Before Zeidan could ask about Lyne's whereabouts, Luana had strode into the palace. After a brief meeting with his subjects that afternoon, he was about to retire to his room, not even to rest but gather more ideas on how best to protect the city. 

Zeidan let out a breath. "How're you doing?" He asked.

"Very well. I discovered you have barely had a good night's rest. So, it's useless to ask how you are doing?"

"It's as well useless to have a good rest when my City is in jeopardy." He said slowly. He noticed a glint of pain across her eyes but was quickly concealed. She was wearing a blue silk top with long sleeves and black jeans trousers, pulled up with long black boots. Her hair was worn up as usual. 

After a few moments of silence, Luana watched him move about, packing the files and maps on the table where the meeting had just been concluded. 

"You're worried about something else. Does this have to do with Lyne?" Luana asked.

Zeidan shook his head. "It doesn't matter what I'm bothered about. You can just focus on fighting these people and protecting the city like I said earlier, anything that has to do with my family will be sorted out by me." He stopped with stacks of books in his hands and tilted his head to look at her. "Although, you may be right but I still have my eyes on you. Quit talking about her."

"Yeah. Okay, so...what about the plan?" 

"I...um...don't know yet. One of the council members suggested we rebuild the bridge as Effinton suggested." He looked away and walked away to the hallway.

"And have you been to the people's residence? Ask them about their welfare or something?"

Zeidan hesitated. "Have you? You wanted to prove that you could be dutiful. Take it on."

"Yes. I still am hopeful." Tears sprang up in her eyes.

"No, I don't think so. I don't remember promising to love you. I already told you, Luana, to go back home. Your parents need you."

Luana pulled up a squeezed paper from her back pocket and unwrapped it, revealing Zeidan's writing on it.

She held it up for him to see.

"Wow. Turns out papers never lie. You didn't promise, uh?"

"Luana, this happened months ago. I called you to be my Queen but I changed my mind and went for what I desired. A woman who is capable of giving me peace. Who has the interest of the people at heart."

Luana's laugh held no humor. "There was this wash of joy that I had when I got your letter. Love. I was overwhelmed with the fact that I could finally find someone who wouldn't hold my attitude against me." A hint of a smile curved her face, then disappeared. "Many people thought I was crazy thinking you would never be interested in me. Anyway, thanks for proving them right." She began to lower her hand but he grabbed them between his powerful hand, leaving only a few gaps between them. "I'm grateful."

"What exactly do you want?" He asked, looking into her eyes that were beautified with black eyeliners. 

She chuckled. "You."

But he wrapped her fingers around the paper, squeezing it. "Forget it, then."

He thought he heard a gasp and a sniffle but when he turned, she pulled his shoulder and smashed her lips with his.

'Whoa!' The hallway spun for a moment and Zeidan blinked to steady his gaze. He pushed her away from him, looking shocked. 

He frowned at her. "Luana."

"Zeidan." A shaky voice called from the entrance and with his heart skipping a beat, he looked to his side. His heart fell at the face of Lyne which he saw in the hallway looking from him to Luana.

"Lyne, it's not what you think." He tried to move but Luana grabbed his arm.

"It's absolutely everything she thinks, Zeidan!" Luana squealed. "We were both in love before she came into the picture. She ruined our relationship and our hope of becoming one big happy family. You can't deny it forever, can you?!"

Zeidan was beyond shocked and he felt rage. He looked back, his eyes spitting fire.

"It's no use." Lyne's soft voice stopped him from doing whatever he had thought of doing to Luana.

"Lyne..."

"Quit calling me. Quit pretending and acting as if you care. Was that why you didn't want me to have this baby? So that one day, you could go back to Luana and keep being the happy family that you were supposed to be?" She chuckled painfully and nodded.

He was torn between running to wrap his arms around her, explaining he never had anything to do with Luana, and just staying there to not further complicate matters. 

"I swear, I do not love Luana. Believe everything you want Lyne, but this is the truth. Yes, I invited Luana to be my Queen some months back but that ended the moment I set my eyes on you. I forgot about everything else. I've never loved her as I love you. Please," was he apologizing? For the first time, he was begging someone to believe him. He wouldn't bear to lose Lyne. 

"I would have believed that if I didn't walk in on you both, kissing." Her voice was unbelievably soft but firm. 

"Zeidan?" It was Luana again, looking up at him. "After everything. This is how you repay me? This wasn't our agreement."

"Then what was our agreement?!" Zeidan snapped at her, and he could see her flinch visibly. "To love you? Or to spend the rest of my life with you? I never promised anything, Luana, and I want you to always remember that. I owe you nothing!"

Her eyes were lined with tears and she was finding it hard to construct a sentence. 

"I left..." Her voice trailed off as tears began to stream down her cheeks without a stop. "I betrayed my Dad, left my mom, my people," her voice was shaky and she was sobbing. 

"Just to come to stay with you. I wanted to...I vowed to stand by you till death do us part but you betrayed me?"

"I didn't vow that with you. We never discussed this." Zeidan's voice softened and he moved closer to Luana, aware of Lyne's gaze following them both. "I'm sorry if I led you on, but we both know that the only thing you were excited about being the Queen is the crown. You never loved me."

He moved to go, grabbing Lyne's hands with him. She followed him willingly until they reached their room. After locking the door, he turned, getting ready to explain tons of things.

"Look, I know I was being a pervert..."

But Lyne was laughing uncontrollably. "Forget it, I saw you arguing as well and I know she forced the kiss on you. I have some other news to give."

"Like what?" Much as Zeidan was amused, he was getting frantic by the look on Lyne's face.

"Maya told me about the Onyx."