55: Was it an empty promise?

Viishaun held Aileen's hand, and they left the banquet. On their way to the palace's garden of pink tulips, near the palace's main gate, someone behind them was yelling.

"Your excellency, are you leaving already? Won't you honor me with a dance?" Princess Vermillion asked.

"The queen is tired. We're leaving. You can ask an unmarried man out there for a dance," Viishaun replied and left the lady greeting her teeth.

On the carriage, none of them were talking. Aileen noticed the troubled look in his excellency's eyes. So, she asked, "Your excellency, is it truly fine to leave the castle? You have not finished the ball and haven't opened the gifts yet."

"I don't care about those gifts. Your gift wasn't there. You didn't have anything for me, did you?"

"I actually brought something for you, but I am not sure if you would like it or not. Hence I hid it in my wardrobe," Aileen replied.

The king cleared his throat and scooted a little to fill the gap between them. He caressed the queen's che