Amira's grandmother blinked countless times to hold back the hot tears that were threatening to flow from her eyes.
How could Amira ask her such a question? How could she not miss her son?. Lady Serena watched her son grow up from a stubborn son to a strong man.
She missed him more than life itself. Lady Serena was just pretending to be strong because her granddaughter was looking up to her. She needed to comfort Amira because she's like a pillar to the girl's life.
Lady Serena didn't want to look weak in her granddaughter's eyes.
"Why are you quiet grandma?"Amira asked as the corner of her lips Curved into a thin line.
"It's because you wish to see your son once again and you miss him too," Amira said in a whisper as she tried to look into her grandmother's eyes.
"Why is it so hard for you to accept and give in to your wishes grandma?"The girl's voice was more emotional than before, tears flowed from her eyes as she recalled the old memories that she shared with her father.
They used to play when she was a young girl.Her father taught her so many things.Commander Adonis taught her daughter how to fight in case she gets attacked by someone and how to ride a horse.
He taught Amira some political stuff and so many things.
Silence reigned in the room because Lady Serena didn't know what to say to her granddaughter since everything she said was true.
"It's because I don't want to lose you too. I always look into those brown hazel eyes of yours whenever I miss my son,you inherited those eyes from your father."She said as tears flowed from her eyes since she couldn't hold back anymore.
Amira grabbed her grandma's hand and gave them a slight squeeze, she raised her head slowly to look at her face.
"You're not going to lose, grandma," Amira said with a gentle soothing voice, giving her grandma's hand a slight squeeze.
"We'll achieve this if we work together."She pressed her lips into a thin line."I promise that I'm going to give my best in the competition."A sigh escaped Amira's lips.
"I'm doing this for my father,grandma. I'm doing this for your son."Amira stressed the words so that they could get in her grandma's stubborn head.
"This is the first time I am asking something from you grandma."There was silence in the room for some time before she continued to talk.
"Are you going to support me? Are we going to work together?"Amira asked with slightly raised eyebrows as she looked at her grandma with pleading eyes.
Lady Serena was silent for a while as she tried to think deeply about her granddaughter's request.
"I'm only going to agree to your request if you promise me one thing."The old lady tilted her head to the side challengingly.
"And what is it?"Amira asked with a twinkle in her eyes. It was evident that her grandma was agreeing to her request.
"Promise me that you're going to take good care of yourself. That you won't allow anyone to know your true identity, that commander Adonis is your biological father."
Amira's grandmother pressed her lips into a thin line and gave Amira's hand a little squeeze.
"I won't allow anyone to find out about it. Until I get access to the power."Amira nodded her head as the corner of her lips curved into a bitter smile.
The girl was confident that she would win because she's going to give it her best.
Amira was fully aware of the dangers if anyone finds out that her father is Commander Adonis. She needs to be more careful.
"Thank you."Amira wrapped her hands around her grandma tightly,she closed her eyes and a small smile crept on her lips.
She was so happy that her grandma agreed to her request. Amira needed support to achieve her goal. She needed a lot of patience to stand the royals because whenever she laid her eyes on them she thought about many ways of killing them.
_______
"Here are some jewels."Amira's grandma walked into her room with diamond jewellery in her hand, a small smile playing on her lips.
She walked to the small bed where Amira was sitting and sat beside her. Lady Serena opened her arms for Amira to see the jewels.
"They're so beautiful. Where did you get these precious jewels?"Amira looked at her grandma with raised eyebrows.
It was three pieces of necklace, two pieces of bracelet and four pairs of earrings.
"Your grandpa bought them for me. I decided to keep these jewels safely because they remind me of your grandpa."Lady Serena said with a faraway look. Probably recalling the old memories that she shared with her late husband.
"Grandpa really loved you."Amira joked and the corner of her lips curved into a naughty smile. She took the jewels from her grandma's hand and studied them closely before trying them out.
_____
"You need to get some sleep dear."Lady Serena said as she covered her granddaughter with the warm sheets.
