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91.
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The rains were more forgiving in the morning. It didn't fall with a vengeance like it had all night. Now, there was only a slight drumming on the rooves and floor. Ayesha slipped out of bed quietly to avoid waking Dimitri. She left the room and went around the house, opening the curtains to let in what little sunlight was present. As she waited for some water to boil, she stood in front of the window and watched the rain flirt with the plants in the garden. She intended to start making breakfast but wanted to enjoy the peaceful morning first.
"Good morning."
She turned with a smile to greet Sofia. "Morning. How did you sleep?"
"Fine."
"Tea?"
"Ach. Sorry, I am a coffee girl through and through. And I am guessing Dimitri still has none of those lying around."
"Unfortunately, no."
"Don't worry about me. I have caused enough trouble." Sofia laughed and seated herself on one of the stools. Before Ayesha could assure her there was no troubl
Bab terkait
An Unroyal Alliance 92.
"So... you are a... you are a... princ... princess?""Yes."Joseph covered his mouth with his hand and nodded. Ayesha sat on the floor, watching him as he tried to understand her story. It wasn't an easy decision, but she wanted to start some reconciliation with her past. Joseph had been with her since she ran away years ago, and she never got around to telling him the truth about where she escaped from. She allowed him to think whatever he wanted, but since Dimitri knew the truth, she wanted to share it with him, too.He was family to her. He had become a brother to her, and she wanted their relationship to be complete."How old are you?"She chortled. "I am twenty-six.""You escaped around ten years ago. How did you get your new name and everything.""My sister-in-law took care of that. She has been like a mother to me since my brother died, and she couldn't watch what my parents were doing to me. They locked me up, and she decided
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 93
True to her word, Ayesha had surprised him with her dress for his mother's party. He knew next to nothing about gowns like that. Still, the soft peach colour and layers underneath that shimmered when she moved with the flowers sewn into the fabric made her look angelic. The arms of the dress hung low on her arms, exposing to show off the necklace he had gifted her. The satin gloves she had on reached past her elbow, and she worried the bands every now and then when she spoke.Her outfit had captured his mother's heart when she set her eyes on it. She hadn't stopped gushing over it since. He had worried about her spending so much for the party, but she had proudly assured him that the dress cost her nothing. Her friend's mother was a seamstress, and Ayesha had offered to buy one of her dresses for the night when she lucked out and got it free as long as she advertised the store. And with how many people flocked to ask questions about the gown, Dimitri was sure things were work
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 94.
Dimitri excused himself from the party when he received a call. He kissed Ayesha's knuckles and winked at her as he left her in the care of his mother. He walked deep into the garden to answer the call. He didn't notice the person seated on the bench.When he finished the call, he noticed movement in the bushes. Dimitri cocked his head, trying to see who it was when he heard shaky breathing and noticed the dress as he drew closer."Sofia?" He called.The figure gasped, and he saw her turn to wipe her face. As he drew closer, the dress she wore became more noticeable. It was Sofia."Hey. Hey. Hey. Are you okay?""Yeah." She laughed breathily, turning to face him when her face was dry. "What are you doing out here? Why aren't you inside?""I got a call.""Oh. Work?""No. Not really. It was Bolin.""Oh! How is he?""Fine, and you? What brought you out here?"She shook her head and pressed a finger in the crook
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 1.
Under the scorching heat, Ayesha stood beneath the umbrella of one of the stalls inside the marketplace. She examined the oranges, squeezing them to check if they were ripe enough and filled with water. She missed having a cold glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning."That would be 10 pounds." The store owner spoke while packing the fruits she selected away."Thanks."She walked to the parking lot, hoisting one bag over her shoulder as she held the other against her hip. She had spent the entire afternoon shopping for groceries for her new apartment. After moving in the day before, there was nothing more than the bare necessities in the fridge. Water, butter and some eggs.The apartment needed to feel more like home. The fridge needed fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, onions, and garlic. She had gotten enough for the day. It was a start. Now, the fridge would look vibrant and alive. Maybe later in the evening, she'd find a store to buy nicknacks to decorate the shelves an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 2.
Dimitri walked into his parents’ mansion. He stripped out of his jacket and handed it to the maid who stood by the door. When she offered to inform his mom that he had arrived, he promptly stopped her. His flight had landed in Watford the previous night. After an eight-hour flight, he opted to sleep in a hotel for the night. As soon as he woke up, he prepared everything he needed and left for the family home. He had been away for seven years. It was not his intention to be away that long. One thing led to another, and he got too busy for his usual travels home. A lot had changed since the last time he visited. It didn’t surprise him much. His mother liked to remodel the house, once in a while. This time, she didn't only change the furniture but also the paint. Their mansion used to be red. It was blue now. The glasses for the windows were no longer plain but etched with flowery patterns. Fracturing the lights that broke through and giving off colour in a few places. Dimitri raised
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 3.
