Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Though initially, Seren was reluctant to have him around her, but as they kept visiting new places and meeting with strangers along their journey, his presence was a comfort to her. For years, she had always been alone in her tower, and although she was curious about the unfamiliar and was silently soaking in the experience, she could not remove her wariness and discomfort when being around people. With that red-eyed man, she felt at least he wouldn't hurt her. 

Seeing the queen dazed, Eva tried to distract her with things she heard from the butler. "Your Majesty, I heard from the servants here that one of the best things offered by their city is their market here. Since this is a merchant city trading with Abetha, many interesting goods from Griven and Megaris could be found here. They say the market here is one of the largest in the continent, where many people and merchants from different places come here to buy various things."

Seren just nodded, remembering her experiences in the marketplace in the capital of Abetha. Countless people both young and old, streets lined up with shops and boutiques, hawkers on the roadside selling their wares… She could barely imagine how bigger the crowd would be in a merchant city. 

A sudden thought came to her mind. 'I couldn't run away during the night. Should I try it during the day when we go to the market to shop? If I fail this time, I will give up on running away at least for some time. It's so frustrating that I couldn't succeed even once despite trying so many times.'

As her thoughts wandered, the sound of approaching footsteps alerted her. Seren understood that it was Drayce. 

Realizing their king had arrived, Seren left the balcony and returned to the bed. Eva and Marie bowed to Seren. "Good night, Your Majesty."

Seren replied to them with a slight nod. The two excused themselves after Drayce entered the room, closing the door behind them as they left. 

Drayce looked at Seren who looked deep in thought. Knowing her by now, he was sure she must be busy hatching a new escape plan in her mind. 

"Are you not sleepy, my Queen?" he asked as he put his sword in the stand and started to remove his outer robe. 

Seren averted her sight from him as she knew what he would do next—remove his clothes and change into his night robe. She would always look away whenever he would start undressing. Drayce had brushed aside this behavior for the past two days, but now he wished to tease her. 

"My Queen, please help me change my clothes."

Seren thought she had heard him wrong and raised her head to stare at him. The two of them gazed at each other in silence. 

Drayce could see the unspoken question in her eyes. "I want my Queen to help me change my clothes today."

She blinked a few times in disbelief, 'Changing clothes in front of others is not enough, now he even wants me to help him. Won't he feel embarrassed if I see him without clothes?'

"Your Majesty, It would be inappropriate for me to—"

"It's a wife's duty to help her husband. Didn't they teach you in Abetha?" he asked, turning his body to fully face her as if he's telling her that he's waiting for her to start her wifely duty. 

Seren blinked as she thought back on the night before her wedding.

'Martha said that I should be a good wife and listen to my husband. Never should I do anything to anger him and what not but she didn't tell me I have to help him change his clothes. She even told me something about marriage consu… consumption, was it? Do I need to eat something after I turn eighteen? I don't understand what it is as she didn't explain, saying I will know once I come of age. But how come she didn't tell me I have to help him change clothes? Does he think I am his servant to help him with this?'

"I am waiting," she heard him again. 

Seren climbed down from the bed and went to him as she had no other choice. Her pout was something Drayce could not see behind her veil.

Standing in front of him, she felt dwarfed by the difference in their heights.

Drayce was taller than the average man, and Seren was shorter than an average woman. The top of her head reached up until his chin only, as such, standing like this, she could only stare at his chest. 

She looked at his attire—a layer of black robes she learned to be the type of clothing worn by people of Megaris. At this moment, she was looking at the outer royal-looking robe, not sure what she needed to do. It did not have buttons, nor were there laces or ribbons. She then raised her head to meet his gaze.

The way she looked up at him, to Drayce, she looked like an adorable little kitten. Those purple eyes were staring at him as she blinked, asking a question of how and what to do, expecting him to instruct her step by step. He was lost in those beautiful eyes for a moment, almost thinking of taking her in his embrace, but his thoughts were disturbed by her sudden question. 

"How to take it off?"

Drayce looked at the nightgown she was wearing which had an outer robe too. "Let me explain by removing your robe." 

As he said those words, he moved his hand towards her waist that had a robe strap knotted around it. She stepped back, feeling all flustered. 

'Shameless! How many times has he removed my clothes when I was unconscious, and now he wants to do it when I am wide awake? Such poor teaching he got! To think he calls himself a king! Who made him King even?'

"I will figure it out on my own," she said, turning defensive as she observed his robe.

Drayce stood quietly, ready to enjoy his time with his innocent wife.