ARIA.
"Let us go back to the Palace. It's been a long night tonight and honestly, I am not ready to get into this conversation right now." Lyall replied before he began to walk away.
"Oh, really!" I called after him, remaining in the same spot I stood in. "You're going to dismiss this because it has nothing to do with you right? I see! You only do things when it benefits you but whenever I want to talk, you decide you don't want to. Oh, it's the wrong time to talk and all of that. Very good! I see now. You are the only one who matters and whatever you say is it."

He stood by the carriage door before turning to me with raised brows. "Do you really want to do this right now?"
I folded one arm over the other. "No. I don't think I am interested anymore. But I also don't want to return to the Palace either. I have made a new friend and I think I'd love to spend more time with her."
He walked back to me in heavy steps. "No. None of that is going to happen until we settle this. Get that?"
I burst into laughter. "No, Lyall. I don't. I'll see you tomorrow."
I hadn't even walked two steps when he pulled me roughly by the arms. "Get your head straight and let's go back to the Palace!"
I struggled against him but before I could say another word, he lifted me into his arms and carried me towards the carriage.

"Let me go, Lyall," I said in the quietest voice I could muster even if I was so mad at him. "You can't just have your way with everything and decide to stop me from doing the same when it is my turn!"
"Unfortunately, I won't be doing that, Aria," he replied just as soon as he placed me gently into the carriage and climbed right after me.
His presence engulfed the space. The smell of his cologne wafted into my nose and I turned to the other side, facing the window. If he thought he could suppress me tonight with his scent and good looks, I could assure him that it wasn't going to even work a bit.
"What exactly is the problem?" He asked after several minutes of silence.

"I don't want to talk, Lyall."
He scoffed. "Really? You don't want to talk now? Moments ago, you were mad at me because I didn't want to talk and now, you're doing the same thing."
Scoffing, I turned to look at him. "Oh, really? Now you're mad because I don't want to talk, too? Why don't you take it with a good heart? You shouldn't be mad about it if you do it, too."
Sighing, he leaned back into his seat and nodded. "Alright then. I'll be shutting my eyes for a bit before we reach the Palace."
The ride took less than an hour and like he knew we had arrived, Lyall's eyes fluttered open and he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
He helped me out of the carriage and when I got down, I noticed that the Palace was bustling with more activity than usual. It was late and the servants should have gone to bed.
Lyall must have noticed too because he left my side and went over to one of the guards who spoke to him.
Immediately, he hurried into the Palace and I walked towards the door, wondering why he had left me here.
Just as I got to the entrance, I was stopped by one of the guards who put his spear out. "You can't walk in."
"Why?" I asked in bewilderment.
"Because the Queen has returned."
It felt like a huge rock had been thrown on my head. My heart sank and I felt my knees wobble. I was both afraid and sad. Afraid of what was going to happen if she ever found out I was Lyall's mistress. I'd heard tales about her and how brutal she could be and honestly, I wasn't even sure I wanted her to know who I was.
"But—" I was cut short by another guard who stopped before me.
"The King has asked us to escort you to the Servants' quarters in the meantime."
"What?!" I asked, my voice riddled with shock and confusion. "Can I at least speak to him?"
The second guard gave me a look. "Are you stupid? Do you know what the Queen is going to do if she sees you? You're better safe than sorry," Then he turned to the guards by the door. "Escort her back. I'll take your place."
Nodding the guards did as they had been told, walking towards me and snatching my arms before I could even protest and label myself innocent.
I was led towards the servants' quarters and all I could think of was the questions Daneesha would ask. The maids already hated me so seeing me back here would fuel their hate for me the more. I didn't even want to think about Tiffany and my punishment.
I guessed this was the end of it all. Lyall must have said that to raise my hopes high but I knew I was no longer his mistress.
Wasn't he going to tell her about the development like he had said?
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. My eyes brimmed with tears as I walked to the servants' quarters. The guards stopped before my door and I lowered my head in shame, not wanting to look at the faces of any of the maids.
"Don't worry," One of them said. "The King has asked that no one assign you to any duty."
My anger returned. And what the hell was that supposed to do for me? Make me feel better about how miserable he was making me look in front of everyone. Even the guards knew I was his mistress. It was the most shameful thing to admit.
As soon as they left, I twisted the knob but it refused to open. Daneesha must have locked it.
Sighing, I leaned against the door and slipped to the ground, waiting for her to return.
"Well, well, well. Look who has returned to the fucking ashes!"
I heard a couple of snickers and my eyes fluttered open. My arch-enemy, Trisha, stood with her friends. They were looking at me with disdain. "You all can continue on your way. I honestly don't have the strength right now."
"I'm sure you'll have the strength when Tiffany assigns you back to work. How does filling a hundred barrels feel like, hun?"
I try not to glare at her. "Run along."
"Of course, we will. At least, we weren't used by the King and tossed away as soon as his wife returned. How does it feel to be the second option?"
"She said, run along!"
The women stopped talking and turned to Daneesha who wasn't even smiling. "Oh, her best friend. They're almost alike but I think I like this one better."
"Get out!"
They all walked away, laughing at the top of their voices and when Daneesha turned to me, tears streamed down my cheeks.
She pulled me to my feet. "Now, don't cry. I have enough food and listening ears. Let's go back in."