Trapped In The Alpha's Kingdom

Without Feeling

Lavella tried to eat her dinner without making a sound even though Christelle and Liza looked very excited to ask Lavella and Daniela small questions. Lavella just ate her dinner, her heart rumbled for some reason. She is very afraid that she will fall in love again and feel the same pain.

However, to her Tristan was just like a fantasy she couldn’t get on the other hand, the comfort Tristan gave her was wonderful. However, it is still difficult to do. Even as many people would deny that they were together, this was truly a painful reality.

Christelle again thrust a spoonful of beef seasoned with Middle Eastern sauce onto Lavella’s plate, who had been silent and didn’t answer every question she asked.

“Did you two fight?” asked Christelle glancing at Lavella and Tristan.

“We’re fine, Mom.” Quickly Lavella answered Christelle’s question.

“Your face has been pouting ever since, what’s wrong? Is there anything you want to say?” continued Liza, “You’re too used to keeping your own grief until you get hurt again. Why are you doing that? Tell us your complaint.”

“It’s going to be a bit of a hassle, it’s not a big deal.”

“No matter how small a problem, there’s nothing wrong with us being open with each other, right?” Liza chimed in again.

“That’s right. But I don’t think I can tell you about it right now.” Lavella nodded in understanding what her older sister had said.

“Aunt Christelle, Auntie’s dish is very good. I’ve always loved the special cuisine of this house that is so continental of perfect delicacy. Tomorrow afternoon we’ll be back home, doesn’t Aunt Christelle mind?” Mark mediated their conversation.

“Why are you in such a hurry to return to your homes? You've only been here for two days.” With a sad tone Christelle answered Mark's words.

Mark stole glances at Tristan who was sitting across from him, occasionally shoveling pasta into his mouth—and it looked like the two of them were telecommunications inside each other’s hearts. After a while Mark sighed and then said to Christelle that they would have a very important family meeting tomorrow.

“If you are going to have such an important meeting with your extended families, why did you bring Lavella and Daniela along?” Liza asked a little coldly with a fork aimed at Mark.

“Actually, I’m going to introduce the two of them as potential new members to our extended family, and isn’t that fun? Next time, I will invite you to attend this big meeting.” Tristan answered in a tone that was quite firm even looking very dignified as a leader.

Christelle took a deep breath, amidst the anxiety that was clearly visible on her middle-aged face she seemed a little afraid of being ignored by her youngest daughter who was now in a relationship with a man who was so established and seemed mature. One thing that haunts her is when her youngest daughter feels sick alone, she as a mother is not by her youngest daughter’s side. But wanting to try several times to ban a romantic relationship is not easy enough, because her youngest daughter has almost spent half her life hating men, and it is unlikely that she will destroy her youngest daughter’s new world for the umpteenth time.

“I understand this is very important to you, Theo. I'm not forbidding you to introduce each other’s families but, you guys will be here more often, right?” Christelle asked.

“Of course, Auntie.” Mark replied excitedly.

Christelle didn’t answer however, she nodded understanding what they meant. She would only go with her youngest daughter to go outside when she wanted to go back to Tristan’s house—a little message so that her youngest daughter could take care of herself by Tristan’s side.

“Just continue our dinner, we’ll talk later after dinner.”

***

Two hours after dinner was over, they returned to their respective rooms to rest however, not with Lavella who had been awake since yesterday so often that she didn’t even do anything until three in the morning. Tristan could only stay silent trying to read Lavella’s thoughts which she couldn’t possibly read.

A book in Lavella’s hand was out of shape in Lavella’s hand, Tristan didn’t understand what book Lavella was holding at that time. It was wrapped in a leather cover in a retro style, as thick as a bible but not likely to be a religious book to be read to kill Tristan.

“It’s ten o’clock in the evening, aren’t you sleepy?” scolded Tristan then.

Lavella took a deep breath long enough for the veins in her neck to be clearly visible. “I’m just thinking about something.”

“What is that? If you want to talk to me about something, don’t hesitate. I will try to be a good listener so that you feel comfortable talking to me too.”

“I don’t understand why you feel so concerned about me.”

“Because I feel you are my soul mate, and I feel so hurt when I see you pensive like that.”

“Haven’t you ever felt so hurt when you saw your father taking a picture with another woman and the photo was so affectionate. Until now I still can’t forget it, it hurts so much to know a big fact that my mother was hurt for years.”

Tristan approached and took the book in Lavella’s hand without opening it, he understood that there must be something in the book, and maybe it had something to do with Lavella’s past which was too bad to remember.

“I’ve seen it before and it’s hard to say I’m not hurt. As a descendant of the kingdom, a king has a concubine is an announcement to multiply their lineage later. My mother was the first wife, and I was the third child, at that time I was too young to understand what I had to do until I finally understood… everything is destiny.” Tristan with a sad tone he answered Lavella’s words.

That hoarse tone seemed to shake Lavella’s mind, she wanted to cry for a moment even though she could now lean on Tristan’s shoulder. It was like a nail had been stuck in the pit of her heart in the last nineteen years ago and she felt unable to take it alone because it was so painful.

Tristan quickly gripped Lavella’s hand a little tighter. “Tell me whatever you want.”

“Why are some people in the world so cruel? Having no feelings and all.”

“I don’t understand either but, I hope I can understand you, and can take you further out of your trauma.”

Their conversation stopped when a knock startled them both, Lavella quickly wiped her tears and opened her bedroom door, with slightly hurried steps. Meanwhile Tristan put the book back down and came over to Lavella.

“Sorry, am I bothering you?” Christelle came with a red velvet box that I don’t know what it contained. She just smiled with sadness in front of Lavella.

“What’s in that box, Mom?” asked Lavella curiously.

Christelle fell silent, then thrust the red velvet box at Lavella. “Wear this when you attend that meeting.”

“But why?” asked Lavella then, “It’s yours, I can’t take it.”

“Lavella, take this. Let’s just say this is a little protective for you.”