She Belongs To The Devil

"So, our family got our own witch huh." Theodore glanced at Adeline and smiled.

But Adeline looked somewhat nervous by that news. She heaved a sigh and nodded. "I guess we do. I really hope that she will grow up to be a good-natured witch like those in the Mystic Coven."

Theodore had seen the same restlessness in Edwin as well. And it didn't take a genius why they were so worried regarding Joyce. They were worried that she might end up walking on the dark path of her grandmother.

He placed his palm on Adeline's shoulder and squeezed her gently. And he reminded her, "If she is provided with the right guidance then she will definitely turn out to be as responsible as her aunt. Don't sweat too much."

Adeline took a deep breath in and put on a smile. "Then I better work on providing that right guidance right away."

There was still a few hours left until the training would begin. So Adeline headed towards Edwin's quarter to take Joyce with her.

On her way though, she came across King Dragomir and Queen Claricia. Dragomir was carrying the twins in each of his arms and was strolling around while mumbling stories to them.

Though the twins didn't understand what their grandfather was saying to them, they rarely cried when they were with him. And Claricia would sometimes get jealous of her husband.

Adeline bowed her head to both of them and she happily greeted them, "Your Majesties! It's nice to see that both of you are enjoying your time with the twins."

Queen Claricia gave a wide smile and said, "The twins are guests of a few days. And your father insists on spending his free time with them."

Adeline felt a sudden pang in her heart and she thought to herself, "Father is the one who is the guest…"

Dragomir noticed the change in Adeline's mood and he instantly tried to steer the conversation, "So, where are you heading to? Don't you have to go to the specialized training today?"

Adeline had told Dragomir that Theodore was giving special training to the soldiers to send them to the outposts near the northern borders. And she had also told him that she was also attending it to improve her defensive ability against the vampires.

"I will go there in a while. Something came up that I have to urgently take care of." Adeline gave a bow and was about to walk towards her original destination.

However, Dragomir interrupted her by asking, "What's that urgent? Did something happen?"

"Er…" Adeline didn't see any reason to hide it from her father so she shared, "It looks like Joyce got the magic in her blood. Edwin said that she showed a sign this morning."

Dragomir gaped his mouth for a second and finally smiled. "That's a good thing then. So you are going to meet her now?"

"Yes." Adeline cleared her throat and further elaborated, "Edwin asked me to introduce her to the Mystic Coven. He said she accidentally lit a curtain in a fire and was scared of her magic. She might be in the need of some immediate guidance. It might ease her if she gets to see others using their magic."

"Oh!" Dragomir glanced at Claricia and gave the twins to her. "I will come with you then."

Adeline was more than happy to have her father accompany her.

After reaching a little further away from Claricia, Adeline asked her father, "You haven't told Queen Claricia yet?"

Dragomir was walking while resting his hands on the back. He sighed and looked up at the clear summer sky. "Every day I meet her thinking I will break the news to her. But… I just cannot bring myself to tell her. She is always happy and smiling… and I don't think I am ready to take away that smile yet."

Adeline glanced at her father's sad face. She pressed her lips together and focused her eyes on the brick-laid path.

"I heard that Edwin left for the border." Dragomir changed the subject again and glanced at his daughter's face.

Adeline nodded her head but didn't say anything else in response.

Dragomir carefully studied Adeline's face. She looked absent-minded. He contemplated for a while and was ready to brush aside his thought. But he just couldn't keep quiet anymore so he finally asked, "Did they declare the war already?"

"Ye–" Adeline was startled by her own slip of the tongue. She had forgotten for a second there that she had been keeping the war a secret from her father.

She cleared her throat and quickly corrected herself, "War? Who and… against whom?"

Dragomir chuckled mirthlessly and went to staring back at the clear sky. "You know who I am talking about Adeline. That vampire… did he declare a war?"

Adeline nervously scoffed and tried to brush that question. "I don't know why you are asking that or who gave you that impression. But you can rest assured. No one has declared any war."

Adeline was technically not lying to her father since Mihir had not openly declared the war yet.

However, Dragomir was not ready to accept that answer from Adeline.

He said in a slow and serious voice, "Adeline, I have been alive for more than sixty years now. And I have been a King for around forty. So no one needs to tell me when my Kingdom might face a war."

Adeline clasped her palms together tightly and her heart began to hammer in her chest. She couldn't think of anything that she could say to counter her father's argument.

Dragomir sounded a little disappointed when he continued, "I know that brat of a King won't stay quiet after he lost his sister and also his pride. And I have been paying attention to what you have been doing, Adeline."

He gazed at Adeline and highlighted a few of her actions, "New weapons, rigorous training, powerful allies… you are preparing for the war, aren't you? And please, don't lie to me."

Adeline felt something sour spreading in her heart. She could feel the pain in her father's voice.

And she apologized without even daring to meet her father's eyes. "I'm sorry for hiding it from you, father. I didn't want your last… I didn't want to give tension to you."

Dragomir gulped hard and said, "I understand your point of view. You want me to be happy and spend my last few days leisurely. But if I can do something to help you and our Kingdom in my remaining time, then I will happily do so."

Dragomir gave a slap on Adeline's back as if he was punishing her for her lies. And he asked her, "Don't make this old man get mad at you, child. Share all the details about the war with me after we go back to the Court. I might be of some help."

"Sure," Adeline agreed in a guilty whisper.

Dragomir then walked in silence for the rest of the path. Even if it was for a few minutes, he wanted to let Adeline know how silence from their loved ones felt like.

Adeline felt bad for underestimating her father's abilities to perceive things and his ability to handle shocking news.

"But I guess the war was never that much of a shocking news for him. He must have anticipated it ever since that vampire attacked us," she thought and sighed. She glanced at her father but couldn't dare to say a word to him.

Thankfully, they arrived near Edwin's quarter after that painfully silent and awkward walk. And they heard a sweet voice.

"Grandfather!" Joyce came running towards King Dragomir when she saw him approaching the quarter.

Dragomir laughed and spread his arms. And he picked up the cute four-year-old in his arms. He then spoke with her in a soft tone, "Hey, my sweetheart. I heard that someone can do magic."

Joyce looked away as though she was afraid.

And Dragomir asked in a friendly tone again, "I like magic. Do you want to show me what you can do?"

Joyce's mood was instantly lifted.. She smiled and enthusiastically nodded her head.