~Ethan.
The girls started trooping in the day after the conversation I had with Mom but, even with all my attempts to concentrate on them, I could not seem to shake away the thoughts of my encounter with Aurora the previous night.
One minute, I was heading back to my chambers and the next, I had my hands around her neck, trying my very best to keep myself from pushing her against the wall and claiming those luscious lips of hers.
Her stubbornness aroused me. She was a sweet temptation and one thing was certain, I would not be able to hold myself back for long. It was only a matter of time before my strange surging desires for her consumed me and transformed me into something I wouldn't be able to control.
The girl in front of me chatted away like she and the four other girls before her and the three others next to her had been trained and wired to do.
Perhaps, I was supposed to be happy that finally, I was about to find the woman who would birth my successor but, the meeting with the girls sickened me.
They only spoke when spoken to, they seemed to have no mind of their own, only replying with the very plain response they had been programmed with, they had very similar uninteresting hobbies, no political ideas, and all of them, all of them just wanted to be the submissive and quiet wife who would bear the heir to the throne. No more, no less.
One word. Boring.
I needed a woman with will and driven by passion. Someone different, a strong, bold and fierce woman, someone like…
“Your highness?” The green-eyed girl with blonde hair called, distracting me from my thoughts.
I shook my head as I turned back to her and the three other girls. The list was long that I had to sit with eight girls each day; four in the morning and the other four in the evening.
The elders did their bests to list out every maiden of noble class and from a royal bloodline from our pack and the neighboring packs.
“Sorry, I was just trying to picture what you said. I'm impressed.” I flashed her the brightest smile I could muster, and I inwardly shook my head as I saw her cheeks get stained by red – I hadn't a clue what she had said. The other women next to her eyed her with jealousy before turning back to me and flashing me with the same smile that has been programmed with. All teeth and no sincerity.
“Allow me to call on you girls, some other time.” They all stood and curtsied as I left the room.
The meeting went on for days and on the sixth day, I snapped and refused to meet anyone again but, Mom seemed to have a different opinion.
“You need to meet all of them, surely you would see a lady who would pick your interest. They are all smitten by you, so you don't need to bother about them liking you too.”
I shook my head in disappointment as I stalked into my room, leaving Mom to follow me behind.
“We have already informed those women that we would call on them, and you know I am not a woman to go back on my words.”
At least Dad was a lucky man. He had a woman who made her own choices, those women I had met were no less than a robot.
“You can still call on them, Mom.” I shrugged as I took off my wristwatch and cuff links and placed them back into their designated cabinets. “You can call on them and have tea and do whatever with them. The highlight there is I am no longer meeting anyone.”
She wasn't in my line of sight but, I could feel her eyes boring holes into my back. I sighed as I turned to face her.
“What is the rush, mother? I am still very young, you know?”
“You're almost forty.” She retorted.
“Six years is quite a long time. I don't see myself developing feelings for any of those ladies.” I added after a while, “I can't fall in love with them.”
“Oh! For heaven's sake, who is talking about love here?”
“Me, Mother. Me.”
“The throne needs an heir!”
“And I need a better companion!”
The room fell silent as Mom's eyes narrowed at me, the heaviness in my exhalation the only sound in the room.
Mom took a step closer, “is there someone you have your eyes on?”
“Heavens, no mother.” I walked to the dressing mirror and began to loosen my tie.
“Then what is the problem?” She came to stand beside me and tilted her head to have a better look at me, “Are you still in love with Isadora?”
My stomach churned with disgust.
“Would you be proud of me if I were?”
She went back to stand behind as she rolled her eyes. “Ethan look at me.”
I sighed, hesitated for a second before turning to her.
“You know everything I do for you and your sister is for your good.” I nodded. “I love the both of you so dearly, and all I wish for you both is the best.”
“Except those girls are not close to the best.”
“But you are yet to meet all of them.”
“Mother-”
“There's is one you're yet to meet. I know this one personally, your father and her father were close, and I have had the opportunity to speak with this one on many occasions. You will like her, I promise.”
I shook my head.
“Ethan-”
“Fine. Just this one person.” If that was what I needed to get Mom off my best, I was more than ready to do it.
Mom beamed as she took a step back, and I raised a brow," Alright. Wear a better dress shirt and come downstairs to meet her.”
“What?”
“Oh, she prefers not to stay in within the palace walls.”
“No, Mom. Why do I have to meet her now?”
“You agreed to it.”
“But I never meant for it to me right now.”
She shrugged, “It already is.” She began walking to the door, “don't keep a lady waiting.” She blew me a kiss and I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. Mom will always be Mom.
Picking out a new shirt, I picked out another cuff links and wristwatch and once I was ready, I made my way down to the living room.
Right there was Mom with a tall, slender girl next to her. She had plain brown eyes that sparkled when she smiled, with curly black hair. She had black nail polish and wore rings on the four fingers of each of her hand -except the thumbs.
“Ethan,” Mom called once she saw me step into the room, and I made my way straight to them. “Ethan, this is Tiffany Sorenson, the lady I was telling you about. Tiffany, this is my son, Ethan.”
She curtsied just as I stretched out my hand for a handshake.
“You don't have to be so formal.” I said when she stood up and took my hand.
“It is only right I accord you your due respect, your highness.”
Her voice sounded like that of an opera singer; fine and soothing to the bones. “Such a lovely voice you have.”
Her cheeks reddened, “thank you, your highness.”
“Alright,” Mom clapped once," you two run along now. Take your time and have fun.”
I smiled – sincerely since the meeting began- and turned to Tiffany. “Right behind you, Milady.”
Once Tiffany was in front of me, I turned to look at Mother to see her smiling, and she winked once her eyes met mine. Returning her smile, I shook my head as she waved me off.
Tiffany didn't say a word on our way to the park and though I was grateful for the peace and quiet she provided me with, even though I liked her, I hoped she would be like other girls.
“Are you always this quiet?” I asked as our car came to a halt at the entrance of the park.
“Inquisitive. Finally, I managed to figure out one attribute of yours.”
I chuckled lightly. Finally, someone different and interesting.
I got down the car and walked to her door to help her down, and together we walked hand-in-hand into the park.
Just as expected, heads turned and people murmured and some went as far as pulling out their phones to take pictures and just as I had learned since I was little, I kept my head straight and pretended none of it was happening. Perks of being a public figure.
However, there was someone in the crowd I couldn't seem to ignore. A curvy body and thick dark hair that rested above her waist. Next to her was a boy who was trying to hit a bull's-eye to, and in front of her was a man who wouldn't stop leaning into her to whisper whatever into her ear.
My brows knitted as she threw her head back in laughter and my palms fisted as she touched his shoulder.
Such madness!
“Is something wrong, your highness?” Tiffany asked, trying to hold my fisted hand, but I snatched my hands away from her.
“Do excuse me for a minute,” I said as I stomped towards Aurora.
“Uncle Ethan.” Arne beamed. He was the first person to notice me, making all heads turn towards me, including hers.
“Ethan?” My eyes were about to soak into her, but the deep masculine voice pulled my attention to him.
My brows narrowed. “Reginald?”