Seraphina stayed on the bed as she felt her body was still exhausted and soon, a knock came before Prince Billard entered. He was in his silver rob as always and his silky hair cascaded down behind his back.
Seraphina was about to sit when he stopped her and said, "Don't need to do any formalities now."
Seraphina went back to being laid but she felt a bit awkward.
Prince Billard took a chair and sat as he took a deep sigh. "Where should I start?"
Seraphina's brows knitted as Billard began, "Thank you for everything, Seraphina." He gave a genuine smile and added, "Especially for saving Demian."
He looked at her with a look of gentleness and said, "I apologize for doubting you or judging you based on a different race. It was very immature of me."
Seraphina shook her head and said, "It is not immature. You were being cautious of the previous things my race had done. I know it is not impossible to remove the dark past so easily."
Billard nodded as he looked down at his hands on his lap. "I knew that you were different and somehow, I believed that you could save Demian. After my father got sick, I had been tasked with the whole kingdom and I only had my brother to support my back and if something happened to him, there would be nothing left for me."
Billard looked into her eyes and said, "If you wish to go back to your country, I can make preparations for that. I promise no one would say anything and no one would try to harm you."
Seraphina's heart thumped at the thought of leaving the Dragon Kingdom. Did she really wish to leave Demian? Yes, she wanted to see her father but she didn't want to leave Demian either.
A whirlwind of emotions appeared in her chest as her eyes clouded with the thoughts. She said in a weak voice, "I do wish to see my father but I don't know what Demian wants." She started to nibble on the rag as she looked down.
The uneasiness on Seraphina's posture couldn't be avoided by Billard's eyes as he smiled. He felt their innocent love between Seraphina and Demian at the fighting arena and he didn't want to separate them. More than anyone, he wanted Seraphina to stay. He knew the curse was lifted because of her.
'A woman would shower them with her warmth', the prophecy wasn't a lie it was just they took the hint wrong. It was her sacred blue flames which lifted the curse and fate played a big part in it. If it wasn't for that bandit attack of Zekalis's men that day, Seraphina would have been staying with the Waterborn guild master.
Billard thought what if the brides weren't exchanged. He looked at the wizard and his lips curled up in a smile. Irony was that the wizards were their enemy yet a wizard was the one who saved a dragon and the whole dragon race.
Seraphina looked at Prince Billard and said, "I have to tell my father about the incidents."
"Make no haste, I have sent a letter with some of my men to inform your father of everything."
Seraphina's eyes bulged out from their sockets. "W-what did he say?"
"I suppose, the letter hasn't been delivered yet. Once it reaches them, we will know." Prince Billard said with a small smile playing on his lips. "I have briefed him everything about the dark guild wizards as well and how you have helped us and saved the Young Prince of the Dragons. I wrote that I do not want any kind of personal issues between the wizards and dragons so if Seraphina Flameheart wishes to go back, I will send her with maximum protection."
"What if my father comes here instead?" Seraphina asked as she looked at him with horror in her face.
"Then we will welcome him with our hands spread wide. After all, he is my sister-in-law's father, thus, he is a part of our family." He smiled and Seraphina smiled as well.
Maybe it was a small step toward their bad relations between the races but a small drop of water can make a vast sea.
"But it's still on you, if you wish to go back or not," Prince Billard said.
"What should I do?" Seraphina asked.
Prince Billard stood up from the chair while taking his leave he smiled at her and said, "Why don't you ask that to the Flame Queen?" And he left, making a gap formed in Seraphina's mouth.
Wasn't it what her mother said?
Another knock came on the door and from the soft yet calculated steps she knew it was Master Valentine this time. She smiled and said, "Please come in, Master Valentine."
Master Valentine peeked from the door as he entered. He smiled but the next, his smile was replaced with an angry face as he said, "I had always warned you not to get reckless!"
"Err... Can't help." Seraphina grinned, "After all, I am the Flame Queen."
"Oh! Don't give me that!" Master Valentine disregarded her and growled, "Do you know Prince Demian was about to lose his mind if something happened to you!"
"So you are more worried about him than me." Seraphina noted and feigned hurt.
Master Valentine's brows twitched and he poked on her head as an 'ouch' left from her mouth.
