A little curious- II

Katrina released a tensed breath. "The marriage that has been arranged for me."

Ivans's brows lifted up in surprise. "I see. What do you wish to talk about?"

Everything. Sometimes, Katrina wished that her mother was alive. It would have been much easier to talk to her about things in comparison to her father. It could have been a storytelling, but with her father, it was going to be just facts stated in points.

If it had been her mother, the entire story would have been told, just like she had heard from Annika. She would be told what was the setting, how many people were there, what was going on in the mind of other people. Everything..

"Um," she let the word slip without much regard given that it was just her father in front of her, "I-I wished to know something about.. how long has it been?"

"It was arranged before you were born. You mother was still pregnant with you."

"So, she knew?"

"Yes," he father answered with a stern expression, "she was a witness for the arrangement when it was signed between Me and the previous pakkan."

"I see." That was not mentioned anywhere. Had her mother conveniently left out that detail? Maybe mama has been waiting until a certain age to let her know about it?

"Is there anything else you want to know about, Rina?"

She licked her lips out of nervousness. "Yes. Does he know?"

"He is aware that he has arranged to marry a girl within the organization. I suppose she doesn't know who it is yet."

Great. "Is.. would he be willing to continue with this?"

His stern expression changed into a slightly mean one, where he meant business, and she knew it.

"What is the meaning of that question, Katrina? It does not matter what he wishes for. The word has been set in stone and he will follow with him. It is expected of him to do so."

Katrina lowered her eyes to her hands. So his wish did not matter to her. They were both arranged to be married, and it may even be if they did not want to happen.

Not wanting the power to linger, she opened her mouth to ask, "w—"

"Before you ask me another question, make sure that it is a valuable one. I will not answer more after this and you will return to your room for the night."

She nodded. "Yes, father."

Hopefully the question she was going to ask was going to be worth the while.

"In the banquet that we are going to attend, are we going to be introduced?"

Ivan nodded and shifted in his chair as he did. Maybe, if Katrina's thought correctly, he was uncomfortable.

"Yes, it has been decided that you would be briefly introduced to each other. You're not expected to talk to him or anything. We will be sitting at different tables. In fact, after meeting him, you will be shortly retiring to the room."

"Now," he cleared his throat, "is this enough?"

She nodded, "yes, papa. Thank you." Katrina reached over to step behind his task and place a kiss on his cheek. She received a good night in return before she walked out of his office and in direction to her bedroom. At least some of her curiosity had been satisfied.