The guest palace where Drayce and Seren were led to was a part of the royal palace Seren had never been to in the past, and as she took in the sight of the unfamiliar place–to think she had spent seventeen years without even seeing the entirety of the palace complex where she was raised– she could not help but feel a complicated emotion.
The chamber initially arranged for them was a luxurious one, suitable for royalty to stay in, and nothing could be faulted–from the decorations catering to the taste of Megaris to the hospitality extended to their personal servants and knights–but as Seren looked at the lavish arrangements more grand than she expected, she found herself feeling…empty.
Home? The place where she was raised? It wasn’t within these white marble pillars or furnished walls, the thick fur rugs with furniture carved in fragrant wood; it was within those cold stone walls made of dark gray bricks and bare floors with only the simplest interiors.
That was where she belonged, inside that tower where she had spent her life living like a captive.
She walked towards the window and stood looking outside. From where she’s standing, she could see the carriages and the people mingling about, and farther out was a meticulously tended garden. Drayce silently stood by her side, and he gently placed his hand around her shoulders. Aware she was feeling emotional, he offered her his silent comfort.
After some time, the young woman let out an audible sigh.
“Are you alright, Seren?” he asked.
She rested the back of her head against his chest while her eyes continued to stare outside. “I would have not been fine if you were not with me.”
He rubbed her shoulders gently. “Glad to know it.” He continued to draw small circles on her thin shoulders as he added, as if an afterthought, “May I know why you want to stay in your tower?”
Several seconds passed by before she answered, her tone strangely calm.
“In this entire kingdom, that tower is the only thing I recognize, the only familiar place to me. Strange, isn’t it? But everything else is foreign to me.”
“Hmm, I don’t think it’s strange. You grew up there, so it is normal to stay in the place you are most familiar with.” He leaned his face closer to her ears. “And I like that I will get to know more about you. That tower is part of your past, and it is something that belongs to you. Though I don’t know how you spent your childhood, I believe we have ample time for me to get to hear your experiences during the duration of our stay. I am sure you have good memories in that tower, and starting today, we can create a couple more memories worth remembering in that place, don’t you think so?”
“Hmm.” She nodded. “I wonder how my nanny, Martha, is doing. I didn’t see her when we arrived. If she was in the palace, I am sure she would have been the first one to welcome me but…seems like King Armen has sent her away as she was not of any use after I left.”
Drayce didn’t comment about her misunderstanding. The last time he saw Martha, she was gravely injured and looked like she would not make it, give or take a month. That was the reason he didn’t allow the older woman to accompany Seren, and though it was a selfish decision, maybe cruel even to some, he made it with good intention–he didn’t want his wife to witness losing a person she treated like her family.
Fortunately, neither did the woman want to go to Megaris, and thus, they had a silent agreement to let Seren remain ignorant of her nanny’s deteriorating health. Both didn’t want to see Seren hurt. It was better to let fate go its course without letting her know of the painful truth.
‘I wonder if she found a means to live,’ Drayce thought and heard Seren continue saying, “Later, shall we go around to ask about her? Do you think it’s fine to ask King Armen about her whereabouts?”
p、A,nd A-n、o、ve,1 If he were to be asked, Drayce would no doubt say the only person Seren could ask about her nanny was King Armen. Only that man could tell them if she was alive, and if she was, where she went. That witch was the sole person he trusted to protect his daughter; there was no way King Armen would let her go just like this.
Moreover, the day of Seren’s coming of age was fast approaching, and it was bound to happen soon after the wedding of his second sister. Drayce had a guess this was an intentional move made by King Armen to make sure Seren would be in Abetha the day she becomes an adult. If the King of Abetha made such plans ahead of time, then he must have surely arranged for this witch to be nearby as well.
And if Martha were to protect Seren, then maybe she had comrades with her. Drayce was holding onto a thread of hope that his mother was among them.
‘Mother, I am looking forward to meeting you. I don’t wish to be disappointed this time.’
“Dray? What are you thinking?”
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t answer me.”
Drayce stared at his wife who had tilted her head to look at him.
“I will help you find your nanny. Rest assured.”
At his answer, Seren let out a sigh of relief.
After taking an ample rest and having a meal, the aide of the King of Abetha informed Drayce and Seren that the arrangements were finished and they could not shift to the Third Princess’ old residence. Their carriage stopped at the main entrance of the tower, and they were greeted by the familiar sight of the gate with a bell attached to the tall boundary walls surrounding the tower.
When Seren stepped out of the carriage with Drayce’ help, she was unable to remove her eyes from the stone tower. For some odd reason, her chest throbbed. Though its appearance seemed to not have changed, it gave her a lonely feeling. This tower must have missed its owner as well.
Palace servants opened the gate for them and Lord Eudes personally guided their way inside. Slayer and Azer followed behind the royal couple, along with the Queen’s lady-in-waiting.
As they entered the gate, Seren noticed that the small garden she tended herself was in a good condition. It appeared that even after she left, a gardener had been assigned to take care of the plants. Because it was winter, many of the flower bushes were bare, but a couple of winter plants had flowers in full bloom…
Meanwhile, Drayce’s mind was elsewhere, remembering the last time when he stepped foot in this place. Back then, the Third Princess of Abetha had been targeted with malicious intentions and forced herself to hide inside her tower, and his busybody self had to argue with her father and brother to allow him to get her out.
At that time, his head was filled with thoughts of saving her and he was ready to shed blood for that. A rare amused smile appeared on his face as those memories showed how crazy he was for a girl he had never met.
Was it fate? All he did was to follow his instincts, and back then, the urge felt stronger than even his rational mind. And now, he was glad that he listened to his instincts.
Seren caught Drayce’s smile. “Is something funny, Dray?”
“Just some silly things I am glad I did.”
“What do you mean?”
“Will tell you later. Let’s go inside first.”
Since her husband said that, Seren let it go and she resumed appreciating the small green haven around her. Then her gaze eventually froze upon seeing an empty plot of land near the pebbled path they were treading on. A particular tree should be standing there, one which she was scared to look at but…
“Where is it?”
“What, my Queen?”
“There’s supposed to be a tree in that spot,” she said, her voice somewhat low.
Lord Eudes, who was leading their way, turned to see what she was referring to. He then let out a sound of understanding. “Queen Seren, that tree was pulled out just a while ago.”
“Why?”
“King Armen’s orders. His Majesty didn’t want to remind you about some bad memories.”
Seren felt conflicted upon hearing the old man’s explanation. Though she indeed dreaded the memories evoked by that particular tree…she also didn’t wish to be pleased by the actions of the King of Abetha.
Lord Eudes suddenly felt a gaze that made him lower his head in front of her. “Your Majesty?”
“It was just a harmless tree. Is there a need to cut it?” Her voice was cold and her eyes showed how displeased she was, causing the old man to wonder if the person in front of him was the same Third Princess he used to know.
Eudes felt speechless, but he bowed servilely. “Apologies, Your Majesty.”
Seren ignored him and continued walking towards the door of the tower and Drayce quietly followed her despite his confusion.
However, regardless of the reason, he found himself amused to see her confident strides. His timid-looking wife had learned how to have a temper and she didn’t mind showing it whenever she wanted to. She was on the right path of becoming a queen where her actions and words could intimidate others.
He almost wanted to laugh, imagining the next few days. ‘She is not going to go easy on her father.’
