Two years of no letter, chat, or meeting. During those times, all Iria and Arin knew about Emor Tripas was from the rumors. They heard that, unlike his uncle, he was a good king who cared for his people with all his heart. In the past two years, he reformed and strengthened Nardodia to a great extent.
Though the couple sent an invitation to the young Nardodian King, their expectation wasn't high. However, it was their way of letting him know that they were still open if he ever wished to rekindle their relationship.
While the Qalagon King and Queen were staring at Emor Tripas as if they saw a ghost, the Nardodian King was already standing right before them.
"It's been a long time, Your Majesties," Emor Tripas said to them in his same old calm voice. "Thank you for inviting me."
Iria Helev recalled her last memory of this man - him desperately hugging his uncle's dead body after the latter offered his life to stop her.
It's been two years but... the scene was still vivid in her mind.
"We're glad to have you here," Arin Helev spoke up. "Thank you for coming."
Emor nodded with a little smile. "I can't wait to see the little Prince, Your Majesty."
Arin Helev exchanged the smile and Emor Tripas shifted his gaze to Iria who was very quiet. Though he wanted to say something, his mind went blank and it only made him feel more of the pressure.
Were two years still not enough?!
"The event will start soon," Arin chimed in when awkward silence took place for a while. "The servants will escort you to your chamber first."
Emor Tripas only nodded and a servant came closer. Then he followed the servant and walked away.
"Iria," Arin muttered when Emor Tripas was out of their sight. "Don't think too much," he said to her in a gentle voice. "It will be fine."
Iria nodded and forced a little smile.
Maybe because she was already convinced that he won't be attending. After all, they hear nothing from him in the last two years!
Not that he was to blame.
*
Only half an hour left for the event and all the guests had arrived. Arin and Iria just entered one chamber where the Queen Dowager, Athena, Prince Morin, and Aziel were with a toddler who was the main of the night's event.
Yes, the event was the 1st birthday celebration of Crown Prince Ansel Helev.
Everyone who saw the little Prince always lamented how the Crown Prince was just like his mother and father in terms of appearance. The little Prince took over his mother's black hair and his father's enchanting blue eyes. His facial features and all were also the same as his parents combined.
Crown Prince Ansel who just started to walk recently was cheerfully walking towards his parents who just entered the chamber. Then the King quickly bent down and lifted his son with a bright smile on his face while Iria looked at them and chuckled.
In her eyes, the little Prince took after his father even more.
The little Prince played with his father's hand while the latter looked at him with an amusing smile on his face. Once in a while, the King would kiss his son almost every part of his face... the sight that the Queen was more than familiar with.
She had long realized that her husband was good with children even more than she was!
"Ansel has grown so much," Queen Lorey remarked while staring at the little Crown Prince who was in his father's arm. "When I last saw him, he was only 3 months old."
"Even if you don't want to live here, you should visit us once in a while, stepmother," Arin Helev promptly said. "You're the only grandparent that Ansel has."
Never once did Lorey Helev think she would hear such words from her stepson!
Well, she knew that it wasn't easy for Arin to even call her 'stepmother', not after what he did to separate his birth mother from his father!
He truly had a golden heart and... she often hated herself for staying blind too long.
"I will try," she finally said to Arin with a smile on her face.
At this, Morin's lips curved into a small smile.
Around three years ago when he was 12, he was aware of all the bad blood between his mother and half-brother but... he used to feign ignorance. Maybe because he knew that he was the one who prevented the bad relationship from turning worse.
He loved both his mother and brother. So, he used to act like he know nothing while he was aware of every little detail. Everything.
Now that Prince Morin thought about it, it seemed like it paid off. His mother and brother have a good relationship now and it was what he always wanted since he was a child.
"It's almost time," Iria spoke up. "We should head to the hall. The guests will be waiting."
As they all left the chamber, Iria stared at Athena who was walking before her. She hadn't seen Athena for two whole years and today was the first since the death of Zaro Aventine. She has many things to say to the former Jerivian Queen but... now wasn't the right time.
It's the first birthday celebration of her son and the event should come first. Besides, she still wasn't sure of Athena's stance on her after that incident.
As they entered the hall filled with guests, Iria saw her family members from Cedore too and seeing them put her at ease. Though they arrived yesterday and she even spent time with them last night, it still felt like a dream to have all of them there.
Emperor Kalos and Empress Amina who had aged a lot compared to the last time she visited Cedore a few months ago; Orius and Valerie with their son Gervas Alewine who turned 1 three months ago; Crown Prince Andres with Crown Princess Ophelia who was at her early stage of pregnancy... Iria was just so happy to have them there....
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