She was immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't know that she had reached the throne hall and the commotion she heard a while ago was right in front of her.
She snapped out of her thoughts as she heard merry banters and cheerful singing which confused her the more. 'Is war over and they won? Or there wasn't war in the first place? Is there a celebration? How long did I sleep to miss all of these. Seems like a tocsin can't wake me anymore or I'm just too tired for that ringing thingy to wake me.' She said in her head.
She moved forward and saw her father and Titus happily chatting. 'Huh? Their faces were grave some hours ago so what changed?' She thought only to gasp again. 'I-is Amir finally healed? It better be cos I still need to give him a good beating for making me worry.'
Her father, uncle Titus and some noble men were chatting, sipping the wine from the glass cups. They were happy and she didn't want to disturb them so she refrained from going there to see them. Besides, those nobles there, they don't look so familiar and in order not avoid questions, she rather stay away.
She craned her neck to the left side of the hall and found her mother sitting with some familiar women and her servants behind her. 'At least mother looks kind of approachable unlike those unfamiliar men with father.'
She hastened her pace as she walked towards her mother. Since she was not too far, Emilia could feel someone walking towards her and lifted her face only to see her daughter with a creased brows moving towards her. She chuckled inwardly. 'Seems like she hasn't heard!' Emilia concluded in her head.
She spoke some words to the women beside her and they immediately stood to leave, leaving only the maids with the queen.
When Ellie noticed her mother had sensed her, she creased her brows. She wanted it to be a surprise but it seems her mother had high senses. 'Seems like I couldn't surprise her anymore.' She mentally said.
She walked further and found herself standing right in front of her mother. Her mother had this smile which made her only more anxious. 'gods I don't want to hear any bad news!'
"Ellie!" Her mother called out.
"G-greetings your Majesty." She said, but didn't know why she even addressed her with her title. Maybe it was because she was nervous and didn't know what to say. That she didn't know.
"Sit beside me your highness." Her mother said and Ellie awkwardly smiled.
She sat beside her mother as instructed and Emilia gestured for the maids to leave.
"M-mother? Is everything alright? I mean why's everybody so happy. Are we perhaps celebrating any festival I didn't know of?"
"Hmm. What do you think?" Her mother asked with a knowing smile.
"I-I'm not sure mother." She said with a lowered gaze. Emilia wanted to tease her more but refrained from it. Seeing her daughter anxious dissolved the teasing spirit she had earlier and just decided to tell her the truth.
"Well, since you're not so sure, I might as well tell you." Emilia said and Ellie raised her head and her eyes twinkled.
"Really?" Ellie asked and Emilia nodded.
"Amir he's...." For some reason she trailed off and looked at Ellie's expression which looked like she was curious yet genuinely worried for him. 'As expected. She genuinely cares for him yet she denies it.'
"Amir....he is out of danger now. The physician had assured us that he's fine and only needs a little rest." Emilia said and she could see that Ellie could barely contain herself as she stood to face her mother.
"He really is fine?!!" She screamed out that everyone had turn to look at the source of that voice. Some noble men raised their brows while king Lucid and Titus who knew the reason for her scream chuckled meaningfully.
Ellie noticed the stares everyone were throwing at her and she curtsied a little. "Apologies for my unruly behavior." She said and regained her composure as she awkwardly sat next to the queen. Emilia chuckled a little seeing her reaction after what she heard.
"Yes he's fine so I hope you can rest now. You've being exhausting yourself lately and you look incomparably thin than before." Emilia stated her genuine worries for her daughter and Ellie reflected on how she had sleepless nights and had lost all of her appetite. 'Mother's right! Now I think of it, I haven't been eating much!'
"I'll try my possible best to also recover my lost weight." Ellie assured and Emilia nodded.
"Can I see him?" She said hurriedly and it looked like she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Sure you can but he still hasn't regained consciousness." Emilia said and Ellie slightly nodded.
Silence reigned between the both and they could only look at the people at the hall who were laughing and drinking from their glass. Ellie smiled as she watched them but then....was this the reason this small celebration was held? But Amir's not even a Royal? Why would they hold such grand celebration for him?? She glanced at her mother who had some few noble women with her. They came a while ago when she was immersed in the sight before her that she didn't notice the women who joined them.
"Mother?"
"Mm."
"Is Amir's recovery the reason for this celebration?" Ellie curiously asked.
"Yes." She said but then added again as if reading what she was thinking. "He's getting this celebration because his father is the king's best friend and anyone close enough to the king always get to have some benefits. Besides, Amir is known all over the kingdom and the commoners heard of the incident so we thought it would be a nice thing if they knew Amir was finally awake." Emilia explained and Ellie nodded.
"I understand mother."
"Would you still like to see him now." Emilia asked but Ellie shook her head. Emilia creased her brows.
"May I know why?" Emilia asked.
"You said he's still unconscious and I need to beat him. I can't do that while he's unconscious." Ellie said and Emilia chuckled.
"I'm not so sure about that."
"Fine mother. I'll leave to see him now." She said and stood. She curtsied to the noble women and hugged her mother before she left.
Ellie hastily left the throne hall, heading for Amir's chambers and for some odd reason she felt a little nervous. 'Why am I feeling this way?'
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