Martha returned to the tower first before going to Seren. When King Armen pointed out that she didn’t look good, he was not wrong with his observation. Since she entered the palace, Martha was trying her best to show she was fine—the entire time she was in front of King Armen and even when she was walking towards the tower.
Her steps were slow but steady when she passed through the gates, and she seemed to be idly strolling as she walked across the princess’s flower garden. But just as she entered the tower, the old woman lost her composure and held onto the wall for support to stand.
Martha looked in pain as she put one hand to the left side of her stomach. It took her a long time to climb the stairs by taking support from the wall. By the time she arrived in front of her own room, her skin looked so pale she looked about ready to collapse.
Entering her room, she dragged her feet to sit on the chair. She knew that if she were to fall on the floor, it would be difficult to stand again. She closed her eyes, trying to bear the pain but it didn’t help.
After wiping the cold sweat rolling down her forehead, Martha pulled out a tiny ordinary-looking black pouch and pulled out two small round pills from it. Without a moment’s delay, she swallowed them. It did not take long for the frown lines on her forehead to ease, and for the color on her face to return, as it seemed that the medicine she had just taken was starting to show its effect.
“I need to hold on until I am sure she is in safe hands,” Martha mumbled. Her eyes started to feel heavy, and before she realized it, she was already asleep.
After a short nap, Martha woke up and frowned, “This medicine always makes me sleep.” She stood up and stretched her body. Her muscles were aching due to falling asleep on a chair. She went towards a large mirror hanging on the wall.
Martha removed her outer robe and then pulled up the top garment above her stomach, exposing a small part of her skin on the left side of her stomach. On it was a pinkish patch of damaged wrinkled skin, as if something bigger than a fist had once burned her.
She touched that patch of skin with her fingertips and she flinched at the resulting pain. She stared at the burn scar for a while. “Even the medicine won’t work on it.”
She pulled down her top garment to cover it and went to change into her royal servant clothes that indicated she belonged to the Third Princess. She needed to go and meet Seren, the girl who she had been protecting by keeping her life on the line.
Recalling the things she heard, the concern could be seen on her face. She was sad to hear what had happened with Seren in her absence and could only blame herself for leaving an innocent girl on her own, only to fall into a trap set by someone. But there was nothing to be done. Martha had to go away to get answers that could help her protect Seren. If not for that attack on her by those supernatural beings, she wouldn’t have taken this much time to return.
Just as she left the tower, she saw a familiar knight waiting for her in front of the gate. Sir Berolt looked like he had something to tell Martha.
Martha bowed to greet Sir Berolt and heard him, “I am here to escort you to King Drayce.”
Martha followed Sir Berolt, and soon, they entered the royal residence. He brought her to the wing of the palace where Drayce and Seren stayed.
When they reached the door of Drayce’s chamber, his knight went inside to inform his king and returned quickly. “His Majesty King Drayce is waiting.”
The knight opened the door for Martha and gestured for her to come in. Only she entered while Sir Berolt stayed out.
When Martha entered the chamber, she saw the young king sitting in the chair behind a work table full of various scrolls. He was not looking at her and was busy going through those documents. That hair color, those eyes… he was indeed the same young man who had saved Seren in the marketplace. At that time, she didn’t know who this stranger was and didn’t bother to greet him.
She bowed to pay her respects. “Greetings, Your Majesty the King of Megaris.”
Drayce finally lifted his head to look at the old woman in a royal servant attire. “I have been informed that you wish to talk to me about my future queen.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You can proceed,” Drayce said as he leaned back in the chair to hear what his queen’s nanny wanted to say.
“Your Majesty, you are already aware of the sensitive condition related to the Third Princess.”
“Hmm,” Drayce nodded.
“You are aware that her life is in danger because supernatural beings will try to harm her.”
“Just say what you came to say,” Drayce instructed with a frown. He was not in a mood to hear things he already knew again.
Martha nodded. “Your Majesty, I have been protecting the Third Princess till now by hiding the essence of her powers. Those powers are suppressed and even the Third Princess is not aware of what kind of powers she holds. But with each passing day, the essence of her powers is getting stronger and my abilities will no longer be enough to suppress it anymore. I am afraid that those who want to harm her will find her soon.”
“I won’t let them harm her. Rest assured.”
“My words may sound offensive to Your Majesty, but although your confidence is admirable, blind confidence is not. Your Majesty does not even know who or what you will be facing in the future. They are more powerful than what you can imagine. This is why we have been hiding her till now, and I wish Your Majesty King Drayce will not be too overconfident regarding things related to my lady’s life. I wish for Your Majesty to remain cautious and to protect her as much as we have.”
Drayce gave her a questioning look. “As much as you have? You mean, to hide her? To keep her as a prisoner, just as you did?”
