33. A beautiful coincidence.

The next evening, Niya got ready to attend the awards ceremony. She wore a beautiful skin tight backless navy blue gown that hugged her curves perfectly. After her assistants did her makeup, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Everything was just perfect but still that glow, that happiness was missing. Her eyes were tired as if she hadn’t been sleeping at all. She forced a smile on her face looking in the mirror to cover up her tiredness. Of course, she was given full time to relax and sleep but the memories from the past were making her life miserable. Her dad, her mom, everything that happened wasn't something easy to forget.

She sighed, looking one last time in the mirror, forcing a smile, and leaving the room.

"I'm ready," she announced her arrival to Archie, who was getting ready in his room with the help of his assistants. He looked at her with shock.

"Seriously? You are wearing this? Isn't it way too exposing?" he asked while looking at her gown and dismissing his assistants.

"So what? So many celebrities are going to attend that function so I must look hot," she said, buttoning his shirt, feeling the intense stare of his blue eyes on her.

"Cut the crap. You want to look hot to impress that Darius Cole." He smirked, looking into her big brown eyes. Darius Cole was one of the bandmates of the Star Shine group. He was quite handsome and famous for his deep husky voice and Niya had a huge celeb crush on him.

"Of course, that too." She chuckled, holding out the coat she had gifted him for him to put on. "All set. Let's go."

They arrived at the venue. Everyone was admiring her as if she was a goddess which indeed she was. So many famous singers were roaming here and there, actors were talking to the press and posing for photographs on the carpet. Niya and Archie skipped the media part to save time. As soon as she entered the hall, everyone stood up and bowed. Smiling in acknowledgment, they sat in the VIP zone. As soon as she sat, everyone took their seats to sit comfortably but she stood up again to fix her gown and she observed every person present stand up again with her. She found it so funny so she played the "sit-stand" game for some more time. Archie looked at her and chuckled, shaking his head at her antics.

"Niya, stop. You are making them uncomfortable," he said, grinning at her. She laughed at his response and finally sat down comfortably. After some performances, it was Niya and Archie's turn to present the Royal Award to Star Shine.

"Don't you dare start to fangirl over that rascal. You are a queen, behave like one," Archie whispered in her ear while walking towards the stage along with their security team.

"Yeah, yeah. Got it. And don't call him a rascal, he has a name, Darius Cole." She smirked, walking towards the stage.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Archie adjusted the mic a bit while speaking.

"Good evening, everyone," Niya said, looking at the people sitting in front of them. They greeted her in response.

"We are here to present the most awaited award of 7018, The Royal Sigma Music Award, so without further ado, the award goes to… any guesses?" she teased a bit as everyone already knew the winners and they started chanting their names.

"Yes, absolutely right. Star Shine," Archie announced the name and the hall echoed with the loud clapping. Five young men came to the stage and paid their respect by sitting on their knees in front of Niya and Archie.

"Congratulations, guys." Niya shook their hands one by one and gave them the award. Darius was looking at Niya like he had never seen a girl this beautiful before. She was talking to the leader of their group Herbert and Darius just couldn't take his eyes off her face.

After the award, Archie and Niya met the boyband backstage to invite them for dinner at Royal Palace

"We will be grateful if you will join us," Niya said, looking at Herbert.

"Your wish is our command, Your Majesty." He took her hand and placed a kiss like a gentleman

*Wow, she is the epitome of eternal beauty indeed*, he thought, looking at her, observing her every movement. Suddenly, he saw a camera catching his movements. He smiled looking at the camera shyly knowing that the camera must have caught his gaze on Niya.

After talking to them, Niya and Archie left the venue immediately.

"Darius was looking at me dude. Ah!" Niya practically screamed as soon as she entered the palace after the function, remembering Darius's dark blue eyes staring at her. Archie chuckled looking at her. William was already waiting for them in the hall with a folder in his hand.

"Willy!" Niya smiled, running towards him with joy. She took his hand and started doing a couple of dances.

"Stay with me, oh, baby, baby…" She danced while singing her favorite song of Star Shine. William chuckled at her cute antics.

"Whoa! Calm down, shortie. What's happening here?" he asked, looking at her happy face.

"Her beauty enchanted the great Darius Cole and she is happy about it," Archie said with a smile on his face, walking towards them. William rolled his eyes in response.

"Okay, enough of that Darius fever. I have to tell you something important," William said, looking at the files in his hands.

"Yes? What is it?" she asked.

"I need your signature on some documents and the other important news is that the people of the Eastern Province are protesting against the mining of rare minerals and they are demanding your presence there. They want to talk to you about their problems," William explained the situation. Niya looked at him for a second.

"Okay, then I'll leave immediately. I have to come back before 26th as Samael will be here on the 24th and it's already the 21st today. I think I should leave today," she said, looking at them.

"I'll join. Let's get this sorted," Archie said, looking at her.

