Aaron pulled the chair for his mother and she sat on her seat between his and his granny's. He sat at the head of the table. His mother at his left and his elder sister at his right, as usual reading something.
Before he sat, he tapped his finger on her forehead.
"Ouch!" She raised her head and began rubbing the injured spot.
"What's the news this week, Amy?" He enquired, seeing she was reading the newspaper exclusive to his kingdom.
"Everything's great in the kingdom. Just praises for you all over, for the laws you enforced". She took the last bite from her plate.
"It has been years since I enforced them".
The servants came forward to serve him and he signaled for the tea. While one was pouring it, he chose baked potatoes, roasted fish, toast and eggs. Serving him, they left.
"People are so safe and relaxed after that, they can't stop giving their gratitudes", his mother said.
"I want to relax too", granny announced putting down her tea cup. "And that can be achieved only after Amelia's marriage".
Amy rolled her eyes. Aaron grinned at her, knowing what was coming.
"The minister of the west side of the kingdom wrote me, his son wants to offer for you. Shall I set the meeting?" Granny asked his sister.
"No granny. I told you I don't want to marry yet".
"You are almost thirty", granny shrieked as if the number was one hundred and thirty.
Amy ground her teeth. "Next month I'll be twenty nine, granny".
"That is so close to thirty! You should've had atleast two children by now". Granny huffed.
"If you want, I can adopt them", Amy smirked knowing the idea would be preposterous to the old woman.
Granny looked near to apoplexy.
Aaron took a sip of his tea and exchanged a smile over the cup with his mother, enjoying the banter.
"I think you must find a groom from the other kingdoms. Aaron need alliamces, don't yiu Aaron?" His granny asked him hopefully.
Aaron stuffed his mouth with eggs and nodded his head to tease his sister.
"See", granny sounded happy.
Amy pinched his wrist and he flinched.
"You can talk to Aaron about it then. I'm done with the breakfast so I'll be outside". Amy left after punching Aaron's shoulder with surprisingly strong hand. He smirked as he succeeded in irritating her.
"Aaron, make her meet some suitors", granny said.
Swallowing his eggs, Aaron shook his head. "She will marry when she wants, granny. I am not going to do anything until she say me so. And you shouldn't too".
Again, granny huffed.
He looked at his mother and she immediately underatood and changed the topic.
"Mother, I want your assistance to select the jewellery for Amy's birthday".
The two woman got engrossed in the discussion. Aaron finished his breakfast and left the dining room. As he walked, he found his sister standing in the corridor.
"You are such a child", she scolded him for earlier.
He grinned and offered her his arm. She took it and they both walked through the corridor.
"I sent the reports for this week to your study", she said
Aaron nodded. Amy traced his finances and kept it's record. Any matter of books, literature or calculation was enjoyment for her. So, he had offered her many such tasks.
"Also, mother asked me to tell you that all invitations are sent to the other kingdoms".
Next month was Amy's birthday ball and the women had started planning from now happily. There was no greater joy for the women than the parties.
"Do you have everything ready?" Aaron asked her.
"Pretty much. But I'm not decided on the dress".
"Shall I order you one?"
Amy smiled. "No, thank you. I'm just bored with our royal seamsters's designs. He showed me new ones but nothing catched my eye. I have sent for other seamsters and seamstresses. They'll be here soon. I'll finalise then".
"Very well", Aaron said.
"You should get some new designs made up too. Apart from your plain shirts".
Aaron looked down at his clothes. White shirt and plain trousers.
"Though you look dashing in them, events such as balls asks for sparkles", Amy continued sparkling her eyes.
Aaron sighed. "I'll think about it later".
They haulted near a gate to the back gardens.
"I'll be in the garden. I left my book there. See you later". Amy left his arm. He saw his sister walking happily to the garden. Soft-hearted, kind and intelligent she was. Always ready to leave the world and get her head stuck inside a book. He smiled and began to walk forward.
He saw three maids on the way, clutching the soiled laundry they must have collected from the chambers. They alerted after seeing him. "Your Majesty", they bowed.
Aaron nodded, striding forward.
"He looked at me", one voice of a maid failed to whisper quietly.
"No, he looked at me", another voice.
He smirked. Jasper was right. Many maids were appointed last year and even now, they enjoyed his one look.
'You must stop nodding at the maids, Aaron. They just keep fighting over who you looked at', Jasper had once said to him.
'This shows the maids feels safe in his presence' granny had replied.
Ever since he had matured, Aaron had taken great care to make every woman in the palace and in the kingdom feel safe and respected, and if he found someone had prevented them from doing so, they had incured Aaron's wrath.
He reached his study and found Jasper and Charles waiting for him. The former stood leaning on the window and the latter near his desk.
"What's up?" Aaron asked keeping the paper Amy had given to him, on the desk. He stood in front of them, placing his bottom on his desk and folding his hands.
Jasper came forward. "Do you remember last week I informed you about the thugs near the woods?"
Aaron, remembering it, nodded. "Hmm".
"Well, we sent guards there as you had said. We even arrested two. But the complaints didn't stop. Look here, people are still being robbed there". He handed him the list of complaints.
"They must be six or seven, according to these", Aaron said after reading the lists.
Charles leaned his head and read the list too. "They do this on the road between the town and the countryside. They usually rob the travellers".
"We can send more guards but I think it would be better if the whole gang is arrtested at once", Jasper suggested.
Aaron knew everything about that road. It was through the woods. Thugs could hide easily there and attack the people entering or leaving the town. And it was difficult to get help there as no houses or offices were nearby.
Aaron smirked. "I know exactly what to do".