Recap -
Marina, Nathan, Ally along with Lucio and Lucca enter the hidden land - Benediozione, with the help of Christopher. Carl, Christopher's dad, does not allow the group to leave owing to his long enemity with the royalty of Alves. Due to a turn of events, his son - Lucio, who also happens to be Marina's long lost childhood friends persuades him to allow them to leave. Though Carl keeps one condition - the group can only leave when Lucio accompanies them.

(At present in a room in Carl's mansion)

"What did you say?" Nathan asked Marina, entering the room.

"I know you heard it," Marina replied with a blank face.

"Yes, but I don't want Lucio to accompany us."

"Why? What problem do you have with him?"

"I just don't like him, okay?"

"But there has to be some reason for your dislike."

"No reason."

"Well, if you don't let him accompany us then we are stuck here. More like you are," Marina said while smirking as she continued

"You will be stuck here because I am sure Carl would not have any problem in allowing me to go back."

"Cons of being the Prince of Alves."
"Pros of being the Princess of Torrentice."

Marina and Nathan said at the same time to each other and then burst out laughing as they heard the irony in each other's statement.

"Well then, I guess I am stuck here," Nathan commented, laying down on the bed.

"You are willing to be stuck here for eternity, but, not ready to have Lucio accompany us. Why?"

"I told you I don't like him."

"Why?" Marina continued to press onto the matter further.

"We are not going back to this point again."

"Well, fine with me. Just answer my question and end this matter for once and all."

"No can do."

"Answer it."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Pretty please Nathan," Marina requested Nathan while giving him the puppy face.

"Ugh... fine. I just don't like that feeling I get from him," Nathan replied unable to carry on with the argument and succumbing to his wife's cute face.

"But WHY?"

"I don't know. I just told you what I felt, you either accept what's on the plate or dish it out, your choice," Nathan replied irritatedly while turning in the opposite direction of Marina because even he failed to recognize the reason for his dislike towards Lucio or maybe he just didn't want to accept the reason.

"Okay, I am sorry. I guess, I shouldn't have pressured you so much. It's your choice to stay here or not. It was just... I-I haven't seen Brialle in days..." Marina stopped midway her throat clogging with emotions.

Marina and Brialle were very close. Her brother, Oliver had gifted Brialle to Marina on her thirteenth birthday.

[ Flashback starts ]

A thirteen-year-old Marina was sitting in her bedroom chamber, sulking over the fact that her mother had yet again refused to allow her to have a pet. She had first asked for a dog, but when her mother didn't say anything, she reduced it to a cat, then, a squirrel, then a bird and finally a hamster. But, her mother never listened to her.

"Marines, it is your birthday today. Come on, let's go and see the preparations for tonight's ball," a thirteen-year-old Belle tried to cheer up her friend.

"No, I am not going anywhere."

"You will stay in your room? Has the old prophecy of the earth's end finally coming true?" Anne asked, faking shock.

However, Marina made no attempt to reply, let alone argue. Sighing, the Schweitzer sisters sat besides Marina. Anne on her left and Belle on her right.

"*Knock, Knock*"

"Come in," Marina replied, not looking up to see who it was.

"Good morning, little sister and a very happy birthday to you," Oliver greeted Marina while entering her room as Ally bowed in respect to the Prince.

"What's good about this morning and day?" Marina muttered to herself.

"Hmm... seems like my sister ate too much lemon today, right Anne and Belle?" Oliver said before standing in front of Marina.

"What do you want, brother?" Marina asked with a blank face.

"Come to the main hall immediately," Oliver replied before disappearing.

Marina entered the main hall room of the castle which was being decorated with blue tulips, Marina's favourite flowers, and white drapes. Some maids were running in the castle with brooms and culinary while the others cleaned the pots, vases and numerous swords that decorated the halls.

Sighing, Marina looked up straight to see her brother standing at the end of the hall. But what she did not see was his hands were hidden behind his back.

"Marina, come here. Since, it's your thirteenth birthday and you completed your sword training, I though I should give you something. So, I am giving you a protector, bodyguard."

Marina expected some soldier to pop out of the hall. But that didn't happen. Surprised, she looked up at Oliver.

"Do you want to meet him?"

"Yes."

Oliver smiled and slowly brought his hands in front of Marina, which were holding a brown jute basket decorated with blue and white roses. Marina, who was confused, came closer to the basket. Immediately the red cloth hiding whatever the basket had was thrown away by a little golden puppy, who jumped into Marina's hands.

"St-Stop it. You are tickling me," Marina laughed as the puppy continued to lick her.

"Do you like your protector?" Oliver asked.

"Yes," Marina replied cheerfully.

"So, what will you name it?" King Wilhelm asked, appearing out of nowhere.

"I will name you... Briallre."

"Briallre?" Ally asked in unison.

