Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Seren's eyes caught the view of the vast river bed which shone under the bright sunlight of the late noon. A cold breeze came from the direction of the river, making her feel relaxed and helping lessen the body aches she felt from the bumpy ride in the carriage. 

"Your Majesty, the camp has been set," one of the knights said after paying respect to her. "You can rest inside the tent for some time."

"I am fine." After feeling the grass under her feet, Seren walked to get closer to the river while the maids followed behind her, maintaining a little distance between them. 

On the other hand, although Drayce was busy talking to his knights in the company of Arlan, he kept part of his attention on his queen. He saw Seren going towards the river but didn't stop her as he continued with his conversation. 

Just then, there was a loud bird screech nearby, a sound Seren found familiar and comforting. She looked around thinking, 'Did he follow me?' 

She was pleasantly surprised to find the same majestic bird landing on the rock close to her.  Seeing him, she couldn't help but feel happy. 

'Finally, someone I know is here! Now, it will feel less lonely,' she thought as she walked towards that boulder with a height reaching her waist. 

With a sweet smile spreading behind her veil, she caressed the eagle's head. "Did you follow me?" 

Dusk just rubbed his head against her hand, enjoying her touch. 

"Your master will worry if you are gone for long," she said again, only to hear one cold voice interrupting her. 

"His master sure won't mind if he follows you, my Queen."

Seren turned to look at the man who seemed to have miraculously appeared behind her, his approach so silent she did not notice him until he spoke out loud. She wanted to ask how Drayce knew that the bird's master would be fine with it, but before she could voice her question, Drayce stepped forward and caressed Dusk's head. Her own hand retreated immediately. 

The servants standing behind Seren walked away after greeting Drayce. 

"Am I right, Dusk?" Drayce asked and Dusk pecked on his hand twice.

Seeing Dusk responding to Drayce, she asked, "His Majesty knows this eagle's master?"

"Hmm." He nodded. 

"May I know who?"

"The one standing next to you," Drayce answered, not thinking how much it would shock the young lady. 

"What?" she exclaimed. 

Drayce looked at her and said, "My Queen can ask him if you want to confirm."

Stunned, Seren looked at the eagle. "Is he your master?" 

Since she was standing within reach, Dusk turned towards her and pecked on her hand. She looked at the master and pet in disbelief, and more questions were added to what she already had in her mind. 

After a short pause, she asked, "That food box, did His Majesty send it to me?"

"My pet only takes orders from me," Drayce replied. 

"Why?"

"Would my Queen have preferred to starve instead?" 

"No, I mean, how did His Majesty know I needed food?"

"The black smoke from the tower told me."

Seren was reminded of her miserable cooking attempt a few weeks back and if this man knew what she did, it was something to be embarrassed about.

'This man has powers so using his powers  he must have learned how I badly burnt the food. Ahh! So embarrassing!' She screamed inside.

From the look in her eyes, it was clear to him what was going on in her mind. Drayce smiled. "Rest assured, we don't let the Queen enter the royal kitchen."

'Is he trying to say I am not worthy of entering the royal kitchen?' She frowned inside.

Drayce added, "And, my Queen can call him Dusk." 

"Dusk," she mumbled and looked at the brown-feathered eagle. "So you are a boy."

Dusk's eyes opened wide and he flew away as if he was fleeing from great danger. His reaction surprised Drayce as Dusk never acted like this even when he threatened to cut his wings. Recalling his Queen's words, he did not seem to find anything wrong with her statement.

"Why did he run away?" Drayce asked. 

Staring at Dusk who was flying away with equal confusion, she replied, "Whenever I ask him if he is a boy or girl, he runs away like this. He doesn't even let me check." 

She spoke casually, forgetting she was adamant on acting refined and courteous with this scary red-eyed man. The arrival of Dusk seemed to have eased her mind. 

Drayce heard her and now understood what was the problem. He controlled himself from smiling and asked, "May I ask my Queen, how are you going to check his gender?"

"Huh?" She looked at Drayce, feeling all puzzled as she mumbled, "How?"

Drayce nodded. "Hmm! How?"

She blinked a few times as she too didn't know the answer. 'How was I going to check?' 

"Has my Queen ever tried to figure out how humans are differentiated into male and female?"

She looked extremely bewildered at this point.

He continued to ask, "Do you know why my Queen is a woman and I am a man?"

She looked at him then looked at herself. "Because I'm wearing a dress?" It sounded more like a question she wanted him to confirm instead of an answer.

'Ahh, so she knows nothing at all. Has she never seen naked babies or kids?' Drayce thought, 'Exactly how unaware of everything is she? The King of Abetha has kept her away from even things considered common sense. How can someone live such a life, so ignorant of the world to the point of not  knowing basic knowledge?' 

Seren had been inside the tower since she was a baby, and not only men but even other women were not allowed to see her. She never got the chance to mingle with others except for coming out of the tower like once or twice in a year, most of those interactions with her getting hatred from others.