Drayce, who had been walking around the icy cave to check the runes on the walls, glanced at his wife and his mother. His mother was taking care of his wife so he didn’t have to worry and focused on determining whether there could be some runes he could help strengthen.

He also extended his powers outside, checking on the situation within a mile from the underground cave. This time, his mother had not restricted his senses from reaching out, and he found that aside from Yorian and Martha, there were no supernatural beings nearby.

“Where was I born?”

It was the normal question to ask, right? Seren had heard she was brought to the royal palace by a witch.

“In one of the forests outside of the capital of Abetha,” Evanthe replied.

“Were you there when I was born?” Seren asked again, and this time, Drayce grew more interested in their conversation. His wife was being smart with her questions;  she was asking something which he wanted to hear.

“Yes, I was there,” Evanthe answered.

Drayce started to calculate things in his head.

‘Seren is eighteen, but Mother left the palace more than twenty years ago. That means for two years, she must have been elsewhere. Does that mean she had never been sealed, submerged in that river? An attempt to make me think she’s dead? Was that a lie to console a child to make him think his mother was staying close to him?’

Seren continued to ask questions.

“Was my mother…was she happy when I was born?”

This question actually made the young queen nervous. There was both fear and anticipation in her eyes. She wanted to believe there was a difficult reason she had been abandoned so… so at the very least, she wondered how her mother felt.

“Yes, she was happy,” Evanthe replied. “She was happy to see her child born healthy and beautiful.”

Seren felt like Evanthe was not being honest. “If I was beautiful to her, why did she instruct my nanny to never allow anyone to see my appearance? Why did I have to have scales on my skin? Why was I not allowed to remove this veil on my face?”

“You were so beautiful that you needed to be hidden from the world,” Evanthe answered, but of course, Seren would not buy it.

“So beautiful that even my own family can’t see my face? Not just them, but even my husband cannot? Aren’t you powerful?  Is there no spell for you powerful people to mask my appearance? I don’t care if you make me ordinary or ugly–either way, I know people who care for me will continue to care for me no matter my appearance.”

Evanthe could understand her anger, but there were a few things this young woman might not like to hear about herself, especially in relation to how she was cursed. She might grow scared about herself and the people around her.

This was a question Evanthe could answer, but the timing was off. Not tonight, when her mind needed to stay tranquil. Hearing the truth would only disturb her state of mind and make her feel even worse about herself.

“This question, I will answer in another time,” Evanthe said.

Seren no longer insisted as Evanthe did forewarn that she would answer only if she could. However, though Seren understood, she could feel once again frustration and anger brewing inside her.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, even closing her eyes in order to make sure she had a good grip on her emotions. She then looked at Evanthe once again and asked, “This mark on my forehead, what about this?”

Seren knew the truth behind it from Great Lady Theodora but wanted to know more from Evanthe.

“I gave you that flower mark,” Evanthe answered. “To be more precise, I passed it down to you.”

“Why?” Seren asked.

“This mark is meant to aid you in finding your soulmate.”

This was the same as what she had been told before.

“Why? I mean, why do you feel like I needed this flower mark?”

“Given your circumstances, to help you find your soulmate, the one who would protect you…” Evanthe replied, keeping the rest of the part only to herself, ‘…and to help you find the destined one who would break your curse.’

“So I found Drayce,” Seren concluded, to which Evanthe nodded.please visit pαпᵈα-:)ɴᴏᴠᴇ1.co)m

“Indeed, and he is the one who has been protecting you ever since you two met.”

“All these…” Seren felt lost for words, “…only to protect me? You don’t even want to tell me who I am being protected from.”

Evanthe glanced at Drayce. Though he was not well-informed about who she was being protected from, he had an idea about the enemies they would be facing. Only, he chose to keep his wife ignorant as well.

Seeing her growing restless, Drayce went to her side and sat next to Seren, clasping a hand around hers.

For a moment, Drayce wondered whether he should tell Seren. Beings from beyond this world were the ones plotting to harm her. The most powerful beings no one from the mortal realm could face head on.

However, Drayce knew his wife would grow scared once she heard the truth. It would affect her state of mind, which might cause complications once the powers inside her erupt.

Seren leaned close to Drayce, allowing herself to calm down. She didn’t like how she was getting emotional lately– her temper would flare out of her control from the smallest triggers.

“Is it wrong for me to know why I have to experience the things I went through? Simply knowing is bad? They won’t even tell me who my mother is and what happened to her? Is she even really alive?”

Tears rolled down from her eyes as she rested her face against his chest. Drayce rubbed her back gently and spoke. “It’s not wrong, but tonight is not the right time when you are not emotionally stable. Haven’t you been feeling easily irritable lately?”

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“It is related to that foreign power inside you. That is why, once this night passes safely and your emotions become more stable, they will answer your questions.”

“I know, I know but–“

“Those coming after you are not ordinary supernatural beings. They are more powerful than us, that is why we need to make sure you remain in a stable state to increase our chances of successfully getting through tonight by even a sliver.”

“So powerful? More powerful than you?” she asked in disbelief.

“You might think I’m the most powerful, but that’s only because you have not known many ancient beings yet. My potential is good in the mortal world, but in the end, I’m also still young and yet to reach the peak of my strength. There are many powerful existences we might not even know yet, and unfortunately, the ones who are after you are part of them.

“That is why we are being careful. Sometimes, not knowing is better depending on the circumstances. All we need you to do at this moment is to remain calm. If you give into your unstable emotions, it will only make it more difficult to control your powers.

“Your power is connected to your emotions. You should know this better than anyone.”

She slowly nodded. Wasn’t the reason the people of Abetha despised her because she had harmed others everytime she lost control of her anger?

“But… you will tell me after this, will you?”

“I give you my words. How much I know, I will tell you everything.”

Evanthe observed the young couple.

‘Their relationship seems better than expected, and I can see Drayce sincerely loves her but…Seren, this child, her feelings for him are only…’

Evanthe let out a silent sigh as she glanced at the ice cave, calculating the flow of time. She was indeed with Sierra when she gave birth to Seren, that was why there were many secrets she was burdened to keep.

‘Sierra, will it be fine to tell your daughter that  one of the curses she has is that she is bound to never fall in love?

‘Once she gets to know her own mother had personally cast this curse on her, will she even want to understand your reason?

‘Though Seren looks like she is in love with Dray, there has been no signs of your curse being broken, that should mean this child does not feel the same way Dray feels for her.

‘Who shall I pity more–your daughter whose heart will never be complete, or my son who does not know that what his wife feels for him is merely reliance and gratitude?’

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