Simon had returned to his room to rest but could not because his heart was racing. Pacing up and down, he tried to calm himself because he felt his mood souring again, which had happened since he had met Georgina at the town fair. What was going on? When he held her hand, something triggered inside of him. It was as if a surge of energy had gone through his body and activated his frozen heart. It was a lovely feeling, yet strange and frightening – an emotion he had promised himself never to fall prey to, and yet here he was unable to steer his affections.
During their travels from the border to Lothaire, he had avoided the two girls as much as possible. He knew they only meant trouble, and it was bothersome enough that his brother had angered their mother and had to deal with a human as a mate. As he told his brother in all earnest, he didn't like the fact that werewolves couldn't choose their partners, but fate did. He wanted to be the one to evaluate who suited the position best. Nevertheless, when they arrived, and their mother came out to greet them, he had no choice but to act and take her with him. It was obvious that Damien would take care of Eliana, so it was up to him to support him and help Eliana's friend. In that single moment, all his efforts before went down the drain because his current feelings were precisely why he had kept his distance.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he pondered encouraging thoughts. He would not succumb to his urges and was a master of suppressing emotions. Staying in control was his motto, and this situation would be no different. He only needed to focus on his duties as a Beta and balance out his brother's temper so that the fair rule would continue. With that determination, he calmed his heart and rested before dinner.
While Simon was fighting his inner demons, the two girls dealt with their anxieties in their respective rooms. They hadn't had time to discuss anything and were too scared to speak over the balconies of their rooms which were next to each other. Although their living conditions had improved tenfold, and Eliana would get to go to medical school, they had to abide by the queen's rules. Furthermore, they were forced into this situation and hadn't had any choice, which annoyed them.
Moreover, as orphans, they never learned how to behave in the world of royals and didn't know anything about basic etiquette, making them feel insecure. Eliana's restlessness was also due to the fact that Damien had not shared any of his plans with her beforehand. She had trusted him since he helped her escape The Ambassador and thought they had become friends during their journey. It was disappointing to her that he hadn't felt like he could have opened up about his identity.
Deep in her thoughts, she sat on the heavenly bed and looked around the room. Once again, she had to appreciate the interior design. The large bed in the middle of the room was made from high-quality mahogany and was adorned with elaborate carvings. The sheets and pillowcases were linen and had a warm light grey color. A dresser was placed in one corner and a small sofa in the other. It was probably the most luxurious room she had ever been in.
Maybe she should appreciate what fate had graciously offered her instead of questioning everything. She could enjoy this while it lasted, and once they had to leave, she would be thankful for all the memories she made here and not get affected by the luxurious lifestyle.
--
Everyone made it to dinner in time and kept glancing at each other. No one wanted to be the first to speak, so a long awkward silence reigned between them. It was a stiff scene, especially since the girls felt wrong in this place. On the other hand, the queen was relaxed and ate her food, enjoying the intimidation she managed to relay.
"I hope you like our food?" The queen abruptly asked the girls. They both looked up, put a fake smile on, and nodded.
"Good, I am happy. Our foods are very different from Paxon dishes because of the humidity here, and we cannot grow the same ingredients. - Damien told us already that you and Eliana managed to pass the medical school test, but what were you two doing besides that?"
Damien observed his mother and was trying to find out what she was planning to do. Although it seemed like she was making regular small talk, he knew her cunningness and that she usually had a reason for asking about specific topics or doing things.
"Georgina and I hadn't been able to find a proper job yet, so we had to work for temporary positions, usually cleaning houses or helping out as service personnel in noble households."
"Interesting, and you, Georgina, said you didn't want to study. Why?"
Georgina was taken aback by the attention being on her out of a sudden. She blinked a couple of times before answering. "The plan was for both of us to find a stable job, for me to work full time and Eliana part-time so that she could study simultaneously."
"Hmm, I understand, but why did you not wish to study? Was there no possibility for the both of you to work and go to university?"
Her eyes widened. She had never thought about continuing her studies because she never had been a good student and didn't see the potential. "It is not easy to do both concurrently, and we didn't have anyone to support us. If we wanted to have a better life, we had to bet on the higher chances, and that was Eli, who had always wanted to become a doctor and is a genius. Additionally, I do not enjoy studying."
It was the first time Eliana heard that argumentation which made her furrow her eyebrows. The queen watched them closely to understand their dynamics.
"You sacrificed your potential future so that you both could have a better one together. That sounds like you would do anything for Eliana. I guess the question is would Eliana do the same if your roles were reversed." The queen stated, knowing very well that she would provoke them.
"Mother…" Damien interfered because he didn't like where the conversation was headed, but his mother ignored his warning.
"I respect people who understand that sometimes sacrifices are necessary." The queen ended the topic with an admiring look at Georgina, which surprised everyone.
Georgina, who would usually not get this kind of attention and admiration, was unsure how to react to the queen's remarks but liked and smiled. Unfortunately, her smile was short-lived because when she turned to look at Eliana, she saw guilt in her eyes.
"Eli, don't look at me like that. It was my decision, and it has nothing to do with you. I am sure that you will become a doctor one day and a great one at that, but I never even knew what I wanted to do, so my path is not so certain. Unfortunately, certainty is what we needed, plus, as I said, I don't like studying anyways."
"What do you mean, it has nothing to do with me? If you sacrifice something for me, it obviously concerns me." Eliana looked at Damien for him to confirm her following statement. "At least now that we are here, you have a choice. As Damien said, you can find out what you want to do first."
"Yes, we will give you two a tour tomorrow, and we can start showing you some options," Damien said.