The heat coming from the Berden pass was no small matter. Finding a caravan that would take her across proved to be a little difficult as most of them were filled already and none were willing to take a lone, weak-looking woman across the desert that she was more likely to die on. She was turned down there more times than she was turned down in her life. Thus, one day of travel was wasted. It was a frustrating experience. She returned to the inn where she once again waited for the day to pass. The nights were cooler than she expected and since winter was approaching, it was safer to leave sooner to be able to cross the rocky terrain of Polivia. She put off the candle in her room and rested her head on the itchy pillow of the inn. It was uncomfortable but compared to living in the Dukedom, it was more than enough. The inconsistencies of her plans would’ve already been obvious to anyone smart enough to notice it. However, it wouldn’t be easy to look for her openly so she was safe, at
If it was any other dragon, she wouldn’t be worried that it was a pointed attack and would’ve just fended the dragon off with everyone’s help but it was a red dragon, the same dragon that sat on the roof of the Duke’s Mansion. If it was there, then Fredrich definitely knew she was alive. “Madaline!”The fairy appeared in a nick of time and saw the humongous creature almost immediately. Without question, she enveloped the whole desert stork in a green barrier. In response, the dragon spat fire at the barrier but was unable to break it with just that. “Is that a…..fairy?” Marvis asked in amazement. Everyone else was staring at her as well. They couldn’t possibly know it wasn’t an ordinary fairy but the fairy mother herself but there was no need to broadcast it. “I’m sorry for calling you here like this Madaline but I need that.”{Are you sure that is what you want? You worked hard to get it.}“It’s fine, I can always get another one. Just do it.”Madaline nodded, disappearing. A gree
The feeling of something warm on her hand woke Natalia up. It was still very early in the morning but it was uncomfortable to feel something looming over her. She immediately opened her eyes and reached for her dagger, cautious. However, she was flabbergasted to see a huge wolf in the cave. Its head was two times bigger than hers, its body huge enough to dwarf her even though she was of significant height. The wagging tail felt like a hurricane, blasting cool air to her face. The warm thing she felt on her hand was the tongue that drooped happily from its mouch. “Mar….vis?”The wolf gave an excited howl, circling around her. He nudged her hand with his snout, panting even harder. She was amazed as it was the first time she had seen a werewolf transform. Even Amaika didn’t transform in her presence. She curiously slid her hand through his fur, feeling how soft and silky it was. It felt even finer than all the fine materials she had ever gotten in her life and she was someone who live
“Introducing, his majesty, King Fredrich Kristen the first and her royal highness, the royal consort, Princess Alana Willow Ducroft,” the chamberlain announced. The whole crowd kept their head low as they walked past. They looked regal, especially the former Grand Duke who was wearing royal regalia. It looked like he was born to wear it. Beside him, the third princess, despite being royalty, wasn’t as elegant. In fact, everyone thought of the woman most fit to stand beside him as Queen but as she was dead, there wasn’t anything they could do about it. They sat on the throne and the ball resumed. It was the first official ball after Fredrick took the throne. The social order had not yet been officially established so it was a cutthroat season. What was more intriguing was the nobility promotions. Four houses now held the title of Duke: Adamantine, Orland, Kristen and Bellam. With the influence of the four houses, the court was very unstable. “Presenting the emissary from the Empire o
Crown Prince Reagan was not without an agenda. It was the first time a King of Ducroft had reached out in a while and he was not going to misuse the opportunity. He had already sent his other servants in search of Natalia, to see if she was truly dead or alive. That was his real purpose for coming. If she was alive, then he was going to take her by any means necessary and in that vein, use her to conquer Ducroft. Persuading a woman that was betrayed by her husband wasn't that hard of a job. But there was no trace of her anywhere. It was hard to believe but it seemed like she had truly passed away. "If only I could've tamed that wolf properly. He was useful but he was getting a little out of hand. All I wanted to do was discipline him and see him running away from his master. He said he wasn't going to leave me too," he murmured. As the night came to a close, Wilbur was tasked with taking the Crown Prince to where he was to stay for the night. Reagan felt a little insulted that it wa
The torrent of emotions that overwhelmed Marvis was something unlike what he had ever experienced before. He couldn't believe it. It felt worse than betrayal like his heart was being torn apart. Amusingly enough, she didn’t lie to him. She also explicitly stated that she wouldn’t be telling him her identity and that she was supposed to be dead. Still, it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.He had already been betrayed once by someone he trusted for most of his life. A person he treated like his savior, someone he would do anything for. To be betrayed by someone else that had a similar position to him, one could only imagine how he felt. “Marvis. I know you’re out here somewhere. I’m jealous. It must be nice having a skin impervious to cold,” her voice rang out. His ears picked it up even though she was in the garden and he was in the forest a few meters away. “You promised….that you’ll let me explain. Are you the type of man that goes back on his word? I thought you’d at least…….listen,” h
“That thing…..is the sky tube?”It looked like a giant worm with no eyes. It flew in the skies, carrying various people in its belly. It bore the insignia of the royal family, painted blue like the sky. If it wasn’t for the noise it made while traveling, it could easily blend in with the sky. It was a thing that people rode without a care in the world. “I refuse to ride in that thing. I will prefer a carriage.”“Even if I tell you Lord Sebastian has ridden in it multiple times, traveling all over the kingdom? Surely you can’t back down from that kind of challenge. Don’t worry, it isn’t as unstable as a carriage and it’s very safe and comfortable. You won’t feel anything after a few minutes.”“If you think you can trick me into…..”“We’re not going to ride it? I was curious about it though. It’s okay. I think I can travel faster than it.”“We’re going immediately. Where do we sit?”Duchess Everon couldn’t even begin to guess why there was fear in Natalia’s eyes. Marvis didn’t seem hur
{You seem nervous. Are you sure you want to do this right now?}“No better time than the present. Besides, you have to ascend soon. Let’s do this now.”{Very well}Natalia drew the magic circle according to Madaline’s instructions. The room she was given in the princess’s palace was big enough. It was a complicated magic circle that had various enchantments that she had never seen before in her life. The Fairy Mother was an ancient creature that had existed long before the god of Ducroft ascended so the origin of the magic circle could be guessed.However, drawing with blood proved to be hard, especially since it was her own blood. Draining it wasn’t easy in the first place so it took a long time for her to get enough blood to draw the circle. Once it was done, she sat down in the middle, her legs crossed within the boundaries and her hands crossed on her chest. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. {Please listen to my instructions properly. Mana is volatile if it’s not being r