Master Valentine watched as Seraphina's demeanor had changed. She was very low a moment ago yet now after hearing him out she was back to herself.
The tale of the cursed prince had spread across that it reached her ears. It didn't create a problem with Seraphina but it could create a great havoc if Dragon land's people heard it.
However, there was another thing that Master Valentine needed to resolve before it became too late.
"Seraphina..." Master Valentine's voice became serious as he looked into her eyes. Her jade green eyes now had become bright and the cloud of sadness had long gone. She raised a brow and Valentine saw a little smile on her face.
"You do know that you have to go away after his transformation."
Seraphina's smile evaporated immediately as if she had forgotten about their deal. She might have swayed with the flow but it would not last long as there were rumours going on about her and before it became uncontrollable, she needed to go away otherwise, it would create a situation where their people would question them about their own rules.
"I-I know." Seraphina nodded her head stiffly but the frown was visible on her face.
"The Dragon Princes wound never accept a wizard in their family," Master Valentine said and it stung on Seraphina's skin like needles. Of course, how could she forget that they would never want to have a wizard in their castle. Demian would start to hate her.
She shuddered at the thought and her heart sank when Demian's face carved in hatred came into her mind. She looked at Master Valentine as she nodded.
"Remember not to get too attached with the Young Prince as it might hurt you later," Master Valentine said and Seraphina got the meaning. Of course, it hurt because she was too accustomed to having Demian around her but she could have been a bit careful. She bit her lips.
Should she say about Zenith's threats to Master Valentine? But both of them wanted her to go away. The only difference is Master Valentine wanted her to protect Demian until his transformation was done and Zenith wanted her to go away because she wanted to kill him.
Seraphina didn't mention Zenith and kept her head low as she almost scoffed at her situation. Zenith had threatened her with Celia and she had to stay here otherwise, Master Valentine would make things hard for her. She knew Master Valentine was a protective pillar that both Billard and Demian had and the only stairs Zenith had was Seraphina herself. That's why she wanted her to go.
It seemed there was no place for her anyway. Her father wanted her to go, now the dragons wanted her to go as well. She wanted to cry on Merlene's shoulders and go away to somewhere where no one would have a problem with her. But was there any place like that?
Besides, what would she do even if she stayed here? They were Royals and they had the power to dig up her real identity. And if Demian or Billard came to know about her, they would not have a second thought, would they?
"Don't worry, I will make sure there will be no harm to you and to Celia." Master Valentine assured her but did he know about Zenith? There was a threat in the castle for Celia and it was in the castle. Should she tell him?
"Okay." Seraphina mumbled weakly and nodded as Master Valentine said, "Alright... Now I shall go back to my work."
And Master Valentine left, leaving Seraphina in a hard situation.
*****
It had been two days and Seraphina hadn't heard anything from Demian. He didn't even come and she didn't go. And all this while her only companion was the window pane of her room where she had been spending her days. Watching the outside view despite she had no interest as her gaze stayed on the large tree. A nest was there where a mother was feeding her children and she just sat there and watched.
Prince Billard had asked for her presence but she denied it saying she hadn't been feeling well. But she knew sooner or later, she would have to go. She had told the guards outside of her chamber that no one should enter as she had a contaminated fever which might spread if someone comes. She just didn't want Zenith to come here so she asked Celia to tell everyone. In truth, she wanted to make up her mind and stable herself.
Demian was a dragon and she was a wizard. It was forbidden from the start yet she let herself sway with the flow. How stupid of her to think everything would work out.
Celia had never seen Seraphina so quiet and although they had been in a fight, somehow she felt guilty of treating her with cold shoulder. She didn't know what had happened and it seemed Seraphina would avoid the conversation which made her more furious.
But today, she decided to have a good talk with her. Even if she tried to avoid the conversation, she would never let her do that.
"Alright! I give up!" Celia grumbled angrily as she entered with an enraged face and made Seraphina startled.
Seraphina looked at her and asked, "What?"
"Why are you so quiet?"
"I thought everyone would like that so why not?"
"No... That's not it!" Celia crossed the distance in long three strides and glared at her, "What happened?"
Seraphina looked at her in confusion but Celia would not let it go slide.
"What has happened? You have been acting strange!" Celia fisted her palms and shouted in frustration, "You haven't been eating well, not even going for a stroll and certainly you are not going to the Prince's chamber to annoy him."
Seraphina chuckled but Celia could see her fake smile. Princess Naomi would do that too whenever she was troubled but in Naomi's case, she was always quiet unlike Seraphina who would talk endlessly and annoy everyone or do some activities to get under Celia's skin.
"Nothing." Seraphina looked at the tree and said absent-mindedly, "it's just i'm a bit tired. I just want to feel at peace. I don't want trouble and I don't want to cause any damage to others."
