The twenty-five year old Fleur was a beautiful witch who had charmed many wizards. Her problem was that she was not only very intelligent, she was mischievous too. She thought that no one in the entire kingdom could match her skills and intellect. For this reason she would ridicule every wizard who tried to act smart with her only to challenge their sharpness and see how they could come out of the situations she created. It was as though she was trying to find someone who was much smarter than her. However, so far no one was able to match her. While most were piqued by her, some liked her a lot.

An hour later the guards opened the gates and allowed them to enter the palace of Isidorus. For Fleur, it was the first time that she had entered any palace. Her eyes became wide as she glanced at the magnificence around her. They walked down the halls and reached the entrance of the main hall where Isidorus sat to meet other wizards and witches.

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As soon as he saw Howard and Fleur, he said, "Hello Fleur, nice to see you."

Fleur was pleasantly surprised that a man like Isidorus would even know her. With his long white hair that flowed until his shoulders and a beard as long, he looked like a kind old man who could be passed as harmless. But she had heard about him. He was the most powerful wizard of his time.

She knelt down and said, "Ttwpi" with a bow.

Isidorus smiled at the girl's manners and then turned to Howard. "I hope you bring me good news Howard."

He could sense that Howard was excited. "We have found our queen. Our doubts are confirmed. Adrianna is our queen," he said in one breath.

"Quiet!" Isidorus's voice boomed in the hall.

Howard shrank. What did he do to invite Isidorus's wrath?

Suddenly he found that the three of them were surrounded by mist. "Now you can speak," said Isidorus staring at him with equal excitement.

Howard understood that Isidorus had created an impenetrable wall around them so that no one could hear them talking. Then sowly he narrated everything about Adrianna and in the last he told him about his marriage to Dmitri.

Isidorus went deep in his thoughts. After a pause he asked, "Has he marked her?"

Howard said, "I don't know… I came here without waiting for the dawn to break and know what they had done…"

"I hope he hasn't marked her…" said Isidorus worried etched over his face.

"Why so Isidorus? We have found our queen and it is only right that we crown her as soon as possible. Don't you know the danger that is lurking around her?" said Howard little agitated now. They had found their leader after so long and all Isidorus was concerned was whether Dmitri had marked her or not. "What has marking her got to do with crowning her?" he asked outraged at Isidorus now.

Isidorus looked at Howard and smiled. "I can understand your concern Howard. However, if she has been marked, there is a ninety percent chance that the crown will reject her."

Howard was shocked.

The fact was that the crown chose its king or queen. That's how Shira was chosen. The crown had accepted her. Ever since Shira had disappeared, the crown had rejected every witch or wizard that was thought to become the next leader.

Once the crown was placed on their head, it gripped the head and injected its metal inside forming a permanent seal on the forehead of the leader. It was a golden seal that consisted of five leaves twirling upwards. The process was excruciating for all those who were rejected by the crown.

Howard bit his lower lip. "But we have to take a chance," he said worried.

"Yes. And for that you have to go and get her here. Also take an army of guards with you and keep a watch at all times. You cannot let her go out of your sight even for a minute. I know why you have brought Fleur here with you. She needs to stay as her guard and protect her from all the potential danger even if that means that she gives her life," said Isidorus looking at Fleur.

"Come here Fleur," he called her.

When she went near him, he took her hand in his hand and then fisted her palm. "Aahhh!" shouted Fleur in pain. She looked at her palm. It had turned red. In a few seconds, a small seal that looked like tree with lots of leaves was formed beneath her thumb. "This seal will keep me updated about your whereabouts Fleur," said Isidorus calmly looking at her with steely eyes.

A leaf over there glowed.

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Back in the bedroom, Adrianna woke up very late. It was already afternoon. When she woke up, she found that Dmitri had already showered and dressed. He was sitting by his table and reading a book. She sat on the bed and stretched her limbs as she yawned. Dmitri saw her naked body and said, "Adri, go take a shower before I pounce on you again."

Like a good girl, Adrianna jumped out of her bed and ran to the bathroom. When she came out, he said, "We are going out for a week."

"Where?"

"To the deep forest and mountains where no one can find us."