Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

After Drayce left, Seren went to her study table and looked at the books kept on the table. "I wish these are some good books like I used to read in Abetha and not the ones with a naked man and a woman. So uncultured!"

Seren sat in her chair and just then others, who were standing outside her study while enjoying the flute music, entered the study.

Everyone bowed to their Queen.

"Your Majesty, that was such a beautiful melody," Lady Tyra said and others agreed to it too as they looked happy to know their Queen could play the flute so beautifully. 

Seren looked at them, "Was it good?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. We have never heard anyone playing such a beautiful melody," Lady Xena, who used to be calm, quiet, and was more attentive towards fulfilling her duties towards the Queen with all her dedication, finally smiled pleasantly as she said it.

One could see how much she loved it.

"Lady Xena is right, Your Majesty," Eva said excitedly like a little girl, "I wish we could hear it often."

Seren felt happy, seeing how delighted everyone was. Though they were her servants, it was the first time she did something on her own and everyone was praising her. It definitely felt good!

Lady Tyra observed the tea they had arranged for Seren before leaving the room was cold and instructed, "Arrange tea and snacks for Her Majesty."

Eva and Marie nodded and left.

Lady Tyra looked at the three ladies in waiting and instructed again, "Visit the Royal Harem and remind everyone the rules and inform them who is in charge of the Royal Harem now." 

Lady Tyra's voice was strict and commanding. Though Lady Tyra was a mere royal servant in the eyes of Royals, no one could easily dare defy her. She was the head of all the Royal servants and had even served the great lady and the Previous Queen. Lady Xena and the other two were the ladies in waiting for the Queen who were Queen's representatives, responsible for attending private and personal matters, running errands, and handling general correspondence.

"Rest assured, Lady Tyra. Till Her Majesty's next visit to the Royal Harem, all will be aware of it," Lady Xena replied firmly as there was no way she would let anyone take their Queen so lightly.

Lady Tyra nodded and the three ladies in waiting left to do their duties. 

"Your Majesty. Is there anything else I might help you with?" Lady Tyra asked once everyone was gone. 

Seren, who was about to open the book and start reading, suddenly stopped as Lady Tyra's question had reminded her of something.

"Lady Tyra, can you cast magic spells?" Seren asked. 

It startled lady Tyra but she composed herself, "Why do you ask, Your Majesty?"

"My Nanny Martha could cast magic spells but I never sensed any energy emitting from her but I could sense it from you. I can see it coming from anyone who is just not any ordinary human."

"Your Majesty. I am old now so I am as good as an ordinary human being," Lady Tyra replied as she knew there was no use of hiding it and asked, "Your Majesty had asked this so I believe there is another reason for it. Is there something that concerns Your Majesty and wishes to discuss with me? Your Majesty can trust me."

Seren till now understood that this woman in front of her was trustable and Marie had vouched for her. If she was not good, His Majesty wouldn't have appointed her to take care of his Queen. Moreover, she was Drayce's nanny so in her eyes, she compared all the nannies to Martha and believed they are always good to the one who they had raised. 

She didn't run around the bush and asked, "His Majesty wished me to remove this veil."

"Is there any issue with removing the veil, Your Majesty?" Lady Tyra asked. 

Seren turned serious, opposite to how vulnerable she looked all the time. It was something important to her and she couldn't take it lightly. 

"Lady Tyra, just like others, you must have heard about me and what kind of life I had been living in Abetha."

Lady Tyra nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty. But rest assured those things don't matter to us. You are our Queen, the Queen of Megaris."

Seren was relieved to hear it and said, "They say I am a witch's daughter and I am cursed. I know it's the truth because I have seen enough of what kind of disasters I can cause. I don't wish to harm anyone ever but things keep happening."

"I understand, Your Majesty," Lady Tyra said softly and asked, "May I know what is the concern related to this veil?"

"Though His Majesty wishes me to remove this veil, I can not comply with his wish. If I remove this veil and let His Majesty see my face, it will put his life in danger."

Lady Tyra had already guessed that there must be a reason why Seren wore that veil all the time and never showed her face to anyone. She was sure it was not because she thought she was ugly and had those scales on her body. In Lady Tyra's eyes, those scales on Seren's body in fact looked beautiful. Her rare purple eyes never failed to amaze her which showed her pure and innocent soul. No wonder their King had chosen her.

"What kind of danger, Your Majesty?" Lady Tyra asked.

"My Nanny said, I can never let any man see my face or that man and I, both will have disaster fall upon us."

Lady Tyra believed it and asked, "Your Majesty, if you don't mind can I touch that veil?"

Seren nodded and Lady Tyra went towards her. Lady Tyra observed the veil. Though it looked like an ordinary thin cloth, Lady Tyra had always known it was not the case. She raised her hand to touch it but all she touched was the thin layer of the energy and the next moment a realization struck her.

