33 WHAT IF I WANT TO KNOW THE STORY?

Zayn abruptly stops his movement.

What Ariana asks is not wrong at all. He can just order someone else to do this for her. Also, at first, he actually comes to pass the medicine, but different from his intention, he is now in her room, helping apply the medicine.

"Don't get me wrong. This is just because I already cleared my schedule because of your request to get sword training. If you are sick, my time will be such a waste. I really hate when my schedule is messed up."

Ariana smirked listening to that as she was convinced by the reason. What else can it be between them anyway?

"Fine.  I will drag myself out there even if I'm sick so just wait tomorrow.  I prove to you that I'm not saying empty words."

"Just rest idiot.  Let's just start after you are fine.  I didn't want you to faint in front of me again.  It's annoying."

"Hey!  You're the annoying one and that the fact."

Shove! Zayn suddenly gave the container of medicine to her as if forcing it. Seems like he didn't want to help her anymore as he moved towards the door to leave.

"Do it yourself now. It's not like you're a kid."

"Who asked you to do it anyway?!" She finally exploded.

~~~~~~~~~~

Three days later. 

It's taken this long for Ariana regain her strength. After Zayn visited her in her bedroom, the very next day she continued to have a high fever until she was unable to move. Lily and a few maids even have to lift her for her to use a bathroom!

This situation really makes Ariana feel contempt about herself. In pain, she asked the doctor to prepare a very good medicines and vitamins for her to take. The kitchen is also busy preparing only healthy food by her request. She, at least, wanted to become stronger than this.

How come she got fever just after having fun sparring?! Her mafia blood and pride didn't allow her to keep it slow anymore.

So now, after she regains a bit of her health, she is now facing Zayn.

After one hour,

"Puff... Puff..."

Ariana was lying on the grass while panting after just one hour of being urged by Zayn to do intense warm up in their training area.

This is just a warm up, but Ariana already feels like hell making her feel that Zayn did this on purpose so that she would give up to learn afterwards. But he was wrong, this Ariana is not the same Ariana that he knew before. She will show it to him, how she loves this drill!

"So... What do you feel now? Can you handle this?" Zayn looked at her from above allowing Ariana to see his dazzling handsome face even if his hair was already messed up because of the wind.

'Tch, this sly fox. It's a relief that you are handsome, so even if I feel hell I see your handsome face as my motivation! Well, as long as you don't open your mouth with your sharp words.'

Ariana closed her eyes for a moment before smiling wryly.

"I love it." Ariana didn't lie here. She actually remembers her martial arts teacher who is also strict and push over just like this one. So this is supposed to be nothing. It's just that, why is this body as if it doesn't keep up with her determination?!

Zayn then showed his infamous smirk.

"Then, get up. We still have a lot to do before I can give you permission to hold a sword. You need to gain some muscle first."

"Yes sir."

All she can do is just grit her teeth and finish today's training. So, she pushes herself up now even though it feels so difficult. Her body feels like it's on fire, but she knows the pain means her muscle is being pumped. Soon she will be in her glory shape back, and that's all she really looks forward to.

However, before Zayn can teach her next things, Lily comes over in a rush.

"What's wrong Lily?" Ariana knew something must have happened considering Lily's condition at that time.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Your Grace," Lily greeted Zayn first before looking at Ariana.

"Princess, the princes are here to see you."

"The princes?"

Ariana tilted her head a little while her mind processed the information.

"Eh?!"

So now, the lesson is abruptly postponed, and Zayn and Ariana change their clothes before meeting the princes in the lounge.

Da-Dun!

Ariana still did not think that she is now drinking tea with her four brothers with their dashing appearance. Based on Lily's words, they never visited here during the three years Ariana lived here so this is the very first time. Now, what has changed?

"What makes the princes come here unannounced?" Zayn is straightforward in asking making Ariana start not being happy in her seat even though she wanted to know about that the most.

"Why? Can't we come visit our sister? " Prince Aiden answered while gracefully lifting his tea cup to take a sip.

"It's already three years and only show up now to visit? " Zayn stabs them with the fact but none even flinch.

Prince Asher started to smile as he looked at Zayn. What Ariana knows about Asher, he always hides behind the smile. He is the scariest person among the four if he really exploded. She then swallowed her saliva nervously.

"Well... Its never too late as long as there is an effort, don't you think Duke Zayn." Then, Asher looked serious before continuing with a scary tone. "She is still a Princess as long as she is still not married to you. Its only... engagement anyway."

