Reclining on the bed, Arlan gazed at the ceiling, his mind imrsed in thoughts of Oriana. A cherished childhood mory linked to her surfaced, a recollection from two decades ago—a joyous day when he first laid eyes on Oriana, the day she beca officially betrothed to him.
The entire Royal family prepared as if it were a grand celebration. Arlan, the central figure of the event, was adorned more lavishly than usual. Queen Helena, his mother, personally attended to his attire. His small round face exuded adorableness, sea-blue eyes shining brightly, and ash-blond shoulder-length hair cascading loosely behind his head, with a golden-jaded accessory securing half of it. Clothed in royal garnts, his diminutive figure resembled that of a little angel.
"Mother, why am I dressed like this? Is there a festival today?" the young Arlan inquired innocently, while obediently allowing his mother and servant to prepare him.
Upon hearing his question, Helena smiled, while other servants playfully chuckled at his innocence. "Would you be happy if I say we are getting a wife for you?" she teased.
This notion perplexed him. "A wife, for ?"
The Queen affird, "We are arranging a betrothal for you, as you are still a child. When you grow up, you will marry her."
"Like how father married you, mother?"
"Exactly," the queen explained, "She will be titled as a Crown Princess after the betrothal agreent is made. The Crown princess who will be your queen when you beco a king."
Arlan had little interested in the titles and simply asked, "Is she as pretty as mother?" His eyes showed, his mother was the most beautiful woman for him in the world.
Helena chuckled, "I believe she is even more beautiful than ."
"Then, I will marry her for sure," he declared with a straight and proud face. "Sister Alevra said I am the most handso prince on the entire continent, so I should marry the most beautiful girl."
His statent not only elicited laughter from Helena but also from the amused servants. The hall resonated with sweet laughter.
"Why is everyone laughing?" the prince queried, a cute frown gracing his face.
"Because you’re so adorable and handso, Your Highness," replied the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, her gaze brimming with affection.
"Indeed I am," he declared, turning to scrutinize himself in the mirror, ensuring every detail of his appearance was perfect. "Father always looks handso when and mother likes it. I need to look good as well."
"You always look handso, Arlan?" he heard the familiar voice and turned to look at the person, with smile on his face. "Second mother!"
Julien arrived with her lady-in-waiting and a servant carrying baby Lenard. Spotting her, Arlan dashed toward Julien. "Second mother, I’m going to have a wife today."
Julien knelt in front of him, her hand gently caressing his cheek. "Oh, really?"
"Yes. Mother just told ," he responded. "Will you co with us as well?"
"Do you want to?"
"Yes, I want a second mother to co with ."
"It’s a special day for my eldest son; how can I miss it?" she replied, planting a peck on his forehead. She then stood up and bowed to the Queen. "Sister Helena."
The Queen acknowledged the greeting with a smile. She then turned her attention to Lenard, taking him from the servant and showering him with affection. "How is our little prince doing today?"
"He is alright now. The Royal physician said there is nothing to worry about," Julien inford.
"That’s good to know. We want our Prince to always be healthy," Helena said, pecking Lenard on the forehead before handing him back to the servant.
The royal entourage, consisting of royal carriages and a retinue of royal knights and guards, departed for the Verner mansion.
Philip Verner, the elder statesman of the Verner family, stood at the mansion entrance, accompanied by the butler and a retinue of servants. The Verner family consisted solely of Philip and his daughter, as Philip’s wife had passed away years ago.
In a display of warm welco, the middle-aged man bowed to the royal family. Philip and his daughter had maintained a positive relationship with Ailwin due to the enduring bond between the Verner family and the late King of Griven, Ailwin’s father. Even after the previous king’s passing, Ailwin continued to honor the Verner family, mirroring the friendship his father had fostered.
Accompanying the royal family were the King’s adviser and the guardian knight, Sir Conor Loyset. Sir Conor, entrusted with important docunts, presented them to the butler of the mansion. Alongside the docunts, a trove of gifts brought by the Royal family was handed over.
