Chapter 298 - A Small Wish Finally Granted
Chapter 298 - A Small Wish Finally Granted
As their group was conversing on one side, Orion entered the dining room along with the servants carrying the food trays, and they hurried to arrange the drinks and dishes on the long table. Normally when dining, everyone should have been seated and food was arranged in front of them. However, the royals and nobles inside were not the type to bother much with etiquette.
Realizing they had no intention to stop, Orion then cleared his throat as he informed them, "Your Majesties, esteemed guests, please enjoy your meal while they're still warm."
The servants pulled the chairs out for everyone to sit. As the one with the highest position, Drayce's seat was on the head of the table, while Seren sat to his right. Seated next to her should have been Cian, but he gave way to the adorable Rayjin who requested to sit beside Seren, and so the Prince of Abetha gave up his seat for her and moved to the next seat.
On Drayce's left hand, Arlan, Lenard, and Duke Wimark sat according to their status, with Arlan closest to the head and the Duke the farthest.
After receiving information about who would be dining with the King and Queen, the royal kitchen had prepared an array of food that were not only local to Megaris, but also some dishes native to Griven and Abetha. Most of the dishes prepared were the Blackhelm City's seafood delicacies, partnered with fragrant rice and vegetables that were imported from the central region.
During the morning meal, everyone talked about the guests who came to the grand wedding, trying to understand the current stance of the various attendees as well as the shifts among the power balance around the continent that were caused by the marriage alliance between Megaris and Abetha.
While Seren was initially listening, she realized afterwards that she could not follow the conversation well. Since she did not know the names of many of the people mentioned, she mostly focused on entertaining Rayjin instead. The two ladies were busy in their own world, Seren mostly helping Rayjin to pick and taste the foreign dishes that the little girl found unfamiliar. When the desserts came in later, Rayjin was the happiest because she spotted a familiar shortcake which was a fad in the capital of Griven.
After the meal, Rayjin initially wanted to leave her father's side and stick around with Seren for the rest of the day. However, Drayce and Seren had to go to the royal court; she would only be free in the afternoon. It was the first day of Seren meeting the royal court after being officially announced as the Queen of Megaris.
"But? I want to be with Seren the entire day today!" Rayjin said. "Can't I follow her? I promise I will stay really really quiet!"
"Rayjin, Her Majesty has important things to do. Once she is free, you can see her again," Arlan said. He knew the temper of his little niece, and it would be bad if she were to delay the official duties of the royals in another kingdom. Though Drayce and Seren might not mind, the other nobles attending the royal court would surely throw a fuss.
Rayjin pouted and looked at Seren with a displeased expression. Seren patted her head before caressing her soft cheeks. "It won't take long. We can have a tea party in the gardens in the afternoon, and I will ask the royal kitchen to prepare your favorite shortcake. How does that sound?"
"Fine," Rayjin agreed, but her voice still sounded a little downcast.
"You are here for the first time. Don't you want to tour my palace?" Drayce asked. "There is a beautiful lake here that you might like."
"Ohh, I like lakes! Uncle Arlan once told me it's a very pretty lake," Rayjin said and looked at Seren as she added, "Just like Seren."
Cough!
Arlan choked at the last line and looked at Drayce before it could cause any misunderstanding. "The later line, she added that herself. I just said it's a pretty lake."
"Seren is also pretty so I said it like that," Rayjin explained as she felt wronged at the way his uncle reacted. "Is it wrong?" she asked innocently.
Drayce shook his head. "You are not wrong, Rayjin. Before, this palace had only one pretty thing, and now we have two????—that lake and Seren."
Seren no longer followed what the discussion was about the moment she heard her husband say her name again. This time, she was sure it was not her illusion.
Rather than surprise, she felt warmth spread in her chest. She could not help but smile under her veil. She liked him saying her name????— the same name others call her, but coming from him, it felt different, more melodious to her ears.
Drayce looked at her and found her staring at him. "Do you want to say something, my Queen?"
She shook her head and looked at her empty plate as a little disappointment took over her. 'Why did he call me 'my Queen' again? Since he already dropped my title, can't he just be consistent and use my name when talking to me?' she frowned inwardly.
