'Its okay for me to have waited. As long as I know that you'll be mine eventually, its okay to have waited for you.'
- Anonymous
"I'll take it from here, Gerard.", Victoria chipped in.
Mia turned around and recoiled at the sight of Victoria but she still greeted her. "Oh hi Victoria." After Victoria's little magic trick last time, Mia definitely did not want to see that again.
"Taking a tour, I see."
"Why yes. It's gorgeous here and I wanted to familiarize myself with the area.", Mia replied. 'And to find an escape route.' Mia thought to herself.
Victoria could sense Mia's unease and thus made it a point to make her feel comfortable. After all, she was his cousin's beloved.
"Sorry for last time. I just wanted you to believe. I didn't mean to scare you.", Victoria sincerely apologized.
Mia could feel her sincerity thus she relaxed a bit after. "It's okay Victoria. I'm fine."
"Cousin-in-law, do not be afraid. I'll show you around to the coolest place and let's go see Dante as well.", Victoria cheerfully took Mia's hand and dragged her to follow her.
"Gerard showed me around already. You don't have to do that Victoria. And Dante may be busy, let's not bother him.", Mia quickly refuted. Mia was having a hard time adjusting to Dante and Hell in general.
"Oh sweetheart. Gerard only showed you around your room. This palace is vast and you need to know your way around. You're going to be living here onwards. And as for Dante, I'm sure he will always be able to squeeze some time for you.", Victoria trailed.
"What do you mean, 'Showed me around my room?' This is .... is ... a .... palace?", Mia stuttered.
Mia felt like she kept on getting surprises and kept on getting shocked. It was kinda getting boring to be amazed by everything. Granted she was not used to life in such grandiose manner, but still that building, Gerard was talking to her before was solely her room! This was so preposterous and laughable. But here she was in a palace.
"Yes. A palace. Dante's palace.", Victoria confirmed.
"Is he super rich? Like filthy rich? Like in the movies, 'Crazy Rich Asians'?", Mia couldn't control it any longer.
"I'm don't know what you mean by 'Crazy Rich Asians' but yes to super rich, filthy rich and more like disgustingly rich, vomit-inducing rich, mentally-insane rich, stinking-sewer rich. . . ", Victoria continued.
"I got your point.", Mia had to make her stop. God knows what she was gonna describe next.
"But why live in a palace? I guess the rich can do whatever they want.", Mia thought out loud.
"Coz he's the King of Hell. King. Palace. Home for Kings = Palace.", Victoria tried explaining some logic to Mia. Victoria thought Mia would have some common knowledge but it seemed like she didn't and was trying hard to make her understand the concept of King and palaces. But the mortal worlds have Kings and they have palaces, Victoria thought to herself. Well, they used to. Centuries ago, not so much anymore but still, that's a common knowledge, even Victoria knew about mortal's past Kings and palaces. But I guess not everyone knows.
Mia was silent. Victoria was not sure what was going on with Mia.
Mia finally spoke. "K . .. k ... King of Hell?"
"Yes. King of Hell.", Victoria reaffirmed her words.
Mia should have known such a surprise would come to shock her. It should have made sense to her when he lived in a palace. The clues were all there yet Mia failed to pick up on it. Mia was panicking in the inside and hyperventilating, 'King of Hell! Now how was she suppose to escape and get out of here with the King of HELL as her husband. Oh God, this was not happening.'
Victoria was worried about Mia weird response. 'Shit!' Victoria suddenly remembered, Mia was on her third and last mortal life. And mortal don't remember their last life when they get reincarnated. And this was her first time in Hell and judging from her reactions, Dante had yet to reveal who he was to her. 'Im so done-zo!' Victoria breathed out to herself.
"Lets so see Dante. Let's go meet the King of Hell, Mia.", Victoria declared. Victoria knew Dante would not do anything to her, in Mia's presence and she could play the innocent victim and push the blame to someone else. And gently break the news to Dante. With that thought in mind, she further dragged Mia along.