Demian turned around and saw every citizen as well as the Knights stood still, no one blinking. Seraphina had a gap in her mouth seemingly she hadn't expected Demian to take action with his own hands.

Demian said with a loud voice for everyone to hear, "Now, you have my word and Dragons don't back away from their words."

The skinny peoples who had been staring at the royals now looked at each other, smiles of hope slowly crawling on their faces and once again, whispers washed over the crowd. The children, though seemed very weak to walk, cheered with joy. Sera stood there casting a smile of gratitude as her eyes showed respect for him. Demian's heart leaped a round.

He said returning the smile, "Let's go settle this together," and stretched his hand out to Seraphina. Seraphina came near and took his hand as she gave him a determined nod.

As they turn around, Demian saw Casian was standing with a frown on his face, partly impressed with Demian's actions and partly shocked as why there was no fighting between Seraphina and Demian.

Demian gave him a knowing smirk which made Casian's jaw muscles to twitch. Clearly he had no idea what Demian was up to.

Alonzo, on the other hand, started to cry in joy as he thought it was worth to live that long to see the young Prince doing something extraordinary. He had only witnessed the bad side of him in his years of service but today, he got to experience something new. The boy who would always threw his tantrums before anything or handled everything on force had done something with only with his words.

"Your Highness!" Alonzo cried out as tears fell on his cheeks and his thick moustache fluttered as if to show him respect. "I—I am so happy today! Oh! Now I can die peacefully..." and he cried more.

Demian's brows twitched, "Yes, yes. You can die after our work is done. Now, move! We are late!"

"Yes, Your Highness! Right away, Your Highness!" More tears poured out of his eyes as he went back to where he was seated before.

"Honestly, why do we have a crybaby steward with us?" Demian grumbled as he sat on their ride.

Seraphina laughed and said, "Don't complain, he is just too happy."

"I haven't even done anything, yet."

Sera put her hands on him as Demian startled at her sudden action. She gave a warm smile and said, "Look out of the window..."

Demian moved his head and his eyes landed on the people of the streets. They were cheering with joy and some of them were crying while smiling at the same time. Sera added, "You gave them hope. They don't even have food on their plates yet, they are hopeful that they'll get to fill their children's bellies tomorrow. That's all what they want." Sera leaned beside Demian as he went still at the intimate behaviour. Sera mumbled, "The hope for a good future. You gave it to them, Demian."

Demian could feel her heart against his arm and her breath on his neck as he felt his cheeks were warming. What the devil was she trying to—

He halted as her breathes turned to soft snores and he gave her a scowl. "Great! She fell asleep."

How could anyone fall asleep within a second? Demian wasn't sure why his heart was thundering against his ribcage and more than that why was he so offended?

To divert his concentration, he looked again at those people. His heart felt warm. He had done many deeds but never a good one to feel like this. He couldn't describe what he was feeling but one look at Sera's eyes told him he did great. However, that wasn't what he had come here for.

*****
Sera yawned and asked, "Have we reached?"

"Almost."

She tilted her head toward him and saw he was looking outside and as Sera peeked out, she gasped. The area was just as how Dragon's city was, oil lampposts in series between the cobblestone roads, buildings, large and small statues, fountains and a palace surrounded by large gates—decorative and sophisticatedly standing gate just before them where Heartstone's men were on guard.

As their carriages arrived, the doors opened and the rides entered.

Sera couldn't stop but to ask, "Is he more wealthier than you?"

"Why?" Demian asked raising a brow at her, "Would you have married him instead?"

"I—" Sera almost felt like choking, "That's not the point!"

Demian smirked as he found Seraphina's cheeks turned red, "No, I don't think so. We have enough gold to wrap our whole city in it but it wouldn't be wise to do so." His hand found his chin as he added mumbling to himself, "They haven't been receiving much earning in recent years."

"Then these are all just for show?"

"Could be."

"Then how come this whole place is screaming of gold?"

Demian's eyes grew distant as if he had entered in a battle of thinking, "Even I would like to know that."

Finally, after several villages, several dry fields and long yards inside of the palace walls, they reached Lord Heartstone's palace, Casian's carriage followed them from behind in steady pace as the other carriage had all the goods that his brother had promised to Lord Heartstone.

Lord Heartstone was standing near their entrance along with several servants and maids, his whole family stayed beside him adorned with jewelry and expansive clothes. Two young females stood beside him who had the same faces as Lord Heartstone's and it was suggested that they were his young daughters and then beside them stood a Lady. Lady Cathride with a beautiful face that had wrinkles but still better looking from her daughters. Her eyes glinted as she saw the carriages arriving.

As Demian got out of the carriage along with Seraphina, they all bowed before him and with a big smile Lord Heartstone said, "I suppose, the journey was pleasant for your Highness—"

His gaze fell on Seraphina and his lips parted. Annoyance visible on his features but he hid it quite blissfully.

"Welcome your Highness—"

"Leave the honorifics, Lord Heartstone," Demian said, "I suppose we all are tired."

