"She would rebel soon if we don't leave her!" said Adrianna irritated at his stubbornness.
"Then I will kill her," replied isidorus in an ice-like tone.
Adrianna thought that perhaps this wasn't the right time to pursue the matter, so she left it. Besides she could see that they had reached the academy. This time when she went to the main gates, the iron guards kneeled down on the gate, as soon as she placed the golden card in its place. They did not get up until even Dmitri had passed through the gate. They had recognized Dmitri as the King of the Wizard Kingdom.
They reached the venue of the graduation ceremony. It was held in the garden just outside the main classes. The garden was converted into a rose bowl setting. There was a small podium in the center while there were seats all around in front of it that were placed in steps. It looked very stately. Adrianna was taken to sit amongst the students, while Dmitri was supposed to sit in the place for parents and guardians. There was no special place for him and as soon as he went there, the girls around him started blushing and ogling him. Wearing a white shirt, a blue pants and a white jacket, he looked handsome and royal.
Isidorus was guided by the professors to sit on the stage along with other members of the ministry.
Adrianna was sitting in the last row. The students were made to sit according to their surnames. After marrying Dmitri, she had officially taken his surname and was now known as Adrianna Volkov. She was sitting with the students who were all very fl.u.s.tered around her. They all congratulated him and she was feeling a little awkward now. She smiled at all of them. She noticed that on the stage Professor Ziu was sitting right next to Isidorus. The function started. Professor Ziu welcomed all the students and the guests and soon it was time for them to be handed the certificates.
"May I please call upon His Royal Magesty, Dmitri Volkov to present certificates to our passing out students?" said Ziu as he looked at Adrianna with a smile.
Adrianna's mouth fell. She would be receiving the certificate of her graduation from Dmitri! A non-wizard and a werewolf! And that too just because he was her husband? She chuckled inside and heard Dmitri saying, "See, I am in demand! Come to me wifey!"
There was a thunderous clap when Dmitri rose from his place and went to give the certificates. One by one, the certificates were given to the students. Many witches held his hand to shake it longer than needed making Adrianna jealous. She would every time ask him to leave the hand as soon as he had shaken with a witch. In fact he would leave it, but they wouldn't.
At last it was her turn. She walked to the stage with a smile on her face. She blushed a little when she looked at her husband. As soon as she reached there, Dmitri held her hand and shook it nicely. She tried to remove it, but he didn't let her go. Everyone in the audience was laughing at His Royal Majesty. He gave her the certificate, "Many Congratulations Wife, you deserve it more than anyone else!" Then he circled her shoulders and made her stand with him with a huge grin that was splitting his face into two.
Everyone stood to give them a huge round of applause. Adrianna deserved every bit if that. She remembered all the struggle, all the animosity, and the way she had to prove herself over the last few months. It was an overwhelming moment for her.
It was the firs time in the history of the Wizard Kingdom that the queen bowed in front of her subjects.
When the function was over, all the important dignitaries were called for lavish lunch. It was here that Professor Ziu came to meet Adrianna, who was standing and talking to the ministry members who had surrounded her.
"Many congratulations Adrianna!" said Ziu who was appearing tired.
"Thank you so much, Professor Ziu," replied Adrianna with a bow. "This couldn't happen without your encouragement."
He smiled and said, "Let me know if I can be of any help to you in the future."
Dmitri, who was standing right beside Adrianna looked at him with cold eyes.
"Yes, there is a way that you can help me, Professor Ziu," she said in an urgent tone.
"Sure, tell me what is it?" Suddenly he became very alert.
"I want you to take the position of the Prime Minister of the Wizard Kingdom."
Dmitri, Isidorus, all the ministry members and even Ziu himself, became silent for a moment.
Dmitri was furious. "What are you doing?" he asked her mentally.
She didn't reply to him and looked at Ziu waiting for his answer. The way she had spoken, it was like a command.
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Ziu after a moment of silence. He bowed in front of her.
"Come to the noble court tomorrow where I will be announcing."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
It was all so sudden that Ziu didn't know what else to do. Besides if Adrianna had asked him, he would do that, no matter what.
"What about the position of the academy's headmaster?" asked one of the ministry members.
"I would like Coral to take over the position of the headmistress," replied Adrianna.
Once again there was no sign of disapproval from anyone.
Isidorus wanted to question her decision, but then went against the idea. She must have already taken that decision when she was wearing the crown.
The function got over soon.
Dmitri wanted to talk to Adrianna about her choice of making Ziu the Prime Minister, but he thought that it would be too meddlesome. She had to make choices and he had to keep his jealousy in check.
---
When Dmitri was in the lake the previous night, it was neotides who were swimming in large numbers to cross the river to reach the point of attack. It had been three days now and they were slowly acc.u.mulating over there. In order to remain undetected, all of them were hiding on the trees, caves, pits and caverns in the jungle. They waited for the entire first batch to arrive. Reese was waiting for one more batch to arrive. The attack was supposed to take place the next night.