"Yes, Briallre. Briallre means shine and he will be my knight in the shining armour, my protector," Marina replied, hugging Briallre.

"But, it's too long for a name," the king remarked.

"Hmm... then we'll call him Brialle," Marina replied joyfully.

[Flashback ends]

Nathan waited for Marina to reply back to his statement. When Marina did not say anything, he turned around his eyes trying to locate his blue-eyed princess. Finally, he saw her, his princess, who silently stood in front of the bookshelf.

"Marina?" Nathan called out while getting up from the bed and walking towards her.

*Silence*

"Marina, what happened?" Nathan asked Marina, while turning her around with the help of her elbow. But she refused to look up, to meet Nathan's questioning gaze.

Sighing, Nathan gently lifted Marina's chin to meet her gaze and instantaneously guilt crept up in him. Marina's eyes were welled up with tears. Before Nathan could say anything, Marina jerked his hand away and was about to leave, but Nathan blocked her way with his right hand. Marina looked up, puzzled at Nathan's action and involuntarily took a step back, but Nathan quickly covered up the gap. Marina's back hit the bookshelf, it was a dead end. Nathan had caged her in his arms.

Marina looked up to meet Nathan's eyes. Her blue eyes clashing with his green ones, like the ocean was calling out for the calm, serene forest.

"I-I, why, how. I mean... ugh... why are you crying? Is it about Lucio? Because I don't want him to accompany us?" Nathan asked slowly, sadness flooding his eyes. Indeed he felt sad, but for making Marina cry or hearing Marina wanting Lucio to accompany them so badly, remained an unsolved mystery.

"No, it's not because of him."

"Then why?"

"It's just, I-I miss Brialle. I haven't seen him for so long..." Marina stopped midway looking at Nathan through her eyelashes.

"I am sorry. I'll be honest, in all this happening and Lucio's arrival, I completely forgot about Brialle."

"It's okay, Nathan. I know you have been preoccupied with a lot of things," Marina replied, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

"No, it's not okay. I shouldn't have been so concentrated on the affairs of a Benedizione that I can't take out time for you, I forget my priorities, that I hurt your emotion--"

"But, it was still unintentional-"

"Still it was wrong. I am sorry, Marina. I promise I will never forget my priorities ever and Lucio can accompany us," Nathan said the last part a bit grudgingly.

"Thank you," Marina mumbles.

Unable to hold her tears any longer, a tear slipped out of Marina's eyes, slowly trailing down her cheeks and as it was about to fall on the ground, Nathan caught it in his palm.

"Your tears are too precious to let them fall on the ground, Princess," Nathan whispered to Marina.

"They are not pearls. They are just useless salty water droplets."

"They are no less precious to me than pearls," Nathan remarked his lips brushing past Marina's earlobe.

Marina's breath hitched and her face exploded into a blush as Nathan slowly retreated back his hands. But, their gazes never left each other while they thought as their hearts tried to saunter away as the temperature suddenly increased.

"Am I disturbing something?" Lucio asked smugly, while entering the room as Marina pushed Nathan away.

"N-No," Marina replied, blushing as she fled from the room.

"So, am I accompanying my dear Prince?"

"Yes," Nathan replied begrudgingly.

"Well then, I should go and find Mari--"

"Stay away from her," Nathan ordered.

"Oh and why would I do so?"

"I--"

"Why do you care?"

"She is my wife."

"So? You two don't love each other even if you did why should I care? Mari has been my best friend, way before she was your wife."

"What do you mean?"

"Unlike somebody else, I am pretty clear that I am just a good friend of Mari and do not seek anything else. So, clear your head Romeo before it is too late," Lucio answered before exiting the bed room chamber and leaving behind a confused Nathan.

************************************************************
Hello dear readers!
I am so sorry, I have not kept my word of updating every Sunday. Firstly, I had my project submissions, then tests, then vivas and now my exams are coming up.

I am so sorry. Also, because of my exams and then another set of exams in Jan and later in mid Feb, I don't think so I'll be able to update in between. So, probably next update will be 3 months later minimum. I AM SO SORRY!!! Thank you so much for your overwhelming support.

Besides this, El Destino crossed 2.5 k reads and won the Glow Awards' Historical fiction category😊😊

Back to the story, so how did you find the flashback of Brialle or Briallre as he was named?

What did you think of Maran? And Lucio?

Fun fact - Originally Brialle was named Briallre, but I had misread it as Brialle and realized too many chapters later of the big blunder I had created. So, I came up with the last minute add-on remedy in this chapter.😂😂

Last, but, not the least, this chapter is dedicated to my amazing friends megha_k and @TwinkleOn_ 😊😊 Love you guys💕

Till the next update, keep shining ;)

- Love Addy :)

P.S. A heartfelt sincere apology to my dear friends SakinaNasir5253 and StorybookHorror. I am so sorry for not being able to read your amazing books.  😭😫😭