Celia opened the luggage to have a look at the souvenirs that Seraphina had brought for her, there were a variety of plants in the bag which she recognized, some of the dried leaves were very rare. Some of them were excellent ointments for burns and wounds and the others could be used as spices. She carefully took them out and noticed a dried small shrub. She recognized it immediately. The shrub might have dried but if put in a jug of water, life would flourish in it again. It was very rare and it brought back her memories. Her village was filled with these types of plants before it was destroyed. Her hand shook as the gruesome images flashed before her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Seraphina nudged her and she tilted her head to her.

Seeing Celia so worked up, Seraphina asked again, "Are the herbs not of your liking?"

"No... They are good." Celia looked at the small plant and added, "I like this plant." She held the plant to her chest as she recalled how her father and mother used to tend their small garden.

"Ah! Then I shall ask the dwarves for more next time."

Celia's voice hardened as she reminded herself, this wasn't the time to get blown away with her emotions, "No need! It will be useless if I have to look after both you and the plants."

Seraphina pouted, "That's harsh! I was just being nice."

Celia huffed as she looked at Seraphina, who had suddenly started to act like a child. "It's just, this tree used to grow in my village."

Seraphina looked at her and said, "Then you must be missing your village." She thought for a moment and added, "Alright, after everything will finish, we'll go to your village."

Celia gave a weak smile as her face softened, "It was destroyed long ago."

Seraphina became quiet as she didn't know what to say, instead she tugged on her gown and fiddled with it. "I—"

"By both the wizards and the dragons." Celia finished as she started to unpack the rest of the luggage.

Seraphina looked at her with a worried face and now she understood why Celia didn't like her since the first day of their meeting. She had no choice but to go to the dragons and when Seraphina came, she had no choice but to serve her, a wizard. For the sake of the human nation, she had compromised her hatred for both of the races.

Celia let out a dry scoff, "They were so into battling against each other that they didn't notice the weak races like us were suffering. One blow of a wizard could turn a row of houses to dust in a wink and one flap of wings could rip the trees from their roots, yet... They didn't care if their actions were harming others or not."

Celia fisted her palms as if she was recalling each second of the trauma she had experienced. "All they wanted was to finish off the enemy regardless of the lives that had been wasted under their powers."

Seraphina didn't know if she could apologize for what the wizards had done. A mere apology wouldn't bring her family back, wouldn't bring her village back. She remembered how her own powers were so destructive that she had ended up destroying many houses and buildings. It may have never killed the innocents but what if she wasn't careful and had accidentally killed one. She shuddered at the thought.

She remembered her father's words. He used to scold her and always told her to be careful. 'Great powers give you greater responsibilities.' She didn't understand a thing that time but today she understood. The powerful races were here to protect the weak ones not harm them but each day, every single minute, they were misusing it.

"I have..." Seraphina began, "I have destroyed many towns, many houses, even ships."

Celia looked at her as Seraphina's eyes found the ground ashamed of what she had done all those years.

"I didn't know or try to understand if others were suffering because of me. All I did was to fight off the bandits, save the children and complete all the tasks I was given." Seraphina looked into her eyes as if she was confessing all her sins, "All I wanted was to become the first female guild master of my guild."

"I didn't understand the needle point of responsibility and..." she chuckled dryly and added, "I used to complain why no one would acknowledge me. I did what was to be done. But my father used to scold me all the time and I thought, maybe he doesn't love me anymore..."

Seraphina spread her palms and looked at them, "Then he sealed my powers. I complained more. I got angry and said to him..." her voice shivered, "I would never set my foot there and he would never see me again."

Seraphina's lips quivered as she looked at Celia with determined eyes. "But now, I feel like the sealing was the best gift he had given me."

A gap formed on Celia's mouth and Seraphina casted her a smile as she fisted her palms. "It was because I lost my powers, I came to feel others, I came to see what others are feeling. I came to know how to handle everything without relying on your powers. It was because I lost my powers I met you. I met Demian and I met the dwarves and the Dragon girls."

