Episode 31

Once the parfaits were gone, Aurelia returned to her room and threw herself into her bed. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. Then she could go back to work.

Before she could close her eyes, her terminal began to ring. She might have dropped it if it wasn't strapped to her wrist.

It was her mother, so she had to pick it up.

"Hello?" Aurelia said.

"What was that 'date'?" Her mother must have been scowling.

She swallowed a sigh. "He was self-centered and immature. A boy like that would be ill-suited for our family."

"I can understand that, but the way you handled it was not suitable for a noble maiden, much less a princess."

"Hey, it's not like I slapped the guy!"

She hummed. "True. That would've been even worse."

Aurelia took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "Mother, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but I couldn't stand another minute with him. He was unbearable."

Her mother sighed on the other end of the line. "You need to understand, Aurelia, that our family has certain expectations. These alliances are important for maintaining our status and influence."

"But what about my happiness? Doesn't that matter too?" Aurelia asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Her mother was silent for a moment before responding. "Of course it does, dear. But sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. It's a delicate balance."

Aurelia rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "I just wish you'd consider my feelings more. I'm not just a pawn in some grand scheme."

Her mother's tone softened slightly. "I do consider your feelings, Aurelia. I only want what's best for you and our family. Perhaps we can find a middle ground. Next time, I'll try to learn more about the suitor before setting up a date."

Aurelia felt a glimmer of hope. It wasn't a complete victory, but it was a step in the right direction. "I'd appreciate that, Mother. Thank you."

"Good night, Aurelia. Get some rest," her mother said, her tone more gentle now.

"Good night, Mother," Aurelia replied, ending the call.

She laid back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. It was an exhausting day, but at least she felt heard, even if just a little. She knew her mother meant well in her own way, but it was still hard to reconcile their different perspectives.

As she finally closed her eyes, her thoughts drifted to Keith and Yolie. Their unwavering support and friendship were a source of strength for her. No matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew she could count on them.

***

The next morning, Aurelia woke up feeling more refreshed. The sun was shining through her window, casting a warm glow across her room. She stretched and got out of bed, determined to make the most of the day.

After a quick shower, she dressed to go into the office and headed to the kitchen. Keith was already there, sipping his coffee and reading something on his terminal. Yolie was nowhere in sight, probably still asleep.

"Morning." Aurelia went over to the stove to brew a pot of tea.

"Morning," Keith replied, looking up with a smile. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah, much better," Aurelia said,turning on the stove. "Thanks for last night. You and Yolie really helped me out."

"Anytime," Keith said, his smile widening. "That's what friends are for."

Aurelia nodded, feeling a surge of heat pool in her cheeks. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

Keith chuckled softly. "Well, lucky for you, you'll never have to find out."

Just then, Yolie stumbled into the kitchen, her hair a wild mess and her eyes half-closed. "Morning," she mumbled, heading straight for the coffee pot.

"Good morning, sunshine," Aurelia teased, earning a groan from Yolie.

"Don't start with me," Yolie grumbled, pouring herself a cup of coffee and taking a long sip. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Aurelia shrugged. "I was thinking of catching up on some work since I had to take yesterday off."

"How responsible of you," Yolie mumbled.

Keith rolled his eyes, but otherwise didn't react. He smiled. "Why don't we get takeout for dinner? Make it a celebration of slipping away from that terrible suitor."

Rel laughed and shook her head. "I need to get to work. I'd rather not drown in a sea of stories."

With that, they parted ways. Aurelia called a self-driving car to take her to the office. As it drove her to work, she stared out the window, watching the city pass by. There was a sense of relief knowing she wouldn't have to deal with any more blind dates or unwanted suitors. At least for now, she was safe from the clutches of marriage.

When she arrived at the office, she went straight to her desk and logged into the software they used. Her to-do list went from under one page to four. This was going to be a busy day.

Maza knocked as she came into their shared office.

Aurelia looked at her sideways. "Was that really necessary?"

"You were glaring at the screen, so I didn't want to scare you."

Aurelia sighed.

"Should I ask how it went?"

"He was a brat, and I ended up leaving early."

Maza frowned. "Did your mom blow her lid?"

"I would be surprised if she had no displeasure, but no, she didn't explode."

"Well, that's good at least." Maza leant over over her screen. "How's the damage?"

Aurelia flicked the screen away. "Don't you have your own work to do?"

"I did extra yesterday since I wasn't sure what your list looked like."

Aurelia sputtered before she managed to say, "You didn't have to do that."

Francesca came through the door and said, "Shouldn't you be grateful that someone is concerned about you? Whether it's warranted or not?"

Her cheeks warmed.

"You may not have come from my oven, but I still have those instincts." Francesca sat in one of the chairs they kept around for surprise visitors. "You try to say otherwise, but it's obvious you loathe those evenings. There's nothing wrong with having a breather after, however that might look."

If she could have, she might have run out of the room.

Francesca turned to Maza. "Mind coming with me for a minute before you hunker down?"

Maza smiled. "Of course not."

After they shut the door, Aurelia sunk into her chair. Why did they do that? She just wanted to have a normal day at work. There was nothing wrong with that. It was better than being in bed all day and doing nothing. Nothing was better than a good distraction.