Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Inside his bedchamber, Slayer was awake, sitting on the bed with his back supported by pillows. 

Seeing his king visit him, he felt happy and did an awkward bow from his position. "Greetings, Your Majesty." If he could, he would have jumped out of the bed and kneeled on the ground to greet his king. 

"How are you now?"

"I am fine," he replied casually. A smile spread on his face. "Congratulations on your wedding, Your Majesty."

With a slight nod, Drayce accepted his best wishes, but now that Slayer mentioned the wedding, Drayce realized that something was off. How could it be possible that on his own wedding his best friend and the knight who had devoted his life for him would not be there with him on such an important day?

Even Slayer would feel sad if he, the guardian knight of the King of Megaris, couldn't be with his king to witness such an important milestone in his life. 

"Wait for me," Drayce said as he instructed his other knights to remain with Slayer. 

Drayce went to Erich Winfield who was talking with his apprentices outside of the chamber, and his ears just happened to catch their conversation.

The old physician was telling the two younger men, "We will leave once he is completely fine."

"Where will we go next, Master? Are we leaving Abetha or are we heading to the countryside?" one of his apprentices asked. They were used to roaming around different kingdoms, visiting not only cities but even small villages, not staying in one place for long to help patients in need.

"We are staying here," Erich Winfield informed and his apprentices felt surprised. 

"I do not mean the palace," the old man clarified, clearing their doubts." "We are staying here in Abetha. I have my own place to live." 

Before they could say anything, the two apprentices saw Drayce coming towards them and immediately bowed to him. As usual, Erich Winfield did not adhere to etiquette. When Drayce only silently stared at the physician, Erich Winfield gestured for his two apprentices to return inside the chamber. 

Only when they were left alone did Drayce talk. "I want to give him one more elixir." 

Erich Winfield frowned. "Last time, I told you that it might—"

"I have given two elixir pills to someone and that person is completely fine, even more energetic than a cheerful wild bunny."

The old man was not convinced. "I am telling you, even medicine can be poisonous if too much is taken."

Drayce remained unmoved. "I think these pills are different. They have no harmful side effects. Aside from its healing effects, it can also be treated as a health tonic."

Erich Winfield was equally stubborn, but since the patient's master obviously did not care for his expert opinion, he would let this young king suffer for his own ignorance. "If you are ready to take a risk then I have nothing more to say. Give it to my apprentice." 

The two returned inside the chamber. Erich Winfield was frowning the entire time with his arms crossed as he watched Drayce give one elixir pill to his apprentice.

After getting a go signal from the old physician, the young man mixed it with medicine and took it to Slayer. "Have it."

Slayer took the medicine without a word. Drayce could only hope he would get on his feet before his wedding as only a few days were left. 

After talking to Slayer for a while, Drayce left.

-------

After having an enjoyable morning meal, the two siblings spent some more time around the river before Cian mentioned his next plan for their day out. "Are you tired? If not, would you like to go explore the city? There are many attractions you should see, like the central square, the salons, and boutiques along the western district, the opera house... We can also shop around. I heard ladies love that. We can visit the marketplace together."

Hearing the word 'marketplace', the happiness making her eyes glow till now suddenly disappeared.

Cian noticed her change of mood and said, "Don't worry, I am with you this time. You have nothing to fear."

Hesitantly, she nodded and Cian took her back to the carriage. Cian knew she didn't have good memories of that place and before she left this kingdom, he wanted to replace those bad memories with good ones. He would make sure whenever she thought of her hometown, she would at least fondly remember her brother and the time spent with him in those memories.

It took a long ride to reach the marketplace. It was not an unpleasant experience for  Seren though, as it was like she was being toured all over the capital. She enjoyed the ride along the riverbank best since the roadside looked like a parade decorated with all kinds of beautiful flowers. 'This is the last time I am seeing this place.'

When the carriage stopped at the marketplace, Seren realized something and spoke in worry, "Brother, we forgot to get my hat and change into civilian clothes…"

Shaking his head, Cian smiled warmly at her. "No need. You are here as the Third Princess of Abetha. You don't need to hide from them. As subjects of this kingdom, it is their honor to see you." 

She felt nervous. 'What if they all run away after seeing me? I will only embarrass my brother.'

While she was worried about how the crowd would react in her presence, Cian had already stepped out of the carriage and offered her his hand to help her out.

Timidly, Seren came out of the carriage, tightly gripping her brother's hand as if trying to gain courage through it. She saw the people around had stopped whatever they were doing and already lowered their heads to pay their respect to them. No one dared to look at them or say a single word. 

The news of Cian beheading the assassin who spoke ill of his sister in front of the entire royal court had long spread among the general populace. Such a bloody act in front of all the royal court ministers and the king himself had created a shadow in the hearts of the people, some even fearing that Cian would turn into a tyrant once he was crowned in the future. With such a reputation,  people with even the slightest common sense would not ask for death. They feared that if any of them were to say or do anything wrong, offensive or disrespectful towards the Third Princess, they would be punished. Moreover, the Crown Prince himself had brought her here, which meant she was a precious person to him. 

Though they didn't like the witch, no one would let go of a chance to be in the good book of the Crown Prince himself. As the two siblings walked around the streets, Cian asked, "What do you want to buy?"

"Nothing," she replied calmly. 

"But I want to buy something for you," he said. He then took a look at the nearby stores and brought her to a jewelry shop. 

Being royals, they lacked for nothing but it was his wish to take his sister out and buy something for her. Maybe in the past, she must have wished that someone from her family would pamper or spoil her, even if just for a while.