Elena''s POV


    "I''m so d to see you again, Elena. I heard about you and Deacon..." Queen Liz greeted me with a huge smile on her face as she led me to the balcony of her


    room.


    "Yes, it just... It happened." I smiled brightly as I walked gracefully to the balcony and leaned my arms on the fence while looking out at the magnificent view outside.


    Since Deagon and I started this, we might as well make it as real as possible.


    Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "Deacon and I went to war together... We fought side by side and faced obstacles far beyond what one could imagine... It''s almost like a sweet-blooded fairytale if that makes sense."


    The queen and I bothugh at our statement. "And that''s the weirdest yet loveliest description of love I ever heard."


    Iughed even harder at the Queen''s statement. "Well, that''s it. Our camaraderie developed into something deeper, so when we came back and he proposed... I had nothing more to say but yes."


    We chit-chat a little and shared a fewughs before she went closer to me and held both my hands with hers. She looked at me seriously and met my eyes. "I don''t think things are as simple and as magical as they all may seem, but I''ll always be here to support you and Deacon."


    The gratitude I felt at that moment was immeasurable. "Thank you."


    I looked outside and gestured, "I guess... I should go and meet the Duchess now." Shrugging, I added awkwardly, "...to avoid further troubles."


    Knowing what I meant, sheughed and sent me to the doors.


    "Let''s go, Zara,” I called as we went down and was immediately met by the Duchess'' attendant, who had apparently been waiting there since we arrived.


    As soon as we stepped outside the Mother Queen''s residence, the scorching heat of the sun zed our skin, and the more we walked around, especially on my heels, the more exhausted I became.


    "Princess..." Zara walked closer beside and discreetly whispered in my ear, "Why does it feel like they''re dragging us in circles?"


    I pulled a handkerchief from my pouch and wiped the sweat from my brow. Shaking my head while looking at the attendant who was leading us, I forced augh. "That''s because they are."


    Zara looked at me in surprise.


    "The Duchess is stalling." Shrugging my shoulders, I added, "It''s a ssic tactic. She wants to wear me down before we even get to her."


    "Oh... okay, careful," I said as I held her arm in support when she stumbled back. "Are you okay?" I asked.


    She blinked her eyes a couple of times and held her head. Panting, she exined, "It''s probably because of the heat. I feel a little dizzy."


    I nodded my head in understanding. Zara''s an Omega and didn''t undergo training


    like I did. “Here, take some medicine. It will help.”


    From the corner of my eye, I could feel the attendant watching us with scrutiny


    thatter on turned to fascination, especially after Zara almost instantly regained herposure.


    "That''s..." The attendant hesitantly continued, "That medicine is a miracle worker."


    I looked at her for a while before nonchntly shrugging and grabbing more from


    my pouch to hand her a few. " It''s nothing special. Want one?"


    At first, she was hesitant, but after seeing that I was really intending to give her one, she nodded and epted it. After all, she looked as exhausted as Zara was earlier.


    Feeling better, the attendant sighed and smiled before gestring to the hallway. "Thank you, Princess. In this case, allow me to take you through a shaded path, it will be much cooler."


    Zara discreetly shot me a smirk, which I reciprocated as we followed the attendant to the hallway where we were shaded from the sun, and the afternoon''s breeze from the trees cooled our skin.


    "I''m so proud of you, Princess. Winning people over with kindness," Zara whispered with pride, making meugh a little.


    "Better than letting them drag us through the sun like we''re pack mules," I whispered back and shrugged like it''s a small matter.


    "Here we are, Princess," the attendant gestured to the residence that was located


    on the back of Deacon''s, just right behind the garden area.


    “Princess Elena, the Duchess has been expecting you." A servant greeted us outside the door.


    "I''ll wait for you here, Princess," Zara uttered when I looked at her before she gestured to the bench in the garden that''s shaded by the massive tree.


    I nodded my head and muttered under my breath, "This is it..."


    When the double doors were opened, I almost choked from the sight that weed me. The entire ce wasvishly decorated with high-ss furniture and essories The chandelier in the living area also seemed to be made from diamonds.


    "So, you''re finally here." A cold voice caught my attention, only then did I realized that Duchess Diana was seated on the single sofa with her arms crossed while wearing a displeased expression on her face, probably as sharp as the corners of the diamonds above us.


    Nheless, I kept a calm demeanor and smiled politely while I met her sharp gaze. "I wouldn''t want to keep you waiting too long, Duchess."