MEET THE QUEEN

The chariot arrived at the massive gate of the entrance to the palace of the Davenfords. The black gate widely opened. The bailey and a thick raven with a tinge of expensive golden carpet greeted them. Holding onto the handrail, Sumire was about to get off the carriage but Chadwick stops her through his stares. Sumire nodded telling him that she understood what her uncle Chadwick meant.

The carriage then drove into the palace and Sumire was overwhelmed by the awesome grandeur of the place when she got off the carriage. The glorious palace awaits them.

'Wow, I've never seen such kind of place.' Eyes sparkled in astonishment, Sumire felt like gods and giants dwelling in the palace.

Just at the gate they stop earlier, the massive structures were as tall as the buildings in Brethren City. How much more is the inside? Sumire felt nervous as the palace intimidates her for unknown reasons. Even before they entered the main entrance, she was already shaking with excitement. She first sated her eyes on the colossal walls towering that could almost reach the magnificent sky. That is no ordinary wall. It was built and set on perfection. Danger screams, horrors and tragedies are buried on those walls. The untold stories from the past were engraved forever in that mighty fortress.

Her dress sways gently on the breeze, Sumire ran closer to the wall even though it was far from where their chariot was. She was drawn to touch it and she did. Sumire felt as if she had become one with it, a magic was trying to absorb her. She pressed her right ear to the wall, she seemed to hear whispers that crept all over the cold wall.

"Are you sure we're not inside the fantasy book?" Sumire asked when she noticed Dreygur's presence behind her. It turned out he was tailing her.

"What are you talking about? No." Deeply amused, Dreygur chuckled and gently pinch the tip of the maiden's nose.

Sumire pouted, straightened up, and then faced her uncle. Her eyes searched for her uncle Chadwick but she didn't see him anymore. He seemed to have entered inside. Sumire turned her gaze back to Dreygur who was just staring at her.

"The wall is creepy yet beautiful! It's like I've been inside an abyss since we got here. I don't know what's real and not anymore!" Sumire exclaimed delightedly and Dreygur smiled.

"It means you like-" Dreygur was interrupted when Sumire suddenly ran past him. She saw her grandmother Zèlle coming out of the palace to meet them.

"Grandma!" Sumire shouted and immediately hugged her grandmother tightly with a smile.

With a hair of platinum, the Queen of North Le Frère was an embodiment of wise, remarkably intelligent, grace, and pure beauty even with her visible wrinkles. She welcomed her with a warm embrace and kiss the maiden on the cheek. Tears flowed like a river in their eyes. They obviously miss each other. The Royal Highness class knights swarmed them. The distance between them was large enough to prevent anyone who would attempt to approach their Queen.

"You've grown into a fine lady, my Sumire." Queen Zèlle smiled as she sweetly whispered into her granddaughter's ear. Neither of them let go of their embrace. They remained in that position for a long minute. Both long to meet with each other.

"I miss you, Grandma Zèlle!" Sumire said as she buried her cheek in her grandma's chest. She was too excited to be with her. Amused, Queen Zèlle chuckled.

Chadwick suddenly faked a cough that caught both of their attention. Queen Zèlle and Sumire looked at Chadwick at the same time who was looking at them with a rigid face. Dreygur who followed Sumire after leaving him approach their place. A smile formed on his lips when he saw how happy Sumire was. His eyes sparkled with great joy. He couldn't help but feel happy for the maiden even though he had a grudge against his Auntie Zèlle who was the Queen of NORTH LE FRÈRE.

"You can continue that inside," Chadwick said sardonically. The Queen's knights were slightly alarmed and alerted. Through their serious looks meant to behead Chadwick any second because of the way he treated their beloved Queen.

Queen Zèlle just chuckled at her son's attitude. She is used to Chadwick's behavior and even though the knights keep witnessing his rudeness, the Queen is still amused. They are not used to her firstborn child's behavior. The Queen just nodded at her son and turned in her Butler's direction who was next to her, waiting for her command.

"Riot, have the maidservants prepare my granddaughter Sumire's room. Choose the most beautiful, spacious, and the best room for her." Queen Zèlle gave a serious but smiling order to her Butler who quickly obeyed.

Sumire was a little surprised when the Butler didn't say a word or respond to what her grandmother said. He just politely bowed and left to do what he was commanded.

'Right, the knights just bowed to us earlier, they didn't greet us when we arrived. No one speaks. It's like they already know what to do. They look technically programmed or something installed in their brain. They're probably not robots, right?' Sumire laughed at her thought.

