Opal's POV
"Master." Dasa called from outside the room. "What is it?" I asked. "Princess Sena wishes to speak with you." I sighed. "Send her away." Dasa went silent then I heard Varin's voice. "Mother will speak with me then?"
"Let her in." I say as I stood from the bed. The doors opened as I patted my face dry. "Mother." Varin greeted me before closing the doors. "From the ruckus of those two, you've completely regained your memory." I shhok my head.
"What will you do now?" I turn to her. "Return to Ojun." I replied softly. "Are you sure?" I nod. "Then will we leave tonight?" I shook my head. "If we leave then we'll be confirming." Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Confirming what?" I sit down on the edge of my bed as she sat down by the table. "Kasian has his suspicions. If we leave, he will follow." Everything he did from the moment I attended that banquet until now. Before I didn't understand why he was so interested in me.
Now that I've regained some of my memory, I know. "He knows? How much does he know?" I shook my head. "I don't know either. None of it makes sense. I'm still going over the fragments in my mind. They feel as though they aren't mine, but I know they are."
I look down at my hands. "If we leave then everything will collapse." Everything I worked hard for. "Is he a threat to us? Rain and Kain?" Varin asked. "If we leave, he will be." I look at her.
"So, we must go to the banquet. The five of us must go. Sena and Sera will be responsible for getting the children out. When we leave the banquet, we'll leave right away. That's the only way out."
"What if he makes a move and forces you to stay? What then?" I stand up and walk over to her. "Then you threaten Rain and Kain with your lives to force them to leave. Do you understand?" Varin nodded.
"Tell them that this will be the last time we'll step foot in the Regila Palace and after we leave the Palace, we'll leave immediately. We don't need the things; we don't need the carriages. We can get back faster on foot and horses anyway." Varin stood up. "I'll go and inform them right away." She walked out.
Dasa stepped into the room. "Master. Things won't go the way you wish them to. He's set up a dead lock, no matter what happens." I knew that.
"That deadlock is only to surround me. He'll let them go." Dasa bowed. "Then I'll go and prepare your bath."
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We were the last to arrive, but our seats were separated. Varin's grip on my arm tightened when she saw how far away my seat was from theirs. I patted her hand gently and moved forward after the servant's urging.
My seat was right below his and his gaze burned into face as though he wanted to be under my skin. Music, dance and conversation flowed while I remained silent and sipped on wine.
"Madam Jade." I look up at Palari, who bowed in greeting to me. She smiled and motioned a servant forward. "I would like to apologize for my attitude towards you and your family. I hope you will allow me to honor you with this cup of wine. Tomorrow I will formally visit and apologize properly."
She took the two glasses from the tray the servant held and held out to me. I look at the glass and then at her. "You truly wish for me to drink this wine?" Palari nodded. "Yes. I hope it'll be a start for my apology."
I took the glass from her and Dasa reached out but I raised my hand. I raise my veil slightly and drink the wine. Her smile widened and she snatched the glass from my hand.
"What happened to your hair? Last time it was black, now it's silver." She asked while kneeling down next to my table and pouring another cupful.
"My poison cleared and this was a result." She paused for a second before pushing the glass towards me. "Then you're healthy now?" She looked at the glass and then at my face.
I pick up the glass. "No. So, this will be my last glass." I down the wine and glass the glass in front of her. "Then you should be drinking some tea to warm your stomach instead of wine."
She turned the servant behind her. "Quick. Go make Madam Jade a pot of tea and get her warm pastries." I look at her. "Princess. You must love your sister very much." She tensed.
"I do. If I were here, she wouldn't have died." I nod. "I also love my children very much. That's why, I'm leaving tomorrow." The smile on her face dimmed, like a light flickering.
"You're leaving so soon?" I nod again. "So, you were truly just here for the peace treaty? No other reason?" Her voice dropped lower and lower, the more she spoke.
"There was never any other reason." She suddenly pushed herself up. "I shall return to my seat." She bowed to me and rushed back to her seat. She clutched her fiancée's arm tightly.
"You're leaving so soon?" Kasian suddenly spoke from beside me. I didn't look in his direction. "I have no more business in this Kingdom, especially after all the insults that were thrown my way."
He stooped down and grabbed the chair handle. "This isn't your style, Opal." I look down at him. "We aren't close for you to be calling my name so affectionately, King Kasian." He chuckled.
"Since when are we not close? You gave birth to my oldest son. You are the first-." I stand up and move away from him. "I have two sons, I do not know you. My husband is dead. Don't mistake me for another woman." He stood up and smiled.
I turned to leave. "Unless you want me to kill your grandchildren, then you better not leave this hall." I turn back to him. "Where are my grandchildren?" He grinned. "I don't know. Where are they?"
He didn't answer me, I look at Dasa and she moved but a sword was pointed at her neck. The hall fell silent at this point. "What is it that you want?" He walked towards me. "Now, you're asking the right question."
"I can promise you to let some leave but not all. You can pick." He grabbed my shoulders and leaned towards me. "Choose wisely." I stepped back but he pulled me forward. "Choose now."
"All of my grandchildren and my two sons." He chuckled. "What about your daughters-in-law?" He looked over my head, at the four of them. "Will you let them leave?" He nodded. "Okay. They can go."
"Then my daughters-in-law can leave too." He looked at me in surprise. "You never said they could go." I try to push his hands away, but he tightened his grip. "They're pregnant. That number includes them."
He laughed loudly. "I forgot how smart you are. Twenty-three years later and you are still making ten moves ahead of me."