Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

As Seren's faint whisper of panic escaped her lips, Drayce gently pressed his finger against them, shaking his head subtly, signaling for her silence.

Confusion flickered in Seren's eyes, yet she yielded to Drayce's silent plea, finding solace as she embraced him. In his presence, she had not nothing to fear.

"It's alright," he whispered reassuringly.

Just then Marie arrived there with a glass of water. No one had heard Seren's panicked scream as the door to that chamber was closed. Only Drayce's sharp senses that always followed his wife, heard her.

"Let me take you back to the room," Drayce murmured, guiding Seren to her chamber. Holding her close for a moment longer, he said, "I'll return shortly. There are matters to attend to, but know that I'll be by your side soon."

"I am fine now. Do not worry," Seren replied, her voice steady with resolve.

Drayce returned to the study. The reason he stopped Seren from saying anything and didn't try to comfort her by telling her the identity of the intruder was because- the moment Drayce disappeared from his study, he knew Arlan would feel worried and his senses would follow him to know what's going on. If they talked about the intruder, Arlan would hear it and would find out about Oriana.

Drayce could block his friend from reaching them but it would only raise suspicions as Arlan's action of using his power would simply be out of concern for his friend.

When Drayce was comforting his wife, a certain elf was standing by the window of the study, watching a delicate figure clad in dark clothes running towards the guest mansion of Griven while carefully hiding herself from the guards.

A soft, internal chuckle echoed within him. 'Ah, the sneaky little mouse.'

Meanwhile Arlan who had heard Drayce comforting his wife who seemed to be scared by something, felt relieved. He also informed Cian who was puzzled to see Drayce disappearing all of a sudden that he had gone to Seren. Drayce returned to the study, assured them there was nothing to worry about and they soon finished talking about the issue of poisonous herbs.

After Cian and Arlan took their leave, Yorian turned his attention to Drayce with a playful smirk. "So, King Drayce, what are your thoughts on our elusive little mouse, Oriana?" A hint of amusement colored his tone.

Drayce's eyes held a glint of respect. "She possesses an uncommon courage, a true mischief-maker. It's no surprise Arlan keeps a vigilant watch over her."

Arching an eyebrow, Yorian probed further, "Do you pity your friend for having such a wild spirit as his mate?"

"She is his chosen mate and his person to worry about," Drayce replied but after a short pause he spoke again, "She seemed to be in dire need of that herb to risk her life like that again and again."

"I have told you why she needs it," Yorian said, "Thankfully Prince Arlan had not caught her till now. But I worry that she will keep putting herself in trouble again and again."

Drayce leaned back in the chair, "Then we shall just help her with what she wants and she will stop creating trouble for herself and Arlan."

"Would you supply her with the herb she seeks?" Yorian questioned, gauging Drayce's intent.

"The old man won't last long. We can provide her that herb for a few years of his life's worth supply," Drayce replied, his voice devoid of sentiment.

Yorian chuckled softly, observing, "Your concern for Prince Arlan's well-being inadvertently benefiting that spirited young witch."

Drayce offered no further remarks, choosing instead to return to his wife, aiming to dispel any lingering apprehensions clouding her thoughts.

Upon entering their chamber, Seren swiftly dismissed the attending servants. Once alone, she regarded Drayce, who settled beside her on the bed. "Is it safe to discuss this now?" Her words carried a cautious undertone.

Drayce's smile was tender as he gently clasped her hand, offering a reassuring pat on her head as if to praise for- even if she was scared due to intruder, she understood his request and kept quiet instead of being hasty.

Catching a distant look in his eyes, Seren gently prompted, "Dray?"

"It wasn't a man who saw you face, but a woman," Drayce disclosed.

Startled yet somewhat relieved, Seren shifted to face him directly. "A woman?"

Meeting her gaze with understanding, Drayce explained, "Hadn't you sensed that familiar shroud of darkness about her?"

Caught in a whirlwind of emotions and still grappling with her recent fright, Seren admitted, "The moment was fleeting, and fear clouded my senses."

With a soothing touch, Drayce reassured her, "It's understandable. But know this: since our intruder is a woman, the looming curse no longer threatens anyone." His comforting gaze anchored her, offering solace in the midst of uncertainty.

"Who exactly was that woman?" Seren inquired, curiosity evident in her tone.

"It was Oriana who sneaked in," Drayce revealed calmly.

Astonished, Seren questioned, "Oriana? But what drove her to such lengths?"

"I set a subtle trap to gauge her intentions, and she inadvertently walked right into it," he replied with a hint of intrigue.

Confounded, Seren pressed, "And why would you do that?"

Drayce unraveled the intricacies of his actions, detailing his motivations and concerns to her attentive ears.

Catching onto his underlying sentiment, Seren ventured, "You plan to help her... it's because she's Prince Arlan's mate, isn't it?"

He raised a brow, "Can I not be generous for no reason?"

"You can but not when it comes to unethical things," Seren continued to explain, "You would not care about one old man dying due to health issues that comes with age as sooner or later he will die and for that you would not break the law.

But as you know her intentions are not wrong and she would stop at nothing, you are helping her so her actions won't put Prince Arlan in a tough spot who is aggressively against these banned herbs."

Drayce's smile broadened, and he affectionately tapped Seren's veiled nose with his fingertip. "Ah, my Seren is getting smarter by the day."

Playfully, Seren rubbed her nose, retorting, "I was always smart. It's just that I can understand a little better now."

"You sure knows me better." His eyes twinkling with mirth, Drayce drew her close, swiftly maneuvering to pin her beneath him.

The sudden move nearly elicited a startled gasp from her. "Dray?"

Captivated by her widened eyes, he murmured, "Yes?"

"I felt genuinely frightened today and it's not right to bully me like this," Seren murmured, a hint of playful protest evident in her voice.

"Am I bullying you?" he queried, his voice laced with curiosity.

She responded with a soft hum of affirmation.

Drayce's eyes deepened with intensity, a smoldering gaze locking onto hers. "Then, don't you like the way I bully you?"

Caught in the weight of his insinuation, Seren's eyes momentarily sought refuge behind her long, fluttering lashes, a blush hinting at her cheeks.

Drawing nearer, his voice a velvety whisper, he murmured, "We are yet to be there when you will know what true bullying is."

The subtle shift in his tone sent an involuntary shiver down Seren's spine, the gravity of his words not lost on her.

With a slight pull back, Drayce's lips curled into a teasing smirk, clearly amused by her reaction.

"Can you not tease me," she said in a low voice. Though used to such teasing from him, she could not help but feel embarrassed everytime.

With a mockingly innocent nod, he responded, "Alright, no more teasing." Yet, as the words left his mouth, darkness enveloped the room, punctuated by his whispered promise, "because I plan to bully you."

Seren barely had a moment to process his words before her veil vanished, replaced swiftly by the unexpected press of his warm lips, her words were sealed before they would make their way out.