They all stood straight, seeing the elders coming towards their direction.
Master Thalen still kept an unreadable expression; he stared at them, wondering what they were hiding, focusing his gaze on his Liora.
His eyes soon caught sight of the stained hem of her dress. Following his gaze, Liora saw the hem of her dress was stained with mud from the forest trip they went on. She twisted uncomfortably, fearing her father might scold her.
Noticing the tension growing, Kealan stepped forward.
"I apologize, Master Thalen Elowen.
"Didn't mean to overstep. I just thought she deserved a break... and some company."
Master Thalen's face softened a little.
"Next time I will appreciate it if you sought permission from me before taking my daughter out into the woods". His voice was sharp.
Thalen felt maybe he was the right choice for his daughter, and he didn't make the wrong decision by accepting the marriage proposal. Soon they headed for the castle gate, and Kealen felt a part of him was going far away.
He had to win her parents' trust as soon as possible to get started with the wedding arrangements.
Stepping out of the large castle, Liora looked back in longing, not at the castle but at a particular someone who had become a part of her life unknowingly. Both Kealan and Liora stared at each other once again before she entered her carriage.
Kealan ran towards Master Thalen and Matron Maerina. "
"Please grant me the permission to visit Ardentor. I will love to visit my fiancé and plan for the wedding arrangements."
The Ardentor's elders looked at each other, wondering what decision their leader would make. No one can get past Ardentor except if the gem is given to them as a pass into the kingdom.
They smiled at the prince's craftiness of quickly asking for a gem to pass.
Liora's fingers tightened around the carriage seat, breath catching as his voice drifted in. She leaned slightly toward the window, heart skipping a beat.
Isn't it moving too fast? she thought,not like she's against it, she hoped her father wouldn't kealan a hard time; she knew he was only being cautious after the stunt Gavin pulled.
Master Thalen studied Kealan's expression, and he could see the sincerity in his eyes. These were some of the things the healer could detect. He wondered why he never paid close attention to Gavin.
Matron Mearina gently locked her arms with her husband; to get his attention, she gave him a subtle smile. Before she turned her attention towards Prince Kealan.
"We will love to host you in our small town, Prince Kealan ; you are always welcome to see your fiancé."
Kealan put on a bright smile.
"Thank you, Ma Maerina."
"You may call me mother if you wish" ,Matron Maerina gave a gentle smile.
Kealan felt his heart thumping. He hadn't called anyone mother in nineteen years of his life. He gulped down as he tried saying the word; it left his mouth in a gentle whisper.
"Mother," he called out. Maerina felt her heart beam with happiness. She had seen his hesitation earlier, and she knew about the loss of his mother, yet she felt happy to hear him call her that. She moved towards him with a smile while giving him a gentle hug.
"Welcome to the family, Prince Kealan." She said before letting go and entering their carriage, Master Thalen strode towards him, giving him the gem as a pass, which had a special purple glow.
This was only given to family or special guests; this made Kealan smile.He watched as the carriage left, but something caught his eye: he saw Liora's peeping face.
He smiled, signaling her to keep her head back inside, which she returned by sticking out her tongue. Not knowing what to make of that he laughed at her childish behavior.
Standing there for a while before he
couldn't see them anymore, something was finally making him happy in this boring life of his.
Entering the castle with Dorian, he headed towards the wing of his mini castle, putting back on an unreadable expression. He caught sight of Queen Seraphina and Prince Gavin as they held a discussion, smiling as they walked hand in hand.
Getting closer to them, it was too late to ignore him; he gave a bow to the queen whilst staring blankly at Gavin.
The queen walked with confidence towards Kealan; her face held no emotions, as she always considered him nothing but a burden to her son, who should be on the throne. His mother wasn't a concubine, so he has equal rights to the throne as Gavin, something she detests.
"I hope you can keep your soon-to-be wife In check, since my son rejected her, she might want to find her way back as the crown prince's bride so she can be queen.
I don't want her flirting with two brothers now, especially not my son. Queen Seraphina gave him a look of detest.
" No one has crowned him crown prince yet, my queen." Kealan gave a chilly smile, making Queen Seraphina's eyes bulge hearing that.
Noticing her fear, he smiled.
"Not to worry, queen, I have no interest in the throne, but who knows, I might in the future come for it , and stay away from my Liora. It's a threat, my queen."
How dare you threaten my mother!!! Gavin roared in rage.
Gavin's eyes turned brighter, which only Kealen noticed; he was trying to manipulate his mind. He forgot he couldn't harm Kealen in his fit of rage.
He clenched his fist. Kealan's mind barrier was so strong that he wanted to control him to take up the soldier's sword next to him and harm himself.
But he couldn't control his mind. Kealan smirked before walking away with a deadly frown. That didn't pass the eyes of Queen Seraphina, who dragged her son all the way into her closed chamber.
"What was that?" She asked, panicking. I know when you want to use your powers on someone, and I know you tried doing it, but why didn't it work? Is something wrong with you?"she asked worriedly.
Gavin cleared everything on the table in his rage, making stuff break and leaving a loud noise. Thank goodness the queen's chamber is soundproof. Fine I can't harm him, he yelled.
Wh-what ... Queen Seraphina stammered, "What do you mean you can't harm him? It's not possible you are the most powerful in Vanycrest. You can do anything through your mind manipulation; it even works on the king. No one has ever escaped your powers, so why isn't it working on him? She half yelled, Since when did you notice?"
Gavin ruffled his hair. I noticed it since we were little kids.
"What.... Surprised at this revelation and how long he had known about it. So it means he knows a secret about you, and he could use it at his whim anytime he wants.
Do you notice any other powers from him? If he is powerless or not even half as powerful as you, then nothing can come between you and the throne.
Gavin sighed.
I haven't noticed any in him, Mother, but ever since Liora came into his life, he has been emanating this deadly aura, especially if she's been bad-mouthed or, worse, if he senses her life is in danger.