The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 29: Affair

Chapter 29: Affair

>>Aelin

"They can’t," He kept me close to him as he escorted me out of there, "There’s nothing they can do to you."

I felt the heated gazes of the people as we exited, "Their Princess was killed." I whispered

"And you are the human princess," We turned the corner, finally getting away from their eyes, "They do anything to you, they risk a war."

I pursed my lips

But will my family even do that? I don’t matter to them. I don’t think they’ll care even if I’m killed! I glanced at Ariston who kept my arms firmly in his.

Then I looked away, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything to him about my gloomy relationship with my family.

The heavy doors creaked open as Ariston stepped inside my room with me, his hand lightly resting on the small of my back as if to guide me. My nerves still felt raw from the throne room, and my head was spinning with everything that had just transpired. The door shut with a soft thud behind us, and I instinctively glanced around the room, searching for any hidden eyes or ears. It was a foolish thought, but after what had just happened, paranoia seemed justified.

Ariston stood silently for a moment, his gaze scanning the room. His usual calm demeanor was still intact, but I could see the faintest furrow in his brow.

He was thinking, calculating. He took a small vial from his pocket and drank a sip which made him cough.

"Are you alright?"

He nodded as he tightened the lid on the small sky blue vial and put it back in his pocket, "I’m fine, don’t worry."

"Are you sick?" I asked, the vial catching my curiosity

"No, it’s just something I need to take every now and then. Don’t worry about it." He completely dismissed the topic.

"Ariston, I don’t think they’re going to stop blaming us," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "No matter what evidence they find—or don’t find—they’ve already decided we’re guilty."

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he walked to the window, his sharp gaze sweeping over the courtyard below as if searching for unseen threats. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady

"You’re not wrong," he said, his back still turned to me. "But like I said, they can’t do anything to you."

"They can’t kill me, but they can’t do something else, right?"

"I won’t let anything happen to you." He said, "As long as I’m here, you are safe."

I sighed, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "So what now? We wait and hope the investigation proves us innocent?"

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "No," he said firmly. "We don’t wait. We protect ourselves."

I raised an eyebrow. "And how do we do that? It’s not like I can waltz around the palace wielding a weapon. I’m already one accusation away from being thrown into a dungeon."

Ariston stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. "You’re not going to be alone, Princess. Not for a moment. I’ll make sure of that." I realized at that moment that his voice got a little deeper than before.

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I’m staying with you," he said. "At all times."

I blinked at him, stunned by his bluntness. "What? Ariston, you can’t—"

"I can," he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And I will. This isn’t just about the accusations, Princess. It’s about your safety. The demons in this palace—some of them don’t need proof to act on their hatred. And, you’re a target."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the look on his face stopped me. He wasn’t exaggerating or being overprotective. He was dead serious.

"But... at all times?" I asked, my voice faltering slightly. "That seems... extreme."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s not ideal, I know. But it’s necessary. I won’t let anything happen to you." He paused, his gaze softening slightly. "If it makes you uncomfortable, I can sleep in the corner of the room or by the door. But I’m not leaving you alone. Not during the day, and not at night."

The thought of him staying in my room—of him being so close, even while I slept—sent a wave of unease through me. Not because I didn’t trust him, but because it was so... intimate. And yet, the alternative—being alone and vulnerable in a palace full of demons who hated me—was far worse.

I hesitated, my fingers twisting in the fabric of my dress. "I don’t know, Ariston. This... it feels..."

"Uncomfortable?" he offered gently.

I nodded.

He crouched slightly, so his eyes were level with mine. "I understand. Believe me, I’d rather not impose like this. But this is about your survival. If anything were to happen to you..." He trailed off, his jaw tightening. "I won’t let it happen. Not on my watch."

His sincerity was disarming, and I found myself wavering. "And you’re sure this is the only way?" I asked quietly.

"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I’ll sleep in the farthest corner of the room if that’s what it takes to make you feel comfortable. But I’m not leaving."

I studied him for a long moment, searching his face for any sign of ulterior motives. I found none. Just determination and a quiet, unshakable resolve.

Finally, I sighed and nodded.

"Fine," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. His lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile.

I leaned back on the bed, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease ever so slightly

Ariston moved to settle into the chair by the door, I watched him, a strange mixture of gratitude and unease swirling in my chest but of course, the demons here weren’t going to let us live in peace.

Not even in my room

***

I wasn’t sure what was happening but I could feel their eyes on me the moment Ariston and I stepped into the open courtyard.

I don’t know who started it but by the time we started to notice, it was everywhere.

The whispers started first, sharp and cutting like the hiss of a blade unsheathed.

"Shameless."

"She can’t even mourn properly before throwing herself at another man."

"She’s no better than a parasite."

Wait, what is going on here? I looked around, some noble women were having tea in the garden and they kept their eyes on us as we passed by.

"Isn’t it enough that she’s here, taking up space? Now she flaunts her disgusting affair in broad daylight!"

Wait, what?! Affair?!?

I glanced at Ariston, who walked beside me with his usual calm expression, though I could see the tension in his jaw. His hand hovered close to my arm, as if ready to shield me from the venom being hurled our way.

"Ignore them," he muttered under his breath, his voice steady but tight.

"Ignore them? Ariston, they think we’re having an affair!" My voice trembled with anger and frustration. But it made sense why all the palace was looking at us that way.

A demon woman near the fountain didn’t even bother lowering her voice as we passed. "And they have the nerve to walk around together like they’ve done nothing wrong. Disgusting."

My heart pounded as I stopped abruptly, turning to face the small crowd that had gathered. "I have done nothing wrong"

"Nothing wrong?" The cat demon by the fountain said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You mean aside from murdering Princess Alishay and tarnishing what little dignity you had left by parading around with your lover?"

Ariston took a step forward, placing himself slightly in front of me. His voice was cold as he spoke, "Watch your tongue. You’re speaking to the Princess"

The demon scoffed. "A princess? Yeah right"

"Enough," Ariston said. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, a silent warning. "Say another word, and I’ll remind you what happens to those who cross me."

The demon faltered for a moment, clearly aware of Ariston’s reputation, he was the human hero after all, but the crowd’s murmurs didn’t stop.

I tugged on Ariston’s sleeve, my voice low and urgent. "Let’s just go." He looked at me. I didn’t want to be here. Now knowing what was happening I didn’t want to be in the sight of people. It was that I was ashamed, I knew we were doing nothing wrong, it was just that I knew they weren’t going to stop.

Reluctantly, he nodded and we began walking again, though the insults followed us like shadows.

"Shameless."

"Who knew humans could sink so low?"

By the time we reached my chambers, my hands were trembling with suppressed rage and shame. I turned to Ariston, my voice shaking. "Who would spread something like this?"

"I’m sure we both know the answer to that." He replied as he closed the door behind him