On the fourth day of the conference, Drayace had left to attend it. During the conference, as usual he ca across King of Thevailes, Sar Vailes, but this ti Drayce's attention was caught by sothing else. There were traces of black magic on Sar which took him by surprise.
The conference continued but Drayce's mind was swirling around why Sar had traces of black magic on him and why was he suddenly so reckless to let it be shown.
'Is that witch trying to show her presence now, intentionally?'
After the conference was over, Drayce returned to the guest mansion and shared this finding with Arlan and Yorian. Yorian assured him to discover more about it and keep a watch on the guest mansion of Thevailes.
----
In the evening, while Drayce was speaking with Yorian inside his study, the King's attendant announced the arrival of an unexpected visitor.
"Your Majesty, Miss Oriana wishes to see you. Do you wish to grant her an audience?"
Drayce and Yorian looked at each other in surprise.
"Send her in."
After a while, a woman with long reddish blond hair wearing a simple yet elegant white dress entered the King's study. Drayce almost did not recognize her. For the first ti, he was seeing Oriana in a woman's attire, and unlike her sneaky and mischievous form of a boy, she looked like a prim-and-proper young lady.
'Idiot Arlan is missing on things,' Drayce sighed as he heard her greet them. "Good evening, Your Majesty," and then she looked at Yorian, "Good evening, my lord."
Drayce offered her a light nod and asked, "You can state the purpose of your visit."
Oriana glanced at Yorian's direction. The elf smiled at her. "I shall leave you two to talk."
"It's alright, Lord Yorian. Please stay," Oriana said before returning her attention to the red-eyed king. "Yesterday, Your Majesty offered to reward for saving Her Majesty."
Drayce observed the determination in that pair of eyes. "Hmm, seems like you have finally made a decision, Oriana."
She seed to be surprised by the way Drayce called her, he used her real na. "I have made my decision," she inford.
Drayce could guess her intentions but this is what he had planned and was waiting for her to co to him. To his surprise, she was there earlier than he had expected.
"Tell , what is it you desire?"
"Your Majesty, as you ntioned, you've agreed to grant any of my request within your power. What I seek is sothing well within your capabilities," Oriana began, her voice asured yet resolute.
Drayce maintained his composure, silently urging her to continue.
"I require Black Nightshade, the banned herb, to treat my ailing grandfather. Following that, I need your assistance in facilitating my safe disappearance, ensuring I'm never found," Oriana concluded, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the study.
An heavy silence followed, with Oriana's gaze shifting tentatively between the two n, both unreadable.
"And whom or what do you intend to escape?" Drayce's voice pierced the silence.
"No one, Your Majesty. I simply wish to pay my entire attention to treat my grandfather and spend as much ti with him as he is old. As I am a royal servant, I won't be allowed to leave so I need your help to get away from here without any trouble."
Drayce scrutinized her, attempting to discern the truth amidst her carefully constructed facade. 'Valid motives intertwined with skillful deceit,' he mused inwardly. 'Can't bla her. Arlan is to bla for hurting her and making her want to run away from him. But that doesn't an I will go against my friend and send his mate away from him.
"I can surely grant both of your wishes as a reward for saving my wife, but…." Oriana looked at him anxiously only to hear him say, "I was wondering how are you going to pay for scaring my wife the other night when she was looking around the antiques in the room?"
Oriana visibly tensed at his words, her thoughts laid bare by Drayce's pointed inquiry. Sensing her disquiet, he continued, "Did you truly believe an intruder could trespass within my territory undetected?" he frowned inwardly while he thought, 'and even dare see my wife's face which even I have not seen yet.'
"I-I offer my sincerest apologies, Your Majesty. It was never my intent to cause distress to Her Majesty. The situation unfolded beyond my control. If you deem it appropriate, I am prepared to extend my apology directly to Her Majesty," Oriana interjected, her voice trembling with remorse.
"Do you truly believe a re apology suffices to soothe her fear?" Drayce countered sharply, his gaze unwavering.
Bowing her head contritely, Oriana murmured, "Then I am prepared to accept any punishnt Your Majesty deems fit."
anwhile, Yorian, a silent observer, exchanged a aningful glance with Drayce, silently probing his intentions. Drayce, in response, offered a subtle nod before redirecting his attention to Oriana.
"Since you took your sweet ti thinking, I would also like to take a ti before granting your wishes," Drayce said, referring to her rejecting his generous offer twice. "You must fulfill what I told you before."
Oriana raised her gaze and looked at him. "What do you an, Your Majesty?"
"Reveal your identity as a woman to Arlan. Only after that I will think about granting your wish," Drayce replied, his tone firm and commanding as if it was not a choice but his decree for her.
Though Arlan was aware of her true identity, Drayce wished them both to stop playing hide and seek and not to make things difficult for each other.
Oriana's countenance shifted, betraying a hint of reluctance. "Your Majesty, I..."
"Once you disclose your identity to Arlan, I will provide you with a substantial supply of the herb you seek, sufficient to aid your grandfather for the remainder of his days," Drayce interjected firmly. "As for your second request of assisting you in your safe departure, that shall be granted once you reveal your status as a Black Witch to Arlan."
Oriana stood rooted to the spot, her mind swirling with uncertainty. 'These royals are never trustworthy. This King didn't have any intentions of helping to begin with but he can't give up acting as a generous King. Generous? A liar and pretentious instead.'
Despite Oriana's outward composure, Drayce sensed the silent storm brewing behind her calm façade, he could feel her silently casting curses his way. Suppressing a smirk, he watched her with a knowing gaze.
"Take your ti to consider my offer. Inform once you've fulfilled the condition," Drayce instructed, his tone unwavering.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Oriana acknowledged with a formal bow before gracefully exiting the study.
As the door closed behind her, Yorian broke the ensuing silence. "King Drayce, for the sake of your friend, aren't you putting yourself in danger?"
"I am acting in the best interest of both of them. In ti, they will co to appreciate it," Drayce responded confidently.
"But do not forget, Oriana is the Queen of Witches, and you, a warlock. Should she reclaim her power and ascend to her rightful throne, she will hold authority over you as your Queen. If she decides to take a revenge on you, you may find yourself unable to defy her," Yorian cautioned.
"We shall cross that bridge when we co to it," Drayce replied calmly, his deanor unwavering in the face of uncertainty.
Yorian chuckled, "It would be amusing to see a powerful Dragon being punished by the Queen of Witches."
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