Ignis opened her eyes to a dim room. By the streak of lights that filtered in the room through gaps in the curtain, she could deduce that it was still daytime.
"Princess, are you awake?" she saw Adrian walking towards her. Ignis tried to get up but he stopped her. "You need more rest".
"I can't, I have a lunch meeting with Duke Bailey" she said in a hoarse voice.
Adrian poured her some water and helped her to drink.
"I will talk with him. I will share your proposal with him. Do not worry and just rest for sometime"
Ignis laid down without any further protest
"What about the Council? What did the Council decide?" she took hold of his hand, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Adrian gently removed his hand from hers. The move surprised her. Does that mean her proposal was rejected? Her brain froze for a second before shooting with millions of ideas to turn the tide. If they have rejected the idea, then she has to meet each individual and think of dealing with them separately. For that she will also need to check what the members currently desire. If she took care of their wants, they might support her to become the Queen of the Land.
Adrian patted her shoulder "Princess? What are you thinking so deeply?" that familiar mischievous smile was back on his face.
"Adrian, please tell me the truth. Was the proposal rejected?" she took his hand again with more desperation this time. Her body started to tremble.
"Princess please calm down. The proposal was accepted. The majority of the members voted in your favor. The three members who rejected it are those whose opinions do not even matter. You have formally been accepted as the Queen of the Aqua Land. Congratulations Princess!"
Ignis covered her mouth with both hands. She didn't think that the proposal would be accepted this easily. But, now that it is accepted, the situation felt surreal, almost dream-like.
"Who are the three that rejected the proposal?" she asked him, getting up slowly.
"Why does that matter?" Adrian asked indifferently. Every sign of a smile vanished from his face.
"I will have to make sure to address them as well. They can cause problems in the future"
"Then, we will think about them in the future. For now, just take a good rest"
"Adrian..." he was about to push her back to sleep but she stopped him. "I am hungry"
He let out a sigh and nodded slowly. "I will ask your attendant to get you something".
Ignis smiled and said "Thank you". Adrian helped her to sit comfortably. She immediately took the parchments that were placed on the side table and began studying them.
"Ignis... I..." he took her hand in his and stroked the back with his thumb. She looked at him and waited for him to say something but no words came out. Ignis didn't coax him to say anything. They simply sat in silence for some time.
"I-It's nothing" he placed her hand on her lap. "I have to meet the Duke. You take a rest".
"Adrian wait - " before she could stop him, he rushed out of the door.
*****
That night, Adrian was sitting inside a small wooden pavilion right in the corner of the palace garden. He was absentmindedly swirling a glass of wine, looking nowhere in particular.
"Can I join you?" his eyes met his father who was standing at the entrance of the structure. Adrian quickly sat straight, like a good child, and swept his eyes around to check if there was anything not kept orderly.
"You do not need my permission Father, please come in" he stood up to welcome his Father. His Father took a seat and poured himself some wine.
"So tell me, what's bothering you?" Sermon asked after taking a sip from his glass.
"There is nothing that is bothering me. Everything is going smoothly. Now that the Council has accepted Ignis, only the wedding is remaining" he kept his glass on the table and crossed his arm.
"I asked if anything was bothering you. Not as a King but as Adrian." Sermon looked directly into his eyes "To me, child, you look restless"
"It's truly nothing Father, I am sure this is just a normal anxiety that everyone feels right before the wedding. I will be fine" he smiled at his Father, reassuring him. Sermon shook his head and finished his drink "You are as stubborn as your Mother".
Sermon poured himself some more wine and grumbled about the Council. "I am telling you, our Council is filled with stupid people. If I would have been at their place, I would have grilled her non-stop. And, what about these young members? How could they ask her to train them in something so basic? Didn't they ever attend the academy?"
"Tell me Father..." Adrian finally said "what do you and Mother think about Ignis?"
"Hmm... I find her quite knowledgeable. She would have performed exceptionally, if we had given her more time. But to plan and meet so many people based on a single idea that she got in the morning and preparing a whole business plan by evening is extraordinary in itself. I told her that I will start the production only if she gets another investor by the next morning and I was shocked to see her waiting for me in the dinning hall with a plan and list of investors. I love her spirit"
"And what about Mother? Is she happy with her?" Adrian could feel himself get nervous.
'Why do I feel nervous. Nothing is going to change, even if Mother doesn't like her.'
"Your Mother was impressed by the way she stood her ground in front of the Council. But, as always, she will not confess that to anyone but me" Sermon looked towards the garden, the corner of his lips turned upwards. "After an eternity, I saw a spark in her eyes. She didn't say it but she really liked her, I can tell" he took a pause and faced Adrian. "But even so, Stella is still wary of her. Let's just hope that she accepts her soon".
"At this point, I hardly see anything that is impossible for Ignis" he smiled and finished his drink. "I will take my leave now and you should go too. Mother must be waiting for you" he was about to get up when Sermon stopped him.
"Do you... do you think Stella and Ignis have met before?" Sermon asked, his eyebrows were knit together, as if remembering a past memory.
"Why would you ask that?" Adrian suddenly felt curious. "Have you met her before?"
"I am not sure but I think I saw her on the day when the current Emperor was crowned... but I might be mistaken. There were many Royal children who attended the coronation" Sermon shook his head and stood up. "Anyway, I am all sleepy now. Good night" he turned and walked towards the Palace.
'Have we met in the past? I don't think so, I would have remembered her'