Free Web NovelChapter 69: Chapter 69
"So, what do you think of my home?" Astrid asked with an air of pride.
Queen Valerie had prepared the best rooms in the palace for them. It wasn’t as decorated as Erindros, but its airy nature gave it a warmth Erindros didn’t possess.
"I think it’s a beautiful home," he replied. "No wonder you’re the way you are; you live in paradise."
Astrid chuckled. "Thank you." Her eyes scanned the corridors as they walked. They got to the first room on the right. "So, you and Augustus will stay in this room."
Augustus looked at her wide-eyed while Adonis raised an eyebrow.
"You take it, or leave it, boys," she said and laughed. "Girls, please, come with me." The girls followed closely behind her, smirking.
She directed Andrea and Doris to another room, went to hers, and collapsed on the bed. She’d missed this place. She missed her bed. And no matter how hard she’d tried not to think of them, she also missed her parents deeply.
"Hello, my love," her mother said, interrupting her thoughts. Her father also stood limply beside her.
"Hi," she replied and sat up, looking at them expectantly.
The two of them walked towards her bed, and Valerie sat down.
"I’ve missed you and your sister so much," she said and hugged her.
She was always a loud crier. Nothing was ever subtle with her mother, neither her pain nor her happiness.
"I’m here now, mother, I’m alright. I’m sure Hera is doing absolutely wonderful back in Erindros as well." Astrid replied, gently patting her mother on the back
"Every day... Your father and I... We were so filled with worry... Every day was torment; we thought we’d never see you again."
"It’s alright, mother, it’s alright."
Her father hadn’t said a word since they’d entered, but she could see from the corner of her eye that he was crying. How wonderful it was to have parents like hers, she thought.
Valerie pulled back from her and sniffed, "Tell us everything. The city, the people, everything."
Astrid shook her head and laughed. "Why don’t you sit with us, Father, before I start?" A smile grew on his face, and just like that, the crack began to mend itself.
She spoke at length about the palace, the people, and the banquet.
"You mean they didn’t let you go outside?" Adolphus asked, "Not once?"
"At all," Astrid said with exaggerated disbelief.
"It must have been hard for the two of you," Valerie said despondently. "I wish I could have been there for my babies."
"Mother, I promise you, we’re fine. We’re getting along quite well."
"What about Hera? How is she dealing with all of this?" King Adolphus asked.
"She’s taking it very well, Father," Astrid said with a yawn.
"We’ve kept you long enough. Get some rest." He stretched out a hand to Valeria and led her away.
She slept like a log and woke up the next day, before dawn broke; the skies were still dark, and she could still hear the chirping of the crickets.
Astrid lay still on her bed, breathing in the ocean air. She didn’t realize how much she had missed this place. She stayed that way till her mother knocked on her door.
"Astrid, you’re up," she said. "Good. I wanted to wake you so you could have some breakfast."
"I’ll be there in a minute," she replied, then her mother nodded and left.
After she’d taken a bath, she checked on the girls first, but they had already left their room.
"Good morning," Augustus said as she came out of the room.
"Good morning to you, too," Astrid replied with a smile. "I hope Adonis didn’t give you too much trouble."
He let out a throaty short laugh and shook his head. "Not exactly. But he does snore a lot."
Astrid laughed but covered her mouth quickly. "I can imagine," she said, shaking her head. "I could tell the servants to prepare another room for you if you like?"
They resumed walking.
"No, no." Augustus refused vehemently. "He’s going to be mad with anger." Augustus chuckled and shook his head; his eyes focused like he’d imagined the idea. "Soo... You must be happy to be back here," Augustus asked.
"I am. I need us to finish this whole war business so I can come back to my home," she replied. "Adonis is probably not going to marry any of the girls at this point, so we might as well come home."
"Don’t be too sure about that," he said. His face darkened, but the expression was gone almost instantly.
They finally reached the dining hall. Valerie and Adolphus were chatting and laughing with the girls.
