"Your Majesty, we have a way to trap the witch again," Minister Darus said, trying to get back in his superior's good books.
Queen Niobe raised a brow, waiting for him to continue.
"I heard the Third Princess had stepped out of the palace today and caused harm to people in the central business district." The minister roughly narrated the incident from the marketplace.
"No wonder the flowers in my garden bloomed. That witch must be happy after burning our people," First Princess Giselle commented, her eyes resentful after hearing the brief account from the official.
First Princess Giselle was once a victim of Seren's anger, and her clothes were put on fire. She could never forget that day as it scared her to the bones. Though she was not hurt, it didn't fail to give her nightmares to date.
Seeing her daughter remembering those horrific memories, the Queen spoke, "Don't worry, my dear. She won't be here anymore to harm anyone." The queen's eyes turned indignant. "Because of her and her witch mother, we have been through a lot. Now, it's her time to pay for all our years of suffering."
"Mother, was her mother as scary as everyone says?" the Second Princess asked.
Queen Niobe stayed quiet as she didn't wish to talk about the woman she hated the most.
"Your Highness," Minister Darus answered in the queen's stead, "Many of the older servants in the palace saw her that night, and they all said she was an awful sight to see."
Princess Giselle spoke, looking as aggrieved as her mother. "How can Father—"
"Be careful when you talk about your father," the Queen interrupted her daughter with a matching glare.
"Apologies, Mother. I-I just can't stand that witch's daughter." Princess Giselle gritted her teeth as she recalled the fear and humiliation from years ago. "I hate her. I truly hate her!"
Second Princess Meira held her elder sister's hand to console her.
"You will be returning to Mivesea in a few days. Don't waste your time thinking about it," the Queen instructed.
The First Princess of Abetha had long been married to one of the princes from Mievesea, one of the kingdoms in the south rich in water resources. Princess Giselle only came to Abetha to attend her younger sister's engagement ceremony as one of the representatives of the royal family of Mivesea.
Queen Niobe returned her attention to Lord Darus Count. "Till when will the King of Megaris be here?"
"Not sure, Your Majesty, but maybe a day more," the minister replied.
"Then plan something to lead him to that tower," the Queen instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Anything else?" the Queen asked.
"Crown Prince Cian had sent a missive, asking for permission to return from the northern border, but King Armen did not allow him again," the minister informed her.
"It's good. If he returns, he will try to get that witch out of the tower. Let him stay away," said the Queen as she huffed, "Like father, like son. Both are enchanted by that witch."
"But Prince Cian always listens to you, Your Majesty, so…."
"He and his father forgot that after the death of the previous queen, I was the one who took care of them."
"That we all know, Your Majesty. That's why Prince Cian is always grateful and listens to you as if you are his birth mother, not just a stepmother."
"When it comes to that witch, he is like his father," the Queen countered in displeasure.
"But…"
"You can leave," Queen Niobe instructed, dismissing the minister.
With a respectful bow, Minister Darus quietly left her chamber, leaving the Queen alone with her daughters.
"Mother, why do you want the King of Megaris to go after her?" Princess Meira asked a few seconds after the minister left.
"If that witch catches his interest, Armen will have no other option but to give her away," the Queen replied. She stood up from her seat and walked towards her bed, her expression a little tired.
The two princesses didn't like this idea. Princess Meira shook her head. "Then she will become the Queen of Megaris. How can Mother let her—"
"She won't even be alive to be one," the Queen interrupted.
Her reply surprised the two.
"Haven't you heard? All women who caught his interest ended up brutally killed inside King Drayce's chamber," the Queen replied, and when she turned around, all traces of exhaustion were gone from her beautiful face.
The princesses understood, and excitement could be seen in both of their eyes.
========
(Seren's POV)
Standing by my bedchamber's window, I checked for any movement outside from time to time, waiting for Martha to return. She went to see my father because of the trouble I caused this afternoon, and every passing moment was making me anxious if I could ever see Martha again. If not, I was the one to blame.
After a long wait of what felt like an eternity, the door of my bedchamber opened, and my nanny entered the room with no sign that she was punished. Seeing Martha safe, my happiness and relief made me nearly sob. I couldn't help myself from going to her in a hurry to ask her if she was allowed to continue staying by my side.
"What did the King say? Is he sending you away?"
"No, my lady," Martha replied.
I gave out a sigh of relief, only to realize it was a tad too early because of her next words.
"His Majesty knows, other than me, no one can handle such a troublesome kid like you. He has no other option but to keep me."
Martha was back to her annoying self; that meant everything was fine and I didn't have to worry, but that didn't mean I would let her sarcastic words slide. I frowned, "I'm not a kid. I'm a grown-up lady now."
"Then my lady should behave like one," Martha commented.
"Then my lady should behave like one," Martha commented.
