Chapter 129

129 soft, gentle and graceful

As they stayed hugging, they didn’t know they had another pair of eyes watching them. Kitana had seen them walking to the garden and followed behind them. She was furious when she saw the King and that girl gallivanting the premises like two lovesick puppies. That was the height of it, and now they held onto each other as if their lives depended on it.

She could not bear another second to watch them, so she returned to the castle. She was wasting time when she should have found a way to end that maid. The King needed her out of his life, and he didn’t even realize it. She had to act fast, but with the heightened security around the palace and the King’s chambers, planning has been more difficult.

If push comes to shove, she would have no choice but to murder her herself.

...

Zavian stared at the wedding invites in front of him.

The contest had already spanned its period of time, and with three Princesses remaining, Zavian had to make a choice, and it was proving difficult the more he stared at the invites requiring his signature.

It shouldn’t be that hard. Take a stamp, sign the invites and send them off, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

The Night of the Selection was close. It was the Night he picked his bride to be wedded in front of dukes and knights from all seven Kingdoms. For a long time, Zavian had not felt pressure as heavy as this one on his neck.

He didn’t want to do it.

.....

He tossed the invite aside, and he knew Freya would come in any minute to send them off to the Kingdoms in preparation for a celebration of the century. It was all so performative, and he couldn’t believe how hard a job it would be for him.

There was a knock on the door. Expecting to see his sister, Zavian shifted the stack of invites away and was relieved to see it was his best friend instead.

“Is everything okay?” Azriel asked as he approached his desk.

“Yes”, Zavian answered. “I just have the invites to sign and send off.”

Azriel pulled the stack towards himself and examined them. He looked at Zavian and dropped the invites.

“They are not signed,” Azriel pointed out.

“I know.”

“Why? None of the Princesses up to your taste?” Azriel asked. “But I thought Kitana was the one you chose, or at least, from what I have known of your history?”

“Our history?”

“Back before the war, and she is also the one you are more familiar with,” Azriel suggested. Zavian didn’t counteract that fact. There was a long pause before Azriel asked;

“Is this about Neera?” Azriel asked.

Zavian still did not respond. Would he understand if it was actually about Neera and how marrying someone else was a really hard decision for him?

“Your Majesty... Zavian”, Azriel switched to a brotherly tone. “Don’t do anything you aren’t supposed to do. This”, he pointed to the invites on the table. “is the right thing to do, and you need to do so today. Your Kingdom and everyone in it depends on this choice, remember that.”

He did remember. That was what he did all his life, sacrificing his wants for the greater good of the Kingdom and the people in it.

“Neera will still be in this castle, so there is nothing to worry about”, Azriel smiled, assuring him.

Zavian sighed. “So you came here to force me to hurry up, is that it? Did Freya send you?”

Azriel chuckled. “No, she didn’t. Call it psychic intuition. I just know you needed me. Do this now, and then try to engage in a conversation with the Princesses after. Think of it as the final part of the contest.”

Azriel pushed the invites towards Zavian, took the stamp, pressed it into the ink pad, and handed it to him. Azriel was the much-needed motivation Zavian needed, for he went to work on the invites at once, and enveloped them all with the royal seal.

Freya was summoned to deliver the letters, and Azriel urged him to meet with the Princesses. He wound up finding Zelda in the drawing room, and she was engrossed with a book in her hand.

She didn’t notice him until he came close. Stunned, she shut her book and was on her feet.

“Your Majesty”, she greeted.

Zavian’s eyes drew to the book she was reading. He knew it; it was a historical novel. It seemed she loved to read, as she seemed very engrossed in it. As she saw him, she quickly closed the book and lowered her head a little;

”I happened to walk into you, what are you reading?”

At his question, her chin flushed a little and she looked everywhere but at him. Zelda cleared her throat, and then she spoke;

”Just a novel... about a couple. ”

When Zavian saw the look on her face, he didn’t bother asking more. He did not want to get her uncomfortable.

”I hope you enjoyed your time here?” he asked and Zelda nodded;

”The food is wonderful, ” she said with a smile. Zavian breathed as he tucked his hands behind him;

”Alright, I’ll leave you to continue your reading. I don’t want to take too much of your time. ”

He said with a smile, and Zelda curtseyed. “It is a pleasure speaking to you, my king. ”

The King excused himself and took a walk.

Zavian walked out of the room and found himself in the garden, heading over to the tree that reminded him of Neera. However, along his path, Princess Jasmine was tending to some flowers, and she didn’t see him watch her.

When she stood, a hand flew to her mouth, as if to muffle a silent scream that never came. The hand fell down to her chest, and she curtseyed in greeting.

“Your Majesty,” she said. “Forgive me, I didn’t see you there.”

“I didn’t expect you to find you here.”

Jasmine smiled. “There are quite a lot of interests of mine that you don’t know of, your Majesty.”

Zavian liked her straightforwardness. “Care to indulge me?”

They walked side by side, and Jasmine, unlike Zelda, was a lady of few words. He could not deny how extremely beautiful she was, and she moved like the flowers did in the wind; soft, gentle, graceful.

“I think this is the only time since my arrival I am having a conversation with you,” Jasmine said.

“Forgive me for that, I have been thoroughly preoccupied”, Zavian apologized.

“I understand,” Jasmine said. “I have to say, I had the delight of speaking with Neera the other day. I was very curious about her at first, but she was enjoyable company. It was just a pity I don’t see her often, but I understand it is for her safety, especially after the unfortunate incident that happened.”