Chapter: Disappointment and Jealousy

"What have you done so far besides being apologetic?!" A lady questioned making the whole council whisper and the king go silent.

"Every time I came here in the hope of listening to the progress you've reached so far. But all I hear is apologies?...." Her voice echoed.

A sense of disappointment and sadness could be seen in her eyes while her voice and gestures showed full confidence. The lady belonged to another magical realm called, "Santaro." She was in her twenties and had a long oval-shaped face. Her burgundy hair was tied up in a high bun and she was wearing a long A-line, V-neck and full-sleeved peacock and sugar coloured gown.

She was the head lady of her kingdom. By the kingdom having some nice relations with Montiara without any doubt, she was on good terms with Montiara too.

She looked at king Oceanus and while making eye contact with him she added,

"Since when did Montiara became so incompetent?" Gradually her voice lowering.

The insults she had to hear of Montiara nowadays in the council meetings were now above the limits of decency. She couldn't bear it anymore.

"Since when...did Montiara became so helpless. The Montiara which I remember always had been the bible of courage. In which, each word screamed courage and intelligence. Then what happened to it now?"

She kept her hands on the table and her eyes went a bit wet as she frowned.

"Why...so lame?" She barely whispered.

King Oceanus had no words to defend himself he breathed slightly as his eyes told the tale of disappointment he had within himself.

The council started whispering again as the head lady went quite and her words went numb as she kept staring at the king sitting in the opposite panel just in front of her.

"Lady Nari, you may please take your seat now!" Ordered Madam Evangeline.

Nari looked at Evangeline and sat back down on her place looking down.

"The Montiara king Oceanus!"

"Yes." Oceanus stood up as Evangeline called out his name.

"I would request you to found a way as soon as possible to stop the unfortunate from happening. You won't be spared behind if the misfortunes take place due to Montiara's incompetence." Evangeline ordered while Oceanus nodded and sat back down.

"I would like to end this meeting now and would request everyone to leave and not to leak any piece of the discussion held here. Anyone caught or suspected of doing so will be punished severely."

With these lines, Evangeline stood up and went outside. Here Oceanus came out and walked towards his car while his entourage followed or more like protected him from being assaulted.

"Oh Lord, why did you took our crown prince away from us." Oceanus sighed as he mumbled within himself and sat into his car.

While Evangeline looked at the king from far away and sighed as she sat into her car. She knew that Oceanus was not ready to take over the throne he hadn't even ever imagined of possessing it and now that he has so many responsibilities on his head without anyone leading him Evangeline wondered how will this all be solved. Little did she had faith that if mother queen is alive then everything will be back to its place as it was but the word "if" made her think of other consequences.

****

"So all these years you've been here? Working in this cafe?" Aera asked as she sat beside Do Yun.

It was the afternoon break time and Hyun Soo was talking to Young-Hee on her phone while Sang Hyeon was out without informing anyone.

"Yea, I live here, work here and..." He said and his eyes got struck outside the cafe.

"And...?" Aera asked and followed his gaze only find Hyun Soo moving back and forth outside the cafe while talking on her phone.

Aera looked at Hyun Soo and there was a sense of disappointment in her eyes but then, she shook it away and looked back at Do Yun who was still staring outside.

"Do you...love her?" She asked being hesitant.

"Huh?" Do Yun looked at her being surprised as his eyes widened.

"Hm?" Aera questioned again.

"N-no." He shook his head vigorously.

"Really?" She asked as her eyes showed twinkles.

"Ye-yeah! I- don't even like her." He added making it suspicious.

"But..."

"But?..." Do Yun asked.

"Nope! Nothing. I'm hungry so...shall we order something?" Aera said as she took out her phone from her coat's pocket.

"How about pizza?" She asked.

"Let's choose." She said.

She bent a bit sideways towards Do Yun and showed him her phone screen. They both searched for pizza and talked and laughed while looking at the screen.

"But this one is also good." Do Yun suggested.

"But I like this one," Aera replied.

"Ah! Really?" He scratched his neck softly and thought deeply.

"Okay then...lets order this one too." They finally decided.

"Why are you standing outside?" Someone interrupted Hyun Soo who was all this time looking at Do Yun and Aera from outside.

"Huh? That-" She paused.

"Are you perhaps jealous?" Sang Hyeon asked lowering her shades and looking at Hyun Soo with a teasing smile.

"N-no, why would be I? Mr Do Yun told me that she is his childhood frien-" She blurted out and bit her tongue.

You made it so obvious Hyun Soo! She yelled at herself beneath her breath.

"Ah! That is it. Then why are you standing here let's go in."

"Ah! yeah, let's go." She said and rushed inside making Sang Hyeon chuckle lightly.

Sang Hyeon stood outside and looked at Hyun Soo who stole glances time to time at the "Childhood Friends" while fake working on the counter. Sang Hyeon folded her sunglasses and kept it in her bag with a sigh. She looked up again and before entering the cafe she mumbled,

"Of course you're jealous, why are you even trying to hide it from Me!..."