Two months had passed in a quiet blink.
With the patient help of Vharin, Ana, and even Yadid, Mirha had slowly emerged from the deepest layers of grief. She still thought of her mother every day — sometimes with a soft smile, sometimes with a quiet ache — but she had accepted there was nothing she could do but keep living.
Her father made sure she did so with care. He checked on her daily, sent small comforts, and never pushed. Mirha had grown used to his quiet presence, and it brought her a strange, steady comfort.
Now, the time had come to return to Taico. She missed Arvin deeply and wanted to go back.
That afternoon, she was having lunch with Vharin in the garden pavilion. He kept adding more food to her plate with gentle insistence.
Mirha laughed softly. "I might burst open if you keep doing that."
Vharin chuckled — it wasn't the first time he had heard that from her. "You will be alright."
He paused, then asked, "Have you prepared? Yadid said you are heading back to Taico tomorrow."
Mirha nodded. "Yes. Won't you come with me?"
Vharin shook his head gently.
Mirha frowned. "Why not?"
"I want to keep her flowers fresh forever," he said softly, eyes drifting toward the distant garden he had planted for Launi.
Mirha looked at him and felt a pang. Her mother's death had hurt him just as deeply, yet he carried it with such quiet strength.
Vharin seemed to read her thoughts. He reached across the table and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I will be there whenever you need me. But for now, I need to find a way to keep her garden bright. I don't know who to trust with that."
Mirha nodded, then asked, "But Taico is so far away. How will you be there in time when I need you?"
Vharin smiled, a soft, fatherly smile. "I can even fly if you ever need me."
Mirha smiled at the very stupid lie, warmth blooming in her chest.
"I will trust you with that," she said.
Vharin nodded, then added carefully, "And I will send the proper documents to prove you are my daughter, in case anyone tries to question your worth beside the emperor."
Mirha shook her head immediately. "I don't want your name."
Vharin paused.
Mirha continued gently, "I am known as the daughter of Launi Eden, and I wish to stay that way."
Vharin gave a small, satisfied smile. "I'm glad."
He gestured to her plate. "Eat before the food gets cold."
Mirha started eating again, then paused.
"Are you sure you can't even take me to Taico…? You may come back if you like."
Vharin looked at her face — hopeful, pleading, with the same eyes he had never been able to say no to.
He sighed softly. "I can do that. I also need to check on Kanha. I heard she gave birth a few weeks ago."
Mirha's jaw dropped. "How come no one has told me this?"
Vharin looked surprised. "Really? I could have sworn the message came from Yadid. It should have reached you before me."
Mirha sighed and waved it off. "It's no big deal."
Vharin hesitated, then asked carefully, "Do you hate Kanha for everything she has done to you?"
Mirha paused and looked at her father.
"I would be lying if I said I don't," she admitted quietly. "But as much as I dislike her… somewhere in my heart, I do care about her. And that's a feeling I will never understand."
Vharin nodded slowly. "I feel the same about a lot of people."
His mind flashed briefly to Ana.
He shook the thought away and said, "Alright. Let's finish eating. I now have to prepare for Taico."
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The imperial palace in Taico was buzzing with quiet anticipation. Everyone knew the Imperial Noble Consort was returning today — and that she was coming with her father.
Arvin waited in his study, outwardly composed, but his fingers tapped restlessly on the desk. Three months without Mirha had felt far longer than he cared to admit.
Down at the main pavilion, a small group of women had gathered to welcome her: Gina, Goya, Yuma, Kiara, Kanha, and even Nailah. They had been told she was arriving with her father, but none knew his identity. The air was thick with curiosity and nervous energy.
When the carriage finally rolled to a stop, the door opened.
Lord Vharin stepped out first and offered his hand. Mirha took it gracefully and stepped down beside him. She was dressed in elegant white and gold, jewelry catching the light, looking every bit the radiant Imperial Consort. She smiled softly and waved to the bowing staff as they passed.
The women watching from the pavilion froze.
Goya's eyes widened first. "No way… Lord Vharin is Mirha's father?"
Kanha's heart dropped like a stone. Nailah's face went pale. Gina and Kiara's jaws literally fell open. Yuma looked utterly confused.
Goya recovered first. "They're here. Keep it together."
Everyone quickly composed themselves and bowed deeply as Mirha and Vharin approached the pavilion.
Mirha and Vharin returned the bow with quiet grace.
Gina was the first to break. She rushed forward and pulled Mirha into a tight hug, fighting back tears.
"Oh, Mirha… Mirha, how I missed you."
Mirha hugged her back just as tightly. "I missed you more."
Goya stepped in next, wrapping her arms around both of them. "It's my turn."
Kanha stood frozen for a moment, heart racing. Then, in a soft, trembling voice, she said, "Father…?"
Vharin turned to her, pulled her into a gentle hug, and whispered, "Why don't you go greet your sister?"
Kanha's breath hitched. She turned to Mirha, eyes wide with shock and guilt. For a heartbeat she hesitated, then rushed forward and threw her arms around her, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" she kept whispering, the weight of every cruel word and action she had ever directed at Mirha crushing her now that she knew the truth.
Mirha simply patted her back gently, saying nothing at first. Then she whispered, "It's alright, Kanha."
Nailah stood frozen the entire time. The realization that she had unknowingly sent her own cousin to the emperor as a concubine hit her like a physical blow. Slowly, she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"Forgive me…" she whispered, voice breaking.
Mirha gently handed the still-crying Kanha back to Vharin, then knelt beside Nailah on the floor.
"It's alright," she said softly, pulling her into a hug. "Can we all just live and pretend it never happened? It's no use crawling back to the past now… okay, Nana?"
Nailah lifted her head, tears still falling, and hugged Mirha tightly. Mirha simply patted her back, repeating gently, "It's alright."
Once everyone had regained some composure, Mirha stood and said quietly, "I have to go greet His Majesty."
She turned and headed toward the imperial study, leaving the group behind in a stunned, emotional silence.
---------->
Mirha stood at the grand doors of the imperial study. The guards smiled brightly, genuinely happy to see her return. One of them opened the door with a flourish and announced with clear joy in his voice:
"The Imperial Consort, Lady Mirha!"
The door closed softly behind her.
Arvin rose from his desk the moment he heard her name. He crossed the room in long, urgent strides and pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground. Mirha laughed — a light, relieved sound — and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on tightly.
"Welcome back," he murmured against her hair, voice thick with emotion.
Mirha smiled, pulled back just enough to look at him, and kissed him softly.