Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

“Welcome, Baroness Burton.”

Accepting their greetings, Esther looked around her new residence. The mansion was built on a vast piece of land with greenery everywhere, and she could imagine herself idly strolling to appreciate the view in the morning. One could only wish to live in such a peaceful place.

The old man in uniform patiently waited for her to study the place before he spoke. “Baroness, I am William, and I will be the butler in charge of serving you and taking care of your manor from now on. Let me guide you inside your new home.”

Esther entered the mansion with her servants following her. Her butler gestured towards what seemed to be the drawing room.

“Baroness, please have a seat. I will have tea brought for you. You must be tired after traveling straight from the palace.”

“No, I am fine. I would like to look around the mansion,” Esther said as she looked around, appreciating the lavish interior of the drawing room of her new residence. Though it was nothing compared to the size and design of the drawing rooms within the Royal Palace of Megaris, still she liked it a lot. It felt like home as it was arranged for her by the Queen, the woman she admired the most.

“Baroness, let me show you the entire place then,” William offered and Esther nodded. He first dismissed the other servants so they could resume their duties, and then he accompanied Esther towards the other rooms.

As they walked, the butler informed her of the place once they reached each of the doors. “On the ground floor, to the left of the foyer is the drawing room for your everyday use, and to the right is the formal parlor to receive the guests, and that door leads to the dining room.” They walked further and pointed towards a few doors at the back, “There’s the kitchen and that door leads downstairs to the basement where the wine cellar, the storeroom and the servant quarters are located.”

They climbed the grand staircase leading to the floor upstairs. On the left wing of the mansion, the butler pointed out to her the empty rooms meant for the guests. On the other side, the first room was meant to be her study. Beside it, there was a well-carved double door that looked more luxurious than the others. The butler stopped in front of it. “This is the bedchamber for the Baroness, and this smaller one is your dedicated dressing room. I already instructed the servants to put your personal belongings taken from the carriage inside. Those chambers to the side are bedchambers for the future.” With this, the old servant smiled a little.

Esther looked at him, curious as to what he meant, and she heard him clear his throat. “I mean to say, after Baroness Burton marries  in the future and has children, those rooms are for them.”

Esther didn’t react to his clarification and entered her bedchamber. Her chamber was about the size of two rooms, and she could see that it was connected to the side chamber meant for her bath, and the other to her dressing room.

While getting familiar with her new home, Esther didn’t realize how fast time passed by. Evening arrived, and dinner was soon served to her by her servants. Although there was no need for her to rush on her end, Esther decided to return to the palace by the morning to inquire about her new official duty.

—–

Prince Theron received news that Esther went to her residence in the capital. Although he felt the possibility of her returning to the Queen’s palace within the day was slim, he  still waited for her to return because he wanted to see her and talk to her. After the night of the banquet, he didn’t get another chance to spend time with her and talk with her alone.

After many of the palace residents had retired for the night, Prince Theron called for his knight.

“Your Highness, you asked for me?”

“Galien, get my horse ready,” the young prince instructed.

“Your Highness, at this hour?” the knight asked. He realized that the Crown Prince was still wearing clothes that looked like he’s heading out, although Sir Galien was sure there was no work left and the Crown Prince should have been ready to retire for the night as well.

“Hmm! And you don’t need to follow me,” said the Crown Prince.

Sir Galien realized why Prince Theron was acting this way, and he was starting to have a headache.

“Your Highness, that is impossible. Your parents strictly warned me about letting you leave the palace after you were attacked last time, more so since we have yet to catch the culprit,” the knight insisted. “The Baroness’s mansion is almost outside of the city, and the city guards won’t be able to assist you easily if things were to happen. Allow me to accompany you.”

Prince Theron smiled lightly. “I thought you were dense to understand such things but I guess I was wrong.”

The knight didn’t react to his liege’s teasing as he followed behind the Crown Prince who was walking in a rush towards the stables. As they climbed their horses, Prince Theron immediately caused his horse to gallop away.

His voice filled with mirth could be heard over the hooves of the horse.

“I will pass my message to Duke Kenelm that it is about time for his successor to find a wife among the pretty young ladies of the kingdom.”

The knight hurriedly followed the prince with a grimace, as what he heard was not what the knight wished for. He had seen how the noble ladies shamelessly threw themselves towards the Crown Prince. As a son of a duke, one of his potential wives ought to be among them as well and he felt terrified imagining the future. “Your Highness, please don’t do this. Why do you think I seldom return home and stay all day in the palace? I will do whatever you want but not this.”

“You don’t want to get married? Then who will become the knight for my and Lady Esther’s children if not for yours?”

“Your Highness….Did I hear something wrong? Children?Yours and the Baroness’?”

“If not for the mother of the next heir of this kingdom, do you think I will care to travel this late in the night?” the prince replied. Without waiting for a reply, he rode his horse at a faster speed.

The shocked knight could only blink at his liege, dumbly wondering whether the young man who spoke such shameless words was the cold Crown Prince of Megaris, or he was somehow switched out with a rogue.