"How are you doing, Lady Hero? " Lona lifted her head and gazed at the Queen, who was only a foot or two away from her, herself and Vora as they enjoyed the carriage ride.
"Well. I wouldn't wish for any more comfort. "Lona spoke yet, it was pure awkward silence for a while until Vora spoke up.
"How has Your Highness been? "Vora rang out the words yet, immediately regretted it as she saw the pained look of the Queen's beautiful face. "I'm sorry your Highness-"
"No, no it's fine. It's just that nothing really worthwhile happens in my life. I don't mean to boast but being Queen to a hundred thousand or more people is a bit exhausting. "Lona smirked internally as she understood the stresses of daily life when one simply wishes to get by to the next day. "Hm? Something the matter, Lady Hero? "
Lona blushed internally and for the first time, thanked her condition for the simple fact that her naughty thoughts didn't show up on her face when being caught staring at the Queen who could potentially have her executed should she misstep.
"Yes… this land. This world is very unique. "Lona simply blurted what was on her mind and it paid off as the two now had a wide range of topics to talk about. "I wish I could still remember about my old one. "
"Well, there is always that saying: "live for the present". "Lona raised her brows as she looked at the Queen. "My husband usually says that so I thought it would help. "
"Hm. It did, thank you My Queen. For your words of encouragement, I dare hope I don't get in any trouble when I say I am envious of His Majesty having such a capable and beautiful wife. "Lona's eyes remained trained on the Queen as in her Highness eyes, there was a flicker, a glint in a split moment until Lona turned away and stared with an empty expression out at the vast and open landscape slowly passing them by as it had been a few hours since they had left the main city.
The Queen gulped as she stared intently toward Lona as the guilt of causing her life to be shattered was personal and draining as no matter where the Queen goes, there are people who gossip behind her back about the royal family and the courts that recklessly authorized a Summoning without first doing some tests. The news spread fast and the damage was done.
However, the Queen may have been ruthless back in her younger days yet, now as Queen, her youthful glow is only the result of her overwhelming magic power. Even with having all in the world and a husband who has given her the world, the Queen has never failed in obtaining the most in life and succeeded in every aspect be it war, royalties, or anything in between.
And yet, only a foot before her, sits a beautiful hero who she had also participated in agreeing to summon her and ruined her whole life by crippling her from using her magic power forever. Queen inky looked at Lona and then to Vora as she had requested the information about her magic be kept. Secret in the entire palace. Only herself, Vora, another healer, and Lady Hero's maid know of her true condition.
Seeing the first failure in her life, it had monstrous afflictions and now, she would do anything to make it right even if she had to spend the rest of her life to fix it.
However, unknown to the two, Lona doesn't even believe in magic or the fact that she had remembered how she died but only in fragments and is still piecing the bits together in her head. Behind that incident, Lona believed that the royal family had nothing to do with her initial injuries. She was going to clear up the misunderstanding when they arrived wherever they were heading.
~
"Your Highness, we have arrived at Port Town Nova Pine. "Stepping out, Lona followed the Queen and Vora as the three stepped onto a bumpy, brown cobblestone road.
Lona looked in awe at the old Victorian-style-like homes and buildings as she wondered where she had seen something similar to them somewhere before. In her astonishment, the Queen and Vora had made their way to a rather well known and prestigious inn that was known to all across the land as being one of the most expensive just to spend the night. And they were planning on staying for three days and three nights.
"Lady Hero-"One of the armed guards spoke to Lona. However, Lona was so passionately invested in her surroundings that the guard could only hold back a smile at the purity in the woman's one good eye.
"Lona! Come on! "Vora's voice echoed as Lona snapped from her daze and turned to make her way toward the two.
"Well, I book the entire building just for us girls. So, what do you think? "The Queen asked as she glanced toward Lona, only to be devastated at Lona's indifferent mask.
