Chapter 15 - The Vision (4)

"Do you know what the servant said about her?" Lorra asked.

Not aiming her question at anyone in particular, but she looked at Deair with a smile on her face, she liked the way Deair flinched between her meals.

"It’s about why she didn't get any title or status. Not even a princess in front of her name, only 'Daughter of Qye' as a title, have you heard?" Lorra said, smiling from ear to ear, her black orbs sparkling with excitement, excitement to upset her big sister. To rile and anger her, but this time her parents would be on her side, siding with a Qye would never get Deair anything in return.

"Stop it Lorra. Haven't you already had enough," Aevin stated, losing appetite because of her. Ahron on the other hand just kept gulping his breakfast. Lorra rolled her eyes, not caring what her big brother said, as long as her parents aren't responding to her, it means she is allowed to continue her words.

Deair is annoyed already, even though she hasn't said a word towards Lorra, she tried hard to curb her expression from going sour, but failed miserably. Rydan is silent as well, trying to cover the annoyed look that begins to creep on his face.

"Because she is abandoned," Lorra stated.

Resulting in Deair hissing at her, hates leaking through her mouth.

"So a title would be too good for her. Of course, calling her princess in Qye would be too much, because she is abandoned by her family, where everyone is titled Prince and Princess. She is stuck with only being 'Daughter of Qye', It's really sad," Lorra chuckles, there's no trace of sadness from her tone, only excitement and exhilaration. Rydan fist tightened under the dining table, but no words come from him, only his eyes glare towards his breakfast.

Deair, on the other hand, was furious, she gritted her teeth, about to lash out at her little sister, but someone else did.

"The reason I wasn't given the title of princess is to be a reminder for Qye's citizens. A father had to give up a daughter of his own blood to another Palace," Elleryn walks slowly inside. Everyone freezes in their spot except Ahron, he continues to eat his breakfast, but he listens anyway.

"Each of them has to show their loyalty towards him, for them to remember each day their King is no different than a father, not because I was abandoned," Elleryn begins to chuckle and raise her eyebrow, looking at Lorra with a smug smile on her face.

"To think the Princess of Suttern would believe a word the servant said, how humiliating", Elleryn shakes her head. This time Deair chuckles, enough to infuriate her little sister.

Lorra was seething in her seat, she was about to bark at her when Ahron chose that time to laugh, everyone looked at him with confusion, except Elleryn. She just looks at him without any expression on her face.

"That was harsh, as sinister as your tongue can be. She was much smarter with her words. A princess shouldn't believe a word servant said," Ahron laughs once again. He takes a deep breath, "that was a good one," he said, winking his eyes towards Elleryn, Elleryn chooses to ignore him.

Lorra was about to retort when Edra chose that time to hiss towards her. Reminding her that she is the one at fault and she had successfully humiliated herself. Lorra whimpers and looks down, hatred towards Elleryn still visibly seen.

"What do we owe from your early presence on this fine morning, Daughter of Qye," Edra said. Not even raising her head to meet her eyes, she is still fixated on her breakfast as if the girl standing in the middle of the table is not that important.

"I want to speak with King Arax," she said. Arax raised his head, giving her cold glare before assessing her from head to toe. He then nods, letting her continue, but she didn't. Not when there are listeners right in front of her. “alone," she said.

Everyone looks at her as if she is crazy, even Ahron decides his breakfast is not important anymore, Rydan could even hear his neck snap because of how fast it turned just now, Deair looks more worried instead of surprised, she doesn't want Elleryn to in trouble, Lorra and Aevin were surprised at her words than anything. Edra was surprised but her face was calm and controlled, different from the way her heartbeat chose to rush at that time.

"And what makes you think you could demand a personal conversation with me. The wedding is still nine days from now, you are not tied to the Suttern yet, you are still a Qye," Arax said, annoyed.

Elleryn sees fury, her instinct to protect her family cloud her better judgment. Words that come out next couldn't guarantee her safety, but if it could guarantee her family protection, she would gladly receive any type of punishment.

"Just like you said, I am not yet a Suttern. I could turn this palace upside down if I want to, not even my family will be here to stop me. So I suggest you hear me out before I do that right in front of your eyes," as a Daughter of Qye, she had successfully broken a few rules, speaking rudely towards the King, threatened the King and shown anger towards the King.

But she is desperate at the moment, breaking rules isn't on her mind now.

Arax was surprised, it isn't in nature for a Daughter of Qye to be angry, they are taught to be controlled, calm and collected at any given moment. The one he sees right now is too far from the usual Daughter of Qye, too far.

"Do you want me to drag all the Royal Family out of this place?” her eyes bore through Arax, as glint of red flashes and soft chuckles lets out of her mouth, “with a single spell, I'm sure I can do exactly that," Elleryn meets everyone's eyes one at a time, stopping at Rydan for a few more seconds before looking away and meet Arax’s eyes once again.

"Do you want to hear me out now, Arax?", Elleryn seethes.

Immediately, Arax sends a message with his mind to everyone inside the dining room, telling them to leave him and the girl and only come inside after she finishes whatever she wants to announce.

One by one everyone leaves the table and the room, Rydan is the last one to leave. He looks back at his future wife, her back looking tired and exhausted. But she is still rooted to her ground, at that time she looks admirable.

Rydan closes the door, hoping whatever conversation they have, Elleryn wouldn't be the one to receive a punishment.

• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •

Edra witnesses it all, worried on both of her children's faces, she can accept her daughter's expression and action but not her son. Rydan is fated to have someone else by his side, caring and worrying other than his mate would always make everything complicated.

She stands in front of Rydan, smiling towards her son, before gesturing for him to follow her.

The two of them walk towards the west side of the palace, walking without any direction before Edra stops and face the white forest in front of them. She breathes the cold and calming air before she turns and faces her son, The Crown Prince of Suttern.

"I see it," she said, smiling at him.

Rydan sighs, looking away.

"We have talked about this Rydan,” Edra whispered. Each sentence carries weight that slowly heaves down on Rydan’s shoulder.

“Each time I always make sure that you understand. Hate is the only way you could deal with a Qye, hate is the only way you could have both of them by your side,” her smile falters by seconds, her coal dark eyes turn sharp and cold.

“Starting to care for her would make things...” her words were cut immediately. The look on his face makes her do that, he looks at her with the expression that Edra knows well, the same expression on her husband, Arax.

"...complicated, I know," Rydan continued. Yes, it's complicated, but he is confused at all the things that his mother always uttered about a Qye. How they always try to manipulate others with their smile, but in truth she hasn't smiled towards him, only to show gratitude and that was it. There were no spells or words to make him submit or being manipulated, nothing.

It makes him doubtful... towards his own mother.