Despite her words, I stayed with Mother and continued down the path. Though as we neared our home the path became littered with rocks and weeds that I didn't have much trouble getting through. My mother on the other hand had a slightly more difficult time. Unlike mine, her shoes had heals on them, which constantly dug into the dirt and couldn't get free.

"Aurora, Darling. Could you please help?" She asked with a weak smile and I felt obliged to help.

"I told you to buy different shoes, mother. You always get into this mess when we walk home." I said pulling her foot free from the mud trap.

"Aurora, I do not need your help with fashion advice." She said and continued down the path. Still getting stuck in the mud, causing us to be an hour late.

When we reached home, my father was waiting outside, a disapproved look on his face. It was rare to see my father with a disapproved expression. Though when he did it was usually towards my mother.

"Where have you two been?" He asked us, though mother was out of breath and couldn't give a good enough answer.

"We... were... shopping." She breathed and struggled as I helped her inside and onto the sofa.

"Shopping?" He questioned, as if it were a bad thing, and to be honest, it kind of was.

"Yes dear, for the ball that the king had invited us to." She answered. Taking a fan from the table beside the sofa and fanning herself with it. Despite her exhaustion, I felt fine and a bit energized.

"Isn't that next week?" He probed, his expression grown more annoyed by the second.

"Yes, but-"

"No, you are not to spend anymore money on that ball, not until I get back from my trip." Father said, picking up his hat and cloak. It took me a second to register what he said and then I took off after him.

"Wait father, you're leaving again?" I asked as he walked out the front door.

"Yes, I am. I'll be back in a few days." He said as he walked towards the stable that held our buggy and carriage.

"But father, you can't leave me alone with her again." I whined, sure I could stand my mother at the market for an hour or two, but for a couple of days. I would surely go insane. My father stopped and turned to me, he was an easy person to read. His expression read 'not today Aurora.' I could already hear his tired and annoyed voice before he said anything.

"You'll be fine, just go to town and spend some time with Daphne." He said, opening the door to the carriage house. Inside there were a few servants cleaning the carriage wagon. "Cas, would you get Clove and hook him up to the buggy?"

Bucky was our horse, though he was getting on in years he was still a noble horse and had a bit more life left in him.

Cassian Garia was my fathers right hand man here. He helped with almost everything. We were close in years, it made me feel better to have a friend who worked with the few servants we had here and with my father for that matter.

"Father." I groaned as he readied the carriage.

"Aurora, your mother loves you dearly. Though she may not express it through the normal way, she makes up for it in... wanting the best for you." He reasoned, I could see Jensen in the distance with Clove. We locked eyes for a split second before he looked away.

"Can you please stay?" I begged.

"I can't, your mother keeps spending money, so I have to make more." He said and I silently cursed my mother for wanting to buy everything she sees. "I'll see you in a few days."

The horse was latched to the buggy and he was off. I felt soft tears fall down my cheeks as he drove down the road. I never liked seeing my father leave. I felt as if he were taking a part of me with him, and I didn't know if he would bring it back.

"Is he gone? Did I miss him?" My mother asked, running out of the house to see my father halfway to town.

"Yes he did mother." I said with a frown. Seeing my mother's beet red face of anger made me miss father even more. I never liked spending time with my mother, or at least not now that I am older. She used to be understanding and patient though now that I am almost twenty, she pressures me constantly about finding a husband. It gets on my nerves.

"Well, I guess we'll have to give him extra love when he returns." She smiled and retreated back into the house.

I however stayed outside, the summer air felt refreshing against my pale skin. Though I wasn't entirely excited about the spring ending, summer still brought joy into my dule life. I quietly found a spot in the grass beside my house and laid down. The clouds circled above me, tempting me to fly away with them. Though my rational brain told me it was impossible to fly, so I settled on the next best thing, cloud watching. I tried to pick out different animals and objects in the endless stream of white.

"Hello Miss Aurora." Cassian said, his deep voice calling me out from my concentration. I sat quickly up and gestured for Cassian to sit.

"Cas, how long have we known each other?" I asked him as he sat comfortably on the grass beside me.

"Nine years." He said without blinking an eye. It was strange how time could pass so easily by.

"Then I think you can stop putting miss in front of my name." I smiled and went back to staring at the clouds.

"Well then Aurora." He said my name, as if it were foreign on his tongue, my mother had spent so many hours drilling 'miss' into his mind that it had become second nature to call me that. "Are you excited for the ball."

"No." I responded almost immediately.

"Why not? You'll get to meet the prince." He nudged me, though I could feel a slight hesitation in that nudge, as if he weren't excited for me to meet royalty.