"Ah, hahaha..." Ariana didn't know what to react and began to laugh half heartily.

"But if you tell in advance I can prepare some sweets that I bake myself. The tea time will feel more special that way right?"

"You bake with your own hand? Is this household so poor that the future duchess has to do the work herself?" Prince Ariel frowned.

"N-no. It's just a hobby of mine." Ariana in her real world can cook and bake a little because of her love for foods so she makes some mistake here.

"Are you perhaps didn't want to taste it?" She still tries hard to change the topic.

"Ahem," Ariel cleared his throat now. "Well, if it's edible."

"Then, please come again next time." For some reason Ariana felt really happy this time. Her smile seemed to radiate so much light that the four princes looked at her in amazement.

Then, the silence came before it started again after a few minutes.

"I heard from the maid that you are practicing how to use a sword." Prince Ashton seems interested by that fact. He is also one of the commanders for the royal knight anyway who stands side by side with Zayn in battle.

"Ah, yes. Duke trains me himself despite his busy schedule. I just feel interested to learn while improving my health. " Ugh, Ariana felt like she wanted to throw up as she forced herself to praise Zayn. Remember the intense training she got just now still makes her 'swearing' some bad words to him in her mind.

It's not just her, Zayn who sits beside her while maintaining his blank face also feels a chill in his neck by now. He even cast a glance at her and knew she too felt the same.

"I also can teach you if you want. It's bothersome if you have to come to the royal castle but I can always come here if you want."

"Really?" Ariana found a new opportunity.

"I got her cover. A prince must be much busier than me." Zayn interrupted making Ariana low in spirit again.

"Just tell me when you are available for the lesson. I will always have time then. It's not a bad thing to learn from different people anyway." Ashton ignores Zayn.

"I-I will." Ariana could only give a short answer after looking at Zayn's sour face.

"Do you have time now? If you are available let's go out on the town together. We never have an outing as siblings before so why not try now." Asher was suddenly excited.

"The town?"

'Wait a minute, why did I never request to get out before? Am I becoming stupid in this world?'

Ariana just realized that she is too busy with what happens inside the palace and how to sneak out when she can just casually out with Lily and her knight. If she wants, she can try to slip away from them like she did with Sir Robert before. It's definitely easier than trying to get out of this castle!

"No she can't." Zayn insisted.

'Ah, now I know why I never think of it. This man over here always restricted my move making, I think too superficially. ' Ariana started staring sharply at Zayn now.

Cling!

The sound of the teacup being placed firmly was heard there.

"Why can't she?" Ariel showed her displeasure. He never likes the Duke to begin with.

Even with a loud voice of the Prince, Zayn was not affected at all, and he even emitted a frightening aura in line with his opponent at that time.

"She just regained her health. She can't go around and tire herself out. She also just finished her lesson with Madam Petunia and the sword training. I hope you understand. "

"I didn't know you were such an overprotective person Duke. To the princess as well. " Ashton brings this up as he knows that at the beginning before the engagement between Zayn and Ariana, Zayn had rejected the idea so he was sure that that man did not love the princess much.

Zayn grit his teeth now, but he cannot rebuke the sentence.

"I'm sure nothing will happen when she is with us Duke Zayn. We are family and no stranger like you after all." Asher lost his smile now. He didn't like where this was going.

"It's up to you Ariana, what did you say?" Aiden looked at Ariana to know her decision but his eyes were definitely begging her to agree.

"Soon it will be night princess." Zayn expected Ariana to refuse.

Ariana starts to feel wrong, but she knows this opportunity is too difficult to refuse.

"Umm... It's been a while since the last time I went out..."

At the time she can see the four princes look like a puppy waiting for a treat, waiting for her next words while in the Duke's side, a red radiant seems to envelop him.

"I would love to go." Ariana is smiling evilly here. She did want to go, but seeing Zayn become irritates was the biggest contributor that pushed her towards that decision. His pain it's her happiness!

"Great! We can stroll around, have a good dinner or even shop. Do you already have a dress for the Royal Ball?" Asher is excited now.

"I believe Zayn will take care of everything." Ariana chooses a safe answer while looking at Zayn so that he can explain more but he is just petrified.

"You will come this time right?"

Listening to Aiden's question at that time, Ariana could guess that the previous Ariana never went to such events. Of course this time is different. She has plans to do when she is there anyway.

