Jarin hands over a bouquet of Desdan tulips to Elzilaura. "I've been looking for you. I went to your room but you were not there. I have these for you." The princess scoops them up and smells them. They are indeed fragrant.
"In the light of truth day, I wanted to say that it has only been a few days but I am smitten with you. I hope we get to know each other more." Jarin excitedly blurts out.
"Thank you. You are so sweet and thoughtful." Elzilaura thinks she might be infatuated with him too. "I am looking forward to our life together once we reclaim our home world." She hugs him.
Kanunia and Dazifae arrive. Upon seeing her companions, she then excuses herself. "Well, I better get going. We are to visit Alednos."
"Oh, can I come too?" Jarin insists. "I want to check on him too."
"Of course." Elzilaura smiles. He offers her his arm again and as they walk along the halls; Epirus comes over.
"Just where do you think you are going? The Galmaran asks.
"To visit Alednos, my future royal adviser." Jarin claims proudly. This angers Epirus.
"Excuse me my Lord?" Epirus responds in a higher tone and Jarin laughs at then old man.
"Oh, come now Epirus. You know I'm kidding. We'll be back old man. This won't take long." Jarin claims as they proceeded.
As they were walking Elzilaura couldn't help but say what troubled her. "I really don't understand why he hates me, Jarin."
Jarin sighs. "Well, he doesn't trust easily. It's just the way he is. Don't worry. He'll come around." He smirks at his fiancee.
Elzilaura with her companions visit Alednos and Sabaria at a nearby hospital. Since their arrival at Desdan, Sabaria offered to bring the ailing adviser to a hospital where he could be treated further. Elzilaura enters the room and sees Alednos sleeping.
"How is the treatment?" Elzilaura asks. "How did the dialysis go?"
"It did well but one is not enough." Sabaria says. "He will need more. This is the harm that technology can do especially when placed in the wrong hands. So, I hope I can study more so I can help him and everyone else suffering from misuse of technology."
Alednos awakens. He hears Sabaria. "And I will support you and your research."
They all move closer to him. "How are you feeling?" Elzilaura inquires.
"I am better, my princess." Alednos claims. "I brought this on myself. I am sorry for all the trouble I've caused."
"Don't be silly. This is an accident." Kanunia utters. "This is Lady Mortezia's fault. As you have told us, she is behind all this."
"Had I heard her out, this should not have happened." Alednos says. "Her hatred is the cause of injustice done to her."
"She had a choice." Dazifae backs up Kanunia. "She could have chosen to let go."
"I do not mean to interrupt but I can't help but think your perpetrator might have been tortured by the Mudrogites or the Nybians. Her mental health was affected by that." Sabaria says.
"You have a point there." Elzilaura supports Sabaria.
"I love her still despite all of this." He was emotional. "I should have listened to her or should have made my own investigations. I should have."
"We all make mistakes Alednos. She was a lesson and an important one." Elzilaura explains. "I think you must be tired. Our presence here is upsetting you. Do relax and take some rest."
"No, your highness, you are not upsetting me." Alednos affirms.
"There there." Sabaria pats him on the shoulder. "You must rest. Your companions will see you soon."
"Take good care Alednos." Elzilaura mentions as she leaves. The two ladies bid him farewell too as well as Prince Jarin who kept silent all this time. Dazifae then turns to Elzilaura and the princess nods in approval. She also says. "We will wait for you downstairs." Elzilaura picks up her feet with Kanunia and Jarin trailing behind.
"May I have a word with you, Doctor Sabaria." Dazifae speaks.
"Sure." The doctor follows Dazifae in the corridors.
"Yes, my lady." Sabaria says.
"I have shared with our Crystal Princess that I wish to be an herbalist or a medic. How can I become one? What I meant is that I want to undergo formal training for it."
"Alright. I believe there are educational facilities here in Desdan and you can take a short course. You can attend that or basic first aid which I will conduct for Fliskans and Patarans. you can join that too."
"Yes, that would be great. Thank you Dr. Sabaria." Dazifae was excited.
