Ares stared at the Queen with hesitant eyes and she only gave him a sweet but sinister smile. She twirled her long red-polished fingernails on the ends of her short, azure hair- curling them. Ares stared at the Queen's spiral irises. She didn't really look human."Mhm?" Queen Eurydice called for his attention, beckoning at him to resume what he was about to tell her. Ares stared back, unfazed. Though Eurydice found him uncomfortable when he looked too intently at her, she endured it. "How powerful are you?" were the first words Ares blurted out. There was curiosity gleaming in the male's eyes. "I believe you had your eyes peeled on me the entire time I was showing them off. I'll hear your estimates." she casually replied, knowing that if she replied with a concrete answer, their conversation would be cut short. She wanted to spend a little time bullying Ares. Moreover, she was curious about how he thought of her. 'Surely he must be shaking on his knees, isn't he?' Eurydice evilly
A series of loud, continuous knocks awoke Ares from his sleep. The commoner jerked his head and groaned as he slowly received the door. His head was throbbing from last night's ordeal. After going through that dizzying void created by the Queen, he's had a sharp headache that accompanied him the entire night.He dragged his feet to the door and opened it.There, he found a maid staring at him with huge eyes and blushing cheeks. She was pushing a trolley with his breakfast. The maid stuttered, enthralled by his dashing features."I-I brought your meals, Sir!"The male's vibrant golden eyes turned to the maid. "Thank you," he reached out to the trolley's handle and slowly pushed the cart inside his room. The maid panicked. She was supposed to carry his food inside.When the two turned around, their jaws dropped to the floor.Queen Maximillia Eurydice was sitting on Ares's bed, a dainty smile on her face while her legs were crossed. The maid turned pale, and the blush from her face faded
Prince Herbert, a prince of the South, did not see that the day would come when Her Radiance would ask him for a meal. Flowers bloomed in the prince's brain as he imagined the Queen and him, sharing a table in a beautiful pavilion. Just staring at each other's eyes and slowly melting into the harmonious melody of the music that played in the background. A visible blush spread from a prince's face and his cheerful, flirtatious behavior soon tottered. "Mhm?" the Queen tilted her head, waiting for his answer. But the truth was, she was merely using it as a disguise to take a glance at Ares who had been staring at them with nasty eyes on the corner of the hall. His head bobbled to hide and she smiled victoriously. "Of course," Prince Herbert took her request graciously. "Are we eating alone?"She pretended to give him an interested look and nodded. "I'd love that." The queen wrapped her arms around the prince's and off they went, leaving the unknowing commoner alone. Ares peeked in th
Ares, Icarai, and Prince Herbert locked eyes.The prince glances at Ares, who stares at him with a narrow, conceited look. “Icarai. Who is this man?”Icarai strictly looked at Ares, letting him know that he was not allowed to speak. It’d only bring trouble if his mouth were to go haywire. Eurydice is not in the mood to make introductions better, like what happened to Prince Xavier the other day. “The Queen’s acquaintance.” “An acquaintance?” Prince Herbert faced Ares and stretched out a hand. “I am Herbert Irvan of Elyseis.” Ares shook his hand but didn’t tell him his name. The prince looked at Icarai, who only responded with an excuse.“This man here is not permitted to speak by the Queen.” “What?” Herbert was questionable. “Is he a bad man?”“No. He’s just...” Icarai leaned and whispered: “...rude. Therefore, she had requested him to keep his mouth shut whenever he was in the Palace. To avoid trouble, you see.” The prince nodded. “I see. If she intends to keep such an acquaint
The dressmaker was browsing through the newspapers when he heard the bells chime. With a frustrated face, he turned to the door and yelled: “I told you! No business today! It’s Sunday, for heaven’s sake!”“My, my, what a rude way to greet your customers, Mister Sweedle,” the Queen crossed her arms as Ares closed the door behind him. The dressmaker went pale upon seeing Eurydice enter his store, even with a huge ‘closed’ sign. Eurydice tapped her feet on the wooden boards while carrying a dissatisfied face. “I didn’t know I was so... unwelcomed.”“Oh no! My bad, Your Radiance!” he got onto his knees and pressed his forehead against the floor, hoping she would forgive him. “As long as it’s you, anytime is okay.”“Oh really? As I heard earlier, you seem to be suggesting the opposite.”The dressmaker did not know what to do! He wanted the Earth to swallow him alive and all his embarrassments! Eurydice sighed. “Enough yammering,” she shrugged her shoulders. “I want you to make this per
