Scratching of quills, thumping of the heavy royal seal and swishing of duster is the only thing can be heard in the royals office. Queen Aella was contently but swiftly reading, filling , signing and stamping the reports she got from the treasury while Emma busied herself by dusting bookshelves, cabinets, chairs and tables in the room.
It was void of human sounds in the office but instead of being awkward, it is quite comfortable especially with the occasional purring and meowing from Persi the cat who was lounging on a grand cat tree.
After 25 minutes of silence Aella put away her quills and sort her reports in its respective files before stretching her numb hands.
"Your majesty, you have finished?" Emma inquired, pouring a glass of cold water for her master (mistress, whatever) and giving it to her.
Aella take the glass of water gratefully finishing it in one gulp. Apparently she got so focused on her works that she forgot to hydrate herself.
"Yes Emm. I don't have anything planned after this right?"
"That's right your majesty"
"Do you know of my husband whereabouts?"
"His Majesty had went out this morning with Marquis Symon, though they didn't inform me or the head knight where they had gone off to"
"Alright then please send this files to its respective lords and this ones to its resoective cabinet. I'll be with Princess Shana if anyone need me" She said as she head up to pick up her cat and went out in the direction of Princess Shana's office as she know the princess will be there at this time.
She knocks on the door as soon as she arrived though the sound of crashing concerned her,
"Nana are you okay? may I come in?"
"Oh! Your Majesty, come in... I was taken by surprise is all" Shana sheepishly explained as she quickly open the door and let Aella in. Though she swiftly close the door and lock it with both normal and magical mean which confuses the queen esoecially when several other spell including a 'notice-me-not-spell' and a cloaking spell to hide all the magics she cast was also among the spells she used.
"Ummm... Nana what's wrong? "
"Hello Ai"
A familiar voice come from a corner of the room and she swiftly turned to see three familiar peopls that she hadn't seen for a long time now.
"Kratos, FireFist, Fairy!" She exclaimed excitedly when she sees them. Running up to them nearly tripping as she went and hug the three guardians, crying.
"Oh.... we miss you too Ella" FireFist spoke up, tightening her grip on Aella. Both Fairy and FireFist was crying along while Shana and Kratos had a misty eyes as they held in tears. Shana was also pulled by Fairy creating a big group hug.
The three minutes was spent with group hugs and crying as the five Guardians finally reunited together.
Five minutes later and they all settled down on the sofa area, drinking teas made by butler Reese. Aella take the time to notice that the windows' curtains are pulled close and the room was only lighted up slightly by candles.
"We were really surprised to hear knockings at the door especially since I know brother had went out this morning and I didn't expect any visitor" Shana sheepishly explained, as usual the word 'brother' sound bitter in her mouth.
"I was done with work and am bored... I'm really glad to see you three here though how did you guys come here. After FireFist stunt yesterday security had tightened and this is noon..." Aella spoke, her voice sounds amused when she mentioned about FireFist causing said person to grin proudly at her and making her giggled at her seat beside Fairy.
Kratos and FireFist sit on an armchair while Shana, Aella and Fairy shared a seat on a three seater. Butler Reese was sitting on a chair not far from them while petting a content Persi on his lap.
"I had managed to create a portal to here keyed to each of them last night and test it out earlier" Shana informed her.
Fairy giggled, "Thankfully it's a success though Kratos did fall off when he pass his portal.
Kratos blushed at that, "not my fault. I wasn't used to it and the portal causes me to have motion sickness"
The girls giggled at that before went silent for two minutes.
"We were talking about the staff that the king tried to make" Fairy spoke up after a while.
"The one that I had successfully broke in pieces" FireFist proclaimed proudly causing the girls to giggled and Kratos to smile in amusement.
Aella perked up at this, "I was wondering about that... what is the divine staff anyway?"
"The Divine staff was a staff used by the Matron Ivanna... It staff made by a branch from the Elder Oak tree that exist on the top of Iva Mountain and topped off with a Celestial Pearl that only can be found in the Southern Sea. It was said that The Matron always used it on all her spells and rituals, it is a very powerful staff when used by a powerful sorcerer or sorceress" Shana explained.
"Before the Matron take her last breath she had disassemble the staff. She planted the Elder Oak branch next to its tree which grows into a second tree and toss the Celestial Pearl back into the Southern Sea where it was said that the clam that grow it had take it back in its mouth" Fairy continued.