Once settled in the Drawing room, Amaya joined them, her servant Edna cradling a baby girl wrapped in warm clothes. Arlan, seated by his mother’s side, anxiously awaited the arrival of the baby girl. Unable to contain his excitent, he rose and approached the two won.
Looking up at Amaya, he inquired, "Is she the one I am going to marry, aunt Amaya?"
Amaya responded with a gentle smile, "Yes, she is."
"I want to see her," he exclaid, eager to catch a glimpse of the baby in Edna’s arms.
"Arlan, don’t be in a hurry," Helena calmly advised. "Let Aunt Amaya sit first. She is not feeling well."
Respecting his mother’s request, Arlan returned to his place, suppressing his excitent to see the baby.
Amaya took her seat across from the royal family, and sat next to her father. Conversations about the betrothal unfolded, leading to the signing of two royal docunts—one for the royal family and another for the Verner family—detailing the baby girl’s birth and her betrothal to Arlan. The King’s adviser and the Verner family butler efficiently collected each docunt, including others outlining the lands and properties bestowed upon Arlan’s betrothed as gifts from the Royal family. It was clarified that she was the Crown Princess, destined to marry the Crown Prince and assu the kingdom’s leadership alongside him in the future.
With the official matters settled, attention turned to the eagerly awaited mont. Finally, the baby was passed into Helena’s arms. She admired the little girl, bundled up in warm cloth. "Our little Crown Princess," she announced, then turned to Arlan, "You wanted to see her?"
Arlan, already brimming with impatience, eagerly raised his head as his mother lowered her arms to reveal the baby. Had she delayed any longer, he might have leaped onto the sofa to catch a glimpse.
Arlan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the small, delicate baby face—her eyes closed in peaceful slumber, her fair and rosy skin seemingly fragile. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from that tiny face peeking out of a bundle of clothes. Despite the enchanting view, the first thing he remarked was, "She slls beautiful, mother," leaning in to take a sniff, "just like mother’s favourite flowers."
"Is it?" Helena inquired. "All babies sll good. You used to sll good as well, and you still do."
Arlan nodded in agreent, continuing to savor the sweet fragrance. "I want to keep her with so I can have this scent around always."
Helena and others smiled in response. Helena added, "When you grow up and marry her, she will be with you always."
"Just like father and mother?" Arlan inquired.
"Yes," the queen replied. "And you have to make sure to always care for and protect her from any harm."
"I will, mother. I will always protect her," the prince declared. "But what is her na?"
"She doesn’t have a na yet. We will have a naming ceremony for her when she turns a month older."
"I will choose the prettiest na for her, just like Sister Alvera’s," he said excitedly, turning to his sister. "Sister, we shall find a beautiful na for her."
Young Alvera smiled, "We will, Arlan."
As both families gathered for a al and engaged in conversation, Arlan remained by the baby’s side, who slept soundly in her cradle. Uninterested in adult discussions and untempted by the food, he showed no signs of appetite.
"Arlan, you shall eat sothing," Alvera urged. "Why are you still sitting here?"
"Mother told I have to always protect her. How am I going to protect her if I leave her side?" he explained.
Left with no choice, Alvera brought food to her brother where he sat. Even when it was ti to leave the Verner mansion, Arlan lingered and was reluctant to part from the baby’s side.
"Mother, can’t we take her ho with us? I promise I will take care of her," Arlan pleaded as he reluctantly obeyed his mother’s call to return to the palace.
"We cannot yet. She is small and delicate. She cannot go out yet and needs her mother more. Let her grow stronger, and then we will bring her with us, alright?"
"Okay, mother," the little guy acquiesced, acting obediently as he finally returned to the palace, eagerly awaiting the day when he could bring her to the palace.
But soon everything changed around him, that neither did he have a ti to think about her nor did he wish bring her to the palace.
A light smile painted on Arlan lips as he rembered that day. It was as if he had forgotten it but now those mories were back to him.
’She slled the sa back then,’ he thought and then furrowed his brows, ’That Dragon had chosen her since then and when she ca across us again a few months back, he even recognised her, but I failed to do so.’
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