The Devil's Cursed Witch

Only after Yula was assured that Ember was fine did the elf quietly leave the chamber, not wanting to disturb the sleeping girl. She saw the two young elves still smiling as if there was something to be happy about.

"What are you two so happy about?" Yula asked with a raised brow.

"Oh, Dame. Of course, it's because Miss Ember is in heat," Reya answered with a sly smile.

"We are happy because it won't take long for us to see His Majesty's offspring."

Clio could only nod in agreement, unable to say those out loud as she wasn't as open as her older cousin.

Yula sighed as she realized there was a misunderstanding. "A human's bleeding is different from ours."

"Yes, you told us that they bleed monthly," Reya answered promptly like a good student.

"It's not just that. For us, our estrous cycle starts with bleeding which is a sign of going into heat. We bleed for three to four days and then we are ready to mate and conceive a child. But this is not the case with humans. For them, bleeding means they have missed the chance of mating, and if they wish to conceive, they have to wait till the next time the female ovulates. The thing is, when their females ovulate, they do not give off an obvious smell that tells the males that the female is ready to conceive. So humans calculate it with days of the month from the day the female bleeds."

"It's so unfortunate that human males won't know if a female is ovulating. They can miss the best chance of mating, but then, humans have it monthly so there are many chances for them to try," Reya commented.

"Makes sense how humans produce so many offspring," Clio said and then asked as realization dawned on her. "So Miss Ember is not in heat?"

Yula shook her head.

"Then why did His Majesty ask all the males to leave the palace?" Clio asked.

"Even though she is not in heat, she is still bleeding because of her human estrous cycles so it affects the males in the same way. They can smell the female's bleeding and they think she is in heat," Yula explained.

The happiness the two young elves were feeling was gone in a moment and then Reya asked, "But... His Majesty must be thinking she is in heat. He will be disappointed to hear of this."

"I am sure he understands how it works for humans," Yula said with a smile. "I need to visit his Majesty. You two look after Miss Ember."

The two nodded and Yula went to the King's study. She had a guess that the red-eyed man dared not stay on the same floor as his mate due to that strong scent coming from her, but couldn't also make himself leave the palace due to his primal instincts.

------

Inside Draven's study, Erlos was updating him about the situation.

"Sire, as per your order, all the males have been sent out of the palace," he informed him. "Most of them chose to return to their hometowns, while the rest decided to stay over in Ronan..."

Draven sat in his armchair with his eyes closed, trying--no, not just trying, but fighting with himself and his swaying control of his sanity from giving into that tempting scent.

He couldn't stay close to her yet he also could not leave the palace, not when his mate was giving off the scent that would attract males towards her.

As her mate, his possessive instinct compelled him to stay around his female, and this would become extreme if she went into heat. Though he knew that Ember was not in heat, the scent of her bleeding had the same effect on the males, giving them the wrong impression that a female beast was going into heat.

Seeing the silent king, Erlos asked, "Sire, since all males are to leave...this means I can take these  days off work as well and go back  home, right?"

The young elf's eyes were shining brightly, excited to have a proper chance to relax. Since he finally could get time off from work, he even started to plan in his mind what he would do during those off days.

Visiting different cities, having fun in other territories, going anywhere he wants without worry of being called back by the King and so on...

"You are not going anywhere," the King finally spoke and burst the happy bubble of the dreaming elf.

Erlos' eyes were wide with disbelief. "B-But Sire, I am a male--"

"Can you smell anything strange in the air?" Draven asked.

"Nothing strange, though I heard the shapeshifters saying something...but, Sire! You cannot be like this! You have sent the other male elves out as well. Why are you excluding me?" he cried out.

"You have to run errands," Draven spoke.

Erlos's face turned sad. "Of course, Sire...What instructions do you have for me?"

"Go to Leeora and ask her the strongest essence she has in her collection. It must be one that can suppress any other scents around," Draven instructed him.

With his long, pointed ears drooping in a manner that reflected how very, very, disappointed their owner was. Erlos simply nodded and left without asking anything else.

A few minutes later, Yula arrived in the King's study to let him know how Ember was faring.

"Your Majesty, do you have instructions for me?" she asked.

Draven nodded. "Make sure to not let her out of her bedchamber until this ends. Arrange everything she would need inside her chamber."

His words didn't surprise Yula as if she was already expecting it. She knew what effect the scent from his mate must have had on the King, and having his mate roam around him freely was not a good idea. It was for Ember's own good. Yula could see that the King was truly worried for his mate and that he was fighting such a strong urge where most males would have failed.

'She is surely so fortunate,' Yula thought and then assured the King. "I have received your order. There won't be any mistakes."

Draven nodded lightly and she left the study.

Yula passed the same order to Reya and Clio and told them to not let Ember step out of the southwest wing. She was only allowed to go to the dining hall and her study, other than being in her bedchamber.

Since it was only a concern for four to five days, Yula believed they would be able to follow it without problems.