The Village Girl

Chapter Four - [Aaryan]

Lady Suhanya had lectured me intensely about how inappropriate it had been for me to allow Seetha to spend the night with me. And though I understood her concern. I couldn't exactly care less. This was the first night in my life that I had slept with a woman I loved in that bed, and I never realized how lonely my nights before were until last night.

I knew Lady Suhanya would lecture Seetha as well, but I wondered if her words would affect her. I hoped it wouldn't, because I hoped that Seetha would join me again tonight, and for every night after that, whenever I was here at the palace.

My mother and father did not share a room. The had always slept in separate room, and it made me wonder why. The only explanation that made sense was that they did not truly love each other. If they did, why would you ever avoid the chance to sleep in the arms of the one you love?

My thoughts were proven to be correct as I sat down with a few papers in my hand while my mother paced back and forth in front of me.

My younger brothers Aayu and Anbu were here too, along with my mother's entourage of maids.

"This is unexceptable," my mother said for the fourth or fifth time, "she spent the night in your room... everyone is talking about it. How could she be such a fool!"

I had my elbow on the table, my head resting on my hand as I massages my temple while she spoke. Of course, I did not think she was exagerating when she said 'everyone' was talking about it. It made complete sense. That was how the court was here in Aathikara... all it took was one person to decide to say something. Within moments, most of the palace would  be talking about it

Aayu looked humoured by all do this, whereas Anbu looked confused.

"Does she not know any better?"my mother asked. "Did her parents not raise her right."

"Stop being so dramatic, mother," I said, keeping my eyes on the treaties I was meant to read over. I hadn't read a single word of them, thanks to my mothers incessant nagging.

"Dramatic?" She said as she whirled around dramatically. "This... peasant girl... has tainted your morals, son!"

I closed my eyes now, trying to control my annoyance.

"Do you not see the... vulgarity of the situation?"

"What about the time you sent Princess Laila into our brothers room in the middle of the night a few years back to try and win him over?" Aayu asked. "It wasn't such a 'vulgar situation' when it was your idea, now was it?"

I smirked, remembering that night. It was a good night, but she did not win me over.

My mother looked at my brother with annoyance. "You be silent," she hissed. "You know nothing of anything worthwhile."

Aayu raised a brow before looking at me with a small smile.

I used my eyes to thank him for his attempt to help me before looking back at my mother. "Nothing happened, mother," I said. "She simply was not used to sleeping alone–"

My mother let out a sarcastic laugh. "The village whore is pretending to be innocent to capture you in her conniving net–"

I slammed both my hands on the table as I stood up, a rush of rage flashing through me, surprising everyone but Aayu. "That is enough, mother," I yelled. "You seem to become more and more childish with every day that passes!"

My mother scoffed, gawking at me with a look of horror.

"The woman that you call a whore will be my wife whether you like it or not," I said. "And you will treat her with respect."

"I am only looking out for you," she growled back.

"I have handled myself for all these years on my own, I do not need your concerns now, thank you very much," I said. "Now if you will please let me, the Crown Prince and Chief of the Aathikaran Army, get to work, because I have more important things to do than listen to the unnecessary cries of a childish woman."

My mother was infuriated. She turned around quickly, her braid swinging as she moved, and marched out, her entourage following behind her, all of them looking rather frightened by my outburst.

When I sat back down, Anbu looked at me nervously. "Father is not going to be happy when he hears that you yelled at her," he said.

"I don't have time for this," I said, picking my papers back up.

"Brother," Aayu started. "I know mother is being irrational but I think you should, at the very least, consider what I have to say."

I looked at him. "What do you have to say?"

"I know you do not care what other people think about Seetha, which is wonderful," he said. "But you need to consider the fact that not caring about what people think will only make things more difficult for her. People will always love you. You've made an amazing name for yourself and unless you do something horrible, you will always be favoured by people, but she is still unknown."

I frowned.

"I know you love her. I can see that. But no one else loves her," he said. "And it would be in her favor to make sure people do love her, as she will be the future queen of Aathikara."

I knew Aayu was right, though I hated that he was right.

He then stood up. "I will help," he said. "I have a few things on my mind that would help her. So you focus on your work, let me go see her."

I raised a brow but nodded. "Thank you, Aayu."

My brother smiled at me, before bowing his head and leaving me here with Anbu.

The young boy looked at me with a smile. "If it makes you feel better, I love her."

I chuckled, rubbing my face with my hands. "Thank you, Anbu," I said. "I'm glad you do."