"Do you want to see the castle with me? I'll show you new places and beautiful things." I said as I released her.
"I will!"
"Alright then, let's get ready," I replied as I got off the bed. Her mother was excited but looked pitiful.
"It's fine if you still want to stay with your mom for a while."
"No, Your Majesty, I am just so emotional. A kind queen like you wants to take my daughter around, I'm so blessed." She said as she cleaned her tears gently
.
"And I'm blessed to have you all by my side. Anyways, Aurelia will still follow you back to the quarters. I've got to talk to the Alpha, and I'm sure he'd agree, then we can go sightseeing." I said as I turned to Aurelia.
"Come on Aurelia, the queen has to get ready." Her mother said and Aurelia walked to her and then waved at me as they went out.
"Guess it's time to go see the alpha," I announced as I strolled to the washroom, the four other maids followed.
I got ready in my satin gown and let my hair down after bathing. I felt so re-energized.
I was putting on my earrings when a guard came in.
"Prince Alistair is to see you, should I let him?" He asked as he bowed.
My heart skipped a beat as I heard his name, something about him felt different.
"Let him in," I replied and took my seat, the maids left.
I observed as he sauntered in so majestically. My heart raced continuously.
"My queen." He said as he stood in my life, our eyes locked.
"Alistair," I whispered gently and he smiled broadly, leaning into my height as he grabbed both sides of the seat.
The cologne!
I inhaled the sweet scent slowly. My inner self tried to be free, but it was impossible. It was as if he had me in a spell.
"You like the fragrance?" He replied as brought his hand to my shoulder and then caressed it down to my trembling hand.
"I do." I retorted basking in his presence.
"Will you do everything I say?" He asked as his hands went up to my chest, I gasped softly.
"I will do everything you say."
He smiled and went to my bed then sat on it. "Crawl to me." He commanded.
Surprisingly, I found myself obeying him. He took me from the floor and I stood like a robot awaiting instructions.
"You have a lot of potential, Seraphina, and you waste it on Lorien?"
"I'm sorry if that annoys you…
"It annoys me! I get furious every time I see both of you together." He said as he adjusted my hair
"I remember that the last time I left, I accused you of betrayal. Why aren't you dead? Didn't Lorien kill you or something?"
"I died."
He chuckled and then embraced me tightly. "I've always wanted to do this. What do you mean you died?"
"I am not…
"Aurelia, stop!" The voice called out and we turned our head to the doorway. Alistair immediately released me and moved away from me.
Aurelia ran in and she looked panicked.
"Who let this slave girl in?" Alistair shouted as he walked to her. I jolted back to reality and watched as Alistair grabbed Aurelia, her mother on her knees.
"What's going on?" I asked, and the headache hit me again.
"Leave it to me, Queen Seraphina, I'll deal with them!"
"Stop that!" I shouted at him and he immediately let go of Aurelia. "She works for me, what did she do to you?" I asked holding my head.
"Never mind." He said, pissed, as he walked out.
I sat on my bed slowly, something happened but I can't remember what. Aurelia walked up to me and held my hand, I smiled at her sweetly.
Her mother kept pleading.
"It's fine," I said and she kept quiet.
"When did you get here Aurelia?" I asked.
"Can we take a walk around the castle now?" she asked.
"She is clearly not feeling well, Aurelia; where are your manners!" Her mother yelled at her and I raised my hand angrily.
"I'm okay, I just hit my head on something. Let go Aurelia."
I said we walked out, I showed her the blooming garden and the training ground. Those were the two places I had been in the castle.
She did not want to pass the normal way back so we had to take another turn. There was a building behind that looked like a worship place. We had to pass the route.
This was the first time I'd seen it, it was painted gold and had a strange werewolf statue standing tall outside.
It was decorated extravagantly, exhibiting abundance.
"What is that place?" I asked the maids behind me.
"That's where the god we worship resides my queen."
"Reside? You worship a human?"
"No, my queen. By reside, I meant his spirit is in there and we worship it every day. It was actually a human named Magnus, he is like a godfather to us. He created an empire where different werewolves could live making Duskband his main region. But people conspired against him, separating his empire into kingdoms. Rumors said he faded away and some said he vanished into this building." She explained softly.
"Ohh." I saw some ladies in pure white holding a tray of fruits as they entered.
"So they offered him fruits?"
"No, the queen regent is in seclusion."
Queen regent, does that mean Lorien's mother is still alive? He never mentioned it to me and I've never seen her.
"The Alpha has a mother?" I asked and turned to them, they all looked shocked.
"Yes my queen, you must not talk of her like that. She is very strict and more brutal than the Alpha. In fact, we have to move quickly." Aurelia's mother said.
Well, that's some interesting news.
We headed to Lorien's chamber. I had salutations from every side of the castle and this made me excited.
The guardsmen informed us that he was in the court, regarding some affairs.
"You should head to my chamber with your mom Aurelia. I've to talk to the Alpha."
She nodded, and her mother grasped her hand, and then they left for my chamber.
I headed to the court and the guardsmen announced my arrival. They opened the door, and I learned no one was in the huge room except Lorien, sifting on his throne and going through some books. I guess they have finished the meeting.
"Seraphina? Why are you here?" He asked as placed the books down on a golden table beside him.
I walked to him gracefully then bowed. "I've to talk to you."
"About? How is health now?"
He inquired.
"I'm better," I replied and watched as he got down from his throne and walked to me.
"Did you miss me?" He asked and I smiled lightly.
"I want to take in a little girl…
"No, you won't." He interrupted and his his glowed.
"Why?"
"It's an order. You can't question me."
"Listen to me Lorien….
"Alpha, don't disrespect my position."
I realized whatever the maids said was true, he was not interested in the decision I wanted to take.
"Alpha. She is a harmless little girl, I was mesmerized by her…
"You can't do that Seraphina. Moreover, who brought a little kid into the castle?" He asked as he folded his hands behind him.
"No one," I mumbled silently.
"I don't want to have this conversation again, go to your chamber and rest." He replied and left the courtroom, leaving me behind.
Why would one hate kids so much? Oh, I forgot to ask him about his mother and why the hell was he so mean.
I got back to my chamber and informed Aurelia and her mother to head back to the quarters. I had to lie to them that Lorien was busy. They obeyed, and I had my bath, then took a nap; I was going to talk to Lorien tomorrow; he was not in a good mood earlier.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Alistair's POV
I rode my horse to the outskirts of the kingdom and waited for a while. Until my men brought both the daughter and mother. They arrived on two horses.
They were covered with black mask
They shoved them to the floor and I stood up and walked to them. I helped them up, and they knelt, murmuring words. I pulled off the mask on their heads and they stared at me with pure horror in their eyes.
They both had gag blocking their mouth.
"Both of you spoiled my plans, why? Why!" I yelled angrily. Their hands were tied to the back and I moved closer to them then undid the gag on the little girl's mouth. She looked unmoved.
"Queen Seraphina will come for you if you harm me!" She shouted at me and I laughed loudly.
"Seraphina? Come for you? She's not allowed to leave the castle without the Alpha's permission and believe me, he won't let her leave."
Her mother was mumbling as she gave me a pleasing look. I removed her gag slowly.
"Please my prince, let us go in peace. We won't return to duskbane again." She said breathlessly.