Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 150: She’s Not My Princess

Chapter 150: She’s Not My Princess

Mira smiled as her gaze drifted to the intricately designed ceiling of the castle. The grandeur of the space was breathtaking, its ornate patterns and delicate carvings reflecting an elegance that seemed otherworldly. A sense of quiet awe filled her as she stood there, momentarily lost in the artistry that surrounded her. A soft smile lingered on her lips as Ella’s voice brought her back to the present.

"Thank you so much for inviting me here," Ella said earnestly, her tone filled with warmth. "I know it might seem like my husband and yours don’t get along—especially with how rarely they speak. But trust me, that’s just how they are. Something must have happened between them in the past, but the fact that they even exchange words now shows there’s no lingering animosity. It’s just their way of interacting."

Mira nodded slowly, her mind beginning to piece things together. Her gaze shifted to Ella, observing the sincerity in her expression. "I visited your house earlier and happened to meet your friend—Lily, I think her name was," Mira said thoughtfully. "She seems like a lovely person and spoke very highly of you."

Mira’s face lit up, her smile brightening. "Oh, thank you! That means a lot. And I must say, your child is absolutely adorable. She’s the cutest child I’ve ever seen."

Mira laughed softly, a gentle warmth in her tone. "I know, right? She hears it all the time from me. I make sure she knows just how special she is."

The two women exchanged knowing smiles, their laughter filling the small, charming garden they were standing in. The sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees above, casting dappled shadows that danced across their faces.

Ella glanced at the time and sighed, a small frown crossing her face. "I should get going soon. I need to start getting ready—after all, we ladies always need extra time for preparations."

Mira chuckled, fully understanding the sentiment. Together, they rose to their feet, brushing off the soft blades of grass that clung to their dresses. Their conversation continued as they made their way back into the castle, the quiet hum of their voices mingling with the gentle rustling of leaves.

Once inside, Mira excused herself politely. She couldn’t resist the thought of spending a little time with her daughter before preparing for the evening. Entering the large playroom, she found Zami engrossed in her game, her small fingers moving deftly across the controls. The sight brought a smile to Mira’s face, and she felt her heart swell with love.

"Mommy!" Zami squealed excitedly the moment she noticed her mother. Abandoning her game, she bolted across the room and threw herself into Mira’s arms, hugging her tightly.

Mira returned the hug, stroking her daughter’s hair gently. "I missed you, sweetheart," she murmured. Her gaze shifted to the gamepad Zami had left behind. "What are you playing, my love?"

Zami beamed, her excitement bubbling over. "I’m playing Princess and the Frog, Mommy! It’s so much fun. You have to make sure the princess doesn’t get eaten by the lion so she can save the frog!"

Mira chuckled softly, the innocence in her daughter’s explanation warming her heart. "That sounds challenging," she said, even though she had no idea what the game entailed. It had been years since she’d played anything like this. Back then, she used to spend hours playing games with her grandfather. But after Zami was born, her focus had shifted entirely to her daughter, leaving little time for such things.

"Mommy, I’ll start over from level one so we can play together!" Zami offered eagerly, her small hands already reaching for the controls.

Mira hesitated, shaking her head gently. "No, sweetheart, you’ve come so far. I couldn’t possibly ask you to start over."

Zami shook her head with a determined smile. "It’s okay, Mommy. I want to. It’ll be more fun if we play together from the beginning."

Before Mira could protest further, Zami had reset the game and handed her a second gamepad. Mira took it hesitantly, her fingers brushing over the buttons as she tried to recall how to even hold one properly.

They began playing, laughter soon filling the room as Zami guided her mother through the game. Mira found herself fumbling through the controls, her character moving clumsily compared to Zami’s smooth, confident actions. It wasn’t long before Zami’s princess had successfully saved the frog, while Mira’s character had, unsurprisingly, been eaten by the lion.

Zami giggled uncontrollably, her laughter infectious. She covered her mouth with her hands as if trying to stifle the sound but failed miserably.

Mira raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with amusement. "Are you laughing because the lion ate Mommy’s princess?" she teased.

Zami shook her head, though her giggles betrayed her. "No, Mommy! Well... maybe just a little. It’s funny!"

Mira couldn’t help but join in her daughter’s laughter, the sound of their joy echoing through the room.

As their laughter subsided, Mira noticed Zamian standing at the doorway, his tall frame leaning casually against the frame. His dark eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched the playful scene before him.

"Daddy!" Zami cried joyfully, running over to him and wrapping her small arms around his legs.

Zamian smiled warmly, bending slightly to ruffle her hair. "You’re quite the gamer, aren’t you?" he said, his voice soft. Then, his gaze shifted to Mira, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I don’t think gaming is really your thing," he teased lightly. "You might be better at playing with me."

His words were playful, but the double meaning wasn’t lost on Mira. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she shot him a warning glare, silently reminding him to choose his words carefully in front of their daughter.

Zami, blissfully unaware of the undertone, piped up, "Daddy, do you want to play with Mommy?"

Zamian chuckled, shaking his head. "No, sweetheart. I’ll play with you. You’re much better at this than Mommy."

Mira sighed in relief, handing her gamepad to Zamian as he moved further into the room. He crouched down beside Zami, his large hands almost dwarfing the controls as he took the gamepad from her.

Together, father and daughter began playing, their laughter mingling as they navigated the game’s levels. Zami, as expected, was a natural, breezing through each challenge with ease. Zamian, however, wasn’t faring much better than Mira had.

Before long, Zami’s princess had once again saved the frog, while Zamian’s had been caught by the lion.

Zami clapped her hands in triumph, her face glowing with excitement. "Daddy, you and Mommy both lost!" she declared gleefully.

Zamian laughed, shaking his head. "I think I know why I lost," he said, turning to his daughter with a playful grin.

Zami tilted her head curiously, her wide eyes sparkling with innocence. "Why, Daddy?"

Zamian leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Because that princess isn’t mine."

Zami’s eyes sparkled with delight at his response. "That’s right! She’s not my princess either. Mommy is my queen!"

Mira’s eyes widened slightly, her heart fluttering at the unexpected sweetness of her daughter’s words. Her gaze shifted to Zamian, who smiled knowingly, a warmth in his expression that made her cheeks flush once more.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of their breathing and the faint music from the game creating a soothing rhythm. Mira couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of contentment in that moment, surrounded by the two people who meant everything to her.

They then began to play another game together. This time, Mira, Zamian, and little Zami played a simple puzzle. It wasn’t difficult, but it required teamwork. They worked together, passing pieces around as they slowly pieced it together. Just as they were nearing the end, Zami passed a piece to her father, and he, in turn, handed it to Mira. As they all worked to fit the final pieces into place, they reached the last piece. Zamian handed the puzzle to Mira, who then passed it to little Zami to put in place, since it was the final piece.

"Go, girl, come on," Mira encouraged with a smile.

Little Zami grinned as she carefully placed the final piece, completing the puzzle. It depicted a cute image of a princess, and they all admired their work. Then, little Zami clapped her hands together, and Mira and Zamian followed suit, applauding their teamwork.

Just as they finished, there was a soft knock on the door. The maid entered, bowing her head respectfully. "Your Majesty, my Queen, my Princess," she said. "I apologize for the interruption, but I must inform you that guests are already arriving at the port. We need to begin preparations."

Mira nodded, and Zamian spoke with a knowing glance. "It will soon be time."

Mira smiled softly at her husband, understanding the unspoken words between them. There was no need for further explanation; she knew exactly what he meant

But still her heart skipped a beat.