Chapter 7 - The Contact (3)

“That must be my big brother. I wonder what happened this time,” Princess Deair said while slicing the meat on her plate and taking her time in savoring the taste. Lorra rolled her eyes, cutting the meat into tiny little pieces before stabbing it with a fork and shoved it inside her mouth. Ignoring the cold glares she received from the Queen because of their conduct.

“Is it a habit of him as an animal, to roar like that?” Ladon said, through chewing the carrot. It was an insult, a subtle way to say it and the family members of Suttern were aware of it all, except Princess Deair.

“Not really,” Deair gulping down her meal before wiping her mouth clean.

“Only when he feels angry or threatened, not that he feels threatened every day, so angry would be the best answer. It is a bad habit of him,” Deair said while paying attention to another piece of meat on her plate.

Arax could barely hold on the anger at his daughter. His wolf could feel it, he wanted to shift and reprimand his daughter in front of the Qye’s. But no one could expect Lorra would suddenly say that word, the forbidden word to say in front of Princess Deair.

“Oh shush my big sister. You don’t even know how it feels like to hold a roar within you, after all you can’t shift. I mean, you don’t even have a wolf,” Lorra had lost it, yes. She feels truly humiliated, a Qye could make her feel this shameful, and her sister only making the situation worse. However, Lorra had gone beyond the forbidden line, which is supposed to have never happened, it is taboo to talk about the wolf-less Princess of Suttern.

“You!” Deair stands up while pointing her finger at her, tears threatened to come out of her golden eyes. Anger and shame could visibly be seen within her orbs, she felt betrayed as well, the fact that her little sister would be the one to say such words, not an enemy, but a family nonetheless.

“Enough!” Arax shouted, “Deair sits down. Lorra, apologize to your sister. I will punish you two after this,” Arax reprimanded the two, promising both of them the punishment that surely will come after all this messed up dinner. Deair whimpers, before she takes a seat, while Lorra mutters a silent apology towards her sister. Aevin and Ahron were amused by the situation that unfolds itself in front of their eyes, this is more fun than bothering the servant.

Elleryn comes inside the hall followed by Yoani. She looks refreshed as if the air inside the hall was poison and the air outside has thoroughly cleaned her. However, it was probably because she felt her heart tighten after meeting Arax's eyes, cold and dark golden eyes.

Elleryn took a step toward her seat beside her mother and smiled at her. Avra returned the smile and took her hand.

“How are you feeling?” she asked with a soft voice.

“Better,” Elleryn replied.

“That is much relieved to hear,” Edra clapped her hands with excitement, which all of them knew was fake.

“We have decided the marriage will be held here exactly 15 days from now, within those days you will reside in the East Tower of Suttern,” Edra faking a smile towards Elleryn.

Edra gestured towards Yoani.

“Yoani will take your luggage and also take you to the room. We would like to invite the citizens of Qye as well as Suttern to the Wedding Day and Ceremony that would likely happen on the same day,” Edra said. Elleryn nods her head, couldn’t quite comprehend everything, but force herself to understand anyway.

“Oh! And three days before the wedding, you will choose your ring Elleryn,” Edra said with fake happiness inside her eyes, she is not happy, not one bit. Having a replacement for Byrl and taking her son to a forced marriage bond will not make her happy, but she has to look like she is happy, after all, she is the Queen of Suttern.

Ring. Not rings. The only person who would wear a ring would be Elleryn on the day of the marriage. The Crown Prince of Suttern and The Daughter of Qye would exchange rings, but only Elleryn would continue to wear it, while Rydan’s ring would be hidden to be used later for the next Crown Prince. Perhaps that ring is the only thing she could have, besides a throne, a status, a title, or even children.

She decided to choose very carefully later, very carefully.

• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •

That night, Elleryn hugs her mother tightly as she tries to hold back her tears. She kisses her cheeks, her hands, and smiles at her with tear-stained eyes. Avra just nods once and turns around to get inside the carriage. She did not want to cry, especially in front of a Suttern.

Leor hugs his daughter and whispers that no matter what, he loves her. No matter what everyone says, she is loved. Elleryn nodded, understood fully, this is not a father giving up its daughter, this is a King trying to protect its family and land.

Elleryn proceeds to hug Ladon, kissing him on the cheek, then she kisses Fabin’s and Kyzen’s cheek as well, giving them their hugs. Ezana jumps at her and cradles her waist, crying full force, not caring that her snot or tears have stained her sister’s dress. Elleryn pats her back and hugs her as well, whispering to her, she will always love her little sister. Ezana nods and turns around to follow her mother to get inside the carriage, hoping to hold her tears.

That night the snow feels incredibly cold like her heart and the only thing Elleryn could think of is a person’s warm hand. A future husband of her, a husband she could never have.

• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •

News spread fast and wild like some kind of dangerous flu. Villagers of Suttern had been wondering what the new Lady of Qye looks like, most of them started a few rumors that her beauty surpassed Lady Byrl, some even believe she is the strongest out of Qye bloodline. Everyone had been impatient about the Wedding Ceremony that will be held inside the castle, the festive and party as well as the dancing gala would be held on that day. People will gather to stare and take a glance at the new couple of the centuries. However, they never knew the marriage purpose was to gain something. They had thought that marriage is an obligation, kind of tradition, which is a little bit silly.

Rydan had been furious for three days, he made sure to run inside the forest whenever lunch or dinner time came around, in order to avoid seeing her. She would be there sitting inside the same room as she would anger him more, anger him to the core for sure, or so he believes.

Arax never questions him or even commands him to attend dinner together and Edra did not even scold him for not attending the dinner with Qye on the first day. Once again this relationship was never good, to begin with.

Furthermore, his father has warned him too much for his good, to stay away, to hate, to never keep her inside his heart, never.



But for some strange reason, Rydan couldn’t hate the girl. It is hard to hate someone he doesn’t know about. He feels strange and weird at the same time. He never thought that hating someone would be this hard. He used to hate someone with passion before, but hating this girl immediately turns out to be another challenge.