CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
TANYA'S POV
That night, after King Adrian's welcoming ceremony, I could not sleep peacefully.
Something felt wrong.
The feeling sat heavily inside my chest like a warning from the ancestors themselves.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed me.
And then I dreamed.
In my dream, my pregnancy was almost at its final stage.
My belly was large, and Daniel refused to leave my side.
We were walking beside a beautiful river, our fingers intertwined.
Daniel's arm rested around my waist protectively as we talked about our unborn child.
"What name do you want?" Daniel asked softly.
I smiled.
"What if it's a girl?"
He laughed.
"Then she will be as stubborn as her mother."
I hit his arm lightly.
"And if it's a boy?"
Daniel looked down thoughtfully.
"Then I hope he has your courage."
My heart warmed.
For a moment, life felt perfect.
Peaceful.
Happy.
The kind of future I had always dreamed about.
Eventually, my legs became tired.
Daniel immediately noticed.
"Rest for a moment," he said gently.
He helped me sit on a large stone near the river.
"I'll bring the horse. We left it near the trees."
I nodded.
"Don't take long."
"I won't."
He kissed my forehead before walking away.
I watched him disappear among the trees.
Then—
I heard footsteps.
Slow.
Careful.
Almost silent.
Someone was approaching from behind.
A strange fear crawled into my heart.
I tried to turn around.
But it was too late.
Strong hands grabbed me violently.
I screamed.
And froze.
King Adrian.
His eyes were filled with hatred.
"Your Majesty?" I whispered in shock.
His expression hardened.
"You wicked woman!"
Before I could speak, he dragged me toward the river.
"You bewitched my son!"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"No—"
"You made him abandon everything for you!"
His voice thundered through the air.
"You are the reason my kingdom suffered from the deadly sickness."
My heart dropped.
"That isn't true!"
"You killed your uncle."
"You destroyed lives."
"You brought nothing but misfortune."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Please listen to me—"
But he refused.
His face twisted with anger.
"At first I accepted you because I believed it was Daniel's fate."
His voice became colder.
"But after learning who you truly were before becoming a witch, everything became clear."
My entire body trembled.
"You made my son fall in love with you as part of your revenge."
"No!" I cried.
"You are using him."
He pointed toward the river.
"And as a king..."
His voice shook.
"And as a father..."
He looked at me with finality.
"This is the only way to save my son."
Before I could defend myself—
He pushed me.
Splash!
The freezing water swallowed me instantly.
I struggled desperately.
The river was deeper than it looked.
The current dragged me downward.
"Daniel!"
I screamed for help.
My fingers found a small root hanging from the riverbank.
I clung to it desperately.
Then I saw someone standing above.
Prince Raymond.
Relief flooded me.
"Help me!"
I begged.
"Please!"
But Raymond only smiled.
A cold smile.
A smile that terrified me.
Without a word—
He stepped forward and crushed the root beneath his foot.
My heart stopped.
Then suddenly—
He pushed King Adrian into the river.
The king shouted as he disappeared into the water.
I stared at Raymond in horror.
Chaos erupted around me.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the forest.
"TANYA!"
Daniel.
He appeared at the riverbank.
His face filled with panic.
He looked between me and his father.
Both of us were drowning.
For a moment—
He froze.
I could see the agony in his eyes.
He did not know who to save first.
My heart shattered for him.
"Daniel!"
I cried.
"Save your father!"
His eyes widened.
"Tanya—"
"He is human!"
Tears streamed down my face.
"He won't survive long!"
"But you—"
"Please!"
I knew how much King Adrian meant to him.
I would not let Daniel carry that guilt forever.
Then suddenly—
Dark wind exploded across the river.
The Queen appeared.
Without hesitation, she rescued King Adrian.
Daniel immediately dove into the water toward me.
His arms wrapped around me protectively.
And everything went dark.
I woke up screaming.
My body was drenched in sweat.
My heart hammered painfully inside my chest.
It was only a dream.
Just a dream.
But it felt real.
Too real.
I turned toward Daniel's side of the bed.
Empty.
My heart skipped.
"Daniel?"
There was no answer.
I quickly left the chamber.
After searching for several minutes, I finally found him.
He was standing in a corner of the covenant speaking quietly with Jerry.
The former royal bodyguard looked serious.
Daniel looked worried.
A bad feeling settled inside me.
The next morning, I noticed something strange.
King Adrian and Prince Raymond spent most of the day together.
Walking.
Talking.
Laughing.
The sight made me uncomfortable.
I couldn't explain why.
Later, King Adrian gathered everyone together.
"I want to thank all of you for welcoming me," he said warmly.
The witches nodded respectfully.
Then he turned toward the Queen.
"I have only one request."
Everyone fell silent.
The Queen nodded.
"Speak."
King Adrian looked toward Daniel.
"Please don't make him abandon me."
For a brief moment, sadness flashed across his face.
The Queen smiled gently.
"Daniel will always be your son."
The king seemed relieved.
Yet something still felt wrong.
Before King Adrian's departure, I prepared several gifts for him.
When I approached him, I forced a smile.
"These are for you, Your Majesty."
He accepted them politely.
But something had changed.
He did not smile.
He did not meet my eyes.
Not once.
The warmth he showed me in his kingdom was gone.
Completely gone.
"I hope Daniel and I can continue visiting you," I said softly.
King Adrian remained silent.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
I stood frozen.
My chest tightened painfully.
Something was terribly wrong.
Immediately, I went to see the Queen.
After listening carefully, she frowned.
"I noticed it too."
My stomach dropped.
"You did?"
She nodded.
"Raymond is influencing King Adrian."
Her expression darkened.
"Whatever he is planning... it is dangerous."
Fear gripped my heart.
"What should we do?"
"We warn the king before it is too late."
I left immediately to find Daniel.
Instead, I found him arguing with King Adrian.
The moment I arrived, I stopped walking.
King Adrian's voice was filled with anger.
"You've changed!"
Daniel looked shocked.
"Father—"
"You only listen to that little witch now."
My heart stopped.
The words hit harder than any spell.
King Adrian pointed angrily toward the covenant.
"You have turned against everyone because of her."
Daniel tried to explain.
But the king refused to listen.
Standing there, hidden from their sight, I finally understood.
The warning had come too late.
Prince Raymond had already poisoned King Adrian's mind.
And judging by the hatred in the king's voice...
I was no longer welcome in his family.
END OF CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX