Half of the main day of the celebration was occupied by ceremony, something which royals were familiar with. However, this time, it was held outdoors on a large ground so that people could also participate.
After lunch, a tournament was held but mostly for entertainment. There will be a ball in the night.
During the tournament, Iria sat beside Arin and watched the fight with him. Andres sat somewhere else with his acquaintances from other kingdoms.
"You don't look fine since last night," Arin Helev said to Iria. "Did something happen when you go to talk to Andres?"
There was no response and Arin briefly looked at the Jerivian King who glanced at them from time to time. He still remembered how Zaro Aventine couldn't even bear to look at them last night.
What makes him so shameless?
"Iria -"
"I crossed path with him," she promptly said. "But don't worry, Arin. I won't waste all my efforts."
Arin Helev stared at her for a while before he held her hands. "What did he say?"
"He apologized."
The King slightly raised a brow but... why didn't it surprise him that much? Maybe because it was just like what he thought.
Zaro Aventine was still a weak man.
At least, his father was strong and wise. If only he didn't let jealousy blinded him, he would surely be an honorable king. His son only took the bad traits of him. It was such a pity.
A man like Zaro Aventine couldn't be trusted. Even if he regret his actions, Arin strongly believed that the Jerivian King will be unpredictable if he was overshadowed by the darkness again. That's in his nature.
If that really happens, he won't hesitate to hurt Iria again.
Why was he so twisted?
"Don't let it bother you," he calmly said to Iria. "He isn't trustworthy anymore."
"I know," Iria muttered and looked at her husband. "You know, if Rion didn't die that day, I think I will be willing to forgive him even after losing many of my soldiers in his hand. He was always that precious to me."
Family. That's what she used to think of him. She devoted herself to King Tobias and the kingdom as Commander Iria Alewine but... just as a woman named Iria Alewine, Zaro Aventine was the one that mattered to her the most until he broke her to a level which one couldn't even imagine!
After doing that to her, why was it so easy for him to apologize?
"It's in the past, Iria," Arin said in an assuring voice. With a smile, he added, "I'm your present and future."
"You know that's what keep me going along with the vow I made a year ago," she promptly said.
She was always glad for his presence in her life and he knew it. She already told him many times and she didn't know if she will ever stop telling him that.
*
When the tournament was wrapped up, the sun almost set. Crown Prince Andres rose from his seat to return to his chamber so that he could get ready for the ball. However, before he could even take a single step, he saw her making her way to him.
They haven't talked ever since the formal announcement last night and he could see the reluctance and guilt in her face. Then soon, she was standing before him.
"Andres," she greeted him like she always did but her fingers were nervously pressed together.
He rarely witnessed this side of her. Maria Kareno in his memory was always a strong yet calm woman. As someone who was raised to take over the throne one day, it was never easy to read her, unlike today.
"Maria." He did the same but this time, he finds it hard to flash even a fake smile. The scene along with the announcement last night was repeatedly played in his mind. He knew that it would happen but... it's always hard when it really happened.
"Andres, I -"
"You don't have to feel sorry," the Crown Prince said, rendering her silent. "I know that this will happen but... I came here for my cousin. It's my decision. You don't have to feel bad for it."
He observed her expression and he understood everything. However, as it was so rare for him to see her like this, he didn't know what to do. She was always so composed and none of his confessions in the past weren't enough to faze her.
"It will be time for the ball soon," he said when she stood still without saying anything. "You should go and get prepared."
Finally, he took a few steps and walked past her but...
She grabbed his arm, holding him back.
Andres Francia stood still and shut his eyes. What was he supposed to do?
This was so hard!
"Is it really over?" she asked while he was still turning his back at her.
Finally, he opened his eyes and turned around. Then gently loosened himself from her grip. "Don't do this, Maria," he said in a calm voice. "You're getting married soon."
If she was to only care about herself, she wanted to be with him rather than being the Queen but... that would be too shameless of her.
Her fate was already sealed when she became the Crown Princess.
She always stayed strong but... it had become too much! Royal or not, she was just a human too!
"Why must things be like this, Andres?" the Crown Princess asked Andres Francia. "Isn't this too cruel?"
"There are things which are beyond our control, Maria," he said, patiently. "I can't expect you to give up everything for me. It will be too shameless of me to say that while I can't do it myself."
"But -"
"You will be getting married soon," he reminded her once more. "I decided to do the same, Maria. Let's forget everything and move on. Only by doing that, we can carry out our duties. You and I... we're different from others."
The anxiety in her face was so foreign to him and he ended up reaching his hand out to her. However, his hand halted in the air and thinking clear, he reluctantly withdrew his hand.
"It's late. You should go and get prepared," he muttered and turned around. He finally managed to walk away this time though every step he took was hurting him to the core......
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel