Adalina Salvatore

" You can't just show up at my workplace and dragged me out. "

" You own the hospital. "

" I have a lot of works to do. " he whined for the hundredth times.

" I checked your schedule. You're free. " I sighed, leaning back into the car seat.

" I don't want to go. "

" You don't have to want to go. You just simply have to go. "

" That's stupid. This is kidnapping. "

" You can't turn down the king and queen's invitation. And, Blaze will be there. "

" What make you think I want to meet him? Now, you're making me want to jump out of this car. " he groaned.

" Can you two please stop arguing for five minutes? I'm driving and you both are driving me insane, your highness. " Thane sighed from the driver's seat.

" Sorry, Thane. " Eden and I mumbled at the same time.

Then the car was drop dead silence. He didn't say another word and neither did I. I glanced out the car window as we pulled over down the royal road, a few miles until we reached the castle. I watched little snowflakes drizzling and melting on the window. I could feel his burning gaze on the back of my head, no doubt glaring at me. I mentally sighed.

Father and mother rose from their seats as we entered the royal garden where we would be having lunch. With a huge grin on each faces, my parents approached us.

My husband gave my dad a bro hug, with a slap in the back and all. I stood still in shock as my father chuckled airily. " How are you, son? Is the princess giving you any troubles? "

" She's a nightmare. " Eden shook his head and my father chuckled while patting his back.

What. The. Hell.

" Good afternoon, gorgeous. " he went on and greeted my mother with a peck on her cheek. She laughed and squeezed his cheeks, cooing about how adorable he was.

Seriously, what the hell?

" Did I miss something? " I muttered lowly to myself.

" Your husband keeps stealing the Hasting's hearts like it is his full time job. " Blaze's voice shook me out of my daze. I let out a small yelp in surprise when he gave me a sideway hug before shoving me into my father's embrace.

" How are you, my sweet baby? " father grinned, pulling me closer into his arms. Mother came over and kissed my cheek.

" Oh so now you remember me. " I narrowed my eyes at the two.

" I'm sure your aunty will remember you, A. Why don't you go and greet her? She's over at the table. " Blaze smirked knowingly.

" Fuck you, your grace. " I groaned as we all headed to the table in the middle of the garden.

The duchess dowager, Elizabeth Hasting was a MILF still thriving at the age of fifty seven. Her long strawberry blonde hair was to die for and you would literally die if you forgot to acknowledge the strawberry part. Her enchanting greenish blue eyes were mesmerizing and with her curvy figure I was sure every eligible bachelors in England wanted her. Except she was still in love with her late husband and for that I admired the fuck out of her but sometimes she was just too much.

It was safe to say that we had a love-hate relationship.

" Adalina dear, how are you? Did you put on some weight, your highness? What are you wearing? " Aunty Beth stood up from her seat and pulled me in for a closer looks.

I was about to defend myself when a deep voice spoke up. " Ma, she's perfect. You can't just ask her that. " a voice I knew all too well. And, then I saw him.

A huge grin broke on my lips as I turned away from aunty Beth and threw my arms around her only son's. He chuckled before he embraced me, returning my hug. Zachary Hasting was my best friend and the biggest brother I adored with all my heart. He was away exploring the world for years.

" You're back, Zach. " I smiled as he hugged me tighter.

" I missed you everyday, pumpkin. " he chuckled before pulling away.

I took a moment to stare at his features, still couldn't believe he was really here. He was the same Zach that left ten years ago. Blonde hair liked his mother's and his brown eyes were almost as dark as the night. He looked older, more matured like a perfect gentleman his mother raised him to be.

We stood there smiling at each other for awhile until Blaze pulled me away. Zach chuckled at us shaking his head muttering something about how we would never change, then sat down beside his mother again.

" What the hell, Blaze? " I glared.

" Your husband looks like he could kill Zach with the spoon he's holding. " he whispered in my ears.

I turned my gaze toward Eden. He was talking with father, stirring his tea with a small spoon. " He looks fine to me. " I shrugged, raising my eyebrow.

" Oh, I know he's fine alright. No need to brag. " Blaze rolled his eyes. I shook my head, chuckling to myself.

When I took the seat beside Eden, he was still talking to father about golf stuff until the food arrived. My mouth watered at the trays of food on the table trying to contain myself from shoving everything down my throat.

" Are you really that hungry, pumpkin? You will never change, won't you? " Zach chuckled, earning a glare from me.

