Martha felt a dangerous aura lingering around the young man. She shook her head. "I don't mean it like that, Your Majesty. We had to hide her the way we did because I am not that powerful, but it's not the same with you, Your Majesty. I can see that you are capable of protecting her just by being by her side. Your Majesty holds the power to suppress the essence of her powers, to the point that even I cannot sense it. Without that essence to guide them, those people will not be able to find her," she explained.
"So I need to be around her always," Drayce concluded.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Drayce studied the old woman for a while. "Why do you think I will protect her?"
"I believe as her husband, Your Majesty will protect your wife, the queen of your kingdom," Martha answered and explained further, "Once my lady comes of age and officially reaches adulthood, those supernatural beings will search for her by all means possible and things will only become more difficult for her. Your Majesty has to protect her even more after that."
"Hmm." Drayce didn't assure her but said something else, "In exchange, I would like you to do something."
Martha hoped for nothing but his promise. She was ready to do anything that would help her protect Seren. "Please let me know what it is, Your Majesty."
"There is someone I want you to meet."
Martha didn't think much and said, "As per your command, Your Majesty."
"My knight will inform you when you have to meet that person."
"Yes, Your Majesty," she agreed.
As there was nothing much to say, she said, "Thank you for granting me this audience. I have taken much of your precious time, so I will take my leave now."
Drayce stared at her. "You should treat yourself before it gets worse. I don't wish something unusual to happen before she leaves with me."
Martha was taken aback. She never imagined this young king would find out that she was hurt but didn't bother to ask how. She already knew he was an extraordinary person with powers, the devil's son.
"I will take care of it. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Drayce pulled out the purple pouch from his pocket and kept it on the table. "It might help you."
Martha was again surprised as she stared at the pouch. She knew what it was but she could not guess how this thing landed in the hands of Drayce.
"This…"
"For the sake of the Third Princess, I don't want any disturbances till we leave this place."
Drayce gestured for her to go. He didn't give her a chance to ask why he had it and she was sure he would not give her an answer even if she dared to ask.
Martha picked up the purple pouch and left.
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Leaving Drayce's bedchamber, Martha asked Sir Berolt, "Where is the Third Princess?"
Sir Berolt guided her way towards the bedchamber next to Drayce. The two of them stopped in front of the well-carved wooden door guarded by two royal knights.
Though Martha wanted to see Seren, she felt heavy in the chest to think how she would face her. Things had become chaotic because she left. There was no one but her to blame for this innocent young lady to go through a lot of suffering.
'Will she ever forgive me?' Martha thought.
Sir Berolt could understand what was going in Martha's mind and said, "Her Highness will be happy to see you."
Martha nodded lightly, assuring herself that it would be the case. Even if not, she was ready to face whatever Seren would say to her, be it her anger or frustration. Martha was determined to hear it all calmly and apologize to her till her anger disappeared.
One of the knights knocked on the door. "Your Highness? Your servant is coming in."
He then opened the door for Martha to enter the bedchamber.
Perhaps it was because the knight did not announce her name, when Martha stepped inside, she saw Seren standing by the window while looking outside with her back facing the door.
The sight of this lonely back was something Martha had witnessed countless times.
This imprisoned girl could only look at the outside world from the window of her room at the top of the tower.? She could stand like this for a long time without feeling tired. Martha had always found this scene pitiful but could never show this whether in her action or through her words.
In Seren's eyes, Martha was always a strict nanny who could not feel her pain but it was not the truth. For Seren's sake, Martha too had abandoned the outside world as well as the people precious to her in the past. Like Seren, she too lived the life of a prisoner by staying with her lady inside the tower. Protecting Seren was the only goal she had in life.
Swallowing the sadness she felt, Martha calmed herself and called for Seren. "My Lady?"
Seren, who was staring at the idle clouds in the sky, felt like she was hallucinating. How could she be hearing that old lady's voice out of the blue? These days, it seemed like so many strange things were happening with her.
Martha called again, "My Lady, apologies for being late."
This time, Seren turned around slowly. There was a mix of fear, excitement, and worry, even expectation, in her eyes. She stared at the old lady standing at a distance, just a few steps away from the door of her bedchamber.
"Martha...?" Seren mumbled. She was still not sure if the sight in front of her was real.
"Yes, my lady—"
Before Martha could say more, Seren ran towards her and hugged her tightly like a kid, the two of them nearly fell on the floor.
"Tell me it is not a dream! Tell me you are back for real!"
Seren's reaction was a total opposite from what Martha had expected and she stood frozen, only to hear again the pleading voice of Seren. "Please tell me I am not dreaming and you are back for real..."
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