Dimitri steered the car into the driveway of the apartment complex. It was still early in the evening. After a whole day had passed, he made some time to drive out and return Ayesha's bag to her. He had looked into it to find a way to identify her and was lucky enough to find her ID. Dimitri was sure it would make finding her easier. He parked in a decent spot. He got down from the car, holding her bag at his side. “Good evening.” He greeted the man at the desk. “I am looking for someone who lives in this building. Ayesha Hansley. Average height, shoulder-length dark hair, tanned, has an accent. I believe she shares the apartment with someone.” He searched for the details on his computer. “Yes, she is a resident here. Are you family?” “No. We met sometime back, but she left some personal items with me. I want to return them to her.” “Can I see some ID, please?” Dimitri reached into his pocket to dig out his wallet. He handed over his driver's license. “Alright. I’ll call and see
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 4.
The water was cold, and her teeth chattered violently while she tried to swim to a safe place. Blood leaked out of her arm into the surrounding water. Her body couldn't take it anymore, but she needed to survive. She couldn't see anyone else in the water. Hopefully, no one followed her in. But she couldn't be sure of that. She swam and swam until strength left her. Her muscles grew sore, the pain in her arm became unsupportable, and the blood loss made her faint. The sky grew darker, and soon she couldn't move anymore. Her body sunk beneath the surface, and the weight of the bag pulled her under. Ayesha woke up from her nightmare to the sound of Joseph bustling around the apartment. Her eyes searched for the clock. When she got out of bed, she walked out of her dark room and into the lit living room."Joseph, what are you doing?""Did you forget? I am working a party tonight. The one I told you about, in the big house up in High Elm Lane?""Right. Sorry, my sleepy brain isn't cooper
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29An Unroyal Alliance 5.
The party started winding down around one, and by two, it was over. Guests trickled out of the house in small numbers, saying their goodbyes and complimenting his mother on the party. Dimitri left his sisters and Sofia conversing by the fire and went to look for his mother. He found her speaking with the staff they hired and stood by the door, watching until she was done. One by one, the workers began to leave, returning inside to finish the work that was left. Dimitri stepped aside to let them pass and walked over to the counter. “The party was lovely, mother.” She basked in the praise, smiling at him. “I am glad you liked it. As soon as this place is cleared, we can all get some sleep. I can’t believe it went on for as long as it did.”“You underestimate the power of gossip and alcohol. It’s typically what people go to parties for. At least, I think it is.”“It most certainly is not.His younger sister walked into the kitchen, waving her phone in the air. “Mom, I am taking Holla
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-29
Bab terbaru
An Unroyal Alliance 94.
Dimitri excused himself from the party when he received a call. He kissed Ayesha's knuckles and winked at her as he left her in the care of his mother. He walked deep into the garden to answer the call. He didn't notice the person seated on the bench.When he finished the call, he noticed movement in the bushes. Dimitri cocked his head, trying to see who it was when he heard shaky breathing and noticed the dress as he drew closer."Sofia?" He called.The figure gasped, and he saw her turn to wipe her face. As he drew closer, the dress she wore became more noticeable. It was Sofia."Hey. Hey. Hey. Are you okay?""Yeah." She laughed breathily, turning to face him when her face was dry. "What are you doing out here? Why aren't you inside?""I got a call.""Oh. Work?""No. Not really. It was Bolin.""Oh! How is he?""Fine, and you? What brought you out here?"She shook her head and pressed a finger in the crook
An Unroyal Alliance 93
True to her word, Ayesha had surprised him with her dress for his mother's party. He knew next to nothing about gowns like that. Still, the soft peach colour and layers underneath that shimmered when she moved with the flowers sewn into the fabric made her look angelic. The arms of the dress hung low on her arms, exposing to show off the necklace he had gifted her. The satin gloves she had on reached past her elbow, and she worried the bands every now and then when she spoke.Her outfit had captured his mother's heart when she set her eyes on it. She hadn't stopped gushing over it since. He had worried about her spending so much for the party, but she had proudly assured him that the dress cost her nothing. Her friend's mother was a seamstress, and Ayesha had offered to buy one of her dresses for the night when she lucked out and got it free as long as she advertised the store. And with how many people flocked to ask questions about the gown, Dimitri was sure things were work
An Unroyal Alliance 92.