"Of course, your Highness." And he called his servants to carry the luggage and led everyone inside.

As they entered, Lord Heartstone introduced everyone to Prince Demian and Princess Seraphina as the two young girls looked at them with bored gazes and Lady Cathride welcomed them with a wide smile. As Casian reached inside, the young girls had hearts in their eyes and both of them became desperate to attract his attention. Seraphina cringed at it. Are they serious?

"That must be the dragon Prince!" One of them whispered.

"He seems so gentlemanly and handsome!" Other one said unable to stop the drool as Sera heard them whispering between each other and squeaking with joy. Girls these days!

Weren't they hearing who was the prince all this time? Sera thought but smirked inwardly at their low knowledge on monarchies.

"Welcome to my palace, Lord Casian," Heartstone bowed and his wife curtsied welcoming him.

"This is my wife Lady Cathride."

"Pleased to meet you, Lady Cathride," Demian said as Heartstone introduced his daughters, "This is my youngest daughter, Lady Fiona and this is my eldest daughter Lady Diana." Lord Heartstone introduced them to Casian as Casian nodded and said with his buttery smooth voice, "Very delighted to meet them."

It just took a second where Casian's eyes fell on them and they melted. Sera had to faught to stop rolling her eyes.

"Shall I tell my maids to send your breakfasts to your chambers, Your Highness and Lord Casian?" Lord Heartstone asked as Demian said, "Yes." and Casian said, "Yes, that would be better and would you mind to prepare for a hot bath," Casian shrugged his shoulders, "The journey had exhausted me and I would love to take a bath to remove the smell of the sea."

"Of course, My Lord."

The palace was beautiful outside even in inside. Large windows penetrated rays of the day, brightening the inside view even more. Portraits of previous Lords hung on the walls and antique pieces decked the whole building as if they were telling the history of the previous Lords. Floor to ceiling, nothing had a trace of dirt and poverty.

"You have decorated your house quite well, Lord Heartstone," Demian praised as a smile appeared on his lips.

At that Lord Heartstone's chest puffed with pride and he said, "Yes, Your Highness, everything has been the blessing of our Dragon King."

"Ho! How so?" Demian looked at him expressing a shocked face.

"The King had helped my father with trading and cultivation of goods." He smiled.

"Then how come your people are suffering, Heartstone?" Demian asked as the Lord was unable to speak for a moment and with a nervous chuckle, he resumed, "My people...?"

"Yes, we saw how they have no clothes, no foods and how angry they had become," said Casian from behind him as he entered with his attendant, Allison.

"Err... " he bowed and Casian smiled, "we can discuss about such trivia matter after our meal."

Casian nodded, "You certainly know how to change the topic, Heartstone."

Sweat formed on Heartstone's forehead as two devils had come to his house. He had known Prince Demian would be coming and he thought he could handle that little prince with ease as he was just a child. What can a child do to him? But now that Lord Casian was here, the situation was dire. He knew that playful Lord wasn't exactly playful. Nothing can be hidden from that silver-eyed devil.

He smiled nervously at them and shook his head, "I would never dare, My Lord."

Casian nodded displaying a devilish grin which made Lord Heartstone shudder. He could never get what he was thinking.

He looked at the Prince and that abominable princess as he gritted his teeth. It was for her, his plans had failed and that Crown prince sent Lord Casian.

He ordered his maids to lead  everyone to their chambers as all of them vanished within a

As the arrived guests went to their respective places, Heartstone asked on of his servants, "Where is Irwin?"

"Pardon, my Lord, he had been hiding behind the door all this time," the servant said pointing at the door.

Lord Heartstone gave him a look as he noticed a swell on his left cheek and he was trembling as if he had gone through a trauma. He shouted, "Irwin! Where the hell have you been?"

The short attendant came near him with fear swirling on his eyes as he looked warily at his right and left.

Heartstone was getting irritated with Irwin's behavior as he growled, "What is wrong with you? We have many things to do! Get yourself ready and don't be acting like a useless bastard!"

"My Lord!" Irwin looked at him with wide eyes as far as he can with his small eyes, "he is dangerous!"

"Who? Prince Casian?" He asked, "I know that."

"No! The young Prince!" Irwin said with a shaky voice.

Heartstone gave him a look and laughed, "Ha! Don't joke at the first hour in the morning..." His laughter came to an end as he added, "What can he do to me? And as for the human Princess, she has some guts to confront me because of the power..."

"But my Lord, Prince Demian is the one we should be careful around with."

Lord Heartstone waved his hand and disregarded as he said, "Indeed? Then I shall go look out for my daughters as well."

Irwin was about to warn him as Heartstone added, "Now, now! Let's get going!"

He ordered one of the guards to keep a close eyes on Lord Casian and if they asked where Lord Heartstone was, simply answer them with an excuse of tonight's feast.

Everyone nodded and dispersed as Lord Heartstone and Irwin went out unaware of the fact that two of Demian's guards were keeping a close eyes on them.