6

 There were chirping birds by the window. The woodpecker made continuous noise. The couple were wrapped tightly around each other. Guess the hormones acted on their own. Adrian was hugging Isabelle loosely and she in turn, was clutching a piece of his robe in her palm. Adrian's exposed chest served as a resting place for Isabelle's head. They looked calm and peaceful. Why couldn't everyday be like this? Why couldn't they accept each other's circumstances and learn to love?

     Are arranged marriages a curse? Why do they not want to get involved with each other? Is Adrian really as cruel as he says he is? 

     Adrian was the first to wake up. It was a natural look. He looked around for a while before looking at the intruder in his arms. Why was he holding her? Why were they so close to each other? He could remember how far they were yesterday. What happened? How was he going to escape the situation without waking her? He was removing his arms gently when Isabelle adjusted her pose. Her eyes fluttered open and she was staring right into Adrian's eyes. She was silent and that was something Adrian didn't expect. 

   "I thought this was a marriage of respect," she said with a foggy voice. "Why are you holding me like that?"

"Why are you in my arms?" He replied without removing his arms.

"So it's my fault?" She scoffed lightly.

       They separated from each other gently and Adrian wore his robe properly.

"Let's go to the bath," he ordered.

"And why should I do that?" She asked.

  "What are you saying?" He asked back as he walked towards her.

"Why should I take a bath with you?" She stood with her arms by her side.

  "A marriage of respect," he reminded her.

"Will you stop saying that?" She shouted.

   "I thought of something. Let's put on a show."

  "A show?" She was listening but she couldn't understand.

"When we're in the public eye, we act close. If we continue to fight, it's only a matter of time until the word reaches my father."

"What is he going to do?" 

  "He's going to get me a consort."

  "You should be happy then. At least a consort will do what I'm supposed to do."

   "I don't want that," he pulled her and her cheeks took a pink shade immediately. "I don't like you and I don't hate you either but I don't want another stranger here in my house."

  She looked at him and she could see that he was serious. He was pleading but his huge ego wouldn't allow him to say it. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was taken aback, shocked by her actions.

  "Carry me," she said.

"What?" He asked.

  "Lift me up. Carry me to the bath. That's the least you can do for your new wife," she said.

  He nodded in understanding and picked her up. She was light as a feather.

"I've read a lot of books about romance and it's best if we really look like we're in love," she guided him and he nodded. "That means you have to smile."

   His face took a dark shade immediately.

"Don't look at me like that," she flicked him on the forehead.

"Aah!" He dropped her and rubbed his sore spot.

"Ow!" She groaned in pain. "Why did you drop me?"

"Why did you flick me?" He complained.

  "You were smiling in front of your siblings yesterday! Why is it such a hard task to do now?" She yelled at him and helped herself up. "You suggested this. We're doing this for your sake and you actually dare to drop me?"

   "Let's get this over with," he scooped her in his arms and walked to the door. "Are you ready?" 

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes at him. 

    He fixed a large goofy smile on his face and Isabelle burst into laughter. 

"What is that?" She asked in between laughter.

"You asked me to smile."

  "Do it more naturally," she chuckled and they opened the door. 

    Several court ladies and guards were standing through the hallway. They stole glances at the seemingly happy couple who passed by them in laughter.

   Spencer was coming from the opposite direction when he saw them. What's going on here? He wondered. They were at each other's throats yesterday. Did they make up already? He stood out of sight and watched as they walked into the washroom. 

   The court ladies bowed at the sight of the royalties. 

"Leave us," Adrian told them and they left.

  Isabelle breathed out as she got down from Adrian's arms. She ran to the tub and tested the water temperature. It was warm like the one she used the previous day. She looked at Adrian questioningly. 

"What?" He asked out of oblivion. 

"Are you going to watch me bath?" She asked.

"Why not? We're a married couple," he shrugged and began taking off his robe.

  She covered her eyes with her palms and screamed. His eyes widened and he ran to her. She was surprised at the sudden contact.

"Do you want the guards to come in?" He shushed her.

"Put on your clothes you pervert!" She swatted his chest. 

"You should have made it known that you wanted to touch me," he replied slyly. "Doing this will only make things complicated."

"Turn around!" She turned him.

"Why?" He asked, resisting her.

  "Are you really innocent or are you pretending to be cute? Turn around so that I can take a quick bath," she turned him again.

"We're a married couple," he teased her. "I don't see a reason why we should hide these things from each other," he carried her.

"What are you doing? Put me down."

"No way," he smiled. He walked into the tub with her frequently resisting.

"You know, I don't understand you." She looked him in the eye and he stopped smiling. "Sometimes you're cold, sometimes you're full of energy like you are now. Can you please stop making me confused?" 

   He looked down at her with pity and put her down slowly. The water reached to their thighs. He placed a finger under her chin.

"Whatever happens," he said as he bent to her level. "You're my wife." 

    The simple statement made her weak in the knees. He left her and left the washroom. She stood still like a statue and gazed at his retreating figure. What was he doing to her?

