Seven

Alexa watched Jared parents as they seemed okay with their children antics and they were comfortable with Jasmine letting insults fly, Alexa was surprised to anytime Jasmine said anything inappropriate, she kept looking at Jared father and mother, thinking one of them would call their daughter to order but instead, they acted like their children were not in the same table with them.

“Mother, did you hear what Jasmine just called me.” Jared complained and Alexa watched as Jared mother shook her head. 

“No, I didn’t but I am pretty sure that you are the one who taught her that so you are not allowed to complain.” 

At their mother’s words, Jasmine stuck out her tongue at Jared and Alexa smiled at their actions. She was an only child and although she liked that fact, she had some days where she felt like she would prefer if she had a sibling. This was one of those times she often wonder what it was like to have a sibling who you can joke with and fight with but when an outsider threaten them, you can pummel them to the ground. 

“How did you raise them?” Alexa turned to face her mother when she voiced her question, Jared and Jasmine stopped their mock fight enough to pay attention to the queen. 

“To be strong, independent and confident about their mind and skills. That’s all that mattered.” Jared father was the one to reply. 

“Even as your daughter started dressing up like a boy?” Alexa mother tone was dry like she was not impressed. 

“Yes, even that started as a statement against a lord who thought he was better than her because he was male, I was never more proud of my daughter as she placed him in his rank, without her brother or my help. It was that moment that I knew that my daughter will be a force to reckon with and I would not have preferred it in any other way.” 

The queen was quiet at that and Jared mother finally glared at her children. 

“You could not behave yourselves, made the queen to think you guys are unruly. If anything happens to this match, I will remove your ears.” 

“You make it seem like I am unmarriageable.” Jared rolled his eyes at his mother and ducked out of the reach of his sister just in time to avoid her swing at his head.

“Who would want to get married to you, I still do not understand the luck you got for the match.” Jasmine retorted. 

“Enough.” Jared father said and it was like a switch was flipped and the room became quiet. “The reason we came on time is to help with the preparation of the wedding and everything that comes with it in any way we can.” 

“We would use the help. Thank you for offering.” Alexa father responded and Alexa realized. She was indeed getting married next week, and she did not have a choice in the issue. All her rage display was nothing more than tantrums and although she did not have a problem with Jared, it did not change the fact that she was never in charge of her life. Alexa was angry because even with the no choice, she realized that the choice chosen for her is still the best choice. 

She pushed her chair backwards as she stood up and the chair made a loud scraping noise that stopped the conversation. She looked to see her mother eyes pleading with her not to cause a scene and the truth was, she did not want a scene. She was above those childish tantrums now. 

“I have lost my appetite. I apologize but I feel like I should retire for the night.”  Alexa explained and turned to leave the room. 

“Is she alright?” Jasmine asked her brother who sighed and stood up. 

“Excuse me too, I want to see Alexa off.” Jared excused himself and walked out after Alexa. 

He knew what scared her off was the talk about marriage but Jared thought it was time, he got her real answer.  If this marriage should go on or not.

********************

Alexa sighed as she heard the footfalls behind her, her father would not raise his voice to tell her to wait for him, not when they had visitors and so she was prepared to keep the conversation short with her father, put on a smile and act like her head is not in a state of utter confusion. 

“I am fine father, you do not have to worry about me.” Alexa said as she turned with a strained smile on her face only to freeze in shock when she saw Jared instead of her father. 

“Father?” Jared repeated, rolling the word on his tongue like he wanted to feel how it would sound. “That is the first time I am ever called that and surprising, I do not think I would mind having you carry me that.” Jared stated and Alexa leveled a glare at him. 

“Should you not be in the dining room, having supper with your parents?” Alexa grumbled. 

“I should but I happen to have a bigger responsibility to the person who walked out of the room and thought that I would not come after her. I do not understand what she takes me for.” Jared returned and Alexa trolled her eyes to hide the smile that threatened to spring up on her face at his words, even though she dresses like a male, she still like Jared brand of chivalry. 