"Alright, I will keep you informed good lady." Sabaria says. "And you may call me Sabaria if you wish."
"Thank you. You may call me Dazifae too." Dazifae noticed the doctor looked tired. "Are you alright, Sabaria? You look as if you haven't slept in days."
"Oh, this is nothing. I just need a power nap." Sabaria holds the nape of her neck.
Dazifae gasps. "You must take rests."
"Yes, I intend to but work gets in the way. I have a lot on my plate you know." Sabaria's voice seemed to weaken.
"I know but rest is equally important." Dazifae says.
"I just love my job. This is everything I live for. Besides, I am used to sleepless nights." Sabaria explains.
"I know you are hard working. I noticed that about you but you have your limits. Don't challenge them. My mother was so hard working until her strength gave out. She fell ill and has been bed ridden until she passed on." Dazifae says.
"Okay Dazifae. Point taken. I appreciate your concern. No one has looked out for me in a long while." Sabaria smiles in gratitude.
"And there is more to life than just work and career you know. I hope you learn to loosen up. Take a break. Go shopping with us. Kanunia and I are planning to go sight-seeing later. We plan to invite the others. Maybe you can join us too."
"Ahhh I need to look after Lord Alednos." Sabaria claims.
"You can have a reliever you know." Dazifae was adamant. Sabaria realizes it was impossible to beg off. Though the lady was quite annoying, there was something warm and genuine about her.
"Alright Dazifae. Please keep me informed about your plans. For now, I need to get back to my patients and also find someone to cover for me." Sabaria responds.
"Great. See you later!" Dazifae gets excited and shakes Sabaria. The doctor just laughs at her companion. Not for long, Dazifae feels awkward and releases Sabaria. "Oh well, I better get going. They're waiting for me downstairs. See you later." Dazifae rushes off.
Meanwhile, Jarin escorts the princess and as they arrived in the main lobby, he begins to speak. "I hope we will never have a problem like his."
"I do hope so." Elzilaura says.
"I promise I will listen to you and hear your side. That way we won't have problems with dire consequences." Elzilaura holds his hand. "I'm glad to hear this." She kisses his hand. "And I promise to do the same."
Soon, Dazifae catches up with them. She shares what transpired between her conversation with the doctor. She also informs them that she has extended the invite for their sight-seeing later this afternoon. Elzilaura and Jarin beg off while Kanunia agrees to join.
Back at the palace, a servant approaches the Bealyx informing that his wife requests his presence in the garden conservatory. There he sees his wife with his nephew, Sdense. Both of them curtsy as the Bealyx approached.
"My Bealyx." Polini utters. "In the light of secret day, Sdense has something to say."
The nephew steps forward a bit timidly but then steps up to his uncle.
"My Bealyx, this is my friend, Bragantho of Macta." Sdense says as Bragantho appears from the tall palms and lush bushes. The latter takes a bow before the ruler of Desdan. Yonanes was a bit shocked but tries to hide the reaction. He tries to converse with the boy.
"I think I've seen you before. You must be related to Captain Broganian of Macta."
"Yes, my Bealyx. I am his younger brother. We were introduced when you presented him with an ancient order of knighthood." The boy explains.
"Oh, I see." Yonanes now remembers.
"We are pleased to have you Bragantho." Polini joins the conversation. "So I've heard you are completing your masters in diplomacy."
"Yes, your majesty." Bragantho says. "I am graduating soon."
"And with honors, my Bealyxelle," Sdense was proud of his friend.
"Does your older brother know about this?" Yonanes asks.
"Yes, your majesty. He and Sdense will be attending my graduation." Bragantho claims.
"Very well then. Congratulations to you in advance." The Bealyx says. "And do forgive me, I must be going." Then, he looks at Polini.
"I will take my leave as well." She moves closer to Yonanes and grabs his arm while looking at the two boys. "It was lovely to meet you Bragantho. Please stay and join us for dinner so we can continue our conversation. For now, we must go."