   

       When Adrian walked out bare chested, the court ladies turned and Spencer came to his rescue. He pulled him to another side of the hall.

"Were you waiting for me to come out of the bathroom?" He slapped Spencer's arms.

"Adrian," Spencer looked into his eyes searchingly. "What's wrong with you? What novel are you two writing now?"

  "None of your business," he smiled and continued walking.

"Are you plotting a scheme?" 

"What could I possibly be plotting? I just want to enjoy my youthful years before it is wasted away."

  "You're not like your usual self," Spencer looked at him with worry. "Should I call for the physician?"

"Call all the court ladies, I need them to be assembled before my wife is finished."

"Your wife?" Spencer raised an eyebrow. "She was sold here, the least she can do is know her place," Spencer quoted Adrian's words from the previous night. "Those were your exact words from last night. This is too drastic of a change."

   "I take them back," he smiled and left.

"Did you eat something weird?" Spencer wondered as he looked at Adrian dance across the hallway.

  

     Isabelle changed into new clothes and dried her hair. It was done into a updo with a flower crown. She was dabbing at her face in the mirror when Adrian walked in. He was only in his trousers.

  "You were walking around half naked?" She asked.

"What's it to you?" He slipped into a green shirt and a darker shade of black covered him. "Come out."  

    She followed him to the dining and saw a sea of court ladies bowing.

"What's going on?" She whispered into Spencer's ear from behind. He was shocked by the intrusion but still bowed and answered her.

"I think he's trying to give you a court lady," he answered.

  Isabelle nodded in understanding.

"Choose one," Adrian said to her.

   She looked unsure as she looked at the multitude. They all looked the same, there was nothing unique about them. She noticed a court maids coming in. She was holding a rag, probably to clean the dining. She bowed in front of the royalties and wanted to leave to do her task when Isabelle grabbed her.

   The girl was taken aback.

"What is it?" Adrian asked as he placed his hand on Isabelle's, telling her to let go.

"Her, she's the one," Isabelle spoke up.

  "But she's just a court maid," Spencer objected.  "She's only sixteen."

"That makes her perfect," Isabelle smiled at the girl who was still in surprise.

Adrian looked at Isabelle's eyes searchingly and saw that she had made up her mind. 

  "If my wife wants her, then so be it. You're all dismissed!" He announced. The swarm walked out hurriedly. "What's your name?" He asked the maid.

  "Lydia, your Majesty," she said without meeting his eyes.

"From this moment onwards, you shall serve my wife."

  Lydia looked at him and then at Isabelle's smiling face.

"I shall obey your command," she agreed.

    "Now let's eat," he pulled Isabelle away from Lydia to the table.

"Stop pushing it," Isabelle grinded her teeth and whispered into his ear. "Don't you think you're drawing this for too long? What exactly is your goal?"

   He pulled out a chair for her mad bent to her ears as she sat down. "I'm really curious. Were you always this way or did you change because I was indifferent?"

  "I change according to my situation and people around me. You're weird. I wanted to respect you in this marriage of 'respect' but you're getting on my nerves easily."

    He smiled as Spencer took his seat opposite them and the food rolled in.

"Juno is arriving tomorrow," Spencer said as they started the meal. "She's done studying."

"It's time she came back home. Going away for three years to study medicine is unreasonable," Adrian wiped his mouth and noticed that Isabelle wasn't eating. "Why aren't you eating?"

   Spencer raised his head at her too.

"I have no appetite," she drank water and walked out of the room with Lydia.

  "Where did that attitude come from?" Adrian shrugged.

"Try to understand her, she's your wife after all," Spencer advised.

"Do you want her?"

  Spencer dropped his cutleries. 

"She's your wife! Not an object for you to toy with. Just this morning,you were acting lovey-dovey with her, now at the sound of Juno's name, you changed. Don't frustrate her! I'm warning you," Spencer looked at Adrian with dark eyes and stormed out of the dining.

"What's wrong with him? How did the situation spiral out of control?" He sighed and continued eating.

    

    "So you're sixteen?" Isabelle asked Lydia.

"Yes your Highness," she replied her, bowing with a bent back as they walked together.

"You can walk comfortably," Isabelle straightened her.

"But," she wanted to object.

"You're my court maid," she shushed her. "I command to raise your head and look into my eyes."

    Lydia raised her back and stood straight. 

"Thank you for your unending grace, your Highness."

  "When did you start working here?"

"It was about three years ago, when Captain Spencer saved me."

"Saved you?" Isabelle turned to look at her. "From what?"

   Lydia looked uneasy. She was sweating hard. 

"It's okay," Isabelle placed her hands on her shoulder. "You don't have to talk about it."

"Have you been shown around the castle, your Highness?" Lydia asked with a glint in her eyes.

"No, why?"

   "Allow me to show you around," she bowed again.

"What did we say about bowing?" Isabelle chuckled and pulled her along.