Everything was ready for the competition. Amira had chosen a gown even though she had spent almost an hour debating on which gown looked more beautiful than the other.
The jewels that matched perfectly with the gown were ready too.
Amira was still thinking about the competition when she drifted into a deep slumber, with a smile on her face. She had the hope of seeing her father again.
_______
"Your bath is ready dear. I mixed some herbs in warm water so that it can help you relax."Lady Serena informed her granddaughter as she walked out of the bathroom.
It was very early in the morning. Amira had informed her grandma that she needed to arrive at the castle early so that she wouldn't be left out, that's what she heard those two women saying.
They said that the earlier the better.
"Thank you grandma."She said with a smile on her lips.
Amira walked into the bathroom and stepped inside the wooden bathtub without wasting any time. The warm water was soothing and relaxing just like her grandma had mentioned to her earlier.
___
The girl walked back into her room when she was done in the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around her body.
Lady Serena helped her granddaughter to dry her long dark hair. Amira's grandma let the hair fall on her back in waves and she applied light makeup on her face to enhance Amira's beauty.
She slid into her pink gown which they had prepared,the gown matched perfectly with the pink painting on her lips.
Everything was done after a few minutes and now she was ready to go to the competition. She wore a diamond bracelet which had a pink butterfly, the necklace and earrings had a butterfly too.
Amira didn't believe it when she saw her reflection in the small mirror."You look beautiful."Lady Serena said in satisfaction,the corner of her lips curving into a smile.
"You need to get going before you run late."She reminded Amira who nodded and a nervous sigh escaped her lips.
_____
"Take good care of yourself."Lady Serena reminded her daughter as she climbed the carriage and Amira nodded with her lips pressed into a thin line.
The old lady looked at the carriage as she wished good luck for her granddaughter.
Amira looked out of the window as she admired nature,tree leaves were still moist with dew and some birds sang melodiously, welcoming the new day.
Amira gave the coachman one silver coin as she alighted. She darted her eyes around, people were dressed in fancy clothes just like she expected.
"Where is the registration taking place?"She asked one of the soldiers who were showing people where to go as they waited for the competition to begin.
"Over there."He pointed to the other side where girls dressed in different fancy clothes stood. Amira's heart pounded wildly, wondering if she could stand a chance.
There was this girl with brown hair who looked at Amira with hostile eyes. However, Amira ignored her evil eyes.
There is no friend because they're all fighting for that one position,to become the crown Prince's wife.
Amira queued and waited patiently for her turn to register.
"Attention! attention."The commander who replaced Amira's father shouted, attracting everyone's attention.
Amira's fingers clenched into tight fists until her knuckles turned white. She closed her eyes slightly and heaved a sigh to calm her nerves.
"This is the last contestant we are going to register."The commander pointed towards the queue.
"No addition, we're running out of time."He said with a bold voice and everyone nodded because they were afraid to say anything.
"Oh, heavens."Amira heaved a sigh of relief. She was the last person in the queue,it was possible that she could have missed it.
Amira waited for a second, five minutes, fifteen minutes,thirty minutes and now it was her turn to register.
"Number One hundred!"Her eyes popped out when she realised that she was the last contestant and that she was number one hundred.
"He's so cute. Oh my goodness! I love his dark piercing eyes."Amira was about to write her name when she heard people around her whispering.
She turned her head to look in that one direction that everyone was looking at. And there he was! Wylan's Crown prince, Every girl's dream husband.
The cold-hearted crown prince that everyone has been talking about,Wylan's next king.
Amira was about to look away because she didn't want to lock eyes with him, unfortunately, their eyes locked.
'What!' Prince Zebulon's eyes widened momentarily and deep frown settled on prince Zebulon's face when he looked deep into those brown hazel eyes.
He was not mistaken,he still recalls those brown hazel eyes which held warmth.Even though many years have passed by,Prince Zebulon still remembered those eyes and that dark hair.