"Oh... I think I've heard that story before as a fairytale" Aella nodded.
"Yes... The story about The Matron and her staff of greatness, I'm pretty sure all children in this region had been told it as a bedtime story. I know I have" Kratos commented casually.
"I don't. Though technically because I prefer the story about The Matron and her prince" FireFist shrugged.
They all look at FireFist with amused expression.
"That's FireFist for you... An explosive lady with heart for romance" Aella teased back causing FireFist to tossed a pillow at her which the queen caotured aith her hands. Her golden bracelets dangling on her wrist for the guardian to see.
Kratos tensed and immediately crouched infront of Aella and gently took both of her hands and inspect the bracelets with a solemn look. The girls also look at the bracelets somberly while Aella look tensed and nervous.
"Does it hurt? having the bracelets?" Kratos asked.
Aella sighed sadly,
"Physically? no. Mentally? Yes. The lack of magic in my body caused me to feel hollow and empty..."
Kratos gripped Aella's hand tightly (though not too tight as he don't want to hurt her).
"Shana... Is there any way we can break these bracelets?"
Shana sighed sadly,
"I'm afraid no... I've check it and discovered that it is connected with my brothers' magic so if any one but him tried to break it... He will be warned and that could lead trouble. Not to mention it had a protective spell on it so if anyone tried to force it off...both the person and the wearer could get hurt badly"
"But I thought the king is obsessed with Ella? Surely he wouldn't want her to be hurt?" Fairy ask worriedly.
Aella shook her head in defeat,
"He knows that whoever wanted to get this off of me would not want to risk my safety. Besides this is King Rafael we're talking about...he would hurt me if it meant he get to keep me"
A lone tear started to fall down her eye. This time it was tear of sadness and hopelessness instead of happiness.
This causes another group hug.
"I'm sorry... If I had known this would happen, I would send a marriage proposal earlier last year" Kratos mumbled, though the girls were able to hear him.
"what... " Aella gaped. Surprised.
Kratos took her hands to his lips, kissing them.
"I have love you since the first time our family met two years ago during their business meeting. I had always wanted to court you and send out marriage proposal but I was afraid that you would reject me" his voice sounded so defeated that it makes the girls heart ached.
Aella cried freely now,
"you are really stupid you know that Leon!?"
Kratos- or well Minister Young Heir Leon Astal sat stumped infront of her at her words.
"Don't you know how long I've been waiting for you to confess?! How long I had been waiting for your proposal?! Yet it took me fucking married and tied down to that fucking possesive and cunning king for you to finally confess?!" she pulled her hands to cover her crying face.
"Don't you know how painful it is to see you in every conference?! Knowing that because I'm tied down to the fucking king that us being together is impossible?!"
Minister Leon pulled off his mask and hide his face on her knee, crying
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry...you're right I'm stupid! My stupidity and cowardness have cause you too suffer. If I'm not stupid and coward you would probably marry me instead of that tyrant...you wouldn't have to be forced to be with him cause we'll be together already. Yet I'm so stupid and so cowardly and now we both suffer the price... Both physically and emotionally"
The queen and minister cried while Shana, FireFist and Fairy tried to calm them down. Even the three has tears gathered.
Three hours later the Guardians are standing in the middle of the room, hugging each other goodbyes. Though Leon and Aella does it more tenderly and affectionately (as affectionate as they can without crossing the line as one of them is a married woman).
"I'm sorry, I wish you guys could stay longer...although Ella and I don't know where that evil beings had gone off to we do know that they'll be home in about half an hour" Shana apologised to the three guardian.
Aella continues,
"Though if we're right... He was probably trying to find a way to either replace the broken staff to a new Elder Oak branch or try to find a way to fix it magically without losing it functions"
"Probably the former...as once broken the staff would be less funtional when paired with the Celestial Pearl" Shana guessed.
"Oh well if he does manage to get a new branch... I'll blow it up to pieces again" FireFist proclaimed confidently sending the group into fit of laughters. Lighting up the mood of the place.
They said their final goodbyes and Shana cast a spell that opened up three portals for the three Guardians to pass through.
