While Iria quietly stared at Arin's assuring smile, she heard the voice of her cousin who was sitting on her left.
"It will be alright," Andres muttered in an assuring voice. "Don't lose your cool, Iria. He doesn't worth it."
The Qalagon Queen was reminded of all the efforts she put in the past year; building up her patience and her strength, learning to not be reckless... weren't they for this time?
Why must she be bothered by him?
She still remembered the promise she made in Rion's grave and she was willing to do anything to fulfil that. She already waited for a year and she would be a fool if she turned it to waste!
"I'm fine," she finally said, looking at her cousin. "I won't lose my cool."
"That's good," Andres Francia remarked with a small yet genuine smile. "The whole room will keep their eyes on you. You can do whatever you want after you are free from all these observing gazes."
"Andres is right," Arin quickly agreed. "Just let him be, for now."
Seeing Zaro again after a year reminded Iria of just how unstable her mental state still was! Physically, she was in a good shape but... those sacrifices still haunt her. Too many soldiers died just so she could live!
During the past year, she relied a lot on the doctor's help and medication. Sometimes, she won't be able to sleep at all and the royal doctor would prescribe her some medicines that would help her to sleep. However, even in her dream, she was back to that day in the Serene Valley.
The past year was a pure torment for Iria. Arin would always spend many nights looking after her though he was exhausted by his work. However, he never once complained. He was always there for her.
Why did she forget that Arin and Andres would hate the Jerivian King as much as she did? They were the ones who witnessed all her sufferings in the past year! A few months after Rion's death was the lowest time of her life but thanks to Arin and her new family, she survived.
Zaro Aventine's eyes swept around the huge yet crowdy hall and he didn't take much time to spot her among all the guests. He too always thought of the day he would see her again. However, now that it finally happened, all the incidents from the day they started to walked a different path crossed his mind. As such, he broke his gaze and narrowed his eyes.
He quietly approached a table and sat with his wife who was his only friend ever since Iria departed from his life.
As someone who stayed with Zaro a lot in the past year, Athena Aventine understood the reason behind his quiet nature. She expected this and she thought that she was prepared but... reality hits different.
Until a few months ago, she never thought that she would be willing to marry a man who only looked at her as a friend, a man who holds another woman in his heart but... it happened. She wasn't confident that it would work out but still, she was willing to give a try.
"Are you alright?" she asked her husband in a low voice. At times, she used to miss the smile that she witnessed when she came to Jerivia more than a year ago. However, it was futile.
He already lost that smile along with his innocent behaviour.
He was once a simple and carefree man but now, he was too far from that.
Zaro glanced at his wife and forced a smile. "Don't worry, Athena. I'll be fine."
Even after their marriage, they were still much more like friends, rather than husband and wife.
Of course, Athena loved him. It was the reason why she agreed to the marriage though it was an alliance marriage. She wanted more than friendship but... she knew that if she pushed him too much, he will only draw a line between them. He will distance himself from her and she didn't want that.
Zaro Aventine glanced at Iria who was busy chatting with her 'husband' and cousin. It seemed like she moved on but... he still knew what her true nature was like.
After losing a close companion like Rion, there was no way for her to move on. However, what's the point of thinking that?
In the end, he was still the one who released the arrow that killed Rion.
Just like her, that incident never let him have a peaceful sleep during the past year.
While Iria briefly glanced around the hall, she saw another unexpected familiar face among the guests.
Crown Prince Emor Tripas.
He was here too? The former Commander thought about it and realized that it had been so long since she last saw him. It was more than a year ago when she went to Nardodia with Zaro. Though she often heard news about him, she had never seen him again.
Iria also noticed one thing. That her cousin's gaze was often focused on the one who was sitting beside King Richard, the Crown Princess of Vialand. It made her wondered what's going on between the two.
Finally, King Richard Kareno rose from his seat, shifting the attention of everyone to him. "To all my esteemed guests who came here to celebrate the peace that stays with my Vialand for years, I have an important announcement to make on this special occasion."
While all the guests wondered what the Vialand King was about to say, Iria saw her cousin turning away with his gaze on the floor.
What's wrong with him?
The King didn't let the guests wait for long. He turned to his only daughter who was sitting on his right and smiled. "My daughter, the heir apparent to the throne, Crown Princess Maria Kareno will be getting married in a few weeks." He looked a few steps away on his right and beckoned one young man to come closer. Then all eyes were now on the man.
"The Duke of Vizza. A warrior who spent his life protecting this kingdom, an intelligent official who always knows what's the best for the people. Such a man is perfect to become the partner of the future Queen and rule together with grace."
As the King put the hand of the young Duke together with his daughter's hand and gave them his blessing, Iria glanced back and forth between the scene and her cousin. Then she finally started to understand what was going on.
What a complicated situation!
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