"I will. I know I've never been in the public eye before, but I think it's not too late for a change. After all, after getting married and becoming a duchess I have the responsibility to maintain social relationships so I think the time has come for me to become an adult and get out of the comfort zone. This is the beginning. "

All now looked at Ariana without blinking, including Zayn. They didn't think that Ariana was able to think and say that even without a bit of stuttering!

"What? " Ariana felt shy all of a sudden with the stare.

"Then, it's time for you to find the dress! Let's just buy some while we're in town. " Asher turned the mood back on.

"That's a good idea. It's up to us, so don't you worry about the price." Ashton seems to want her to know that they are richer than the Duke while Aiden nods while touching his glasses as if he is making a calculation in his head right this instant.

"Umm.. but... won't it slim down in two months. its still slow." Ariana tried to calm them down.

"Don't you know, this is already too late. The whole town is now busy with the preparation. All the women from the invited family have long ordered from the tailor. If you didn't pull off any string no one wants to take the order again." Aiden explained at length.

"Don't say that the Duke didn't think this through and let a princess not be ready." Once again Ariel challenging Zayn.

"We have our own tailor your highness. So it won't become a problem. We always do fitting and choosing fabric and style here. There is no need for the princess to strain herself here and there." Zayn answered calmly. He even managed a textile business on the side which the royal didn't know, even the tailors who worked under him were also hired by the palace for this kind of event.

"To me, that just means that you are too lazy to spend time with her and let her become like a bird in a cage. Do you even care for her Duke?" Ariel is still with his sharp tongue making Ariana is getting restless.

Zayn was just about to open his mouth, but Smith suddenly comes in to stop him.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but Duke, you got a visitor."

After he said that, Smith looked at Ariana and winked a little making Ariana can't help but feel glad and thankful. What a nice timing!

"Then, excuse me first." Zayn got up from his seat before looking at Ariana.

"Don't go out too late at night. Bring your knights with you. "

"Forget the knights. We all here with her to protect. Or do you want the night to be a spy for you? Did you not trust us? " It was Ashton's turn to grill the Duke. Ariana can only swallow her saliva in nervousness.

Zayn decided not to say anything and just left at the end.

Ariana can finally breathe well.

"So what are we waiting for?" Asher seemed impatient.

After all the ruckus, Ariana and the four of the princes finally came out of their outing. But, not before they argue who will accompany her in the carriage.

With the veto power in her hand, Ariana chooses Aiden and Ashton to ride with her as if she guessed it correctly, and if they are like her brother in the other world, these two people have a calm demeanor compared to the other two.

And she did. The journey to town is so smooth. Aiden and Ashton also kept quiet throughout the journey. If people find it awkward if things are too quiet, for Ariana at least at that moment, the silence felt like a blessing.

It takes quite a long time to get to the destination, but as soon as you enter the town area, the noise here and there with the crowd starts to be heard. The voices made Ariana keep smiling. It's been a while for her to be in such an extra atmosphere with her older brother.

"Are you alright by now?" Aiden questioned.

"I'm... fine."

"It's nothing but you've fainted when you go out like this. Don't push yourself if you don't feel good." Ashton added.

"Have we ever gone out together before?" Ariana finds it hard to believe.

Aiden and Ashton looked towards her, not yet answering.

"You always go out with your nanny. We...never had this kind of opportunity." Aiden answered but his eyes looked sad at that time while Ashton looked the other way, probably thinking of something.

"Ah... Is that so?" Ariana has begun to forget about the 'nanny' who previously made her feel small when confronted. She is yet investigating her, and now she makes a mental note to ask Lily when she returns later.

"What did you do when you came to the royal castle before father called you to come in official visit?" Ashton asked but his eyes seemed to try to read her.

In a flash, what happened today is recalled in her mind. The way, the four brothers killed older people with a merciless face, and the pool of blood that she witnessed. Ariana just realizes that these people are dangerous to be with, but still, she can't look weak.

"I just walk around where I used to be as my doctor said my memories might come back if I do that." Of course, white lie is needed to avoid further conflict even though Ariana doesn't know it's effective or not looking at their poker face that is hard to read.

"Just remember, what you see with your eyes always has a deeper story behind it. Sometimes not knowing will do you more good to avoid hurting. You understand right?" Suddenly Aiden advised but Ariana felt caught.

"What if I want to know the story?"