Chapter 8: 8. For The Greater Good?

Rose petals were falling from the sky and landing on the sleeping figures. Ariana's petite body was wrapped safely around his firm arms. She was broken out of the trance when a glass blade poked her leg. She noticed his one hand was wrapped around her waist whereas the other was at the back of her head, holding it. Her face was placed at the crook of his neck, under his chin.

When she blinked, her eyelashes brushed against the sensitive skin of his neck, waking him up. He withdrew his chin from her head to look at her face and gave her a smile. Her heart fluttered at the sight. She felt fuzzy in her cheeks and her feet - wait. Feet?

Ariana jolted out of the bed instantly to find Christopher laughing with a feather in his hand.

"What the hell, you asshat?" She snapped.

He gasped. "A lady swearing! How scandalous!"

"I am pretty sure other ladies do it as well when conversing with a dimwit." She adjusted her night gown.

"I am choosing to ignore that." He narrowed his eyes before laughing again. "Anyways, you were smiling and blushing in your sleep. Is it because you were dreaming of me?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"You wish! What are you doing here anyways? Don't you know better than to enter a girl's room, especially when she is not conscious?"

"You are right. I did not know any better. I was waiting for you actually. For you to come in my life and teach me manners." He cooed.

"Ugh! Why do you speak like that? Don't speak like that."

"Why? Is it because me speaking like this melts your heart, Ari?"

"No. Because a grown person should not speak like that."

"I shall speak how I want -" He was interrupted by Alpha Edward and Persephone barging inside the room followed by Luna Barbara and Anwar.

"We need to have a talk." Alpha Edward addressed Ariana. He approached her only when he intended to either scold or punish her, usually on Persephone's influence.

"I suggest you leave us alone, Christopher." Ariana knew what was coming and if Christopher defended her this time too, it would definitely cause a rift between his and hers pack.

He was hesitant at first but obliged.

Persephone walked over to the bed nonchalantly and frowned upon seeing it messy before flipping the sheets and taking a seat. "Sit." She ordered.

Ariana frowned but sat nevertheless. Their father, mother and brother too sat on a sofa facing the bed.

"Young blood! They act without reckoning consequences of their action." Alpha Edward started. "Instead of minding his own business, he had to open his mouth in front of everyone and complain about my daughter to the Duke and Duchess. Now, she has been punished by them." He vented in front of Ariana.

"What happened yesterday at dinner should not have happened!" He added.

"What happened yesterday at breakfast should not have happened either!" Ariana complained.

"Oh it wasn't a big deal." He waved his hand dismissing her statement. Noticing Ariana's expression turning to anger, he quickly added "Luna Iria should have taught her daughter better than to conspire against others."

Ariana couldn't believe her own ears. It felt good to know that her father supported her. But it didn't last long as she heard him say "It was entirely that insolent girl's fault. And because of that blabbering mouth of Christopher, my daughter also got wrapped up in this whole matter. But you will not let your sister get punished." He said the last part softly.

Hearing her father speak like that to her, she felt a bit emotional. "What punishment would she receive?" She gulped.

"She is to be publicly shamed by apologizing to you." A hint of rage could now be detected in Alpha Edward's voice.

"Huh? That's it?" Ariana was genuinely shocked.

"What do you mean by "that's it"? Do you not understand the situation?" Persephone scoffed. "Just imagine. Me apologizing to you! Ridiculous! Right?" She laughed.

The audacity of her elder sister made Ariana shake her head in disbelief. She shifted her gaze towards her mother and brother who did not dare level their eyes with her or speak up for her. So she stood up abruptly and left the room.

**~~~**

At the noon-time, everyone was summoned at the hall. The Bennet family was the last to arrive without their youngest. Luna Iria was standing at the corner consoling her distressed daughter. Right then Ariana arrived wearing an off shoulder light blue gown and her hair left open which reached up to her hips, strands of hair secured by a shiny white headpiece. She could feel glares of many people directed at her.

Everyone became attentive when as the Duke and Duchess entered the hall. Duke Lorenzo wasted no time before speaking. "Everyone here is aware of the events that took place yesterday and now the subjects found guilty are supposed to face the consequences of their actions."

"Your highness! I am not fully aware of what happened yesterday." Ariana acted.

