"Why do I have to wear these silly clothes?" I complained, waving my arms about making several golden bangles on my arms produce jingling sounds. I slumped in a chair and rested my head comfortably on my hand, staring at the part of Sindria I could see outside my window.
"Aria you're Sindrias princess," replied Ja'far arranging a steaming cup of tea on the desk opposite of where I sat, "so as the princess you have to dress and act the part. Besides it's only for tonight."
Part of me knew what he was communicating was the truth: being the sister of Sinbad and being the princess of Sindria, meant I had to at least act like one. But being polite and smiling for too long hurt, not only my face, but my brain as well.
If only I could spend my time practising sword-fighting with Sharrkan.
I've known him since forever and since I can remember I've liked him. However, he doesn't seem to see me that way. He just treats me like a little sister or as a childhood friend. Well I suppose I am, seeing as I've known the guy since I was six.
"Aria are you listening to me?" Ja'far had somehow gotten next to me while I was away in lalaland with Sharrkan, "we have to go now." He pulled me out of the chair, not too gently, and practically dragged me to the door and down the flight of stairs until we reached where the party was being held.
"Ah, here's my lovely sister now." Rolling my violet eyes, I walked over to Sinbad, who as usual was lounging on a sofa while being surrounded by girls. "It's nice of you to finally join us."
"It's not like I had a choice." I grumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Now, if you'll excuse me I need a drink." With a simple 'go ahead' from my purple-haired, player of a brother I made my way to the kitchen, that was located on the furthest side of the castle.
On the way there I lost count of how many times I had to stop to greet people and thank the people who complimented me on my beautiful outfit and my equally beautiful hair. Yes, I also have the same color hair as Sinbad. I often got complimented on it, but I felt the colour stood out too much.
Finally, I made it to the kitchen and sighed a breath of relief when I saw it was fairly empty, the people there just bade me a simple hello and then returned to what they were doing previously. Grabbing a glass of wine from the table that was set up in the middle of the room, I felt someone press against me from behind. Their cool breath fanned my ear as they flirtatiously said: "Wow, doesn't our little Aria look cute tonight?"
I gulped down the rest of the wine. I'm sure if Ja'far were here he would lecture me on how to be more ladylike and that drinking wine isn't something a princess should do. Why can't a girl just enjoy some wine once in a while?
One thing I can say is, is that my face was probably the same shade as the drink that I had just ungracefully drank. I turned towards the owner of the voice and placed a smile on my face, feeling a little dizzy. "Good evening Sharrkan." I mockingly curtsied, becoming a little unbalanced.
Laughing Sharrkan grabbed my waist to help keep me balanced, and smirked at my red face.
"Aria, you are so cute."
Stuttering I tried to pry his arm from round my waist.
"I am not cute!"
"Oh but you are my little Aria." He grabbed some liquor off the table and dragged me to the seats that were out on the balcony.
The cold night air struck me as I stepped outside and breathed in the pure Sindrian air.
"Care to join me for a drink or more?" Sharrkan winked one of his radiant light green eyes at me. My face flushed fifty shades of red.
"But Sharrkan, if I do that I'll have to sit through a Ja'far lecture on the importance of acting like a respectable lady and why not to drink alcohol." Even though I said that, why wouldn't I want to spend the evening with the white-haired, green eyed, attractive male in front of me?
"C'mon Aria, can't you just do this for me?"He played the puppy dog eyes card and gazed into my violet ones. I felt myself waver a little.
"What he doesn't know won't harm him."
And with that he once again took hold of my hand with one of his warm ones and pulled me over to the one of the chairs.
And that is how I was up until the early hours of the morning drinking liquor, laughing and talking to Sharrkan. Whilst sitting on his lap and eventually falling asleep with my arms around his neck.
Kissing my head, he whispered, "goodnight my Aria."