It was a miracle.
They were starting to think that Queen Briar was dead and that the king and his officials kept her death a secret in order to maintain the peace and order of the kingdom.
"You seem surprised."
Tallulah had been the queen's lady-in-waiting for the past five years. They were childhood friends. Briar would sneak out past the mansion's guards and visit her family's farm to play with her. Tallulah's parents would straight away return Briar to their mansion to avoid conflict with Lord Gideon, the head of the Seymour noble family. Tallulah and Briar were able to play with each other freely before, but when her birth mother died and her father brought a new lady in the house, things changed.
Her hand trembled as she brushed the queen's smooth and silky burgundy locks. Her creamy and ivory skin was in deep contrast with Tallulah's coffee-colored complexion. She was visibly sweaty in front of the mirror.
"It's just that…it's been four years since you summoned us. We thought–"
"I was dead? Anyone would, I can't blame you."
The queen felt different. There was something about her that Tallulah couldn't put into words. Her amber eyes remained the same. She was still as beautiful as ever but the way she presented herself wasn't at all Briar. The Briar she knew was warm, welcoming, and open.
"What…what would you like to wear, Your Majesty?"
Tallulah wasn't sure how she'd interact with her. She was expecting a monotonous and repetitive day of merely standing in front of the queen's bedroom chambers, waiting for her name to be called, yet even she lost hope with that.
Ever since Briar lost the prince before she could deliver him to this world, Tallulah couldn't go in and out as she pleased. She would only go inside if she would deliver food on the tray. She couldn't check if what she was feeding was still breathing behind the curtains of the bed. The food would either be left untouched or there would be small nibbles here and there, strands of rice were moved a tiny bit to a different place on the plate. Sometimes she'd think it was a mouse and not the queen. She was hopeful because there was no rotten scent of a corpse, but at most times she rather believed that she had perished and was at a better place–no longer suffering.
When Briar became queen, the first thing she did was pick Tallulah up from the farm and shove the duty as her lady-in-waiting in her hands. They could finally be friends out in the open. They could finally spend quality time together. Even if they were caught laughing, no one would dare break them apart.
"I have an important announcement to make. I know just the gown for it."
She didn't know if she was conversing with a ghost. If this was the queen's unresting spirit then this was more believable despite being frightening.
Still, her best friend had gone through a lot that shattered her mind and spirit. Tallulah wouldn't be surprised if she was talking to a broken woman who lost her wits.
"Your Majesty, I'm glad you're back."
Briar leaned against the chair. She looked at her reflection, smiling half-heartedly. "I hope the king is too."
Lycus heaved over the garderobe. He had been puking nonstop. There was like an animal wreaking havoc in his stomach, squeezing his innards. He wasn't trying to profess sickness to escape paperwork and the pestering pope. He was feeling nauseous after that conversation with that blasted convict. Killing him wasn't his first option. The convict was talented and gifted. He was a genius. It would be a waste to get rid of him not to mention it would cost a lot of priests and even cardinals if he were to attempt that.
The king hit his stomach frustratingly. "If you're a vessel I'd rip you out of me…but it's impossible."
He refused to believe that he had been infected with a neonate. He never drank wine. He was the only known king in all continents who was never fond of drinking alcohol. It clouded the mind. It would affect judgment. It would decrease his accuracy. It would make him less of a king.
He staggered back, walking to his four poster bed with a throbbing stomach. His hand released a light green healing magic to lessen the pain that was torturing him. There were three knocks on his door which he ignored. If he didn't answer, the person behind that door knew better than to give another knock. He had a 'Three Knock' policy that he established. The only time they could break that policy was if all hell broke loose.
His labored breaths settled. The room was washed over with calmness. Lycus pursed his lips and brought his arm over his eyes.
"Where are you?"
He was exhausted. He kept searching for him but he couldn't find him anymore. He disappeared just like that, leaving without a trace and leaving a king to chase his shadows.
How insolent of him to cause so much trouble to a royalty.
He closed his eyes, drowsiness slowly conquering him. He was burdened. It was heavy keeping a kingdom intact in a world festering with hunters. If it wasn't for the promise he made to the late queen, he would have escaped his fate and let Canaan fall apart.
"Asmodeus…come back to me."
He didn't want any of this. He didn't want to be king. And because he didn't want to be a king he never looked at Briar as his queen. She was just another woman who unluckily got trampled in his self-destruction.
