The Crown's Entrapment



At Ebodia Kingdom

"Ah, it feels good to be back," Jayra burst out as she opened the window on her carriage and peeked her head out. "It's been a while since we've been to Ebodia!"

"Yes, you're right. But I'm still missing my twins," Xenia snorted. Unfortunately for her, Darius didn't want to bring their twins with them and thus left them in the security of her mother-in-law, Savannah.

Chuckling, Jayra then properly sat back in her seat and said, "Well, I perfectly understand your sentiment, Your Highness. I guess it's not only me who's been this excited all along."

Xenia followed Jayra's gaze and smiled upon seeing how Bella and Lena were peeking out of their own windows as well. They had just passed the Northern borders of Ebodia, and they were now well on their way to their next destination. Luckily enough, on top of being scenic, it was also the safest route for them to take on their way to the Haven Forest.

Somewhere along the way, Bella turned to Xenia with her lips stretched wide and asked, "Will it be possible for us to ride our own horse?" 

"Right, I agree. I will also ride my own horse out there in the wilderness," Jayra eagerly agreed with a twinkle in her eyes. "It's been a while, after all. And besides, we're already inside Ebodia. It's safe for us ladies to ride our own horses in our own territory!"

Xenia chuckled, "Fine then, but we'll need to have a stopover first for all of you to get changed into proper outfits to ride your horses."

"Are you going to join us then? I'm sure the Ebodians are all too eager to finally see their Princess as the Queen of Cordon," Jayra goaded with a scoff. "Give them a glimpse of you. I can already see how their necks would stretch out towards this grand carriage just to see you. Well, aside from them ogling and gawking at His Majesty, of course." 

Xenia chuckled at her friend's antics. In truth, she had already tried to insist on riding Pluto, but Darius objected saying that it would be wiser for the ladies to use the carriage while they were outside Cordon's borders. However, now that they've finally reached Ebodia, Darius would have less of a reason to deny their request.

[Love… I want to ride Pluto,] she hummed through their Bond.

[Alright. We're inside Ebodia now, so I don't see any harm in it,] Darius promptly replied. [I'll stop the convoy.]

In that instant, their carriage stopped moving, allowing them to get out and experience the wilderness of their home firsthand.

"That was fast," Jayra commented as their door swung open. 

Seeing the opportunity, they all went out one by one. Looking around, Xenia smiled when she saw her husband's outstretched hand to help her down the carriage.

[Do you need help in changing?] he inwardly offered. [I can do it for you.] 

Immediately, Xenia blushed, knowing the hidden meaning of his words. [Stop that. We're with the others,] she chided him with a pout. [I won't take long. And besides, Jayra and the rest are with me. They'll tease me to no end if I don't come with them. Also, today's not a safe day for me. Remember our agreement: no baby until the twins are at least three years of age.]

Darius chuckled at his wife's protests. Seeing that they were all stopped and situated, he announced to everyone, "We'll wait for the ladies to change into their horseback riding gear. Everyone else can rest for a while before we resume our journey."

Getting their signal, Xenia, together with Jayra, Bella, and some of their servants all headed inside the inn they stopped over for a while to get changed. Renting out a room, they all prepared themselves for the occasion.

"Wait… I don't know if I can ride a horse," Lena suddenly murmured just as they finished changing. .

Hearing their friend's worries, Xenia and Jayra suddenly halted midstep as they exchanged meaningful glances. They were already on their way to leave the inn, and it might already be too late to give Lena gear more suited for beginners.

Bella on the other hand, frowned and said, "We can ride together if you really can't, Lena, but you should still try and do it on your own to find out."

Xenia blinked at the suggestion. She honestly didn't know if Lena could ride a horse. She had lived for millennia inside the Element Forest as its guardian, so she could only assume that she knew how to ride a horse. But then again, she was a fairy during that time with her own wings, so maybe it made sense for her to not know how to ride?.

"Come now. Let's find out together," Bella hummed as she quickly pulled Lena outside with her. 

Left behind, Xenia and Jayra simply shrugged before walking right behind them to follow.

"Can she actually ride a horse?" Jayra curiously whispered to her. "I mean, you knew her back then, right?"

"I don't know either, but we'll see…" Xenia answered as she watched Bella assist Lena onto her horse.

The two of them simply watched as Bella and Lena got themselves situated in their respective horses. The latter was clearly uncomfortable even as the former helped her up, and Xenia couldn't help but smile at the sight before her.

"Is it just me who feels worried about this Global Summit? What if the Guardians' hunch were right? What if he… is really that new king of Helion?" Jayra couldn't help but ask after a bit of silence. "Why do I feel like these two women… I mean, I'm not a pessimistic person, but I'd feel very much at ease if Lena simply accepted Seth or even Master Kasper. But then she turned them down… Also Bella mentioned to me how Lena had this weird feeling as if her heart was already taken by another man."

"I think you're worrying too much. Remember that Lena's case is different. She permanently lost her memory. There's no way it will come back and the Guardians confirmed that," Xenia hummed as she reassured her friend. "Let's just hope that things go smoothly for all of us."

Not even waiting for an answer, Xenia then promptly got on her own horse, Pluto, casually letting the wind blow on her hair as she beckoned for Jayra to follow her.

"Of course, you say that," Jayra shook her head in mirth. "Very well. I'll just follow your lead then."

She sighed as she looked at her husband who was now approaching her. In regards to Helena and Bella... Although she was giving Jayra her reassurance, that didn't mean that she wasn't worried herself. Still, she trusted that things wouldn't become too complicated that they were unable to deal with them.

She could only hope that she could see Osman in the Global Summit. She didn't care if he was the new ruler of Helion so long as her friend was alive and well. Surely, there was a valid explanation for everything, and she and her husband fully intend to find out soon whatever it was that happened.