10. Rough Night for Avery

Darian escorted Ariadne out in front of the girl's bedroom. Ariadne turned to Darian, who still stood behind her. At least she wanted to say before she actually went into the room.

Darian wants to go. "Go to sleep, princess. Good night.." He said.

"Wait." Ariadne is preventing darian from leaving.

Darian asked. "What's wrong?"

"Next time, I don't want you telling me anything. Especially about who I'm supposed to love. If my life is meant to live in the kingdom and I am the princess, then the affairs of romance belong to me alone. Nobody should tell me not to." Ariadne's words sternly warned Darian.

Darian smiled slightly. "Okay, princess. I'll stay out of your way after this. You'll figure that out later, about the mask Avery was wearing."

"Masks?"

Darian didn't answer Ariadne's question. The man bowed again. "Good night.. You should go to bed early." Said Darian, then left Ariadne standing at the door.

Ariadne did not understand the meaning of Darian's words. Masks? Why did Avery have to wear a mask?

It's getting late and the wind feels cold enough to puncture the skin. It's hard for Ariadne to close her eyes. But the nightgown she's wearing now it's really thick. The blanket was thick. Ariadne daydreams in the dim light of the room.

What Avery said this afternoon was enough to make Ariadne think hard. Avery was really just talking about the wedding. And time and again Avery declared his love for Ariadne as they neared the falls.

Ariadne's mind still has not calmed down. It was as if Avery wanted immediately to merge his kingdom with Ariadne's kingdom. What exactly is going on?

***

Plaque!

Avery's left cheek was sorely slapped by the king of Eden. The two of them were in an empty room away from the guards and bodyguards.

Berenice queen can only silence her mouth with her own hands. She did not have the strength to see her son hit by his own father.

"Are you so stupid? Couldn't you entice Ariadne to marry you already? Take her virginity immediately! Why have such a handsome face and yet you have failed to seduce Ariadne? Stupid!!" The king of Eden said very harshly and curtly.

Avery's two eyes heated up. His tears were already in his eyelids. The man's two cheeks were very red from the repeated slaps.

"I'm sorry, dad. Ariadne doesn't plan to marry too soon. She kept very much dignity." Avery blurted out in a polite voice.

"You're in the wrong! I told you to take that girl's honor away. It will leave Ariadne no choice but to marry you. Are you deaf?"

Avery was about to answer again, but the king of Eden spoke earlier.

"You never think about the state of this kingdom, Avery! Our economy is in great decline! People demonstrate about scarce foodstuffs. Pearls are scarce. The only way is to merge our kingdom with the Diamond Kingdom! The diamond mines are heavily stocked and heavily guarded. Their people have never lacked food. Our while? We were almost destitute!!"

Berenice queen can only cry in a small voice. Dare not defend her son before her husband. The kingdom is in a bad mood and has no idea what to do. The pearl empire economy started falling seven years ago.

And it made it impossible for the king of Eden to spoil his wife and child. That's why Avery had to step in to marry Ariadne. Combining his kingdom with a Diamond Kingdom.

The truth is Avery didn't love Ariadne at all. He loves another girl. Avery loved a plain country girl who lived asa Diamond Kingdom folk. The common girl was named Diona. A pretty girl with a knack for cooking and growing things. Diona's also a good rider.

Diona didn't know Avery liked her. They only see each other once a week. That's only because Avery was riding around Diona's house.

Eden's king and berenice had no idea Avery was attracted to another girl. Avery hid his feelings very well. Because if dad finds out, he'll definitely get whacked.

"Awh! It hurts, mom," blurted Avery with a small cringe holding back his wound.

Berenice looks only at his son. She wiped Avery's cheeks with a soft cloth soaked with warm water.

"I'm worried, Avery. Every time you fail, you will surely get your father's wrath. I was cut to watch you get beaten." She blurted out in tears.

Avery took a firm hold of his ruffled shoulders. "Mom, I'm fine. I'm going to try to do dad a favor."

"That's hard, son. The diamond kingdom has very tight security and surveillance. Princess Ariadne is well-guarded there. Are you still trying to marry her?"

Avery nodded. "No choice, mom. I don't want to be beaten up again like this."

Berenice looked at Avery nervously. Nor was she willing to see her son injured almost daily. "Should I invite you to leave this palace?"

"And what about dad?"

"Mom doesn't love him anymore. Living in this palace I feel like a pet. I was just told to and told to be a queen who had to smile every day." My heart aches.

Avery clenched his hands together. He also gets annoyed when his father mistreats his mother. "Getting out of here is not the way out, mom."

"Why? Avery, we can live a simple life out there. Let your father marry the sisters."

Avery shook his head. "No. Though we are free from this castle, we are hunted outside. And if the soldiers find out where we are, we'll both be finished with him. We're both gonna die, mom."

Lacy tears ran high. She wondered how else to face the harsh and stubborn king of Eden. Living like this every day has made Berenice and Avery endure the pain.

"You're right, son. But I don't have the strength to see you hurt almost every day."

Avery held his mother's hands together. "I'll find another way, mom." Say it confidently.

The cold nights left bruises on Avery's cheeks all bruised. The king of Eden has been gone since he finished swearing. Now Avery and Berenice are still holed up in the empty room.

Berenice used to stay up all night to compress his wound a little later to recover quickly.

The door to the empty chamber was opened by a young girl. She is seventeen, just like Ariadne. The girl's name was Alice. And Alice is the daughter of one of the royal servants. Berenice named Alice as her right hand.

"I'm sorry, Queen .. I'm late in coming." Alice said and bowed politely.

Berenice smiled at Alice. "It's okay, come here."

Alice nodded politely. The girl walked slowly on bare feet and was still wearing her long nightgown.

Berenice said, pleading. "I must immediately overtake the king in his Chambers. As usual the king would ask me to massage his arms before bed. Can you apply this to the wound on my son's cheek?"

Of course she was only obedient and nodding her head. "Yes, queen." She answered as she received a wet rag from his lacy hand.

***