"So... you are a... you are a... princ... princess?""Yes."Joseph covered his mouth with his hand and nodded. Ayesha sat on the floor, watching him as he tried to understand her story. It wasn't an easy decision, but she wanted to start some reconciliation with her past. Joseph had been with her since she ran away years ago, and she never got around to telling him the truth about where she escaped from. She allowed him to think whatever he wanted, but since Dimitri knew the truth, she wanted to share it with him, too.He was family to her. He had become a brother to her, and she wanted their relationship to be complete."How old are you?"She chortled. "I am twenty-six.""You escaped around ten years ago. How did you get your new name and everything.""My sister-in-law took care of that. She has been like a mother to me since my brother died, and she couldn't watch what my parents were doing to me. They locked me up, and she decided
An Unroyal Alliance 91.
The rains were more forgiving in the morning. It didn't fall with a vengeance like it had all night. Now, there was only a slight drumming on the rooves and floor. Ayesha slipped out of bed quietly to avoid waking Dimitri. She left the room and went around the house, opening the curtains to let in what little sunlight was present. As she waited for some water to boil, she stood in front of the window and watched the rain flirt with the plants in the garden. She intended to start making breakfast but wanted to enjoy the peaceful morning first."Good morning."She turned with a smile to greet Sofia. "Morning. How did you sleep?""Fine.""Tea?""Ach. Sorry, I am a coffee girl through and through. And I am guessing Dimitri still has none of those lying around.""Unfortunately, no.""Don't worry about me. I have caused enough trouble." Sofia laughed and seated herself on one of the stools. Before Ayesha could assure her there was no troubl
An Unroyal Alliance 90.
“Do you intend on buying the store?” Dimitri muttered, not looking up from his phone as he looked through his assistant’s messages.“No,” Ayesha replied.“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the cart will soon overflow.”“Your fridge and practically your house is empty.”“And?” He chuckled.“We’ll stock you up, and you won’t have to worry about grocery runs for the rest of the month. Maybe even two months.”“But you’ve gotten everything you wanted to use to cook today?”“Yes. Indeed.”He dropped his phone into his jacket and leaned on the hand of the cart to watch her. She intently read the ingredients on the back of a large can. She was crouched at the bottom of the shelf; her dress blanketed her legs, and her purse hung to her side.She had come over to spend the day with him and enjoy the
An Unroyal Alliance 89.
Dimitri noticed Ayesha’s car pulling into his parent’s lot before he got in the house. He smiled as he watched her quickly check herself in the mirror and run her hands through her hair. She waved at him when she was done, then grabbed her purse to get out of the car.He walked to her and took her hand, and she kissed him. “Good evening.”“Evening, sweetheart.” He looked her over, taking in her dress and heels. “You look stunning.”“Thank you.” She patted her hair and adjusted the band. “Did you just get in?”“Yeah. We are early.”“Your mom said six.”“Yes, and dinner is usually six thirty. You’d be hanging around in the parlour with us till then.”“Oh.”“Come on. It's tradition. You'll love it.”His sisters were waiting when he got into the house. Vienna was the first to step forward
An Unroyal Alliance 88.
Ayesha rushed out of the forest, scrambling to a stop by a gleaming Dimitri to catch her breath. “Fair and square, huh?”“Your legs are much longer than mine.”“All I hear are excuses.”He handed her
An Unroyal Alliance 87.
Dimitri opened the door but used his body to block his mother’s view of the house. He was going to let her in, but he wanted to give Ayesha time to prepare herself. It was the first time she would meet his mother. With how they broke up, he knew she could feel nervous. But, as surprising as the coincidence was, it was also a good opportunity for his mother to finally meet her without throwing a dinner.Ayesha may not know it, but this was saving her the awkwardness.“Morning, Mom.”“Hello, sweetie.”“What brings you by?”“I went to the store today to oversee the newcomers. Some good things are going on the shelf today. I just stopped by to say hello since I was going through your area.”He nodded and stepped back. He knew when her eyes fell on Ayesha, but he casually said, “Come on in.”His mother looked at him, but she didn’t stare for long. She slipped past him
An Unroyal Alliance 86.
Ayesha wiped her cheeks as she reached the end of her story. She tried her best not to make it sound like an excuse because she still bore the responsibility for her actions. She wanted him to understand, not excuse her. So she chose her words wisely but did her best to speak on every truth he needed. “I can still feel their hand on mine sometimes when I sleep. They dragged me across the palace while I screamed and stuck my foot on the rug. Once my dad was tired, he had the guards carry me the rest of the way. I was spoiled, they said. I would learn, they said.”“You will not leave this room until your wedding day.”She shivered at the memory of the words. “I stayed in that room for two weeks, maybe three, but it felt like months. There was just a single window. They gave me a bed to sleep on, so they weren’t total savages. The guards kept me company, and the maids brought me…more like snuck me some good food here and there. They couldn’t disobey my parents but could do what they cou
