Morning. The sky was cloudy but there were no signs of rain.

The room was as bright as day since there was a refractive magic circle on the window.

Adrian, who had been sleeping like a log the entire night, woke up with a smile on his face. The first thing that entered his sight was a pair of green orbs- Queen Evelyn’s eyes.

“Good morning.” He said.

“Good morning.” She replied with a nonchalant face. “There was a smile plastered to your face the entire night. And you came to bed late; something good must have happened.” She looked into his abyssal eyes, only to feel her soul being sucked into them.

The smile on his face grew wider. “Indeed. It feels great when you challenge yourself and win without using any special powers or cheats.”

“You slept with her didn’t you?” She asked with an indifferent face. “Mother.” Her clear voice momentarily shook.

“Nope.” His answer was direct.

She frowned.

“She slept with me.”

“…”

“She was the one who voluntarily opened her legs and initiated the wild kiss.” He said casually.

She bit her lips. “You are lying.” Her voice was coarse. “Mother… she can’t…”

“You can ask her yourself.” He said calmly. “She even asked to keep fucking her after she reached her goal, which I gladly accepted.”

“Stop.” *Sniff* A tear escaped her eye.

“Why are you crying now?” He smirked. “You remember that you sacrificed your everything, don’t you? And your family, your most precious thing- your mother, everything’s included.”

“I know.” She had already composed herself. “I was expecting this to happen sooner or later. I just never expected that… mother would…” Her eyes became tears again but she held them back.

“Good that you know.” His voice was casual. “Oh. And one more thing.”

She knitted her brows.

“Her body is more royal than yours.”

Midday. The sky was cloudier than before, but it was apparent that there would not be any sort of rainfall for a few more hours at least.

A convoy of nine extravagant carriages. Eight of them- the four on the front and the four on the back were white and grey in colour while the one at the epicentre was white with purple linings. All of the coaches had an insignia crested upon them- one with a grey fortress upon which there was a purplish pink jewel.

It was none other than the insignia of the Heera family, the Royal family of Northguard.

The coachman of the purple lined carriage jumped down to the ground and opened the door. Two exceedingly beautiful ladies stepped down on the ground, one after the another; both of them were wearing glamorous tiaras on their heads. The older one was wearing an extravagant purple gown while the other was wearing pink.

Anyone can tell at a glance that they were closely related, but very few would come to the answer that they were a pair of mother and daughter. Both of them had pink eyes, but the older one had a purplish hue that gave it dreamy vibes.

Both of their eyes darted through the Royal Palace of Nemphis, one of the Three Wonders of the continent of Ervilia. The older woman, Arwen Heera was nonchalant while her daughter gasped.

She turned to her daughter, Jerin Heera, and smiled. “This is nothing.” She said. “The palace is known for its ‘magical’ interior.”

“But you haven’t come here before.” Jerin replied. “At least not after Aretha Lochtear changed the whole dynamics of the interior.”

The Queen Mother of Northguard shook her head. “People say that the Palace became extraordinary only after the advent of light magic circles.” She shook her head and turned back to the massive palace ahead. “But little do they know that it was always magical, since its very inception.”

The young girl who looked not any older than twenty two frowned. She felt like her mother knew something she herself did not. She wanted to ask but before that-

A middle aged woman arrived and bowed. “Welcome to Nemphis, your Majesty. I am the Secretary of Foreign affairs. Please come in.” She gave way and gestured with her hands.

“Let’s go.” Arwen beckoned her daughter as she stepped towards the grand entrance. Jerin could only keep her question chained in her mind and follow her mother.

The moment they stepped into the Palace, the Queen’s mouth opened wide agape. Even the Queen Mother widened her eyes a bit. Just like they said- it was magical. The orbiting chandeliers above, the exquisite light magic spell that left momentary but bright traces of her footsteps, or the grand and archaic tree ahead which looked as if it were holding the entire palace together- they were breathtaking, capable of giving anyone a good dream for days.

Just before there was a throne made of wood. But anyone would think a million times before calling it cheap. Just the aura the ancient woods of the throne was emitting was more than enough to make an ordinary man or woman prostrate.

Upon it sat a beautiful young lady, one that looked even younger than the young Queen of Northguard. She also had a silvery white royal ornament on her head. Though her fresh green eyes lacked the wisdom of olden monarchs, it was of no doubt she would get it through the trials she would face as the ruler of the second strongest nation of the continent.

“Greetings.” The young Jerin said. Her tone was noble, befitting a queen.

“Welcome to Nemphis.” Evelyn’s voice sounded as if it lacked any sort of emotions. “I hope there was not any sort of troubles on your way here.”

“Except the chaotic weather, there wasn’t any other inconveniences.”

Arwen stayed silent. A subconscious smile formed on her face as she watched the two young ladies conversed. After all, they were the future of the Confederation.

“Where is Sir Adrian Darkheart?” The Queen of Northguard asked. “I don’t see him here.” She looked around a bit.