I was left to do nothing, so I decided to arrange my room in the spare time that I had. Brinda had gotten more clothes for me, and I almost rejected all of them, selecting the lighter ones only.

I couldn't believe I was about to wear this for the next year.

Brinda had understood my taste, and started getting me more sensible dresses now, although she disapproved of most of them.

I couldn't care less with the way I appear. I also asked her to get the lightest of the light dresses for me to wear and sleep through the night. And she did a wonderful job at that.

I was contented and satisfied with my wardrobe now.

"Minister Yug wants to meet you." Brinda said as she entered my room again after finishing some of the tasks I had assigned her.

"Ask him to come in." I was determined to not enter the royal premises.

Although I was already breathing in one. This did not count.

Brinda did not move at all from her place.

" Go call him." I was confused.

"He cannot come here. It is YOUR room. How can you let any man visit you here." She was as confused as I was, just for a different reason.

Ohh.

And I wouldn't be surprised if she would question my character at this. I was already done with the believes these people owned.

I rolled my eyes at her. "You come and stand here too, okay?" I was pissed and so I sounded like it.

But somehow she found this funny and started laughing. It was rare to see her laugh. And no matter how mad I was, I ended up laughing. My breaths exhaling out my frustration as well.

Brinda went to do what I asked her to. She decided to call Yug in here. And I couldn't help but imagine Yug's reaction at this. I chuckled at my own thoughts.

I felt bad too, I knew Yug must have been worried. It was there lurking somewhere in the back of my mind, to at least meet Yug. But I guess I was too annoyed to think straight.

---

I was almost convinced that Yug will postpone or straight away cancel the plan. And so I was more than surprised when I heard him knock on my door.

He must really have been very worried the way I did not show up in the Royal court, or anywhere near it since morning.

I was sitting on the floor, my back faced to the door, cleaning up the mess that comes with arranging the room.

I turned to look at him, and he immediately brought a huge smile to my face. He was still nervous, as stood by the door. He hadn't yet even entered in. Brinda was standing behind him.

"Get in" he hesitantly walked in with Brinda following.

He stood straight, not moving his eyes around to see the room for once, like it was a crime. I laughed at his awkwardness.

"Don't laugh." He said with a frown. Still looking straight. And this made me laugh even harder.

"A female's room, is still a regular room." I spoke in between my titters. He gave me no statement, just an annoyed gaze.

"I pressed my lips together to stop laughing and looked at him with any serious face I could put on. Although I still had urge to crack up looking at his face .

"I was wondering if you were well?" he spoke sheepishly.

I knew this was coming, that doesn't mean I was prepared for it.

"You skipped through dinner last evening and even breakfast. How do you manage to stay alive with just one meal a day?" he spoke a little louder, but that just voiced his concern.

"I had my breakfast." I spoke as I eyed towards the plate of fruits kept on my bed. his gaze followed mine and he looked relieved.

"Okay. Meet you at lunch." He said.

He just wanted to get out of this room as if he was suffocating to death here. He wanted to leave here, as if this air was not breathable.

And although he knew this already, he still visited me, as though seeing me makes it a little better for him, a little more sustainable.

I smiled at him but continued anyway, "you won't see me at lunch."

He was almost set to leave.

Almost. Before he turned back to look at me. He leaned in ahead like he always does, when he wants me to repeat my statement. But today, like any other day, it wouldn't change anything.

"I said, you won't see me at lunch." I made myself loud and clear, amused by the changing expressions of his face.

"Why not?" he sounded desperate and hurt I guess.

"Because I am not comfortable there around people. Because people aren't comfortable there around me." I stated as a matter of fact.

He opened his mouth but soon closed it again. He simply just nodded as he made his way out of my room.

I didn't want to disappoint him, but I did not care even if I did. I'll make up to him one way or the other.

I decided to pay attention to myself. For once.

---

It was almost lunch time. Brinda had tried persuading me a little more, but all in vain.

I cannot, like these old people, let go of anything bothering me, just because I had to maintain some so called 'relations.'

I wanted to ask Brinda to get me lunch. But given the number of times I made that young girl go up and down the royal palace today, made me feel bad. So there I had, just one straight option in front of me.

I decided to go down myself and get my food upstairs, back to my room. I don't think that should be a problem. I decided to rush faster, before all of them assemble, and make a narrow escape without getting noticed.

But say cheers to my sad fate, all of them were already seated waiting for the food to be served.

The smell of the room, I wouldn't lie, does grow your appetite. It does its best, to bring water to your mouth.

I stood by the door, absorbing all the eyes I was getting from these men. I looked at king and to my surprise my face gave no expression.

Yet as a matter of respect and rules, and ended up subtly bowing down to him. He responded with a slight nod, still fixing his intense gaze to meet mine. I sighed as I took my eyes off him, and smiled at Yug who was sitting at his regular place. He looked at me expectantly. I knew he wished me to join them.

But I am me.

I went straight to my place, and without asking for anything more, as much as I had already been served on my plate, I took it up. I held it and walked straight to the door where I came in from.

Nobody uttered a word.

Nobody but Yug. "Join us, won't you?"

I turned to look at him. "I guess we already had this discussion." My tone came out more cold than I had intended it to. Yug looked a little red as I said this, but I was too much in my head to pay enough heed to it.

I unintentionally turned to have a last look at Neel. He was staring in confusion at Yug and then turning his cold eyes to meet mine.

I did not react and turned back to my direction, to go to the room.

I know I was being extra. Extra pissed, extra annoyed, and maybe extra dramatic.

I was confused myself. I had nothing against anyone. Nothing in particular. But yet the whole thing felt sick. I needed time, just a little time. Maybe then, I'll be fine.

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