Duchess Lily took in charge. "Accusations made by Lord Christopher, future Alpha of Pack Celik against Lady Ivory of Pack Ziram and Lady Persephone of Pack Ravernia of attempting to defame Lady Ariana of Pack Ravernia were proven to be true. Hence, the subjects found guilty shall request forgiveness from the subject found offended."

"The subjects found guilty shall proceed." Duke Lorenzo ordered.

Chaos began. Ariana calmly took in everything that was happening. Wailing of Ivory, pale face of Persephone, pleadings of Alpha Edward and Luna Iria, satisfied look of Christopher, confusion of other members. Finally she spoke, silencing the crowd.

"Honorable Duke and Duchess and respected leaders, I shall first express my gratitude for defending my honor and providing me justice. However, I do not wish to prolong this ordeal anymore and simply forgive the subjects found guilty for their proven misconduct."

Murmurs filled the hall.

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"If you say so, Lady Ariana. You surely deserve gratitude from many people for your lenience." Duke Lorenzo nodded. Duchess Lily gave her a small smile before they both walked out of the hall.

Ariana was adjusting her headpiece when her family approached.

"I am so proud of you, my baby." Luna Barbara gave her a hug which was not returned.

"I honored your words. I did not let your daughter get punished for what she did." She addressed Alpha Edward in a cold voice. He did not say anything but gave her a nod and a small tight smile.

"You could have assured me earlier and stopped this gathering." Persephone snapped.

"Did you not hear what the Duke said? He said that I should be shown some gratitude as I showed you profound lenience." Ariana gave her a fake smile.

**~~~**

After getting out of this whole mess. Ariana couldn't help but think about the man of her dreams. How she wished what she had seen in her dreams to become true. When it hit the dawn, she rushed to the garden. What she saw, stopped her.

There he was, in a white shirt which she had only seen men wearing in movies made by human. First two buttons of his shirt was open and sleeves were rolled up.

He first dig a small hole with a tool and planted a seed.

This whole time, she was mesmerized by him before a sudden thought entered her mind. She only saw this man in the garden and never inside the palace. He was never in a formal attire. His voice did held power. But again why would a man of high rank not be inside the castle but always in a garden and gardening.

"You did not visit yesterday." She heard him say.

He got up and eyed her. When she moved near to him, he scoffed.

"What's your problem?" She scrunched her nose.

"I heard that instead of letting the people who wronged you get punished, you forgave them beforehand."

She didn't speak, letting him continue.

"Is it not pathetic how you cannot stand for yourself?" He taunted.

"Do you know why I am here?" she questioned.

"What type of question is that?" He frowned.

"I am here to attend coronation ceremony of our Crown Prince. And this was my gift to him." She smiled smugly.

He narrowed his eyes.

"Had I let my pride get in the way, fragile ego of certain people would have been deeply wounded. This surely would have damaged the relationship between three packs Ravernia, Celik and Ziram. Sure I could have seen them struggling to apologize to me and enjoy it. But it would later have had dire consequences which obviously would have been hectic for a new King and the future of our Kingdom."

"Duke even praised me for my lenience." She smiled.

He pondered for a while before silently agreeing with her.

"I always plan for the greater good but here you are, berating me." She complained. "But then, I can understand. How could a gardener know all of this?"

This kicked him out of his trance. He shot his head up. "Did you just call me a gardener?" He spat.

"Yes! You are always in the garden. You forbid me from plucking the flowers. You plant seeds. Hence I reckoned that you are a gardener."

"Well I'm not." He was furious.

"Fine! You are not a gardener. Why do you have to be so rude about it?" She started running hands through her hair, untangling them.

"Because I feel insulted." He clenched his hands and jaws.

"Insulted?" She asked. "It is a benevolent profession! What I meant was a gardener could not have known the inside politics. Regardless, no profession should be considered any lesser that the other."

This shut his mouth. He couldn't help but think what she just said was right and he had acted irrationally due to his prejudice.

Suddenly he felt a flower hit his forehead. He shifted his gaze towards the girl who made him feel emotions which he had never felt before. She seemed relieved. He was perplexed.

"If not a gardener, I thought you were a ghost. But you are not." She explained. He shook his head in disbelief.

Taking a seat on a fallen branch, he rested his chin on his hand. This reminded her of her dream in which he had rested his chin on her head. She was blushing furiously.

"Goodnight!" She took a 180 degree turn and took long strides, clutching her gown.

He felt warm across his chest.. He shook his head once again before smiling a little.

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