Seren sat up in bed and declared, "I will call Mister Yorian to check on you."
"There's no need. I'm fine," Drayce interrupted, attempting to sit up, only to let out a groan.
"Dray?" Seren exclaimed, her voice laced with concern, but Drayce managed to sit up and insist, "I am alright."
She wasn't convinced as she had never seen Drayce in pain as if he was invincible man. Even after her fought with angels on the night of her eighteenth birthday and was gravely hurt, he never showed a sign of experiencing any pain. But, now he could not hide that means he was seriously hurt.
"No, you're not," she said firmly. "Stay in bed and don't move." She then called for a servant and instructed them to fetch Yorian.
After some time, Yorian arrived in the chamber, accompanied by Slayer and the Great Lady.
The Great Lady approached with a cheerful smile. "Good to see you awake. You have no idea how worried you've made our little girl."
Drayce looked at Seren with an apologetic expression. "It won't happen again."
Seren turned to Yorian, concern evident in her tone, "He seems to be in pain."
Drayce glanced at Yorian and dismissed her worries. "She's concerned over nothing. I'm fine."
"That is for me to decide," Yorian countered as he approached the bed. "I did not expect you to wake up so soon, given your condition last night. I must wonder if my initial diagnosis was incorrect or if some miracle occurred overnight."
Drayce glanced at his wife, noticing the traces of dried tears around her dense eyelashes, and he knew he had made her cry. He had always kept Seren's secret—the power her tears held—close to his heart, never revealing it to anyone.
He could not bear the thought of her sorrow being used as a remedy for others, nor did he want anyone to view her as merely a means to heal their ailments. She was a person, not an object to be utilized. If it were within his power, he would have refused her tears for his own healing, preferring to endure his suffering rather than exploit her gift.
"You must have misjudged the extent of a Dragon's self-healing abilities, Yorian," Drayce said. "It's alright to be wrong sometimes."
"Please, my Queen, my sweet Seren," he implored, his face melting into an even more pitiable expression.
Despite her attempts to maintain a stern facade, Seren couldn't suppress the laughter bubbling up at Drayce's exaggeratedly woeful expression. Her laughter was a clear defeat of her earlier severity.
"I'll take that as a yes," Drayce declared with a grin, gently holding her face to still her laughter with his hand and sealed her lips.
"Umm... I didn't say yes."
"I know your answers even if you don't say them."
Their playful banter continued, filling the room with light-hearted laughter until it gradually gave way to a quiet filled with softer, more intimate sounds.
Late into the night, while Seren lay asleep, Drayce received a discreet signal. Careful not to disturb her, he silently left the chamber and made his way to the lakeside.
"Why did you call me at this hour?" Drayce asked the shadowy figure awaiting him.
"I received a message from Oriana," came the response.
"What is it about?" Drayce inquired, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
"The last time she called for me was during the fullmoon in Othinia, and tonight marks another fullmoon," Yorian spoke as he looked at the bright moon, "I think Prince Arlan is facing the same trouble."
Drayce's expression shifted from calm to stern. "I will come with you."
"You've just recovered, and teleportation could be too taxing for you," Yorian advised. "I'll go first to assess the situation and report back. Then we can decide how best to proceed."
Drayce nodded reluctantly and watched as Yorian vanished into the thin air.
Left alone, Drayce gazed up at the moon, now luminous and full in the night sky. 'Arlan, you better be safe. Don't give me a reason to worry under these circumstances.'