“Thank you for coming after me.” Alexa stated, her tone soft as she smiled up to her fiancée who really was the best choice for her. “You really did not have to.”

“It is no issue.” Jared replied as he walked to her side and offered his arm. 

Alexa raised her confused gaze to his and he clarified. “I would like to take a walk with you that is if of course, you would want to.” Jared said, adding the last part as an afterthought before Alexa would hit him for his commanding words. 

“Why?” Alexa asked. 

“I have questions to ask you and I think it is time we settle this before we proceed further.” Jared Said, his tone finally serious enough that Alexa took notice of it. This Jared was one who was serious. One who she was not used to and because of that, she nodded before threading her hands through his and allowing him to take lead of both the conversation and their steps. 

It was until they got to the garden which had strategically placed torches for light that Jared started talking. “Before I came here, I lived a promiscuous life yes but still with each of my partners I ensure that I had their consent. It would go against everything in me to get married to you, someone who is meant to be my life partner without getting your consent and so I wanted to ask you. The reason I did not then was that you would say no just to spite me but I think that you have finally given this marriage a deeper though than then.” Jared turned to face Alexa who did not say anything even though she moved her fingers across the petals of the flowers they passed, touching them as if she wanted to share their beauty with them.  

“Alexa, would you like to go ahead with this union?” Jared asked. 

Alexa raised her eyes to Jared and although she already knew her answer, she could not help her curiosity. “What if I say no?” 

“Then I would apologize for infringing in your space, round up my parents, and apologize, stating that the break up was my choice and I leave.” Jared shrugged and instead of hiding his emotions as usual, Alexa saw the sadness that accompany those words and the resolve to go through with them even if the actions will hurt Jared. 

“I do not want you to apologize for that.” Alexa shook her head. She did not want him to leave too. “I want you to stay, I want you and me to help our parents with the plans…”

“More like curtail them before they go overboard.” Jared cuts in. 

“That too.” Alexa agrees. “I want to stand at the altar beside and go hunting with you, I want you by my side because even as much as I do not like the fact that this was arranged by our parents and it is a political kind of marriage but with my petty rage and anger aside, I do know that this is the best match for me so my answer is yes. I do want the union but we would have to take things very slow.” 

“I can do that.” Jared promised as he smiled at Alexa. “Political?” He asked, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he wondered about what she probably knew. They kept the news of Flynn’s threat from her to protect her and to make her feel better and not pressured into anything because it was for her kingdom. 

Alexa rolled her eyes. “It is funny, the way my mother stressed so much about this and the reason you stayed and never contemplated leaving when I bruised your ego. There is just one reason why and I grew up among enough court intrigues to understand that this is a marriage for political reason, I just do not understand the situation yet but I am sure that I will find out about it soon enough. 

“I think that you are thinking too much into the match that your mother thought was perfect for you.” Jared retorted and Alexa rolled her eyes. 

“No, I am not and you just showed me that there is something that I definitely do not know. I would have to worry about it after the wedding though.”

“There is absolutely nothing…” Jared started but Alexa sighed and patted Jared chest. 

“Another thing which I think you need to work on Jared. You cannot tell a lie to save yourself. You better learn fast because by the time we are married, my court will chew you up and spit you out if you cannot learn to creatively tell the truth to suit what you want, when you want.” Alexa smiled at Jared over her shoulders as she bounced back into the castle, leaving Jared watching her before she disappeared from view. Jared shook his head, maybe Alexa would be a bigger handful that he had originally thought. 