"I think it is very good. Not many inns would let just anyone rent their entire building for a few days… eh, pardon me, Your Highness, I got ahead of myself there. "Lona glanced and turned her head to see the Queens smile, though, Lona's heart tugged as she felt her smile was a little forced.
"Is it alright if I may speak with the two of you. "Lona's voice captured their undivided attention. "I have a bit of news to share if that is alright. "
~
"So, you mean… you were in some accident and when you were on the brink of death, the summoning array brought you here? "The Queen was baffled beyond belief as she felt in her heart a right chain slowly unravel.
"Interesting. Had we been a few minutes late, you could have perished before we even had the chance to summon you. Oh dear, then. That means that the Summoning array does not discriminate and may bring anyone of any age or shape from your world. Your Highness, please excuse my abruptness, I must report to the guild hall and warn the elders of this news. "
Viral left and it was just Lona and the Queen.
"I-In… in all honesty, Lady Hero. I am glad you revealed this information though, I am saddened you were in such a state in the first place. I have been struggling with this guilt for the past few days and it turns out to be a misunderstanding. However, I promise you, this won't change the fact that we will care for you and anything you might need. "Lona's one eye flickered as she then felt a familiar yet unfamiliar jolt surge throughout her body. "L-Lady Hero? "
"Will you keep true to your words? "Lona was cornering the Queen yet, the Queen only confirmed and in that moment, Lona's entire being weighed heavily in the grand room. "Then, My lovely and fair Queen, in response to 'anything', I want to request what is right before me. "
"L-Lady Her-hm?!? "Lona's lips had locked onto the Queens in an instant. Instincts surged and magical power boiled yet, the Queen's shock left her speechless as her powers did not work on Lona when she bound her wrists in her hands. "H-How…. Mmm… how are you resistant to my powers?! "
"Who knows… is it a bad thing… it doesn't take a genius to see that you are already hard right 'here' and 'there'. "The Queen's blushing face turned to terror and a flash of passing pleasure at the way Lona stared at her body. At present, she felt like a small animal at the mercy of a wild beast. One more frighteningly hungry and starving than even her own husband had ever been. He who has toppled nations and taken down rival Kings and Warlords alike.
Suddenly, while Lona was reaching her hand towards the Queens legs, the door abruptly opened and Lona and the Queen blinked in wonder.
"Hey, what did I miss? "Vora walked up and took a seat between the awkward two.
Lona's two eyes had been glimmering in unison yet, the moment Vora entered, some sort of illusion broke and the Queen and Lona returned to reality. Lona' eye dimmed and returned back to how it was before. At that moment, the Queen's emerald colored eyes scanned Lona and found her silently sitting straight in her seat, with an indifferent face, almost as if she had not moved from there in the past couple of seconds. Glancing down at herself, nothing was out of place besides the tingling sensation on her lips.
"Y-Yes, you didn't miss much. "The Queen spoke first and chalked it up to just a daydream or something of the same that she had been in. Although, throughout the evening, the Queen would consciously glance toward Lona from time to time.
Lona sat and remained as she always did, yet inside her mind, she was screaming in a panic because she was sure she had tasted the Queens lips on her own. Whether it was a dream or something else, Lona was certain that what had happened, that was not her but someone entirely else. Someone who craves intimacy. Then, Lona's one eye flickered and she recalled the night before with Sen.
Sen had been staying in her room because of cramps. However, Sen looked differently when she hesitated and flinched as she climbed the adjacent carriage and I caught sight of her. Her face showed a light blush when our eyes met but she instantly turned and went into her carriage before we had left.
'No way!? What if she and I… wait! Maybe if I ask her to remember her dream last night. Hmm… I must confirm this ridiculous idea. 'Lona thought as she then excused herself and found her way to Sen in the adjacent room. Sitting alone in her rooming an elegant and noble posture, before Lona could speak, she glanced at Son's seat and saw several fluffy blankets separating her body from the hardwood chair.
"Oh, Mistress, is something the matter? "
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