Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Queen Seren," everyone bowed in respect.

Seren was led to the main hall, where she sat on the throne while others took their places. As previously discussed with Lady Tyra, Seren spoke.

"I am happy to be back and to be able to meet you all once more. The trip was long and indeed trying, so it took me days to make a visit here. From now on, I will make sure to pay attention to the Vermilion Palace." She then looked at Clarissa, "Lady Clarissa, thank you for taking care of the Vermilion Palace in my absence."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Clarissa replied, her tone and face devoid of any expression.

"I would like you to keep handling the responsibilities you have been following. But at the same time, I wish to distribute some important tasks to others as well. As always, you can handle the treasury, but Lady Yavia and Lady Saira will take on some of your other responsibilities."

"I will follow Your Majesty\'s wishes," Clarissa replied.

"Today I am going to have my afternoon meal with you all. I do hope it\'s the start of better harmony inside the Vermilion Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Seren discussed various matters with everyone, it was time for the meal. In the hall, a dining arrangement was made for everyone to eat together. Multiple tables and chairs were arranged.

When the meal started, Seren could feel a few gazes directed at her from some of the women.

"What happened?" Seren asked.

One of the women answered, "Apologies, Your Majesty, if we offended you in some way."

"You did not. Speak your mind."

"We were thinking, it is inconvenient to eat while wearing a veil. We thought you could be comfortable with us as we are no outsiders. But we do not mean to imply anything. Your Majesty can ignore us," the woman said hesitantly.

Seren smiled under her veil. "You are right. You all are no outsiders." With that, Seren removed her veil in front of everyone. "Is it fine now?"

Everyone, as if in a daze, looked at Seren. No words could come out of their mouths, as if they were all frozen.

"What happened?" Seren asked. "Is there anything on my face?" She touched her face to check. "These scales, do not worry about them. They are ugly, but harmless."

Despite Seren\'s explanation, no one uttered a single word. Just then, Clarissa cleared her throat to bring everyone back to their senses.

"Your Majesty, you are so beautiful."

"You are as beautiful as a goddess."

"Yes, Your Majesty, why would you put a veil on such a beautiful face?"

"No wonder His Majesty won\'t stop you from using a veil. He wants to keep his wife\'s beauty only for his eyes."

The entire hall was filled with praises that left Seren speechless. Lady Tyra and Seren\'s servants smiled, knowing that everyone could now see that she didn\'t hide her face because she was ugly; instead, her beauty was enchanting.

Seren looked at Tyra for help. Tyra, who was sitting next to her, lightly slammed her hands on the dining table, enough to make everyone stop. Once they were quiet, Tyra said, "Please start eating, or the food will get colder."

Everyone started eating, though they couldn\'t help taking a peek at Seren once in a while.

"Our brother got such a beautiful wife," Onyx and Coral, Yavia\'s daughters, whispered to each other. Taisie and Ayira, Clarissa and Saira\'s daughters, sitting next to them, agreed as well.

"I will make sure those daughters of noble families see my sister-in-law and stop saying weird things about her," Taisie spoke.

"Your friends are annoying and spoiled by their families, sister Taisie," Ayira said.

"Yes, but we need to have them by our side as well. Mother says, though annoying, we need to get along with everyone," Taisie replied.

"Our mother says the same," Onyx and Coral commented.

Ayira, the youngest, pressed her lips into a thin line, "Our mothers are the same."

"How about we call them for tea and then let them see the Queen without a veil?" Taisie proposed.

"That is possible, but we need to get sister-in-law\'s permission," the others suggested.

"We will ask her after the meal."

After the meal, when everyone sat to enjoy tea, Lady Tyra made a declaration.

"Tomorrow, we have all the noble family ladies invited for tea, so Queen Seren can get familiar with them."

As if the four young princesses got what they wanted, they cheered up and asked, "Can we invite our friends?"

Lady Tyra turned to them, "Of course. Those are all the daughters of the ladies that will be invited. They can accompany their mothers."

The four sisters found a quiet moment with Seren.

"Sister-in-law, you are so beautiful."

Seren blushed lightly, as she was not used to receiving praises about her beauty. "Thank you."

"Tomorrow, will you remove your veil as well?" Taisie asked.

"Do I need to?" Seren asked back.

"Umm, you should. We want everyone to see how beautiful our brother\'s wife is and then shut the mouths of those who called you names behind our backs."

