hapter 78: The Meeting of Hearts and Minds
**Thelma Zane’s Point of View**
Switching back to myself was more awkward than I had anticipated.
I found myself wishing I could rewind time by ten minutes and give that impulsive girl- myself -a good slap to bring her back to her senses. What had I been thinking? This wasn’t some overly sentimental romance drama where every moment had to be saturated with emotional declarations and grand gestures. It was real life, and now I was left cringing at my own immaturity.
I hugged my knees, trying to curl into a ball, my face burning with embarrassment. “Don’t look at me! Don’t laugh! Just…. go away!” I blurted out, unable to meet Aldrich’s eyes.
But Aldrich had no intention of leaving. Instead, he crouched down beside me and wrapped me in his arms, his warmth soothing my frayed nerves. “I’m touched, baby,” he said softly, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “This is the first time you’ve told me you love me so openly and passionately.”
I flinched, my face growing hotter. “That wasn’t me! That was Maxine!” I protested, desperate to distance myself from my own words. “It has nothing to do with me!”
Aldrich chuckled, his laughter a deep, comforting sound. “Alright, alright. It was Maxine who said it,” he teased. “Even though she was only speaking what was in your heart, let’s say
it was all her doing, okay?”
“Fine,” I muttered, feeling a bit deflated. “But it was still embarrassing! I acted like a child who’s watched too many romantic dramas, throwing caution to the wind without thinking. How ridiculous!”
Aldrich pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, his eyes filled with nothing but affection. “There’s nothing ridiculous about expressing your love,” he said gently. “It’s natural to tell the person you care about how you feel. Isn’t that what love is about? Making each other feel valued and happy?”
“I am happy,” I admitted, though the embarrassment still lingered. “But it’s still so awkward! I wasn’t thinking about saying those things, but Maxine made it sound like a love letter written by a child.”
Aldrich couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer. He pulled me closer, his shoulders shaking with mirth. His laughter echoed around us, blending with the gentle rustling of the flowers surrounding us.
After a few moments, we composed ourselves and carefully tidied up the plants we had crushed during our little emotional episode. I could only hope the palace gardener wouldn’t report the incident to Kara. With everything in order, we set off to find my father.
As fate would have it, my father was entertaining a guest–none other than Duke Frank, Aldrich’s father.
“Well,” Aldrich said, a hint of amusement in his voice, “it seems we won’t be needed here. Our fathers have things under control.
However, a servant soon arrived to escort us to the meeting room. As we entered, I noticed the bright smiles on both my father’s face and Duke Frank’s, The warmth of their expressions left little doubt about the direction this conversation was headed.
“This feels a bit sudden,” I whispered to Aldrich,
He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I didn’t expect our parents to meet so soon either,” he admitted. “Do you think they’ll suggest we get married next month?”
I shot him a warning glance, but he only smiled. “Honestly,” he added with a playful grin, “I wouldn’t mind.”
Before I could respond, Duke Frank’s voice broke through our quiet exchange. “Look at these two lovebirds,” he remarked with mock exasperation. “They can’t take their eyes off each other for even a second.”
I felt a blush creeping up my neck and instinctively let go of Aldrich’s hand. But Aldrich, ever persistent, took my hand back into his own.
“Now, Devin, let the children breathe,” my father said, though he was smiling just as broadly.
“You know me, Your Majesty,” Duke Frank replied, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m just overwhelmed with joy. From the moment I heard the good news this morning, it’s felt like a
but dream. My son my silly, stubborn son–has fallen in love. And not just with anyone, with your daughter. Moon Goddess, is this your way of answering an old man’s prayers?”
Aldrich and I exchanged a glance, a shared smile passing between us. “I should be the one. thanking the Moon Goddess,” I said softly. “Without her, I might never have met Aldrich.”
The room filled with a sense of warmth and joy as we continued to chat. But soon, the conversation shifted to more serious matters.
“My father and I suspect,” Duke Frank began, his tone growing somber, “that although a witch may be controlling Duke Lennon, he hasn’t entirely lost his consciousness. On the contrary, he may be trying to send us a message a plea for help.”
I leaned forward, thoughtful. “So, you believe that Duke Lennon is aware of the truth but is unable to speak openly about it?”
“Yes,”
my father confirmed. “That’s why we’ve arranged for him to undergo a discreet examination. He’s been invited to the palace, but Carolyn–the woman posing as his
companion is always by his side. Your mother is currently entertaining them, looking for an opportunity to separate them.”
Check
(Meeting:
The implication was clear: my father was certain that Carolyn was the witch. If not, he would have examined both Duke Lennon and her simultaneously.
“You’ll likely encounter her often at school from now on,” my father warned. “Be cautious, Thelma. Do not engage her directly. Her powers are deceptive and dangerous.”
“I understand, Father,” I assured him. “We need to gather information from her without revealing our suspicions. I won’t do anything that might alert her.”
“There’s also the matter of the marriage proposal,” my father continued. “Lennon, under Carolyn’s influence, has suggested a marriage between Aldrich and Carolyn. We don’t yet know what the witch’s true intentions are, but we’ve decided to reject it.”
I blinked in surprise. I had braced myself for the possibility that my father might suggest accepting the engagement as a strategic move to gather information. But to hear him outright reject it was unexpected.
For a moment, I sat in silence, processing his words. In a world where deception and manipulation ran rampant, it was a relief to have a clear stance–a refusal to play into the witch’s hands.
Chap 70 A Test of Loy stee
