Chapter 5 - The Contact (1)

At that time, Yoani decided to make her presence known.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I can’t find His Royal Highness Rydan and Lord Zandic inside the forest,” Yoani looks around, her eyes tremble in fear but there’s hidden determination plastered on her bearings, she takes a deep breath as her head thoroughly reminds her that she will regret her decision later.

“Forgive me for my impudence, I think Daughter of Qye needs a medicine, Qeeup perhaps?” her voice shakes a little, but words keep flowing through her lips, “the drink Lady Byrl used to take around winter, perhaps Daughter of Qye would like to follow me to the glasshouse behind the castle and pick out the ingredients, I would gladly prepare hot water for her to mix the herbs with, if you would allowed me,” Yoani offered, eyes glancing between Elleryn and the King of Suttern.

Not just rude, it is out of her line to suggest helping Qye. However, Elleryn needs those herbs. In the Land of Qye, Elleryn doesn’t need the herbs, because witches cast a spell around the land, that way snow never hit Qye. Now it’s different, Elleryn needs the herbs badly.

Arax was about to shout at Yoani for having the audacity to offer help to Elleryn, how dare she is?

But Edra is the first to say something.

“Take her. She seems to need the herbs, I’m sure I can arrange the date with The Queen of Qye. Besides, the Crown Prince is not present as well, so it’ll be alright,” Edra reasoned out. Her eyes shifted to Elleryn and a smile stretched on her lips, “I think you need those herbs, my dear,” Edra instructed, gesturing to Elleryn to follow Yoani.

Elleryn nods, stands and slowly walks towards Yoani. Elleryn takes her hands and leaves the hall, leaving the hell hole behind, and shutting the door.

"Thank You," whispered Elleryn, smiling at Yoani. Yoani smiles back, showing her hidden dimple, she helps Elleryn with her step towards the back of the castle, the place where the glasshouse is filled with herbs and flowers.

Yoani is a twenty-five years redhead that had served Lady Byrl for 10 years before she passed away last month, she knows everything that comes down to a Daughter of Qye. In this case, she used to know everything about Lady Byrl. However, from now on her duty and loyalty would be for the girl beside her. The eighteen-years-old girl will reside at the same tower as Lady Byrl.

Yoani knows this girl's life would not get any better than this. Trapped inside the tower and only permitted to come out when she needs to gather energy or whenever she needs to protect the Kingdom. She had seen the days where Lady Byrl kept herself caged inside the tower, looking out to the forest from her windows, whenever Yoani approached her, Lady Byrl would always turn around and smile towards her.

Yoani realized there is no meaning in that smile, because Lady Byrl's heart was crying inside.

Elleryn coughs and catches Yoani from whatever daydreaming she just had, she quickly turns towards Elleryn, guiding her step.

"It is late, but welcome to Suttern, Your Highness. I will be in charge of serving you, the next daughter of Qye, and I will make sure to attend to everything you need,” Yoani smiles. Elleryn smiles back at her.

“Elleryn, you can call me that,” Elleryn whispered, Yoani was a little bit surprised because she said the same words Lady Byrl said. When Yoani was first assigned to serve Lady Byrl, Lady Byrl had given Yoani permission to call her name instead of her title. She nods anyway, and just like Lady Byrl, Yoani likes her immediately.

She helps Elleryn take her step carefully, letting her stop and taking a deep breath before continuing, they arrive at the glasshouse within minutes of walking. Elleryn let go of Yoani's hand and took a step inside. She could slowly feel the surges of energy come out from the surrounding plant.

"This is Lady Byrl's favorite spot as well, she always stays here during winter," Yoani stated.

Elleryn nods in understanding, she takes a step deeper inside and searches with keen eyes for the herbs. A few selected herbs for Qeeup, hoping all the ingredients had bloomed and ready for picking.

"I'll be away for a minute and be back with a glass of hot water for the herbs mix, are you sure you will be alright alone?" Yoani asked, Elleryn turns her head, she nods and smiles at her, once again thanking Yoani for showing the path to the glasshouse.

Yoani bows her head and takes a step backward and turns around, leaving the girl inside the glasshouse.

• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •

Rydan walks towards the glasshouse, wanting that herb. The herb Lady Byrl usually gets him whenever he feels tired and out of breath. He doesn't remember the name, but he remembers how it looks, a blue rose with a little leaves covering the brown stem.

Zandic has decided he needs to find his mother, The Queen's little sister, Lady Guevyn, because she summons him now. And yes Zandic follows every order from his mother, like Zandic's father.

Inside the glasshouse, he finds a girl standing among herbs and flowers, searching for something.

She wears a white dress, though contrast with her pale skin, still seems to suit her. Upon hearing footsteps, she turns her head around and faces Rydan. Her eyes widen in surprise, finding him standing inside the glasshouse, but Rydan only raises his eyebrows.

"Why do you seem so surprised?" Rydan asked.

A servant shouldn't be that surprised to find me here, right?

Rydan thought to himself. Inside the castle, there is a different uniform for servants inside the palace. Red maintained the kitchen and dining, blue cleaning each assigned room, brown dealing with animals around the castle, and white with a black cloak had duty to maintain glasshouses and gardens.

Even though the girl wasn’t wearing a black cloak, she was wearing white clothes and happened to be standing inside the glasshouse, that signifies she's a servant, right? Rydan was sure that she was a servant in the glasshouse, that’s why question her state.

She stares at him, expressionless.

Rydan looks around and takes a deep breath, wanting to command the girl.

"As the Crown Prince of Suttern, I command you to find me one herb,” he commanded. At that exact time, she froze in place, seconds later she turned to look away, away from Rydan capturing black orbs.

Rydan looks bewildered, such reactions never happened before. As Crown Prince, every other girl had always tried to catch a single glance of him, those with dignified status and title would even dare to stand in front of him, head held high and flirty eyes.

But this one chooses to look away?

Is she even a girl?

Rydan clears his throat, trying to gather his mind, trying to remember his purpose inside this glasshouse. "I don't remember its name, but it looks like a blue rose with a brown stem that is covered by leaves," Rydan stated. She nods, still not looking at him, and walks towards the corner of the glasshouse.

Rydan makes sure to remember where she walks, that way he can find it by himself later on. Before she could manage to touch the herbs, her step had caught on slippery path stone and was about to fall, her head about to hit the stone below. Thankfully, Rydan was fast and within seconds held her inside his arm. Captive between strong arms, she could only depend on him for a while, then she takes a deep breath and stands still.

"Are you sick?" Rydan asked, concern coming out of his voice, a strange emotion for him. Because Rydan never feels concern for anyone before, but now he did.

For a mere servant.

"I'm sorry, winter is not the best season for me," she whispered. She holds Rydan's arm and about to remove it from her waist, but Rydan tightens his hold, captive her within his hold.

There's something about her that makes Rydan feel warm. Even though her arms are cold as ice, the urge to make her warm increased by seconds and the way she smells, it brought calm to his wolf, a never before situation.

In History, The King of Suttern could only take two women as a wife, Qye and a mate. Qye as an agreement between two families that had stood for centuries and mate stood to rule beside the King and produce an heir. Right that moment, however, Rydan didn't want anything but this girl. He wants her, as a wife.