"Please, pass it to me quickly. I'm eager to see the gift my son has brought," Julien exclaimed with a cheerful tone.
Oriana stole a glance at Arlan, who remained impassive and avoided her gaze. She understood his displeasure with her for not obeying his instructions. She thought, 'I will accept the consequences later. For now, let's stay focused on why I'm here.' She maintained her smile and approached the Queen, ready to present the gift. 'Once I touch her hand, maybe I'll discover something.'
Queen Julien enthusiastically accepted the gift, her fingers brushing against Oriana's as they held the box. The Queen appeared oblivious to this contact, while Oriana stared at her empty hands, her expressions filled with complexity. 'I felt nothing. If this woman possesses dark magic, if she is indeed a witch, I should have sensed it simply by touching a fellow witch. Am I mistaken about her?'
