Chapter 200: Ready For The King's Duty

Note- Due to the adjustment in the chapter length, some part of the content of the previous chapter has been shifted down to this one, but rest assured, nothing extra has been charged.

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Tyra smiled back as she came out of her own thoughts about this young queen."I have arranged a nice morning meal for Your Majesty, highlighting the special delicacies of our kingdom. Please follow me to the dining room."

Seren looked at Dusk to bid it farewell. "Go have your meal too. I will see you soon." After saying that, she followed the old woman out of her chamber, where Tyra led her way to the lower floors before stopping in front of a huge door on the ground floor.

A knight opened a door, and it opened into a huge luxurious room with crystal chandeliers. Seren stepped inside and curiously observed the room. She didn't have to enter this room the previous night because she already had her meal during the journey, and she was too tired to eat when they arrived.

The dining hall had a long rectangular table made of polished redwood in the center, yet it had only two chairs at the opposite ends of the table, which showed it was meant for only two people—the King and the Queen, respectively. Various silverwares were arranged in the middle of the table, which were covered with a lid. 

Lady Xena and the other ladies-in-waiting stepped inside. One went to the nearest chair and she pulled it out for her queen. "Your Majesty, please have a seat."

Seren sat with a slight nod of her head, and Lady Xena moved to serve her food on a silver platter while Tyra spoke, "I hope the food is according to Your Majesty's liking. If there is something Your Majesty wishes to change or add, please let me or Lady Xena know."

Seren nodded again while Xena and other ladies in waiting started to serve the food. Seren observed them; their movements were smooth and elegant, and they were careful not to rush for anything. Once they were done serving her food, they stepped aside and stood with their heads lowered. 

"I would like to be alone," Seren instructed. 

She was not used to having her meals with others around. Even when she went through this long journey, she always had food alone except for the few moments when she only had to eat some wild berries or fruits whenever they had to make a stop somewhere random.

"Your Majesty, please take your time, and if you need something, please call for us," Tyra informed her and, along with her Xena and the other ladies-in-waiting, she left the dining room, closing the door behind her. 

Seren removed the veil from her face as she was able to do so now and started eating the food. On their journey towards the capital, they had stopped several times in the cities along the way, and thus she was already familiar with the food preferences of people living in Megaris. Though their food tasted different,  it was not bad. Just her taste buds were not used to the heavy spices, as it seemed they like spicier food. 

'It's at least better than eating something cooked by myself,' she thought and continued eating. At first bite, every dish made her mouth burst with flavors, but as she kept eating, she found them enjoyable. Thankfully, the soup and rice were made available in every meal to help her wash away the strong flavors, somewhat like in Abetha. On the contrary, the chefs of Megaris placed more emphasis on meat dishes, and there were fewer vegetables or fresh fruits on the sides.

'It's in fact delicious,' she thought as she finished with a satisfied smile. Once she was done drinking water and putting her veil back, Seren stood up and went out where everyone was standing attentively. 

"Your Majesty, do you wish to rest some more after the meal or wish to tour the palace?"

"Tour the palace?" Seren asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. King Drayce instructed me to show you the entire palace if you feel interested to do so," Tyra added. 

'Sitting on the balcony is something I can do later or tomorrow. It's good to visit the various places in the palace first,' she thought and said, "I would like to tour the palace."

Lady Tyra guided her way out, and ladies-in-waiting followed them along, while Eva and Marie entered the dining hall to clean up.

The young Queen of Megaris was still unaware of what it meant to be the queen of the strongest and largest kingdom in the continent. She had no idea of the people lurking behind the walls, ready to watch her every move and listen to each and every word she would say; some to curry her favor, others to find fault with her, but all with various thoughts on their own. She was not ready to understand the various complexities of what it meant to be a queen, a ruler, the mother of the kingdom.

As she stepped out of the royal residence, Seren curiously yet quietly glanced around to survey the massive palace grounds that belonged to her, ignorant of how much power and authority she held in the place she would soon call home. 

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Back when Drayce was still a prince, it was normal for him to rise early and occupy the training grounds to practice his swordsmanship before the knights could even start their daily morning training. Waking up at dawn was a habit he carried over even after he was crowned king. As such, while the Queen of Megairs was still deep in her sleep, the King of Megaris was getting ready to start what he knew would be a busy day. 

