That night, she thought about what she should do. Maybe she should tell Lex herself. Because if he heard it from her instead of Ben, perhaps he'd be more lenient? But how much more lenient could he be? He'd already forgiven them twice. She wasn't sure that there'd be a third time.
"Can we eat in our room tonight," Aria asked that evening. He was at his desk, and she was sitting on the loveseat in the middle of their room.
"What? Why," he asked, turning to face her.
She hadn't really thought about what she should say.
"I-I kind of feel like trying something new," she said. It was stupid. She knew Lex would never buy it. "I mean, I kind of just don't feel like eating with the crowd tonight."
"Okay then, you can eat here," he said like it was a dumb request.
"I don't want to be alone," she said.
"So, invite Mara."
She sighed.
"I want us to eat here tonight. Alone. I'm the queen...I thought you said I'd have a say here," she said, hating herself.
"You are the queen. And you do have a say here. But I'm the king, and I don't take commands from anyone. But maybe if you tell me the real reason you want us to eat here, alone, I'll consider it," he said.
"Screw you," she said, angry. "Forget it.”
She felt hopeless. She was upset, and she couldn't even hide it.
He sighed, getting up and making his way towards her. "You really want that?" he asked, sitting down next to her. He picked her feet up and placed them across his lap.
"Yeah," she said.
"Tell me why."
"I-I just feel like I can't really talk to you in there. There, you're the king, and I'm the queen. I-I'd like to have dinner with you, get to know you. As Lex." It was stupid. And embarrassing. But maybe he'd buy it.
"Fine," he said.
She felt so, so guilty. But mostly, she was relieved. If Ben came by, he wouldn't get the opportunity to talk to Lex. Hopefully, by tomorrow night, he'd calm down enough to forget about their argument.
That night, they ate at the table in their front room. They ate in silence for a while. And Aria realized that she should be trying to get to know him if she wanted him to believe that was actually why she wanted them to stay in.
"So, what do you like to do for fun," she asked.
He glanced at her with a confused look in his eyes. She tried not to roll hers.
"Fun?"
"Yeah, you do know what that is, right," she asked, fighting a smile.
“That's funny. Coming from you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"If anyone doesn't know how to have fun here, it's you."
"And why do you say that?"
"You've been nothing but...somber and serious since you've gotten here. I don't think I've ever actually seen you having fun. You train, you're serious, you talk, you're serious. You go into town; you're serious. Hell, you get drunk, and yet you remain serious."
"Well, someone has to be. I haven't really had a chance to have fun in a long time. I was too busy keeping us alive," she said, moved to anger.
"You're just proving my point now," he said, shaking his head. "We're having dinner, talking about having fun, and you're getting all serious. All angry."
"Well, can you blame me? You are a very infuriating person. Tell me, is it just me that you go out of your way to annoy?"
"Seems like it. Everyone else finds me quite charming," he said, smirking at her.
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah...sure. Charming."
He laughed.
"And why the hell do you do that so much?"
"Do what," he asked.
"Smirk like that! It pisses me off. It has since the first time you did it."
"Well then, that's why I do it," he said, smirking again. "To piss you off. But I assure you, the other girls like it."
"I'm sure they do," she said, rolling her eyes at him again. "Who could resist the annoying, smirking, asshole king?"
"No one, I'll have you know."
"Well, there's a first time for everything because I assure you, I can definitely resist you."
"For now," he said, and then he actually winked at her.
That smug, overconfident asshole actually winked at her. "Don't hold your breath," she said coldly.
"We'll see what you say once you get a little more comfortable in that bed."
Her cheeks flushed, and she shook her head.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. She felt relieved at the interruption. He was staring at her in a way that made her stomach clench.
"Come in," Lex said, still looking at Aria.
She looked to the door.
A guard came in, "Sorry to disturb you, Your Grace, my lady, but one of the queen's people would like to speak to you, Your Grace."
Aria's stomach dropped. Lex stood and walked to the door. Aria got up and followed him.
She peeked past him and saw Ben standing in the hallway. The blood in her veins turned to ice.
"What do you want," Lex asked, obviously displeased.
"Can I talk to you? Privately," he asked, not even looking at Aria.
"Sure," Lex said, stepping forward.
Aria grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"No," she yelled.
Lex looked at her, confused.
"Ben, you need to leave right now," she said.
"What the hell is going on," Lex asked. Aria could tell that he was already suspicious.
"I have to tell you something-" Ben began.
"Take him away," Aria yelled at the guards.
She turned to Lex. "Please, please send him away," she said, her voice pleading. He looked at her. She could tell that he was angry.
"But-" Ben began.
"Do as the queen commands," Lex said, still looking at her.
Aria stepped forward and closed the door. She could hear the guards taking Ben away.
"What the fuck is going on," Lex asked, his voice cold.
Chapter 18
"I-I..." she stammered, not knowing what to say.
"Aria...if you have something to tell me, I suggest you
