PERMISSION

The crescent moon shines reigns the starry night and the zephyr wind came in from the massive window and gently stirs the bedroom's curtain, Sumire wakes up late at night. She was weary after the long trip but all the tiredness and pain she felt disappeared after laying down on the Royal bed. She feels refreshed and invigorated after regaining strength.

With her messy bedroom hair, Sumire yawned and stretched her body before she got out of bed. Eyes wandering and found the place vast and magnificent. Above her was a dark gem of a chandelier. Abstract paintings were hanging on the glassy walls which are strangely exquisite and pleasing to her eyes. The dark theme from the painting was combined randomly in the same pattern but is united and outlined by the light-gold color. There aren't many things in the room but the place screams pride and elegance. The soothing scent lingered in her nostrils. The odd silence reigns inside that only her heartbeat can be heard and the things etched in her mind.

'Strange.' That was the first thing she uttered out of astonishment.

The maiden got up wearing a white accent of a nightgown and sauntered toward the bathroom with the bathtub already prepared by the royal maidservants. Dark petals were floating above the lukewarm bath water and an orb of black pearls was under the bathtub. The scented water was crystal clear and is addicting. A vase was full of fresh red roses placed on the side of the bathtub and a red lamp next to it solely provided light in the bathroom. Her towels and clothes that she will wear tonight are also prepared. All her needs are already inside the fancy bathroom. Sumire wasted no time and plunged into the bathtub with a hum. She felt better after taking a bath. The maiden enjoyed herself and the two-day trip was well worth it.

She came out fresh from the bathroom with a towel on her hair. Queen Zèlle, her grandmother was already there waiting for her inside her room. A large table was now placed next to her bed that wasn't there before, filled with many delicious foods, which are all her favorite dishes. Walking towards her grandma, Sumire couldn't stop drooling at what she saw on the table. Queen Zèlle was smiling from ear to ear as she sat next to another seat reserved for her.

"This is the food I promised you. Cooked and prepared by yours, truly." Queen Zèlle laughingly said as she imitated some wordings of Gen Z that she heard in videos on the internet which surprised Sumire.

Stunned at first, the maiden laughed at her grandmother's attempt to sound like her generation. Sumire immediately approached Queen Zèlle's side.

"Damn, I can feel satiety from the smell." Sumire genuinely complimented as she sat down in the chair. She has not yet removed the towel covering her hair.

"Of course, coz am the one who cooked." Queen Zèlle smiled while caressing Sumire's cheek.

The Royal Queen missed her grandkids so much. She wants to be with them. 'How I wish the others were here too.' Queen Zèlle said tearfully in the back of her mind. Which Sumire noticed when she looked at her grandmother who suddenly went silent by her side.

"What's wrong, grandma?" Sumire asked worriedly and hold her hand on her cheek. Queen Zèlle smiled sweetly but the bitterness prevailed over her eyes as she could no longer conceal her emotions that had been accumulated for a long time. Without her family on her side felt aeons. And what Dreygur confesses added to her worrisome.

"I just miss you. I miss your grandfather, your cousins. Your dad, your uncles, and also their loving wives." Queen Zèlle emotionally answered. Tears clouded Sumire's vision as she could feel the longing in her grandma's eyes filled with tears.

"I miss you too, Grandma. We all miss you." Sumire said with tenderness and a hint of sadness can be heard in her tone. But an adorable growl of her tummy interrupts them.

"Stop the drama, you need to eat." Queen Zèlle chuckled as Sumire's stomach rumbled due to hunger. She wiped off the tears from her cheeks and Sumire laughed at her stomach growling at the wrong time.

"Let's eat together, Grandma." Sumire smilingly said and put her grandmother's plate with food. They happily had their late dinner, laughing and Queen Zèlle keeps telling her stories.

"How are you all doing in Brethren, my dear?" Queen Zèlle swerve the subject which the maiden stopped chewing and trying not to let out a heavy sigh as she was in front of the delicious food that her grandmother had cooked for her.

"Is there special someone who picks your interest?" The Queen added with a tease. Sumire's eyes quickly twinkled at her question. But her happiness quickly faded and turn sorrow when she remembered how her father and grandfather oppose their relationship.

"So there is someone, huh? But why are you sad? Did you two break up?" Queen Zèlle asked but the maiden answered with a shake of her head. Sumire swallowed her food in one gulp before she look her grandma in the eyes.

"We didn't break up, Grandma. It's just that Dad is against our relationship." Sumire replied and couldn't help but pouted like a kid. Queen Zèlle frowned at what she said. It is surprising her son would hinder her granddaughter's happiness.

"Why?" The Queen asked once more and Sumire finally let out a heavy sigh.

"He is a Mafia Boss." The maiden responded in a low tone and lowered her head.

Queen Zèlle was baffled and speechless at what she heard. Tongue retracted, she didn't know what to say. She was asking herself how her granddaughter had a connection to the underground world. She knew her son well and Chaise wouldn't make such a decision if it was his daughter's happiness. But knowing Sumire fell in love with a dangerous man, a Mafia Boss, Queen Zèlle now understands why Chaise opposes them. If she were to decide on Sumire's relationship with that man, she will also put their relationship to an end but her granddaughter's happiness is her priority. Queen Zèlle thought carefully about what to say to the maiden who was waiting for her.

"Is that man where your heart truly lies? After all, he's a dangerous man." The Queen asked as the maiden's face quickly lit up.

"Yes, I love him so dearly that I am ready to fight for our love. I want to grow old with him." Sumire replied determinedly which made the Queen smile.

"Are you happy to be with him?" The Queen asked again and Sumire nodded.

