Billard sat on his chair as Zenith joined him. She seemed to be in a happy mood as she had prepared herself with jewelry and a silk gown that made her look very beautiful.
He acknowledged her as he rummaged his eyes through her and smiled which made Zenith's cheek turn a bright shade of red. However, his mind again wandered off to the reports and the chats of the maids. He had to look into it but the reports of the men he had sent would take at least 3 days to come. And somehow his heart was restless.
Zenith raked her eyes through him and found Billard's face was grave and it frightened her as she never had seen him this serious. Did he not like her clothes?
"What happened?" She asked as it managed to catch his attention.
He smiled but it wasn't genuine as he said, "Nothing."
He raked his hand to her cheek and bend forward to lean in a kiss. As their lips touched, Zenith closed her eyes but Billard's eyes were opened and his mind had occupied with worries.
As they heard a footstep, both of them released the kiss and sat in a composed way; however, Zenith's face was red and she was breathing heavily.
Billard smirked as he liked her all flustered and shy. It was the exact opposite of how she shows herself to others. When Billard was around her, she would put away all of her walls.
The footsteps came as both of them looked at the way and it was Seraphina. Immediately, Billard's smirk replaced with a frown and all of the worries came crashing upon him.
The human princess came with a face that said she wasn't in a good mood as well. She curtsied and her eyes moved toward Zenith which confirmed a tension filled atmosphere around her.
Demian didn't come today as well and he knew it was because of his frequent burns from the curse and his worries grew worse.
Billard was very young when he had heard his father and the old sage talking about the curse. He said in a poetic way but even a little child could read the atmosphere. His father had a frown carved on his face and he looked at infant Demian with eyes of worry and pity.
The curse might end his little brother's life or the life surrounding him. He knew it and he discussed it with Master Valentine about possible cures. The only thing he could come up with was a sacrificial bride.
His eyes moved toward Seraphina again and he felt guilty. If she was the human princess, her life was bound by that curse.
And what if she wasn't...
His mind spoke with an evil voice.
Then he should pity her as well because there was no cure to an inborn curse.
Or was there?
Billard didn't take a bite, instead played with his food. He was torn between a good brother for them and a future king for his kingdom. A king would always make necessary sacrifices but what about Demian?
Would he allow him to do that? It seemed Demian was rather fond of Seraphina.
What if Seraphina wasn't the one she seemed...
Billard bit his lower lip. Then the sacrifice would not hurt him...
Billard stood up as both the women looked at him with their faces startled.
"I-I have to go immediately to my study chamber. I remember I left something..." Billard could not come up with a good excuse as Zenith said, "Well, then at least eat your fill."
Billard looked at her with an irritated face as she cowered back and hesitantly said, "It-it will not take much of your time."
It was written all over Zenith's face that she was scared of him and a bit confused. He must have shown her a face which she had never seen. Billard had never acted carelessly in front of Zenith and Seraphina. He had always restrained himself as they didn't know the harsh side of him. Behind the mask of a gentle Prince, he was none other than a killer, extremist and a person whom Zenith would fear forever.
After all, Demian wasn't the only one with his darkness...
****
Seraphina looked between The Crown Prince and Zenith as it seemed, Zenith was frowning at him and Billard had a face, Seraphina had never witnessed it before.
He had always been a gentle person opposite of Demian however, today something seemed off with him. Seraphina felt a pair of evil eyes on her and she was uncomfortable all the time.
And now that she saw Billard, her hair stood straight on her skin. He had the golden cold gazes of a predator and his face was carved as a merciless person. The face resemble someone very familiar.
Demian...
She averted her gaze and looked at her hands and found her hands were shaking. She clenched tightly on her spoons and silently put a piece in her mouth.
She sneaked at them and saw Billard suddenly changed his face and smiled gently at Zenith and took his seat.
"I'm sorry. I should just eat now." He said as Zenith nodded but her frown was permanent. Seraphina could get that she never had seen this side of her husband as she was a bit taken away by it.
On the other hand, Seraphina had always seen Demian's dark side and no matter how much it scared her sometimes, she was accustomed to it.
It seemed this darkness ran deeper in the Salamander family's blood. Although Billard had mastered to cover it well, Demian showed it with pride. But somehow she felt, the brothers were the same when it came to cruelty. Billard was just the other side of the coin.
Zenith went quiet after that and Billard tried his best not to startle her again and he tried to begin a conversation with her.
Zenith engaged in it as well but she was being cautious of her words.
Seraphina finished her breakfast as Billard asked, "How are things going on with Demian?"
She nodded and said, "Y-yes... Everything is fine."
