"Please co with ," the older woman standing in the room said. Oriana followed her towards the kitchen, where a temporary arrangent was set for her to concoct dicine. After consulting with Martha about Seren’s food intake and her activities for the past week, Oriana made a list of herbs and handed it to another servant to gather.
While Oriana prepared the dicine. Martha stayed by her side as a helper, asking questions about each herb Oriana added. Oriana didn’t mind it. She was basically a stranger, a very young one at that, preparing dicine for the sick queen. It was normal that they would not trust her even though she was Arlan’s aide.
Oriana found this to be a good chance to talk with Martha.
"Miss Martha, my master ntioned you to ."
She directly jumped to the point as she had no ti to waste.
The calm woman looked at her in surprise.
Oriana spoke again, "When I told him I am coming to Othinia, he told I might get to et soone he knows. She goes by the na of Martha, the nanny of the Queen of garis, but her real na is Celia Voss."
Celia Voss. This na, she had left it behind for a long, long ti. Erich was the only one who called her by that na. Since that old man had told this young boy her na, that ant he was soone Erich trusted.
Oriana expected to get more reaction from Martha, but the tight-lipped woman showed no change in her gaze.
The older woman rely asked, "Is he living well?"
’This woman is tough.’
"Master is doing well in Griven. He is currently attending to a patient, though I believe he will once again journey around the continent to continue helping poor people once he resolves that patient’s health problems."
Martha simply nodded. "Good to know."
Awkward silence descended inside the kitchen, interrupted only by the sounds of concoction, of fire being stoked and liquid splashing as Oriana mixed the contents inside the boiling pot.
"There is sothing I need to talk with you about, Miss Martha."
"What is it?" She looked at Oriana.
"Not now as it’s a personal matter that is sensitive in nature. Maybe, when you are free from work?"
"Alright. I will let you know."
Oriana finished concocting the supplents for Seren and inford Martha on how to give it to them. Once it was done, she returned to her master’s side who was idly chatting with Cian in the drawing room.
Arlan pretended nonchalance on the surface, but in fact, he was curious about Oriana’s reason for seeking Martha. He had overheard his attendant’s conversation with the Queen’s nanny, as his senses never left Oriana’s whereabouts.
’Sensitive in nature? Is it the ssage from Erich Winfield? That old man sure cares for this woman Martha.’
After a while, Drayce and Yorian arrived at the drawing hall.
"How is Seren?" Cian asked.
"Asleep" Drayce replied as his gaze passed by Oriana who was standing on the sidelines.
He then looked back at Arlan. "I need to discuss sothing with you."
The way Drayce looked at him, he understood it was a private matter only for their ears.
"Imbert, Orian, return to our guest mansion."
"Yes, Your Highness," they replied. Oriana paused hesitantly, "Your Highness, can I talk to Miss Martha for a while? I have a ssage for her from Master Erich."
Arlan looked at Drayce who offered him an approving gaze. "Alright, but after that return imdiately."
"Yes, Your Highness." She left to et Martha.
Yorian looked at the retreating back of the young woman and said, "You pair of friends can chat nicely. I will stay behind."
"I have important matters to attend to regarding what we talked about earlier. I will update you two when I get sothing useful," Cian said as he bowed lightly and excused himself.
The Crown Prince of Griven and the King of garis disappeared from their places under the gazes of those left behind inside the drawing room.
Along with the strong gust of wind, two figures appeared at a random cliff overlooking the large river at the outskirts of the capital of Othinia. The cliff showed a beautiful view of a nearby landscape, a majestic waterfall splitting into several graceful streams, before reuniting once again to form a pool at the bottom, the water flowing to form a river in the valley.
The spray of water dancing in the air glistened under the sun, forming a misty background that surrounded the two handso royals.
"What do you want to talk about?" Arlan asked as he looked at the scenery ahead, his eyes intentionally trying to avoid his friend’s gaze.
"Before I ask anything, I wish to know if you have anything to tell ." Drayce then added, "Which I believe you do."
Arlan sighed. "Nothing can be hidden from you."
"Only when it cos to the people I care about."
"I was going to talk to you anyway." Arlan stared blankly at the roaring rush of water, seemingly lost in thought. "Last ti, I told you that I found a way to get rid of those nightmares."
His friend nodded. "And you got that person to stay by your side," A statent, not a question.
"I did," Arlan confird. "Did it ever happen to you that soone’s scent calms you? That their presence by your side helps you to control what you want to suppress and hide?"
Drayce nodded and then heard the distressed Arlan continue.
"But at the sa ti, that soone is also the reason for that hideous thing to keep surfacing again and again?
"That soone, I want her near yet far. I hate when she is near , yet also hate the distance if we are not together."
The frustration in his voice was heavy and palpable. There was no mask, no disguise, only honest vulnerability. This was a side of the prince that no one–not even his own family—had seen.
"That person," Arlan vented, "she is the solution and the problem at the sa ti."
The tranquil sound of water flowing filled the silence on the cliff.
"It indeed happened to and that person for is Seren," Drayce answered after his friend got his composure back. "She calms , and at the sa ti, she is the reason my dark side tries to co out. When it’s out, she controls it without even trying, as if her presence in itself tas it."
"It’s alright as she is your wife but in my case..." Arlan stopped with an annoyed expression on his face.
"She is your servant," Drayce finished what he ant to say.
Arlan had no other option but to acknowledge it, but the tone of his voice changed to mockery. "Nothing more than a tool to keep by my side for my own needs."
"Do you truly feel that way?"
"She is but a peasant. I refuse to let my life be controlled by anyone other than myself." It was horrifying for Arlan to imagine how, for the rest of his life, he had to depend on a single person due to the power she wields on that vile creature inside him.
"You cannot stop it," Drayce said.
"What do you an I can’t? There is no problem without a solution. The reason I am telling you all of these is so that you can help and not say, ’You cannot stop it’. Is there sothing in the books your mother left you...?"
"Do you prefer that I lie?" the young king asked back. "I have gone through this phase, and I can tell you there is nothing you can do especially when it cos to her. What you want to suppress will inevitably co out because of her."
His words only added to Arlan’s frustration.
"Why does it have to be this way? Why can’t I just live like a human? Why does that creature have to ss up my life like this? Why—"
"Because she is your mate."
Mate.
Hearing that word, Arlan looked at his friend in disbelief. For supernatural beings like them, the word ’mate’ held a more special aning.
"No way."
But that pair of red eyes told him that their owner was telling the truth.
"The Dragon inside you has found his mate," Drayce said in emphasis.
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Bonus Chapter dedicated to reader Rhrotra. Thank you for the supergift
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