"What do you want to eat, my little princess?" Queen Zèlle asked in a serene tone and full of tenderness making Sumire's single orb of tears roll on her cheek while staring at her grandmother.

Sumire felt her heart crushed when she remembered what her uncle Dreygur had said inside the carriage. 'She doesn't even get to be with Grandpa because of her duty, then something very tragic will happen to her when she has to give up the throne. Now, I want to know if her accepting the crown of NORTH LE FRÈRE is a curse or blessing for grandma.' She added, trying to stop herself from saying something while in front of her grandmother's knights.

"I want to eat the dishes you made for me, Grandma. I miss your cooking." Sumire softly replied and wipe the tears away from her eyes.

Queen Zèlle giggled and gently pinched Sumire's cheek which was already reddened. She stared deeply into her granddaughter's eyes. Even though Sumire tries to hide her problem, Queen Zèlle can see what she truly feels and what is inside of her through the maiden's eyes. Sumire felt vulnerable whenever she was with her grandmother.

"Let's talk later. But for now, you need a proper rest, especially since there is a reunion tomorrow and a festival the next day. You need to replenish your energy. Don't worry when you wake up, someone has served you I cooked in the Royal dining hall. I will cook all your favorite foods and the best dishes here at North Le Frère."

The Queen replied with a smile and a hint of vow can be heard in her voice. Sumire nodded. Without saying anything to the maidservants who had just arrived, they immediately escorted Sumire into the main door of the palace. The maiden wanted to protest but she noticed her Uncle Chadwick nodding at her so she just walked quietly inside.

When Sumire was finally gone inside the palace leaving the three of them, Dreygur spoke.

"Aunt Zèlle, I just want to inform you as the future King of NORTH LE FRÈRE, I want Sumire to be my wife."

Dreygur directly said with eyes full of determination. The Queen who had her eyes locked where Sumire entered statued on her place. Queen Zèlle didn't expect Dreygur to declare it. She also couldn't imagine her nephew who is the heir to the crown would say something like that. She never thought such a scenario would exist.

Queen Zèlle felt her words left from her lips. She was completely speechless. She couldn't say a word at the sudden confession of her nephew who was twice her granddaughter's age. No matter how calm she looks, a storm of emotion swirls inside of her.

"Does Sumire know this?" That was the first question that came out of her mouth. Queen Zèlle regretted her response. This is not what she wanted to say but those were the words that came out spontaneously of her lips.

"Nope. But I will announce it at the reunion tomorrow." Dreygur confidently said.

"How about the Massoullèves?" The Queen asked again. She silently prays none of the Massoullèves to know about Dreygur's plan.

"They don't know. And it doesn't matter." Dreygur quickly responded as the Queen breathed a sigh of relief.

"It does. She's still a Massoullève. You can only get my approval if Sumire and the Massoullèves will agree." Queen Zèlle said in a finality tone. Dreygur smirked.

"Thank you." He responded smilingly. Sarcastic. Chadwick, on the other hand, was just listening intently. He didn't react and just remained silent.

"With all the women in the world, why choose Sumire?" Queen Zèlle asked curiously.

"Let's just say she is the one fated for me. And she is destined to be the Queen of NORTH LE FRÈRE." Dreygur replied. Eyebrows slightly knitted, Queen Zèlle find his words difficult to decipher.

"I still don't understand you and I don't intend to understand what you're saying. If you really wish to marry Sumire, get the approval of the whole Massoullèves first, before you get mine...and that if you can get them to agree." The Queen said in a firm tone.

Chadwick immediately supported the mother, Queen, when she kneaded her temple and eyes slightly closed. Veins throb painfully in her head, she couldn't fathom in her mind why Dreygur desired her granddaughter. Her duty as a Queen doesn't stress her that much but her nephew does.

"Mom, go back to your room first. Don't think about what Dreygur said anymore. That's not going to happen anyway. It's impossible."

Chadwick said softly that even though there was a hint of concern in his tone, he still had no expression plastered on his face.

"Did you know this was going to happen? You don't seem surprised by what he said." The Queen asked her son. Both Dreygur and Chadwick were stunned.

"You didn't even worry about Sumire." Queen Zèlle added. Chadwick's grip on his mother's shoulder tightened.

"Mom-"

Queen Zèlle cut off what Chadwick was about to say and turn her back on him.