*************************

It was three days to the wedding when Alexa had a chance to breathe once more. If she had knew what helping parents to plan for wedding entails, she would have ran like the hounds of hell were snapping their teeth against her heels but instead, the next morning after her conversation with Jared, she went to meet her mother who was already bonding with Jared’s mother, Lady Margret whose blood was almost as purple as hers since she came from a line of royals but her mother ended up being the second wife to a king who did not care about that family because the marriage was all because of politics. Apparently she trying to help the planning of her own wedding gave the two women all reins to invade her lives and fill her days with incessant chatters about colors of silk, deserts and minor issues which she could say she never knew about. 

And to make matters worse, Jared was also bonding with her father but through hunting and drinking under the guise of providing enough meat for the meals and selection of drinks for the wedding banquet. She very much wished she was there. The only saving grace she had was lady Jasmine, Jared sister who alternated between the two groups since Alexa herself was not allowed out of the watchful eyes of her mother throughout the day. Jasmine would always come back baring news about the latest stint Jared was up to and also manages to sneak her some wine and meat since her mother had planned to starve her until the wedding. Alexa suspected that the reason why her mother had not put a stop to it was because she wanted Jared and her to have that connection even if they were not together physically, she suspected that her mother was still not trustful of her not to try and ruin the wedding and that was another reason why her mother was keeping her close. 

“Wow, you look pretty.” Jared voice jolted Alexa out of her musing as she jerked her head towards the sound and there stood Jared, staring at her openly with a look she could not decipher on his face. 

Before Alexa should say anything, the two women who was with her, annoying women if she could say so because  although she had known Jared mother for less than a week, the woman was already dragging her mother’s top position on Alexa’s list of top infuriating people she knew. 

“What are you doing here Jared? You know you ought not to see Alexa’s in her wedding gown. Shame on you…” Lady Margret started and she watched as Jared raised an eye brow at his mother. 

“Mother, you seem to forget that Alexa is not pregnant yet, it seems like you do not want that grandchild you refused to stop going on about.” Jared threatened and Alexa was shocked when Jared mother’s mouth snapped shut although she still glared daggers at her son. 

“Other than making your mother angry, do you need anything Lord Jared?” Alexa’s mother asked as Jared bowed to her as he entered the room, his eyes shifted to the queen just for a little while before they settled back on the woman who would be his in less than a week. 

“I need Alexa.” Jared responded and when Alexa’s checks went red, Jared realized what he said and after clearing his throat awkwardly, he corrected himself. “I meant that, I wanted Alexa to come with me. I need to show her to some guests who have already arrived.” 

“She can see them at dinner.” Lady Margret argued and Alexa frowned, she wanted to go with Jared. It has been a while since she saw him much less had a conversation with him. 

“Mother. I am serious.” Jared responded and before anybody could stop her, Alexa took over. 

“Give me some minutes as I change out of this monstrosity and then we can be on our way.” Alexa finished as she stepped down from the platform that elevated her off the ground as the seam mistresses worked on the length of her gown. God forbid the gown was not longer than her length and swept the floor and if it did not weight more than her without her being in it. 

“You need to finish your fitting Alexa.” Her mother said. 

“And I will after I spend some time with the groom, would you not like that mother or would you prefer to keep us apart until the wedding day.” 

“Nobody can do that to us.” Jared responded behind her and although she could not see his face, she knew that he was scowling heavily. 

His words made her feel warm and she could not help her smile at his words. Her mother nodded and Alexa left the room to change. 

Few minutes later she was hurrying to keep up with Jared as he dragged her towards the stables with a broad grin on his face. 

When they got there, Alexa watched as Jared left her and hugged a boy who looked to be the same age as Jared and with the way they clutch at each other, she deducted that they were very close. It was not until a lady holding a child climbed down from the carriage behind the two men hugging each other that she realized that the person she was looking at was the crown prince of Kythia, a prince whom she threw his marriage proposal back at his face when talks started coming up of pairing him with princess Fallon.

Oh Crap! Alexa gulped noisily, she knew she was a being a bitch then but she never imagined that the next time she would see the prince was when he would be hugging her fiancée or that he would turn out to be her future husband best friend. Fuck.