"How about this, father? What should we do?" asked Rubylic back to her husband.
"There's no other way, honey. If this is what our daughters want, we as parents can only fulfill it. I don't want her to marry with bad feelings," Alpen added.
Which was the last word Father finally said the day before the verdict. Hearing that, Monna Finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then the day before the meeting, Monna asked her brother something.
"Do you think I made the right decision?" asked Monna in the form of Cattarina.
Asraff looks at her.
"About your decision to cancel your marriage?" asked Asraff.
Monna nodded.
"Aren't you the one who wants to get married?" asked Asraff," Why do you have to ask me about that??"
Monna thought for a moment, then answered.
"I just want to know your answer, your thoughts, and your responses. You don't want to tell me something?" replied Monna.
Actually, Monna was sure of her decision. But for several reasons about the Crown Prince that changed his attitude towards her, it seemed like she was starting to want to reconsider as she felt a little shaky.
Not because she thought Belhart had any feelings for her. But because she was afraid that a decision can be made make the Emperor and the Crown Prince were angry. She was afraid that her actions would spark disputes between the two families, namely her family and the Emperor's family.
Monna doesn't want to try to imagine it.
If that happened, of course, it would only put Cattarina and her family in long trouble.
Asraff looks at his sister gently.
"Didn't Father already said that he will follow whatever you want? So do we. Me and your mother. We will always be in your position no matter what. So don't think too hard, My Lady" Asraff tried to calm her down.
"But anyway..."
Monna looked at him in seriousness.
"And then from the beginning, I also didn't agree if you married him. Hasn't he been treating you well all this time? Because of that, I'm glad that your heart and brain's eyes are open as well. I think this is thanks to the amount of water getting into your brain. You become more clearheaded, rather than explosive like before. Isn't that right, my beautiful sister?" joked Asraff amid the seriousness of their conversation.
Monna immediately touched her cheeks.
"Can you not just a little, stop badmouthing me?" Monna replied with half sulk.
Asraff smiled in response.
"And one more thing. I believe The Majesty will not make things difficult for us, just because you failed to marry his son. Trust me," Asraff's words made Monna more confident and calm when dealing with Emperor Dominic.
"So you've made your choice?" Emperor Dominic asked Cattarina just as everyone had gathered and awaited the result.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Monna answered casually.
By dint of her conversation last night with Asraff. Monna was now even more convinced by her decision. Determined, then she stared at the head of the verdict before her.
Belhart suddenly stopped her when she wanted to reveal what had been her choice.
"I need to talk to her just both," Belhart immediately confused everyone, especially Cattarina. Because she was the person Belhart will talk about 'just both of them'.
Monna looked at him timidly. What was he trying to say? Couldn't it wait later?
Monna thought anxiously.
Actually, Monna wanted to say that. Ask Belhart to speak to him later after their important family talk ends. But seeing the deep dark aura and seriousness that the Crown Prince was emitting on her, Cattarina had no other choice but to comply
"Very well, Your Majesty," Monna said softly.
But, her heart seemed to want to scream for help.
And she was forced to follow Belhart out of the meeting area and stopped at a quiet place. Without anyone present and guard. Monna glanced at him timidly. Until this moment, she still had not completely eliminated her fear of Belhart.
The man always had such an aura to make everyone, especially Monna, feel intimidated. So that sometimes, Monna was confused about how an arrogant Cattarina could like him so much.
But considering that soon, Monna would not have any relationship with him, Monna boldly asked him.
"What do you wish to say, Your Majesty?" Monna asked politely.
Didn't know how many times it has been, Belhart continued to feel unhappy with the way Cattarina called him. But he chose to ignore it all and asked coldly back.
"What will you say to my father?" Belhart asked coldly.
Monna looked at him with displeasure. So because of this, he asked Cattarina out? Because you wanted to know what Cattarina would say to your father? Isn't that obvious??
Hoh! Why didn't he wait for Cattarina to say it directly earlier?!
"You don't have to call me out just to ask the questions like that. Of course, I will say.." Monna has not finished her words, a pair of dark eyes have pierced her sharply.
For some reason, Monna automatically stopped her words.
Belhart immediately said," Whatever your decision, undo it!"
"What?" Monna looked at him in confusion.
"You can't do it," added Belhart.
Monna didn't understand.
"Why?"
"Because I'm sure you won't be able to bear the risk later," Belhart replied vaguely.
Monna gave him a fierce look.
"???" What did the Crown Prince really want to say to her? Is he threatening her?
"Your actions will make your father, even more, to be suspicious of," Belhart's words made Monna surprised.
"What do you mean?" From the start, Cattarina didn't understand a single word that came out of Belhart's mouth but she still looked at him quite seriously.
Her father was under suspicion? Because of what? Did something important happen?
"There has been some speculation in the ministry about your father being rumored to have set up a movement to defect this country. He is suspected of having gathered people to carry out his mission," said Belhart dryly.
***