Eurydice's eyes were blazing and furious, her heart itching to dismember her assassins. They were very weak, yes, but what fouled her mood was that she couldn't get to enjoy her company with Ares because she had considered them. The hooded men scampered on the wet ground, slowly scooting their buttocks back from the approaching Queen. Eurydice's hands were dying to blast them to smithereens, leaving not a speck of dust behind. Their eyes trembled, and their joints refused to move. Dread loomed them as they realized there was no chance for sparing. They dropped their rusty knives to the ground while screaming at her to forgive them, but Eurydice was slowly becoming blinded by darkness. Her eyes were filled with malice and destruction the idea resonated with her body. She aimed her palms at one of their skulls. The man closed his eyes as sweat dropped his forehead. "I suppose you're the first to die.""Eurydice," a firm voice called. Ares grabbed her palm and aimed it at his own ches
Eurydice watched as the orchid-coloured fishes swarmed around her, nibbling her silky legs. She brushed her fingers through the water as if trying to touch the moon reflected. The pond was not very shallow. Sometimes, she would jump into the waters below, trying to drown herself when no one was around. She would close her eyes and allow the darkness to consume her, but then, as always, her servants would find and pull her.One time, there was absolutely no one who came. She had expected that, finally, the time had come for her to die. She waited until she was out of breath, but it never happened. She couldn't die. Not even nature could kill her now. Even Death was doubtful about taking her. Neither heaven nor hell awaits her. She remembered her responsibilities and her little brother when she rose from the water. After that, she never attempted again.She felt like a fool. Though her demons whispered in her ear to jump and join the fishes, her body refused. Not yet, she said. 'It's
The four princes who completed the Trials happened to find each other in the Palace's vast front yards. The maids sparingly glanced at them and squealed as the dashing nobles walked under the bright sun. They were so astoundingly charming that even the married women gawked over the walking men.The princes had woken up early to stretch and jog. Some of them took this as an opportunity to go around the Palace, which they have been unable to do for the past few days. Poor royalties had to review paperwork and attend to business matters even if they were away from their countries.The castle grounds were endless; for some unknown reason- they all found themselves intersecting at one place simultaneously. Prince Yue, Prince Herbert, Prince Kael, and Prince Xavier all looked at one another with awkward faces.Prince Yue, who came all the way from the East, turned right as if he had not seen a single shadow of any of the princes. Between the four of them, Prince Yue was most passive and obs
Icarai, Desalogia, and the Queen returned home at midnight. Eurydice was still on her carriage. Her eyes were drooping, as she had lacked sleep and a hearty dinner. She had also used a great amount of magic power at the last minute, which caused her body to be even more fatigued. The navigator in charge of maneuvering the carriage was hesitant to wake the Queen up. The navigator decided to visit the other carriage, where Prince Desalogia was transported. When he peered into his window, the prince was still awake and about to light a cigar. "What?" the cold, stoic male asked him with an irritated look."My prince, could I please trouble you to wake up Her Radiance? She's sleeping, and it is cold outside."Desalogia huffed and rolled his eyes before exiting his carriage. He headed towards the Queen's transport and peeked to find Her Radiance's vulnerable status. Her head rested on the cushion, her lips agape, and her hair was a bushy mess. "Where is her room?""S-Shall I have Icarai
"T-The Queen!"Morale was boosted just by the presence of Her Radiance. For a second back there, they thought they were doomed, as they were in no way getting the upper hand without an offensive magic unit. Only the Queen was capable of casting such high spells that could cause the retreatment of the enemy. Eurydice was only a mere split second away from having Fontana's Gates destroyed.If that were to happen, the Tiberyans' invasion would surely become a reality.King Tiberyon was careful to not move. He would have Eurydice's claw lodged in his throat if he did. And that would lead him to poisoning. It would be a lame way to die before the eyes of his soldiers. This was King Tiberyon's greatest deployed army yet. And now, it still came to a stop, just as always. He expected this to happen. Eurydice was a tough royal to fight.She was unlike the former king. King Maxmillian was more focused on maintaining peace and trade. But after the
Desalogia was waiting at the entrance when Eurydice's caravan arrived. They finally reached the end of the gates and hopped down from their stallions, Lumiere and Noir. Ares's eyes caught Desalogia's. The prince was smoking with his servants. A maid from the Palace was behind them, convincing the prince to avoid smoking as the Queen did not like the smell of it, but Desalogia didn't pay attention. When the Queen composed herself and stretched her slender limbs into the air, she sniffed the smoke from Desalogia's cigarette and coughed. Her spiral eyes focused on the prince, who only smirked at her and looked back at the sky, ignoring her. "That rascal," she grumbled and covered her little nose with her palms before rolling her eyes. Icarai, who was beside the Queen, took a deep breath. He didn't really want to talk to the prince."What are you waiting for?" Eurydice's brows ascended for a bit. "Go tell him." Ares stopped Icarai from going. He smiled, "I'll go if you're too nervous.
