Kapitel 10: Are You A Witch Too?
Looking at the peaceful river in front of me and the vast land teeming with greenery, I found myself mesmerized as usual by the beauty of nature. I inhaled deeply to enjoy the fresh air, fully relishing this rare taste of freedom.
"After so long... It feels great," I commented as I held my skirt and skipped my way towards the river, feeling excited like a kid who just got his favorite toy.
For someone like me, nothing but freedom could truly make me happy. It was more precious than any power or wealth in the world.
Martha followed quietly behind me, simply letting me do what I wish.
I made my way to the large boulders lining the side of the river and found a good spot to sit. As the rocks were surrounded by shallow water, I could dip my feet and play unhindered without getting my clothes wet. The calmly flowing water reached just above my ankles, and the cold against my warm skin felt wonderful.
As I was happy and smiling, as usual, one of my curses showed its effect.
The plants nearby that originally looked like ordinary shrubs, devoid of the beauty of flower blossoms, suddenly had buds grow on them that bloomed into colorful flowers. The entire place was transformed into a flower garden, and it was a dazzling view.
I looked at Martha. "Aren't they so pretty?"
"That's why my lady should smile often," Martha commented as she admired the view as well.
"Then you should bring me out often, too," I laughed, smiling brightly as the happy kid inside me was ready to come out.
Martha didn't reply, but there was a tinge of worry on her face, and I could understand why.
"Are you worried about what others will think when they see flowers blooming inside the capital?"
Martha looked at me. "It's a good thing to see so many flowers after so long."
As usual, Martha avoided answering me, but I knew what was in her mind.
"They will think this witch is happy after almost ruining the engagement ceremony of her sister, and these flowers in full blossom prove that."
"My lady should not be concerned with what others think," Martha commented.
I smiled. "I am not as long as I can be free like this."
Martha was a lady who never smiled and only thought about how to do her job perfectly. However, through her actions, I knew she cared for me. Seeing her constantly worry for me never failed to bring warmth to my heart.
"Won't you join me here, Martha?" I asked.
Martha sat on the rock beside me calmly.
"Today, can you honestly answer a question of mine?" I spoke.
"Only if I can answer it," she replied.
I took a deep breath.
"Are you a witch too?"
I had asked her this question before, but she never gave me a clear answer, not even once. Well, I would never stop asking again and again until she tells me the truth.
"Why does my lady think so?" she countered.
Her response was a pleasant surprise.
'Did she really say something instead of flat-out ignoring my question straight away? I didn't hear her wrong, right?'
Though surprised, I kept myself calm. I needed to grab this opportunity to make her talk more.
"You know magic spells," I replied.
"So any person who knows magic is supposed to be a witch?" she asked back.
Her words made me look at her face.
Although she was my nanny, Martha could not be considered old, probably just around the same age as my birth mother. Though she was a servant, there was something about her that distinguished her from normal servants of the royal family. Perhaps it was her temperament, coupled with her looks.
Grey shade of hair tied in a long braid, a pair of light brown eyes, a long face with fair skin, sharp and pointy nose, as well as a tall, slender body. Although my sense of beauty might be different from the people of my kingdom, I believed that Martha could be considered above average if not pretty by normal standards. If she were to wear luxurious clothes, no one would think she was a mere servant.
"You are old but still pretty. You are not ugly, so…."
"Who said witches are ugly?" Martha asked.
"Do I even need to ask anyone? If not that, then why would I have to cover my face?"
Martha opened her mouth to say something, but I stopped her. "I know! I know! You will say it's to protect me, but I can't stop thinking I need to hide my face because I am ugly."
"You are even prettier than your mother," Martha mumbled under her breath, but she was no longer looking at me. Instead, she stared at the river ahead, looking lost in thought. This was the first time I had seen such an expression on her face.
Moreover, she mentioned something about my mother, something other than the two things I knew about my mother. First, that she was a witch, and second, that she was the one to put this veil on my face.
'Could it be the beautiful view that reminded Martha something? A memory of my mother? Do I need to continue this to fish out more information from her?'
I couldn't help but make plans in my mind for the next time we sneak out again.
"If she was a witch, how can she be pretty?" I asked after I realized both of us had fallen in silence.
This time, Martha didn't reply, which didn't come as a surprise to me.
I had reached the phase where I could only ask questions and leave them for Martha to decide whether she wished to answer or not.
"So you personally know my mother," I concluded, not minding how she ignored my previous question.
Again, there was no reply.
"Were you friends, or did you serve under her, too?"
"How did you two meet?"
"Most importantly, is my mother alive?"
"How did she and my father meet?"
One after another, questions I hid deeply poured out of my mouth. However, Martha remained silent throughout. Before I could ask more, she stood up, and she stepped away from the waters onto the dry part of the riverbank. "We should leave, or I won't be able to take my lady to the market."
"She is my mother, but I know nothing about her. Can't you at least tell me something more about her?" I insisted, but I did get up from the rock and followed her.
'This old woman walks really fast,' I sighed, trying to catch up with her.
"She was pretty. Knowing this much is enough for today," Marth replied as she led me out of the river towards the city proper.
'This heartless woman. Just wait and watch what I'll do today,' I frowned inside, glaring at her back. 'If you think you can control me just because you know some magic tricks, then you are wrong.'
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Mynovel20
Mynovel20 For one week, there would be only 10 chapters. The next chapters would be there after a week onward.
Kapitel 11: Curious Drayce
While Seren and Martha were enjoying their brief taste of freedom, the thing that worried them the most was indeed happening inside the Royal Palace.
The gardens within the palace grounds had exploded with pretty colors and fragrant scents due to the flowers blooming everywhere. Not just inside the palace, but even outside, the common people were amazed to see the rarest view they ever got to see.
Everyone understood what these blossoms meant—the witch was happy—but then they felt conflicted.
Should they be happy or curse her for keeping the kingdom devoid of such beauty of nature?
Or should they be worried about the root of her happiness?
For the Kingdom of Abetha, blooming flowers had become a sort of ill omen, for they believe something terrible would soon befall the kingdom. The witch's daughter ought to be scheming something wicked, as it was common sense that witches could only be happy when they were about to unleash their evil plans.
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Inside the palace.
Arlan showed Drayce around the interesting parts of the palace grounds, including the royal court, the arsenal, the military base inside the palace, where they met with high-ranking military officials, and the various offices the concerned people working under them.
"Finally, we are done with the boring part," Arlan said as he gave out a sigh.
"It was your decision to get bored while I am interested in something else," Drayce countered.
"I just wanted you to see how they work. As a ruler, one should know everything about other kingdoms as well."
Drayce touched his sword and gave a meaningful gaze to Arlan. "When I want to know something, I have a better, more efficient way to know it."
Arlan frowned and mumbled, "This guy loves to talk using a sword." He looked at Drayce. "Will it hurt if you don't use violence?"
"You are already handling the part of spreading peace. You alone should be enough."
Arlan knew there was no use in arguing with his violent friend and changed the topic. "Let's go to a nice, quiet place in the eastern part of the palace. A lake."
Accompanied by their personal knights, the two left the last official's study and went for the greener part of the palace. But as they approached the lake, their eyes were left wide open.
"Since when has this place turned so pretty?" Arlan commented, still in shock.
"I don't remember seeing anything like this when I entered the palace," Drayce said in agreement. Although he did not pay special attention to the view, he could swear he had not seen a single flower anywhere in any of the royal gardens, but suddenly, the entire place was full of them as if someone had planted new bushes and shrubs just now.
"Let's go. I hope this will pacify your always-so-violent mind." Arlan led the way, and Drayce followed him across the stone path with flowers in full bloom on both sides.
As they admired the gardens, Drayce realized they had almost seen the entire palace but didn't go to one side of it.
"Why didn't we go to the northern side of the palace?" Drayce asked.
"That part is deserted, and there is nothing to look at," Arlan replied.
"Then we should go there," Drayce said as he turned to the northern direction.
Unknown to them, one of the Abethan knights assigned to assist them was alarmed by their actions, and knowing he could not stop these royal guests, he left the retinue in a hurry.
Arlan caught up to Drayce. "Why do you always go to where there is nothing?"
"We can advise King Armen how to make that deserted place useful."
"Don't be a nosy guest, Drayce," Arlan commented while following him.
"I intend to be a helpful guest," Drayce countered and continued walking.
Just as they reached the northern part of the palace, they could see a tall stone tower beyond the trees. Before they could go further, two guards stood in their path and bowed them.
"Your Majesty King Drayce, Your Highness Prince Arlan, this place is restricted for anyone to enter," said one guard.
Drayce didn't react to the guard and studied the stone tower ahead, which was still far from where he's standing and was surrounded by tall stone walls.
There were various towers located in the different corners of the palace, but none of them had any walls installed around them, and anyone could freely go in those towers as they wished.
This particular tower seemed suspicious to him.
"We should go back," Arlan said.
Ignoring his friend, Drayce looked at the guards. "And why is it restricted?"
"King Drayce," came a familiar calm voice, and Drayce turned to look at the speaker.
Approaching them was King Armen, accompanied by two knights. Both he and Arlan greeted the King of Abetha as well.
"I hope King Drayce enjoyed visiting the palace," said King Armen in a casual tone.
"It was nothing special," Drayce replied, not willing to act fake. Normal things never enticed him, but he was always curious about the things that were unapproachable or mysterious.
King Armen didn't mind what he said as he took it as one of the young king's quirks.
"This tower belongs to the third princess. My daughter doesn't like it when people disturb her privacy, so no one is allowed to do so," King Armen explained what Drayce wished to know, "and it's not good to go against the wish of a lady."
Drayce couldn't deny the last thing King Armen said. It was indeed rude, especially for a stranger like him, to disturb a princess's royal dwelling.
Arlan wished to take his friend away from there and spoke, "Apology for the inconvenience, Your Majesty."
King Armen nodded to it lightly and instructed, "The lake in the east has a pretty view. I suggest Prince Arlan show that place to King Drayce."
"Thank you for the suggestion, Your Majesty. We will take our leave," said Arlan and signaled his friend to go with him.
Drayce gave a light nod to King Armen and left with Arlan.
Once the two were out of sight, King Armen looked at his knights.
"Didn't I order you to keep an eye on him?"
"Apology, Your Majesty," said one of the knights.
The other knight spoke, "They were visiting the offices and arsenal and had been guided to visit the lake, but as royal guests, we cannot forcibly stop them from heading to this part of the palace."
"Until he leaves the palace, keep a strict watch on him. Don't let him come across the third princess," King Armen ordered.
The two knights bowed in response. King Armen's gaze then fell on the flowers. "Where are they?"
"They have sneaked out a while ago," replied one of the knights.
King Armen sighed in disappointment. "Ask your men to protect them in the shadows and once they are back, ask Martha to visit me," King Armen ordered before he turned around and left.
AUTORENGEDANKEN
Mynovel20
Mynovel20
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