Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

"Yes, Sister Marie. I wonder why you do not have it. Doesn't your husband show you love and affection?" Eva teased.

Marie cleared her throat and scowled at the younger lady. "I can't have them as I have to work in the palace and we have to look presentable. Even if I have them, I won't show them off!" Then, she returned her gaze to Seren. "When I was newly married, this happened a lot to me too so rest assured, Your Majesty. It's totally fine. It will disappear on its own in a day or two, till then we will apply some medicine to get it better faster and put some makeup over them to hide them."

Seren could only nod as Marie had assured her with so much confidence. With a calmer heart, she got inside the bathtub as her two lady servants helped her wash up.

After her bath, while getting their young queen ready, Eva and Marie tried their best to hide the love bites on Seren's neck. Instead of being braided and put in a bun which was best for travel, Marie made her hair in a different way today. She combed her long hair and fixed them loosely over her shoulder so it can help hide the marks on her neck. Eva applied a thick layer of makeup on those marks before making her wear a set of clothes with a high collar. Although the dress was more formal than what Seren normally used for travel, it had the best cut to hide her blemished skin.

Once their queen was properly dressed, they arranged the morning meal for her, and then, they all were ready to leave. When Seren was escorted outside by her two servants, she saw the royal carriage with the crest of Megaris ready with rows of soldiers and knights with their horses already in their formation.

Rayjin, who noticed her first, ran towards her. "Seren! Why are you leaving already? Can't you stay for a few more days? I will miss you."

Seren patted her head as she smiled lightly, but the little girl couldn't see her smiling because of the veil. "I will miss you too."

"Can't you just stay here? Please? Please?" Rayjin asked. "I will tell Dray to leave you with me, and we can play more. There are a lot of places you are yet to see—"

Arlan was standing next to Drayce to bid his friend farewell when he heard how Rayjin tried to persuade the Queen of Megaris. He spoke in a low voice, "My little niece doesn't know that for the first time, she will get to hear a 'no' from you."

"Then handle it," Drayce said. He didn't wish to break the little girl's heart.

"...Will you stay here if Dray allows you to?" Rayjin asked, holding Seren's hand.

Before Seren could reply, Arlan approached the two and smiled. "Her Majesty is yet to attend her own coronation ceremony, among many other things. Your mother taught you how royals and nobles have great responsibilities, right, my little niece?" Seeing Rayjin pout, Arlan stroke her head. "Instead of asking her to stay, you can go to Megaris and visit Her Majesty. Ask Duke Wimark to bring you along when he leaves the capital to visit your family's territory for a routine inspection.  Since the Wimark territory borders Megaris, you can go there anytime with your father if you want to visit Her Majesty. The capital of Megaris is not far from your ancestral manor."

"Can I? Really?" She looked at her father with a hopeful expression.

Rhys Wimark nodded at his daughter, and it finally eased the things for them.

After the parting words between acquaintances were said, the royal entourage of Megaris was ready to depart. Drayce helped Seren to get into the carriage.

"Go safely," Arlan said before Drayce could follow his wife.

"Can anyone create trouble with me here?" Drayce countered.

"Hmm, I keep forgetting who you are," Drayce said and then suddenly lowered his voice, "Seems like you have created trouble for your wife."

Drayce threw a side glance at Seren who was sitting quietly inside the carriage. "She will get used to it."

"I see you going back on your words that you have given to her father," Arlan commented.

"Might be," Drayce didn't deny it.

Arlan could only shake his head. "Still, I trust you to not scare an innocent girl."

"Don't worry about it. Once we reach Megaris, I will arrange for her to learn things that must be learned," Drayce replied before climbing the carriage.

The royal carriage moved, and Arlan simply turned around, confident no harm could befall his friend.

Sitting inside the carriage, Drayce looked at Seren who refused to look at him. Without warning, Drayce sat next to her, causing her to nearly jump from her seat. She shrank to the other side, but Drayce pulled her closer to him.

"I just want to check something," he said.

Seren did not move nor say anything. Drayce moved her long loose hair on the other side of her neck and slightly pulled down the high collar of her dress. Even though they were covered with makeup,  with him being mere inches away from her, they couldn't hide those faint red marks entirely. He touched one of them with his fingers and Seren flinched.

"Is it painful?" he asked, not knowing how her delicate body took it.

Her cheeks blushed, but they were hidden under her veil and thus he did not notice it. She shook her head with her lowered gaze.

"I will be careful next time," Drayce assured, sounding gentle.

She looked at him and blinked a few times as she thought, 'Next time? Will there be next time too? That means he will do it again.'

As if he understood what she was thinking, Drayce answered, "This is what husbands and wives do when they sleep together." He added, "At least, one of them."

Seren pursed her lips but said nothing. She turned her head away to look outside of the window.

They were finally leaving the Royal Palace of Griven.