The Queen entered the young prince's cozy bedroom. She had noticed that Siv's treehouse now had a glass ceiling that allowed him to see the stars beyond. The young prince was cuddling his pillows when his sister arrived inside. He turned his head to the side and gave her a sleepy smile."Do you want me to read you a story?" she asked him while sitting on the mattress and stroking his pale, blonde hair. The young prince shook his head."I'm too old for that."Eurydice chuckled daintily, "You're never old for a story."Eurydice stared at her little brother and realized how big he had gotten. Ares and Siv were correct about him. She didn't have to protect Erron so crazily like that. But Eurydice was afraid she'd break her promise to th
When Ares discovered the Queen's illness, he was left with many questions that he knew would never find answers to in the near future. The male played with the young prince despite being distracted. While the two were splashing water in the river, Ares pretended to smile and laugh, but deep inside, he felt rather melancholic about Eurydice's hidden illness. Shortly during their playtime, Eurydice joins them on the river in her bare feet. Eurydice is used to being barefoot. After all, she hates wearing shoes and prefers feeling the roughness of stone on her soles. She likes how it feels. For her, it is the closest thing to pain. "Yay!" the young prince ran towards her sister. "You're here! Are you finally playing with us?""Siv told me to wash my ankles with the water," she told him with a gentle smile and poked the young prince's nose. "Are you having fun with Rockman?"Ares looked away, blushing. Why did he have to adapt to that silly nickname? "Yes, yes! Rockman agreed to train m
While the girls were having their heart-to-heart conversation, Ares spent his time with the young prince in a nearby river. The two sat on a boulder while holding an odd, grimy creature that the prince had somehow caught. Ares inspected what it was, but he couldn't really tell its race. The only thing he realized about the prince's pet was that it was adorable."Here!" Erron stretched his arms to him. "Hold her for me!" Ares offered his huge palms and carried the creature, which almost slipped from his fingers. The creature closed its eyes, savoring the male's warm palms, and slept."Hehe!" the young prince giggled. "She likes you!" "It's just sleeping," Ares replied while looking at it."Not this one," The prince goofily grinned at the commoner. "My big sister, I mean."Ares lowered his eyes, a little embarrassed, "She would be upset if she heard you say that." "Eh?" Erron pouted. "My big sister never gets mad at me. The only time I saw her get mad was..." the prince closed his mo
The treehouse was the largest tree in the Enchanted Forest. It was the possession of the Faerie King before he handed it over to the Moon Witch for purification after he found discrepancies in the tree's purity. The Faerie King told her to keep it as her reward and she has since lived in the tree and cultivated it to be her very own safe spot.The young prince was with Ares on a small river while Siv treated the poison on Eurydice's wound. The Queen did not feel any of it which made her condition even worse than it is. How would she know there was poison if no one told her?"You look horrible. Have you not slept?" Eurydice saw the dark circles appearing in the Witch's eyes."I was worried that you took the other entrance," the Witch told her. "I was wondering what took you so long. Turns out you were jus
The Queen's whining brought different creatures to peek. As she continued hitting Ares with her small fists in the back, the male ventured deeper into the jungle where he would see a smoke rising above. Ares paced his eyes around and found the dwellers of the Enchanted Forest peeking from behind the tree trunks or bushes, just looking.Faeries giggled as they concealed themselves behind leaves. Eurydice narrowed her crimson eyes to them and they immediately stopped laughing. They knew who Eurydice was but they didn't recognize her as Queen. The Faeries have their own leader, and they belong to the Fae's court. Therefore, Eurydice had no control over them.However, despite their lack of social relationship, the faeries still fear the Queen of Fontana, for she was a wyvern. A creature so powerful it deserved to be feared. Draconic Ascendance: The King Selection
The Enchanted Forest, a specific chain of mountains that surround the terrain of Fontana, protecting it from hurricanes and making it harder for enemies to attack the kingdom. The Enchanted Forest is a haven for mysterious beings that reside in Fontana and beasts that no one would dare challenge. These said beasts are the very reason why most enemies do not engage in fights or infiltrate Fontana.Legends tell that once you get lost in the Enchanted Forest, you'll never leave without a story. You'll be sure to meet faes, dwarves, and tree nymphs along the way. Many treasures lie in the deep jungle areas of the Enchanted Forest. There rest thousands of invaluable trinkets that offer great power to those who wield them and faunas that may be used as herbs that could heal any sort of injury.This part of Fontana is in the care of the Queen's childhood friend,Enchanted Forest