The Crown's Entrapment

Even as the talk went deeper and more involved, Aurelia found herself honestly feeling a bit uncomfortable and awkward. She was trying her best to fit in as a lady of the Everett pack. She still had to host and entertain their guests along with her mother Rosa, and she was also tasked by her mother to make sure that the Queen would enjoy the celebration along with the other young nobles.

And while she wasn't a person who loved to mingle with the crowds, this was still her brother's special day. Like her mother, she wanted this to be perfect for him and for their guests… For them to have fun with what her family had prepared for tonight's celebration.

Taking a sip from her glass, Aurelia would occasionally sneak glances at Bella every once in a while. The lady was very accommodating and jolly, often smiling despite all of the constant attention. Although, she couldn't help but wonder if it was truly a genuine smile. After all, as far as she could recall, the last time Bella got angry was because of Calypso.

'I wonder what she's really thinking about me right now knowing that I'm Calypso's mate,' she inwardly mused as she stared at the raven-haired beauty. Bella was undeniably a gorgeous woman. She was alluring and seductive with her curvy and sexy body, and any man would surely want her to be their partner. But surprisingly, Calypso turned her down.

Aurelia let out a sigh as she looked on, and her heart skipped a bit when Bella's eyes suddenly met hers.

"Lady Aurelia?" Bella asked, a genuine hint of curiosity adorning her face. "Can I help you?"

Aurelia inwardly cursed as she found herself being caught staring too much. "It's nothing. I was just…"

She was honestly already thinking about standing up and walking away just to avoid a confrontation, but unfortunately, Bella didn't seem to take no for an answer as the woman scooted over to sit beside her.

"Come on, Lady Aurelia. Something's clearly on your mind," Bella insistently goaded, ignoring everybody else at their table as she focused her attention on her alone. "You wouldn't be staring at me that much if it wasn't that important."

Aurelia once more cursed her luck before letting out a small sigh. She had been caught, so this was the price for her carelessness. She might as well get it over with and come clean.

"I just had a thought about Calypso and your connection to him," Aurelia admitted with a cool voice. "You've pined for him for years, only for him to reject you. And now I'm his mate…"

Bella hummed, "Yes, and?"

Aurelia gave her a small stare. "And? If I were you, I would probably have some sort of grudge against the woman my beloved went to after rejecting me," she replied. "It doesn't help that the man himself is a known womanizer that my brother insistently says would never change."

Bella blinked as she visibly took in everything that Aurelia had said. A long beat would pass before she finally found her words to speak.

"Lady Aurelia, as much as you would think so, I honestly don't mind that Lord Calypso found his mate," Bella began with a warm smile. "If you're his mate, then who am I to deny him of that?"

"I probably would," Aurelia scoffed. "Assuming that I'd go that far, at least."

"And still, you allowed him into your heart anyway," Bella pointed out. "I know it doesn't sound proper, but I do think that you should still give him a chance. He's a good man. He just has a bad reputation for being a womanizer."

"A reputation that got me into this mess in the first place," Aurelia sighed. "Still, you're right…"

She had allowed him to try and woo her. It was something that she didn't even think would happen, but it simply seemed logical at the time. Now, of course, it wasn't, but trying to break their arrangement off would be more trouble than it was worth doing.

And for some reason, it just felt right to let it happen… much to her own confusion.

"Right?" Bella chuckled. "Despite everything, Calypso seems to be doing his best right now. Honestly, I think you being his mate would do some good for him. Maybe make him forsake his womanizing ways."

"I can only hope so," Aurelia mockingly scoffed. "I'd do some indescribable things to him if he ever does things…"

"I… I wouldn't go that far," Bella nervously chuckled. "Besides, I don't think he was even like that before."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow at Bella's claim. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, it just feels like he's too good of a man to even think about harming women deliberately," Bella hypothesized. "Something must've happened to him in the past… Something that made him want to purposefully play with women's hearts like that…"

"Like what? Him having his heart broken by a woman once?" Aurelia jokingly guessed. "I find that hard to believe."

Or so she said. Deep inside, she found herself curious if Calypso's behavior was indeed caused by something else. Perhaps even a past trauma…

"Well, that's what I think, at least," Bella shrugged. "I just think that he's being more serious with you than he ever was with me. From that alone, I can tell that he sees something in you."

"That's exactly what being his mate entails," Aurelia pointed out.

"I-I guess so," Bella awkwardly chuckled. "Still, you should really give him a chance… assuming that you haven't done so already."

"I suppose I already have," she nonchalantly replied. "We'll see what happens. Whether or not things work out, that's for the future me to figure out."

There was no use thinking over hypotheticals after all. All she could do was to take things when they came, and she'll figure things out from there.

'At least you seem to have things sorted out, Brother…'

Aurelia let out a small smile as her thoughts drifted to her very overprotective brother Gideon. She could only imagine what he was getting up to with his mate right now… Perhaps she might find herself becoming an aunt sooner rather than later.

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December 31, 2022 AN: May you all have a healthy, wonderful and prosperous New Year ahead guys. Happy happy New Year to you and your loved ones. *kisses and hugs*

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