Their ride back home was a silent one, nobody opened their mouth to start any conversation. All of them had their own heavy load of thoughts to deal with. Annie was still in terror while Audrey's brain was in a chaos, with only Margareta's voice echoing again and again making her go even more insane, it's like she went there to trigger something in her head. Meanwhile Vincy who sat on the other side alone, facing them was dying with curiosity but never dared to voice it, he just glanced at their dazed and lost gazes. He still couldn't believe that the two of them actually had entered the dark forest without knowing what secrets the forest held and eventually survived! The two of them came out of there alive! He was shocked and impressed at the same time.
He was delighted that he was the mysterious Queen's knight, he felt honored because every single day he discovers something amazing about her. Well, it was kinda dangerous but then it is awesome that despite being a female she could beat that so-called danger like a male. 'Don't underestimate the quiet and lovely Queen!' He made a point to always remember at the back of his head. Such a sad thing that their King does not see what a gem he has acquired and how he should treat her with preciousness.
Since they've returned back with Vincy, there was no a big deal or anyone to suspect them. Guards wouldn't confront her and ask her personally of where she had been but they could report to the King and cause her a rift. But then after seeing Vincy with them they were left to pass without further ado. He escorted them to their quarter and decided to just leave the two of them for the night, they needed a good rest. But tomorrow….he would have to confront both of them, as a royal knight he had to know very well about the Queen's movements. For today's accident, If Fene, the royal guard of the King finds out about it then he would be in big trouble, he would have a murder case to answer. Fene would probably conclude that he neglected his duties and endangered the Queen's life although she went out there on her own without even informing him.
The rest of the night wasn't peaceful for Audrey, her mind was flooded with Margareta's words, the prophecy! "Aaah!" She buried her face on her pillow screaming after a toss and turn since she got on the bed. "Prophecy! Upcoming war! The dragon lord! Aaah! This is driving me insane!" She screamed again, she felt a shooting pain on her chest and quickly sat up, looking down to the chain with a red pendant, it was glowing. "Ok now, there is you too" she murmured touching it, her eyes glowed as well but she couldn't feel it nor see. "This is our token, our only help to you, never take it off, it will guide you" the words were still fresh in her head, she sighed feeling the weight that was placed on her shoulders now. Where would she be able to find the Dragon lord who is supposed to join her and kill Lucifer's descendants? "Lord Akeinan" she tested the name, the name alone sounded like trouble. Just where should I start?.
She gritted her teeth and slammed back on the bed staring at the ceiling, she then slowly drifted to sleep late at night. Morning came sooner than she expected it to, she was sitting inside her silver tub, filled with milk water until above her chest, she laid her head back and closed her swollen eyes, while Chika and Celine were scrubbing her body gently then massaged her head, making it less heavy. "Where is Annie?" She asked, still in the same position. "Pardon me my Queen but we've asked her to take a rest, she wasn't in a good shape this morning" answered Celine who was the sensible one. 'All because of me,' Thought Audrey in her mind, sighing. "So we are going to take over her duties until she recovers," added Chika with a smile. "Mmm, you did well, '' Audrey responded, lost in the sweet smell of the flowers in the tub.
After getting prepared she went straight to the maid's area in her quarter to pay Annie a visit before she could head to the royal breakfast. The poor girl catched a fever since the claws of that bloody vampire were poisonous, but luckily it didn't spread to her body, the healer was quick to cure her from that. She just needed to take some few herbs for a while and she would get back into her shape. Audrey was then escorted by Vincy and Celine to the royal dining hall. She strongly asked Chika to stay back and tend to Annie's needs, just in case she woke up and needed something. The doors were opened, Vincy and Celine remained outside while Audrey entered the hall, she was welcomed by the woman she hates the most who was sitting on the left side of the table, Levyndrion at the head seat and….. as she gets closer to the table there were three more new faces that she have never seen before. Who are they? She said inwardly.
The chair on the right side of the table was pulled for her to seat by one of the royal maids around, "Good morning my King and everybody else" she paid her salutation before sitting, the three new people got up from their chairs and greeted her back "Good morning my Queen, all hail to you" said a woman in her forties, "Good morning my Queen" the followed a man, "Awe! She is so beautiful!" Chimned in a girl who was around her age, Audrey smiled at her feeling a little flattered "Thank you," she responded gracefully before turning to Levyndrion seeking for answers in her head. As if on cue Levyndrion placed his glass back on the table and cleared his throat. "Audrey, this is my father's sister, Lady Morgan. And these two are her children, Veronica and Edward" he explained pointing at them.
Audrey faced them with a wide smile, at least he has some relatives and here she thought he got nobody all her life since there was no one within the castle apart from them. "It is nice to meet all of you" at least the castle would be less boring now with more people. "Oh heaven! She even glows when she smiles" blurted Veronica, Rey started to feel a little bit uncomfortable with the attention the girl was showering her with, but she plastered her face with a smile. "Pardon me my Queen, this daughter of mine here is such a blubber, she just speaks like crickets" lady Morgan shot a glare at her daughter for her to stop. Veronica frowned "What? I'm just complimenting her because she deserves it. Am I wrong big brother?" She pouted looking at Levy. He smiled at her in a way that shocked Audrey, a lovely smile or rather sweetly. She let out a silent scoff, surprised, so even a mogul could melt like a biscuit in the tea. "No you are not, Rey is truly beautiful" he answered unbothered.
Audrey's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flashed and she didn't know why but she wanted to see Acine's reaction to her man's words, she looked at her and she was putting on a smile. Audrey chuckled inwardly 'What a sight to see!'. Just when she returned her gaze back to Levy, he was shamelessly stretching out his hand for her to kiss. Oh she forgot about this! She has begun to hate this custom of theirs along with the King as well. She held his arm and kissed the back of his palm. Ignoring all the sparkles and butterflies that she felt by their skin touching, he just simply doesn't deserve her feelings. She told herself.
Edward on the other hand got up from his seat and walked around to her, extending his hand to her. Audrey blinked, her eyes darting between his hand and his black eyes, she then gave in to him. Edward took her hand and kissed it "I'm Edward and happy to finally meet with my brother's famous beautiful wife" he winked at Levyndrion before letting go of her hand and went back to his seat. Wasn't the name too long? Thought Audrey but she kind of liked them, they seemed straightforward even before their cold brother. Levyndrion shook his head with a faint smile, not bothered by his words, Audrey blushed and sunk her face to her plate, looks like these people were planning to make her take shower again after getting her hot. "Oh look how you two have made her uncomfortable? Let's change the topic, how are you coping with the upcoming Love festival my lovely?" Asked lady Morgan eagerly lookimg at her. Audrey's eyebrows raised, what were they talking about? she was dumbfounded "Love festival?" Heh? She never heard of such thing before.
She turned to face Levyndrion for a little rescue maybe, her eyes were pleading. "Aunt Morgan, Rey here is new to everything you see, she hasn't gotten accustomed to our customs yet." He explained to her aunt and Audrey nodded like a rattle with a smile, agreeing with his words. "Oh dear, I almost forgot about that" she reached for Audrey's hand since they were sitting beside each other. Audrey looked at her and then to their hands on the table, she felt the warmth that she was longing for, she really missed her mother and this lady here felt so much like her. She smiled at her widely, loving her sense of humor. At least she won't have to deal with annoying aunties just like the books that she read before. "There is nothing to worry honey, I'm here now so you'll learn everything about the Love festival and more" she assured her, Audrey said "I would love to" she really wanted to know what the hell was that.