Before I could say another word, she pulled out something from the pocket of her sleeve. "This is for my lady."
I swallowed my words and asked in surprise, "For me?"
"Hmm."
'Present for me?" I smiled lightly and took it from her, not waiting for a moment.
It was a delicate, finely carved hairpin with multiple and brightly shining stones fixed on it. Delicate gold chains hung to it, forming a semicircle, giving it a sophisticated look.
"It's pretty," I said with a light smile, suppressing a childish squeal not to show her how happy I was that she got a gift for me.
"But this pretty hair ornament almost cost me my job, my lady," Martha replied, hinting at the trouble I caused.
'Ohh, so she went to that shop to get this hairpin for me when I was running away,' I thought and felt bad at the memory, but as usual, there was no need to show it to her and apologize for it. 'I'm a princess, after all.'
"Thank you for this gift."
Ignoring my thanks, Martha went to fix the bed for me as it was late. "Tomorrow, we will have a cooking lesson for my lady."
The smile on my face disappeared as I exclaimed, "Tomorrow?"
"Hmm." Martha nodded while getting a new set of bedsheets and quilt for me from the wooden cupboard.
'No way,' I screamed inside. "But, we had it a few days back."
"Those few days were long back," Martha replied.
"I'm a princess. Why do I have to—"
"One day, by chance, if my lady is lost in the wilderness or somewhere unknown, she should know how to survive. People will not be kind to you when they call you a witch."
"Why do I need to when you are here—?"
"What if I'm not there with my lady, just like what happened today in the marketplace?"
Her words reminded me of the man who saved me. Ever since we returned to the palace, my thoughts were occupied with worry for Martha and about what could happen to her. I almost forgot about that man.
"That man!" I mumbled and looked at Martha. "Did you see the man who saved me? Who is he?"
"My lady, I didn't see anyone but one beheaded body on the ground," Martha replied.
"He was there," I insisted. "He was the one to behead that man. He has scary red eyes and—"
"My lady must have made a mistake," Martha interrupted me and finished preparing the bed. She then went to add more wood logs to the fireplace.
Sulking over the ignorant Martha, I complied and went to bed. "It's not the first time I've seen him … I don't know how to explain, but I'm sure it's him."
I looked at Martha, whose back faced me as she tended the fireplace. There was no reaction from her, as if she didn't hear me.
"I once saw him fighting in the mountains, and he was the one to pull me underwater... You don't believe me as always." I couldn't help but feel infuriated by her reaction—or rather, her lack of one. Whenever I said things I've scryed to Martha, I always got silence in return.
Martha finally finished her work and stood up to look at me. My eyes were full of expectations that she would say something this time, but…
"Seems like it's due to lack of sleep that my lady is having weird dreams," Martha commented. "I'll ask His Majesty to send more books for my lady to study so her mind will stop imagining absurd things."
"I don't want to study those boring books." I pulled the quilt over my head and lay in bed.
Martha came to fix the quilt properly. "Studying is important for my lady. One should have all kinds of knowledge if they wish to survive in this cruel world."
I turned to one side, my back facing Martha. "I don't see any of its use when I can't even use that knowledge."
"Then how come my lady recognized the flammable oil on that curtain and defended herself?"
Martha was right. It was because I have studied the situation of the nearby kingdoms and the current trade between them. Back then, I was curious to see what kind of expensive things were imported from the eastern kingdoms. Afterward, Martha brought one tiny bottle and showed it to me. We ended up using that expensive oil to ignite fire for our cooking lesson….Annoying cooking lesson.
Since I was young, Martha had taught me to read and write, and there was always a stock of books sent by the King for me to study. Though I wouldn't say I liked studying as I was upset with my father and didn't wish to follow any of his orders, I had to do it because of Martha, as she always found a way to make me do it.
Her favorite trick was, giving me a target, and if I finish it to her satisfaction, she will take me out. Sometimes, she would make my favorite food. Taking me out was the best deal for me, and I always did my best to get that deal done.
"Goodnight, my lady," Martha said, but with me being stubborn, I didn't wish her a goodnight back. I heard the door of my room open and close, which meant Martha had left.
Finally alone, my thoughts wandered about. 'Why does the King want me to study everything? Not like I'll be the one to rule his kingdom… Then...is this his way to torture me silently?'
Tired of having so many questions in my mind, I closed my eyes, only to remember that red-eyed man again. I couldn't stop thinking if he was indeed the man I saw in my vision.
The first time, I could only see his back and tattoo. The second time, those red eyes and the same tattoo.
"It's the same tattoo. I can't be mistaken," I mumbled. "Those eyes...?"
I focused on remembering and compared the eyes I saw in water and those I saw in the marketplace.
"Ahh!" I covered my mouth immediately to suppress myself from screaming loudly, or it would have ended up breaking all the glasses inside my bedchamber.
"Did...Did he just see me naked underwater?"
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