"No, Archie, you can't. We don't know the situation clearly. What if I wouldn't be able to come back before 24th? Someone has to be here to greet Samael. We can't just ignore Samael like that. It will impact our universal reputation. We have invited him and we must welcome him with due respect. You stay here in case I'm late or something like that. William, George, and Edward will help you. I'll go with Emily," she said, looking at them.

"I think she is right. Niya, you go pack your stuff and leave immediately and please try your best to come back before his arrival because your absence in the negotiation will definitely irk him," William said, realizing the gravity of the situation. She nodded and left the place immediately.

She packed her stuff with the help of Emily and Alyna.

"I am sorry, Neo. You can't come with me there. Archie will take care of you." She picked her dragon pet in her embrace to love him. Marcus came to her room and greeted her.

"Your Majesty, I will accompany you. King Archie ordered me to do so." He bowed, without taking his eyes off her face. His enchanting grey eyes met her brown ones and sent chills down her spine. His perfectly slicked hair, that dark brown overcoat with a white formal shirt, and black formal pants were making him look like a prince straight from a fairytale. Her heart skipped a beat.

The hell, my hormones are going crazy I think, she thought looking at him.

"You don't have to. I can manage," she said, clearing her throat to gather some courage to speak in front of this hot as hell man.

"This is your official trip and you cannot go against the protocol. I will be waiting outside," he said with a gentle smile playing on his red rosy lips and left the room immediately.

*How will I focus on my work if he will always be on my side?*, she sighed, her assistants picked her luggage and they all left the room. Niya met Archie and the others at the Grand Hall and left for the Eastern Province after bidding them a farewell.

***

It's been three days since Niya left the palace and Archie was already missing her. He was sitting in the garden thinking about her, how she always cheered up his mood by her cute little giggling and dance moves.

"Still thinking about her?" Someone asked from behind. Archie turned his face to see who it was.

"Elena! What are you doing here?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Archie, this love is forbidden, you know that, right?" she asked, sitting in front of him on the chair.

"Don't worry, Elena. It's just a one-sided love. She doesn't love me the way I want her to love me. And I am happy being a one-sided lover, this is my fate," he said, blankly staring at the green grass of the garden. He knew very well that Niya could never fall in love with him because he knew something nobody knows. He was aware of his fate and how it was linked with Niya’s but still, he was trying his best to avoid it, not for him, for her.

"How can you be so sure that it's one-sided? You’ve never asked," Elena said, looking at him with her big grayish-blue eyes as if she was trying to know his real feelings.
"Elena, can we just stop talking about this? Even if I pretend that I'm happy being a one-sided lover, it hurts. It does," he said, looking at her in anger, and left the place immediately.

***
On the other side of Vamp Prime, Niya had just finished off her meeting with the protesters and she was now discussing the issues regarding the miners with Governor Kenneth Cole who was probably in his late fifties.

"Situation is still not stable, Mr. Cole. Mining companies and villagers are not agreeing on any point," she said, walking in the garden of the governor's residence along with the governor.

"Your Majesty, we cannot satisfy both the parties. This is a bit of a complicated situation," he said, looking at Niya. Concern for the people of his province could be clearly seen in his dark blue eyes.

"Father!" Niya suddenly heard a manly voice coming from behind. Kenneth and Niya turned to see the source of the voice. Niya observed a manly figure coming towards them carefully. He was wearing a beautiful dark blue tuxedo with a white shirt. She looked at his face again and reality hit her hard. It was Darius.

*Darius? What is he doing here?,* she thought, trying her best to cover her excitement. He came closer to them by taking some big steps.

"Darius! You are back? Why didn’t you inform me?" Governor Cole asked, hugging him tightly.

"Because I wanted to give you a surprise, Father," he said, with the same affection.

Niya was shocked to the core and her only focus was the word ‘Father’. *Wow! Darius is Kenneth's son? What a coincidence*, she thought, looking at them. Darius looked at her and bowed.

"Your Majesty! Welcome to Easter Province," he said, looking at her with a sweet gentle smile.

"Niya. You can skip the honorifics, they make me feel like I'm 94 or something," she said, looking at him with a smile. He chuckled in response. Niya was shocked at her statement because even his father was calling her by honorifics but she didn't mind but as soon as Darius called her Your Majesty, she felt a little offended. Niya observed his smile carefully.

*Wow, he looks like some Greek demigod, so handsome,* she thought, looking at him.

"Your Majesty, I need your signatures on some documents," Kenneth said, looking at her and they left the garden immediately.

***
It was the day when Samael was coming to Vamp Prime and Niya was still in the Eastern Province as she couldn't leave the place before solving the issues.

"Let's go, William, Niya is not coming today, we have to receive him," Archie said, looking at the text Niya sent him.

"He'll be offended," George said, looking at them nervously.

"Niya will be here tomorrow, so don't worry, we'll handle it," Edward said, assuring them with a smile and they all left to receive Samael at the space airport.