"Are you alright?" Mary rushed to Aurora's side, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. Aurora, still in shock from the encounter with the vampire, felt her body trembling as she replayed the image of those menacing red eyes in her mind. Eventually, Mary released her from the hug, her face filled with concern.
Unable to find her voice, Aurora managed to give a slight nod in response.
Mary furrowed her brows, her amazement evident on her face. "I never knew the king had a compassionate side," she whispered, her voice laced with surprise.
Since ascending the throne, King Cedric had transformed the kingdom for the worse, instilling fear in its inhabitants. Known for his cruelty and ruthlessness, he showed no mercy to those who opposed him. Rumors circulated about his involvement in his father's sudden death, but no one dared to voice their suspicions.
Aurora mustered the strength to speak, her voice still shaky. "Just because he saved me doesn't make him a good person. He was simply being polite," she remarked, her gaze scanning the surroundings. The dust settled, and the marketplace gradually returned to its normal hustle and bustle. Richard, however, was nowhere to be seen. Frustration welled up within Aurora, causing her to mutter under her breath, "Coward." Although not loud enough to be heard.
Mary nodded in agreement, understanding the complexity of the situation. One act of kindness couldn't completely overshadow the king's character.
Aurora's attention shifted to Mary's empty basket, and she inquired, "Do you still want to buy something, or should we head back home?" Observing her friend deep in thought, she waited for a response.
"I still want to get those scented candles," Mary replied playfully, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
Rolling her eyes at her friend's persistence, Aurora sighed. She longed to return home and immerse herself in a relaxing bath. Just the thought of it made her hum with anticipation, causing the tension in her shoulders to finally dissipate.
"Alright then, just the candles," Aurora agreed reluctantly. However, before they could take a step in that direction, another idea struck her. "Why don't I give you one of my own candles?" she suggested, genuinely offering to share her own supply.
Mary's smile instantly vanished, replaced by a cold frown. Aurora furrowed her brow in confusion, unsure of what she had said to cause such a reaction.
"I'd rather buy one myself, with my own coins. That way, I can truly brag about it," Mary responded, her tone tinged with frostiness. Aurora was taken aback, struggling to understand the sudden shift in her friend's demeanor.
"Okay..." Aurora began, her voice trailing off. Before she could utter another word, Mary motioned her head towards a stall and walked away, leaving Aurora behind.
Biting down on her lower lip, Aurora watched as Mary disappeared into the crowd. "Wait for me," she called out, hastily lifting her dress to reveal her golden coloured slippers as she hurried to catch up with her friend.
The palace gates swung open as the horses rode in, announcing the return of King Cedric and his entourage.
"Welcome back, Your Highness," a guard greeted with a respectful bow, reaching out to hold the reins of the king's horse. The king dismounted, his presence commanding attention.
Sir Roland and Magnus followed suit, dismounting from their horses and positioning themselves before the king. The guards swiftly took charge of the horses, leading them away to be attended to.
Cedric halted in his tracks, his gaze fixed upon a rose bush. He observed the vibrant red petals, but what captivated his attention was a single flower on the brink of wilting, its stem damaged and fragile. With a stretch of his hand, he attempted to reach for the flower, only to be pricked by a thorn instead. A drop of blood trickled down his finger, staining the petal as it disappeared into the soil, leaving a crimson trail on the flower.
"Where shall we take these, Your Highness?" another guard asked, holding a bottle containing a mysterious liquid. Two other guards stood behind him, clutching their own bottles.
"To my chambers," the king commanded, his voice firm and unwavering. His focus remained on the rose bush, undeterred by the unfolding scene.
With a respectful bow, the guard acknowledged the order, raising his right hand to signal the others to follow. They made their way towards the palace, their path obstructed by the bottles they carried. One guard, his vision obscured, stumbled over a rock, nearly dropping the bottle. However, he recovered swiftly, regaining his balance with a sigh of relief.
Though the incident seemed minor, Cedric noted it, even without diverting his gaze from the rose bush. He shot a glare towards the guard and commented, "Be more careful next time. Break it, and it will cost you your life."
His words were delivered calmly, yet they held an unmistakable undertone of threat, sending a shiver down the guard's spine. The guard offered a deep bow in apology, his voice trembling as he spoke, "My apologies, Your Highness."
The king remained silent, shifting his attention from the rose bush to Magnus and Roland.
"Roland, gather the ministers at the Royal Court. We have important matters to discuss," Cedric instructed, his hand clasped behind his back.
"Yes, Your Highness," Roland acknowledged with a nod, moving towards the opposite side of the palace. The king's eyes followed him until he disappeared from sight, before returning his gaze to Magnus.
Magnus allowed his gaze to wander, taking in the grandeur of the castle walls. It had been a while since he set foot in the palace, as most of his days were dedicated to hunting down vampires.
"And you, Magnus," Cedric addressed him, causing the scarred man to direct his attention to the king. Their eyes met briefly before Magnus averted his gaze, focusing it on the ground. "Come with me," the king commanded.
Magnus complied silently, falling into step beside the king as they made their way into the Palace.