The atmosphere was pretty peaceful in Qalagon. In the mansion of Prime Minister Casar Mareyi, General Hanson Lorin was sitting on a pavilion, having some chat with Vienna Mareyi.
The General was busy with war, then it was followed by the journey to Nardodia and finally, the coronation that happened three days ago. It was only now that he finally had some time to relax. He first spent that time visiting the Lady who was sitting opposite him.
"You don't look so well, Vienna," the General pointed out. "Are you sick?"
"I had a fever and it lasted for a few days. But I'm fine now," Vienna Mareyi replied with a little smile on her face.
"You should have informed me," Hanson Lorin said with concern written all over his face.
"You're busy. I don't want to distract you," the Lady muttered. "Besides, it's not that serious. Just a slight fever."
Hanson Lorin stared at her for a while before he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I should have paid more attention to you," he said in a low yet guilt-stricken voice.
One glance at her and it was clear that it wasn't just a slight fever as she claimed to be. Though she looked a lot better now, he still felt guilty about it. She was sick but he was too busy to even know about that.
"You know I always understand you," Lady Vienna said to him in an assuring voice. "Now that the Crown Prince has become the King, you will be even busier than before."
Of course, he knew that she was always being patient with him. But the more she endure for him, the more it made him felt bad.
"Shall we just get married?" The words escaped his lips for the first time since he started loving her. Though he didn't think much about it, the expression on her face made him realized that there was no need for further thinking.
"Are you serious?" Vienna Mareyi asked, amazed yet happy. Didn't he always felt reluctant to marry in case he turned her into a young widow? What had gotten into him?
The General nodded. "At least, I will get to spend more time with you. I don't want to be the ignorant one while you suffer."
Whenever he thought of Arin, he realized that anything could happen in life. So, rather than fearing for the future, he should just be glad about the present and live to the fullest. He didn't want to have regret.
Though he didn't know what the future had in store for him, he reminded himself that he will just try his best each day.
Vienna Mareyi's smile grew wider at his response. "You know I always waited for this day," she replied, earnestly.
The happiness she felt right now reminded her of Iria. If the Masked Commander heard about this, she will be very happy. After all, she was the one who always helped her so that she could be with this realistic General. The thought of it only made the Lady missed her friend more.
Meanwhile, Arin Helev just came out of the Prime Minister's chamber with the Prime Minister himself. The two had some conversation and now, the young King was all set to return to the palace.
"You don't have to come all the way to my mansion, Your Majesty," Casar Mareyi said to the new King. "Though I was your mentor, you're the King now and if you need me, you can just summon me anytime. That's only right."
"King or not, a teacher is always a teacher, Prime Minister," Arin Helev simply said. "Besides, I don't come for official purposes. I only came here to seek some advice from my mentor. If it's some official matters, I won't hesitate to summon you."
"I'm glad to hear that, Your Majesty," the Prime Minister said with a light chuckle. However, the two halted when they saw the couple chatting happily at a distance.
There was a little smile on the King's lips while the Prime Minister let out a sigh.
"My daughter is already at a good age for marriage, Your Majesty. If the Lorin's didn't make a move soon, then I will have to look for a suitable suitor for my daughter," Casar Mareyi said to Arin Helev. "She can't just remain unmarried. It's not like she didn't age."
Arin Helev turned to the Prime Minister and nodded with a little smile. "Rest assured, Prime Minister. I will talk to my friend about this."
"I will be really grateful," Casar Mareyi responded as he bowed his head.
"Why don't you return to your chamber now?" the King quickly said. "You don't have to see me off. I will go and chat with them for a while."
The Prime Minister understood what the young King was saying. Then he bowed and walked back to his chamber while Arin made his way to the couple who quickly rose from their seats when they saw him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Vienna Mareyi greeted her and Arin nodded.
"How have you been, Lady Vienna?" he asked, ignoring his friend on purpose.
"I'm doing fine, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern," the Lady replied.
"That's great," Arin Helev remarked. "I just have a chat with your father." Making a deliberate pause, the King briefly glanced at his friend before he turned back to Lady Vienna and said, "He told me that you're at a good age for marriage now.
"However, since the Lorin's didn't make any move, he said that he will start looking for another suitor now."
"What?!" Hanson Lorin exclaimed with his eyes grew wide open. The Prime Minister said that?!
Vienna Mareyi seemed to be equally surprised and... anxious too. She knew that her father was always firm once he made up his mind! And if he really gave up on the Lorin's, then... there will be no turning back!
"Are you sure?" the General asked his friend with a troubled face.
Arin Helev nodded. After all, he was telling some truth. Maybe a 90 per cent truth.
"Put yourself in the Prime Minister's shoes, General Hanson. His only daughter is regarded as the most beautiful lady of the kingdom with many bachelors who will die just to marry her. However, the one who receives her only attention is too scared to do anything."
Arin Helev sighed as if he pitied his friend. "If I were him, I will make the same decision."
Hanson Lorin only felt the pressure more. When he shifted his gaze to Vienna Mareyi, he noticed that she was equally anxious as him!
"Ah! He also said that he will meet Commander Nico," Arin Helev added, intending to add more pressure to his friend and... he perfectly succeeded.
After all, Nico Petrus was regarded as the most eligible bachelor among the nobles!
"What will we do?" Vienna Mareyi asked the General, almost panicked.
Narrowing his eyes at the ground, Hanson Lorin gave a thought on the matter. When he finally lifted his gaze again, he walked away from the pavilion without saying anything.
Dumbfounded, Arin Helev followed his friend and Vienna Mareyi followed suit. Soon, they realized that he was making his way to the Prime Minister's chamber! This drew a smile on the King's lips. Seemed like his plan will be more successful than he thought!
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel