The hallway was wide and it would take a long while to reach the throne hall, her legs were quite short so she would take a long time to run through them.
She would sometimes run and hit someone on the shoulder and then apologize.
"Sorry!" She said as she didn't bother to look back. The man had a sly smirk on his face. "Seems I have one more person to look after." He mumbled as he disappeared through the hallways.
....
Ellie reduced her pace, not that she reduced it because she didn't want to bump into someone anymore but because there was something strange about him that she found it hard to think about. She didn't know why but it felt there was something more to that man, even if it was a little bit, she still felt the strange aura emanating from him.
She wanted to think further but stopped herself from doing so. Little things as this shouldn't bother her. 'I must be thinking things too much. Must be it!' She thought as she shook her head to clear all strange thoughts out of her head.
She resumed going back to the throne hall but this time she made sure not to run, she walked fast but not fast enough to bump into someone. Her eyes were focused on the path which she walked in. 'I'm not ready to have any other strange encounter.'
Soon enough, she reached the throne hall. Well, considering the fast pace she took, it made it possible for her.
She scanned the hall to search for her mother and it didn't take much time to locate her from the crowd. She strode towards her but she was talking to some few noble ladies so she could only pay her greetings.
"Greetings mother." Ellie said and Emilia caressed her daughter's cheek as she excused herself from the ladies she was talking to.
"Ellie is everything alright?" Her mother asked in a worried tone that Ellie almost rolled her eyes saying the words in her head, 'Do I look like I'm not okay?'
"Mother you guess!" Ellie said
"Hmm I don't know. You look happy. What might be the reason for my daughter's happiness?" Emilia asked and Ellie smiled widely.
"Mother please just guess hard!" She said, still with a beaming smile.
"Well, I'm not good at guessing but I'll try." Emilia said with a little creased brows.
"Okay....did you find your love at this celebration?" Emilia said and Ellie shook her head with a small crease on her brows.
"Not it? Then what?" Emilia asked and Ellie gestured her to keep on guessing.
"Hmm. Seems this is going to take a while." Emilia commented. She noticed her daughter's gaze and she looked so happy that she couldn't help but smile. She was happy that Ellie wasn't worrying so much about Amir and.... W-wait! Could it be that this is about Amir? She looks so happy and it could only mean that A-amir's perhaps, awake!
"I-is Amir awake?!" Emilia asked and Ellie went silent for a bit but the smile on her face never faded.
After a while of keeping Emilia in suspense, she finally nodded and it was all Emilia needed to confirm if it's true or not.
Emilia hugged her daughter and her eyes began to sting from the tears she was holding back. She pulled away and gazed into her daughter's eyes.
"H-he woke up and it's because of you." Emilia said and Ellie awkwardly smiled.
"Haha. Mother, I did nothing, it was the plant that did all of the job." Ellie spoke.
"But your love for him was the one who saved him, even if you try denying it. I can see right through you." Emilia said and Ellie's smile slowly faded.
"M-mother, I don't love him. I would do that for every other person. Amir's not an exception. Besides, it was my fault and I needed to find a way to save him." Ellie countered.
"I was also like you when I first fell in love with the king. Hmm, it was funny cause I kept denying my feelings and he strangely kept on chasing after me. He literally never gave up and I'm glad he never did." Emilia said as her face had an expression as though she was reminiscing something from the past.
'How do I explain to mother that I do notlove him. That guy is strangely annoying. Why should I even love him?'
"M-mother I'll take my leave now. I think I must be exhausted. I'll visit Amir after my rest." She nervously said and hastily walked away without giving her a chance to react.
'Sigh....I do hope she accepts her feelings. No, she will. I'm sure of it.' She assured herself.
The guests had already dispersed during the short talk, somehow, king Lucid had already known about Amir so he had ordered for all the nobles to leave.
He stood by his wife, Titus had already left to see Amir after he heard of him being awake. Lucid left him, wanting them to have a father and son time.
He intertwined his fingers with hers, he could feel that something was bothering her and he needed to know.
"What's the matter my queen?" He asked her, his gaze never leaving her face.
"When Ellie gets married. I won't be queen anymore. Would you still refer to me as your queen?" She asked.
"For me, you're my queen forever and always." He said as he gave her a light peck.
"It's been decades now but you still haven't changed." Muttered Emilia.
"You know, I used to think that Elen would be the next queen but it seems I was wrong. Her husband's not ready to be king. I wonder if Elen is happy there. Well, if fate wanted them together then so be it. But I do hope she's happy... Everything's my fault. I didn't have a male child and Elen was forced to get married to a man whom she didn't love." Emilia spoke, worry painted in her tone.
"She is, and I'm very sure. Knowing my daughter, she would had longed escaped if she's not happy - meaning she's happy wherever she is, and no, it's not your fault. I still love you no matter what." Lucid said and Emilia looked up at him and she finally felt relieved.
"So mind telling me what happened?" He asked in a low tone.
"It's Ellie." She said.
"What's the matter with her?"
"She loves Amir but she keeps denying it. I don't know why but I feel it's not as simple as that." Emilia spoke.
"Everything would be alright. Whatever it is, we'll talk to her and hopefully, she might open up so don't worry or I might be forced to take you faraway from this kingdom." Lucid joked and Emilia playfully hit him.
"And if you do, who'll run the kingdom? I'm not sure you'll let your brothers have it."
"Well, I have Titus's son. Amir. He'll gladly take the offer and make Ellie his queen."
"Nonsense." She mumbled and chuckled as she walked away. Lucid trailed behind her as he kept on with his silly banters. Emilia could only shake her head, knowing how this husband of hers was shameless before her.
...