Before their group went about their own ways, Drayce turned to look at his friend. "Arlan,? since you know my place like the back of your hand, I hope you can show Prince Cian and Duke Wimark around the palace. I will let my knights accompany you so you can move around with ease."
Though Arlan was a frequent visitor of the Royal Palace of Megaris, he was still a prince from a foreign kingdom. Without Drayce accompanying him, the royal guards would restrict him from moving around too much within the palace grounds.
"Using me for free labor again? Tsk." Arlan grumbled a bit, but in the end, he left with the rest.
Once they left, Drayce looked at his wife. "Shall we, my Queen?"
Seren nodded and stood up. The couple left for the royal court followed by several royal knights, with Slayer and Azer in the lead. While walking through the vast corridor, Seren found her eyes looking at the door of a particular room that had a dragon carved on it. She already noticed it the first time she visited the King's residence, and she had some guesses in her heart about what this room must be.
'The King's bedchamber.' She had a strong feeling that she couldn't be wrong.
Drayce noticed where she was looking and told her, "My Queen, are you curious? Soon, I will give you a tour around the King's residence."
Seren just nodded and continued to walk with him.
The royal carriage was waiting at the entrance of the King's residence. Drayce helped Seren to get inside the carriage. He preferred riding a horse on normal occasions, but since she was coming with him to the Grand Palace, he chose to accompany her inside the carriage.
It was the first time Seren would meet with the royal court. As far as she could remember, she had never attended a royal court session even in Abetha. Even if she did, she only had blurred memories from her childhood; she was not sure if it was from the Royal Court of Abetha.
While they were riding the carriage, Drayce looked at the quiet Seren.? It made him wonder if she was excited to see the royal court. "My Queen?"
She threw a casual glance his way, but he could see the displeasure in her eyes.
"Did something happen to upset you? When we were talking before the meal, in particular?"
"No, Your Majesty," she replied.
Drayce stared at her for a while and moved a little, leaning towards her, close enough for her to feel his breath. "Lies, huh?"
Seren moved back on instinct as that intimidating pair of red eyes scared her, but they were inside a carriage. There wasn't much space for her to move until her body was cornered against the wall of the carriage.
She looked away. "I-I am not sure what Your Majesty is referring to."
"I could clearly hear you sighing deeply. And did you forget my name, my Queen?" he asked.
She shook her head. "You are not saying my name either."
For the first time, Drayce got a sense of defiance from his wife… and he liked it. He moved back to his original position and those red eyes seemed to flash as he looked at her. "So, my Queen wants me to call her by her name," he concluded.
She looked back at him, trying to be brave, but she was not someone used to voicing out her true thoughts. She was still hesitant, but she wanted to overcome it. "Isn't it fair since you want me to call you by your name too?"
He chuckled as he liked that she was learning to demand what she wanted. "Fine. From now on, I'll call you by your name… Seren."
Though she wasn't showing it, she was happy, and there was a light smile on her lips. Unfortunately, it was covered by her veil, and her husband was missing out.
"Thank you, Dray," she replied, "But in front of others, I would like to call you by your title."
Drayce agreed, "Fine. I will do the same."
Finally, another milestone was reached in their marital relationship. It might have been a small thing to other couples????— having decided when and how to call each other to show intimacy????—but for these two, it was a hurdle that took a while to cross. And because it was a step forward in their relationship, both were happy inside.
Seren was someone who cared little for prestige and titles, and for people she liked and cared for, she always wanted them to address her by name. Hearing it from her husband gave her a more intense feeling of belonging,? which made her like her name even more.
On the other hand, Drayce always wanted to call her by her name, but from the initial conditions of their interaction????—when they got married as strangers and how Seren was distant and wary of him????—he preferred to maintain that distance unless she herself allowed him to call her by her name. It was a small wish, to want her to ask him to call her by name, and that small wish was finally granted.
Afterwards, the royal couple alighted from the carriage and entered the Grand Palace, where all the ministers and palace officials forming the royal court were waiting for the King and Queen to start the morning court session.