Raziah held her head high. She kept telling herself that there was no need to panic and she would be alright. The news she had just received had weakened her so much that she was afraid she might fall. Malcolm had been blaiming himself for telling her this even when he knew she wasn’t feeling too well, but she had kept on reassuring him that she was just fine, and so she had to continue putting on this strong mask around him. He was the one person she could let out all her depression on, but she had to consider the weight he also holds on his shoulders. Raziah wanted nothing more than to just go back to her room and fall asleep. She was gradually getting dizzier, and her sight wasn’t at it’s best. But, she couldn’t miss this event or excuse herself for the night like she did when she was at Sabaean. There, people knew her as the king’s whore so it didn’t seem compulsory for her to stay very long, but now that the cat had been let out of the basket she was left with no other choice than to head over to the hall room. Malcolm was behind her this time. He couldn’t even look at her as freely as he used to before because he knew what he had done to her. It isn’t just about the birthday, it’s entirely about her marriage. He had been aware for a long time that vampires and witches exist, and he knew that King Aragon wasn’t human... but he didn’t warn her when he got the chance to. At first, he wanted to but as he had watched them dance together... something had struck him hard, leaving him perplexed. Her dance steps were familiar, and the entire presentation itself, the way Aragon couldn’t even look away for a second, the raw energy that sparked in the air when they touched...he thought to himself that just maybe... Aragon could be the one. Just maybe...he was capable of melting the ice that had surrounded the Princess, and truth be told, he was still betting on that. But he also knew what he was putting her through, and he was very much guilty about it all. As he sighed inaudibly, his eyes slowly widened as he witnessed her next move. Raziah had pulled up a sit close to the table where her meal had been set a while ago and she was shamelessly stuffing her face, pouncing on everything like a hungry predator feasting mercilessly on its prey. Malcolm’s face turned pale, and he could only shake his head in wonder. How could she be so...!! One minute she’s behaving like a Princess, and the next she’s looking like someone who is just eating for the first time in months. Gwenore, who was sitting right next to her and the others present couldn’t help but gape at the woman. After the puzzling and interesting show they had watched before she left, she had been the main topic on everyone’s lips...and yet again she had them in complete shock again. There was this observance and anxiety that comes with knowing that the people around you aren’t mostly humans so normally the humans were supposed to compose themselves properly and always be alert. Raziah couldn’t care less about what they thought of her. If they expect her to be present, then she needs all the strength she needs since she’s feeling too unwell, and what better way to renew what was lost by diving into the wide variety of dishes set in front of her? She had tried to eat normally and with regality like every other would, but it was another side of herself she couldn’t control whenever she tastes something so delicious. Uariel had to be the one that prepared this! "Your highness? Don’t you think..." Princess Gwenore had Raziah looking up at her, "I’m just saying you should try to interact more with everyone around. You’re still the king’s wife." She finished, speaking as respectfully and as softly as she could. There was this deep senses of acknowledgement she now has for Raziah, not just because she was her senior, but because she could stand up to Aragon toe to toe. Raziah was munching on some vegetables, "I don’t feel like it. I already made it known that I don’t like them, so why force myself?" Raziah replied honestly, and since she wasn’t gonna be queen anymore, why force herself to talk with them? "Because I might not be around one day, and you’ll one day need their help," She replied. "I don’t know for you, but I’ll abide by my rules," Raziah stared directly into Gwenore’s eyes, and that was the first time Gwenore really felt the impact of what Raziah’s eyes could do to someone, "But unfortunately sometimes, my own rules .. aren’t right or even enough," Raziah mentally sighed at herself, remembering her mother’s words again, "Fine, I guess I can’t escape this one too." She wiped her mouth with a small white clothing beside her, covered up the remaining dishes and stood up to meet the crowd. Her eyes were set on her first conquest, and that happened to be none other than Gwenore’s brother since he was the only person she knew. She would have gone for King Eleazar though, but the man was busy dancing with another woman. Prince Leander was halfway sharing his adventures with the other princes around him, when they all suddenly felt a chill over their skin. Looking up at once, there was his Majesty’s bride approaching them with her keen eyes set on no-one other than the prince. She stood right in front of him, only with a table separating them. He was immediately on his feet, and so were the rest of them..."Your highness!" They chorused "You climbed up the tree, but you were gone before I could turn around." Starting small talk was what she was supposed to do right? Gosh this was so annoying since she wasn’t a fan of speaking too much. They were all still standing, and she could see the contemplation in their eyes whether they should sit when she was still on her feet. "I humbly apologize for leaving so suddenly your highness. I got... thirsty," Ah, that explains the figure that lurked around her back, "Then I guess that explains it. How has the occasion been going for you?" "Everything is splendid! His Majesty has really put a lot of effort into all of this and made it such a huge event. " Put a lot of effort? By doing what? Sitting on his throne and ordering people around to decorate and invite others? That doesn’t sounds like effort! Raziah didn’t know why she was feeling so negative about everything. Was it because she has to leave her delicious meal and come here? And did he just say everything is splendid? The Dodgy decorations must be nice and fair to vampires and witches, right? How nice. "And you?" She turned to another Prince beside Leander. He had cat-like eyes, and his eyes were lurking between being dark and Grey, somewhat ash in color, "Prince...Niran?" Niran almost choked on his drink. "You seem to be enjoying yourself...?" He dropped his Wine, and replied with a small smile, "Of course your highness. The hospitality is excellent, and I’m having a good time." Are they gonna keep standing? "There’s no need to keep being on your feet. I just came here to see how you all are doing, so do have your seat," "It’s not polite for a man to keep a woman standing, your highness. We don’t mind standing," Niran replied, feeling more and more uncomfortable under her stealth gaze since she had her eyes on him up till now. "Then let me have a seat with you all." She Declared and was already walking around the long chair before they could try and say no. Raziah pulled an empty seat she found on her way, and was already standing behind Niran and Leander, waiting for them to make way for her so she could sit between them. Make small talk, huh? She was gonna make one hell of a talk! "Your highness, I don’t think you should sit with us. The Princesses would be more..." Another Prince beside Niran tried to explain, but Raziah pretended as if she couldn’t hear a word he was saying. "Snow-white! Snow-white!!" A familiar child was running up to her with twinkling eyes. The timing was too perfect for it to be a coincidence, right? Peeking to see who was behind him, there stood Maria and Fabia watching her closely, and they immediately turned away with guilty pouring from their faces. Caius was beside her in a second, and had grabbed her hand to take her away from the place, "I’m hungry, and Miss Alet is hungry too. Can I have that? All of it?!" He pointed at her remaining food that was still at its spot. She wanted to ask him who was Alet, but refrained from doing so. At least Fabia should be keeping an eye on him now so everything should be fine. Raziah walked over and picked up the two plates of food. He collected them from her with a huge smile. He’s looked very excited right from the start, ans she was aware that it was because this was the first event he was ever attending in his life. "May I have this dance, Aragon’s Bride?" A familiar masculine voice suddenly whispered behind her, and she knew exactly who he was.
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