My heart pumped even more wildly than before and if this continued, I would surely get a cardiac arrest. It was hot and uncomfortable, painful even.

"Nadia? Nadia? Are you alright?" The voice of the empress sounded inaudible to my ears. I am certain that she was talking to me but I couldn't hear her clearly nonetheless.

There was a loud cackle. It was as shrill as the voice before and it was accompanied by a bunch of hissing snake sounds.

'SHUT UP! Shut the hell up!'

Someone tapped me on my shoulder and I reeled back in aversion. Or was it because of the mysterious force inside me? The thing was acting crazy again, surging like a wave, and had kept on twisting itself.

"Are you perhaps–"

"Good Afternoon, ladies! Can I join your little party?"

The spell broke and I was left there blinking in confusion for a moment.

Out of the blue, in a snap, the cacophony of aggravating sounds and sensations stopped. It was so abrupt that it left me reeling. As if someone clicked the mute button or something.

The wave of nausea was instantaneous but I managed to hold it in or else, it will surely turn ugly here.

I was heaving for air, greedily filling my lungs with oxygen. The ringing in my ears had stopped but I was still confused as ever.

'What the hell was that?!'

It almost made me go mad and if it didn't stop for any more seconds, I would have probably burst from all of it. My hand, which was already resting on my chest, felt my heartbeat. It had gradually gotten back to normal, gone the constricting pain from earlier.

I started managing my breathing again and studied myself for a moment. The things that kept shifting inside seemed to have calmed down as well. It was still, almost as if it didn't appear. But I know it's in here somewhere...

What the heck just happened?

Suspiciously, I glanced around me before falling my gaze towards the queen who was sporting a surprised expression on her face. It all started when I talked to her, was she the one who did that? But I mean, how?

Seriously, what is going on with me?

"Lord Janus! Of course, please do so..." the voice of my aunt interrupted my self-reflection.

"Lord Janus..." the queen also uttered.

Janus?

I whisked away from the haziness in my head and glanced at the newcomer who was already sitting down beside me. It was Janus, alright, and he was smiling warmly at the two women in front of us. Though it definitely didn't reach his golden eyes...

What is he doing here? When did he come?

I was so out of it that I didn't even notice him...

"I heard that the queen was having tea with the empress so I came to say hello," said Janus and glanced at me.

Oh, shoot... I didn't greet him!

I cleared my throat, "Good Afternoon, Lord Janus."

His golden eyes glowed brightly today as well, brimming with unfathomable power. It was intimidating just looking at them so I immediately averted my gaze downward.

"Lady Nadia..." he muttered, "Nice to see you again. I hope you have been well?"

"Yes, I am. Thank you for asking..."

As usual, I could feel that he was acting rather friendly. But right now, there was something else. Something... hmmm... indescribable.

"Does the Lord know Nadia?" Asked the queen who was glancing between us simultaneously, curiosity marked all over her pretty face.

"Well, of course. We have met quite a few times now," he responded breezily.

"Ohh? I didn't know this..." the Empress remarked and glanced between us with interest sparkling in her ruby eyes.

Ugh. That's clearly not what he meant but it sounded suggestive even to my ears. That must be why my aunt reacted like that.

"They were all entirely coincidences. I can't just meet the Lord of the tower just like that after all..." I explained.

"Doesn't that sound like fate?" Janus chuckled in amusement.

What? Bruh...

"Oh my... Surely you jest, Lord Janus," I smiled at him and this shady magician has the audacity to look like he's enjoying teasing me.

"But are you feeling alright, Nadia? You were so pale earlier." This time, the empress looked very concerned about me.

So she really did notice it.

"That's right, you suddenly got silent and turned pale. We were trying to ask you but you weren't responding," the queen added, concern is also in her voice.

Looking at her now, with furrowed brows and a little frown, she does look like she's worried about me. But... What was that earlier? I can't shake this uncomfortable feeling that she must have a connection with what just happened.

"Hmm? Are you sick?" Janus turned towards me.

Clearing my throat, I offered them a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine now. I was just feeling dizzy a while ago..."

If I told them what happened, would they believe me? Maybe Janus will but what about the empress and the queen?

"Do you wish to go home? Or you can rest here in the palace," aunt offered.

I shook my head, "I won't trouble you with that."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

A servant poured tea for Janus who brought it to his mouth as he leisurely took his time. All of his movements were unhurried as if he had all the time in the world. He was brimming with arrogance and regality yet these traits didn't make him look like a scumbag. It was very natural.

"I can't believe the Lord went on his way to meet us. I am extremely honored..." the queen then remarked after a comfortable silence had passed.

"Hmmm..." he didn't say anything and just sipped on his cup of tea, all the while maintaining that distant yet not so distant expression on his face.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," said he, a glint flashing in his eyes for a split second which was unnoticed by everyone around the table.

"No, you didn't, Lord Janus. We're happy that you came and joined us," said the empress.

The queen flashed a smile, eyes gleaming for a second as well. This time though, the ever-powerful magician saw it and got amused, chuckling to himself.

'A budding witch, huh? What nasty power, but still too weak. How disappointing...' was Janus's exact thoughts.

With that short evaluation, he had immediately pushed her down the list of his enemies. For him, she wasn't worthy to be there at all.

"I have been wanting to meet the Lord of the Tower so like the Empress had said, I am extremely honored and happy."

I glanced at the patronizing queen again, thinking deeply to myself as I studied her. I have noted this from the start but she really has this alluring charm. She was hypnotizing and I have no idea where it's rooting from.

I was suspicious of her now. But I won't let it show on my face. I am planning to keep the thoughts to myself for now and observe some more. If that thing from earlier happened again, then...

My eyes thinned as I stared at my cup of tea, bottling all my feelings and thoughts so I could shove them all in one go.