"I don't need your explanation." The Queen coldly said without throwing a glance and then quickly walked into the palace. The knights followed after her leaving Chadwick and Dreygur in the bailey, stunned. Both of them froze on their feet and fell silent as they followed the Queen through their gaze who had already entered.

"Damn it." Chadwick audibly cursed and glared at Dreygur at his place.

"Why did you have to say it like that?" He asked irritably and Dreygur frowned.

"Why do you mean by 'like that'?" Dreygur asked. He was confused and did not understand what his cousin was asking.

Chadwick stared blankly at Dreygur for a long minute. Trying to read his cousin's thoughts that he already knew was losing his mind. 'I should have killed this bastard a long time ago. But what can I do? I would lose my chance to become the King of the North Le Frère if I did that. Damn it.' said Chadwick in the back of his mind.

"You are no fun at all," Chadwick said unenthusiastically and left Dreygur speechless.

Mysterious by what his cousin said. Dreygur was about to enter the palace when his eyes caught his father who had just entered the gate. He did not go through the big gate but through the gatehouse. The man probably didn't want to get everyone's attention earlier. Smiling, the man in his late 60s approached his son who was waiting for him.

"Father, where have you been?" Dreygur immediately asked as his father approached his place. Archduke Zeno, a famous swordmaster of the monarch country and Queen Zèlle's number one loyal follower. He was overprotective of his sister, the Queen. Even the touch of a strand of her hair forbids anyone even the officials or they'll be amputated by his sword. If the Queen isn't kind and if she just lets Zeno do what he pleased, maybe all the officials working under her command won't have hands. Dreygur frowned as he scanned his father from head to toe. He is sweating profusely. And from the sound of his heavy black armor, his father was fresh out from training.

"Isn't it too obvious?" Archduke Zeno kiddingly said. Not sarcastic but a joke. One of his father's most disliked traits was his sense of humor. He can play along with the jokes without anyone don't even realize their head left their body whenever they pulled jokes that are below the belt.

"You must have heard what we talked about earlier?" Dreygur directly said without beating the bush.

Archduke Zeno was slightly stunned. True, he heard everything and he didn't like it. He could clearly see in his sister's face how she was against his son's desire to marry Sumire.

"Why don't you just look for someone else to marry? You have many concubines to choose from. Why Sumire?" Archduke Zeno asked the son. Dreygur let out a guffaw.

"You don't understand it. I mean love. You can't understand that thing because you and mommy were just arranged marriage. Even now, since I was born, I haven't seen you two talk. So don't question my decision about who am going to marry coz you don't understand what I truly feel." Dreygur answered in a firm and serious tone making his father wordless for a second.

"I still don't understand you. Let's say you love Sumire. The question is, apart from her Uncle she looks at you, are you sure she wants to marry you? That girl is probably in love with someone else." Archduke Zeno said. Face flushed in red, Dreygur erupted in anger and jealousy when he remembered Mort again.

"I will do everything to make what I want to happen. I'm in North Le Frère Dad, I can do everything I want especially since I'm the heir to the crown." Dreygur replied with his jaw and hands clenched. His father shook his head in disbelief.

"Sure. But the moment you hurt Zèlle just to get what you want, I'll have your head." Zeno said in a serious tone and left him. He will spare no one if someone hurt his sister, even his son. Dreygur was left in the place frozen on his feet.

While the tension is building inside the Davenfords' palace, Mort is boarded on the plane along with Sumire's cousin, Blanche. They were sitting in the luxurious lounge of his private jet.

"Are you sure about this?" Blanche asked worriedly. He can see how serious this hunk on his cousin, Sumire.

"Yes," Mort responded curtly and emphatically. Blanche sighed heavily. He doesn't like what will about to happen when they get there but he has trust in his cousin and Mort.

'Let's just pray that nothing bad happens to them.' said Blanche in his mind while looking outside the airplane that was getting ready to take off.

"Leroy," Mort called the young man's name in a commanding tone.

Leroy quickly stood up and went to the plane's cockpit to tell Klauss to depart. Mort didn't want anyone to go along with them but Blanche didn't agree to go there alone so they decided to have Klauss, Lyric, Leroy, Laurel, Yakov, and Narco on the mission. Leroy is the only one with them as Blanche found Narco and the others too loud especially since he is also doing lessons for his students when he returns to the Brethren next week. He needs to focus.

"This is your captain, Klauss. Gents, be ready for the ride way to hell."