Chapter 2: Crown Prince

"Here, put this on, darling."

Aurora received the piece of jewelry from her godmother.

"Thank you, Celine."

She looked at herself in the silver hemmed mirror as she put the earrings on.

"The servants could have done a better job for your hair. Look at this tendril," Celine spoke, displeased. 

Aurora dodged her anxious hands, laughing softly.

"No need to be so nervous. It's just a casual meeting."

"With your to-be husband. Not to mention, the successor to the throne of Jaresh. I wonder what the king was thinking when he made them visit."

"Father is father."

"Of course."

Aurora watched her godmother leave, her gold embroidered gown trailing behind her. She looked back at her image in the mirror. She was nervous.

*

Loud music and dancing ushered the Jerash royal party in. Their golden horses dazzled in the sunlight and their silver carriages glistened in the late afternoon heat. It was a sight to behold.

She stood at the entrance to the palace, along with the emperor, her godmother, and the rest of the royals.

The carriages arranged themselves uniformly on the large grounds, the dust settling with them.

"Emperor Julius!"

Aurora breathed in deeply and watched as the aged warrior stepped out of his royal carriage. He looked the exact same as the image she had of him, domineering, magnificent… and so were his sons.

Five princely men each jumped down from their horses. She had never met her to-be husband but she knew at once who Sebastian Deusdedit was.

His sharp attractive eyes found her instantly and she wasn't sure if it was the dust-filled wind or if her breathing really stopped.

He had long dark hair, curled around his nape; his eyes, his eyes were the finest blue color; his face was carved exquisitely and his build… oh heavens, he was the finest warrior she had ever seen.

*

"Princess Aurora, Prince Sebastian."

She curtsied and let him kiss her petite fingers.

"I think we should give the couple some room. What do you think, Janus?"

"Of course. Diana, please escort them to the garden. The environment is wonderful for a romantic outing."

She let Sebastian lead her by the hand to the garden on the other side of the palace villa.

"We can take it from here, Lady Diana. We'll do just fine on our own."

"But the king…"

"For the thousandth time, the king is my father."

"As you wish, my princess."

Lady Diana curtsied and quickly left them in the dark hallway.

"You haven't said a word, your honor," she turned to Sebastian, keeping her features cool and composed.

He was already looking at her and she found a tiny blush creeping its way up her cheek. Thank Zeus that the darkness concealed it. She didn't understand why but she was suddenly looking forward to being his wife. In the past, it had just been a formal duty but now…

"Do you make your father's workers disobey him all the time?" He had a deep pleasant voice that made her feel at ease. Not that she was easily disconcerted.

They resumed walking, still with her hand tucked neatly in the crook of his arm.

"Only when it comes to my affairs."

"I see."

Sebastian stole another glance at the fair maiden he was to marry. Her beauty was unlike anything he had heard or seen. Her hair… he hoped she would never lay a scissors on it, ever.

They arrived at the large garden, roses, and daffodils arranged in their numbers with their sweet scents tickling their nostrils. They sat on the stone bench to the right of the arched entrance.

"I'll like to assure you that I am a good man and I intend to give you a comfortable life though I can't assure you that there won't be troubles. If you don't feel comfortable with having children immediately, I'll consider informing my father so he doesn't trouble us."

Aurora was a bit dazed at first then she grew sad. Was that really all there was to life for her? Get married, have children and spend her life taking care of them?

"Princess Aurora?"

She forced a smile.

"Of course, your honor. I'll do well to inform you if I ever feel that way."

Sebastian noticed the sad tint in her cheeks and the sarcasm in her speech but he said nothing of it. He also wished to stop her from adding honorifics and just call him by his name but he also said nothing.

"I'll be crowned emperor right after our wedding and I'll get even busier. I'm afraid you may not see as much of me as you may like and you'll be left alone to manage our home but the maidservants will give you all the assistance you need and if, perchance, there is an emergency, do not hesitate to place an urgent fire message to me."

"I will, your honor."

"Please… refrain from the titles. Sebastian, call me Sebastian."

"The law demands that I…"

"I make my own laws."

"As you wish, your… Sebastian."

He wanted her to say it again and again, his name.

"How old are you?"

"19."

There was a long pause.

"You're to ask me mine."

She shot him a quick look, bewildered.

"How old are you?" She asked anyway.

"28. I'm surprised you have not been carried off by some other charming prince."

Her lips twitched.

"My father is a bit possessive of me. If not that he feared to displease your father, the emperor Julius, he may have rejected your marriage offer."

"Aah, I see."

Her hand, out of his hold, she entangled them and watched the rose petals dance to the tune of the evening breeze.

"I'd like to know if you have any expectations," he said suddenly. She glanced at him for the hundredth time. Why were his features so captivating?

"I have many expectations, Sebastian, some of which may not be pleasing to you."

"I want to hear them."

"My father has a great fear of me venturing into the battlefield. I've trained in secret since I was six. I want to be enrolled into your army once we get back."

"I'm afraid that's a request I cannot grant. You'll be an empress, that is no role fitting for the empress of a great empire."

"Well, your honor, I don't…"

"Sebastian.'

"Sebastian, I frankly do not care."

His lips twitched in a smile.

"I'll see what I can do, Princess."

"Aurora."

His cheeks widened.

"I'll see what I can do, Aurora."

"You're the crown Prince, the future emperor. I'm sure you can get anything you seek."

A chuckle slipped out of his mouth. A surprise to them both.

"I'll see to it immediately, Aurora."

"My appreciation in advance then."

He smiled at her. His hand moved of their own accord to her golden blonde hair to fulfill the craving desire it had since he first saw her. His fingers stroked the silky lustrous curls while she sat stiff and unmoving.

"I love your hair," he murmured, his lips suddenly close to her ear. She swallowed, rubbing her sweaty palms on her skirt.

Soon he was getting to his feet and rounding her and gathering up her curls.

"What are your expectations of me? What kind of husband do you want me to be?"

"You," she found herself replying instantly while his hands worked magic on her hair.

"I'll try."

"Your honor," a foreign voice sounded in the garden, "the emperor invites you both for dinner."

He helped her to her feet and instead of his hands taking up hers, they instead went around her back.