady Linette, follow me," Aaron beckoned, causing the blonde girl to rush up and follow him out of the room. Francesca felt her heart break, he didn't want to see her? He normally always chose her, but this time he didn't. Why? All of the girls took notice of this.
"Looks like even the prince has realized you aren't to be loved either," Marie grinned, leading the other girls out of the room. Francesca stayed put, unable to move.
In the other room, Aaron told Linette to sit down. The young girl complied, a smile on her face as her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Wipe that smile off of your face," Aaron said, his voice was sharp. His eyes were cold and unwelcoming, a total juxtaposition of what Francesca normally saw. But there was one key factor: Linette was not Francesca.
"I beg your pardon?" Linette spoke, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"I heard your little comment to Lady Francesca, and such hostility will not be welcomed in my home. You are hereby pronounced the first Lady out of the ten to get disqualified, for lack of better term. Pack your bags, you will leave first thing in the morning."
"You can't just do this!" Linette shot up, her voice pleading. Aaron rolled his eyes at the girl, his irritation showing.
"I can, I will, and I did. Now leave," Aaron shooed the girl away. Linette huffed and puffed, storming out of the room. Within seconds a knock on the door sounded. Aaron didn't answer, assuming it was Linette.
"Aaron?" Francesca's soft voice sounded, the heartbreak evident in her tone. Aaron instantly opened the door, allowing the girl in the room.
"Francesca? What's wrong?" He asked softly, cupping her face and wiping the tears away from her eyes. She shook her head, not wanting to ask the question. "Come on, love, you can tell me," Aaron soothed her.
"Do you think I'll ever be loved?" Her voice broke his heart as it was full of hurt and pain. He sighed softly, now understanding that Linettes words had gotten to his sweet Francesca. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead before speaking.
"Of course I do, how could you not?" Francesca didn't have a good response so she stayed quiet. She leaned in and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his torso. He instantly wrapped his arms around her, as well.
"Aaron?" She asked after a few minutes.
"Yeah?"
"What is it like to be loved?"
"Oh, Francesca, you will find out. I promise you that," his voice was soft but it conveyed every emotion he ever felt for the girl in his arms, even if neither could see it. His voice held sincerity and genuine love. But neither had really experienced it so how could they realize it?
By morning, Linette would be gone from the castle without so much of a word. It was a mystery to everyone in the castle but Aaron and his parents, who knew the reasoning behind it without their son telling them. It was simple, Linette had hurt one of the only things he held precious in this world.
