Forbidden

Chapter 22

When Aeliana entered her Palace, the feeling of dread washed over her. No longer were the days where she would spend her nights out enjoying her kingdom. Because of her own stupidity, she was locked to this Palace and lifestyle forever. Quickly walking down the hall to her chambers, she opened the door and slammed it shut behind her. She rested her head against the door and sighed. No longer would she cry when things were not her way. The princess was cut out of tougher fabric, she decided.

Opening her eyes, she crossed over to her vanity where she busied herself with removing pins. The great doors behind her opened and she looked behind her to see who entered. She was not surprised to see Terentius standing in the doorway. She didn't even bother to sigh. "Do you not respect privacy anymore, Second General?" He shrugged and met her with cold eyes. "What is yours is mine." Aeliana scoffed and shook her head, resuming her act of pulling pins. "May I ask what you have visited me for?"

Terentius stood stock still, running his eyes over Aeliana's body. "Turn towards me." He murmured. "Excuse me?" Aeliana said. "Turn. Now." She shook her head, staring at the top of her vanity table. "You have no-" Aelianaa's right arm was captured in Terentius' strong hand and she was whipped around. Expecting a hand to come down and slap her, or even a closed fist to meet her cheekbone, she threw a hand up to shield her face. But all Terentius did was look into her eyes.

Aeliana confusedly stared up at him until he released his hold, making her drop her arm. Without so much as a last glance or remark, Terentius left the room and slammed the door behind him.

Aeliana's hand quickly went up to her throat, attempting to catch her breath. Only then did she realize she was still wearing the Ares pendant. She quickly slid it over her head and held it in her palm, hoping that Terentius hadn't noticed. After all, he did only look at her eyes.

****

The next morning had been the most normal and boring one of Aeliana's life. She had woken up to Cassia and Blandina attempting to whisper over her slumbering self. After being dressed in a blue and white chiffon gown with her hair tumbling down in it's natural waves, Aeliana ventured to break her fast with her family. Surprisingly enough, everyone seemed to be in high spirits that morn. Caius was his usual self, pinching Aeliana to jest and mimicking their father. Aeliana's parents seemed to share in this mood as well. Her father even paying Aeliana a compliment.

The day quickly passed by after that, Aeliana asking Priscilla many questions of her romance with Astinos. While the princess was happy for her closest friend, Aeliana couldn't stop herself from mentally sighing. She thought of how she would never be able to be held in Atilius' arms again, never hear his voice, never tease him again, never wake up with him anymore. The goodbye that they had said came to the front of Aeliana's mind. It suddenly did not feel suffice to her. She needed to finally say her goodbye.

"Priscilla." She stated. With one look at her friend, the girl knew. "What now, Liana?" "I never properly said goodbye..I need-" "You want me to go to the Colosseum, ask him, don't you?" Priscilla huffed. "Please. One last time. Tell him tonight." "Liana do you not think that he would be under close watch? He is likely to be locked behind a door with guards on each side! He is in the barracks Aeliana." She looked over to the Princess and sighed. "I shall see what I can do."

Priscilla came back nearly two hours after that, huffing as if she had ran a great race. "What did you do? Run around the arena a few laps?" Aeliana chuckled. Priscilla turned bright red in the cheeks and looked around with shifting eyes. "Well, I uh." She stuttered for what seemed like an eternity before Aeliana finally put two and two together. "You little minx!" She laughed.

Priscilla ignored her brash comment and smoothed down her knee length stola. "I came here to inform you that Atilius will be waiting for you, but the only time that he may escape would be right after your family dines tonight." Aeliana cursed under her breath. "I shall manage somehow."