Arielle listened to Alexis’ stories without interrupting him. She could not believe it when Alexis said that the man took the ti to co to Northendell to see her wedding and coronation as the queen.
"I heard that your coronation as a queen was postponed for more than a month because you were sick. Is that true?" asked Alexis.
The man didn’t know what happened inside the palace. However, he saw Archie quite often coming to Northendell, who was said to check on Arielle’s condition.
At that ti, Arielle was still in Birwick, training under Maxieno.
"I’m fine. I just... needed ti to take on new responsibilities. I was studying at that ti."
"I’m sorry I didn’t do anything for you. You have to go through it without the help of a family."
Alexis nodded in understanding. He could understand why Arielle needed ti to study. The girl had absolutely no opportunity to go to school like the other mbers of the royal family. And suddenly marrying a king and becoming a queen, she couldn’t just rely on her pretty face.
Like it or not, Arielle still had to learn so basic things about the kingdom and its rules.
Now, Alexis suddenly fell into dismay. Could they still be called family? It seed impossible.
"You did well. Did Archie teach you?"
"Thank you. Archie ... taught many things, but my husband played a very important role in my life. They taught willingly."
Arielle was welcod since her first arrival in the North. Even though the girl ca as a prisoner of Nieverdell who replaced Alexis because of his grave mistake, she easily made many friends in the North.
And Arielle found comfort in the North, hence she considered Northendell her ho more than Nieverdell because in Nieverdell, others were never considered her as a family.
"I’m sorry, Arielle. I’m really regretting what I did in the past."
Arelle held Alexis’ hand who was holding the cup. The girl smiled faintly to calm her brother. Arielle had already said that she didn’t like violence.
Alexis had apologized, and Arielle sincerely forgave the man.
"What are you going to do after this? Will... you disappear again? Brother, don’t you want to solve our problem as cleanly as possible, including with Archie?"
"I don’t have the face to et Archie anymore. I just don’t want to make a commotion. I heard he is having a lot of difficulties right now. I don’t want to add to his burden. Also, it seems Archie will never forgive . He is not like you, Arielle, one who can easily forgive everyone."
"Brother, are you going back to Nieverdell?" Arielle asked.
The man nodded. "I am indebted to Peach’s family. Peach and her grandmother live alone in a village near the border. I want to take care of them. Perhaps, also learning to protect them"
"Brother, don’t you hate ?"
Alexis frowned in puzzlent.
"Hate you? Why?"
"It’s just... because of , you lost everything, your family, power, and hand."
Alexis montarily fell silent. "To be honest, I once thought of putting all the bla on you. But I couldn’t do it. The more I tried to force myself to hate you or Archie, the deeper the guilt I felt, because I knew the root of the problem was . I was the source of the problem. Of all the people on this earth, I was the only one to bla."
Arielle looked around her room. The door to her room looked quiet. There were no moving shadows, indicating the presence of people passing between the doors.
"Brother, I’m glad to see you again. I am so happy that you and I... can have the opportunity to talk again."
"I know. Perhaps the old would never have been able to have a conversation like this with you. For that, I also want to apologize."
"Brother Alexis, don’t apologize too often."
Alexis didn’t know what to say. He believed he had to keep apologizing, especially to Arielle.
Achoo! Arielle accidentally sneezed, making Alexis peek through behind his eyelashes.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
Arielle rubbed the bottom of her nose and nodded. "It seems I am still feeling cold from being plunged into the sea."
"Arielle—"
"Please don’t apologize again. It’s not like that. I wasn’t careful enough. I was so careless that I didn’t see the door beside open and two big n bumped into until I fell into the sea. Brother, you weren’t at fault, so don’t even try to apologize. I think I’ve heard enough apologies today."
Today, many people apologized to her, starting with Ronan who blad himself because Arielle fell into the sea; Prince Khaled who also felt guilty because the guards of Thebis couldn’t take care of her properly, Lucas and now Alexis.
