Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Drayce could sense Seren's presence anywhere as long as she's within the royal palace. With his abilities, he was confident that there was no need to ask her whereabouts to anyone.

The moment he extended his senses to find his wife, he was caught unaware by the sweet sounds of innocent laughter. One of the voices, he recognized as Rayjin's voice, but the other was both familiar yet unfamiliar to him. That melodious laugh filled with innocence caused a ticklish tingle within him, and he didn't wish to miss hearing it even for a second.

The very instant he heard her laugh, nothing else mattered to him. He continued to follow the source of that music, walking towards the greenhouse in a daze, only to be welcomed by a sight so beautiful, it should not exist in the mortal realm.

Under the soft rays of sunlight filtered through the hanging vines, his wife looked like the incarnation of the Goddess of Spring as she turned slowly in circles, butterflies of various colors following her movements like obedient little fairies dancing in delight. What he liked the most was the melodious laughter of his wife.

'So this is what happiness sounds like.'

Wealth? Power? Authority? None of them mattered to his wife.  The simplest matters were something no gold in the world could buy, and these were the things that made her happier more than anything else​​​​—to be surrounded by nature without any worries, playing to her heart's content. Not just Drayce, but even the others felt like their souls were purified by the ethereal beauty in the middle of the indoor flower garden. They could not take their eyes away from it, wishing deep in their hearts that they could preserve such a wonderful image.

The impact of the sight was stronger for Cian, who had known Seren her whole life. Aside from Martha, he was the person who could be said to have watched Seren grow from being a little girl curious about the outside world to a quiet young woman who already gave up hope from receiving goodwill from the people around her. Most of his visits inside her tower, they would have afternoon tea in her garden. On very rare occasions, he witnessed his sister causing flowers to bloom.

It had been seventeen years, yet he had never witnessed anything like this. He could not help but think that if the people of Abetha saw what his sister truly is, they would be ashamed to call her a witch. They would surely be filled with deep regret. How could a witch be this mesmerizing? How could something so beautiful be anything short of holy? To him, she did not look any less than a true goddess.

It was Rayjin who brought everyone's soul back to reality. Seeing Drayce and the rest by the entrance, she bounced on her feet towards them, exclaiming in excitement,  "Dray! Father! Uncles! See what Seren can do!"

Seren was completely immersed in playing with the butterflies, making them move the way she wanted, and only when she heard what Rayjin said did she feel a sense of embarrassment. She immediately lowered her hands as she looked at Drayce. The melodious sound coming out of her mouth stopped, as if the sound was stuck in her throat, and all the butterflies dancing around her dispersed, as if the magical connection built between them and Seren was broken.

Seren didn't know what to do or what to say, as she was unprepared for the sudden presence of Drayce. She was startled because she did not notice his arrival. At the same time, she's feeling self-conscious to be caught dancing like a child.

'Ah, I completely forgot everything while I was playing with those butterflies. I even forgot to look after Rayjin!' she lamented.

Just then, her gaze landed on the audience standing at the entrance of the greenhouse. The duke and the princes of Griven, her own brother,  Grandmother, and her servants.

Ahh! It made her feel even more embarrassed! If it weren't for her veil, she was sure everyone could see her face turn as red as a tomato.  She was a queen who should always maintain her image, but now here she was, playing with butterflies while giggling like a little kid. In front of the revered Great Lady no less! Even Rayjin seemed to have more etiquette than her.

Drayce approached her and stood in front of her. She felt her face flush even hotter as she lowered her head. "Apologies​​​​— "

"You don't need to apologize," Drayce interrupted her. "It was a beautiful thing to see my wife so happy."

Seren didn't know what to say, but she was not comforted. She stood silently with her hands anxiously gripping her skirt as she saw the Great Lady and the others coming towards her.

"Grandmother." She bowed her head, looking apologetic.

"Why do you look as if you have committed a crime? You should feel proud to be able to show us such beautiful magic," the Great Lady assured her with a kind smile of a doting elder. "My old soul feels blessed after seeing something divine. I look forward to the next time you show us such a scene. You should do it more often."

"Yes, Seren! You should be very very proud! I liked it a lot!," Rayjin exclaimed, her eyes full of expectation. "Can you do it again one more time? Please?"

Seren looked at her helplessly. She didn't wish to disappoint the little girl, but at the same time, she herself didn't know how it all happened. She had no idea why those butterflies suddenly came to her. All she did was to say her wish out loud and it happened the next moment.

'That couldn't be it, right?' She looked at her hands in a daze.  'I am sure that I don't have any ability to create magic with simple words. Though I am a witch, I am not capable of using magic like that, or else, I should have long escaped my tower after the countless times I wished to leave. So how did it happen?'

Drayce followed her line of sight and held her hand. "It's all fine."