"I never want to meet him, I never want to see him. I don't even want to be in the same kingdom as him." I huffed.

"You know every girl in the kingdom wants to meet him, even my little sister. Who is five by the way." He stated and I rolled my eyes.

"Because I'm about only one who can see what he truly is, which is a terrible, ruthless killer." I said my anger towards the royal family was showing, but I didn't care.

"You better watch what you say, or else they'll kill you for treason." Cas said, proving my point.

"They have to find me first." I smiled and got up. He quickly followed me.

"Where are you going?" He asked as I walked behind the house

"I'm going to hide." I joked and started running into the small wood behind my house.

I heard the sound of my footsteps change from the soft pounding of grass to the loud crunch of leaves and pine needles. This forest had always been one of my favourites to explore. Though it was small I felt as if I could wander it forever.

"Aurora, wait." Cas called as I moved deeper into the trees

"You are too slow." I laughed, pulling to a stop beside a large oak tree.

"I'm not slow, I'm average." He defended, though I could hear his slight jagged breath when he spoke. Jensen could not be defined as out of shape. His years here working for my father had aided in him becoming a handsome, strong young man. His light brown hair cropped short and his equally bright hazel eyes made him all the more attractive. I felt myself blush a bit when I caught myself staring

"Keep telling yourself that." I smiled.

"So, why did you choose the forest to hide in?" Cas questioned as I stood there, taking in the woodsy air.

"The prince's guards will never find me here." I smiled.

"You think they're scared of a little wood?" He asked. Taking a step closer to me.

"No silly. They don't think a lady would go into the woods all alone."

"Do you really think they're that stupid?" He suggested and I let out a snort. "Or think that you're anything close to a lady?"

"Pretty much. And for your information, I can be a lady when and if I choose to." I smiled. Though I could tell from his expression that he thought I was lying.

"So any gossip with the servants?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Not really, though a servant from the palace was in town today and I heard some very interesting information." He said and I waited for more. When he didn't say anything else I groaned.

"What do you want?" I asked, knowing that he always wanted something for even a tiny speck of gossip. I watched as a smile creeped over his lips as he thought of what the information was worth.

"For this expensive information I think..." He paused, letting the suspense kick in. "A kiss from the lady Aurora Whitmore." I immediately abrupted into laughter and when he didn't join me I silenced myself.

"Wait you're not serious?" I questioned. Sure I had imagined kissing Jensen, but not this way.

"Well I guess you're not getting the gossip then." He said and turned to walk away.

"Hey, I didn't say no." I reasoned, quickly grabbing his wrist and turning him towards me wanting to know what the servant from the palace said.

"Alright, now give me a peck on the lips." He said, stepping closer to me. I was suddenly shocked at our difference in height. I wouldn't call myself short, standing at 5'6 was the normal height for a girl my age. But Cas made me feel small and fragile, his large build had caused me to look up just to gaze into his brown eyes.

"Fine, but you have to tell me everything that the servant said." I demanded, feeling his lips draw near mine. His hands found their way to my hips and I braced myself for the pressure his lips would bring to mine. My heart thumped in my chest and the heat of his hands on my waist brought me an odd comfort. As if his touch were the only thing that could soothe the rapid beating in my chest.

"Of course my lady." He whispered and his lips landed on mine.

I had never been kissed before, though I didn't think it'd be like this. Cas's soft lips brushed against mine, my eyes instantly closed when I felt his teeth lightly bite my lower lip as if asking for permission to add his tongue into the mix. Butterflies flew in my stomach as I opened my mouth for him and his tongue slipped in. Our tongues danced together making the butterflies grow. My hands went to tangle themselves in his short hair and I felt him pull me closer as if I wasn't close enough.

After a few minutes into our kiss, he pulled away and rested his forehead against mine. Our breaths mingled together, I felt as if I had just run a marathon. His hand came to cup my chin as he pressed a light kiss and my lips.

"Now that was a kiss." He said, breathless as well. I felt him let go and back away.

I felt a little embarrassed and turned my head down to hide my blush. When my cheeks had gone cold and I was sure the redness was gone I looked back at him with confidence.

"Now may I have the gossip?" I asked and I saw a bit of disappointment flash for a moment in his eyes. As if he thought I had only kissed him for the juicy information he held.

"Of course, well I heard that..." He paused, as if trying to add more mystery and suspense to the information, like he had done before he asked me to kiss him. "I heard that at the ball, the prince will choose a bride. And I'm guessing your mother wants that to be you."