94 Chapter 3 (1/2)

The dragging, boring getting acquainted part of the meeting finally ended with the plan that Daniel and Lilybella would spend the entire day getting to know each other. Not much surprised on Daniel's part. He didn't disagree with it, though he excused himself to talked with his parents alone while the Waltz family didn't give it much thought.

In actuality, they too couldn't believe that the Princess would choose their naive and clum––their kind and gentle daughter to be the fiancée of Prince Daniel. But if Prince Daniel would talk to his parents about canceling the engagement, they would wholeheartedly understand. Whether they like it or not, they too think Lilybella wasn't suited for him. It was sad, but they knew their daughter. She was definitely not suited for the role of a Queen.

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Inside his office, Daniel paced back and forth. His father was quietly sitting on a chair, sipping wine while his mother was standing nonchalantly beside the window, painting a face of innocence.

”Father, you can't. You can't possibly have me marry her,” Daniel said, tone strained, walking back and forth. His usual calm and smiling visage were nowhere to be seen, changed by a contorting face full of irritation.

His father took a sip of his wine, savoring the taste before gulping it all down. ”Your fiancée matters are handled by your mother. If you want to complain, go complaint to her.” He washed his hands and pushed all responsibility to his wife, who made her turned his way. His spine flinched, and his toes curled as she stared at him with dead eyes. He avoided any eye contact and pretended to enjoy his wine.

Daniel wanted to sigh the frustration that was building inside him. He controlled himself, sauntered to his mother, and said straight to the point, finality in his tone.

”Mom, she's not fit to be a Queen.”

His mother didn't react. She just stared at him, looking him in the eyes. A look he got when he did something wrong, and she found out. This time though, he didn't avert his gaze, determined not to marry that walking disaster.

Eventually, the corner of his lips curved up when his mother was the one who conceded first. She sighed, eyes drifting to the window, and asked, ”Tell me, Daniel. What do you see?”

Daniel didn't quite get what his mother was talking about. Still, his gaze spun to the window, inspecting the scenery outside. Though he already knew what sight his eyes would take in.

What was there to look at? All his life, inside the palace, he never walked on anything but imported marble floors and carpets. If not imported, then antique floors carefully preserved each month. When he descended the stairs, his hands never glided on any railings that were not polished mahogany, carved by famous artisans. He never saw a portrait that was not painted in oil framed in gold. Food was always correctly measured packed with nutrients served precisely on time. Each room was like a house, each equipped with intercom if he ever needed anything. Everything was clean, even the air he breathed was scented with calming fresh flowers. He never saw flowers made of plastics. Everything was natural and freshly picked, never wilting.

Lifting his head, his eyes swept the garden. True enough, he saw the usual, nothing out of the ordinary.

”I see a Zen-type garden. Perfect manicured rose bushes and shrubs, lining the pathways. A fountain at the center and flower beds blanketed with snow.” Honestly, whenever he inspected the garden, he never saw weeds. Everything was perfectly maintained and trimmed. Even in the month of winter, he never saw the pathways covered in snow. Never saw the fountain without water, nor mold, nor a single spec of dirt.

His gaze spread far beyond the horizon. It was a bright winter morning, and the air was crisp and fresh, carrying with it mild dew from frozen trees while birds chirp their usual humming rhythms. His eyes stopped at the pile of rocks that touches the sky, covered in blankets of soft white. Even from afar, the mountain was a perfect cone whichever angle he was standing. It was a landmark in which Everland got its name –– Evermountain.

His sightseeing was interrupted by his mother's sigh, and his uplifted mood deflated. She asked him what he saw, and when he answered the question, she gave a disappointed sigh? What's up with that? Unless he was supposed to see that she had done something with the garden like adding new roses of rare breeds? Maybe a new bonsai? Or did she plant an invincible apple tree?

He did a twice over and still couldn't find what was new with the garden.

His mother sighed once more. ”Tell me, what qualities do you want for your Queen to be?”