When I was about to set my foot on the ground, Sir Hobert stopped me and looking carefully at the surroundings.

"My Lady, it is best for us to return to the mansion first. I'm afraid there is something here that we can't meddle with, directly." Sir Hobert looked a bit stern when he said that to me.

At first I was a bit puzzled with his words but something dawned on me. Immediately I agreed with him and we returned home. When we reached at the mansion, I rushed to father's study room immediately to find no one in the room. Hans later informed me that father was summoned by the king to the palace.

I returned to my room, took a bath, had a dinner and went to sleep. I decided to talk with father tomorrow about Boaz Valley and some issues about main headquarters.

But to my disappointment father was about to preoccupied with kingdom's matter for the next two weeks. Hans told me that and father only went home just to change his attire and eat. The matter must be urgent for father to work continuously from the palace. I tried to remember any major event from the novel but none came to my mind.

Regarding Boaz Valley issue, I let Sir Hobert to investigate about it, to collect many evidence as he could before I presented it to father. And along the way, I send a few persons to distribute some food and necessities for the children. It was to help them for the time being before any actions taken on the responsible individuals. For the safety of the children, I dispatched some knight to secretly monitor them and ensure their welfare.

*******

"How's your exam dear?" Queen Amara asked me since exam period has been ended last week. Not so much happening in the college this year and I ended my second year peacefully.

"I've done my best, your majesty and I hope I get the best result of it." That was all I could said about it. No matter how many effort or how hard I study, I am not a genius and my result reflected my hard work or mostly luck. But for me the most important thing is only I should know how hard I work. I don't really put much care about others but if I manage to please them with my achievements, then it's a bonus for me.

Queen Amara just smiled and nodded at my response. 

"Don't be too stress about it. You've done well and I'm sure you will happy when the result come out."

I smiled at her encouragement. What I really like about the Queen is she never stressed about anything to me. She didn't expect me to be the perfect fiancee of Prince Noah. She just treat me like her own child. She always be a supportive and understanding figure to me. She just like a second mother to me. 

While we're sitting peacefully in the gigantic garden, footsteps could be heard coming to us and when I turned around, King Finlay and Prince Noah walking towards us. I couldn't remember when the last time I met the prince as he was busied with his last year and so did I.

"Sorry we're late. I'm sorry Ava dear, got caught up with work." The King spoke to me as he took a seat beside the Queen while the Prince still remained silent without any words came out from his mouth.

"Try this. Ava baked these." The Queen showed the desserts and urged them to taste it. I was baking apple pie and orange scones for my family and I thought I could share it with the royal family and that was the reason of my visit to the palace. 

"Really? It must be delicious." The King put an apple pie into his mouth while the prince ate the orange scones.

"Wonderful." The King said, astoundment settling over his face and voice. "Never thought Ava can make something delicious as this." He munched on the apple pie happily and I was glad he liked it.

"How about you Noah?" The Queen asked for Prince Noah later. He just stared at the dessert on his hand and slowly turning his head towards me and uttered a single word to me.

"Good." The prince also said one word but to me it was such a great compliment. To hear praises from his mouth was a rare moment after all. I just kept smiling the whole time after that. His compliment lifted my mood without I noticed it.

We spending the evening with me silently listening to the conversation between the King and Queen. I love to watch the couple talking with each other as they looked really comfortable together. Deep in my heart I wished someday I will meet someone where I can spend my life like the couple. 

*******

Notes : Dear my beloved readers, I'm sorry for the short chapter. I got caught up with works and cannot update frequently as I can and I'm sorry for that and please do expect slow updates from me. Once again please forgive me for that. For the story, I just want you guys to know that this story has really slow paced romance and plot as I want to build the character first. I want Ava to achieve everything she wants to do in her current life. Everyone has different pace in life so I hope you can understand why up until now the romance is minimal in this story. By the way thank you so much for anticipating this story and please stay safe and healthy always. Please be careful for the virus, always sanitise your hands, wear masks and keep your distance. I hope one day this virus will be gone from our life and we can resume our life normally as it used to be. I really hope for that.