After returning to his own chamber, Drayce had no need to order his servants to prepare his bath, as they had already finished it the moment he stepped inside. Unlike the Queen's chamber, the King's chamber was an extremely large room that took up an entire floor, with a personal study, a small gallery, several side rooms of important documents, rare books, and his collection of weapons, among other things, attached to the main bedchamber. At the moment, Drayce headed straight to one of the side chambers where a lavish royal bath was located. 

Steam could be seen coming out the moment his servants opened the side chamber for him.  The floor was caved inwards, with a set of rustic steps made of wood sloping downwards towards the square-shaped pool made out of volcanic rocks in the center of the room. 

From the glass wall on one side of the chamber, the first rays of sunlight had started to enter and fall on the water, causing its surface to sparkle. Drayce unceremoniously removed his robe and stepped inside the bath. His long black hair clung to the muscles on his chest and shoulders after he lowered his body in the water. Drayce soaked himself inside the bath, his gaze fixed at the view outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window, smiling to himself as he remembered about the innocent talk he had with his queen the previous night. While her cluelessness would have made many men annoyed, everything about her only made him smile. 

"Adorable little kitten," he mumbled in a daze. "It will be fun to teach you everything… My innocent Queen…my wife...my family."

Chuckling to himself, Drayce covered his mouth with a hand, but he could still feel the large silly grin under his palm. It felt unreal—this warm happiness inside his chest. He had forgotten when he had last felt this way. Perhaps when he was a child? He was never able to be truly happy after his mother was gone. This all changed due to Seren. Now, he finally had someone who he could cherish as family. 

The Royal Family of Ivanov had many descendants, and yet none of these blood relations were people Drayce could sincerely call his family. It could be said that this was the true nature of the royal bloodline, where familial ties were rare, and only power, wealth, and benefits reigned supreme. 

His father and the previous king of Megaris, King Theron Ivanov, had never been someone he could see eye to eye with, always treating him like an outsider. Back when he was young, rumours had spread within the high nobility that Drayce was the devil's son and not his real son, thus the poor treatment he received despite his astounding talents with the sword. 

King Theron had lots of wives, and his consorts and concubines bore him many princes and princesses, but Drayce could never consider them his family. Many of them were scheming for the throne with blades behind their smiles, and they would have succeeded in claiming his life if Drayce had made one wrong step. Without his mother and lacking a strong background and political supporters, Drayce grew up as an outcast prince. If it weren't for the promise King Theron made to the devil, he would have never agreed to make Drayce the king of Megaris when he turned eighteen.

'But I am not alone now.'

Drayce finished his bath after relaxing himself in a pool of hot water. As soon as he got out of it, a servant offered him a red fabric to dry himself, while another servant helped him put on a clean robe. 

Donning the soft bathrobe, Drayce entered his wardrobe while his servants trailed after him. Inside, a smart-looking middle-aged man in a tailored black suit wearing a monocle gave him a slight bow.

"I hope His Majesty had a nice bath," said the older man. 

"Never had one so relaxing before, Orien," Drayce replied. 

Orien, the King's personal attendant,  smiled lightly. "Seems like Her Majesty's arrival will bring happiness to the palace."

Drayce just smiled while the two young servants who wore similar clothes as Orien started to help Drayce with his hair and clothes. Orien, meanwhile, pulled out a scroll and read out loud the king's schedule of affairs for the day. The familiar droning voice confirmed to Drayce that his vacation was over. It was the time for him to remind the kingdom that its ruler had returned to attend to his subjects.

As he would be attending the royal court, he was dressed more formally today. The upper half of his long hair was tucked high at the back of his head with a golden hair ornament. He wore a perfectly fitted long-sleeved black garment with a high collar secured with the star-shaped golden crest below the neck. Two golden chains hung from the crest in the middle of his chest towards the left shoulder. His dark clothes were lined with pure gold at their hems, and even his ceremonial scabbard attached to his waist was of the same appearance. The black and gold ensemble hugging his tall and well-built body made him appear more imposing and heroic. 

