Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

"My mother said red eyes are the eyes of scary monsters. Now that I see your eyes, I guess it's true. Your eyes are red like blood."

"I am not a monster," Drayce replied as he was about to turn around in the direction of Lady Saira. Since his brother was hungry, he thought of sharing the food that his nanny baked with Prince Keiren. Lady Saira made the best berry pies and he was sure his brother would like them too.

The two other boys sneered at him.

"You don't look like an Ivanov. Doesn't that make you a freak? A monster?"

"Right! Why are your eyes and hair so different if you are not a monster?"

One kid laughed. "Are you getting angry? Are you going to hurt us?"

"Will you really hurt us, you monster?" They laughed at him.

One of the boys was a distant relative of the First Concubine and he made an interesting face. "I even heard his mother was a commoner who bewitched the King."

Those words caused Drayce to halt his step and turn to look at them. His red eyes seemed to gleam a dangerous glint. "Don't say anything about my mother."

"What did we say? Are you affected?"

"He must be. Since he is a monster, then that makes her mother a monster too."

"I remember the horror story my nanny once told me. It says there exists a monster who can charm people and control them, making them slaves that do bad things…A witch, that's what it is called."

"Don't say anything about my mother!" Drayce yelled loudly, the red in his eyes burning like flames in anger.

The entire garden shook like there was an earthquake.

"Earthquake!"

"The children!"

"Stay away from anything that may topple over!"

The servants and knights surrounding the area immediately went into action. His servants ran towards Drayce who was burning with anger, while looking at the back of those kids who were running away from him.

Lady Saira came to Drayce and hugged him though she didn't know what exactly had happened. "Your Highness? What—oh, we need to go and follow the knights…"

Drayce calmed down, but the next moment, he went unconscious. His servants were alarmed. Lady Saira carried him in her arms while instructing the servants behind her, "Inform Her Majesty about the Prince. We will be returning to the Queen's palace."

Others would have called for a royal physician, but knowing that the little boy in her arms was special, she only asked for the Queen.

The two female servants immediately left to execute her orders while Lady Saira took Drayce back to his chamber within the Queen's palace.

The Royal Palace of Megaris was alarmed by the earthquake, but due to its short duration, thankfully, there were no casualties.

Esther was meeting with a group of architects in one of the side palaces when the earthquake occurred. They were talking about their plans to renovate some of the buildings, but the moment the ground under her feet shook, she called to have the meeting adjourned.

'Drayce!'

She understood what this earthquake was. It was the first time ever that Drayce showed his inhuman powers on a grand scale. Before, there had only been a few small incidents that were only known to her and husband, as well as their close confidantes like Lady Tyra, the Great Lady and Lady Saira.

Esther left her work and hurried back to her residence. She went to Drayce's chamber where he was lying unconscious in his bed.

His mother checked his pulse and gave out a sigh of relief. She caressed his head and looked at him affectionately. Her son had shown such a strong power, and as it was the first time it happened, his young body could not take it. He was too young to bear the effect of such powers, but since his powers react to his emotions, then something must have happened to provoke him.

Anger.

From that strong yet brief earthquake, she could sense anger that had the will to destroy everything around him.

"What happened to Dray?" Esther asked Lady Saira.

"Your Majesty, His Highness was initially playing with Prince Keiren and his playmates. I am not sure what had happened exactly, but I guess some of the boys said something mean as His Highness looked really angry," Lady Saira replied and asked worriedly, "Is he fine?"

Esther nodded. "Let him rest for a while."

Finally, her son had shown his powers so it was given that the news would soon spread everywhere that the earthquake was caused by Drayce. Many would scoff and not believe this at first, but as Drayce continued to interact with more people in the future, more and more of such instances would happen.

She wouldn't be able to hide her son's capabilities unless she hides him from the public eye for several years, but that would be too cruel a fate for him—to hide who he is for the rest of his life. The only way was to make him understand his powers and keep them in control while not denying the future instances where he would manifest his powers.

'This continent would once again witness the magic they once denied.'

A strange report reached the table of the King where several kids from noble families claimed that the earthquake was caused by the Second Prince. He simply put the report aside. King Theron had somewhat expected this situation, knowing the identities of Drayce's biological parents.

"Where is he?" King Theron asked Sir Galien.

"The Second Prince is in the Queen's palace, Your Majesty."

"Is the Queen in her residence as well?"

"She is, indeed, Your Majesty," Sir Galien replied. "One of the knights guarding the area also reported that the Second Prince passed out during the earthquake."

King Theron stood up and left his study in the Grand Palace to head towards the Queen's palace.

When he reached the prince's bedchamber, he found Esther waiting for him inside. Their servants left them alone.

"How is he?" the King asked.

"He is just exhausted. He will wake up soon," Esther replied. She was glad that he came to check on Drayce and answered his unspoken questions, "The earthquake was caused by Dray. Something angered him, causing his powers to run wild."

"Hmm." He nodded and looked at the little one lying in bed. It reminded him of that time when this boy clumsily stumbled after running towards him. That tiny body, that warm embrace, the way he giggled as if he wanted to remain a spoiled child in his arms…

No one would have believed that such an adorable boy was more powerful than even the strongest royal knights in this palace. He didn't need to be protected at all. After all, he was the Devil's son.

"I will make sure he won't do it again," Esther said, though her husband didn't blame him for anything.

Nodding, King Theron left while Esther continued to accompany her son.