“Seren, can’t you do it again?” Rayjin asked.
Before Seren could answer, Arlan spoke up, knowing that his niece might throw a tantrum if things weren’t handled well. “Rayjin, those butterflies are gone now. They have been dancing for a while, and they must be tired. Let us leave and let them rest, alright? How about you come with me and explore the other side of the Crystal Palace? Grandmother said there is a pond there filled with water lilies and lotuses, and that the view of the snowy mountains are spectacular from the garden on that side. Didn’t you say you want to look around? How can you look around if you only stay in the greenhouse?”
Rayjin felt like everything her uncle said made perfect sense. “I almost forgot,” she let out a determined sound. “Let’s go to the other side! Seren, let us???? go—”
Duke Wimark lovingly pinched his naughty daughter’s nose to chastise her. “Her Majesty is also tired. Let her rest. Do you think she is like you who has energy to run around all day?”
Rayjin made an adorable pouting face, but no longer insisted. Instead, she decidedly ignored her father and made a beeline towards Arlan, raising her arms and asking to be carried.
With a helpless laugh, Arlan picked up the little girl in his arms and walked towards the entrance of the greenhouse. Duke Wimark and Lenard followed behind them after excusing themselves from Drayce and the Great Lady.
Cian was about to follow them, but he could not make himself leave as he looked at his sister in amazement. As his father said, he also believed that his sister was not a witch, but someone more extraordinary. However, he had little knowledge about what that entailed, and did not expect that his younger sister’s capability was more than he expected.
He remembered what his father said to him before about Seren possessing strong curses on her that restricted her from expressing her emotions, but? the power to make flowers bloom and affect the nature around her was not a curse but something she inherited from her mother.’
After today’s encounter, Cian could see it was the truth. Though he had no idea who she was, since she’s someone King Armen could love alongside Queen Niobe, then her mother must be someone really extraordinary.
He approached his sister who still had a puzzled look and patted her head. “I will join the others. Take your time, sister.”
Seren nodded. Cian then turned towards the two Ivanovs with a small bow. He left the greenhouse, leaving his sister under the care of the Great Lady and Drayce.
The young queen looked at her husband and then down to their interlocked hands. He was holding her hands, simultaneously caressing both backs of her hands with his thumbs.
“I don’t know how it happened. I didn’t mean to,” she said.
“It’s alright. It was beautiful. As Grandmother said, we would like to see it often. Just do what makes you feel happy,” Drayce assured.
Seren nodded lightly and heard the Great Lady take over one of her hands, “How about you spend some time with me here, Seren? My old bones prefer the warmth of the greenhouse during cold days like today. Won’t you accompany me, hmm?”
Seren blinked at the old lady’s wizened face, and then she looked at Drayce to know his opinion.
He smiled lightly at her. He liked how she cared for his opinion, and it was the typical wife behavior who would not do anything before taking her husband’s permission. Deep in his heart, he was rejoicing; her small subconscious action meant that their relationship truly progressed.
However, Drayce would not let his preference override her decisions. They were husband and wife, not master and servant. He wanted Seren to decide everything for herself, to have her own opinions. For things like this, she needed to make a choice on her own. Before their marriage, her whole life was arranged for her, and she was dependent on the decisions that others made for her. That was no longer the case now.
“You are free to decide on your own. But I do feel like you will be happier to spend time with Grandmother,” Drayce replied to her unspoken question.
Seren was happy with his response, as if she heard exactly what she wished for. She indeed wanted to spend some time with Great Lady Theodora. After visiting the Crystal Palace for the first time, she had always wanted to return and spend peaceful time with the elderly Ivanov. Though she rarely interacted with the Great Lady, she felt strangely comforted in her presence.
“I will leave you with Grandmother then,” Drayce replied and he let go of her hand. “I will take my leave. Excuse me for now, my Queen, Grandmother.”
Seren nodded,but his grandmother raised the cane in her hand and shook it in his direction. “I expect no eavesdropping, young man!”
His grandmother was aware of Drayce’s sensitive hearing ability, and she was also aware that he could choose to not hear something if he wanted to.
Seren didn’t know why the Great Lady said those words, but she didn’t voice out her confusion. Drayce left after giving a nod to his grandmother.
Once Drayce left the greenhouse, the Great Lady took Seren to sit on one of the benches on the side. The old lady swept her eyes around her greenhouse, humming a little as she fondly appreciated how beautiful her indoor garden looked. Seren thought that she would be interrogated by the old lady, but after realizing that the old lady merely wanted her to accompany her, Seren was able to visibly relax. She too admired the beautiful flowers, and the two of them sat in comfortable silence.
“Don’t be surprised with your abilities, dear,” the Great Lady said after a while. “You have such a beautiful blessing, being able to connect with nature.”
Seren let out a sigh. “Grandomether, before this, I was only able to make flowers bloom.”
“Indeed. You know that when you are happy, you can make flowers bloom. But who says that is all you are capable of? Then, it should not be so surprising to find out that you are capable of doing other things, right? ”
“But this had never happened before…these butterflies…”
“Isn’t it because before coming to Megaris you have never truly tried controlling your? powers?”
Seren again looked at her hands. When those butterflies were moving along with the movements of her hands, she felt like there was some kind of energy being emitted from her fingers.? She could not see that invisible force of energy, but she could feel it.
‘Seems like Grandmother is right. I have never tried controlling it before.. Back in Abetha, everyone feared me, and that made me not want to try to explore my abilities.’