"I don’t need any more apologies. Because I have forgiven you since the first word of apology ca out of your lips, Brother."
Alexis smiled and rubbed his face. The man was almost about to cry again. If only at that ti, he wasn’t blinded and looked at Arielle sincerely, perhaps he would have had a second chance to beco a good brother to Arielle, not only to Andrea or Annalise.
"Where do you sleep on this ship?" asked Arielle.
"I sleep anywhere. Peach and I are used to sleeping in crowded places"
"Ah, just a mont then."
Arielle ran quickly towards her bedroom door, making Ronan taken aback and ready to draw his sword.
"Ronan, do you have another vacant room?"
"Vacant room? What for?"
"Brother Alexis and his little friend need a room to rest."
"Huh? Why provide them with a room? Besides, the ship is full. Even so of the guards from Thebis don’t have a room. Let them mingle with so rchants down there."
"Oh... then... Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Ronan swallowed his saliva. His heart was pounding hard. "Of course. My room or your room?" he whispered right in his wife’s ear.
"Your room," Arielle also answered Ronan’s question in a whisper, then gave the man one last kiss before closing the door to her room again.
Ronan blinked confusedly at what his wife was doing. However, after realizing that he had been tricked by the girl’s charm, he cursed under his breath and returned to guarding the front door of Arielle’s room.
Arielle entered her room again and held Alexis’ hand who wanted to get out.
"It’s fine. Brother, you can sleep here until the ship arrives in Thebis. Invite Peach too. The girl needs to sleep properly for her growth."
"Arielle, I can’t... I don’t deserve this."
"Okay then, good night. I will sleep in another room. Sleep well."
Arielle pulled Ronan’s hand, asking the man to show her where he had slept for the last few days. And Ronan opened the door to William’s and Lucas’s room.
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Arielle, William, and Lucas were both surprised. William was lying on the bed while Lucas was heating tea. Both of them looked at Arielle confusedly, and Arielle also wore the sa expression.
"So you’ve been sleeping here? We were this close all this ti?" asked Arielle in disbelief.
"You two find another place. Tonight, my wife will sleep here."
"What’s wrong with the queen’s room?" Lucas asked in puzzlent.
"Oh, my very kind-hearted wife is showing her kindness to soone who doesn’t deserve her kindness. She lent her room to a fool."
William and Lucas knew who Ronan was referring to. William briskly got up from the bed.
"Oh, co on... tonight it’s my turn to sleep on the bed," William grumbled, and it was heard by Arielle.
"Sorry to bother you. I didn’t know Ronan also slept here with you. In that case, let look for a vacant room again. I’m sure Prince Khaled must have a vacant room."
"William," Ronan called William’s na, silently forcing the man to understand their current condition.
William gave Arielle a sweet smile. "Arielle, please don’t trouble yourself."
"Arielle?" asked Ronan, almost snarling at William. He didn’t like how William called his wife’s na so casually.
William, however, paid no heed to Ronan’s protest.
"Tonight, just rest in this room. You need rest after what you’ve been through. Don’t tire yourself out too much."
William motioned for Lucas to co with him. Lucas finished preparing a pot of tea for Ronan and set it on the table for the man to enjoy. Arielle wanted to refuse William’s offer, but William and Lucas imdiately left the room.
"Arielle? Why did William call you casually? Has that rascal lost his mind? I’ll talk to him."
Arielle imdiately touched her husband’s hand, stopping him from chasing William.
"I asked for it. William and I agreed to call each other casually since we were on a mission. I don’t want anyone to overhear William calling formally. I told him to call Ari."
"I don’t like it. Your na is exclusive to only. How about Lucas?" Ronan asked.
"No. It was quite difficult to convince Lucas to call casually."
Arielle left Ronan who went to lock the door. Her gaze swept around the room. The room was very ssy. Many clothes weren’t folded neatly, and several bottles of alcoholic beverages were scattered on the floor. Arielle shook her head upon seeing it.
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