His Witch Queen

"Alright, let me show you the shawls in dark blue color." The old lady answered when she went inside her shop for once and then came out with another three sets of the shawls in her hand. 

One by one, she opened them to present them in front of Alice, whose eyes didn't tear from any of them. "They are beautiful.." 

"We specially make them from the other town and are of the best quality. Miss, you should also try this one. It will look beautiful and also suit you since you look so pretty." The old lady's compliment brought a faint smile to her face, but Alice didn't respond. 

She simply brought the three shawls which the lady showed others, and took a liking to one of them. It was of the darkest blue color, similar to what she had imagined. As if the other lady has already read her mind, she can't help but ask. "Are you thinking about someone special while buying this colored shawl, miss?" 

"My husband....." absent-mindedly, Alice had blurted out the truth, where she didn't even realize a single bit about what she had spoken and covered about. On the other hand, the old lady smiled at the young one to ask, "So your husband's favorite color is this?"

"No. He has many clothes and this color...matches most of his dresses so...I wanted something similar." Alice mumbled under her breath, as the small grin had traced her lips. She once again took a better look at the shawls and was ready to buy them. "Umm....how much does it cost?" 

"For two silver coins, miss." the old lady sweetly replied and without even finding it unnecessary, Alice had softly paid for the shawl. She had taken it into her hands, and without even trying, bid the old lady goodbye and finally came back into the street and found lady Aura waiting for her. "I'm sorry, I went without informing you." 

"Do not worry. I see you bought something for yourself too..." Lady Aura's eyes traced to see the shawl in Alice's hands., "You love wearing the shawls, right?" 

In response, Alice passed a stern nod. "I got this taste from my late mother. She was the one who loved making new shawls for everyone in our castle and since then, I have inherited this love from her." 

"She must have been a lovely lady to give birth to you, Princess." Alice only gave a soft grin to proceed further into the market. 

At the same time, Alice lowered her eyelids, to not let her emotions be flooded before she once again looked up to gaze at the Lady Aura and then mumbled. "You're right. She was a great lady. But I'm happy that you are treating me as your daughter here."  Alice had honestly answered without even trying to consider her own words. 

If not because of the same realization,  she doesn't think that Alice would have gone to the level of coming here with Lady Aura. Lady Aura was really helpful, someone who had a clean heart. Or probably that is at least what Alice sensed for the Lady Aura till now. "That's nothing from my side. You are our Cyrus's bride and it is my duty to actually help you  in everything." 

"As I told you before, there are many things which you don't know until now. You will learn about them in the future with time, but keep this in your mind that no matter what happens, this Kingdom needs a  real queen. Earn the respect of everyone, whom they will adore and respect. Because in my knowledge, gaining the title is easy. But when it comes to actually showing your own responsibilities and role, many aren't able to perform them and that isn't what I want from you. Our Kingdom doesn't need a queen like Elizabeth anymore."  Lady Aura had simply laid out what she wanted from her side. It was in very formal words and did make a lot of sense to hear out. 

"I will try my best to give everything of what I am capable of doing with my clean heart," Alice answered, with a soft grin before both of them had started to walk further. 

Coming through a few more streets, they all felt that it was all beautiful. This sight only made Alice reminisce of her own Kingdom where people used to have the best life of theirs. It was the normal routine here and there, as the significant difference of the vampires didn't catch her eyes for the rest of the time. 

Everyone seems friendly, at least for now since she appeared very calm to not only someone else but to everyone out there.

However, as they all were going forward, Alice's gaze stopped at the second shop on the left. It has knives and some beautiful words. What made her eyes linger was at the certain basket to carry the sword in. It was of the copper color, but it appeared mighty. "Um..lady Aura, would you spare me a few minutes? I would like to take the view of some other things too." 

"As per your wish, Alice. Explore more but make sure that you don't end up exposing your real identity and...don't let anyone else sense your own scent." her human scent was very strong and so was the noise of the vampires. If they saw that she is any normal human, probably they would like to launch at her like any other prey. She would be considered a slice of dead meat in between of the many powerful creatures and she had no interest to let herself be at the disadvantage. "I will take care. I will see you at the other hand, you may also see the other shops." 

Both the ladies came on the term and Alice finally parted the way with the lady Aura. As curiosity got better out of her mind, Alice walked closer to the other part of the shop, where she saw that there were two muscular vampires, currently spring and another knife in his hand. 

'Cough Cough...' gaining their attention, both of them looked above their heads to look at her respectively. "Yes, Miss? Have you forgotten something?" 

"No..." 

"Then why are you here? Are you here to ask about the route?" They had a rough idea since the lady wouldn't like to appear at the shop as that of theirs. It was mainly for the gents since the swords are the last thing any other delicate lady would like to handle herself. "Um...I was here to ask about that sword.." Alice pointed out a certain one, where their eyes also had similarly moved to find the sword that was above their heads. "That one?"  the man asked to which she had a strong nod. 

"May, I know the price of that one and if...I can touch it?" Alice kept her formal tone, and the muscles were already surprised. However they didn't deny since she appeared to be average, or probably her beauty was something to draw to their minds that she must be from a wealthy household to ask. 

Without delay, one of the men brought down the sword and put it in her hands. "Here, you can touch it. This is a special one and only has two types made. One is already sold and sent to the Royal castle and this one is left. Did you like that?" 

"A lot." 

"But for whom would you like to buy this, Miss?" it was the other man who asked with evident eagerness, to which Alice simply answered. "My husband. He loves swords, so do I."

"Hm..your husband must be in the army of the Royal castle then if I am not wrong." To this, the man put out his rough idea but Alice didn't deny, nor accepted a single word. She had stayed mum throughout but only gave a faint nod, giving them assurance and not putting any other suspicion on her head. Both the shopkeepers were convinced by her explanation when they had enthusiastically told. "This sword isn't like any other. You would rarely find this in the other shops. If your husband is in the army, you should definitely buy this Mrs. because it is a rare piece. its sharpness will make it sell high." 

"For how much are you guys selling it?" Alice inquired while observing the knife from the other two sides. Her pointed eyes gazed and took a glance at each corner, with her hands wrapped around it safely. "This one seems good to handle.." her hand itself can feel the firmness around it, so will Cyrus for sure! 

The shopkeeper didn't try to actually put the wrong price tag since he spoke. "Only fifteen silver coins if you can. It is of rare  thing and if your husband is in a-"

"I will buy this. Please pack it nicely." Alice answered without even listening to their second-half since she had no more courage to blurt that her husband wasn't in the army but..the head of the armies. They all obey his orders... 

As per her wish, the sword was already packed in the casket and seemed extra beautiful. No one can deny it was a masterpiece made out of the tin. Taking the smoother hands, Alice's eyes didn't tear from the sword that was placed in her palms. 

'My first gift for him...after our marriage.'