Chapter Thirty One

I woke up the next morning with a sense of anticipation and nervousness. Leaving my fake home with Ariel had been a difficult decision, but the pull between us was undeniable. Now, I needed to return to the palace, but one burning question consumed my thoughts - why had Ariel been invited? And who had extended the invitation?

As I made my way through the grand halls of the palace, my mind was consumed with these questions. I needed answers, and I knew that my grandmother, Regina, would be able to provide them.

I found Regina in her study, surrounded by books and papers. She looked up from her work as I entered, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Xavier, my dear, what brings you here so early in the morning?" Regina asked, her voice filled with warmth.

I approached her, a serious expression on my face. "Regina, I need to talk to you about something," I said, my voice filled with urgency. "Ariel received an invitation to the palace. Do you know anything about it?"