The door was thrown open and sleep rushed out of the door, flicking rage to the king, making him peek shortly to see who he needed to behead this time. Cardinal Demetrius, the one responsible for his military strength, was pale as a soul.
"You look like a ghost, cardinal, do you want me to make it permanent?" he threatened, still lying down with his eyes covered again.
Cardinal Demetrius suddenly remembered his place in politics. He knelt for forgiveness.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, but this is urgent!"
"Tell me before your blood dirties the carpet."
The white-haired middle-aged man swallowed. "The queen…the queen is going to make a speech. She has the child with her."
So Briar was finally making her first move. God knows what she had in mind. It must be revenge. He couldn't help but joke about it though. He sat up, giving Demetrius a leer.
"Don't be so scared, Demetrius, you already forced yourself on the queen and on many other women. You could qualify as Satan's long lost brother."
The child might as well be his. Who knows?
Jinx couldn't stop thinking about Primrose. He was gathering the courage to ask Theo but his master and Kou returned and they parted ways with the young and flustered cardinal. They stayed at the fancy Inn for free, sponsored by the royal family.
Was it even considered a royal family if the king was the only known royal alive and functioning?
"Where's Kou?" Karma queried. He missed breakfast. He should have grabbed some toast before heading out.
"He wanted to look around," his master responded. He still didn't tell them what they talked about back in the castle. He was acting normally despite the stares they were getting from the people who knew his reputation. "Why does Jinx look like he's had a good dump?"
Jinx slammed his hands on the table in excitement. "A girl likes me, master!"
The convict sipped on his fresh milk. "You do seem to be the kind of male that succubi would pick. Good for you."
The teenager snorted. "This is a normal girl, Master Salem. She's really pretty and hot!"
"All demonic females are. Be sure not to populate the world too much."
Karma groaned. "I'd dedicate my life to ending his kind."
Salem hummed. "It's good that you're finally committed to something."
Kou was sitting on the roof's ridge. He was trying to catch the scent of anything suspicious but the breeze was incorrupt and fresh. There was a crowd forming at the square not far from the Inn. A stage was set up, so he decided to get on top of a roof that was closer to the venue.
White horses carrying a royal carriage stopped by. The door was opened by the coachman. A thick and white ball gown puffed out, dressing a woman with the aura of nobility. Her silver crown sat atop her reddish brown hair that was braided into a thick bun. Whispers and gasps broke out like the waves of the ocean.
That was when the smell erupted in a second. There was a rush of flood through his nostrils but suddenly the demonic scent stopped. He couldn't tell where it came from.
A boy climbed out of the carriage following her. He held her hand and mounted the stage. She faced the crowd, her silence and calm gaze quieted the bewildered citizens.
"I know that I disappeared for so many years and I can only keep repeating apologies from now on. I have failed you. I have failed Canaan and left my husband, King Lycus, to keep this country in one piece."
Kou's eyes widened when the boy standing beside the queen turned his head around and smiled in his direction. He waved harmlessly and glanced back at the crowd.
"I was broken. I lost a prince who was supposed to take after the throne if anything were to happen to the king. It is my prime purpose as queen to give you, my good people, a next ruler, and I have failed at that. King Lycus and I kept trying right after. With the Elysian's grace, he blessed us with a young boy but gave us a challenge dealing with his sickly body."
The queen looked down fondly at the child. "Now he is well and ready. At long last you can meet him, the Prince of Canaan, Prince Eros Godfree.
The hairs on Kou's neck stood when warm air brushed over his nape.
"Kou…"
A powerful force shoved him off the roof. He couldn't react as fast, because when he turned to see the offender as he fell, he saw his face.
"My king?"
He landed with a loud thump. All eyes pinned to him. Panic and madness rose with a stampede.
"A viel is here! Someone help!"
"Where are the priests? Kill the monster!"
"We're all going to die! Elysians help us!"
Priests and deacons surrounded him. Weapons of different kinds pointed against him. Kou did his best to stay under cover. He was doing really well. He didn't have a back up plan in case his cover blew up.
Relief washed over him when he saw Rorik and Salem sauntering their way.
"If you are all willing to die a senseless death, be my guess. You are no match for this viel, unfortunately," Rorik warned.
Salem struck his umbrella to the ground. "I can handle this. Dead or alive, I'll bring his head to the pope and the king."
Kou's ears flattened. He didn't expect that one. He appeared to be a kicked puppy from what the convict said. He thought they were allies.
"Kou is sorry…" the king's knight whimpered.