The sun had already set down when Anne came in to take care of Reina's needs upon Orion's orders.
The physician of the estate who was responsible for treating the servants was sent to check on her health.
"There are no life-threatening issues regarding her health. Just slightly feverish with a minor cold. Please give her the remedies I have suggested. It will be cured overnight."
"Thank you for your time. Alex escort him to the entrance."
"Yes, commander."
"My lord the vet has treated the cub. He asks for his payment." A servant entered the room.
"Take this pouch and give it to him. And remember the hush money. Make sure that not a word is to go out of this room."
"Understood, my lord."
"Mmmm...Anne?"
-"She woke up...!"
"Your maid has-!" His eyes widened upon looking at her.
"I-is something wrong my lord?"
"Your hair...what happened?"He was left awestruck by her unusual appearance.
"My hair?" She looked at her hair that was flowing on the bed.
-"It turned black!!!?"
"What's happening?" She looked at the wall mirror as her eyes slowly changed colors from silver to green.
"Who exactly are you?"
--------------------
The Royal Palace...
"Lord Azriel?"
"Your highness? I greet the mother of the kingdom Lucrezia von Atlanta."
"Oh please drop the formalities, my Lord. What important business has pulled you back to this place?"
"Well, there are plenty of rumors about a certain incident. I am here to confirm if they are true."
"What might be these rumors you talk about?" She inquired him.
He hesitated slowly looking around the garden.
"I understand. Shall we go to the royal family's lounge area?"
"As you wish."
They walked to the second floor of the palace into the lounge. It was filled with elegant white and gold furniture which reflected the dazzling sunlight with white and blue decorations.
"You can tell me comfortably Lord Azriel.",
" Sigh*she never let's go of critical information."
"Currently two rumors are going about in the palace and knights order."
"I have plenty of time on my hands." She sipped her tea immediately evading him.
"Some people say they sighted. the 'Tear of Destruction'."
"Wha-!Cough*Cough*"
"Are you alright your highness?" He rose and offered her was and a handkerchief.
"Cough*Y-yes pardon my manners. Ahem! I am fine. Please continue."
"...And the other is that Nethilorian troops tried to break in from the southern borders."
"Again? First, it was the northern borders, then the west line. Each time they failed miserably."
"They never know when to give up."
"My head. I might die out of depression one of these days." She put down the cup of tea rubbing her head.
"Please don't die early my queen. Or else those 'fiends' will be set loose and destroy our precious homeland with their desires."
"Pfft as usual you have a great sense of humor Azriel." She giggled.
"No wonder Sebastian has become like you. He has been following in your footsteps. I am ever grateful to you for making him into a fine young man who I can be proud of. He sees you as a fatherly figure."
"You praise me too much," he replied.
"If only his brother would have done the same thing. I would need to worry about the other one."
-"He has lost it since she left this world. What can I do to make him acknowledge me? I have been doing everything in my power to bring him on the right track. They both are troublesome children. And they are equally important to me."
"Sigh*"
"It time for the meeting your highness. Let me escort you to the conference room." Azriel offered her.
"No, I am not feeling well right now. Please attend the meeting without me. And please inform his majesty about it."
"Then I will leave here. Take care, your majesty."He left the room silently closing the four behind him.
"Azriel would it hurt to call out my name when we are together for once?"She looked at the elegantly carved ceiling.
" She has been carrying all of the burdens alone. Please don't overwork yourself, Queen Lucrezia."
Descending the flights of steps he spotted a familiar figure standing in the main hall looking out of the window. His arms folded near his chest leaning against the wall. He turned his head back in the direction where Azriel strode.
"Lord Nirvana?"
"Young Lord?! You are here as well?"
"We do run into each other a lot."
"It seems like it." He replied looking around.
"Have the others been summoned as well?"
"I am not so sure. I don't see anyone around the palace except for the servants."
"I agree."He looked around the hallway and outside the window."
"How is the training camp going on your side?"
"I am quite impressed with your students this year Lord Nirvana. As expected of the General Commander."
"You have trained yours well. I see progress worthy of becoming a royal knight."
"I learned it from my mentor." He smiled.
"You...have grown up well young prince." He patted his arm.
-"He as tall as I am now. Or perhaps a bit more."
He looked at Sebastian remembering the time he spent together.
He put his hand on his right eye trying to feel it.
"Does that eye still hurt? Don't touch it too much."
"The pain...it is painful from time to time. Sometimes I can feel it throbbing, a weird sensation I feel on the right side. And often hurts after a certain period. Sometimes the pain suddenly disappears. I am unsure of the cause."
"Strange...It hurts but only at a specific period."He wondered rubbing his chin with his forefinger out of habit.
"His highness the crowned prince has arrived."
"My lords, please enter."
"What's going on where is the king? Why are is it only us?" He looked around once more to pick a hint of at least one member of the council.
"Only Charles? Where is that damn old geezer?"
"Please watch your words, your highness. He is your father. You cannot deny it."Azriel cautioned him as they entered the conference room.
" I request you not to call me 'that', "Sebastian said feeling unpleasant, being addressed like royalty.
"Sigh* What does he want this time?"