The Devil's Cursed Witch

After leaving Draven’s bedchamber, Ember hurried back to the southwest wing of the palace. Her face was still red with what Draven had said to her.

Her servants were inside her chamber, and not seeing their master inside, they wondered where Ember had gone so early in the morning.

“Do you think she went for a stroll in the garden?”

“In her sleeping wear? She didn’t even grab herself a coat–“

They were about to search for her, but just in time, the red-faced Ember came barging inside the chember, her chest heaving as she sprinted the entire hallway.

“Miss, are you fine?”

“Here, have a glass of water.”

“Yes, take deep breaths…”

After the servants managed to calm her down, Clio could not help but be curious. “Miss, where have you been?”

Ember didn’t answer as if she didn’t hear anything and went straight back to her bed. She lay on it while burying her face in the mattress and her feet dangling out the bed.

“…I need to tell him what I expect on the night of the full moon?” She felt like burying herself deeper into that mattress. “Why does he have to keep nagging me about such embarrassing things? Can’t he understand that I don’t want to say it? Does he not know shame?” She waved her legs on the bed like a little girl.

“Miss, are you alright?” Reya asked with a curious blink. The two servants, being elves, could hear her mumbling though her words were muffled by the sheets.

Ember groaned. “No, I am not.”

“What happened, Miss? Tell us. We are always on your side,” Clio affirmed. She recalled the face of the girl earlier. Her expression seemed like she’s panicking for some reason. Did someone scare her?

Reya struck her chest, as if to say that she was a reliable big sister. “Did someone bully you? We will go to that person and give whoever that is a piece of our mind–“

“It’s His Majesty,” Ember answered, still burying her face in the soft sheets.

The two servants froze. Then, they looked at each other and wondered if what they were thinking was right. They didn’t know what to ask or say to her exactly.

“Uhm, Miss, do you need something?” Clio carefully asked. “Do you want me to call for Dame Yula?”

Ember sat up in bed and shook her head. “I will just have a bath.”

The servants nodded and left while Ember no longer attempted to hide her true emotions. Her small face flitted between annoyance and embarrassment, and in the end, she groaned once again before burying her face on the sheets.

‘Having a bath might calm me enough to think how to handle what he asked me.’

——

When Draven went to his study, Wind Fae Melion was already waiting for him with a report.

The blond man with gossamer wings on his back greeted the King, “This servant greets His Majesty the King of Agartha.”

Draven simply raised his hand in a dismissive gesture and sat behind the desk, casually leaning on his armchair. “Any news about that woman?”

Melion straightened himself and replied with an apologetic expression. “Unfortunately, our scouts are yet to find any woman with purple eyes outside Agartha. We have covered all the kingdoms in the west and are now focusing on the central and eastern regions.”

Draven lifted his hand and a one large scroll came flying towards his hand from the honeycomb-shaped shelf on the other side of the study. The next moment, the parchment spread and a map of the continent was spread on his desk. Draven pointed towards a certain part on the map.

Mallion observed the map and noticed fresh ink marks on the other side of the mountain ranges. “Your Majesty, this map is new? Did new kingdoms appear in the last decade among humans?”

“This part has been here for centuries. Our people merely never engaged with these southern kingdoms,” Draven answered. “These mountain ranges are the dividing line between the continent and the kingdoms on either side are not aware of each other’s existence. The kingdoms in the south call our region the Northern Barrens, not knowing there are more and older civilizations beyond these mountains.”

Melion looked fascinated. “Even I, Your Majesty, didn’t know these kingdoms existed. Megaris…Thevailes…Mivesea? If their histories are less than a thousand years old, then they’re truly young nations.”

“Tell the scouts and spies to investigate this region.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Make sure they are from the feathered races. These mountain ranges are difficult to cross and it would take the other beast clans months to traverse the distance. The feathered races can cross it by flying though it won’t be that easy. It would still take them days.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“Hold onto this map with you and make your own copies.”

Melion thanked Draven, and using his powers, he lifted that large map before shrinking it into a tiny object and disappeared on top of his palm.

—–

After a while, the Head of the Witches, the red-haired Cornelia Grimm, came to the palace as per the King’s order. Erlos informed Draven about her arrival and she was immediately allowed to see the King in his study.

“Cornelia Grimm of Honeyharbor Coven pays respects to His Majesty King Draven Aramis.”

Draven ignored the overly formal greeting as usual and gestured for her to have a seat. Cornelia sat in the chair in the lounge and asked, “Is there anything going on with Miss Ember?”

The witch was confident she was summoned for a matter related to the King’s mate, or else, there was no reason for the King to summon her suddenly.

Draven explained to her about what happened with Ember–the dream she had and the pain she suddenly felt in her chest. It was not due to any physical injury but due to something related to her power and seal on it.

“Will it be possible for you to look at her soul and investigate the reason?” Draven asked.

“I will give it my best, Your Majesty,” Lady Cornelia assured.

Just then, someone knocked on the door of the study, and before Draven could say anything, the door opened. Erlos opened the door while the female Moon Elf with him suddenly fell on her knees.

The two elves spoke at the same time.

“Sire, apologies for the rudeness but I let her in–“

“Something happened to Miss Ember!”

It was Clio who came running to the King’s study despite learning that he was granting audience to an esteemed council member. As she kneeled on all fours, she tried to catch her breath, her expression showing something terrible had happened to her master.

Draven stood up from his chair. “Where is she?”

“Her chamber…Bath…” She managed to say words in between gasps and saw the King vanished into thin air.

“What happened?” Cornelia asked the servant.