Maxwell appeared in the secret chamber. "Are you ready, my dear?" he asked the woman sitting on the bed wearing a floral red dress, looking beautiful as ever.

Ivy nodded her head, she was more than ready to go. "Yes! Take me out of here!"

Maxwell held out his hand to her. "Good, our carriage is waiting for us," he said and gave a mirthless laugh.

Ivy reached for his hand, he grabbed her hand possessively.

They disappeared from the secret chamber and resurfaced outside, in front of the carriage.

Maxwell looked at the woman beside him and smiled. "Isn't she the loveliest carriage ever, my dear?"

Ivy's eyes widened, her breath was caught on her throat, she was stunned at the fabulous sight in front of her. She was amazed by the golden carriage's spectacular beauty, it looks like a carriage fit for royalty, an extravagant accommodation fitted for the King and Queen. And she was more blown away that two giant birds are carrying the carriage! Just wow! Astounding!

The amused Xenon went to the carriage and opened the door for them. "Your royal highness, please welcome aboard!" he said humorously.

Maxwell and Ivy sauntered towards the waiting carriage and boarded the extravagant transportation.

The moment the couple settled inside comfortably, Maxwell nods at his sibling.

"Brother, do you want us to accompany you on your journey?" Lothaire offered.

Maxwell shook his head. "Nah, no need. I'm not going to Esmeralda's place to wage war on her. I'm not trying to create trouble on this journey. I will come to her place in peace and deliver my Queen to her doorsteps," he answered casually.

"Alright! You may go now!" Lothaire said and snapped his fingers signaling the bird to take off.

The birds began its rise from the ground and soared in a synchronized manner into the air.

Maxwell glanced at her silent companion beside him. "Are you okay, my dear?"

Ivy nodded her head. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied. She fixed her gaze at the spectacular view outside the carriage. There's mountains, lakes, forests, wooden houses below. The thing that she remembered when she first comes to this place, while she climbed the path leading to the castle on the hill, she can only see vast land, mountains surrounding the hill, and nothing else. Who would suspect that the castle on the hill housed many frightening inhabitants that were strapped inside?

It's not noticeable at first glance.

The castle on the hill is like a giant void that always waiting for someone to enter it, sucking everyone inside with no way out.

If only somebody told her that the castle on the hill is a cursed place she would never enter this place!

Maxwell studied her gloomy face. "What's wrong, my dear? What are you thinking with that pretty head of yours?" he asked in a sugary voice.

"I'm thinking of ways how to convince my sister to return with me to your place," she responded with a lie.

Maxwell grinned, very much pleased with her answer. "That's good! If you begin using your head you can come up with a brilliant solution to contribute to our cause. You only have ten days to fulfill the mission, my dear. And maybe during that time, your sister Ella is already in my hands," he winked at her.

Ivy closed her eyes and recited a prayer. 'God, please don't let Ella come here in the castle! Please don't!'

She repeated the prayer over and over again in her head.

~0~

Meanwhile, at Esmeralda's place.

Kate was sitting on the wooden bench below the shade of the golden tree.

The sun was high up in the sky. Yet the rays of the sun aren't that painful when it touches her skin.

She looked around her, she can see clouds and birds flying in the distance.

What a marvelous sight to behold! This place never fails to mesmerize her due to its out of this world landscape.

Kate looked at the trunk of the tree, its leaves and branches were not moving, she had seen the tree and Esmeralda talking to each other several times in the past, and each time that happens she was mind blown.

"Hello...tree...hello...can you hear me?" she said loudly.

The tree didn't answer and ignored her.

"Hello...tree..talk to me! I'm getting bored out of my mind! I need someone to talk to!" she whined.

The tree shakes its branches.

"Shh...shut up little girl! Stop shouting and making noise! Can't you see that I'm taking my afternoon nap?" the tree finally spoke in a grumbling voice.

Kate covered her mouth with glee. "Oh my! You're finally talking to me! Entertain me please with your stories, I'm so bored here!" she demanded.

The tree shakes its branches and the leaves were swaying due to the sudden movement. "Entertain yourself! Go back inside the house and take a nap!" the tree snapped.

Kate pouted. "You're no fun, tree! I won't go back there. Granny Esmeralda is sleeping, I have no one to talk inside the house!" she responded.

"Fine, talk to yourself and keep it quiet," the tree said.

"Okay," Kate grumbled softly and looked up at the tree.

The tree stood still, no movement from its branches and leaves.

Kate was smiling. It's the first time she learned that a tree also sleeps like humans. The tree ignored her so she will also ignore the tree!

She stared at the horizon above. In the far distance, she saw a golden object moving toward her location.

Oh, what is that!?

Now that the object is near, she finally saw the two giant birds carrying something on its back. Huh? It looks like a carriage!

The golden color of the carriage is more noticeable now.

Now that the birds are about a hundred meters away from her location, she had a clear glimpse of it!

What was approaching the floating land is a golden carriage carried by two giant birds on its back. And she saw two people inside the carriage!

A man and a woman!

Kate's brows knitted together, who are these visitors?

Are they enemies or what?

Kate shouted at the tree. "Tree....tree..wake up! We have visitors!"

The tree shook its body, already awakened by Kate's loud voice. A single leaf disengaged from one of the branches and flew straight to the house passing through the open window and going to Esmeralda's room to inform her of an intruder.

The golden carriage landed smoothly on the floating piece of land.

Kate was shocked to see a familiar woman waving at her from the inside of the carriage.

OMG! It's her sister Ivy!

Kate was about to rush towards the carriage but the tree was quickly blocking Kate's path with its big branches, not wanting her to pass...urgh...she can't step forward! "Tree, let me go! I want to see my sister!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

That was also the moment Esmeralda emerged from the door and felt astonished upon seeing a golden carriage carrying two people, landing on her property unannounced!

"What is going on here!?" she demanded.