Chapter 71 - I’ve Come to Fetch My Wife

Zenia looked at the Queen and hesitated. She understood the Queen's feelings very well and any mother would feel the same way. She only wanted to know whether her son had indeed married an ugly woman or not.

Zenia thought that if her brother married an ugly girl and loved her, she would search for the best doctor to improve the way she looked. Not necessarily change her looks but to give her confidence – just like what her family did for her.

Zenia subconsciously touched the area on her shoulder where the scar was. It only appeared invisible now because of the thin film of synthetic skin over it. The scar was still there, and it was covered with the synthetic skin. Her brothers were the ones who searched for the doctor and her mother and father paid a fortune just to have it done. She could always cover the scar beneath her clothes, and she was not bothered by it. As long as she couldn't see it, she wouldn't be bothered.

Somehow, she couldn't say no to the Queen. She reached out her hands to untie the face veil. Someone from behind suddenly grabbed her hands and completely stopped her actions.

"Mother, I hope you are not bullying my wife just now," Vaughn had a playful tone when he talked to his mother.

"Hmph, why are you so early to pick up your wife? We still have so many things to talk about. You can return later." Queen Mina did not look at Vaughn as she waved her hand to shoo his son away.

Vaughn gave a light chuckle and hugged his mother. Zenia could clearly see that the mother and son duo were very affectionate to each other. She was somewhat glad to learn that. She always thought that the Crown Prince had a very difficult life dealing with his family. She knew that not everyone was as fortunate as her for having a complete, loving family.

"Mother, it is quite late now, can't you see? We might end up eating lunch and dinner here if you keep insisting. Zenia and I just got married and there are still a lot of things that we need to arrange in our home."

The Queen was surprised at her son's choice of word. He did not say palace but home. She was glad that Vaughn finally found his home together with Zenia, but for how long? Home was a word that had been completely obliterated in the Royal Family's dictionary. It was non-existent and treated as something fictitious. No one ever used that word in front of a Royal, and it was the first time that Queen Mina heard her son uttered the word.

The Queen could tell that his son loved his wife so much and wished that she could say the same thing with Zenia. She knew that Zenia only agreed to the marriage because she was forced to do it. It was different with Vaughn. He was completely resolute to marry the daughter of Ovid Anisen. He would give her everything he had and would go to the ends of the world just to preserve her happiness. 

Zenia had decided to end the meeting with the Queen. They really had so many things to do first. She stood up and bowed to the Queen.

"Mother, we will go first. I will come to visit you again some other time."

Queen Mina took out one of her bracelets and reached out for Zenia's hand. She slipped the bracelet into Zenia's arm.

"This bracelet was given to me by my deceased mother, and she told me that it should be passed down to my own daughter. I only have a son and I consider you as my daughter."

Zenia wanted to refuse and took out the bracelet from her arm.

"Mother, this is too much for me to handle. We may end up divorcing sooner than you think."

Zenia felt that it was not the time to be polite. The Queen should accept the truth. She knew that the marriage was nothing more than to solve the crisis that the two kingdoms must deal with.

Vaughn fell silent, and his face was slowly turning dark. Although Queen Mina could not see, she knew that her son did not like what he heard and discontent could already be showing on his face.

Queen Mina sighed, "Zenzen, no matter what happens in the future I will always regard you as my daughter and the only one that I will treat as one. I hope that you and my son will be together for always."

The Queen stood up and walked away. Zenia totally missed the chance to return the bracelet. She looked at the Crown Prince, and Vaughn turned his back and walked to the direction that the Queen had taken.

Zenia was confused and felt like it was all her fault that the seemingly joyous occasion turned into a depressing one.

'What did I do?' She scratched her head and followed after the Crown Prince.

Vaughn was waiting for Zenia at the entrance of the garden. He knew he should not have done that, but he was hurt when he heard her talked about divorce. Was she really keen on not spending her life with him? He had gone through great lengths just to be able to marry her, yet the little devil…

When he saw Zenia coming out, he began to walk toward the carriage without waiting for her. Zenia was once more confused. He obviously waited for her but suddenly walked away when he saw her. She was convinced that men could also be having monthly period blues. Zander and Zekiah were the same.

She smiled because she now had an idea of what to do. She was an expert in handling monthly period blues of men. She always thought that her brothers were weird for having such moods, but she guessed it was normal.

Back in the Royale Palace Inn, Zander and Zekiah sneezed simultaneously.

'Is Zenzen cursing me behind my back?' Both brothers had the same thought.

Vaughn was utterly quiet and Zenia tried her best to be patient and forgiving. The trouble with dealing with a man's monthly period blues was that she should coax him first. The years of practice with Zander and Zekiah paid off.

"Your Highness, did I offend you? Pardon my limited intelligence, but could you please tell me what I did and promise not to do it again. Keeping quiet about it is not helping at all."

Zenia looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. Vaughn sighed when he saw her looking pitiful. He knew that Zenia could be blunt most of the time but did not expect that she would ask him immediately. How was he supposed to answer? He was just feeling miserable when he heard her reply.

"Do you really want to divorce me that badly?"

"I just don't want the Queen to have any expectations. We still don't know what will happen. What if the woman you truly want to marry suddenly appears?"

Vaughn was beginning to get angry again, but he also knew that it might only upset Zenia. He knew that she was trying her best to appease his anger.

Vaughn looked at her and explained, "Don't mention divorce from now on. It's still too early to mention it, and I hate hearing that word."

"Okay," she lowered her head and looked like she was about to cry.

Vaughn panicked. He did not expect that Zenia would have such a reaction. Was he too harsh on her?

Vaughn put his arm around her shoulder and drew her closer to him. Zenia was startled but did nothing to stop him. She should keep the act.

"I didn't mean to sound rude but don't say it again, okay?" Vaughn uttered in a low voice while caressing Zenia's hair. 

See? She grinned while trying to hide her face from Vaughn. She was and would always be the Big Boss. Zander and Zekiah had already known that and Vaughn must've realized it by now… or did he?