Once the Guardians pass through and the portals got deactivated, Shana eliminate the traces of the spell along with other spells she had used in the room.
After that the two royals went out the office room to the garden with Butler Reese and Persi the cat to have tea and snacks at one of the gazebo. Emma joined them a few minutes later with their snacks (along with the cat's snack).
"I wonder...did your brother know you had magic?" Aella asked quietly as they watched Emma following Persi as she walked around the garden (to prevent the cat from getting lost). Aella had stationed the guards that followed them to stand alert farther from them enough so that they cannot hear the two girls' conversation.
"Yes... But not the magic I always used when I'm Aurum. Whenever I'm her... I always used water and ice based magic but not my well known magic, brother doesn't know that I have that type of magic. He thought I only have magic similar to his just with different signature which is true but you get it right" Shana answered just as quietly.
Aella nodded in understanding, "the water and ice based magic is a hidden talent you kept from him hence why you can use it freely as Aurum"
Shana smiled in agreement.
They would have continued talking if not for the fact that they didn't hear the guard greeting King Rafael as he approached them and that Butler Reese had discreetly warn them of his approaching presence.
"How is my girls in this fine day?" greet the king as he went up to them, kissing his sister's forehead and wife's lips.
"It's great brother, sister Ella had come to me after she done her works and I get to show her what I learned at the academy including my magic" Shana lied easily with a happy smile, you can't even tell that the smile is fake.
Aella nodded in agreement,
"Yes... It was fascinating"
King Rafael smiled and pick Aella up from her chair. He sat down on her chair and put the queen on his laps. Shana, acting her role as the adoring sister who admires her brother sent the two a teasing smile.
"oh brother! You just went out for few hours yet you stick to sister like you had been gone for a month"
King Rafael chuckled as he wraps his arms around Aella,
"yes well having not seen her since yesterday evening because a certain sister decided to have a sleepover with my wife would do that to me"
Aella let out a small giggle at that especially since Shana throw a pout at him,
"hmph! That's not that long....you spend time with sister Ella every single days and nights ever since your wedding while I get to meet her at the end of last week and spend time with her only when you're busy. Having sleepovers with sister Ella is the least I can do to spend more time and get to know each other. Besides we have fun right Sissy?"
Aella nodded with a chuckle,
"That's right... Nana is so fun to have around"
Shana pulls a smug face at King Rafael at this causing said king to chuckle in amusement.
"Alright I surrender... How about this, you two can have a sleepover once every week, how's that sound?" he compromised. Shana cheered at that, doing a high five with Aella.
They spend ten more minutes at the garden gazebo before going inside as the sky turned dark signalling sunset.
The royal couple went to their room. The king pulling Aella into a bath together which turned into a sex time.
After the king is satisfied they went out the pool, clean and change into a casual but appropriate indoor clothes as they went out and have dinner in the dining room with Shana.
After dinner Aella went to their room and sit on their bed reading a book while the king spend a few minutes in their office finishing some stuff.
It was ten o'clock at night when Aella already close the lights and went to sleep, already on her nightgown. The king went into their now semi-dark room, took off his shirt and change into a cotton pants. He get into the bed and pull his wife close to his chest.
Aella ignored this and just keep sleeping as she is used to sleeping with her back on his bare chest when she jerked awake as she felt her breast got squeezed.
"I really love your big busty breast...they're so soft and...well...big, I guess fondling it everyday helps huh" the king said, smirking as he keeps on fondling her breasts.
"Just... Go to...sleep!" Aella snapped at him, trying to not moan.
"Let me do something first" with that said he push her so that she's lying on her back and take her breasts, sucking and licking the skins and nipples causing Aella to moan and pants as she started getting aroused. By the time he's finished her breasts and neck are filled with hickies.
"Now this shows that you're mine"
Aella furrowed her brows in confusion though her hearts filled heavy,
'did he knows that the Guardians are around earlier? about Leon's confession?'
she thought worriedly.
"what's wrong with you, why are you oddly more possessive than usual" she decided to ask.
"I'm always possessive love... Just suddenly wanted to remind you for some reason. Now let's go to sleep... Though if you're fully aroused we can have-" his words got cut off as Aella swiftly pull the blanket on her shoulder and turn facing against him to go to sleep causing the king to chuckled in amusement.
"My little kitty, Mine..."