"I will use my abilities to find my Irene." Kieran glanced at Seymour, who held a puzzled look on his face before he closed his eyes, mumbling words under his breath that the old Duke could not hear. Barely a moment had passed when he opened them again, and this time, his eyes had turned back to the shade he was well known for having, blood red and amazingly dark.

"Your Majesty, what are you trying to do?" Seymour queried from the side, completely lost by the turn of events. He could not understand what was happening and what his King intended to do. 'What ability was he talking about? How will he be able to find our Queen that way?' He wondered but did not dare to voice out his thoughts.

"I," Kieran faced him, his lips arching on one side. "Am going to put everyone to sleep." For once, he answered the old Duke, surprising him. Soon his surprise turned into terror when he realized what his King intended to do.

Duke Seymour did not doubt his King when he disclosed his plan to put everyone to sleep. Though he had no idea how he would do it, he knew for sure that he would do it. He had already seen his King perform many bizarre tasks, which were impossible even to envisage. But never had he witnessed him putting anyone to sleep. So, though he was skeptical and terrified of the idea, he wanted to see how he would do it.

But Seymour's wishes were unspoken and unheard for the next moment, Kieran snapped his fingers and immediately, the old Duke held his head, which had started to throb in pain. He tried to stare at his King, who was observing him with a serious expression. But all he saw was a blurred figure, and his legs gave away even before he knew it. His head hit the ground, and just like that, he lost consciousness.

Kieran squatted beside the old Duke and let out a helpless smile. "Please forgive me, Seymour. This is something I have to do. I will explain everything to you once I am done here and I hope you will understand." He stared at the unconscious man for a moment before he stood up and looked around him. One by one, all the people around him fell to the ground, meeting the same fate as Seymour and Kieran apologized to them a million times for taking this brutal action against them to find their Queen.

"Please forgive me, my people. I have to find my Queen, as only she can protect you from the ones that will not hesitate to kill you all when they wake up from their sleep. I know I am in the wrong. But it is to protect you all as well as to fulfill my selfish desire to find my Queen quicker."

Kieran slowly started walking, searching for his Queen amongst the unconscious crowd. His keen eyes did not leave anybody he could catch up on and soon, he had covered more than half the streets where the festival was in full swing a few moments ago.

'Was I hallucinating it? Was she my imagination?' He wondered, unable to believe himself as he ventured deeper. But even after covering the entire area, he could not find her. Frustration hit him hard and he ran his hand through his hair, looking around himself. 'Where did you go, Irene? Were you actually here or did I imagine you to be here?' He thought to himself, not knowing what had happened.

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'Either you were here and left the area before I activated my powers and put everyone to sleep, or I was just dreaming about you in broad daylight. Which among the two is true?' He pondered, annoyed by the turn of events as he traced his footsteps to where Seymour was lying asleep. 'Please let it be the former. I am sure you are here somewhere around me. I can feel it. Please do not make it otherwise."

Kieran was on the verge of losing his composure and his impatience was getting the best of him. But he controlled himself for he was in the presence of his sleeping subjects and he did not intend to harm them with his careless and reckless actions.

He had barely taken a step away from where he was when he noticed a silhouette lying further away from his notice. In his eagerness to find his girl, he had missed the group lying at his farther left and Kieran hurried towards them, his heart thudding in joy and hope. And the moment he saw the person he had been looking for all these years, lying on the ground blissfully, her beautiful face ever beautiful and charming as he had remembered, Kieran had the sudden urge to cry.

He dropped to his knees and held her gently, caressing her face softly as though she would vanish or break into pieces if he exerted even a little force. The feel of her skin under his was terrific and Kieran had never felt this happy before. He sat on the ground, not caring how dirty his trousers would be, and held the girl in his arms as a lone tear slipped from his eyes.

"Irene," He sighed in relief, delight, and, most of all, his unconditional love for her. It was impossible to conceal it. He gazed at her face, the one he had only dreamt and imagined and had seen in his paintings was now asleep in his arms and Kieran wanted nothing more but for her to wake up and for him to see her beautiful eyes, which he so badly missed.

But he knew that Irene, his Irene, would not be waking up anytime soon. The spell he had cast on the people was strong and humans being the weaker ones, would be under its effect for a long time. And he did not have the heart to take her with him right away, not when his action would scare her more than anything else.

All his impulses and desires disappeared the moment he held her. Even his wish to take her away with him was forced away from his mind.

"I finally found you, Irene." He sighed in bliss and kept his gaze fixed on her, tears leaking out of his eyes. This was one of the rare times, his eyes had teared up and this time, they were tears of relief and joy.

Unable to control himself, Kieran pulled her to himself and embraced her and it was only when he smelled the familiar scent did his heart calm down.

"Although I want to take you away with me, I will not, Irene. You will only resent me if I forced you and I do not want that." He mumbled, pouring out all his love for her through his eyes. "I will wait for you, I will wait until I have gained your love and heart."

Kieran kept staring at her for fear that Irene might vanish from his sight if he were to blink even once. His crimson orbs reflected his beloved and slowly, his heart accepted that Irene was actually here, in Rothnia, in his arms and it was not a dream.

"Please forgive me, Irene for meeting you this way. I was too excited and could not control myself when I realized that you were nearby."

Kieran closed his eyes for a moment and let out a sigh. "I will have to leave now, dear. But I promise we will meet soon, we will. Wait for me until then."

The spell he had cast on the people was about to end. But Kieran did not want to leave her alone either. So, not knowing what to do, he followed his heart that was begging him to kiss her and he did just that.