Chapter 34: London (Alexander's POV)

"Aria." 

She remained asleep, her head on my shoulder. 

"Aria." I grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly, my thumb stroking her skin. 

She stirred. 

"We're back at the palace. Come on," I said. 

She sighed, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. Her eyes immediately went down to our held hands. "Let go," she demanded. 

"No." I held on even tighter. "I don't want to." 

"Please let go," she whispered. 

I sighed in defeat, pulling my hand away. "Now, shall we?" I climbed out, getting her side of the door for her, leaving the driver to hand over our luggage to Mr. Harry. 

We entered the palace side by side and were immediately greeted by my mother. "Oh, I came to miss you two around here. Tell me, how was it? Are you two coming back in love?" she grinned. 

"In love?" Aria asked, chuckling awkwardly. "We're not in love," she said, making my mother frown. 

I stared at Aria. "Yet." 

My mother's face lit up while she rushed us over to the couches. I smirked at Aria, walking along with her. "Oh, are you two hungry? Would you like anything?" 

"Mom," I sighed. "We're all right. We're just a little tired, can we rest?" 

"He is a little tired, not me," Aria laughed, shooting me a stern look when my mother wasn't looking at her. 

"Oh. Well how come he's so tired?" my mother mumbled mostly to herself. 

"Oh yes, Aria. Tell her why I'm so tired," I smirked, leaning back on the couch, putting one leg over the other. 

"He was too busy..." she thought. "With God knows what. Just too busy to actually like his wife," she shrugged, lying blatantly. 

"I-" 

"Alexander!" my mother scolded. 

Aria bit back a smile, leaning back in her seat mockingly, crossing one leg over the other. 

My mother started rambling about how I should appreciate my wife more and whatnot. 

"Mother!" I groaned, silencing her. "Where is dad?" 

"Oh, he's gone for a meeting with the council board." She waved her hand dismissively. 

"Council board? Does that mean Eric is back?" I asked, straightening up. 

"I never understand how you two became the best of friends. He's nothing like you. But yes, he's finally back." She turned to Aria. "Eric is his best friend. Since you were...?" she trailed off questioningly. 

"Five years old," I answered. 

"Eric Jackson? Who's father is on the council board?" she asked. 

"Yes," my mother nodded. "He's been in London for the past eight months." 

"London," she nodded. "What was he doing there?" 

"He was on a vacation," I answered. 

"For eight months?" she frowned in confusion. 

"He has a knack for seeing the world," I shrugged. "He takes a lot of spontaneous trips." 

"Oh, but he's a sweetheart, I'm sure you'll like him. In fact, Mr. Jackson is hosting a party tonight to welcome him back formally. I thought you two would be too tired but-" 

"Of course we'll come," I said quickly. "My best friend is back, you cannot possibly expect me not to go." 

They both exchanged a look before nodding at me. That was weird. 

"Ma'am." We all looked to the front where Mr. Harry. "There is a woman here asking to see you, Queen Pearl." 

"Who?" my mother asked, standing up while Aria and I did the same. 

"She claims to be Ms. Aria's aunt." 

I could practically sense and feel Aria tense up beside me. Before Aria or I could say anything, my mother said, "Oh. Allow her in." Aria glanced at me, before clearing her throat. 

"Please excuse me, I'll just use the restroom." 

"But sweetie, your aunt has just gotten here. You should meet her at least. I felt horrible, we didn't even invite her for the wedding," my mom said, heading closer to the entrance while we hesitantly followed behind. 

Aria grabbed my arm, halting. "I'm not going out there." 

"But-" 

"Hello there!" 

I turned to the front, seeing my mother greet her aunt. 

"Where is Aria?" her aunt spat, not even bothering to say hello or flash a smile to anyone. Her eyes landed past my mother and me, zoning in on Aria. She stormed over, stopping right in front of Aria. "Where have you been?" she asked. 

"Oh, they went for a short honeymoon," my mom chuckled, walking back to us. 

"Mom," I said warningly. 

Just be quiet, mom, please. Everybody isn't nice. 

"Honeymoon? You really married the prince?" her aunt asked, clearly bewildered. 

Aria didn't say anything. Aria didn't even look at her. She couldn't. 

She was very afraid of her. 

"And you didn't even tell me?" 

"I did," Aria mumbled. "I told you the day I came to get my stuff." 

"Talking back to me now, are you?" 