"He is my happiness, Grandma. He is my escape and comfort zone. My everything! I wanna marry him. No, I'm gonna marry him soon." Sumire replied. Queen Zèlle could see the happiness, contentment, and love that sparkles in her granddaughter's eyes.

"Then you have my support, sweetheart. And I want to meet this man you love and want to marry." Queen Zèlle said with a smile as Sumire's face brightened up.

Now that she has her grandmother on her side, she won't have to worry about her dad who will surely follow what their Queen mother says.

"So, what's his name?" Queen Zèlle curiously asked. The maiden giggled.

"Mort Dmitriv Aslanov," Sumire replied sweetly as her smile reached her eyes. She couldn't help but feel elated even after mentioning Mort's name. Hope bloomed inside her.

Excitement is written all over her face to tell her grandmother all about Mort which she did. They were happily chatting unaware of a listening device inside Sumire's room that was connected to Dreygur's room. Face darkened, Dreygur's clenched hard on the glass which almost shattered from his grip upon hearing them chatting happily over the man he loathes the most.

Dreygur felt his head explode any minute from the vortex of anger inside him. Queen Zèlle will probably use Mort to thwart his plan to marry Sumire and he will never let that happen. Because Sumire is already in his territory, no one can stop him from taking her. A territory that even the likes of Mort cannot enter.

"In two days there will be a festival. Tomorrow's reunion will be different because it's just for us. As for the festival, it's for the whole country. I want you to enjoy yourself with Mort. I also want to meet him. And your parents should be here. All the Massoullèves must be present. I want to give you my blessings in front of them." Queen Zèlle said with a genuine smile. Sumire's eyes widened at what she heard, and so did Dreygur who was just listening in his room finally broke the glass on his grip.

"Y-you mean..." Words left her lips, her hands were shaking with joy and happiness as her tears gradually fell on her reddened cheek. She could hardly contain the happiness she feels right now.

"Yes, I give you permission to let Mort in here." Queen Zèlle said in a finality tone making the maiden jump to her and hug the Queen tightly.

Sumire could barely conceal her delight. Her happiness was so intense that it scared her that very night while Dreygur was fuming mad. Rampaging like a beast inside the room and ruins everything he sees. His hand meets the wall, his jaw clenched in anger. He will do everything to prevent the Massoullèves and Mort from entering the border of their country. Dreygur knew no one would support him but he was desperate. If he has to kill the current Queen who is his aunt he will do it. But he will face the wrath of his father. He is aware Archduke Zeno would disagree with his decision. He loves his sister more than his own child. He will choose Queen Zèlle over his son who was born in his flesh and blood. Dreygur was never his priority. Archduke Zeno will always prioritize his sister over him and his mother. His father is cruel and merciless when it comes to his own family.

With gritted teeth and a psychotic smile formed on his lips, Dreygur was grinning like a madman. His obsession with his niece keeps getting stronger and uncontrollable.

"No one in the world can have you, Sumire but me alone."

While Sumire was getting excited about the festival unaware of the danger coming for her, Blanche received bad news on the plane with Mort.

Striding back and forth, Blanche didn't know if he would tell Mort what he just found out but right now he was shaking with anger and disgusts. He watched the two obscene videos that his father sent him before he went to North Le Frère with Dreygur and his cousin who was in danger. Blanche felt angry with his father for prolonging the situation. If only his dad had said before what Dreygur did to his cousin, this would not have happened again. Now, Dreygur has the chance to do it again especially since Sumire is in North Le Frère. He is not stupid enough not to guess why his father kept this secret from everyone. Blanche knew his dad wanted to use it now especially since he was aware that his father had lusted for the throne. Blanche wanted to cry in frustration.

'Shit, shit, shit, what am I gonna do...'

After an hour of thinking, Blanche decided to leave and went to Mort's room. He took a deep breath before deciding to knock on the man's room, which Mort immediately opened.

His hair is sexily disheveled and topless, Mort wears eyeglasses and some of the strands of his hair dropped in his vision opened up to Blanche. Mort stood big and dangerous with the swirling aura of command only amplifying his physical appeal. That body was carved to perfection! Though Mort was not his ideal type, Blanche admits that he is incredibly hot. No wonder his cousin fell head over heels for this man who meet her high standards. With his striking pair of green orbs is enough for women to kneel before him. If Mort had been married before he met Sumire, his cousin might be known for growing old vestal virgin.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted your rest but you have to see this," Blanche said as he handed over the flash drive where he downloaded the two videos. He took a screenshot of the message to his father and saved it on a flash drive. Mort immediately accepted it without a question or hesitation.

"I'll go back to my room," Blanche added and the hunk just nodded to him. He left the place without explaining the content in it.

Mort wasted no time, he plugged the flash drive that Blanche gave him into his laptop. He first read Chadwick's screenshot message saved in the drive.

[Bring him here. Dreygur had planned to marry Sumire with or without the consent of both the Davenford and Massoullève families. If he dearly loves Sumire, dare him to come with you. Oh, and tell him to save me since his son will be my son-in-law soon.]

Chadwick's message made Mort's head throb in pain. But he didn't think he would seething with rage at what he watched stored on the flash drive. Now he wants to bury Dreygur alive. His eyes went dark and cold as the veins started to protrude on his rough hands ready to snap someone's head. Mort was oozing lust to kill. He turn on the intercom which connected to Klauss in the flight deck.

"I don't care how you do it but make this plane reach North Le Frère before the second day arrives."

Mort coldly ordered as Klauss swallowed nervously on the other side after hearing his Boss' strident tone. He felt Mort's bloodlust and ominous aura crawl all over the plane. He wanted to make fun of him but he knew this wasn't the right time to tease him.

"Roger that, Boss."