Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Drayce\'s response was curt, his tone colder than usual. "I view it as the Kingdom of Thevailes embracing a blind king for the first time."

"Spectacle, indeed," Yorian remarked with a hint of amusement.

At that moment, Seren descended the staircase, capturing Drayce\'s unwavering attention. As she reached him, he wasted no time in offering his praise. "You look beautiful, my Queen."

"Thank you, Dray," she replied warmly, light blush covering her cheek under the veil. So many times he had said the same thing but every time it felt different and new to her.

Yorian, with a teasing smile, gestured towards a veiled woman standing a few steps behind Seren. "And who might this other enchanting lady be?"

Seren introduced her, "She is Oriana."

Yorian chuckled playfully as if acting like he didn\'t know that was Oriana, "No wonder she captivates, even with wearing a veil."

Drayce shot Yorian a warning look. "Perhaps you should redirect your gaze to more appropriate matters."

Yorian, unaffected, chuckled seeing him warning him on his friend\'s behalf. "Prince Arlan shall reward you for being such a good friend." He then looked at Oriana, "You are truly beautiful. Be careful at the ball," he advised before departing the foyer.

As evening draped its veil over the land, elegant carriages began to line up outside the royal ballroom. Delegates from the ten kingdoms, along with high-ranking nobility, gathered within the grand hall of the Royal Palace of Othinia. The lords and ladies adorned themselves in extravagant attire, each outfit a reflection of their kingdom\'s rich culture and heritage.

Upon Drayce and Seren\'s entrance into the ballroom, a gentle murmur rippled through the crowd. Their presence naturally commanded attention, not only because of their status as the King and Queen of the most powerful kingdom on the continent but also due to other intriguing factors.

Drayce, with his striking red-eyed appearance, drew curious gazes, though some whispered disapprovingly about his tardiness, being the last to arrive among the attending kings. Little did they know, this king was patiently waiting for his wife to get ready.

Meanwhile, Seren\'s presence sparked whispers fueled by rumors—she was the infamous cursed princess of Abetha, cast aside by her family and wedded to the equally notorious Devil of Megaris.

Undaunted by the scrutiny, Drayce gallantly escorted his wife down the grand staircase of the ballroom. Gradually, the gathering crowd began to approach them, offering greetings and salutations. Yet, Drayce\'s gaze scanned the room, seeking out a particular king amidst the mingling guests.

As the crowd dispersed, Drayce\'s eyes finally settled on a familiar and welcoming figure. Arlan stood before him, ready to exchange pleasantries, but his attention seemed captivated by the veiled woman standing behind Seren.

Arlan had already recognized Oriana, his focus unwavering as he paid no heed to the royal couple standing before him.

"Are we obstructing your view?" Drayce quipped, playfully attempting to redirect his friend\'s attention away from the veiled woman.

"Hmm," Arlan replied noncommittally, offering some passing remarks before his gaze drifted back to the veiled figure beside Seren.

Seren stepped aside, pretending to hug her husband\'s arm a little closer to her, though her real intention was to stop blocking Arlan\'s view of his mate. Afterall she had made all these efforts so Oriana and Arlan could be together as a man and his cherished woman and not as a Prince and his servant.

She even went ahead and introduced the two with Oriana given the fake name of lady Ria Burton and position of Seren\'s lady-in-waiting. Arlan continued to act as if he didn\'t recognise Oriana.

Just then, Cian arrived, having been abandoned by Arlan the moment he caught sight of Oriana in the room. "Prince Arlan, abandoning me without a word? To think you\'d even patiently wait for your turn to greet these two," Cian said, his tone civil despite the playful glint in his eyes as his gaze swept past Oriana, "is there an urgent matter that requires your attention?"

Arlan met Cian\'s gaze squarely. "I believe it\'s Prince Cian who has pressing matters to address. Perhaps you should focus on your own affairs rather than meddling in mine."

As if on cue, Cian glanced in the direction of the people gathered near the far end of the hall, a vague smile hanging on his lips.

The presence of Princess Ayira Nefertiti of Othinia captivated Cian from the moment she entered the room. Clad in traditional Othinian princess attire, she exuded an unmatched beauty, a stark contrast to her bold and untamed demeanor outside in the wilderness. Here, she embodied the epitome of royal refinement, accompanied by one of her brothers, the second prince of Othinia.

As others gradually dispersed, leaving only King Drayce and Queen Seren of Megaris, with Arlan lingering by their side due to Oriana\'s presence, a silver-haired king approached them.

"Good evening, King Drayce," he greeted warmly, his gaze momentarily captivated by Seren\'s stunning purple eyes. "Your Majesty, Queen Seren."

Just as he had heard, this woman truly had the most beautiful eyes and even her presence felt pleasant. The way she looked at him, he could guess she was wary of him and it made her eyes appear even more beautiful like an innocent kitten. That portrait he had, could not capture the true beauty of her eyes. She must be a true beauty.

He felt like removing that veil from her face and taking a look at her beautiful face.

Drayce, ever vigilant, stepped forward, subtly obstructing Samer\'s view of Seren, and returned the greeting. "Good evening, King Samer."