I stared in disbelief, appalled at the way she was talking to Aria. But then I remembered, this is exactly how my grandfather used to talk to me. 

"And your rent?" 

"I already paid for the month and I moved out right after," Aria said softly. I've never heard her sound so fragile. So vulnerable and weak. 

"Oh, you moved out right after? I sent the police out for you, Aria! Do you know how much they charged me for that?!" 

"You sent the police because you had nobody to cook you dinner," Aria scoffed. 

"Shut your mouth! How dare you talk to me like that?" 

I glanced at my mother, both of us exchanging looks of disbelief and shock. 

"You are coming back with me right this second!" 

"No, I'm not going anywhere. I'm married now, this is where I stay." 

I blinked in confusion. 

This is where she stays? 

"Aria," her aunt said sternly. Threateningly. "Go and pack your bags. Immediately!" 

"No. I'm married to him, this is where I stay. I can't just leave." 

What if she didn't just marry me for revenge? What if when she said by marrying me, she'll get protection, she meant protection from her aunt? What if she married me to escape her? 

"I won't repeat myself again. Pack your stuff!" "No, I'm not going anywhere. You can't just-" 

I could do nothing but stare as her aunt grabbed her wrist tightly, trying to drag her out. 

"Alexander, perhaps we should call the guards," my mother said, stunned. 

"Let go!" Aria gave her hand a hard tug, freeing herself. She winced, rubbing her wrist. "Don't you understand? I am not coming with you! I will never come with you! And I will never stay in that filthy house of yours with you ever again!" Aria snapped. 

It all happened too quickly. I saw it coming but before I could cut in, her aunt had already struck her right across the face. "You dare disobey me and speak to me like that, huh?!" She grabbed Aria's arm, dragging her out all over again. Aria barely managed to free herself as her aunt picked up Aria's hat. Her signature hat was sitting on top of her suitcase by the gate. 

"Aunt Lillian, give it back," Aria said, trying to reach for it. 

"Come back with me and take it. Or I'll rip it to shreds right here." 

"No, don't!" 

"Aria, don't-" I was about to tell her to not worry about the hat. But she was not going to listen. It clearly meant more to her than just a hat. 

Her aunt threw the hat onto the pavement, kicking it. 

I tried pulling Aria back but she was only focused on retrieving her hat. Aria went and picked it up, cleaning it frantically with her hands and blowing the dust off of it. She held it tightly in her left hand. 

"Now, let's go." 

"I am not coming with you! Do you hear me?!" Aria yelled. 

Her aunt slapped her once again and then pushed her down, making sure to send her to the floor. 

Aria fell, taking the blow on her right hand, scratching it clearly across the pavement. When she looked back up, her lip was bleeding. 

Her aunt grabbed her by the hair just as I made it over. "Let her go!" I threw her aunt's hand off of her before helping Aria up. She winced, looking at her bleeding palm. "Are you all right?" I asked. 

"Helping a little earlier on would have been appreciated," she mumbled, dusting her hand again. 

I took the hat and her uninjured hand, going to take her inside. Her aunt grabbed her hand, the one she cut and squeezed it which made Aria yell in pain, making me halt. 

I threw her aunt's hand off one more time, pulling Aria out of her reach as two guards rushed over after hearing the commotion. "Do not ever step foot into our palace again. Guards, do you understand? Do not let this woman in ever again." 

They nodded frantically, keeping her away from us. 

"And Ms. Lillian," I seethed. "Do not ever lay a hand on my wife again. Because I will pay as much as it takes to have you sitting in jail for the rest of your life, do you hear me?" 

"Alex," Aria mumbled, tugging at my hand. "Don't. Come on." 

I didn't move. I was so angry that I didn't do something earlier and that when I did do something, all I could do was push her off. She's an elder, she's a woman, I can't touch her. I already made the mistake of hurting a woman when I hurt Aria that day in the market. I took a step closer to her aunt. "I know what you've done to her." 

"Alex, don't!" Aria tugged at my sleeve. 

"Alexander," my mother said slowly. "Let it go." 

"Don't think you can drag her back to the hell hole you kept her in for ten years. She isn't yours and she owes you nothing. Understand?" I asked, pointing a finger at her. "Don't ever come here again." 

"Alex!" Aria smacked my hand down, pushing away the finger I pointed at her aunt. She stood in front of me. 