"I am now glad that I lost my powers otherwise, I would have ended just like the wizards you, Demian and the dwarves had witnessed. I have learned all other aspects of life. I am so sorry Celia that you had to go through this because of my kind and I would never misusue my powers anymore, I will never harm any innocent or the weak races with my powers."

Celia stood there still having a gap in her mouth and her eyes were wide but she couldn't say a word.

Seraphina's cheeks got colour as she realised she had never said her heart to anyone other than Merlene and asked irritatedly, "What? Say something! I just told you about everything—"

"I know." Celia said as she smiled. "I know." Because Seraphina's every word touched her heart, she knew Seraphina didn't lie. She spoke her heart out and Celia added, "Let's not hate each other from now on and complete our task successfully."

Seraphina nodded.

"Although, I'll still be stricter with your manners and it seems you haven't been following how I have instructed you about the dining etiquette." Celia's face became hard as Seraphina gulped.

"Can I have some space?"

"No! You certainly wouldn't get any."

And they were back to usual with a strict teacher and a careless student.

"I'm sorry." Seraphina said.

"Why?" Celia asked as she had almost unpacked everything from her luggage.

"I tried to threaten you with your nation and Princess Naomi."

"Then, I'm sorry too."

"For what?" Sera gave her a questioning look.

"For not trusting you and also for humiliating you in front of the prince."

Seraphina frowned trying to remember when Celia had humiliated her as she said, "Well, when I said to do a deep bow to the prince in the lotus garden."

Comprehension settled on her features as she remembered it and fisted her palms as she glared at Celia who simply took the plates and a few herbs and with a lightning speed went out of the room as Seraphina growled behind her, "You little! I'll get a revenge for that!"

As Celia went out chuckling to herself she found the head maid, Catherine, outside of their door. Celia halted and found Catherine a bit restless, shifting from one foot to another.

The fat maid gave her a nervous smile and asked, "Ce—Celia? Well... I was thinking if you could educate me with the..." Catherine's eyes drifted everywhere but her.

"With?"

"Well, with a new recipe of your herbal tea?" She nibbled the material of her clothes and added, "You have some knowledge on that right? Her Highness liked the tea and had been asking if you have more variety."

Celia nodded suspiciously as she could not understand why Catherine would come to Seraphina's door to find her. Just for a recipe? Given the maid's nervous behavior, it could be because Catherine tends to Princess Zenith and being this scared just for her request. If her highness had asked her for a new type of tea, then she would act like that.

Celia smiled and said, "Yes, why not? Let's go... My princess has brought me some of the rare herbs and I was going to try it out for her. Why not for both of them?"

Catherine nodded many times as if her neck got a loose spring. "Y—yes... Th—that would be better..."

And both of the maids went to the Royal Kitchen.

*****

Seraphina got bored and it seemed the time became slow in the castle. She liked to wander around in dwarf villages. But here, she couldn't even go to the garden without telling Demian or Master Valentine.

Speaking of Master Valentine, she needed to talk to him about what Zenith had said to her the other day before their journey to the sages. She hadn't seen him in ages and as if he became so busy all of a sudden.

Also, she needed him for the trading discussion of the stones. She had a hunch that Demian would listen to him and Seraphina could feel Master Valentine was excellent in coming up with ideas and she was certain this matter would be resolved too. Then she remembered Demian had promised her he would look into it.

Seraphina's heart leapt in her ribcage and she found she hadn't seen him since they came. Why not go to his room?

A grin spread across her lips. Indeed, she could just go and annoy him some more and also she needed to see if his back was healed completely or not. Otherwise, he would end up ignoring it as well.

Seraphina walked out and headed to her dear husband's room, her heart, a fluttering mess and her mind, forming ideas to get under his skin. Overall, a woman needed her daily entertainment.

However, when she was about to take a turn, she found Zenith was coming her way. Both of them halted and Seraphina felt like her mood soured as Zenith's sharp eyes fell on her.

"Ah! Princess..." Zenith crossed the distance and Seraphina dipped in a curtsy before her.

"I was about to come see you. After all, I hadn't welcomed you properly that time." Zenith said.

