The Crown's Entrapment

Chapter 716  Small Bit of Hope

Xenia looked absolutely regal as she rode Pluto. Wearing her crown as the Queen of Cordon, Darius sat behind her, hugging her proudly and possessively.

"It's been a while since we rode one horse at the same time like this," Darius whispered into her ear while she was busy smiling and waving at her people. "Brings back a few memories, don't you think?"

"Long live King Darius and Queen Xenia!"

She could only nod at her husband's words as the crowds kept on cheering them on as their convoy passed by. It was like they were on a parade even if they were only there in simply passing as they made their way to their actual destination.

All around them, every Ebodian kneeled and bowed as they passed, showing their respect and gratitude for how Darius's support had helped their kingdom in fighting their war.

[We're gaining too much attention like this,] Xenia telepathically told her husband. [This is why I told you we should've traveled in our disguises.]

[But it's been a while since you returned to your birth kingdom,] Darius reasoned. [And besides, I want to take this time to parade my majestic and adorable wife around her own kingdom. I'm sure that like me, your people are also proud of you. I mean, look at how they've gone down on their knees and cheered you.]

[Hmmph! Stop exaggerating,] Xenia inwardly chortled.

Instead of answering, Darius only gave her a smacking kiss on her cheek without bothering about their surroundings. Predictably, Xenia blushed hard at the public gesture.

Quickly, she inwardly scolded her husband. [We're in public right now!]

[It's fine,] Darius teasingly remarked. [It's just that I love you so much that I don't mind publicly displaying my affection for you, my queen.]

Xenia could only shake her head even as she blushed at her husband's words. Then again, this should practically be normal to her by now.

Regaining her composure, she flashed her bright and wide smile to her fellow Ebodians, casually waving her hands at them, especially at the kids looking to see her passing by.

Their convoy went smoothly, and eventually, they passed through the Capital City to have a stopover on Castle Ebodia. Together, Xenia and Darius went to give and pay respects to her parents.

"Ah… There's been a lot of changes in Castle Ebodia since I was last here…"

Xenia hummed as they entered the majestic entrance of the castle. It was obviously protected and secured by a spell, and its defenses were all but guaranteed to hold even the most dangerous of enemies.

Entering the castle walls, her smile widened as they arrived in the main hall. Her mother and father were already waiting for them, and it almost took her all to stop herself from just jumping off of Pluto and rushing toward her parents.

"Mother! Father!" she beamed as she pounced on the two of them, both of them accepting her with open arms.

Her parents simply returned her hug as they embraced one another for far longer than was normal. After all, the last time she was with her parents was when she gave birth to the twins. Her mother and father had stayed with her in Cordon for almost a month before they eventually had to leave.

"We missed you too, dear," her mother whispered in her ear. "You should've brought the twins with you. You could've left them here for a while."

"Darius didn't want them traveling this early in their lives," Xenia explained. "But don't worry, Mother, we'll definitely visit you often once the twins learn how to walk and shift to their wolf forms."

Soon after, they broke their embrace, and Mineah couldn't help but notice a notable absence in the room. "Ezekiel already left?"

"Your brother is killing himself with too much work these days," her father sighed. "Yes, he left early with his convoy to make sure that the venue is safe. You should talk to him when you have the chance. Maybe he'll listen to you, Daughter."

Ezekiel had changed a lot ever since he succeeded in killing the Demon King of Helion, Devon. No one knew what was on his mind these days, but it seemed like he had confined himself to his own demons, refusing to let anyone in despite whatever good intentions they might have for him.

"I will talk to him then, Father," Xenia nodded with a sigh.

Another beat passed, and the rest of her convoy arrived, notably her best friend.

"Jayra!"

Her mother was quick to address her friend's arrival, and Xenia simply smiled as she watched Jayra exchange pleasantries with her parents. Lena and Bella then followed, the two of them being on their best behavior as they paid their respects.

"Come now. Let's all go inside and have a sumptuous meal before we send you on to your journey ahead," his Father commented as he casually patted her husband on the back.

With that, the two men went ahead while she followed behind them with the rest. Casually, they went on a tour through the castle, the newcomers clearly in awe at being in another castle other than Castle Cordon.

"Your Majesty, how come Castle Ebodia looks grander and more majestic than Cordon's?" Bella murmured as she looked around the exterior designs of the area they were walking by on their way inside the King's Palace.

Ebodia had four main entrances in all four cardinal directions. They had taken the usual path as they went straight to the entrance heading to the King's Palace.

"Well, Cordon is mostly inhabitant by werewolves," Jayra snorted. "Frankly, can we just admit that their main focus will always be fortifying the castle? Aesthetics will always be second to them."

Bella pouted. "It would be nice if our castle looked this grand as well," she murmured. "Ah, if only Osma-"

As if she had said something forbidden, Bella quickly stopped herself as she tilted her head down. "I apologize…"

Reassuringly, Xenia grabbed Bella's hand and gently squeezed it. "There's nothing to apologize for, Bella," she insisted with a comforting smile. "There's nothing wrong in remembering him from time to time."

She heard Jayra sigh, and Xenia was quick to elbow her friend. Somehow, they had almost forgotten… Osman… What if he was indeed the new king of Helion and was present at the Global Summit?

"He must be such a fine young man," Lena casually voiced out her thoughts. "I've heard a lot about him from Bella. Honestly, I was the one who encouraged her to freely talk about him. He may not be present physically, but there's truly nothing wrong in reminiscing about him. It may even help her move forward by gaining strength from her memories with him."

Xenia and Jayra could only sneak and exchange meaningful glances with each other. Both of them had the same dilemma.

"Am I wrong?" Lena hummed, turning to Xenia.

"Oh. No, Lena. You have a point," Xenia replied.

"Actually, everything's been really hard for me lately. For some reason, I can't still accept his death," Bella weakly murmured. "We found no body or any evidence of him dying… And with that, I couldn't help but still hold on to that small bit of hope that he's still out there safe and sound. That he would soon return… to me…".