Mate of the Fallen Alpha Prince

Chapter Six - Marie Alicia

Venus thought that the breakfast was much grander today. Her parents are doing the best they can to provide for Prince Arthur.

“As I said to my daughter yesterday, Prince Arthur, you will be working with her from now on about the business that we will further discuss for today,” King Ernest casually glanced at him.

Venus thought that it was awkward to eat with Prince Arthur together with her parents, it was as if he was the one she married.

“I understand, Your Majesty, I appreciate all of the considerations that you are giving to me for my kingdom,” Prince Arthur commented.

“Nonsense child, it’s my daughter who you have to thank,” Ernest smiled, so they all glanced at her, which made her feel uncomfortable.

“It’s true, it was really an honor when your daughter thought that my deal has merit, I will forever be indebted to her,” Prince Arthur mysteriously smiled.

“You flatter me way too much, Your Highness,” She beamed, so they just continued enjoying their breakfast until the king and queen excused themselves to take care of the matters they needed to tend to.

“Prince Arthur, would it be alright if we meet later on?” Venus asked while dabbing some napkin on her lips.

The two of them were the only ones left at the huge table. Their seats are parallel with one another, so they could just see each other right in front of them.

“I’m sure it would be alright, are you going to meet with your husband?” Prince Arthur sounded a little cold at his question.

“Unfortunately, yes, we didn’t end up on good terms yesterday and I just have to see him first,” She informed him.

He just smiled, “You don’t have to think about me, Your Highness, I’ll be waiting for your return,”

After he said those words, both of them stood up to leave the dining hall, “Are you sure that you’re going to be alright there?” He asked.

“Pardon?” Venus squinted her eyes at him because she was confused. He just looked at her intently before shrugging.

“Pay me no mind, Your Highness, I just wanted to make sure you’ll be alright and come back here safely,” He smiled.

Venus was still confused, but she slowly nodded her head before smiling, “Thank you, I’ll see you soon, Your Highness,”

Arthur kissed the back of her hands before he completely left. She couldn't help but feel that he was a bit upset, “Do you think he’ll be alright here, Hanna?” Venus glanced at her lady-in-waiting.

She just nodded, “I’m sure he will be alright, Your Highness, there are a lot of things in the palace that could keep him preoccupied,”

“I see, that’s good then, let’s go leave to meet up with Prince Louis, I heard he also had a meeting today,” Venus requested.

It wasn’t long until Venus finished dressing up to her best before she set out on a journey with Hanna towards the plaza.

That’s where the next gathering of princes, princesses, nobles, and dukes is commencing. She had to make sure that Louis won’t do anything that she doesn’t know.

It didn’t take them long to arrive at the plaza. Numerous royalties bowed at the sight of her and as usual, everyone was admiring her presence.

“Your Highness, congratulations on your wedding,” A duchess greeted her, so she just smiled before she curtsied.

“Thank you, have you seen Prince Louis around?” She curiously asked while roaming her eyes around their surroundings.

“I think I just saw him with Princess Marie Alicia Pheon on that corner,” The duchess pointed out, but after hearing that dreaded name, her body felt cold like someone showered her with cold water.

Her eyes turned the other way and felt like she was going to run out of breath after seeing those two standing right next to each other.

It looks like they were having a good time while laughing and sharing a glass of wine while talking to other nobles.

“Princess? Princess! Are you alright?” Hanna worriedly asked. She was gently shaking her shoulders, but she didn’t bother answering her.

All of the traumatic experiences instantly came back to her as if it was a motion picture being played right before her eyes.

She could feel her chest tightening because of all the things she could remember from the past. Marie Alicia slept with her husband, won over his parents, and killed her.

Venus also couldn’t forget how Marie Alicia and the queen ordered numerous men to kill Hanna because she was the only one who stood beside her during her dark days.

Her death was horrible because Marie made her watch it. She closed her eyes because she could still hear her screams from back then because they tortured her before taking her life.

She could feel her hands shaking and was that close to tearing up when a strong hand pulled her away from there, forcing her to look at him intently.

“Venus, breathe,” She heard a deep, calm voice that surprisingly calmed her well-being. Venus slowly raised her head and was surprised that Arthur was there.

“P-Prince Arthur,” She whispered, stepping inches away from him, “W-What are you doing here?” Venus curiously asked.

“I just suddenly remembered that I also have to meet up with someone here for business, so I tried to catch up on you,” Arthur informed her.

“I-I see, thank you, Your Highness,” Venus bowed while closing her eyes because he probably noticed how terrified she was at the sight of Marie Alicia Pheon.

She was one of her childhood best friends. They played at the castle together back when they were kids and studied at the same school where they could learn etiquette and other things every princess should do for their kingdom.

Venus was always the one who got high grades as they graduated together with her being the top princess around the lands of Flora.

She wasn’t aware that Marie Alicia has an inferiority complex with her and was madly in love with the person she fell in love with first in the past.

“Princess? Are you certain that you’re alright?” Hanna worriedly asked so she was pulled back from reality before she slowly nodded her head.

“Y-Yes, I just suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe,” She reasoned out before smiling at everyone who was surrounding her.

The Duchess was still there, worried about her state, “Maybe you should just rest at your kingdom or your husband’s kingdom, Your Highness,”

“I-I think that’s a good idea,” Venus acknowledged her suggestion and was about to bid her goodbyes when she heard a familiar voice.

