Up For The Test (Aru Shah AU)

Chapter 8

Third Person

Aiden climbed into his mom's carriage. Kara and her father had been his escorts. Aru was the only one awake at six in the morning to say farewell to the prince. Everyone else couldn't be bothered, not even his own cousin.

"Bye, Shah," he said.

"You must call her by her first name, Aiden. It's inconsiderate," Kara hissed.

"I don't mind," Aru said. "I call him Acharya."

"Yeah, and it's absolutely ridiculous. You are royalty, not some town children who run around doing whatever they please," Kara scoffed, her gaze turning to Aru.

According to every newsletter that Aru could find on Kara and Aiden, they had been official for weeks.

"Was that aimed at me?" Aru glared.

"Don't think every newspaper in the surrounding countries isn't filled with the news of the new Princess Arundhati. I find it preposterous. There's nothing special about you."

"Kara," Aiden whispered, nudging her. She looked at him, and he pulled her aside.

"What? It's true. You've told me yourself, too. I mean, look at the girl. Every Princess or Prince is supposed to have some meaning behind their name. Hers is probably something lame, like mouthwash," Kara whispered loud enough for Aru to hear.

"My name means the morning star. 'Shah' is another term used for the king. So, before you go calling my name lame, please, do your research," Aru spat.

"My name means love and pure," Kara smiled.

"What?"

"My-" Kara started.

"Ever," Aru finished. "I don't believe I asked what your name meant. Also, everyone deserves to know about me. I have plans for everybody in this kingdom, unlike you. You just plan to take it over and have everyone worship you," Aru scoffed. "Me growing up in the town gave me a look in their perspective. I know what's best for them, not anyone else."

"Not even your own queen?" Kara asked.

"Shut up, you two!" Aiden yelled. "This is not why we are here!"

The two girls stopped and looked at him. "Sorry," Aru sulked. She opened her arms up to hug him, but Kara shoved them down and arranged her arms to make a handshake. "More cultured."

Aru was tempted to punch her in the face. "Pleasure meeting you, Kara. Please, don't come back," Aru smiled.

"Huh?" Aiden and Kara said.

"As of now, neither of you are allowed to pass back into borders of Byburn once you leave. Not without signed permission from me. This doesn't include Hanuman or Urvashi, Acharya, so don't be trying to find a loophole."

"I don't go to school here anymore, so you can't tell me what to do," Aiden growled.

"Last time I checked, you're still on Bybrun Castle grounds. I get to order you around until you step off of this property," she grinned.

Aiden grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side of his carriage. They were inches apart and Aru could feel his breath on her nose. "What is your issue?" he asked, quietly.

"You. I thought I had made that clear," Aru said, getting butterflies in her stomach from Aiden being so close. She looked at her shoes to make sure he didn't see that her face had started to get flustered.

His hand was still tightly gripped on her wrist, which snapped her out of her oh-my-god-a-semi-cute-prince-is-so-close-to-me state.

"Get your hand off of me," she demanded.