Chapter 8: Do You Want To Come With Me?
"Don't you see the way he glanced at me when he was about to let her wear that ring?!"
In one room of the main palace, Queen Lorey Helev was exploding with rage. She glanced at her right-hand man, Lucian who was standing on the right a few steps away. "It's his way of mocking me!" She growled.
"Please calm down, Your Majesty." Lucian respectfully said. "This is what the Crown Prince wants, to anger you. Don't give him what he wants."
"How can I stay still, Lucian? That ring is specially made for the Queen of Qalagon. It should be mine but now... it is in the possession of that Jerivian Princess. It's an important heirloom." The Queen grunted. "His Majesty also saw it with his own eyes yet he didn't do anything!"
"His Majesty won't complain as long as it is done by the Crown Prince. You know that very well, Your Majesty. He didn't do anything that night during the feast." Lucian said.
"Arin Helev is too powerful now. Even the Prime Minister is on his side. At this rate, it won't be easy to replace him." Queen Lorey said as she retreated on a chair. She placed her right arm on the armrest and nervously clenched her fingers.
"You are the Princess of Nathania. Prince Morin carried the bloodline of two royals - Nathania and Qalagon. Compared to the Crown Prince who was birthed by a commoner, your son is a true royal but he is still young. Don't worry too much, Your Majesty." Lucian stated. "The Crown Prince is only 22 and the King is still healthy. We still have plenty of time for Prince Morin to grow up and assume power."
Queen Lorey sighed, rubbing the side of her head. "Where is Morin anyway?"
Lucian hesitated to answer the Queen for a while but when the latter shifted her gaze to him, he apologetically said, "He went to congratulate his brother on his wedding."
The Queen sighed even deeper. "This is why I can't be at ease. All he did is following his brother around." She shook her head in disappointment and said, "We can't trust my son."
* * *
The Crown Prince just entered his chamber after the wedding ceremony and the new Crown Princess will be escorted to his palace after a while.
However, the moment he walked inside, one brown-haired boy who must be around 12 years old followed him in and ran past him. When he saw his younger half-brother, the Crown Prince sighed.
"Morin, I always told you not to run around in my room." He said with a displeased face.
Prince Morin Helev smiled at his brother appeasingly. "You also told me each time that you will punish me if I do again but you never did. " A wide grin appeared on his face right away.
"Why did you come?" Arin asked, walking past his brother.
"I want to congratulate you on your wedding." Prince Morin said and his eyes grew wide when he turned around. He ran to his older brother and touched the wedding dress that he still wore. "I only saw it from afar during the ceremony but... it's amazing! This dress really suits you, brother!" He exclaimed.
The Crown Prince slightly smiled. "Do you like it that much? Then I will let them make one for you at your wedding."
"But they said that only the heir apparent can wear this. It's the custom." Morin stated with a downhearted face.
"Who cares about that? If you want, I can change that rule for you. Don't worry." Arin said, gently patting his younger brother on the head.
"Really? I will remember that!" Prince Morin exclaimed with glee but when one thing crossed his mind, his smile slipped. "But I don't want to marry if I have to marry someone I don't love."
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes at the ring on his finger. "You're right but trust in me, Morin. As long as I'm alive, no one will force you to marry against your will."
"Then what about you, brother? You agreed to marry the Princess of Jerivia without even meeting her. It's not out of love." Prince Morin confusedly asked.
Ignoring his brother's question, Arin stared at the outdoors and turned back to his brother. "Go back now, Morin. Your mother will worry about you. It's getting late."
Prince Morin frowned but he still nodded. "Alright. I will come again tomorrow."
Prince Morin left the Crown Prince's chamber and Antony entered right away. "Your Highness." He bowed to greet the Crown Prince. "The Crown Princess just arrived."
"That's good. Let's go." The Crown Prince said and they both walked out of the chamber and walked towards Iria who was standing a few meters away.
When Iria saw the Crown Prince who was walking towards her, she recalled how he broke the custom during the wedding. She really wished to ask him about it but... she was still wary of him. Even in the future, she wanted to distance herself from him as much as possible! Then when he stood in front of her, she slightly bowed.
"Let's skip the courtesy from now on. After all, we are now husband and wife." Crown Prince Arin promptly said.
Iria only nodded at his words.
"To have dinner together on the night of the wedding is the custom here. Everything is prepared. This way." Arin said and she followed him to his chamber.
After a while, she finds herself eating dinner in his chamber without any servants or maids. They were the only ones in the huge chamber.
It's been 3 days yet she still finds it hard to eat the foods of the Qalagons. She spent many times in the wild and she wasn't a picky eater, so far from picky but... the flavours and everything was so different. However, she slowly ate it without saying anything. The Crown Prince might also be back to his normal self - aloof.
"If you have anything to say, now is the time." Crown Prince Arin suddenly said, breaking the silence which already goes on for a while.
Iria darted her eyes to the Crown Prince who didn't look at her at all. Then she said, "I think we should use separate chambers. It would be more comfortable for both of us."
The Crown Prince turned to her and quietly stared at her for a while. At one point, it even made her felt warier! Why did he suddenly stare at her like that?!
"Alright. I already told the maids to prepare another chamber for you. It's opposite this chamber." The Crown Prince said and turned to the foods again.
He already did that? Did he felt the same as her? Iria glanced at the Crown Prince with a puzzled face for a while before she narrowed her eyes at the foods.
"Tomorrow, I will be patrolling around the capital. Do you want to come with me and meet the people?" Arin asked her. He didn't look at her even though he was talking to her.
Iria remained silent for a while. Though she wanted to stay away from him, taking a look at the capital was a good idea. She didn't even get to do that when she arrived here.
Then she nodded. "I will come with you."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone