"We have finally found our Queen." As soon as the words left the King's lips, it became utterly chaotic. The people were no longer calm, and loud whispers erupted. Nobody except the King was smiling while the flames continued to burn in the cauldron, its demonic shadows falling on the ground. Winds started to howl, making people shiver in their place.

Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder, adding more to the direful atmosphere. Dark clouds hovered in the sky, with lightning flashing around them immediately.

Irene stood still, bearing with the harsh wind as she stared at the King, only to find him already looking at her. The intensity in his eyes stunned her, and she trembled slightly.

Soon, droplets of rain fell on the crowd, and people started to disperse, trying to save themselves from getting drenched. Duke Seymour held Irene's hand, pulling her with him while Reyna and the two guards ran towards them in worry. The coachman had already drawn the carriage for them, and the old Duke helped his daughter to get inside.

Irene stepped on the carriage platform. But before she vanished inside wholly, she turned back to look at the King, who had not stopped gazing at her. What she saw stunned her. His eyes held a conviction so firm that it was impossible to ignore. There was a promise in them, a promise that he would soon come for her. A promise that he was yet to fulfill, a vow he had yet to keep.

Irene could not bear the vehemence in his eyes, and she eventually went inside, with Reyna following her immediately.

"I will drop you home before I leave for the castle. I need to speak to His Majesty about what happened tonight." Seymour explained and ordered the coachman to start moving.

Irene had not heard a word he had said. All she could think of was King Kieran and his gentle eyes. They had longing, passion, and love, and Irene was uncertain what to make out of it. Even behind the mask, he conveyed such strong emotions towards her that it was impossible to ignore. His face was oddly calm, yet ecstatic. It was as though he had finally found his peace and happiness.

"Reyna, take care of her. Let her take a warm bath. She must have been tired from the days of events." Seymour ordered before he turned his attention to his daughter. "Irene, do not wait for me, dear. I might arrive home late. I have crucial matters to discuss with His Majesty. Please take a warm bath and eat your food on time. I will see you in the morning."

Irene did not register any of the man's words. Instead, she nodded at him blankly, agreeing with everything he said without objecting to it. Seymour dropped his daughter at the entrance before he left for the castle.

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The moment they saw their young mistress enter, the servants entered a state of frenzy. Some of the maids who had gone to attend the ceremony were yet to return. The others now dreaded the outcome, hoping their mistress did not realize their absence. Though it was not them whom she would find slacking off at work, they would be held indirectly responsible for it, equally befitting of any punishment their young mistress had in mind for them. And it was this punishment that scared them.

But all their prayers were in vain, for the moment their young mistress entered the mansion, a few maids came running from outside. They were completely drenched and they were panting heavily. They stopped short when they saw their Lady inside the mansion, looking at them.

"Milady," The maids dropped to their knees right in front of Irene, bringing her out of her reverie. It was only then did she realize that she was back home. "Please forgive us, Milady. Please forgive us." The maids cried, and Irene gave them a puzzled look.

"Why are you apologizing? What happened?"

"Milady, we went to the ceremony against your orders. Please forgive us." The maids hung their heads low as they begged for mercy, while Irene had no idea what they were talking about. All she could focus on was they were kneeling in front of her on the cold floor, soaked to the skin.

"Please get up, all of you. You might catch a cold. Get up." She stepped away from them, giving them the space to stand up.

"Milady, we will not stop kneeling until you forgive us." One of the maids spoke, and the others nodded in agreement.

"You have done nothing wrong for me to forgive you. You went to the ceremony because you wanted to. It is your right as a subject of Rothnia to attend the festival. Please don't ask me for forgiveness. You have not committed any mistake." Irene stated, cursing Sylvaine a hundred times in her mind for being an arrogant brat. Her past action affected Irene, and she was left to mend and correct all her wrongdoings.

"Milady," The maids looked at her gratefully, and Irene rolled her eyes at their astounded expression.

'I know I am amazing. You do not have to give me that look.' She thought. "Will you all get up now, or do you actually want me to punish you or scold you for trying to fall ill?" Irene resorted to threatening at the end and the maids got up immediately. "All of you must be cold. Take a hot bath and drink some soup....I mean porridge. Drink some porridge. You will feel better."

Irene smiled at them before walking away with Reyna who was grinning in happiness. She was filled with warmth to see her Lady being this kind and thoughtful towards the other maids, unlike her previous self. 'I wish the Lady remains this way forever.' She thought silently.

"Reyna?"

"Yes, Milady?" She jumped in her place on being called her name loudly.

"Where were you lost? I have been calling you for a long time?" Reyna was just about to come up with a reply when she was interrupted. "Forget it. I wanted to know how the King could do what he did today. Does he have powers and abilities?"

Irene's eyes sparkled as she recalled all the movies she had watched about people with magical abilities. Just the thought was enough to send her excited yet scared.

Reyna bit her lip, wondering how to tell her the truth. 'Should I say it? Or should I wait for the Duke to tell Milady?' She thought and decided against the latter. "Milady, I am not sure about His Majesty myself. But all I can say is he is a formidable man, and those who have gone against him have met a dreadful end."