"Girls, listen..." Inara murmured. Miralen and Verbena looked at her. "I want to tell you something really important..." she continued. The two girls exchanged a confused glance.
Just then, the servants entered the room and began serving the food one by one. Salad, boiled eggs, steak, and tea were placed neatly on the table. Verbena picked up her cup and took a sip. Once the servants had finished, they quietly left the room, leaving the three of them alone.
Miralen took a bite of her steak. "What is it, Mom?" she asked curiously. "Is this about the palace? Delayna? Or Delayna's position? Whatever it is, I hope it's useful information." She thought about it.
Inara looked down at her food, as if reconsidering her decision of saying what was on her mind to them. "This might be a little shocking for both of you..." Her gaze shifted toward Miralen. "Especially for you, Delayna."
Miralen became even more confused.
"Delayna, you are a really great warrior and administrator of this kingdom..." Inara paused for a moment before continuing. "So, His Majesty wants you to marry Hazen."
For a second, no one spoke. Then, "What?!" Miralen shouted. She hadn't expected this at all. Verbena looked equally shocked. Both girls stared at each other before turning back toward Inara. "Are you telling the truth, Mom?" Verbena asked in disbelief.
Inara slowly nodded. "Yes... it's true. His Majesty wants Delayna to become Prince Hazen's wife." Miralen immediately stood up, her chair scraped backward. "I am not going to accept this offer!"
Inara looked at her calmly. "This is not an offer." Her expression became serious. "But an order." Miralen's eyes widened. "But that's not fair!" She protested.
Inara lowered her gaze. Her expression clearly showed that she didn't want to accept this either. "I know," she muttered.
"Mom, but you can't get her married against her will," Verbena interrupted. Inara looked at her. "Dear, I can't do anything. His Majesty wants only Delayna as his daughter‐in‐law."
Miralen clenched her fists and pulled her chair, sitting down. She exhaled heavily, trying to calm herself. "What the hell?! Getting married to that prince?! Why?! Why are things getting more and more complicated?!" She complained in her mind.
Then another thought struck her mind. "Wait... getting married to Hazen means, I'll be able to stay in the palace and learn more about Delayna's past.Which means I might also be able to solve the mystery behind Verbena's past."
She paused for a second, "But getting married...? No, no. I can't get married to that prince. I'm a minor. Ew." She was disgusted at the thought.
Inara tilted her head slightly. "Is there something you want to say, Delayna?" she asked, confused by Miralen's quick change in expression. Miralen immediately snapped out of her thoughts.
"Mom, please talk to His Majesty once again. I don't want to get married to Prince Hazen." She pleaded to her. Inara sighed softly. "Fine. I'll talk to him." She narrowed eyes slightly at Miralen. "But if he doesn't agree, then what will you do?"
"Run away. Simple," Miralen muttered under her breath. Verbena choked on her tea, she quickly covered her mouth and put the tea cup down. She desperately tried to control her laugh, cause she heard what Miralen just said. And deep down she strongly agreed to it.
Inara blinked. "What?"
Miralen's eyes widened. "Then I'll get married to Prince Hazen!" She answered quickly, forcing a nervous smile onto her face.
"That was close." The smile remained on her face.
Inara smiled warmly. "Okay, then." She looked down at the food on the table. "We should start eating now. Otherwise, the food will get cold." Miralen and Verbena immediately remembered the food sitting in front of them. "Oh, yeah," Verbena replied.
The three of them continued eating quietly. Yet the silent distance between them lingered, even though they were sitting so close to one another.
After finishing breakfast, Miralen walked back toward her room. She greeted a few servants along the way before entering her room and locking the door behind her.
She walked toward her bed and sat on its edge. "Why the hell is every new mystery dropping now?!"
She laid back on her bed, soft mattress pressing below her. "Every minute, some kind of new plot twist drops and ruins everything!" She stared at the ceiling. "Is my life a dramatic novel or something?! Why does everything keep happening to me?!"
She complained to herself, regretting almost every decision that had led her to this situation.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Miralen sat up and looked toward the door. "Who's there?" She asked.
"Miss Delayna, Sir Evander requests your presence." The voice came from other side, it belonged to one of the household servants.
Miralen rolled her eyes. "Great. Another presentation to give." She muttered, then sighed. "Fine, I'm coming," she replied back.
"Yes, Miss." The servant walked away after receiving her confirmation.
Miralen stared at the door for a moment, then sighed again. She stood up and walked toward the door, she opened it and walked out, closing it behind her.
(The end of chapter 23)