“Venus? I wasn’t informed you were here,” She heard Louis' voice, so she slowly turned around and saw that he was approaching them together with Marie Alicia.

“Princess Venus! I’m so glad to see you here,” Marie Alicia greeted before she curtsied, but she didn’t do anything but just stare at her.

She couldn’t believe that this bright aura of hers has a dark side deep within the roots of her soul, which made her clench her fists.

Arthur noticed that she was uncomfortable at the sight of that princess, so he stepped in before bowing, “Greetings, Your Highness,”

After he said those words, he reached out to her hands before kissing the back of them, “And who are you?” Marie Alicia tilted her head.

She was flattered and at the same time, was blown away by the handsomeness of this prince. She has never seen him around the lands of Flora before.

“He was the one I’ve been telling you about, Prince Arthur, the fallen prince from the kingdom of Lilac,” Louis amusingly said with a smirk plastered on his lips.

That was an insult for Arthur, so Venus glanced at him and thought that he wasn’t least affected by what he said.

‘They’re that close to telling each other things like that huh? Back then, I didn’t attend these kinds of meetings, maybe this is where she started seducing him,’ Venus thought.

Despite the fact that the three of them were childhood best friends, she knew that Louis hated Alicia for her clinginess.

‘What are the odds that she managed to seduce him when he fell right into her trap to have her in our bed back then,’ Venus added in her mind.

“Oh, I see,” Marie smiled before glancing at Venus, “Your Highness, is everything alright?” She curiously asked when she didn’t say anything about her greetings.

Venus thought that it was difficult to play nice to her, especially because she caused her too much pain in the past.

“I was planning to see you, Your Highness,” Venus didn’t mind her as she turned to Louis before she curtsied, “Because you left without any notice,”

“Ah,” Louis wet his lips, “My apologies, I have to calm myself because I was feeling a little over possessive of you, you were right, your kingdom was always generous,”

“I hope you can enjoy your stay at Rose Kingdom, Prince Arthur,” Louis coldly glanced at him, so he just bowed his head.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Prince Arthur politely bowed his head before raising it to smile at them.

She could feel that Marie Alicia was staring at her, so she just smiled at Prince Louis, “Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness,”

“If it’ll not take too much of your time, would you like to join us for dinner at our kingdom?” Venus curiously asked.

“I have to go back to the kingdom again because I’m feeling a little under the weather, and have to inform you about the tasks the king and queen have given to me,” She added.

“Oh, but we already have plans later, right? Prince Louis?” Marie Alicia sounded like she was complaining, so she almost rolled her eyes at her.

“I’m pretty sure that my matters with my husband are much more important than what you two had planned,” Venus faked a smile, so Alicia was astounded by her behavior.

Louis stared at her and Alicia, he could feel the tension forming between the two of them and he couldn’t understand why.

He turned to Alicia with a smile plastered on his lips, “My wife is right, Your Highness, I still have to speak with her later,”

After Louis said those words, they heard someone growling, “My word, did you hear that?” The duchess commented.

“I heard it too, but it would be impossible if dogs are seen around this place,” Louis commented while shaking his head.

He approached his wife before kissing the back of her hands, “I’ll wrap up certain talks with the nobles and dukes here, please wait for me at your kingdom,”

“I’ll be waiting, Your Highness,” After she bowed to him and bid her goodbyes to everyone, she turned her back and cautiously looked for the main exit of the plaza.

She wanted to get out of the place where she could see Alicia. Venus felt suffocated as if her corset was being tightened.

It wasn’t long until she saw the royal carriage from the outside, not realizing that Arthur and Hanna were following her from behind.

“Your Highness, please, can you reassure me that you’re alright?” Hanna bit her lower lip as she almost forced Venus to look at her while she was about to enter the carriage.

She looked at those two and didn’t realize that tears were falling straight to her cheeks, “Y-Your Highness!” Hanna panicked.

“H-Hanna, I’m alright, I-I apologize for acting this way but I’m really just not feeling well,”

After she said those words, she silently cried the whole ride while she was being consoled by her lady-in-waiting.

“Your Highness, I can’t bear seeing you like this all the time,” Hanna whispered with small tears forming at the corner of her eyes.

Venus didn’t say anything. She didn’t care who she was around, but she just had to let out what she was feeling or it’ll eat her up.

Arthur, on the other hand, couldn’t say anything because he doesn’t like to see her that way. Helpless and scared.

He was wondering why she acted so strangely when she saw those two, if there is one thing he understood about what happened, is that she was terrified of Marie Alicia.

At the same time, she was also furious with her. He knows that it isn’t his business, but he couldn’t help but be worried about her.

She was still his mate after all despite that she was married, and he knew that there was still nothing happening between them too so he couldn’t help but have hope.

He rubbed his face using his two hands that luckily those two women didn’t notice, “I must be out of my mind,”

Arthur just continued watching those two console one another because he doesn't know how he could comfort her even if he wanted to.

Plus he wouldn’t like her to get the wrong idea, especially now that he doesn't know what she truly feels about her husband.

He has to compose himself and have to make sure that he won’t cross the boundaries he can’t step into just yet.

To be continued…