'This...This energy is not a normal one but...who is this powerful person who has cast a spell on the veil? Is Her Majesty's nanny that powerful to have such a power? It can't be.'

Lady Tyra retracted her hand and came out of her shocked realization. Composing herself, Lady Tyra asked, "Your Majesty, may I know who had put this veil on you?"

"My Mother," Seren replied normally, not knowing what kind of turmoil was going on Lady Tyra's mind. 

"Are you sure, Your Majesty?"

"As per what I heard from my nanny Martha, it's my mother," Seren assured. 

Lady Tyra could only look at that thin layer of energy covering the lower half of Seren's face which appeared as a veil. This layer of energy was preventing anyone from seeing her face or getting a clear idea of how even the exposed upper half of her face looked. Anyone who would see her could only remember her purple eyes and nothing else. This energy was strong.

So many questions occupied Lady Tyra's mind as things were not as simple as she thought. This Young Queen who was known as the cursed daughter of the witch was not simply that but something more than one could imagine.

'If the person who had put this veil on Her Majesty is her mother, then her mother is someone powerful. If she is so powerful, then what was the reason that she had to keep her daughter in hiding. Couldn't she protect her daughter on her own being the owner of such power?' Lady Tyra wondered.

Seeing Lady Tyra suddenly turn silent, Seren called her, "Lady Tyra."

Lady Tyra got back to her senses as she herself was puzzled by this veil and this strong energy. She couldn't even touch the veil in spite of being a master of some powers. 

"Your Majesty, even though I am not able to understand anything clearly, I will try to figure it out." Lady Tyra assured. "Till then Your Majesty can follow what her nanny has instructed." 

Seren agreed to it as she was worried about hurting Drayce.

Given the strong energy protecting this young Queen's face, Lady Tyra was sure there was definitely a strong reason to not let anyone see her face. Though Drayce was not an ordinary person, she didn't wish to put Drayce in any kind of danger till she was sure of what kind of curse this veil was protecting this young Queen from.

Seren again had something on her mind, "But how can I stop His Majesty from seeing my face?"

It was something worrisome for Lady Tyra too. How could he not want to see his wife's face? She had guessed already that till now Drayce had not seen her face but one day he would want to even if they tell him it might put his life in danger. The Young King sure was very stubborn and never cared for his life.

Lady Tyra thought for a while and said, "If Your Majesty asks His Majesty to not see her face, he will never force it. He is a man who would respect the wishes of the ones, who he cares for."

Seren nodded as Tyra was right. Not even once Drayce had insisted she remove her veil. She heard Lady Tyra again, "Soon I will try to understand what it is."

Seren could feel the comfort coming from her words and nodded. 

Just then Marie and Eva arrived at the study with tea and snacks. Lady Tyra had to leave now as she had other important matters to take care of being the head of all the Royal Servants.

"Your Majesty, I will take a leave now. Call for me whenever you need my assistance," Lady Tyra bowed. 

Seren nodded approvingly and Lady Tyra looked at Eva and Marie, "Take care of Her Majesty." 

The two servants nodded and Lady Tyra left.

Just as Eva served the tea, her sight followed the stacks of books on Seren's study table. 

"Your Majesty, what are these books?" Marie asked casually while Eva giggled. 

Marie looked at her and asked, "Why are you giggling?" Even Seren looked at her curiously. 

While bringing the books to Seren's study, Eva had taken a look inside one book and she knew what it was. 

"Because of the books Her Majesty is going to read," Eva replied and lowered her head, looking at Seren, "Apology, Your Majesty."

Seren, who was yet to go through the book, looked at Eva, "Have you read it?"

Eva gulped as a sudden blush covered her lowered face, "In servant quarters...they read it secretly...so...I happen to read it too…." Eva was utterly embarrassed. 

"What is in it?" Asking Seren opened the book as she read the title inside, "Lost Princess and Kind Prince."

"Is it a fairytale?" Seren asked, "What is so embarrassing about it. Martha had read it for me when I was a kid and faced difficulty in sleeping."

Eva cleared her throat, "It's not a kids' story…..Your Majesty...It's for adults."

"What is the difference?" Seren asked and looked at Eva curiously. 

Marie, who had understood it by now, looked at Eva, "You young girls.'' She referred to all the young, curious servants. 

Eva pouted and looked at Marie, "Sister Marie, don't tell me you have never read it."

Cough! Cough! 

Marie felt a little embarrassed and said, "It was long back…."

"Now sister Marie is married so she doesn't need to read it," Eva interrupted her, smiling teasingly.

Marie gave her a narrowed-eyed look and instructed, "Go check Her Majesty's afternoon meal preparation and see if everything is going fine."

Nodding, Eva left while Marie looked at curious Seren. "Your Majesty, You should read that book so you will understand how the relationship between man and a woman works and the meaning of what Her Majesty feels towards His Majesty."

Seren nodded and opened the book.