"Oh, I see." Seraphina spoke as she gave her a tight-lipped smile. It was forced upon her lips and her muscles twitched as she hoped the serpent wouldn't notice.

"I heard how hard it was for you to fight with the men." She said, "I am glad you are alright."

Seraphina had to resist her brows so they wouldn't raise on their own and she smiled—forcefully, again. No wonder Demian had mastered the blank-face-art. She felt the need to learn that. "I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for asking."

Zenith scrutinized her for a moment as Seraphina found it awkward to stand there with a forced smile. She was certain, she looked stupid.

Zenith began, "I see... You have forgotten about my—"

"Princess Seraphina!" A wary voice called out as both of the ladies looked at its source. It was Alonzo, the steward. Seraphina almost released a sigh as now Zenith would not be able to talk about their proposal. Since she had decided against it, it was hard to reject Zenith on her face. Somehow, she felt like Zenith could stab her in her sleep.

"Alonzo!" Seraphina called out her saviour as Zenith glared at the steward for disrupting her.

As Alonzo neared them he bowed to both of them, "Your Highnesses, this lowly servant pays both of you utmost respect."

Zenith's brows twitched, "Alonzo? What business you have with us?"

"Prince Demian sent me here to assist Princess Seraphina." He said with pride evident in his voice.

Seraphina noticed the change in Zenith's face, she looked utterly displeased with the interruption but nevertheless, she couldn't say anything.

"Oh, is that so? How wonderful!" Seraphina cried as she quickly went beside Alonzo.

"Then, I'll see you later Princess Zenith. Come Alonzo let's go." She said as she quickly started walking away from Zenith with Alonzo trailing her.

After turning the corner Seraphina stopped and slowly peeked from the corner to see if Princess Zenith was following or not and not seeing her Seraphina released a sigh.

"Safe." She breathed and then noticed Alonzo standing beside her with starry eyes.

"Thank you, Alonzo you saved me!" Seraphina said with a grateful grin.

"Please don't thank me, Your Highness. You have done me a great favour by protecting His Highness Demian several times and I really am grateful for that." He bowed completely before her and Seraphina found it a little awkward and embarrassing.

"Uh... It's alright, Alonzo, please stand up." She said and he stood up with tears in his eyes, this made her even more restless.

"Your Highness, please forgive me, I thought you weren't suited for His Highness when you came here earlier but now, I think that," He clenched his fists pouring the deep emotions in his words, "His Highness couldn't have gotten a better wife than you. You are the perfect bride for our Dragon Prince, Your Highness."

Seraphina was growing more and more awkward with his words and tried to escape.

"I'm happy to hear that." She said, "but, now I'll have to go. Why don't you go and tend to your work too?" She smiled as she lifted her skirts ready to run when Alonzo spoke up, his moustache shook with pride, "I'm doing my work, Your Highness."

Seraphina held her reigns and looked at Alonzo quizzically, "What?"

"I did say that His Highness Demian ordered me to assist Your Highness, didn't I?" He said with a smile and Seraphina laughed.

"Oh, you don't need to follow me everywhere for that. I am inside the castle, right? You can accompany me when–"

"No, Your Highness. His Highness had given me the responsibility of your safety and I shall stay by your side all the time to make sure that his word is served." He said in a firm voice and Seraphina laughed again.

"You really don't need to–"

"Your Highness," Alonzo looked at her with his large, determined eyes which seemed to emanate so much brightness that it almost blinded Seraphina and his moustache shook vigorously with equal determination.

"Your safety is everything for me from now on, because of you, His Highness is safe and sound so, it is my duty to protect you too. So, I ask you to be relaxed since I shall never let any danger come your way, it is my, Alonzo Grainger's word to you." He pledged dipping down on his knee and pressing his right hand to his heart.

Seraphina just stood there smiling awkwardly having a man bowing her pledging he would tag along with her all the time and probably wouldn't let her do anything that she would be thinking. The thought that Demian had ordered him to do so infuriated her to no ends, but she also was a little happy because it somehow showed that he cared. He did, didn't he? Or was there some other reason to stick Alonzo at her side?