If Celia's jaw wasn't hung already, she would swear it would find a place on the ground. She didn't want trouble? Seraphina was the one who loved to call trouble and somehow trouble loved her too.
"Did something happen to the Prince?" Celia didn't want to pry into her marriage life but she could not stop herself from asking as it was kind of scary to see Seraphina's changed behavior. She might don't like her trouble-calling-personality but this was worse.
It seemed she had lost every will to fight, to go on, to get excited. What could have happened?
"Okay... Now you are scaring me, Seraphina..." Celia said, "Tell me what happened?"
"Nothing." Seraphina stood up and smiled at her as she stretched her back and a yawn left her mouth, "Now, I feel sleepy. Would you just go and tell Prince Billard that I won't be attending the lunch today?"
"What? Today, again?"
"Yes. Tell him that I have a high fever and would like to rest."
Celia tapped her foot on the floor and said, "I will not! Do that yourself!"
Seraphina pouted, "And I thought you would help your friend. Aren't friends help their friends?"
Celia's brows twitched as she said, "Then tell me what happened?"
Seraphina released a sigh and was about to say when the door burst opened. Both of the ladies looked at the intruder and saw it was Demian. It seemed the guards didn't stop him from entering even though she had ordered them not to let anyone enter.
Of course! The guards were his men! They would never do that to him!
Demian's deep blue eyes fell on the shocked Seraphina and moved to her maid, Celia who bowed immediately after realising who had come.
Demian ordered, "You may go now and prepare some herbal soup."
Celia nodded and left after bowing one more time but Seraphina stood there with wide eyes. Why had he come here? To see if she was really ill or not?
"Why are you here?" Seraphina asked him warily. She was mad but more than that she was sad.
"This is my castle, I can go anywhere I want." Demian said with his usual cold tone which didn't surprise Seraphina. In normal circumstances, she would engage in a fight with him but today, her mind was occupied with many things and she didn't want to distract herself.
"Alright, suit yourself." She said as she slowly crawled on her bed and wrapped the cover around her from her head to toe. She wanted to avoid everyone but it seemed no one would let her do that.
She heard Demian's footsteps coming closer to her bed and her heart thumped with each step he took. She hadn't expected him to come and somehow, the tiny bit of her heart was happy.
"What is this 'contaminated fever'?" Demian asked, his voice was closer to her bed and she clutched the sheet tightly to her.
"You will get contaminated if you stay long." She mumbled and felt the weight of Demian beside her. Her heart took a pace. He would know she was lying... She thought and her face heated.
There was a moment of silence and no movements. Should she peek? No!
Before she could think, her sheet was pulled off and she felt her dear husband's hand on her forehead. Her whole face reddened and she jolted away. "I told you it will conta-"
"Keep quiet!" Demian hissed and said, "You do have a slight fever."
Well, she didn't but she was certain it was because her face was heated by his presence and his touch. Nowadays, she could not contain herself from this sort of emotions and she didn't know why. She was mad but small gestures from him had enough power to push it aside.
"Y-yes. And you should stay away."
"I will, of course." He said coldly and Seraphina felt her fists twitching. And also, he had the power to make her angry...
"But before that, I will ask the royal physician to look after you," Demian added.
"No! I will be fine after a few days' rest."
"You don't get to decide that, do you?"
"I don't need your help, thank you very much!" She said as her face portrayed the anger she had but Demian didn't show any emotions. Why was it so hard to avoid him?
"I am not helping you. My brother is worried about your health."
Seraphina nodded. Of course. Why would Demian be worried about her? She was certain he came here because his brother told him. He hadn't come for two days and now suddenly he appeared. She wanted to get angry but instead she laid down on the bed, taking the sheet with her. Her head ached, her nose itched and her eyes burnt. She wanted to cry.
Her anger was replaced by sadness and she didn't want him to witness it so she covered herself. "Can you please not disturb me now?"
Demian didn't say a word and she felt the weight lifting from the bed. She felt hurt even though she had asked him to go away. She wanted him to stay but why would he stay when he had nothing for her.
And for the main thing, why was she sad? She wasn't supposed to be his wife in the first place. She was a wizard and she knew when he would know that he would despise her for it and for lying. He might kill her without giving a second thought but still a few drops of tears escaped from her eyes as she closed them. She felt tired and exhausted.
She didn't know what to do with Zenith's request and she didn't know what to do to save Demian from his cursed fate. And now, she had no idea why she had been feeling awful when he treated her coldly. She sniffed slowly as her head hurt. She wanted to go home but her father had already cut her from the fire nation. What could be worse than these?
She felt so lost and helpless. Everything was going out of her hands and she had no clue what she should do, whom shall she talk to.
Thinking of every doom in her life made her tired and soon she drifted away to sleep.