Just as the servants brought a heavy black cloak which signified the absolute power wielded by the King of Megaris and arranged it over his broad shoulders, a certain someone arrived in the King's chamber. Drayce smiled lightly as his sharp ears already informed him who was the one coming to see him. After all, not just anyone could enter the dwelling of a royal.

Before that person could step inside the side chamber, Drayce spoke in a somewhat teasing tone, without even turning to look at the person, "You have finally graced me with your presence, Jasper."

The footsteps paused, and he caught a low mumble normal humans would be unable to hear. "Tss. I wonder whose fault it was that I have to run everywhere for work."

Orien and the servants looked at the door and bowed towards the young man who had just entered the side chamber. 

The young man was in his mid-twenties, the same age as Drayce, and was wearing a dark brown coat over his white inner shirt and dark brown waistcoat. As per the norm for those living in the north, he was wearing warm clothes with gloves and long boots. However, unlike the style preferred by the nobles of Megaris and Griven, his dark hair was cut short, only about an inch or so from his scalp. 

His thin lips had no smile on them, but his brown eyes looked happy to be in the presence of his king. 

"Your Majesty, the Dragon of Megaris, your impeccable ears always save this poor overworked soul from the trouble of getting permission to meet you," the young man called Jasper commented in a casual tone. Although he spoke more like a scholar who loved poetry, he was a tall man with strong thick brows and well-carved facial features that made him worthy to stand alongside his devilishly handsome and charismatic king.

Drayce turned to look at Jasper. He somewhat found his aggrieved appearance funny. "Next time, I will make sure to inform the knights to make you stay in the waiting room unless you get prior permission before visiting me." 

Jasper merely stared at him, his eyes accusing, and Drayce excused the servants, leaving the two young men alone inside the side chamber.

"So? What brought you here that couldn't wait till after I had my morning meal?"

"Congratulations on your wedding, Your Majesty," Jasper offered his good wishes. "My family's wedding gift has already been sent to your study."

"Why so formal and polite, Jasper?" Drayce asked as he smirked. The two of them had basically grown up together, and he knew that the young man was sulking even without him saying a word.

Jasper frowned. "I hope this politeness will melt your heart and you will let me take some time away from the mess of your kingdom." He added, as if with a grudge, "Your Majesty."

"Daydreaming is not a good thing, Jasper," Drayce countered as he stepped out of the wardrobe. 

Jasper followed him. "Losing my hair at such a young age is also not a good thing." Again, he stressed, "Your Majesty."

Ignoring his aide, Drayce went to get his sword and put it on the ceremonial scabbard on his waist. Of course, just as Drayce understood Jasper, Jasper also understood Drayce. 

The king's aide stood in front of him as he lowered his head to let Drayce look at his head. "See what you and your kingdom have caused me! My hair is not as dense as before. I had to cut my hair to even it—"

"What will you even do with your useless hair? It's not like the more hair you have, the smarter you get."

"Useless? Which good woman would like to marry a bald man? I'm only in my twenties! Don't you want me to have kids? I am the only heir of Duke Candace, the one to carry my family's bloodline. Like this, my family bloodline will become history!" Jasper continued to whine. "Your Majesty, don't ignore me!"

"If you are done whining, can we talk about what has troubled you so much? You did not explain the sensitive details in your missives," Drayce asked as he sat on the main chair in the sitting room and signaled Jasper to sit in another. 

Jasper sat and sighed, "What do you expect, Dray? Those ministers indeed waited for you to leave for the battlefield so they could cause more trouble here in the capital. Those old rags will make me insane one day."

Jasper was one of Drayce's closest and most trusted people, a childhood friend who could address him by name and could talk casually with him. 

"I will take care of them," Drayce assured. "You must have prepared a pile of work for me already."

"After spending a month on the battlefield and another month of a long vacation where my king even found a wife, isn't it right to pay some attention to work?" Jasper countered. "I even came here first thing in the morning because who knows if you would play truant and leave me to deal with your royal court while you go to your queen. Don't think I don't know how your mind works!"

"I can expect nothing less from you," Drayce commented and stood up. He needed to go to his study to look into all the matters before he went to the royal court.

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