After having a quiet dinner on his own, the young King of Megaris did not resume working. Instead, he stood by one of the large windows in his chamber, staring at the starry night sky, thinking about what Arlan had asked him earlier during the day.

Why was he in a rush to marry the Third Princess?

He remembered that invisible energy that always keeps pulling him towards her. It had never happened with him before, and he found it equally interesting and strange. There was a strong urge to protect her no matter what—and this strange urge, he couldn't stop himself from acting out of impulse no matter how hard he tried. He could not ignore it.

That mark on her forehead, he was sure he had seen it somewhere in the past, but he just couldn't remember where. The only thing he was sure of was that it had something to do with himself. He had so many questions in his mind with answers he had yet to get.

He also remembered those beautiful purple eyes filled with innocence, eyes which everyone thought symbolized a witch's eyes, thus fearing their existence, but he found them the most amusing things and wanted to keep looking at them.

'How can they call her a witch?'

Witch? This word made him smirk, but it was a painful one.

'A witch! Definitely something scary for them, and scary things are meant to be kept away,' he thought.

His mind then returned to Arlan's words again. "To me, it looks like someone is sympathizing with a poor girl because she makes him recall his own past."

"Sympathize?" he mumbled, "Why would I sympathize with someone?"

Drayce closed his eyes. Old memories he thought he had forgotten lingered in his mind. Unfamiliar voices started buzzing in his ears as if he was plunged back into the past.

A crying voice of a five-year-old boy filled his ears even as various adult voices drowned it.

"That kid is a monster!"

"That's why his mother left him."

"She didn't leave. She died because he is a monster."

"Even his own mother hated him."

Drayce opened his eyes, and those emotionless red orbs stared at the sky blankly as he mumbled, "She didn't hate me."

At that time, those voices continued buzzing in his ears, and his young self hated his hearing senses for that. Whatever he tried at that time, he couldn't stop hearing those callous people who said nothing but hurtful words to an innocent five-year-old kid. Even shutting those delicate ears with his tiny hands didn't work.

Among all those callous voices, his mind captured the familiar voice of the man who he used to call his father.

"Where is that monster?"

"Your Majesty, we have imprisoned him in his room."

"Leave him to rot on his own."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Don't let him come out of that room, or he will kill us all."

"That monster deserves to die. Don't give him food. Let him starve and die."

Drayce smirked at this memory. Though they were painful for him at that time, now he felt nothing as his mind seemed to be devoid of any emotion.

His emotionless red eyes showed the void inside him.

Suddenly, Drayce heard the sound of footsteps. That was his knight who had entered his bedchamber.

"Your Majesty, Sir Berolt Fletcher is here to inform you that the King of Abetha wishes to speak with you," the knight informed after saluting.

Drayce nodded and turned to leave.

-----

King Armen was in his study, feeling restless as he walked around and waited for his guest to arrive.

"Your Majesty, King Drayce will be here in a while," Lord Eudes informed.

King Armen nodded and asked, "Still no news about Martha?"

"Still no news, Your Majesty." Lord Eudes bowed.

A frown took over King Armen's face. All these years, something like this had never happened before. He was sure Martha was in trouble, and that meant Seren was not safe either. 'Have those people found Martha and will come after Seren?'

As if the current situation in his kingdom and his daughter were not enough to worry him, it seemed more problems were pouring in.

Sir Berolt entered the study and saluted. "Your Majesty, King Drayce is here."

King Armen sat on his chair and signaled Sir Berolt to let Drayce in. King Armen was prepared to talk with Drayce tonight, and he expected things to go according to his wishes.

When Drayce entered the study, both kings greeted each other with a slight nod. King Armen gestured to Drayce to have a seat.

Drayce did not bother with formalities and wordlessly sat down, ready to hear what King Armen decided. From the atmosphere, he already knew what King Armen would talk about. The only question remaining would be what conditions this king would ask from him.

The silence was short-lived as King Armen directly came to the point.

"I approve the demand that King Drayce had made."

As it was a fixed thing to happen, there was no use stretching this uncomfortable conversation. King Armen needed to get to another important thing.

Drayce didn't look surprised at all, and though he was not outwardly showing it, King Armen was disgruntled at how confident this young king was that he would give in to his demand.

"I will show my gratitude by treating the Third Princess well. She will get the freedom that she could never get in Abetha."

King Armen was delighted to hear his promise, but there was a short pause as if there was something else he needed to say. Drayce waited for him to talk.

"I want a word of assurance from King Drayce," King Armen said after a while.

"Only if it is something reasonable," Drayce countered, not giving in to the pleading look in one father's eyes.

King Armen nodded lightly and said as his heart filled with the hope to convince the man in front of him, "I wish King Drayce to never force her to do anything she does not wish to do and fully respect her wishes."