The main market buzzed happily with villagers. Haggling and friendly banter resounded around the square; a square that was filled with booths and stands of all sorts of different things. A booth near the center seemed to catch everyone's attention. It was blindingly colorful, with all sorts of different flowers and plants.
Belle stood at the booth, oblivious to the attention her stand was receiving. She was on break at the moment and the owner, Mrs. Lovesworth, was taking care of the steady flow of customers.
It had been a week since the dinner party and Belle still hadn't talked to Arielle. This was due to the fact that the entire Caervon family had gone to their summer home for a week. Arielle had, according to the servants, begged and cajoled her parents to let Belle go, but this time her usually adoring parent's put their feet down.
It was match-making season. And the eldest Caervon son was the target. Apparently Beric's little sister Rose was the potential match, so her family was staying at the summer home as well. Personally, Belle felt bad for Arielle if she had to be stuck with Beric as extended family.
Belle hadn't been able to talk to the second son of the Caervon family either. Granted she did want to talk to Arielle first, but Luka was the second best choice. She had seen him before he had left, but he had given her his trademark angry look and had turned away.
Belle gave a gloomy sigh, bringing Mrs. Lovesworth's attention to her.
"Lovesickness isn't a fatal illness. Break time is over, dear." Mrs. Lovesworth snapped affectionally. Belle stood up before the full weight of the older woman's words hit her.
"L-Lovesickness?" Belle stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about, Goodwife." Mrs. Lovesworth gave her a knowing look and then turned her attention to new customers.
Belle thought of Luka and his ferocious temper.
Lovesickness? Definitely not.
*
"Luka."
Luka looked up from the book he was reading to meet his older brother's eyes. He sighed inwardly. From the look on Ayden's face, he was about to get a lecture.
They had been at the summer home for a week. Arielle had spent the first three days in a mood because they hadn't brought Belle. Of course, since the princess hadn't gotten her way she had made it living hell for the rest of the family.
The servants were on tenterhooks around her, ever since she had sent vases and books across her room in a fit of temper. After enduring it for three days, Luka had finally snapped and had an all-out shouting match with Arielle. Somehow Belle's name had popped up and since then Arielle and Luka hadn't spoken to each other.
"You two are acting like children again." Ayden said, bringing Luka out of his thoughts.
"It's not my fault she's a spoiled brat." Luka snapped angrily. He didn't want to have this conversation with Ayden, who knew far too well how Luka felt about Belle. Luka stood and walked to the far end of the room.
Ayden regarded him with his cold grey eyes. From the frozen poker face that Ayden was showing, he was irritated. That had always been one of the huge differences between the two sons. Their tempers. People always seemed to wonder if they were even related.
"You are way too transparent, Luka." Ayden said softly with no emotion in his voice. "If you're not careful, Belle herself is going to find out. Father is trying to keep her as far away as he possibly can without causing an all-out rebellion with Arielle."
"I know." Luka muttered, running his hand through his hair. Belle was a peasant. Truly dirt poor. It was a miracle that she had come as far as she had, even so far as to get a respectable job; not that Luka approved of it, but it was better than other jobs. She was like a flower blooming in a mud pile full of weeds. If Arielle hadn't found her, she'd still be an unlearned, rack of bones; doubtlessly selling off her body to get money.
Luka shook his head to clear the thought. Ayden regarded him for a moment and then arched his eyebrows in surprise as the library's door opened and Arielle came charging in, in her usual forthright style.
Luka's shoulders tensed without turning. He could tell who it was from the foot stride. Arielle herself paused with a glance at Luka's tense frame and then stuck her nose in the air. Ayden sighed. He was the only mature one of the siblings.
Arielle had felt the suffocating tense air almost immediately as she walked in. Considering the way Luka was standing, he had probably been getting a lecture from Ayden.
Heading to the library wasn't Arielle's first choice of entertainment, but it was far better than socializing out with Beric. Arielle shuddered. Being around him gave her goosebumps and not the good kind. Guiltily, she was relieved that Beric saved most of his gaze for Belle.
Thinking of Belle, Arielle's hackles rose. All of the siblings knew that Luka liked her. But Arielle refused to condone it. Luka was a noble. As much as Arielle didn't want to think about it, it was the truth. The most that Belle could be to Luka was a mistress. And Arielle wouldn't settle for that life for her best friend.
With a parting glare at Luka's back, Arielle stomped of, reading material in hand. When they returned, she was going to wage war. Luka wasn't going to get Belle. Not while she was around.
*
A week and a half later, Arielle made due to her inner promise.
Stalking into the village with a ferocious expression, not even the bravest suitor dared approach the fiery beauty.
Belle was at her usual place in the booth and she looked up when a lull in the general buzz of conversation alerted her to what was coming.
"Belle!" Arielle threw her arms around her best friend and then gave Mrs. Lovesworth puppy eyes.
Mrs. Lovesworth chuckled and nodded. This event had happened once before and even Mrs. Lovesworth couldn't resist the effect of the young lady's carefully cultivated charm.
