The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 79. Meeting Rakavi.

Chapter 79: 79. Meeting Rakavi.

"" We bid welcome to His Majesty, the King... We bid welcome to His Highness, the crown prince... And to Her Highness, the crown princess we bid a firm welcome, May Narcissus shine his light favorably upon you.""

Neriah had no idea what they were saying! But it was obvious to even a fool that they were welcoming them. Maids—at least she wanted to believe they were maids, because they were fancily dressed. If not that their attires were matching, she’d think the nobles of the kingdom had come to the palace to welcome them. Did maids usually dress this fancy?— And then there were knights in real shining armor and they all stood with their heads bowed, Anhil and another lady stood in front leading them.

But that aside... Was this a palace or a home of gods!!! While she was still inside the flying carriage, the closer they got to the palace the more her mouth opened wide!

And when they landed, when they actually landed and Anhil helped her out of the carriage, an exclamation had escaped her mouth before she could control it.

The place was huge! Her home was not to be compared with this!!

Of course the Royal palace in Avelah was beautiful but this was divine!

Every pillar every wall seemed to be erected with care and precision. Designed in solely white and gold, even the night could not hide the beauty of the place as it was fully illuminated, she could see lights shining in every corner of thee palace.

She was curious!! She wanted to explore the place. It was a big place. She could tell there would be a lot of places to visit just inside this palace.

"" My love, My King,"" Neriah heard a voice, soft as the feathers of an owl and melodious as the calm flow of water in a stream and the maids and knights divided, and stood on the sides, opening up a path in their center.

Tall, dark and breathtaking were the words that came to Neriah’s head as a woman walked toward them through the path that had been created. She didn’t look a day over 300.

Dressed in a purple and orange attire that clung beautifully to her figure, with a spit that reached her mid-thing on her left side. Tiny golden beads draped around her neck, falling to her arms.

An orange cape rested around her shoulders. It was a beautiful design, one that Neriah had never seen before. It didn’t start from over her shoulders like most capes usually did, instead it was off-shoulder, leaving the upper part of her shoulders bare, and it overflowed and trailed behind her.

Even in the dark of the night, Neriah could see her hair was a beautiful shade off brown, straightened and long, not stopping until her mid thigh, adorned with purple ornaments that glittered even under the night sky.

She smiled so brightly and beautifully, and Neriah was certain now. There was no way this was a palace. This was definitely the home of the gods and this woman, although she was brown-skinned, was definitely a goddess.

Yes! That had to be it. Their goddess probably walked the earth with them. Yes that made sense. They were probably here to receive blessings from her before heading to the actual palace.

Neriah could not find any other reason why anyone would be so brown-skinned and beautiful at the same time! She had to be a goddess.

But then the beautiful woman reached their side and through herself into the open arms of Bashan! What was going on?! Where they that free with their goddess?

And wait where did the poise, graceful woman go? She is suddenly giggling in the hands of Bashan! What is going on? She looked up at Barak for an explanation but the look on his face was that of disgust! Why? But she could not blame him. He was probably shocked to see their goddess being so free with his father, right?

They were saying some things and she could not hear a thing. And her determination to learn the language was heightened.

Barak suddenly said some words in Tragish and Neriah could only wonder what he had said as bot Bashan and the goddess turned around to look at him.

The goddess gasped, and it seemed to her that the beautiful goddess only just now realized the presence of Barak and herself.

""Ohh! Who is this? If it isn’t my precious child!"" The goddess was speaking in Tragish and holding on to Barak’s face.

""Have you been well, mother?"" Barak is talking to her. All Neriah could do was smile foolishly.

""As well as you left me, my son.""

"" Mother, my wife, Princess Neriah."" Neriah’s eyes widened as she heard her name. She did not know the context of the discussion, but she heard her name. She had never been more nervous in her life. Well who wouldn’t be, she had only prayed to the statue of Aveliana in the temple. Never had she seen a goddess in real life!

Her heart suddenly skipped when the goddess turned to her direction, "Neriah, this is my mother—"

"HUH!"

"— Queen Rakavi Der Drache." Barak finished his sentence. Neriah’s quickly recovered composure even though it was hard to. She was not a goddess!! She was his mother?! His mother?! Neriah could not believe it. Was this real? How could anyone be this beautiful? With brown-skin for that matter!! A barbarian woman!!!

"I am yet to learn Tragish, so I shall greet my queen in the language I understand." Neriah calmly stated, "Neriah Gerald of Avelah greets the queen and mother of Trago." She bowed her head politely. For the first time she really did not feel belittled bowing her head to a barbarian.

""Ah, that is right. Your wife who had asked for your head on the day of the meeting."" Neriah smiled as the lady spoke with her eyes on her. But there was something wrong, Neriah could feel it. Maybe because the smile on the queen’s face right now just didn’t seem the same with the one she gave her husband and son.

""Father, you informed mother about it already?"" Barak was saying.

""It was not me."" Bashan quickly said.

"" I am Rakavi Der Drache. You think I need your father to keep an eye on you boys for me? To think she had the audacity to seduce my son and then ask for his head.""

""Mother be nice.""

""How did she even seduce you?""

""To be fair we seduced each other.""

""I see... Well I can see she is pretty. But still, the audacity. Should I punish her, I wonder.""

""Mother, really... Smile and be nice, you will love her.""

""Well love is a very strong word. But if my son insists I play nice, then..."" Neriah was going crazy watching them exchange words without knowing the content of their discussion. What was even more disturbing was the smile that remained on the woman’s face. It was beautifully creepy.

"Neriah Gerald Der Drache." She suddenly took Neriah’s hands in her own and spoke to her. Neriah hummed a confused response.

"You introduced yourself as Princess Neriah Gerald. You seem to have forgotten your new status." She said, and Neriah mouthed an oh.

"Next time you introduce yourself it should be more like this ’Neriah Gerald Der Drache, princess of Avelah, and crowned princess of Trago." once again Neriah could see that goddess-like grace in her again, the woman was really something.

"Or do you not think the royal family name worthy enough to be attached to yours?"

"Mother—" Barak called, "My dear," Bashan said.

Neriah wondered what she was to say in this case. Were she to say the truth that yes, the woman’s words were correct, then she might be in trouble. Although her perspective of the Trago nation was already starting to change, that did not change the fact that they were barbarians who plundered villages, killing women and children at their wake. And neither did it change the fact that she still didn’t want to be in this marriage.

Acdepting the Der Drache name was a reminder that she really was really married to her husband.

"Your long silence is answer enough." The woman said and Barak stared at his dear wife, wondering why she wasn’t doing what she knew how to do best when the situation actually required it!

"I heard you asked for my son’s hea—"

"Rakavi not now—"

"Seeing that you had asked for his he—"

""FATHER!!"" A loud cry came from somewhere interrupting the entire discussion and a lady dressed in men’s clothing came from behind the guards and maids and jumped into Bashan’s arms almost pushing him to the ground.

Rakavi pulled Neriah "We shall continue this discussion later, my darling daughter-in-law." and calmly walked away from Neriah.

"" Rakima at least pretend to be a shy composed princess in front of your sister-in-law whom you are meeting for the first time."" Bashan whispered into the girls ears and her eyes shifted to Neriah.

""Brother, tell me, did she really seduce you and try to take your head after?"" Barak’s mouth opened wide. It seemed the entire Trago had heard the story. Things might be tough for his dear wife.