┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓ Rings ┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛ : Rings (Rhys' POV) I got back to the palace for lunch and then right after that, the plan was to go for a suit fitting for the engagement. "Did you visit all the elementary schools and clubs?" Dad asked. "I did. There's a problem with some of them though." "What's wrong?" "A few schools don't have enough staff to support the student body. There are too many students and not enough teachers to teach or control them. The kids aren't getting the kind of education they deserve." "Do you have any solutions in mind?" I sighed and fell into thought. "It'll only be temporary if we go this route. But adding to the town fairs could help. We have multiple throughout the year, adding something for the kids with an educational purpose could help while we look for more teachers. Volunteers for the fair would help, volunteers at school too." "Volunteers? How do you mean?" Mom quipped up. "There are a lot of girls and women who want to work but don't know how to because Kilthorne has just now started opening career opportunities to women. I know they're not completely qualified to teach kids, but I'm sure they can help out the elementary kids. The women will have more opportunities and the kids will learn more." "I want to volunteer," my mom shrugged. "It sounds fun." I chuckled softly, pouring water into my glass. "Are you going with Ashton later? Shall I come with you two?" Dad offered. "You don't have to, but you're free to come if you'd like," I replied. "You have a council meeting," Mom reminded him. "Oh, that's right." After lunch ended, I left, taking the car keys and driving myself to Rogue, the men's boutique we always go to. I know where Ava, Brooke, and our mothers will be. Fantasia, that's their boutique and it's only ten minutes away from Rogue. I met Ashton there and we headed inside. We walked into the showroom and Ashton immediately plopped down on the couch, looking exhausted. "Where have you been?" I asked while looking through tuxedos and suits. "They took me dress shopping. Mrs. Gemma is probably there now but before that, I was being tormented. The two of them would make me pull my hair out, I swear. It's not like I know about dresses, why would they ask me to choose?" "Two of them?" I didn't look over and continued acting nonchalant, looking through the clothes. "Oh yeah, Ava didn't go. She went to Aurora for lunch with somebody, I don't know." The urge to ask who she went with was biting at my skin. I wanted to know. Did she just go with Victoria or is it someone else? Is it a guy? Is it Liam? "It might have been a guy now that I think about it, shit. She dressed up and everything." "Shouldn't you know who she went with? You're pretty protective over Ava." "Only because I know she's too naive. She'd get her heart broken before she even knows it. But she's not a baby, she's twenty-one. She'll be fine." I looked at him. "She'll be fine, right?" he mumbled. I shrugged and narrowed it down to three suits. I took turns trying them and before choosing one, I asked, "What color is Brooke's dress?" His eyes narrowed. "Am I allowed to tell you?" "She's the one who told me to pick a suit that goes well with her dress. I'm not matching my tie with her dress, you can tell her that. We'll just wear complementing outfits. Tell me quickly." "It's dark red." "Dark red," I mumbled, looking at the three suits. They all fit just fine, so I settled on the one that goes best with red. Then we headed out to pay. "Five thousand thorns, your highness," the employee smiled. I paid, took the change, the suit in its plastic case, and then we left. "Where are you headed now?" he questioned. I glanced at my watch. "I have a meeting," the lie slipped out with ease. "Then I'll go back home. You?" "I'm going back to Fantasia to pick them up. See you later." I got into the car, placing the suit across the backseat, and then I drove straight to Aurora. I slowed down as I approached the window to the restaurant where I, luckily, had a clear view of Ava. She was sitting alone, so whoever she's meant to meet isn't here yet. Good, I can take her out of there before he gets here. I parked the car and climbed out, walking inside. "Your highness, what can we do for you?" The manager asked with a polite smile. "Nothing, I'm just here to meet someone, thank you," I nodded at her and then walked over, spotting her table instantly. She was flicking through the menu, her indecisiveness painted all over her face. I reached her table and pulled the chair, sitting down. She looked up in surprise and stared at me in shock and confusion. "Ava," I greeted. "What the hell are you doing here?" "I'm here to pick you up." Why do the lies just