The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 247. How could you?

Chapter 247: 247. How could you?

She said the woman’s name out loud while pointing and the twins instantly broke free from Barak so they could see what their sister was pointing at. Aria and Riri, who had been standing by the door so as not to interfere with the family’s special moment, now stared at each other with blank expressions.

"How are you— When did you— Where did you come from!" Rakima questions, and Neriah with a shy and apologetic smile on her face, steps out from behind Barak and...

"I am sorry I made everyone worry." The twins’ mouths went wide open, Barni instantly came down from Barak’s body and hugged her, the twins followed suit and in a matter of seconds, Neriah was completely enveloped by everyone who missed her. Rakima and Riri included.

Apart from Aria.

And when the hug was broken by Barak who feared they would suffocate his pregnant wife, Neriah looked up as Aria now walked towards her.

"Aria I—" Neriah flinched and so did everyone as Aria’s palm harshly crashed upon Neriah’s left shoulder. Another slap landed on the same spot, and another and then when she lifted her hand to hit Neriah again, Barak grabbed her hand.

"Enough." He said and released her hand thinking the woman would stop but then another harsh slap landed on Neriah’s shoulder again. Barak moved, but Neriah just glanced his way, silently telling him not to get involved.

"H-How could you— You are a spoiled brat! How could you!! How could you run away like that and leave me!!" Aria screamed.

"I have always been on your side no matter what you chose to do, so how—how could you make me worry this much?! How could you make me cry for you every night?!! How could you do this to me!!" Aria cried, tears clouding her purple eyes.

"How could you be selfish till the very end!! Even if you did not think about yourself, what about your baby!! Who would have taken care of the two of you!! How could you do this to me! HOW!"

Neriah took the hands of her most trusted friend and she rested her forehead there, "Forgive me Aria." She pleaded. "Forgive me."

And with those words, Aria bawled even louder as she hugged Neriah. "I am so happy you are okay." She cried. "I am so grateful you are alright. I have not been able to sleep since you left. I was ridden with worry. I did not know where you went or what you planned to do. Oh, Neriah, never do that to me again, I beg you. I beg you."

That night the Hall was filled with tears and pleas and more tears. Rakavi and Bashan just stood holding on to each other with tears in their eyes as they watched their children.

A message was sent to Raknar and Regina— who had been sent to lead the search for Neriah—to return home for Neriah had been found.

***

Although Rakavi and Bashan had tried to talk their sons out of it, in the end, they concluded that Barni, and the twins would sleep in the same room with Barak for at least that night.

It started when Barni refused to let either Barak or Neriah go for the night, seeing his clinginess, the twins had joined and Neriah although she wanted to be alone with Barak, she also understood how the boys were feeling so she agreed that they could stay.

When they allowed the boys to stay, Rakima instantly declared she too would be sleeping over.

In the end, they all decided to spend the night in the King and queen’s palace instead. There, there was a room that had five beds. It was once occupied by a royal quintuplet from centuries ago. Back then the palace had not been extended to allow each prince to have their own palaces, so they stayed together in that room.

Now centuries later, the room came in handy.

The room was quickly cleaned and made conducive for the night.

The king and queen took one bed, Barak and Neriah took one, Rakima wanted the one closest to Barak and Neriah and so did Barni, so they both ended up sharing a bed. While the twins shared one, leaving one bed empty.

Barni told stories of all the things he had done and learnt while Barak was away. And the twins promised to show Barak their new skills in the morning.

Rakima complained about being assigned some of his work while he was away and would gladly hand everything back to him in the morning.

"Why did you not come back earlier?" Barni asked the question the rest of his siblings present also wanted to ask.

"I was not too well, Barni." Barak simply said.

"Okay. Are you very well now?" He asks.

"Aye, I am. Neriah made me completely well." He says and places a kiss upon her head.

"Okay." The boy says again. Then he remembered something and he opened his mouth to speak. "All the maids and servants were saying sister Neriah killed brother." At those words, it felt like the entire room went silent.

Neriah stiffened in Barak’s arms.

"Barni, enough now, go to sleep." His mother called from where she laid.

But the boy still had more to say.

"Brother, you know she did not do it, right?"

"Barni! I said—"

"I know."Barak simply answered the boy’s question.

"Good." The boy smiled to himself. "Because sister Neriah cried the most for you. So I know she did not do it, so I am happy brother knows too."

From where Neriah laid in Barak’s arms, tears flowed and she spoke in Tragonian like everyone else, "Thank you, Barni. Thank you." She said.

Proudly, the child was slowly drifting to sleep. "Brother,"

"Yes, Barni?"

"You will be here tomorrow if I sleep?" He asks. His eyelids were already heavy.

"I will be here. So sleep." Barak reassures him and thee boy nods.

"Okay." With those words, he finally let sleep wash over him.

Soon, everyone else fell asleep and Neriah slept with a grateful heart because the boys trusting words had given her a lighter heart.