"Your relative? Who?"
"Grandmother Bertha."
Bertha... Arielle tried to rember who Grandmother Bertha was, but she couldn’t rember the woman. She knew that Ronan had a great-grandmother nad Bertha, but just it. If Arielle wasn’t mistaken, from the book she had read, Grandmother Bertha had never visited the palace. Besides, Ronan had never introduced her to the woman.
***
Ronan could see Arielle’s insecurities. Perhaps the girl already knew who Grandmother Bertha was, but Arielle had never seen the woman before.
"She’s the oldest mber of the royal family who doesn’t want to visit the palace?" asked Arielle, a little unsure about her guess.
"Oh, you know about her?"
"Yeah, while I was studying about the royal family tree, I saw her na and Lucas said that Grandmother Bertha was the second granddaughter of King Theodore, the first King of Northendell, and she was also the biological sister of the third king."
"That’s right."
"And Lucas also said that Grandmother Bertha had refused all invitations from the palace. When I asked the reason, Lucas said he didn’t know."
Ronan nodded. "What Lucas said is true, but the reason why Grandmother Bertha didn’t want to visit the palace nor did she want the people from the palace, especially the royal family to visit her residence is because of the curse in our bodies. You know, she was a victim of her older brother’s rampage, and she had also heard about what happened to as well as the previous king, so she built up a high fence for royal family mbers," Ronan explained and it answered most of Arielle’s curiosity so far.
"Ronan, I don’t think Queen Arielle needs to co visit Grandmother Bertha’s residence with you. I’m worried about Her Majesty the queen’s safety. Perhaps she can just have a rest with us."
Arielle turned to William. What should they be worrying about? She just visited the relative’s house, right? Did Grandmother Bertha hate the royal family so much that it beca very dangerous for her to visit the woman?
"Why? Is sothing going to happen?" Aie asked worriedly.
Aie was Kael’s younger sister, so she also didn’t know about the legendary story in Grandmother Bertha’s manor.
Arielle also asked the sa thing and urged William to tell her. Then, William put down his knife and fork. He wiped his lips with a napkin and began to tell the story he had told Ronan before
Ronan rolled his eyes because William said the sa thing with the exact sa words as before. He could see that Arielle’s expression turned scared. anwhile, Aie frowned as if she couldn’t believe what William had told them.
"Are you sure what you saw was a torture roo?" Aie asked skeptically.
"Aie! You and your brother are just the sa! I an it, if you don’t believe just ask Lazarus! Now listen to , two kids at the sa ti see the sa thing. Do you think we are that free until we have to make up stories like this? This has beco our trauma!" exclaid William, who said the sa thing when Kael also didn’t believe him.
If only Lazarus had been there, it might be easier to convince them. One last person to support the truth of his story would make it seem believable. William turned to the queen and put on a pitiful face.
"Your Highness, you trust , right?" William asked Arielle.
Ronan glanced at his wife who nodded her head without the slightest hesitation.
"William, I can’t imagine the horrors you went through with Lazarus in the past. I hope you can forget it. That must be terrible," Arielle replied, making William touched by the queen’s kindness.
"Your Highness, then you can stay with and Lazarus. You don’t have to go to Grandmother Bertha’s manor. I’m afraid that given your abilities, Grandmother Bertha might do sothing bad."
Arielle smiled and rubbed William’s shoulder, making Ronan frown. He quickly held his wife’s hand tighter so that Arielle would only pay attention to him. Then, Arielle released her hand from William’s shoulder.
"It’s okay, William. I trust you and Lazarus, and I also believe that you two will protect well. Only, this ti I want to accompany my husband. After I married Ronan, Grandmother Bertha also beca my great-grandmother-in-law too, so I hope to see her just once," Arielle answered, making William understand.
William could accept Arielle’s answer. The girl could understand him and she also gave a very good reason. William would rather talk to Arielle than to Ronan.
After finishing their dinner together, Arielle and Ronan returned to their room to get so rest. Arielle didn’t do much today. She had cleaned her body before dinner, so she could imdiately change her clothes and go to sleep. anwhile, Ronan had not cleaned his body, so he went straight into the bathroom.
He called Arielle to help him. The man had really beco spoiled. Normally, Ronan was a very independent man, but ever since Arielle was with him, he always depended on his wife. Thus, when he lost contact with Arielle for almost a full month, he went awry. Ronan also admitted it.
After helping clean the man’s hair, Arielle handed Ronan so looser clothes, and the two of them were currently relaxing back on the bed.
"You believe William’s story?" Ronan asked, stroking his wife’s arm, which was resting on his chest.
"Yeah, kids don’t lie, Ronan. They definitely saw it and got terrified to this day."
"Yeah, I know. I don’t want to downplay their trauma, but I’m just a little unsure of the dark side that Grandmother Bertha has. I know that Grandmother Bertha is a cold and scary person, but I didn’t expect her to enjoy torturing people."
Arielle couldn’t give any comnt. Maybe there was a reason behind it, so she didn’t want to give irresponsible justifications.
"Oh, then about the trip to the academy, I’ll go alone? You’re not coming?"
"No, I have to get sothing done before we make another trip out to sea. You will be accompanied by William and Aie."
"William? Usually, you would send Kael if you had so work in the palace?"
"Yeah, but this ti is different. I need Kael and Lazarus more now. William can go with you, also maybe Lucas," said the man.
"It will only be a one-day trip, right?" Arielle asked curiously.
"Yup, since I don’t want to stay away from you for long, so I want you to stay with as much as possible."
Arielle nodded. She smiled as Ronan began to move to reach for her nightgown.
"You didn’t think that I would let you sleep, did you?" asked Ronan with a smirk, teasing his wife.
Arielle could only chuckle and hug Ronan tighter.
***
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