Sophia went back to where she had left Raphael and urged him that it was time they returned home.
" let's go back to the castle." she said standing up to leave.
Raphael could see that she had a change of mood after returning from the washroom.
" Did something happen?" he asked her with concern.
It was until then that Sophia realized that she had let her emotions show despite trying to take Deep breaths earlier to adjust her emotions.
" What could happen when you are here with me my love." she said smiling at him.
Raphael could tell she was trying to placate him and seeing how she was trying harder,he couldn't expose her but through their bond,he could feel her emotions going haywire. It's like someone had provoked her,but since she was not ready to open up,he won't force her either.
" Okay, let's go back." he replied.
They teleported and soon disappeared appearing at the castle.
" I will leave you go rest,I will head to throne Chambers to handle some matters." Raphael decided to leave her alone, maybe by the time he returns,she'll be back to herself.
" Okay Raph, please go ahead. I'll take a stroll down the kingdom." she said.
" It's already evening why do you want to walk around?" Raphael wondered.
" Hun, have you forgotten we have no nights or days here in our kingdom?" Sophia asked him offering him a polite smile.
" Oh yeah,I already forgot about that. I just want you to relax,you seem restless and unsettled." Raphael said to her. Seeing her this way,it broke his heart. He wondered what could have happened when she went to the ladies room.
" I think taking a stroll down will make me loosen up and feel better. I prefer that than sleeping all alone. you know that a bed without you,is as good as nothing." Sophia said coquettishly. She wanted to convince him that a stroll would do her best.
" okay then,let Rizia accompany you. I don't want you getting lost here." Raphael relented.
" I was planning to let her accompany me. You don't have to worry about me Raph,I will take care of myself." she said hugging him.
To Raphael,that simple gesture was able to calm his heart.
" Take care of yourself." he murmured and kissed her earlobes.
" I will ." with that,he left their chambers and headed to the throne. He wanted to distract himself otherwise he would end up dragging his mate to bed and start doing naughty stuff to her.
Sophia surmoned Rizia to her chambers. since she arrived,she was the most closest person to her.
" Rizia," she called softly.
" Yes my queen." Sha said with a bow.
" What do you know about Raphael's curse?" she asked.
Rizia was taken aback by the question the queen asked. In the kingdom,it was a forbidden thing to talk about.
Sophia could see that she was not ready to talk about it. but Why? she wondered.
" Since I am the queen,I need to know everything about your king. I also know that all of you are aware that only I,his mate will redeem him from the curse,so I need to know everything about it." she said with all seriousness.
Rizia could tell that their queen was hellbent on knowing more about the king's curse. She could only swallow nervously.
" My queen,why don't I take you to someone who will tell you more about the king's curse. it is forbidden for us to openly talk about it." Rizia replied.
" No,I don't want Raphael knowing what I am up to. I want to gather information about it and see if there's a way to reverse the curse without sacrificing myself." she said with a faraway look.
" sacrifice yourself? my queen,do you mean that to save him from the curse,you have to sacrifice your life for it?" Rizia asked surprised. The prophecy only talked about pain and suffering,no sacrifice was mentioned.
" Yes,I will have to sacrifice myself to save him." Sophia stated.
" My queen, forgive me but may I ask? How did you know that you will have to sacrifice yourself? The prophecy only States that the chosen mate will suffer a cruel Fate so as to redeem him from the curse." Rizia said kneen to know from where their queen got the information about self sacrifice.
" You don't need to know much, just that I somehow managed to see my future. it's not like I don't want but even after the curse is lifted,I will perish. Raphael will still go astray due to the loss and my sacrifice will all be in vain." Sophia said seriously.
" Now do you see why I want to gather information and see if there's a chance the curse will be lifted and I still remain by his side. Honestly,I also want to spend all days with him. I don't want us to be separated from each other." Sophia added obviously sad. who wouldn't be? we are talking about sacrificing your life for nothing.
" My queen, the prophecy was made thousands of years ago. what we know may not be the truth afterall. I heard that the ancient library contains the book where the prophecy was written." Rizia explained.
" Then can you take me there." Sophia said hopefully. Her eyes were twinkling. Maybe if she saw the prophecy,she could figure out some things.
" But " Rizia started.
" But what Rizia? are you afraid of Raphael? don't worry,he won't be able to know that we went there." she assured Rizia.
" My queen that's one of the problems. The kingdom's ancient library is forbidden. one is not to enter there. The other problem is,the prophecy is written in Greek. It is an extinct language and no one knows it in the whole kingdom." Rizia delivered the bad news and Sophia slumped tiredly to the bed.
She can't believe she's this unlucky. She just wanted to get more information about the details of Raphael's curse and see if there's a way she can overturn everything and still be safe. But it seems like fate was playing a game with her. Not only was the library forbidden and lined up with extreme magic,the prophecy was written in a language that has already been wiped out in the face of the earth.
Sophia was determined to find everything about the prophecy a d nothing was going to stop her. if she wants to succeed,she has to overcome all obstacles thrown her way. She has to get her hands on that book. it's enough that Damien was out there preparing to cause trouble for Raphael and she had to do everything to stop that.
" I don't Care Rizia,but somehow,I have to get hold of that book. after that I wi figure out a way to read the prophecy. I will not sit and watch as everything I have come to love gets destroyed by my laziness.
Rizia could see the determination on the queen's face and she loved it. Now she was behaving like the queen she was.
" In that case my queen,you have to practice your Powers first. The more power you yield,the more chances of success." Rizia advised.
" You are right about that. To be able to stand next to Raphael,I need to be strong enough. I don't want to drag him behind or always stay under his protection. I need to be powerful to defend not only myself but also the people of this kingdom." Sophia uttered,her words full of determination.
" That's the way to go my queen." praised Rizia.
" I want to start training first. Rizia,us there a person you know who can train me in Martial arts?" Sophia asked.
" My queen,I can recommend someone to you." Rizia said happily.
" And who is that?" Sophia asked.
" My cousin,she was a general of the kingdom but resigned, she's good at martial arts." Rizia replied.
" okay,I will go meet her tomorrow and personally ask her to be my master." said Sophia.
" I don't think my queen needs to personally go meet her. I could just relay the message to her." argued Rizia.
" Rizia,I am the queen but that doesn't make me different from other people. I ought to go and personally ask her to show my sincerity." said Sophia seriously. she had to talk through her personal maid to see her reasons. Just being a queen doesn't give you the right to order others around.
" Are you going to tell the king about your decision?" came Rizia's question.
" For now I'll only inform him about my martial arts training. As for the investigation,I will keep it from him." replied Sophia.
" But why my queen,you two are married. He is your mate,don't you have to share each other's burdens?" Rizia couldn't help but ask. she couldn't fathom why the queen would go to an extra mile to hide things from the king when she can just tell him about it.
" sometimes, something are left unsaid,nit because we don't trust our Loved ones,but because telling them will bring them unnecessary pain." answered Sophia.