Naroaika

Chapter 30

As we spent our time together, I heard some noises coming from behind the door.

I quietly went up and opened the door to see my parents along with Zed and some maids. 'They were probably trying to listen to what we were talking or doing!'

"Would you care to explain?" I said in a slightly annoyed tone.

"A-Adline-!"

I noticed them panicking as they tried to find an excuse.

"Good afternoon, Duke and Duchess." Al came forward to greet my parents.

"Oh dear, you can call us mom and dad!"

"What?!"

I was dumbfounded by what my mother just said.

"What do you mean by that?!"

I can't believe I just said that. I looked at my father but he didn't say anything, indicating that he agreed to what mother had said.

I turned to Al and he looked like he was hiding something. I pulled Al back inside the room and locked the door. I sharpened my gaze at him and he opened up.

"You what?!"

I was speechless again. Apparently, Al had come home to get permission from my parents for marriage to which they agreed right away.

"Haah!~"

I let out a sigh. When I turned around, he was on one knee and held a box in his hand.

"Are you for real?"

"This wasn't as I had planned and I may sound cheesy again but Jerinah, having you by my side is what completes me. I love you Jerinah and I can't imagine my life without you in it.

Will you marry me?"

"What do you want me to say at a time like this, you dummy. Yes!"

I stepped forward and hugged him.

"You do realise you'll need to ask my parents in the real world too."

"I totally forgot about that." He replied. "I'll do that when we return."

He removed the ring from the box and slipped it on my finger.

The ring had a diamond on it. Right on the centre, a small daisy was engraved on to it.

"It's so beautiful!"

"It looks even more beautiful when you wear it."

"Oh could you stop being so cheesy?"

"Do you dislike it?"

"No, I actually don't."

With small laughter and smiles, we spent our time.

"I assume the wormhole will open this year."

I nodded at Al's statement.

'It's already time' I thought to myself.

But the problem was 'where will the wormhole open.'

We decided to meet Azlo in the coming weeks.

As Al left the mansion, I sat on my bed admiring the diamond ring on my finger.

"Can't believe I'm engaged." I wondered if the ring would remain when we pass through the wormhole.

In a few months, Juliette and Mr.Keilan married in a grand ceremony at the royal capital. There were also officials who arrived from the neighbouring countries and the security was much tighter.

"They look perfect for each other" I whispered to Al as he stood next to me.

"I think we do too"

'This man won't stop making me blush!'

He chuckled as I nudged him.

The time went on fast and we were already in the last month of the year. The capital was busy again for the annual festival.

Al and I had visited Azlo to ask about the wormhole to which he gave a very important piece of information that the wormhole would open in front of at least one of us so, we had to be together at all times on the day the wormhole appears. We thanked Azlo for all his help to which he only chuckled.

With the final preparations for the festival taking place, I sat on my bed thinking all that had happened over the years.

'I'm going to miss this world.

My loving parents here, Zed and everyone in the household. The royal family and all the beautiful places I had visited.

The actual Jerinah would return after a week from now.'

I covered my eyes with my arms across it.

"I'm going to miss them a lot."

*     *     *

I tried to spend the week with my parents most of the days. Not forgetting Zed. He was amazed that the dust actually worked. I sadly couldn't tell him that I would be leaving forever soon, even though 'Jerinah' would still exist in this world. "I hope you continue to be an exceptional knight."

He looked at me confused but decided not to ask and kneeled before me.

The final day came. I couldn't sleep the whole night as I was either thinking about the scary incidents that happened or sobbing under the bed covers.

I got dressed for the festival and walked down from my room as Al waited for me. I hoped I wasn't looking too worn out.

We rode to the place and enjoyed our last few hours in Naroaika.

"How long has it been since we came to this world?"

I shook my head at Al's question. "I've lost count on the days"

We looked at the people walking below as we stood at an elevated place that gave us a view of the entire capital.

The city looked so beautiful.

"It's a shame we have to leave this beautiful world."

The fireworks began.

"Yeah, but what if we weren't able to?"

I looked at Al slightly surprised at his question then turned back around to the view of the town.

"As long as you're there, it's-"

He cupped my cheek with one hand as his lips covered mine in a long warm kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

As our lips parted, he smiled warmly and said,

"Let's say that was our last kiss in this world."

We both laughed and watched the rest of the fireworks displayed on the starry night sky.

It was a long, rough journey for both Al and I, and it all came to an end on this very night.

We overheard some people talking about some kind of space opening in the centre of the town.

Al and I quickly rushed to the area.

"Why did the wormhole open in some other area and not as Azlohad said? Was it because we were at the same place?"

Our questions we left unanswered as we saw the wormhole in front of us. I noticed Juliette in the crowd. I smiled at her as our eyes met and mouthed, 'thank you' to her.

"Ready Jerinah?"

I nodded as a response.

We stretched our arms to the wormhole and was immediately sucked in.