Chapter 507: Garden in the dark

"This would be the last time you'd call me 'my lord'…" he started and when Vera looked at him questioningly, he gave her a quick explanation. "The mate of a prince would become the crown princess. It doesn't matter even if you're not yet officially wedded. But the thing is that as the prince's mate, you would naturally be of a higher rank than any of the lords." 

"Oh…" Vera blinked after hearing what Kione said. She looked like she did not quite know how to react about this new information fed to her and bit down on her lips unsurely. 

"And I…" Kione's expression then abruptly changed. There was a tinge of tension that rose up as he took one long and quiet deep breath. "I just came to tell you of my feelings."

Even Evie blinked in surprise. Wait, what?! What the hell is wrong with him now? 

"I like you… no I, I have fallen in love with you, Lady Vera." He continued with difficulty, as an ironic smile curved on his face. "You must be wondering when I even fell for you…" he laughed slightly, a tinge of helplessness in his voice. "I can't tell you when as well… as I don't know it myself. But… it did happen." Looking at Vera, he shrugged his shoulders at her helplessly.

A long silence passed between them as Evie looked on silently from the side. 

"I'm… so sorry." Vera uttered, her voice weak and sad for him. And the expression on her face made Kione smile a little sadly but knowingly. She looked as though she was hurt for him, and it was because she knew exactly how hurtful it was when someone you love does not love you back but ends up loving someone else. 

"No, don't." Kione shook his head gently. "I knew all along since the beginning that your heart belongs only to Gideon. I just wanted to express this. I honestly thought back then, doing this thing is unnecessary and was just some bullshit. But I guess this is indeed the right thing to do. I always believe that bottling things up is unhealthy anyway, so here I am. We have to tell what we feel to the person we love isn't it? We have to say it anyway even if it doesn't turn out the way we want… and I think that's alright." His smile became wider and more genuine now. His shoulders were also more relaxed as if some heavy burden on him got lifted. 

Vera smiled back at him, glad that he did not seem overly saddened by the fact that she could not respond positively to his feelings. 

"You're… an amazing man, Lord Kione." She could only say that. Looking at him in a way that made Kione's heartache felt much better. 

"I don't think so but… since you're the one who said it… I'll believe you." he replied, looking away now. "And… I wish you nothing but happiness in your life with the person you love, Vera." 

"Thank you…"

"No, I should be the one thanking you. Well then, I'll go join Gideon now." And Kione walked out the door as silently as he had entered.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Evie was still speechless as she stared at the door. What just happened? Seriously? Kione actually and truly fell in love with Vera? It was not an act from their plan anymore?

"Are you alright?" Evie finally snapped out of it and asked Vera when she heard her take in a deep breath. 

"I'm fine." Vera said and nodded, "I know he'll be alright. He's a very honest man." A smile was spreading across Vera's face as she said that, and Evie could not agree more. 

The door opened again, and another noble lady came in. 

"It's time for you to come out, Lady Vera." She said and Vera's attention and mind was now fixed onto nothing else but Gideon and their mating ritual again. A deep breath escaped her lips and Evie held her hand tightly. She could feel Vera's hands were slightly cold to the touch and she smiled reassuringly at her.

"Ready?" Evie asked and as soon as Vera nodded, the two of them walked towards the opened door. 

The moment she stepped outside the door, Vera's eyes widened in surprise at the scene before her. There was a circle made of eleven different colours shining brightly in the middle of a bigger circle. And inside of that circle of crystals stood Queen Beatrice. Vera could not see her clearly because of the light emitted from the crystals but she did not need to see clearly to recognise her. 

There was a long aisle from the house to the circle and Vera thought that the aisle was made of white crystals as well. The scene was just so bright and beautiful. A crystal garden in the dark. Just perfect for carrying out their mating bond ritual.

She could not see Gideon. But she could see that the aisle was extended further ahead opposite of her. And she could only deduce that Gideon was at the other end of this aisle as well. She was told to just walk ahead after the queen's song started until she and Gideon meet inside that circle of crystal where the queen was standing. 

Queen Beatrice's voice then echoed out with an otherworldly trill. A sweet, spellbinding song that seemed to make all the crystals glow brightly and the even colours surrounding them seemed to dance and twirl in a joyful frolic around the set-up of the place. 

Vera's heart was pounding harder than ever, and she felt Evie squeeze her hand in comfort. She did not realise that Evie was gone as her senses began to concentrate on only one thing right now. Gideon. She wanted to see him, meet him there, in that circle, that place that was going to be the sacred grounds for the completion of their bond. 

When the queen stretched her arms wide to opposing sides, one hand towards her and the other towards Gideon, the two finally took their first step and started walking forward. Counting each step as their hearts drummed wildly in their ears, their eyes finally met as they came closer to the queen. 

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