Chapter 5 The marriage proposal

At Marissa's Home

It didn't take long before Marissa's siblings got home and when they did they saw their mum standing outside - It was as if she was waiting for them.

"Where did you guys go to? Why isn't the plate washed? And where on earth is Marissa?" She questioned, her hands were folded below her breast.

"I don't know where she went to" Bennett replied, thinking of how he would deal with the old lady.

"Both of you, go do the dishes now!" She ordered and they both grumbled before going inside.

She sat down on a stool outside, bringing out the stuff she bought from her bag.

"Odette!" Her husband called happily, coming to her direction.

She rolled her eyes, not stopping what she was doing.

Couldn't he for once address her as his wife, why always calling her name. It was no use of her telling him, her husband was not the romantic type.

"Guess what".

"What is it this time around" Odette asked, almost snapping at him.

"Take this. A letter from Ral" He handed a letter to her.

She reluctantly took it from him and opened the paper.

"What is this?".

"It is in your hands right?"

She nodded.

"Then read it".

After casting a suspicious stare at him she began reading the letter.

Few minutes later she finished reading it and handed it back to him with a deep frown on her face.

"Why aren't you happy?" Her husband asked when he saw she didn't do anything after reading the letter.

"Why should I be happy that an old man is asking to marry Marissa".

"He's wealthy and Noble. Do you know the kind of honor and respect we'll be getting if Marissa becomes his wife?".

"He is old and ugly!".

"Yet rich. This is a lifetime opportunity... I am sure no one else would want to get married to Marissa, she's not friendly, she hardly associates with anyone. Who would want to get married to a boring girl like her?".

'You are boring and you found yourself a wife' Odette thought, not saying it out.

She didn't want to argue more, she didn't want to have an issue with her husband over Marissa.

She took the things she would be needing to cook and walked inside the house, leaving the rest outside.

Her husband smiled as he stared at the letter again.

"Marissa will get married to him and I will become rich also. My dream of owning a horse and another plot of land for farming is finally coming true. Yes!".

****

THE ROYAL PALACE

Princess Amira walked out of the chamber with her hands on her gown, raising it up from rubbing the floor.

She was walking alone, their were no maids or guards with her.

She hasn't gone far when she saw the first queen (Matteo's mother), she was alone, it was too late for Amira to turn back because the queen had already seen her and it would look weird if she turned back without greeting her.

"Greetings her majesty" She bowed slightly.

"Princess Amira" Queen Reina called in a tone which Amira didn't understand.

"Yes, my queen".

"Currently you have been locking yourself in your room all day long without eating, you look skinny now. If your dad sees you like this he might think we aren't feeding you well".

Of course everyone knew how the king of elixir loved his daughter so much, he wouldn't want anything to happen to a strand of her hair.

Princess Amira understood what the Queen was driving at. "I will explain to him".

"The best way to avoid all that is to eat".

"I don't get the appetite to eat these days".

"I understand how you feel, but just try to eat".

"I will try".

"Keep hoping, the goddess will answer your prayers soon" Queen Reina gave her hope.

"Thank you my queen".

Queen Reina nodded and walked away.

Princess Amira sighed, she took a step and was about to take another when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

She bit her lip in order not to scream but the pain hit her again and she couldn't hold it anymore, she let out a scream and her vision became blurry. She couldn't stand still anymore, then she passed out.

Prince Matteo stepped down from the horse immediately he got to the palace gate and the horse was taken by a guard.

The big gate was opened for him and he walked in.

The guards and maids he came across greeted him by bowing but he didn't respond to their greetings. He was too tired to, he was famished and needed to eat something.

He was close to his chamber when a guard rushed to him.

"Your highness, you are back, I have been looking for you" He said.

Matteo noticed the hurriedness in the guard's voice and he could tell something was wrong. But what could it be?.

"Yeah, I'm back. Why were you looking for me?".

"Your wife, Princess Amira passed out earlier, she has been taken to her room" The guard informed and without wasting any time Matteo rushed away, heading to the room.

He got to the room and saw Amira on the bed, she was unconscious and standing beside her was the royal healer and Queen Reina.

"Mother, what happened to her?" One could sense the worries laced in his voice.

"I don't know, Matteo. She just passed out, some maids had to raise alarm" Queen Reina replied.

" Greetings Prince Matteo" The healer bowed.

"What happened to my wife? Will she be okay?".

The healer glanced at Amira before looking at Prince Matteo. "She will be fine, I made her take some herbs so any moment from now she would be awake" He informed and Matteo sighed in relief.

"Thank you".

"It's my pleasure, your highness. I will take my leave now" He bowed again and left.

"She is getting thinner every day, the rate at which she thinks is high... I don't know what you have to do but do something about it, Matteo. She isn't happy, she is dying in silence" Queen Reina stated.

Prince Matteo was quiet for a while, he didn't have anything to say but it would be bad if he didn't reply, he wouldn't want to snub his mother and Queen.

"I am trying my best, mother. I am literally doing all I can to make her happy... I comfort her, everyone comforts her but who comforts me? We still have enough time, it has been only two years not for ever".

The Queen sighed. She walked closer to Matteo and began patting his hair. "I am here for you, okay? Be strong".

"I will, mother".

She nodded slowly and walked out of the room.

Matteo took Amira's left hand and started stroking it. "You used to be do cheerful, anywhere you went anyone could feel the lively energy you have, but why did you change? Do not allow yourself to be so worried" He muttered, still stroking her hand.

"I heard my father wrote a letter to you, what is it about?" Amira asked and Matteo let go of her hand.

"How long have you been awake? Did you pretend to faint to gain attention? " .

Amira slowly opened her eyes and sat upright. "I have been awake right before you walk in, and I didn't pretend... Tell me what my father said" She urged.

"I can't remember what he said" Matteo replied, looking away from her.

Amira could tell he was lying, she knew her husband doesn't forget things so easily, so why would he forget a letter that he read that same day.

"I get the fact that you don't want to tell me, it's okay... I heard everything you said to the Queen and I'm sorry for not thinking about how you would feel, I'm sorry for only thinking about myself".

Matteo smiled. "It's okay, darling. I am hungry, I will order the maids to prepare something for us. What would you like to eat?" .

"Chicken! I want chicken!" Amira shouted like a kid and Matteo laughed slightly.

"Okay darling, I will be right back" He kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

A smile found its way to Amira's face, but it disappeared when she thought of the letter.

"What could father have said?" She mumbled, thinking about it.