𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞

8. Aiore's mother

The next morning brought a new challenge for Arielle. As the fiancée of a crown prince, she was expected to begin her formal training as the future queen. After a long, exhausting day of lessons, she stepped out of the study hall, her head swirling with etiquette rules, royal customs, and protocols. She stretched her aching arms, relieved to finally have a moment to breathe.

To her surprise, Aldith stood waiting near the entrance. His playful grin made her suspicious.

"Aldith?" Arielle raised an eyebrow, unsure what to expect from him.

"Ah, beautiful Arielle," Aldith greeted her with a wide smile, his mischievous eyes gleaming. "I have something special to show you. A little surprise, if you will."

Arielle hesitated, narrowing her eyes. "What kind of surprise?"

He leaned closer, his voice teasing. "Follow me, and you'll see."

Before she could refuse, he led the way down the corridor, the grin never leaving his face. Curiosity won over her skepticism, and she followed him, albeit with caution. They wound through a maze of hallways until Aldith brought her to an open courtyard. The sound of clashing swords reached her ears before her eyes fully adjusted to the scene.

In the center of the courtyard stood Aiore, shirtless, his muscular body glistening with sweat as he practiced with a sword. His every movement was precise, his grip steady, each swing of his sword perfectly controlled. Arielle's breath caught in her throat, her eyes glued to him despite herself.

"Thank me later," Aldith whispered with a wink before slipping away, leaving her standing there like a deer caught in the headlights.

Aiore was too engrossed in his practice to notice her at first, but midway through a particularly sharp maneuver, his gaze flickered in her direction. Their eyes met.

A servant rushed over, handing him a towel. Aiore wiped the sweat from his face, then threw on a shirt, covering his chiseled frame. With the towel draped around his neck, he walked over to her, his expression as unreadable as ever.

For a long moment, he said nothing, just observing her in silence. Arielle, still flustered from Aldith's stunt, scrambled to hide her embarrassment.

"I, uh, got lost," she blurted out, not wanting to admit that Aldith had dragged her here to ogle him. "I'm not used to this place yet. Hee hee. That's why.."

Aiore's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond. He simply turned and began walking away.

Arielle stood frozen, thinking he was leaving her there, when she heard his voice, low and commanding, "Come."

She blinked, then hurried after him. They walked in silence through the palace, with Aiore pointing out different parts of the estate without uttering a single word. Finally, they reached a vast library.

Arielle's eyes widened in awe. "It's... magnificent."

Aiore said nothing, of course, but there was a flicker of acknowledgment in his gaze as he watched her admire the rows of books. From there, he led her to the music room, where a variety of instruments were displayed.

Arielle glanced at him curiously. "Do you know how to play?"

Without a word, Aiore picked up a violin and began to play. The soft, haunting melody filled the room, sending a shiver down Arielle's spine. She watched, captivated by his skill, but there was a sadness in the music that tugged at her heart.

When he finished, she clapped softly. "That was beautiful... but it sounded sad."

Aiore didn't respond to her comment, simply setting the violin back in its place. His silence was starting to become frustrating. Arielle sighed inwardly, determined not to let it discourage her. They continued their tour until they reached the palace gallery, where paintings of the royal family adorned the walls.

One painting, in particular, caught her eye-a portrait of a young boy with a familiar scowl.

"Is that you?" she asked, pointing at the painting.

Aiore barely glanced at it before walking away. "Mmm."

"You were so cute as a kid," Arielle teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He ignored her comment, moving on to the next painting-a grand portrait of a strikingly beautiful woman. Her elegant features and regal air were undeniable. Arielle's breath hitched.

"Who's that?" she asked. She mumbled in a daze, "She's goooorgeous."

Aiore's hand tightened at his side, and without answering, he turned on his heel and left the gallery without another word. Arielle frowned, watching him go, realizing she had just stumbled into something sensitive.

It took her a moment, but then she remembered who she was when she read the name: Queen Serena. That must have been Aiore's mother-the former queen, who had died years ago under mysterious circumstances. Arielle bit her lip, cursing her forgetfulness. It had been months since she'd read the book, and these small details seemed to slip away from her at the worst times.

Feeling unsettled, she remained in the gallery, studying the portrait for a while longer. The beauty of the former queen lingered in her mind, but it was the sadness in Aiore's music that stuck with her the most.

When she finally left the gallery, Aiore was nowhere to be found. It was late, and after asking a maid for directions, Arielle returned to her chamber, her thoughts filled with the strange, silent prince and the challenges that still lay ahead.

For now, her plan to win Aiore's heart remained as daunting as ever. But she wasn't giving up. Slowly, she would find her way through his icy exterior, even if it took longer than expected. The game had just begun, and she was ready to play.