Before Aella got a chance to respond, she tensed at the sound of her mother.
"Where's Aella!?" the voice came harshly from down the hall. "AELLA!?" then there was a slam of the door, softer words coming from General Serenus and the approaching footsteps.
Aella visibly tensed, freezing up and having no idea what to do, shock and fear evident on her face, and before she knew it, the door swung open wider as her mother, the Duchess of Hellvion, stepped into the room with a heavy click of her heels. And she paused, mouth open as if ready to strike out a few words when her eyes met upon Faolán.
She set her jaw, rage brewing in the depths of her eyes as she snapped. "What is the meaning of this!?"
The words prodded Aella to speak up as she stammered, "Oh, mother! I did not wish to interfere with your private conversations with the General so I thought-"
Her mother harshly grabbed her wrists, drawing her daughter near.
"You thought what? Aella, you know it is unwise to leave my side, especially in the presence of commoners. And your duty lies to your mother!" she hissed, keeping her close. "Perhaps there was too much activity for you today. We will go to the manor house and let you rest before night fall." Then Duchess Melora turned sharply on her heels, eyes narrowing like a hawks as she studied the boy. "You could be hung for less," she warned him with a hiss.
And it was then General Serenus interfered, daring to laugh in the duchess's face.
"Duchess Melora, they are but children. It only makes sense our boring conversation forced your daughter to seek temporary companionship with someone more close to her age."
The Duchess gave the General a dark glare as she held on tightly to her daughter, it hurting Aella's arm, but the girl saying nothing. It took every ounce of energy for Aella not to cry, but her face was getting red ad her violet eyes were sparkling with the threat anyways.
"If I asked for your opinion, General, we'd be going to war," then she nodded her head rigidly to him and cast a nasty glare in Faolán's direction. "Just remember your place, soldier. This is the daughter of a duke you fraternize with and you are to keep your distance at all time."
"Oh, but mother he did. We were only-" and as Aella spoke, her mother gave a sharper grip of her arm as Aella gave a cry of alarm.
"Silence, my daughter! You must be tired. We'll leave immediately for the manner," Melora said, then bowed rigidly a second time to the General. "Have a good day, sir. I hope Duke Calent remains well." And she cast one more nasty glare back to Faolán before dragging Aella off.