The Dragon's Flame Queen ✔

✔LXXII - Demian or Celia?

"I-" Seraphina could not say a word as Zenith began, "Well, his birthday isn't that long and soon he would start showing the signs. What are you going to do about it?"

She didn't know. She could not find the cure and she had no idea what to do. "I don't know," Seraphina mumbled weakly.

"Oh, I know. Why don't you use your powers?"

Seraphina's head snapped at her as she noticed there was a mischievous grin on Zenith's face. "What d-"

"Don't pretend now, will you?" She scoffed and added, "You are a wizard, aren't you?"

Seraphina's hands went cold as she looked at her with wide eyes but tried to change it as she asked with her wavering voice, "Wha- what makes you think so?"

"Well, I saw the portrait of the actual human Princess," She said and Seraphina didn't know what to say anymore as an excuse. Zenith added, "I don't know what happened to her while you are here. Honestly, I don't care." She shrugged as she came near her and whispered, "But I do care why are you here? What is your purpose?"

Seraphina's heart banged against her rib cage as she thought today was the end of her life because she was the wife of the crown Prince and if she said about her identity, Prince Billard would definitely severe her head. Then a thought came into her mind. What about Celia? Would she be killed as well?

"I have no purpose whatsoever, Your Highness. If I had, wouldn't I do it a long time ago?" Seraphina asked as Zenith shrugged her lips.

"Maybe you haven't got the right time yet. Or, maybe, you have a purpose that requires time?"

Seraphina clenched her jaws as there was no excuse to encounter her but what to say to Zenith. Should she tell her about her real reason? But would she believe it?

Seraphina sighed and said, "If you want to make up theories, you can do so but I believe, I haven't done anything that would make anyone question me about my purposes."

Zenith clapped making Seraphina a bit startled. What did she want?

"You certainly are a wizard." Zenith's eyes intensified tenfold, "Because no one could ever talked to me like this. Yet you did. Your nerve is praiseworthy, Seraphina. But what if I say everything to both of the Princes?"

Seraphina clenched her hands against her gown tightly. She didn't care to be honest but when she pictured Demian's offended face, it made her heart ache. What wound Demian do if he came to know about her identity.

"If you want to tell them, you may do so for all I care." Seraphina looked at her with her chin held high. What if she was a wizard? She hadn't done anything to harm them. She had helped them and saved Demian many times. She wasn't scared anymore as she held Zenith's gaze with equal footing.

At that Zenith felt a bit annoyed and it showed on her face. She had thought she would wrap Seraphina in her web but Seraphina was never scared of death. Her father, her master and friend, Merlene and her friends had taught her to be a woman of a strong will not a cowered. If she had done anything wrong, she would have been scared of Zenith's threats but she didn't.

"Oh... Well, then." Zenith said as her face now twisted with a evil grin, "What if anything happens to your maid, Celia?"

Seraphina's brows knotted together as she tried to register her words. What did Celia had in this?

"What do you mean?" Seraphina growled.

"I mean, what if it is disclosed that Celia had betrayed her nation?" Zenith smiled, "She isn't from wizard nation, is she?"

Seraphina went quiet. How did she know that? If Zenith was capable of extracting that much information about them then was Demian had the same power? As far as she knew, Demian was more powerful than Zenith. Prince Billard could not get information since Master Valentine was there to stop it but Demian? He didn't like to get informed from anyone but his own goons. Surely he had Master Valentine too but he also had his men under him.

When Seraphina didn't say anything, Zenith added, "She not only betrayed her own nation by not telling the truth, she had betrayed us as well. Because human nation was in an alliance with the dragons and as the personal maid of the human princess, it was her duty to tell us."

Seraphina had never thought of this. Sweat bids formed on her forehead as she was so stupid not to think of this. And now, Celia was in great danger.

"What do you want?" Seraphina asked, her eyes blazed with fire. She was angry at her stupidity as well as at Zenith.

"You are a smart wizard." Zenith said as a grin curled up the corners of her lips and it didn't convey any good feeling, "I will give you one chance. I want you to leave with your maid when his transformation begins. I will not say anything to anyone and no one will know about you."

Seraphina looked at her with wide eyes as she didn't want to run away cowardly and especially she didn't want to leave Demian.

Zenith added, "And if you don't, I will make sure Celia get her punishment of betraying the Dragons."

Seraphina's legs trembled as Zenith left and she didn't know what to do. She knew she could not just leave Demian. He needed her. There was no one who would stay with him when he would have his burns. Only she could handle the warmness of the curse. His temperature would go high and it was almost unbearable for anyone who was not a fire wizard.

Seraphina felt like loosing her balance as she held the chair for her support and the door opened. Her hearth thumped as she looked at the door with wide eyes. Celia came and closed the door behind her and as soon as her eyes met with Seraphina, she raised a brow.

"What?" Celia asked as Seraphina was still looking at her in a weird way.

Seraphina tried to smile but she failed miserably instead she shook her head and said, "N-nothing. I was just thinking if Demian had his dinner or not."

Celia looked at her suspiciously as from tip to toe, Seraphina was acting weird. Although, Celia was mad at her, she was worried too. Seraphina would always be cheerful and chatty but since their arrival, she was exceptionally silent. As if something was going on into the dense mind of her.

"I- I shall just go ask him." Seraphina said as she finally managed to smile but still Celia could see through it.

Celia bit the inside of her cheek as she asked, "Okay. But be sure to finish it otherwise, there will be no dessert for you tomorrow."

Seraphina nodded stiffly and Celia's doubt got confirmed as Seraphina would always complain about how cruel Celia had become or she would pout the whole time until Celia give her the dessert.

"What happened?" Celia asked but as usual Seraphina avoided it and said, "The food will get cold! I will just ask him."

And she dashed away leaving behind a dubious maid.