Billard nodded but his golden eyes had a deeper meaning behind it which Seraphina was unable to decipher. His eyes were sharp and it seemed he was thinking something but now was the time for them to go back to their work which left Seraphina to go to her room and ponder over her decisions.
"I hope these days will be good." He said while leaving and it rang strangely in Seraphina's ears.
What did he mean by that?
*****
"Come in." Master Valentine said as the person entered.
It was Reginald. His eyes were as cold as ever like the first time he had seen him in Gorouland. He still remembered the dead fish eyes of a seven years old kid.
He was tasked to save the villagers as there were many reports on missing peoples and occasionally finding human parts in the east lands. He was suspicious of the people of all the villagers but when he had arrived at Gorouland, he felt the blood hunger of all the people.
So, he decided to stay and found out it was indeed the villagers of the village. As he was killing everyone in Gorouland, he wanted to kill him as he was going to become a killer but his conscience stopped him. He took him in his care after returning from his mission.
"Yes, Reginald?"
"I have found information on Princess Zenith."
Master Valentine closed the scroll he was reviewing and gave all the concentration toward his pupil.
"The Head maid had been keeping a close touch with the princess and I found she knew Seraphina is a wizard." He informed.
Master Valentine looked at him for a while and asked, "What?"
"Yes, Lord Valentine. Apparently, Princess Zenith knows it as well. They had been planning something as my men had seen her going to the old castle quite often."
Master Valentine leaned helplessly against the chair. How come the water rolled down that deep? Princess Zenith knowing meant Billard would know it as well.
He put down his white scarf from his head and raked his hands through his gray hairs where some of the black hairs peeked from it. He was keeping an eye on Zenith and found she had been in regular interaction with her home soldiers. He didn't understand why but was it to exile Seraphina?
But Princess Zenith would not dare to do that, would she?
Reginald saw Master Valentine was troubled by the news and he could not understand the reason. "Is there anything that matters?"
Master Valentine looked up and nodded, "Yes."
He took a breath and asked Reginald, "Do you remember Demian saying that somehow all of the attacks didn't seem to be always aiming at him but at Seraphina as well?"
Reginald nodded.
"I am thinking if all these attacks were from Zenith or not?" The old advisor scratched his jaw and mumbled, "It should be impossible for her as she had always been restricted in her house."
"There is nothing impossible for a family member to do anything out of the ordinary," Reginald said but he was confused as to why he sprouted it this time. He remembered that was the quote he had heard from Master Valentine when he asked him why his family was different from others.
He still could not get it but it seemed, this was the time for that quote.
Master Valentine looked at him for a moment and laughed. "You still remember everything I said to you years ago?"
Reginald stayed silent as Master Valentine recalled when the little killer had asked him innocently why the parents of the others felt different from his parents.
While traveling, Valentine and Reginald had to stay in various villages for shelter and the house which had given them a small room had two kids like him but they were never killed. And the parents were so protective that they never let them get near the knife.
It was a rational question from a little child who had always witnessed murders or committing murder by his parents. He tried not to tell him that his parents were killers, instead he said sometimes parents had to do such unforgivable things for their child.
Knowing the people of Gorouland so well that they would even kill their own child out of blood thirst. He could not tell him they were doing this out of desire not for protecting them. He wanted to take care of him in normal circumstances but the continuous killings had made Reginald oblivious to other aspects of life. So he decided he should make a group where excellent killers would protect royals.
Reginald seemed to be a perfect fit and he was fearless and was neutral to every feelings because of his blood. The blood dragon's blood.
They were born killers and it seemed right to make him useful.
"You are right, Reginald." Master Valentine said as he stood up and ordered, "Keep a close eye on Zenith's movements and get me reports on what she had planned and why she had been going to the old castle."
Reginald nodded.
"I need to know why her country's soldiers are here..." He mumbled and said, "It seemed Seraphina's identity might come out already."
He shook his head and said to himself in a disappointed tone, "How couldn't I see this coming?"
"Sometimes you think your family would never do the things you dislike but it is always the family who does the worst things." Reginald said, recalling Valentine's past words.
Valentine nodded and said, "True. We often forget to think like that. We turn blind eye to our own relations but it turns out it was always the insiders who stab your back as you don't show your back to your enemies."
Valentine took a deep breath and nodded at Reginald. He was surprised the boy still remembered every word he had told him in the journey where every little thing was weird for him and new to him.
It was a good thing that Reginald was helping him to remember those words otherwise he would lose his mind.
As Reginald took his leave, Master Valentine looked at the way where Reginald was a moment ago. He sometimes wondered, how Reginald would have been if he wasn't born in Gorouland? Would he be normal?