Chapter 178 - Beautiful Talk

Queen Claricia asked in an excited voice, "Your wife? You mean she is your mate? Did you mark her?"

Nigel was not expecting that surprised yet excited tone from his mother. But he already knew that she would not protest. He glanced at his mother shyly and nodded his head. Rhea also gave a shy smile, trying her best not to look nervous or intimidated.

Claricia covered her mouth with both of her hands and she looked at both of them with teary eyes. And in the next moment, she flung up from her chair and enveloped the couple in her arms. It was not very lady-like, but she didn't care. She was way too happy for her son. She happily whispered, "Oh my dear boy, you have grown up!"

She pulled off from the hug and then held Rhea's hand in her palm.

Rhea got up from where she was sitting and then gave a deep bow to the Queen of Wyverndale. And she said, "I am sorry I forgot to greet you earlier, Your Majesty. I guess I was a little nervous to meet you."

"It's alright dear. I can understand how you must be feeling right now." Queen Claricia gave a warm smile to her daughter-in-law. She trailed her glance on Rhea's beautiful eyes, and hair, and face. And she gently caressed Rhea's cheek and said, "Welcome to the family, dear. What is your name?"

"My name is Rhea, Your Majesty." Rhea's heart was beating faster and faster although the Queen was being very gentle while talking with her.

Claricia waved her hand and frowned, "You don't need to address me with so much formality when we are alone. Just call me 'mother'."

Rhea was taken aback by that request from the Queen. As Nigel had said, his mother was very kind and pure.

Queen Claricia made Rhea sit down beside her and then had a chat with her for a long time. She was curious to know about where Rhea was from, how she met Nigel, and things like that. She was even happier to find out that Rhea was actually Nigel's teacher. She was proud that her son had chosen someone as strong and as beautiful as Rhea.

Nigel, on the other hand, was staring at the two of them chatting happily and bonding with each other. He didn't mind being ignored by both his mother and his wife.

And after about an hour of talking, Claricia finally turned her attention to her son and then asked, "So, I am guessing that you have not introduced Rhea to His Majesty yet. I had heard that the King has gone on some kind of trip."

"Yes. The councilmen said that he went to do some final preparation for the test. I am guessing he will be back this afternoon. But I want to introduce her to His Majesty and to everyone else after the test. The King must be busy with all kinds of preparations." Nigel chuckled and then added, "After all, his children can fill a whole classroom so the pressure must be real for him."

"Nigel!" Claricia gave a warning look to Nigel but then she also started to laugh along with him. She was trying to control her laughter but she was unable to. "The King will be mad if he hears us laughing right now."

After calming down from the laughter, Queen Claricia glanced at Nigel and Rhea and then asked, "So, when are the two of you planning to hold the wedding ceremony?"

"I will ask the King to hold an intimate ceremony as soon as the test ends." Nigel looked down on the floor and then spoke melancholically, "Mother, I have to return back to Aberdeen as soon as I can. It is very dangerous for me to stay here."

Queen Claricia already knew that her son wouldn't be allowed to stay in Wyverndale the moment she discovered that Nigel had turned. But still, it hurt when she heard it from Nigel's mouth. She gestured her son to come to her and then hugged him tightly. "I know, son. I am going to miss you a lot."

"I will miss you too, mother." Nigel was trying hard to control his emotions. He didn't want to start crying in front of his mother and make her feel bad.

Claricia was also fighting her tears. She placed a warm kiss on Nigel's forehead and tried to cheer him up, "Nigel, make sure that you write letters every month. I will do the same. And come to visit me if the time allows."

Nigel was still unable to look at his mother in the eyes. And he just nodded his head.

Claricia forced a smile on her lips and spoke in a cheerful voice, "Did you get the chance to meet Rhea's parents?"

Nigel shook his head. "No, we were already in a hurry to come here. The alpha told us not to worry about it; he said that he would inform Rhea's parents."

"Are you not planning to invite Rhea's family to the wedding?" Claricia gave a questioning glance to both Rhea and Nigel.

Rhea smiled and said, "My father is also a werewolf and I don't think calling them here will be good. It will only put the people here in danger."

And Nigel instantly added what his uncle had told him when he went to meet him along with Rhea. "King Conall has promised us a wedding ceremony in Aberdeen. Her relatives will attend the ceremony there."

Queen Claricia forced a smile again. "I am glad then. My brother is taking good care of you two." She took a deep breath and said, "It would have been wonderful to invite everyone here in Wyverndale and hold a beautiful wedding ceremony... But it's alright. I will meet Rhea's parents when I come to Aberdeen."

She held Rhea's hand and said to Nigel, "Remind me to write a letter to Rhea's parents. I would at least like to greet them through the letter for the time being."

Claricia talked with Nigel and Rhea for some more time. They had almost spent half a day just catching up with each other. They had a beautiful lunch in Queen Claricia's garden. Fenris also joined them for the lunch.

Fenris was worried about Nigel and Adeline, and he was not able to get even a wink of sleep for the whole night. He had a lot of questions for Nigel but he didn't dare to ask them in front of the Queen. So he followed Nigel and Rhea back to Nigel's quarter. And when he knew that Adeline was completely fine, he let out a sigh of relief.. If anything had happened to her, he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself.