It was the day of Seren's birthday ball, arranged by Queen Niobe to celebrate the coming of age of the Third Princess of Abetha. Though her real birthday had already passed, according to the date registered in the family records, Seren Ilven was born on this day eighteen years ago.
Grand preparations were made long ago, ensuring that the evening ball's splendor eclipsed that of the Second Princess' wedding; afterall, Seren also had the identity of Queen of garis. By right, her coming of age was a magnificent event that should demonstrate the dignity of both the Ilvens and the Ivanovs, as well as the Kingdoms of Abetha and garis.
That morning, Seren had woken up earlier than usual.
Drayce had left the tower at the crack of dawn and just returned, intending to wake his wife up and eat their morning al together, but he found her outside in her garden, watering her plants in a daze.
Since the previous day, she had been like this, and Drayce knew the reason.
He went to her and stood next to her. "Are you still thinking about the issue with that farmland?"
Seren was startled, but after realizing it was Drayce, she slowly nodded. She put her watering pot aside and looked up at him, her gaze clearly showing how concerned she was.
"Do not worry. We are going to solve it," he replied with a light smile.
She offered him a puzzled gaze, "How?"
"Using your powers, my Queen, what else?"
"But I cannot…you saw what happened with that plant."
"Yorian and I had a conversation trying to figure out a way on how we can solve this. Believe in yourself, and believe in us. We will find a way together."
"I hope I won't end up burning everything."
"You won't. Don't you trust ? Even if sothing does happen, I will be right beside you and stop your power from getting out of control."
Seren remained reluctant, but in the end, her instinct as the next Deity of Earth ruled over her fears. "How are we going to do it?"
Drayce explained to her everything that he and Yorian had planned.
"...I will take care of it. You just have to trust , understand?"
"I will try." Her purple eyes shone with hope. "Can we start right now?"
Drayce found her excitent adorable.
"How about tomorrow? Tonight is your coming-of-age ball, and I believe that Queen Niobe will be looking for you soon to talk about the details of the royal ball. Your servants will be pretty busy all day dressing you up."
"I don't want to go to a ball."
"I know, but you still have to attend what your family prepared for you. This is your coming-of-age party, sothing that happens only once in your life. Besides, I will have the greatest honor of being able to dance with the loveliest queen in all the lands. Will you rob of this opportunity?"
"You—"
"Even though it is a royal ball thrown in your honor, it doesn't an you have to stay the entire night. After we dance, I will make sure to take you away with ."
"Alright," she sighed, "but I do not need an entire day to prepare. I can start in the afternoon, and Martha can make decisions along with Queen Niobe on my stead. We can try practicing this morning."
"Then…" He held her body closer, both arms wrapping around her small waist, taking her by surprise. "Have you eaten, my Queen?"
"Huh?" Her cheeks blushed with that sudden closeness. "I-I have, uhh—"
Seren's thoughts wandered in relation to her coming-of-age ball. She had neglected a fact and was only reminded by Drayce's actions—that she was now an adult by society's standards.
Drayce raised a brow at her reaction. "I asked because I am bringing you sowhere, my Queen, but why do I feel like you—"
She put her hand over his mouth, grateful that her growing blush was hidden under her veil. "Let's go. Let's go practice!"
Drayce smiled playfully. "Alright, we will keep that for tonight." He then asked, "Are you ready?"
As she nodded, the two disappeared from the garden and appeared in the middle of a forest.
Seren was not affected by the teleportation and asked as she looked around, "Where are we?"
"In the forest north of the capital of Abetha. This place is prepared for you to use your powers. It's also shielded to stop outsiders from sensing your powers."
From the cover of the trees, the couple saw Yorian coming towards them along with two familiar figures in white hooded robes. They were precisely Evanthe and Sierra.
"What are they doing here?" Seren asked with wide eyes.
"I am not sure either," Drayce replied as he was equally surprised.
Once they reached the two, Drayce asked, "Lady Evanthe, Lady Sierra, I thought you had left for Agartha."
"There is no rush," Evanthe replied. "How can we leave without making arrangents first? We need to make sure everything is fine and that Queen Seren's presence will remain hidden for the span of ti we are not by her side. We worry that unexpected factors will appear now the seal is lifted."
Drayce understood and felt more relieved to try their plan under the guidance of these two won.
Evanthe looked at Seren whose gaze was observing the hooded woman who never showed her face. "Queen Seren, your body appears unaffected by teleporting with your husband. It's a good sign. It ans that your body is slowly adapting to the existence of magic."
Yorian also spoke up, "Originally, I am going to be teaching you, Your Majesty, but with Sierra here, she is a better fit since you are both of the earth attribute."
Sierra, being the previous Deity of Earth, no one was more appropriate than her on how to wield divine power of the earth.
It pulled Seren's attention back towards the hooded woman.
"So shall we start?" Yorian asked.
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