The truth

"You do?" Mero asked, he did not want to push his luck, but he just felt that it would be best for him to be sure so there would be no future misunderstandings between them.

"Unfortunately I do." Nora sighed.

"Why?" Mero asked.

"Well whether I would like to admit it or not. I put myself in your shoes, and if you had been the person I loved while I had to be with someone else." Nora said.

"I would never have been able to love the person I was with while still having feelings for you, so I understand." Nora said. She wished she was not so understanding. She wished she could allow herself to remain angry for a little while longer.

But she had been happy for the past few days and she wanted things to stay that way and the only way for that to happen was for her to let go of the hurt she felt because of Mero.

"I honestly just want to put all this behind me and move on." She said.

"And I want you to move on." Mero said.

Nora looked at him, as much as she did not want to be affected by him, she still was.

"You know Mero, it was really hard for me to realize that all the hopes I had were never going to come to pass." Nora said.

"I honestly do not know what to say to make you feel better but had there been different circumstances, there is no one I would have wished to spent my life with other than you." Mero said.

Nora smiled painfully. Those words were like a slap to the face. She had always been a second option for him, never a first.

"Maybe, I just wish that I was not your alternative." Nora said.

Mero was silent, he could not refute her. It was true, as terrible as it sounded it was true.

"It is alright, you do not have to say anything. It is the truth." Nora said.

"I always admire your honesty, always." Mero managed to say.

"And I also do admire your honesty." She replied.

"Do you think that we could ever truly move past this and remain friends?" Mero asked.

"I believe we can. It was not like we were married and you betrayed me. We can move on." Nora said.

"Thank you Nora, you do not know how relieved I am to hear you say that." Mero said sighing.

"You ignoring me has been the worst torture. Each time I saw you from afar I wished I could approach you." He said as Nora began to laugh.

"I cannot believe you went down on your knees to beg me." She laughed.

"I honestly did not know what else to do to get you give me the light of day." Mero chuckled.

"Yes, but degrading yourself to such a level, if anyone had walked in they would have thought I had charmed you." Nora laughed.

"Well anything for you to forgive me." Mero replied. She did not know how hearing her laugh caused him to feel so happy he smiled.

"Well you are forgiven Mero." She smiled at him.

"Thank you Nora... I should probably go and look for her majesty." Mero said.

"Yes." Nora said.

"It was such a relief to speak to you again Nora, thank you for being so understanding always." Mero said.

"You do not have to thank me, we both deserve to move on with our lives." She replied as Mero took a step forward, he took her hand in his and gave a little kiss on the back of her hand.

"You are the most gentle and kind soul I have ever met." He said letting go of her hand.

Nora stood there stunned. She did not know what to say or what to feel. However, she knew she had to remain composed.

Mero just smiled and waved before taking his leave.

Nora snapped out of her stupor as soon as he left. She shook her head and sighed.

"Goodbye Mero." She said to herself.

...

"What is the matter with you? You have been quiet all evening." Nora said turning to look at Zuph. They had been having dinner under the stars as usual, yet tonight, he felt more distant and cold than ever.

"Have I?" Zuph asked as she nodded.

"Yes, something is bothering you. You know that you can tell me whatever it is that is worrying you." She smiled.

Zuph sighed, he was itching to tell her what the matter was, but he was afraid that she would be upset considering it concerned Mero.

"Are you sure? I do not think you will like what I have on my mind." Zuph replied.

"Really now? Tell me first then I will be the one to decide if it will bother me or not." Nora replied.

"Alright then." Zuph sighed.

"I have been thinking about Mero and the plans we made to find out the truth but today... Mero and I spoke." Zuph said pausing.

"Alright, that reminds me, I wanted to tell you that I spoke with Mero today as well." She said.

"Really now?" Zuph asked surprised.

"Yes." Nora nodded. "He came to her majesty's office looking for her and well, he happened to meet me there and he begged me to speak with him even for a little while." Nora said.

"So what did you talk about?" Zuph asked, initially he would have felt like he was overstepping by asking such a personal question, but they had gotten close over the time they had spent together.

"Well he asked for my forgiveness and offered to explain everything to me and the reasons behind his actions." Nora said. She had also had something on her mind all evening.

She had been thinking about it since afternoon. After what she and Mero had discussed and concluded. She suddenly did not have the desire to find out who his lover is. She honestly could not care less.

The problem now was how she would tell Zuph that, she was worried he would not be happy with her decision, and that made her worried.

"I see, and you reached an understanding?" Zuph asked.

"Yes, I understand how it feels to be in love with someone so greatly and you do not want lie but you have to do what is best for everyone in the end." Nora replied.

"I agree... Mero and I also spoke today, he explained to my his reasons, and unfortunately, I felt like I understood him." Zuph sighed.

"How surprising." Nora chuckled.

"It seems that Mero spoke to the both of us today." Nora laughed as Zuph laughed.

"It seems so." He laughed.

"Zuph, I want to be honest with you. After what happened, I really do not feel like there is any reason to continue our investigations on the mystery woman." Nora said.

"I also did not know how to tell you, but I agree, after what happened today, I do not feel like continuing to pretend. I actually do want to forgive him." Zuph said as Nora nodded.

"But I am worried about you." He turned to Nora.

"Why?" she asked.

"I cannot help but feel like the identity of this woman will always be at the back of your mind. Maybe we should just continue for the sake of your peace of mind." He said.

"But I am at peace right now Zuph." Nora smiled.

"And honestly, whether I find her or not, it will not change anything. I have decided to move on with my life and to let go of every hurt I have with Mero, and that is the truth." Nora said.

"I am happy to hear you say that because I feel the same way." Zuph said.

"I do want to move on and I want to begin to repair my relationship with Mero. We have been through quite a lot together and I do value our friendship." He said.

"I know you do, and I never wanted to come between such a friendship. That was why in the beginning I wanted you to stay out of it." Nora said.

"That was my choice Nora, but since you are happy, it makes me happy." He smiled.

"Me too." She smiled.

"So that means we are both thinking the same thing?" Zuph asked.

"Yes we are." Nora smiled.

"Great." Zuph smiled.

"I am so glad we both said what was on our mind, it makes everything so much better." Nora could not help but laugh.

"I feel the same, I like how easy it is to talk to you." Zuph smiled.

"Me too." She smiled.

"I just feel so, so happy right now, thank you for caring for me so much Zuph." Nora sighed and smiled.

"You do not have to thank me Nora, I would do anything for you, truly I would." Zuph smiled as Nora did not know what to say so she did not say anything.