"Is he skipping breakfast?" Astrid asked in a whisper.
"Not intentionally, he told me he wanted to get some more sleep before he got up."
"Sleep some more? Were the two of you doing something else last night instead of sleeping?"
"Nothing. Once I hit the bed, I was knocked out. I think it was the same for him as well. I think he’s just tired. The war has been rough on him. Finding a place where he can finally be a part of himself isn’t something he’s been able to do for a while now."
"The war has been tough for all of us," Astrid mumbled. "But I get it. Oh, father, mother, there’s something I’d like to ask. Did you make any deals for bombs from Erindros?"
Adolphus looked up, a little disturbed. "We didn’t. It was shipped to us with a letter."
Astrid sat straight. "What letter?"
"It wasn’t much; it only said we now had the means to protect ourselves, so we should be wise enough."
"That sounds very ominous," Doris chimed.
"Whoever it is, is deep within the Empire’s politics? Or is a spy. Either way, none of those options are appealing," Astrid said.
"They aren’t," Adonis said from the doorway. Everyone turned to look at him. "And I’m going to make sure I find who’s behind it. But first, show me that letter, your majesty."
The two weeks went by so fast that Astrid almost cried. They were almost done preparing the dye they would go back to Erindros with.
Their routine had become monotonous but relaxing. They would walk long distances to the prairie and pick up as many flowers as they could; by evening, they would go down to the lake on the west side of the kingdom to relax till it was late.
The girls and Astrid had decided to go earlier and would be joined by the boys later.
"This has to be one of the most boring things ever known to man," Doris whined.
"Would you have preferred if we were at war?" Atreid said while laughing.
"That would have been enough actions."
Andrea scoffed, "You almost died the last time."
"Still, who wants to pick flowers all day?"
"Me," Astrid said. "Me. Anything that’ll prevent the bloodshed we saw back at those other kingdoms, I’m fine with that."
Astrid and Doris fell silent.
Evening settled in, and the boys never showed up.
"Those imbeciles," Astrid chuckled, "they played us."
"You mean the prince and Augustus?" Doris asked.
Astrid nodded.
"They were never going to come," Doris said flatly. "They didn’t even act like they were interested in coming. Besides, how long did you expect that snub, Adonis, to keep working? He’s the prince... Of the empire that’s trying to slaughter her family. I’m sure he’s given himself a pass."
"I didn’t forget, Doris. I have not forgotten that fact for one day."
The girls fell silent.
"Father says he wants to step down from the throne. He wants me to come back as soon as possible so that I can be crowned."
"That’s very sudden," Andrea said, concern laced in her voice. "Is he alright?"
"Yes, he is," Astrid replied. "He’s more than fine. He just wants us back, safe and sound. He says he has arranged a match for Hera with one of his ministers’ sons, so she doesn’t feel too hurt about not being a match with the prince."
"That’s kind of him, but I think he should let her choose this time," Doris said. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"I told him the same as well. She will choose her match. No more arranged marriages. We’ve seen where that has brought us."
"I wonder how Iris and your sister are doing."
"Hopefully they’re fine." Astrid squinted her eye to see the figures running towards them. "Aren’t those the boys? Why are they running?"
’’There’s a ship at the harbour," Adonis shouted as he ran towards them. "Your sisters are here."
The girls stared at each other wide-eyed.
"What do you mean by the girls are here?" Astrid asked as soon as Adonis and Augustus reached them.
"I mean those friends of yours, the ones you said joined my sister’s ship. They’re in such a..."
Astrid ran before he could finish, and the other girls followed. She ran to the palace first, but they weren’t there yet. Astrid began to run to the harbour but stopped along the way when she saw Selene.
She heaved a deep sigh of relief. Her body shook as she saw them, and tears began to pour from her eyes.
Selene ran towards her and engulfed her in a hug. "I thought I would never see you again."
Astrid’s breath hitched. Words refused to come out of her mouth.
"I missed you," Selene whispered.
