A Complicated Situation

While Iria quietly stared at Arin's assuring smile, she heard the voice of her cousin who was sitting on her left.

"It will be alright," Andres muttered in an assuring voice. "Don't lose your cool, Iria. He doesn't worth it."

The Qalagon Queen was reminded of all the efforts she put in the past year; building up her patience and her strength, learning to not be reckless... weren't they for this time?

Why must she be bothered by him?

She still remembered the promise she made in Rion's grave and she was willing to do anything to fulfil that. She already waited for a year and she would be a fool if she turned it to waste!

"I'm fine," she finally said, looking at her cousin. "I won't lose my cool."

"That's good," Andres Francia remarked with a small yet genuine smile. "The whole room will keep their eyes on you. You can do whatever you want after you are free from all these observing gazes."