Valencia

The women and the Crone all rejoiced and looked so happy to be the bearers of the news when Killian showed up at the door.

He called out to the Crone, who answered him the moment he showed up.

“I bring good news, Prince Killian,” she said as I waited by the side, still trying to process it all.

Killian looked at her hopefully.

“It worked?”

The Crone nodded. “Faster than any of our prayers before. The deity usually takes time, and we sometimes spend months or even years praying and meditating. But in this case, it was instant.”

The two looked at me, and I wanted to melt into the wall. They looked so

“Congrattions, Valencia” Killian said with a proud smile on his face.

I only gave him an awkward smile as he continued.

hopeful.

“The Crone told me about the blessing. Now, I dont have to worry about your safety. You are blessed by the Great Deity of Elorin itself. Now, nobody would doubt your im of being the witch’s long lost heir.”

I wasn’t even aware of how I was connected to Morwenna, had never heard that name before from my family either.

But that warmth had been there in my stomach for sure.

Were the Gods mistaken this time?

I looked back at the deity, particrly the eyes the Crone had asked me not to look at

And I could swear I could feel that gaze on me as if the deity were watching me.

I tore my gaze away from the statue of the deity and hurried

over

Man.

He was talking to the Crone however, he stopped their discussion briefly to tell me.

“Go get ready for the royal court’s dinner tonight.”

Ah.

I hadpletely forgotten about Sir Nichs‘ invitation. Why did there have

be

bSO /b

iany /ievents one after the other?

I only gave him a brief nod and began heading towards the castle. This time, I took nobody’s help because I wanted to see if I could get to his quarters and navigate myself without getting lost.

I recalled the exact path the girl from the temple had taken and traced my way back through the garden and then inside bthe /bhuge castle.

There were a few maids and servants doing their work that I passed by as I walked through the hallways and climbed up the stairs that showed no signs of stopping.

But thankfully I kept going and then stopped exactly outside Killian’s door. I let out a whoop in happiness but didn’t realize I bwas /bstill in bmy /bbrobes/bb, /band that led ito /isome awkward stares because the servants were startled who were passing by.

I immediatelyposed myself and went into the room to throw myself on the bed.

I reyed the incident at the temple again in my head. There had been no source of heat around me, there were also nomps ornterns baround /bme.

The stone floor was cold, just like the walls. And the deity…he had looked cold too…just like that stare of his that had been poking in my skull.

But the warmth….I had not imagined it.

I had not believed it earlier when everybody kept saying I was Morwenna’s descendant, but then now I was beginning to wonder what if that was truly

the case.

Iraised my hands in front of my face to examine them. I looked just like an ordinary human. Could these hands have magic in them?

There was a knock on the door shortly, and I shouted, “Come in” to see Mary walked in again with a group of girls.

I groaned.

“I have to dress up for the dinner, I assume,” I said in a dry voice, earning a chuckle from Mary.

She nodded in response.

*Please get seated on the chair in front of the dressing table.”

I sighed but took the robes off, forgetting I wasn’t wearing anything underneath. My immediate instinct was to cover my private parts with my hands, but Mary put me at ease.

“You dont have to feel ufortable around us, mydy. We all have the same bodies, and we are used to dressing up high royal court members.”

At my look of horror, she added, “Females, of course,

Oh, so they also helped the courtiers‘ wives or betrothed get ready.

That wasn’t too bad, I guessed.

I had no idea what were royal court etiquettes when it came

dressing and appearance and had not even thought about it until Mary showed up.

She handed me the underclothes and undergarments that iPut /ion before I sat on the chair as she had instructed.

I had expected her to pull out something decent and less shy, but I almost gasped when she pulled out a red dress that almost looked like the color of

blood.

I asked in shock.

“Are you sure that is what I am supposed to wear?”

She nodded.

“Red signifies power and control. Most iof /ithe royaldies do it while in the court.”

I studied the dress. It was inot /itoo shy.

iI /iilong /igown with a thigh high slit and red sequins that glittered faintly when it caught light. The neckline was decent too.

It had long sleeves that had a thin line of gold around its sleeve just above the wrist.

“Would iyou /ilike to change it?” She asked, and after looking at it for a while, I shook my head

“Nope, it will do.”

She smiled and got to work just likest time.

The theme was likely red because they painted my nails red and also gave me a ring with a ruby that matched the color of the dress.

There were no essories given to me, and the make up they put on me was just some sort of powder and pigment of some nt that painted bmy /bblips /b

red.

An hourter, she stepped back in satisfaction and said. “You are ready”

1 rose up from the chair to see myself covered in red except for the thigh high slit that looked nice,

not rming

There was not much skin on disy, though the dress fit me like a glove. It entuated my small waist, and the hair pushed forward to the front on my left did make me look someone regal.

“Thank you,” I said to the girls as they packed their stuff and left.

“All the best for the royal feast tonight. Hope you leave asting impression on everyone”

“Wait, how am I supposed to find my way around the castle for the royal court?” I asked, but Mary had already disappeared behind the door.

Shit.

I should have asked that sooner. Was Sir Nichs going to escort me there? I hope not.

I hoped Kilian would be done with his little discussion with the Crone and show up before its toote.

I didn’t want to look like a fool for showing upte and wasting King Aecidus‘ time. Who knew what little inconvenience might piss him off.

I continued pacing through the room, but there was no sign of Killian or anybody else to escort me off to the court.

I imagined how it might just turn people off because Killian had mentioned I needed to win some favors and showing upte was surely not the way to do it.

I opened the door to my room and nced around, but the hallway was quiet. If only I could just give Killian a call and ask him where he was…

But that was not an option, so I pursed my ilips/i, wiped my sweaty palms over the dress and headed outside the room, hoping I would not get lost in this maze again.

AD