Chapter Five

Dairon's POV

"Hey, what was that for?" she questioned as she withdrew her hand from my grasp. I sighed and turned to face her, and she placed her hands on her waist, eyeing me intently. It was evident that she was not thrilled to be here, and I had reservations about her meeting Livian before she had accustomed herself to our world.

"Livian is my older brother," I explained, and her eyes widened in shock. "You guys are brothers," she said slowly, seemingly trying to process this revelation. "You two certainly don't act like you're related. Not at all. I didn't even realize that," she remarked, pushing a strand of her newly acquired hair color behind her ear. I had already figured out the reason behind her hair transformation, thanks to Mrs. Helt's information during class, while Aranya had to explore the palace to get familiar with it and return before classes ended.

"Hm... he sure is cold and has an attitude," she observed. I couldn't help but smile at her candid assessment, as Livian was known for his less-than-friendly demeanor.

"Everyone is meeting in the stateroom today," I informed her, and she furrowed her brow. "Why?" she inquired.

"Have you found a way for me to return home?" she asked, revealing her persistent desire to get back to her normal life even after the tour.

I shook my head and regarded her, leading to a deeper frown from her. She crossed her arms in frustration. "We will have a discussion, but it won't be about your return," I told her, and she turned away, showing her unwillingness to cooperate.

"I'm not going to participate in anything that doesn't address my current predicament," she stated firmly. I turned her back towards me, offering a reassuring smile. "You have to. Who knows, there might be a chance for you to figure out how to get back home," I assured her, though I was aware that this was unlikely.

She looked at me for a moment, her expression conflicted. Perhaps she was contemplating the sincerity of my words or pondering whether there was any truth in them. In reality, I had no answers to her questions, and neither did Lord Kin and Lady Altheda. Livian, on the other hand, was less concerned about the matter, and we were all in the dark about what to do next.

"Fine, whatever. Whatever we're going for better be of good use," she said, wagging her finger at me before turning away. "We may go outside the palace walls after that," I added, trying to provide some incentive. She turned to me, a hopeful smile on her face, but it quickly faded as she spoke.

"How is that?" she asked, a note of doubt creeping into her voice. "What happened?" I questioned, as I noticed her mood shifting.

"I don't care anymore how the outside looks. As long as I get home sooner, everything will be fine," she responded, a resigned tone in her voice. She seemed to have not come to terms with her current situation.

I stood in front of the door leading into the stateroom, with Aranya at my side. She gazed at the imposing entrance, clearly uneasy about what lay ahead. I knew how desperately she wanted to return to her normal life, but for now, we had to focus on discovering her true identity.

I understood that Lord Kin and Lady Altheda likely held information beyond what they had shared, but they, too, were uncertain of the details. It was evident that Aranya was uncomfortable with the attention she was receiving, and I hoped she would get used to her new life.

"Let's go. Everyone must be waiting," I urged, giving her a friendly smile. She nodded, adjusted her dress, and, as the doors swung open, we entered the stateroom.

All eyes in the room turned to Aranya, and she paused, visibly overwhelmed by the scrutiny. I took her hand and led her to an empty seat before taking my own. The room fell silent, with everyone's gaze fixed on her.

Aranya's unease was palpable. Her hands moved nervously, and I hoped she would grow accustomed to the attention she was receiving.

"Aranya, why don't you introduce yourself to everyone? Or should we make introductions first?" Lord Kin proposed.

"Why don't you go first? You guys must already know a lot about me, and I know very little about all of you," she replied slowly. I glanced at Lord Kin, giving him a nod to proceed.

Lord Kin initiated the introductions, and everyone listened attentively. Even Aranya refrained from making any remarks, seemingly overwhelmed by the situation. I hoped she would cooperate and accept whatever decision was reached, as it was ultimately for her benefit.

Lord Kin took the time to explain to Aranya how things operated in Valmore, and I hoped she would adapt to her new life with grace.

"So, do you have any more questions?" Lord Kin inquired.

"I don't think I do. But with everything you've said, if I'm not one of you, would you let me return home under the condition that I won't reveal the existence of this place?" she asked.

"Yes," Lord Kin affirmed.

"Why? Even if I told anyone, no one would believe me. They would think I'm crazy or something," she reasoned.

"We know that, but still, you mustn't disclose our existence or this place. Even if they consider you crazy, we cannot risk making our existence a laughingstock or a subject of mockery, turning it into a mere fairy tale," Lord Kin explained. She nodded in agreement, and the council members followed suit.

Throughout the meeting, Lady Altheda remained silent, observing Aranya closely, which made the girl increasingly uncomfortable. "Well, for now, you can explore outside the palace walls, but you must be cautious," Lord Kin concluded.

I smiled and took Aranya's hand, addressing her. "Don't worry. Elara and I will show you around, and I promise you'll love it here. You might even miss everything when you leave."

"Really? You think so?" Aranya asked, her smile returning.

"I know so. Come on, let's go," I encouraged, leading her out of the stateroom.