“Valen,” Erich Winfield answered.
The expression on Martha’s face soured. “He is the king of Abetha. Be careful of the way you address him.”
“Doesn’t matter to me and neither does he object.”
“Do whatever you want.” After saying that, she walked ahead.
“The one you were protecting is gone. Must you still ignore me now? I have been patient, thinking one day we will meet. Do you really have to act as if you don’t recognize me?” he said.
She stopped. “What do you want?”
“For now, let me treat you. Other things, we can talk about later. Once I get answers, I will leave you alone.”
She nodded and walked ahead. Erich Winfield followed her inside the tower.
Instead of a lounge to welcome the guests, the ground floor of the tower had a huge empty space. Other than the set of stairs that led the way up,? there was only an old-looking wooden table and chairs. Martha sat in one chair and Erich Winfield sat in another.
“Can I?” he asked.
She nodded and allowed him to see the right side of her stomach that had the burn scar about the size of a fist. The skin looked severely burned.
Erich Winfield lightly checked her wound and said, “During these years, I have found some herbs that can work on wounds given by supernatural powers. In the past, I couldn’t find how to treat Valen and you brought those elixirs to me. After that incident, I began searching for other remedies while traveling around the continent. I am sure they will help you.”
“No need, I will be leaving this place. After today, I don’t wish you to see me ever again,” she said coldly.
“Where are you going?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Come with me,” he offered only to get a glare from her.
“You are not in a condition to go anywhere. Come with me. Once I treat you, you can leave,” he offered.
“No need.”
‘Same answer again’, he thought.? Under her cold glare, his mind started to work. “If you don’t, I will have to tell Valen you are not fine and I am sure he will not allow you to leave. He sure owes you for taking care of his daughter for all these years, sacrificing your own life and happiness.”
“Don’t tell him,” she said.
“I won’t,” he assured and stood up. “We will be leaving immediately. Be ready. I will come back within an hour.”
Martha didn’t say yes but she knew she had to go with him.
Erich Winfield pulled out a small pouch from his pocket and offered it to her. “This might help, even if not much.”
She accepted it and he left.
Martha knew he would have many questions for her, but she could not answer them all. The things he wanted to ask were exactly the things she could tell no one about, but judging by the way he talked, she was sure King Armen had made him aware of the situation of his daughter.
Inside his study room, King Armen was standing silently by the window where he could see the tower where his daughter had lived for the past seventeen years. Although he couldn’t go to her, he was sure she was always in that place, safe and sound, but now she was gone and all that was left behind was that empty tower.
Cian entered the study without letting Lord Eudes announce his arrival. He knew his father must be feeling sad and he merely wished to accompany him as family.
“Father?” he called out when he saw the lonely silhouette by the window.
King Armen merely glanced at his son before looking back at the tower.
Cian went to him. “What are you thinking about, Father?”
“She left with nothing but hatred in her heart for her father,” King Armen commented. Because he had his back on his son, no one could see the flood of emotions in his eyes as he stared at the tower.
“I believe one day she will understand why Father had done the things you did,” Cian assured.
“As long as she is safe, it doesn’t matter even if she hates me.”
Cian knew nothing could console his father so he silently accompanied his father as he too stared at the tower.
“I believe King Drayce will take care of her.”
“I wish to believe it too.”
“I have seen him on the battlefield and have been observing him when we traveled back to Abetha. Though he looks cold and sometimes unruly, he cares for his people. He is a good king, and I think he would be a good husband to Seren.”
King Armen nodded, agreeing to it as he too had witnessed how worried Drayce was when it came to his personal knight. Since his daughter was the person Drayce chose to be his wife, he ought to cherish her more, and would definitely care for her and protect her no matter what situation would occur in the future.
Moreover, Drayce had already shown his care for Seren by secretly sending her food and rescuing her from the tower even without knowing her. He could only imagine how good that young king would be to his precious daughter once he got to truly know her.
———-
Inside Queen Niobe’s bedchamber, her daughter Meira accompanied her for tea. An array of small colorful snacks and cakes were even arranged on the table, and there were beautiful flowers adorning the vases in one corner of her chamber.
Meira looked at her mother and said, “Seems like Mother is finally happy.”
Queen Niobe lightly smiled. “Shouldn’t I?”
Meira smiled too and sat next to her mother in one chair. “I am also happy. Finally, that witch is gone.”
Queen Niobe looked like she had other thoughts in mind as she mumbled, “Finally, there will be no outsider in my family.”
“Did you say something, Mother?” Meira asked.
Queen Niobe didn’t answer and said instead, “You should change into comfortable clothes.”
Meira understood her mother wanted her to leave and agreed. “I will excuse myself then, Mother.”
Meira left and Queen Niobe closed her eyes as if she had participated in a long exhausting battle, and only then could her mind be finally at peace.
“No outsider is allowed in my family. I only have one son and two daughters.”