"They did?" Seren asked, not feeling bad but amused at how these young sisters of her husband seemed upset with what others said about her. Inside, she felt glad that they considered her family.

"What did they say?" Seren asked.

"Just random things. There is no need to pay attention to it," Ayira spoke.

"Yes. Once they see you, they will stop eventually," Onyx replied.

"Does it make you sad if they say bad things about me?" Seren asked.

"Of course. You are our sister-in-law, Your Majesty."

"Once, a lady from the Veron family said something about you to my mother," Taisie spoke. "My mother made sure to shut her down nicely. But they still talk behind our backs, and we feel bad."

"Yes, our mothers and we were there as well," the others chimed in.

Seren was surprised to see Lady Clarissa would take her side. "What was the talk about?"

"That lady said sister-in-law is cursed and ugly and that is why you hide your face," Taisie replied, feeling hesitant to say it.

"And?" Seren asked, amused at the talk.

"She said your father kept you locked away so you wouldn\'t bring misfortune to their kingdom. And now that you are here, they worry you will bring misfortune here as well," Onyx answered. "But trust me, sister-in-law, we do not agree with her."

"Yes, if our brother married you, then you are certainly a good woman," Coral added.

"What did Lady Clarissa say to the woman?" Seren asked, wishing to know what Clarissa thought of her.

Seren didn\'t hate Clarissa. After knowing the story from the past, she somewhat understood her and her bitter words and actions. To date, she had not revealed to anyone that Drayce was not Theron\'s son, which showed her loyalty towards the family. Even if King Theron had warned her, she could have revealed it in any other way to make her son a king, but she never did.

"Mother was displeased and told her: \'Ugly or beautiful, she is the Queen of this kingdom. Nowhere is it written that to be a queen, one should be a beauty. Even if she is cursed or whatever, our family takes care of it, and outsiders have no right to say anything. She is the Queen of this kingdom, and as a royal family member, I can punish you for saying such words about her.

In the past, the kingdom was said to have fallen under a curse, and the royal family was the one to take care of it while all of you tried to run away from this land. King Drayce\'s birth was a mark of prosperity for this kingdom once more, and you dare question his judgment and choice of a queen?\'"

Seren was shocked. "Did she really say that?"

"And there is more, but I can\'t recall all of it," Taisie spoke.

"Alright, tomorrow we will make sure no one talks bad about our family," Seren assured.

"Sister-in-law, brother Ruven is returning for winter break once his examination is over," Ayira added.

Hearing the name of the third prince, a pleasant smile painted on Seren\'s lips. It was time to see Drayce in the elder brother role.

Onyx, Coral, and Ayira were called by their mothers while Taisie, looking a little sad, started walking away after she bowed to Seren.

"Taisie, what happened?" Seren asked.

"Once Ruven returns, everyone will be together as always, except brother Keiren. I wish he could be with us as well."

Seren could say nothing as she still didn\'t know what kind of person Prince Keiren was and what was in his mind.

While returning from the Vermilion Palace, inside the carriage, Seren asked. "Lady Tyra, what kind of a person Prince Keiren is?"

"I can say he is a good son and a good brother," Lady Tyra answered.

Seren smiled, "Just in a few words, you answered what exactly I wanted to know."

"I wish he could be together like other siblings of Drayce," Seren commented, "He must be lonely while staying away from the family. I was also wondering, he is older than Drayce, but still is not married."

"He is married," Lady Tyra answered, "and he married even before King Drayce."

"What?" Seren almost exclaimed. "Where is his wife. In the family tree you explained to me when I was new here, you never mentioned about his wife, or did I just miss it?"

"No. I did not tell you about her. Prince Keiren had refused to register as a royal family member and keeps her away from the capital."

"Who is she? Which noble family?"

"She is from ordinary noble family, without any power. Or more like a commoner."

"I thought Prince Keiren is ambitious and might marry someone of high status. Anyone would have married his daughter to him."

Lady Tyra sighed, "Sometimes it\'s difficult to understand someone entirely and Prince Keiren is like that. No one knows what\'s in his mind."

"Lady Clarissa, did she accept it?"

"There was no point in it as Prince Keiren married that girl without letting anyone know and lives with her in the territory he is a Lord of. Just like us, Lady Clarissa had not seen her either."

"Can I meet his wife?" Seren asked.

"Seems impossible, but who knows?" Tyra commented.