CHAPTER 33

Valery promised herself to get back at that ungrateful woman she saved and gave a new life but for the sake of Xavier she was going to try and forgive her. If she tries another attack on her again then she would forgo everything even if meant disrupting her own happiness.
She clutched her heart and returned back to her seat. It was acting up again and this time it was worse. For this love she was willing to bear every wrenching pain if it meant to be with him. Why would someone try to kill her just to deprive her of this happiness?
Would they be happy if she drops dead and remain unhappy? Soon or later she was really going to show everyone what she was really made up. All these years she tried to fight her inner demons, suppressed her real powers and yet someone still provokes her each time.
She didn’t want that person to be someone she has respect for. If there were invaders then she will gladly show them what they were up to. She was going to wait, wed her man and if it meant bursting up after the ceremony then she will do it.
Right now, she was going to start meditating and hope it won’t be like the last time she got angry, suppressed the anger and fainted, causing her to sleep for two months.
She wanted to be happy, see his face every day and live on the mountain. It was time for her to find someone and groom her for the position of a mistress. Nora was a good candidate but she wanted her to not bear the burdens she carries on a daily basis.
She was going to find a child, groom her and train her and make her be able to bear the heavy weight that will come with being the mistress of the Lotus palace.
“Summon Nora here!” she called out to one of the maids.
The maid left and she took a cup of tea and drank trying to ease the pain she was feeling at the moment. It took some time for Nora to come, she was busy after all.
“I’m still not yet done with the task you handed me,” she said.
Valery looked at her faithful Nora and smiled.
“I didn’t call you here for that. I want to have a walk with you,” she said standing up.
“Sure, let me help you,” Nora said coming up to her.
Valery left the main hall with Nora hand in hand without saying a word.
“What’s troubling you?” Nora suddenly asked when they were standing facing a waterfall in the mountain.
“Have you ever regretted being with me?” she asked Nora.
“No, I haven’t. I am happy and grateful that you took me in,” Nora told her.
“Will you be sad if I tell you that if I have to step down one day as the palace mistress, I won’t choose you?” she asked Nora looking in her eyes.
Nora didn’t reply for a while, she seemed to be looking for the appropriate answer.
“I would like to ask why I’m not a suitable candidate?” she asked and Valery knew that she was really curious and anxious at the same time.
“When I first saw you, I was happy that I wanted you to become the best and I happened to achieve that. I’m very proud of the woman you became today Nora but at the same time consider me like your mother.
As my child, I don’t want you to live the kind of life I led. There is a lot of burden being the mistress of this palace. There are things you can never comprehend. Just take it as a mother who is looking after her daughter.
I know how you feel for Daren. With him you can have a life full of happiness but here there is always danger. For me I don’t have a choice, I was born and raised here. I will never leave this place and I will always be here even when seasons change which makes me so scared.
One day you will all leave me but all I want from you is to live happily. I just hope you can understand me,” Valery told Nora.
Nora looked at her with tears falling down her cheeks. Valery hugged her closely, she rarely sees Nora crying. She must have really hurt her this time.
“I’m sorry but please forgive me and bear with me just this once,” Valery pleaded which she rarely do.
Nora broke away from her and wiped away her tears.
“I’m not crying because you won’t make me your successor. I’m crying because I’m happy. It’s the first time you referred me as your daughter. I’m really happy to hear that. I thought in this life time I will never have a chance to hear someone else calling me her daughter but you did.
I don’t want to become your successor. All I want is just to be by your side every day. Wherever you go, I will be with you. As long I’m with you I don’t care what will happen to me. Can you at least promise me that?”
Valery was deeply touched by her words. Nora always kept so much inside her the way she did. She had taught this little child such bad manners and she regretted it. She wiped Nora’s tears again and embraced her close.
“I promise you that I won’t abandon you. Wherever I am so will you be,” Valery made a promise to Nora.
“Thank you very much. So, who do you want to make your successor?” she finally asked.
“I haven’t found the person yet. I am thinking of leaving the mountain tomorrow, let’s looks around the two cities I might find someone,” Valery finally spoke her mind.
“That’s a good idea. I will prepare for the journey then. How long will it take?”
“At least three days,” Valery replied.
“Okay, then I better go and make sure the gifts are not poisonous. You wouldn’t mind staying here alone?”
“No, go and finish what you were doing. If you see Xavier just tell him that I’m here,” Valery said.
“I will do that. I will take my leave,” Nora said and left her standing looking at the waterfall.