" Pumpkin? Is she a bloody a pie? " I heard Eden mumbled under his breath.

" What did you say, your highness? " I asked, turning my gaze toward him, raising my eyebrow in confusion.

He leaned closer and whispered in my ear. " I hate it here. I want to die. "

I gave him a scowl silently telling him to behave before turning back to everyone. Blaze met my eyes across the table, he smirked wiggling his eyebrow like my husband had just whispered the most dirtiest thing ever and he himself had overheard it. If only he knew.

Looking over the food, I tried to decide which dish should I ate first until Eden grabbed my hand away from the empty in front of me and replaced it with the one that he had filled with food. I looked at him with widened eyes as he turned away to fill the empty plate he took from me. Swoon. I might have just died in the spot.

" Such a gentleman. " Aunt Beth smiled at his gesture. I almost scoffed. Gentleman, yeah right.

" Eden Salvatore, the youngest son in the family. We met very briefly at the royal wedding. I heard you own a hospital and are a successful surgeon yourself at such young age. I'm very well impressed, your highness. " she smiled approvingly.

Eden hummed under his breath, giving her a curt nod. She frowned at him but didn't say another word. Man, did it felt nice when he did it to someone else.

" And, he's so handsome too. The princess is one lucky bitch. " Blaze added rolling his eyes playfully, earning a smack from my mother.

" Language. " she warned.

" Shit, sorry. Ah fuck. Shit. Goddamn it. Fuck this. " and then he just gave up by gulping down his champagne.

I choked on my breath and started laughing at his dumb attempt to redeem himself. Eden rubbed my back gently looking amused but didn't say a word. I felt Zach's gaze on us as Eden handed me a glass of water, I thanked him before drinking. I then turned to Zach and gave him a thumb up telling him that I was fine.

Lunch went a little better than I expected. We ate and talked, well everyone except my husband. He was just there looking bored as hell. I almost felt bad bringing him here.

Eden's ear perked up a little when my father announced that lunch was over but the slump of his shoulders didn't go unnoticed by me either when my father proceeded to say that we were going to have tea inside. I shook my head at him in amusement as he sulked his entire way into the palace with a frown on his face.

We took a seat around the couch in the corner of my parent's drawing room while the elderly had tea in front of the fireplace. Eden sighed, dropping his body beside me and I knew instantly that he was trying to stay away from Blaze who was sitting at the other end of the couch. Sly bastard.

" So, you're the guy who married my Adalina. I believe we haven't met. Zachary Hasting, her cousin. " Zach said, taking the seat beside me before holding out his hand for a hand shake.

Eden cocked an eyebrow at his hand for a moment before finally shaking it. He then shifted his gaze on me. " Adalina, my darling wife, did you forget to tell your brother that you married me? "

" Zach didn't get to attend the wedding because he was away but he knows. Right, Zach? " I said.

" Of course, pumpkin. I was messing around. " he gave me a small smile before turning his gaze back on Eden.

" So, how are you handling marriage life with this one? She can be a handful. Do you need an extra pair of hands? " chuckling, he threw his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest.

Eden raised his eyebrow at the action while Zach on the other hand seemed pleased with him. Blaze slurped on his champagne as I watched the interaction between the two awkwardly in anticipation. What fuck was going on.

" Thank god, I was blessed with two hands and the ability to put them into good use. I handle her just fine. Isn't that right, darling? " he flashed us all a sarcastic smile, the one that made my gut swirling inside.

That was when Blaze lost it. He choked on his champagne before breaking into a fit of laughter holding onto his stomach for dear life. Good to know someone found this amusing.

Then his phone rang from the pocket of his pants. " Excuse me. " Eden said before leaving the room.

Zach looked like he wanted to say something but got interrupted by his mother calling for him from across the room. Blaze was by my side the moment he left, it was like he had been waiting for this the whole afternoon. He looked at me with this knowing grin on his face, tucking my arm aggressively.

" What was that? Did you see the way he glared at Zach? Is there something you didn't tell me? What happened? Did you fuck? " he asked eagerly.

" No. But, he hugged me today. " I smiled at the memory.

" Oh my god. I can't believe this, you filthy slut. The horror. The shame. The whole church is totally judging you right now, your highness. I can't believe you did that, freaky little fuck. " he said, looking at me unimpressed.

" Shut the fuck up. He's Eden and he hugged me. It's a big deal. " I punched his stomach.

" Violent bitch. " Blaze hissed.

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A/N: thoughts on the new characters?