slide out easily when it comes to her? "What?" "We're meant to go pick the wedding rings." "You're meant to go with Brooke, can you leave and stop bothering me for God's sake. I'm busy today." "Busy with who? A guy?" She glared at me. "None of your business." "Brooke can't make it. Her dress fitting will take too long, so you get to pick the rings. Lucky you." She snorted, "Lucky me? Picking out the engagement rings for my sister and… you." She raised her brows at me. "Who are you meeting anyway?" I took a look around. "My fiancé." "I'm sorry, what?" "Who do you think I'm meeting?" She huffed, "Why are you so curious? Just leave, you can pick the rings on your own." "You're meeting a guy?" "I'm meeting Victoria," she sighed, exasperated. I felt every bone and nerve relax. "Then tell her to meet you later, somewhere else. The rings are important, come on, let's go." I stood back up. She stared up at me. "Are you serious?" "Dead." She paused. "Brooke really said she can't make it?" I nodded. "I need to call Victoria then." "Use the restaurant phone." She rolled her eyes and stood up. "What else am I going to use?" She walked past me and to the podium, asking the manager to borrow the phone. She dialed and I started walking to the exit. I watched her, taking in her attire. She was wearing a pale pink sundress and had her hair left down in her natural loose waves. She had tiny pearls in her ears and I swear she has a little lipstick on. Was it really Victoria she was meeting or is she lying to me? She hung up and then walked over. "I'll meet you there." "You're going to walk? Don't be stupid, get in the car." I nodded to the passenger door. "We'll be late." She clenched her jaw and opened the passenger door, climbing in and slamming the door shut. I climbed in after her and started the car. "Just so you know," she scoffed, "Brooke and I have completely different taste in pretty much everything. So I don't know why she would tell you to take me. Because she would probably hate the ring I choose." "Why? Because she likes diamonds and you don't?" I glanced at her. She looked at me, her gaze lingering for a short minute before she looked away. She seemed a little surprised that I still remembered. "Brooke likes all things big and sparkly." And Ava doesn't. "So pick something in between, it's not that hard." "If it's not that hard then why am I here?" I glanced over at her hand that rested in her lap. "Ring size. Yours and Brooke's can't be too different. If it is, I'll come back with Brooke and get it fixed." "You could have just asked for one of her rings." I gritted my teeth, glaring at her. "You always have something to say, don't you?" She ignored me and stared out the window until we arrived. We walked in and were greeted by a woman while a few other employees showed other customers around. "Good afternoon, your highness, what can I do for you?" She smiled, her hands locked together in front of her. "I'm looking for engagement rings, a couple's set." "Please, have a seat. Do you have any designs in mind?" We sat down and I could see Ava squirming. She hates being here, and it shows so vividly. Better for me. I don't want her to enjoy this, obviously. I just want her to remember she's here because I'm marrying her sister. "Something elegant. Not too simple or too eye-catching," I replied. "Diamond and gold?" "Yes." After going through a few sets of rings, I was able to settle on one I liked. "This one?" I asked, holding it out for her. She nodded, "It's pretty." The employee was called over and she excused herself for a minute. "Why can't you just bring Brooke tomorrow? If she doesn't like it, you'll have to exchange it and that's a waste of time." "If she doesn't like it, she'll have a ring she doesn't like. I don't care as long as the ring looks good. Does it or does it not?" She stared at me. "You make no sense, Rhys. Ever." I clicked my tongue with irritation and grabbed her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger. She went as stiff as a board under my touch. When I grabbed her hand, when I traced the ring with my finger, and when I spun it around her finger to check it. I looked up at her face and as I expected, she was staring at me, but she seemed angrier than I would have thought. "What?" I lifted a brow. "I came here to pick a ring." She snatched her hand away and set the ring on the table. "That one's fine. Buy it if you want, or don't. Up to you. I'm leaving." She stood up and I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back down. "Sit tight, darling, people are watching us." "Well, it's a good thing I don't care. You're not marrying me, I'm not the one you should be here with." "Well, you are." I stared at her. "So shut up." "Don't tell me to-" "Before I make you." . . . . . Chapter 6