The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 132. You miss him?

Chapter 132: 132. You miss him?

The days were slow and seemed to drag on forever, at the same time they also went by quickly. Because before she even knew it, it had already been two weeks since her husband had left home. And although the days were annoyingly long, Neriah could not settle with the fact that it had been two whole weeks already!

What kind of husband goes away without sending a message of his death or well-being? Did he forget he left someone at home?! The more she thought about it the more angry she got.

At the same time she wondered what Lyle was doing. After she sent him her letter, she had not received any more from him. Neriah was not certain what she wanted. The safety of her husband or the victory of her lover.

The fact that Barak had not sent any messages was something that worried her deeply, although she denied it vehemently. She wondered if Lyle had maybe caught up with him. Everything was just a mess, she didn’t know what she was doing anymore.

"If you were going to miss him this much you should have just asked to go with him." Rakavi’s words pulled Neriah back to earth and her eyes widened as her mother-in-law’s words sank deep into her head and her eyes instantly lit up as she spoke...

"I could have done that!" The words escaped her lips like a desperate wife and her lashes blinked back embarrassment as her mother-in-law smiled. "I_ I mean, I do not miss him." She cleared her throat and straightened her already straight hair with her fingers. "Not even a bit... I can rest peacefully without his constant scolding and nagging."

Rakavi laughed pleasantly at her naivety "Your strong denial is only a testament of your longing heart Neriah." Neriah blushed at her words.

"I_ I really don’t." Neriah murmured with her lashes down. "He is a brash, annoying, troublesome person who would call his wife a pain in the neck, why would I miss someone like that?" She mumbled.

"Did he say that? That you are a pain in the neck?" Rakavi asked with a light chuckle and Neriah nodded.

"The day before he left, while we had a little contest. He had said that... That crazy bas—" She paused and stuck her tongue between her teeth as she realized she was cursing at her husband in front of his mother.

"It is fine Neriah. I cursed at his father a lot when I was younger. And to tell you the truth, I still do once in a while." She shrugged and chewed on a slice of her chocolate cake.

Neriah did the same, silently munching on her cake when Rakavi suddenly asked, "Have you finally opened your heart to him?" It was an unexpected question. One that made Neriah choke on her cake. "Easy now, my dear." Rakavi said as she poured her another cup of hot chocolate to help the cough.

Neriah took it straight to her lips and it burned her. "Ah," She cried in pain.

"Easy Neriah, why are you so startled by that question?" Rakavi almost laughed as she watched Neriah fan her lips and tongue with her fingers.

"I_ I am not startled." Neriah said, but who was she kidding?! The question was more of an affirming statement than a question!

Suddenly everything was starting to make sense, every single thing was starting to fall in place. All the why’s, how’s, and what’s! All of them were falling in place. She had ignored the possibility of that being the single answer to all her questions.

All her questions had one answer all this time and she had failed to see it. No... She had chosen not to see it. Not to hear the answer. Because she could not believe it was possible, she could not believe it was possible when it came to Barak.

Because she didn’t want it to be possible, it would make all her efforts to escape him foolish! So she had crossed out all the possibilities in her head that her mother-in-law’s question was actually the answer.

For even now, she had not given up on escaping him... Or had she?

It was difficult to answer and yet so simple.

Why was she always waiting for him at night, why did she feel so cold whenever he was away, what was the reason for this pain in her heart whenever she thought about hurting him? How was it that she would be angry one minute because of him and yet he was always the one who could melt her anger?

And why? Why had she run to the terrace that morning he left? Why was her heart racing as he waved her goodbye? And why_ why could she not take her mind off him ever since he left?

There were so many questions and you would think they had multiple answers, but the fact was that she had lied so much that she had blurred the truth and she was just now realizing it because someone pointed it out...

That she was opening her heart to her barbaric husband... or worse... She already opened it to him.

"Neriah!" Rakavi shouted her name before Neriah realized she was being called. "Is it so hard a question that you were overwhelmed by thoughts?" The woman asked and Neriah just blinked without knowing what to say to that. "I guess that son of mine has to work even harder. He has a long way to go if he plans to win your heart completely."

Maybe it was not so long. He might already have, without either of them realizing it.

Now more than ever, Neriah wanted to pray... Just like he had wished she would. She wanted to pray for his safe return. Even though his death was her plan right from the start, she was more terrified now of him actually dying.

"I am certain she does not need brother to try and win her heart." A voice suddenly sounded from somewhere. Neriah and Rakavi did not bother turning their heads as they already knew who the uninvited guest was.

"All she wants is to wrap her fingers around his head and heart and play him like a puppet, just like she is already doing!" Rakima said as she walked to their side.

"Brother is such a fool whenever she is involved!" She continued. "He only listens to her and her alone!"

"Rakima—" Rakavi slowly rose from her seat, "—if you are so vexed by that fact, then why not find a fool of your own?" The woman asked and Neriah snickered as she also rose to her feet. Her muffled laugh earned her a death glare from Rakima.

"From what I know, you are two years older than Neriah and she is already in her husband’s home. Your concern should not be that she has her husband wrapped around her fingers or toes. It should be that she is two years younger and she already has a husband wrapped around her finger, while you are still in your mother’s home giving me a headache and have no man wrapped around your arm, more or less your fingers."

"Mother!!!" Rakima screamed.

"Do not raise your voice at me child or face the consequences." Rakavi warned and Neriah watched how calm her voice had been all through the conversation. Calm and yet dominating as always.

Rakima kept quiet, just biting her bottom lip in anger. Not able to say another word after her Mother’s warning.

"If you have this much time to waste, go out and find a fine young, willing man and make him your puppet, your own fool who is wrapped around your fingers. Stop repeating the same story over and over again. I am your mother and I have to let you know, it is very lame."

"Mo—" She almost screamed again but just a little raise of the brow was enough to quiet her.

"I did not know this foolishness was still ongoing between you two. So I will leave you both in here. No one is to leave until you both come to terms with each other."

"What?!" It was Neriah’s turn to shout. "I_ I mean, mother, I have some matters I need to attend to." Neriah lowered her voice.

"Then they shall be on hold till you both settle your disputes like matured women of the kingdom. You are both princesses for Narcissus sake, I cannot have your childish behavior. At this rate, you will not be able to hide your animosity at the coming birthday ball."

"A_ A ball?" Neriah stuttered.

"Yes. The King’s birthday is in two weeks and we always have a ball to celebrate it."

"T_two weeks!" Neriah screamed in shock. "And I am to attend?"

"Well of course. It is time you enter the Tragonian society as the wife of the crown prince and future queen. I have excluded you from previous public appearances because I wanted you to get familiar with the kingdom first. And I think you are finally ready."

"B_but you should have told me earlier. There is so much to prepare, I_ I_ I—"

"Just say you know you lack the confidence to face the many various people you shall encounter at the ball. Stop stuttering." Rakima scoffed

"Quiet Rakima." Rakavi hissed and Rakami hmphed in annoyance.

"I intentionally asked that it be kept from you so I can see how well you handle the pressure. Do not worry, you can come to me if you need help with anything. And besides, this way, you have something to keep your mind off your dear husband, whom you miss so much."

"Mother! I do not miss—"

"Yes, yes. Fine. But now I shall leave the two of you to sort out your issues. The doors shall be locked until you are both ready to walk out of here hugging each other."

"Hugging?"

"Mother!"

But she was already walking away with no plans of listening to either of them. They had to work out their problems, by force.