179: [Bonus chapter]Admiring The Queen Of Megaris

[Bonus chapter]Admiring The Queen Of Megaris

Slack-jawed, his eyes went back and forth between Oriana and Seren. Oriana was misty-eyed, her lips slightly parted and her breath shallow, her heartbeats loud like a beating drum. She appeared enchanted, unable to pull her gaze away from the young queen.  1

Like a young man seeing his first love…?

Arlan didn't know what to say. 

Drayce happened to notice the same and his cold glare swept both Oriana and Arlan.

Oriana was unaware of the attention she garnered. She was in a daze because she recalled the Queen's inhumanly beautiful face from last night, but the real reason why her cheeks were red was because of the accompanying embarrassment. 

'Aah, I hope this goddess doesn't recognize me. I scared her last night. She probably thought the person in black came to her to abduct her or to kill her. I'm so sorry, it was an honest mistake—'

Drayce left his seat, moving towards his wife to block her from Oriana's fervent gaze. 

Arlan also stood up, prompting the end of their meal. With clenched fists, he slowly forced out a name.

"Orian?"

It pulled her attention towards him. "Y-Yes, Your Highness."

"You are not going anywhere today," he declared.

"Huh?" She finally got back to her senses. "What—"

"You are not going anywhere today," the prince repeated, his tone stiff. 

'Why is this petty brat not letting me go?' His aide lowered her head, confused by his current mood. "Y-Your Highness…"

"Prince Arlan, a person of your status must not easily take back your own words," the elf interrupted, earning a glare from the prince. "Orian is obviously excited to accompany us in touring the city. Must you make him upset?"

Before Arlan could say more, someone beat him to it, 

"Is Orian coming with us?"

The sweet voice came from  the purple-eyed woman standing by her husband's side. 

"It's great  to have Orian with us when we go out in the city," Seren said. "The new supplements he recommended works well. Even Martha praised him. I plan to reward him, but I don't know what he wants. I hope Prince Arlan will let us borrow his aide for today."

Arlan could not say 'no' to Seren, not under the gaze of her husband. He could only give up. "My aide will be under your care, Your Majesty." 

Seren looked at her husband, "Well then, are you heading for the conference?"

"We are. Be careful when you go into the city," Drayce replied with a warm smile. "Slayer will be with you." 

Meanwhile, Arlan gestured for Rafal to step forward. "Go with Orian. Make sure he stays away from troubles."

"Your Highness?!" the knight blurted out in response, but he immediately corrected himself. "Rest assured, Your Highness."

'Am I his kid that he is sending his knight to keep watch on me?' Oriana could not help but be surprised as well. Why would the prince assign a royal knight to watch over a mere peasant? It did not make sense.

Her master glared at her. "Remember to behave."

Since he allowed her to leave in the end, she gave him a sincerely grateful bow. 

"Thank you for allowing me, Your Highness."

Arlan didn't respond and walked ahead as his guardian knight, Imbert, followed him. Drayce  left as well, with his other knight, Azer, trailing behind.

The elf threw a smile at Oriana. "Change out of your uniform, then meet us outside."

Minutes later, luxurious but unmarked carriages left the Royal Palace of Othinia. Seren was sitting inside the first carriage, while Oriana was sitting in another carriage with Seren's lady-in-waiting, Lady Xena. 

Oriana had a pondering look as they passed through the palace gate, her thoughts lingering on one of the servants of Seren who did not go with them. She felt a strange pull from the young woman, a similar pull she felt with Martha. 

'Does that mean that servant is a witch as well?' She felt confused. 'Are witches more common than I thought? Or does the Queen of Megaris like to gather witches as her people?'

They reached a bustling marketplace, but it was one unlike anything Oriana had witnessed before. 

The square was sprawling with men and women clad in fine silks and ornate jewelry, obviously people with high social standing or extraordinary backgrounds. There were shops, stalls and booths lining the roads, showcasing a vast array of extravagant goods and services specifically tailored for the noble clientele. Even the merchants were lavishly dressed.

When Seren stepped out of the carriage, she appeared to be just one of the hundreds of young noblewoman shopping in the market, not a foreign queen. She was wearing the clothes of an ordinary Othinian lady, a purple satin top with printed motifs and an equally colorful long skirt, in order to hide the fact they were visitors from a foreign land. However, due to her face being covered with a veil, her appearance still caught the attention of a few passersby. 

Her lady-in-waiting was dressed similarly in order to blend in. As for Oriana and the men, they also wore Othinian-styled clothing, complete with multiple accessories, albeit they chose more neutral-colored fabric in order to not stand out. For Yorian's silver hair to go unnoticed, he replicated Oriana and wrapped it with a dark fabric.

As their group walked on the market road, Yorian and Oriana were in the lead, with  Seren and her lady-in-waiting in the middle.The two knights were following behind to guard the rear. 

Oriana excitedly took in the atmosphere, the little child inside her unable to wait exploring the city. 

"This city seems more crowded than Karlin," Oriana commented. 

"It's because in Griven, its political capital and its economic capital are different. While for Othinia, Nefer is both its political as well as economic capital. All the businesses and big merchants of the kingdom are here and thus, the more people there are."

Oriana was surprised to hear Seren's explanation. She  hurriedly bowed to her. "Thank you for answering, Your Ma—I mean, my lady."

"It's alright."

It might be her imagination, but the Queen's eyes were smiling at her. She could not help but sigh in admiration as she watched Seren and Xena walk towards a jewelry shop. 

'She is not just beautiful, but kind and knowledgeable as well. Ah, such an amazing lady!' Oriana could not stop being in awe of her. She watched her choosing among the pieces of  jewelry displayed on the counter. 'What does she need those for? She is more beautiful than any gem.'

"Lower your eyes," she heard a rough voice oozing with warning. 

Oriana turned to look at Rafal, whose displeasure was apparent. "How dare a peasant like you look at the Queen like this? Lower your gaze. If the King of Megaris happens to be here, your head would have been rolling on the ground by now, you impudent boy."

She awkwardly cleared her throat, but obediently lowered her head. 

'Is it bad to admire a lady? Not like I am stealing that king's wife.' But then, she observed the expressions of Rafal and that knight from Megaris. 'I guess it does look bad since in their eyes, I am a man.'

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