City of Starlight

Chapter 10 - For The Best

(Daniella's POV)

The silence in the room tore me apart. All I wanted was to disappear, preferably back to a time where Rhys hadn't asked my mother whether or not he had her permission to court me. Sir Headley looked absolutely shocked and was unable to school his expression. His eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead and his mouth hung open as if it was a venus flytrap plant. On the other hand, mother's lips parted ever so slightly to indicate that it wasn't what she was expecting to hear, but I could tell that the events that happened in the castle hadn't escaped her mind entirely. Afterall, they had been an introduction to the possibility that we knew each other. Although, the extent to which we knew each other was a completely different story.  

The silence got to a point where it was unbearable. In a small quivering voice, I pushed, "Mother?"

She cleared her throat, which was a dangerous sign in itself. Finally, she breathed, "Daniella, will you come outside with me for a moment?" 

I spared Rhys a nervous glance as I left the room behind her. When I closed the door, I prepared myself for the worst but all she did was embrace me in a hug. I froze, unsure how to respond to the gesture. "Umm...mother? You're scaring me," I said.

When we parted, there was a sort of glittering glint in her eyes. She then reached up to tuck a strand of hair past my ear. "Is he telling the truth? Are your feelings the same towards him?"

I nodded, but I knew I couldn't hide my doubts from my mother. In fact, before I could speak, she said blatantly, "There's something."

I shook my head and tried to hide my worries, but she gripped my shoulder firmly and said with eyes bearing into mine, "No one is forcing you, Firefly. If you're unsure or if you don't feel ready, you can walk away at any time, including now."

I blushed as I murmured quietly without meeting her gaze, "But I do like him."

She cupped my face into her hands and said softly, "Alright, you don't have to tell me what's holding you back if you don't wish to, but know that there is some truth to your grandmother's words; that love is weakness. Love sometimes does make people blind to what's in front of them-"

"Mama-" I groaned, making her place her hands back by her side. She chuckled as a response and continued, "Sometimes our emotions and our rational conscience doesn't communicate quite the way we want. Whilst the logical part of our mind may tell us to walk away, the emotional part of our hearts draws us close. In the end, only you know which one you should listen to."

I bit my lip and mulled over her words.

"You don't have to decide now if you're not ready, firefly. I can go in and tell the boy that you need some time if you want."

I hugged myself and looked down, reducing my thoughts to the simple confession, "What if I make the wrong choice? What if it doesn't go well?" I lowered my voice and added quietly, "What if one of us gets hurt?"

Mother exhaled and questioned with a frown, "Oh, firefly...you're not thinking about your own parents are you?" I didn't reply so she suggested, "Spend some time with him as a friend and get to know him. Then, you'll know more clearly whether he's the right one for you."

After a moment of silence, I looked up shyly and asked sheepishly, "So do you approve?" She gave me a smile and sniffed with a nod. 

"No one will ever be good enough for you under my standards but I know Sir Headley is a dutiful man and he had been diligent in overseeing the education of his stepson. I haven't heard any reports about bad behaviour from Rhys when he was a young boy in the palace either."