Her aunt tried reaching for her hair but I pulled her away and the guards blocked her aunt at the same time. 

"Stop it. Please," Aria sniffled. 

"You ungrateful bitch!" her aunt yelled from behind her. 

"What did you say?" I glared at her. "How dare you call her that? She's the fucking princess of Azura now, do you understand?" 

"Alexander!" my mother scolded. 

"And if you say or do anything to her or against her, I won't even have to pay a penny to send you with the officers. It's their job to take people like that in!" 

"Alex!" Aria snapped. "Don't talk to her like that." 

"You're defending her? After everything she did to you?" My eyes widened in shock. 

"She's my aunt!" 

"She's a b-" 

"Alex!" she scolded. "Stop it, please!" she cried. "Just stop it. Send her away, please. Just send her away!" 

"She-" 

"Just send her away, I'm begging you." A sob racked through her while she threw her arms around me. 

I clenched and unclenched my jaw, glaring at her pathetic aunt. 

"Take her away," my mother ordered. 

The guards forced her aunt out as Mr. Harry quickly brought in our luggage and closed the doors. Aria's grip tightened around my torso while I held her, one hand on the back of her head. 

"Take her upstairs. I'll deal with you later," my mother said, shaking her head at me before walking away. 

The doors opened and my dad walked in with a grin. "Your mother told me you'll be back today, so I come bearing gifts!" he sang. And then his face fell. "Oh dear, no. Now, what happened?" 

"Arthur!" my mother hissed. 

He left the two shopping bags he brought on the nearest table and walked away as her cries quieted down. 

Aria took in a few deep, shaky breaths before pulling away. She rubbed her eyes and cheeks dry, not looking at me. 

"Aria." Nothing. "Aria." I tilted her chin up but she threw my hand away. I grabbed her arm, clicking my tongue in frustration. "Just give me a minute to explain. Let's clean you up first." I held onto her uninjured hand, taking her upstairs and into my room as quickly as possible. I pulled her into the bathroom. 

She leaned against the counter, still sniffling. I handed her a tissue before grabbing the first aid kit from under the sink. She threw the tissue in the trash before taking a deep breath, finally looking at me. "Why did you say all that?" she asked, her voice breaking. 

"Because I couldn't physically do anything." I angrily ripped the cotton apart, throwing the rest in the trash. I poured out antiseptic onto the cotton and took her palm. She hesitantly held it open. I pressed the cotton down on the bleeding scrapes and she winced, quickly pulling her hand away. "I have a quicker method if you want. Because I am fuming right now, I'm sorry, my patience is running low," I huffed, throwing away the cotton. 

"Your patience is running low?" she scoffed. "Do you have any idea how disrespectful you were out there, Alex?" 

I grabbed the bottle of antiseptic opening it. I grabbed her palm, pulling it over the sink. I poured out some antiseptic over her wound and she yelled in pain. She pulled her hand away, blowing on the scrapes quickly, her eyes stinging. 

I sighed, putting the bottle down while she blew on her hand. I took her palm, blowing on it slowly, trying to keep my cool. I can't be hurting her just because I'm hot-headed. I let go of her palm, looking up at her. "Now, will you tolerate the cotton or should I clean the other scratches like that too?" 

My head whipped to the left as she slapped me right across the face. "You're insane! Who cleans a wound like that? If that's what you're going to do then give it to me! I'll do it myself!" 

I traced the skin she slapped with my thumb before turning to her. 

She grabbed a q-tip and dipped it in antiseptic, turning to the mirror. 

"Aria." I grabbed her arm. 

She jerked away and leaned in to look at the cut on her lip and clean it. 

"Aria!" I spun her around. 

She glared at me, "What?" 

"Sorry. I'm sorry. I'll be gentle, I promise." 

She stared at me, her chest heaving, clearly in anger. 

"I promise, I promise. Just.. give it to me. Please." 

She handed it to me and I took her chin in my hands, slowly starting to clean her lips. She winced and I blew down on it, quickly but carefully cleaning in and then throwing the cotton. I closed the first aid kit, looking at her. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. 

"Don't talk to me right now." And then she stormed out. 

I just always ruin it when I'm angry, don't I?

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Chapter 34

Apparently, I was so focused on writing that I didn't realize I wrote nearly four pages instead of two.

about that...

you're welcome, you got a super long chapter, ahem

ahem, you better thank me

lmao

next chapter: vow