The two boys bowed down and stayed in the garden while the royal couple left. In her peripheral vision, Polini sees Bragantho's sigh of relief while Sdense supports his friend. The bealyx's nephew places an arm around his companion while they continue strolling.
"You knew about this?" Yonanes asks
"Well, just recently." Polini replies
"I can't believe he told you first." Yonanes was a bit sad.
"Well, the boy was afraid of telling you." Polini responds.
"Why? He's my nephew. I took him as my own when he lost his parents. Why won't he tell me first?" There was a tinge of jealousy in his voice.
"True, you're like his father and he has always looked up to you. He is scared of what you might think."
"What I might think?" Yonanes asks.
"That you won't accept his choices." Polini emphasized.
"Of course, I will support him. He is my nephew. I will stand by his choices as long as it does not harm anyone."
"Aren't you afraid of what people might say about him or about you as an uncle?"
"I don't care what other people will say about him or me. What I care about is my nephew's happiness. Besides, Sdense is a good person. He is smart, kind, talented and compassionate.
I will always be proud of my nephew regardless of how he identifies himself. Choosing a partner non-traditionally does not make him less of a person. I am glad that he is brave enough to make a stand and assert his choices." Yonanes clenched his fist in emphasis. He stalls for a moment which surprises Polini. He then turns back and rushes to the nephew.
"Sdense". Yonanes calls out to the boy.
"Uh yes, my Bealyx?" The surprised nephew bows. The companion hurriedly bows as well. Yonanes then lets his hands fall on his nephew's shoulders.
"My boy, I want you to know I will always be proud of you and accept you no matter what. You never have to hide your true self from me. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my uncle." Sdense's voice seemed emotional. "Thank you, Uncle."
He then looks at both Sdense and Bragantho. " I will be seeing you both later this evening for dinner." He gazes at Bragantho. "I wont take no for an answer. That's an order." He winks at the other boy.
"Yes, your majesty." Bragantho laughs. Yonanes adds further. "Bring your brother as well. Tell him I am ordering you both to join our family dinner."
"I'll call him right away, Sir." Bragantho says.
Polini comes in. "Come on." She pulls his arm in emphasis. "See you later Sdense and Bragantho." They bow and return into the heart of the garden even happier now.
Yonanes then says to his wife. "I'm also happy that you are supportive of him too." He adds.
"I have grown to love him as my own. I am glad too that he trusts and warms up to me." Polini says.
Yonanes halts and faces his wife for a moment. "Indeed, I am lucky to have a good nephew and a good wife. What more could I ask for?" The Bealyxelle grins and then takes the opportunity to raise her concerns.
"My Bealyx there is one last matter I need to discuss with you." Polini blurts out.
"Yes, what is it?" Yonanes asks.
"I wish to resume the Kohari with your permission." She seemed tense making her statement. The Kohari is a military service practiced by her people which she halted when she became Yonanes' wife. Now, she wanted to continue.
"The Kohari is for your people to be involved in the community. You are Bealyxelle of all Desdan now and that is the highest form of service."
"We are in an impending war and I believe that resuming the Kohari will allow me to help you, my Bealyx, and serve my people better."
Yonanes was hesitant but he knows the many sacrifices that Polini had to give up for him. "Resume your Kohari for the time being."
"Thank you, my lord." Polini gleefully says as she squeezes the arm of her husband in excitement. "This means a lot to me. I will make it up to you. I promise to focus on being Bealyxelle after peace is restored but let me be Kohari one last time."
"Not at all, my dearest. You don't need to make up for anything. In fact, it is I who should make up for all the sacrifices you made for me. Consider this as my gift to you." Yonanes responds.
"Thank you, my Bealyx." She bows to him. "For now, I must leave for a moment. I have to meet the staff regarding dinner tonight but will join you in the sitting room soon."
"Well, don't be long my dearest." Yonanes plants a kiss on her forehead before taking leave.
Yonanes then saw a shadow in the a dimly lit corridor. He tries to follow the shadow but it disappears.