"Both of you are my precious Prince and Princess. And I would never allow any harm to you." Master Valentine informed.
He sat on the empty chair and calmed his nerves because he knew the wizard before him was anything but a well-mannered princess. She would still call trouble on her way. He sighed. What a trouble-making wife his young prince had gotten but smiled.
He began, "I came to know that the great wizard Murik was your grandfather."
"You know him?" Seraphina's questioning yet surprised eyes fell on him.
He nodded and said, "I had fought with him once and lost."
Seraphina grinned as Master Valentine glared at her, "Don't get so happy. I could have killed him if I was using my full power."
Seraphina still grinned and Master Valentine gave in as he added, "He could have killed me that time but he didn't because he never wanted to kill any of the races thus he said 'I own you you life for an exchange devote yourself to abolish the darkness not the innocents.'"
Seraphina looked surprised and she asked, "So he was against this fighting between the races as well?"
Master Valentine nodded. "He treated me with kindness and gave me water and food. He hid me in a cave and said to flee. He said, 'one day you need to clear the debt that you own me.'"
His eyes went distant as if he recalled all of those past incidents and mumbled, "Never have I known that his granddaughter would stumble in my kingdom and as I said I will clear the debt, I will always be on your side, Seraphina even if the whole Dragon kingdom is against you. As I had promised your grandfather that I will devote myself to rip the darkness off from this society, I had done my work."
Seraphina's eyes watered and she said, "You have done enough for me already, Master Valentine. From today you are not in any debt from my grandfather."
Master Valentine looked at his hands and said, "I will always be."
Master Valentine added as he stood up, "If you wish to stay here, it will be my honor to serve you, Princess Seraphina." He bowed and left.
Celia came and behind her the butler, Alonzo came as he burst into crying while his mustache flattered with his heaves. "How could you be so impulsive! I was scared to see your dying face!"
"I apologize for it, Alonzo."
"No! From today onwards, I will keep a watch on you so you can't leave this place!" The butler fisted his palm and as if he had taken an oath as Seraphina and Celia both giggled at the childish behavior of Alonzo.
Seraphina felt her heart washed up by their warmth. She got up as the butler said, "No! No, no, Princess Seraphina. Don't get up as you need enough rest!"
But before he could retort some more, Seraphina went and hugged him as Alonzo's mustache seemed to stand straight in surprise. But even he could feel the warmth of Seraphina as he hugged back. He was scared when he saw Seraphina was one step closer to dying. She had been like a troublesome daughter and even if she was a wizard, Alonzo never found her as a threat.
But his chest felt tight when he realised she needed to go back as she was a wizard and not many Dragonborns would like her to stay here. He had no power to protect her and he was relying on Master Valentine and Prince Billard and especially on Prince Demian. If they accepted her then it might stop her from leaving.
Alonzo teared up as he pleaded, "Don't leave the dragon kingdom."
Both Seraphina and Celia went still as Seraphina pulled away and looked at the butler. He was sniffing and Seraphina was again troubled by what to do. Would she leave or stay?
When Alonzo realized he had hugged his young master's wife, he shied away, his mustache fluttering.
"Err... Princess Seraphina, you should not do this kind of act because Prince Demian would be furious and I may end up being dead."
At that, Seraphina and Celia laughed.
*****
The night sky was clear but the moon shone bright as it showered the land in its delicate light. The window was open and the wind bathed her in its delicate cold touch. Seraphina was looking at the moon as she stayed on the bed. Her mind was still occupied by the same thought.
But above all, she wanted to see Demian. Why didn't he come?
She sat up as she couldn't sleep and her insides howled with restlessness. Her jade green eyes fell on the maid who was sleeping on the ground with a peaceful face. Celia was worried before but now she seemed to be fine. Once Seraphina woke up from her long slumber, Celia was relieved.
She looked at the door and nibbled on her nightgown. Sweat formed on her forehead. Her eyes moved between Celia and the door as notorious strategies flooded in her mind. It couldn't hurt, right? As she had done that many times...
She pursed her lips and thought, 'Celia would be so mad...' and slowly got up from the bed while her feet padded against the ground.
Ah! Well, it was the only thing she was best at. That was to sneak out.