The King's decree was passed throughout the kingdom. Aside from the official copies of the decrees sent over by royal messengers, hundreds of carrier pigeons were also released from the palace in order to hasten the dissemination of information.
According to the contents of the royal decree, the subjects of Abetha had lost the favor of the goddess who oversees the land. This neglected goddess, in her disappointment, took back the blessing of abundance she gave to the people. In order to get her favor back, the children who enjoyed her grace must prove their faith to the Deity of Earth once more.
The preparation of the worship ceremony was launched not only in the regions near the capital, but in all territories of the kingdom where in each farm, people were ordered to set altars and pray to the Deity of Earth, asking for her forgiveness due to their abuse and negligence of the land. They promised to take care of the earth and always worship her.
Each town and city had built a small temple where they worshiped the said goddess.
On the morning of the third day since the decree was passed, Seren and Drayce left the Royal Palace of Abetha.
A group of knights and royal guards escorted their carriage towards the largest farmland at the outskirts of the capital. Their arrival was timed together with the King and Queen of Abetha, and once they arrived at their destination, Seren saw a vast crowd of people respectfully kneeling to welcome them.
Be they noblemen or commoners, they were equal as subjects of the royal family.
The worship ceremony started with King Armen, acting as the priest, presiding with a speech before offering prayers.
Meanwhile, Seren stayed inside her carriage with Drayce and Yorian.
Soon enough, the ceremony was nearing its end. The crowd watched as the veiled princess stepped out of her carriage supported by her husband. Currently, Seren was clad in pure white robes, giving her an ethereal presence under the people's reverent gazes.
Seren gazed at the barren land, and being the current Deity of Earth, she could not help but want to revive that land this very moment.
"Your Majesty, today we…" The elf was about to guide her towards the platform where the King of Abetha had prepared an altar, but before Yorian could say more, Seren walked towards the farmland on her own.
"Seems like you have to be ready, King Drayce," Yorian said, as he guessed the intentions of the deity who knew nothing but to care for the pitiful land.
She crossed the boundary of the farm and everyone watched her slowly walk towards the middle of the barren land. There was something different about her which no one could point out as ordinary humans could not see it. However, through the eyes of the supernatural beings, there was an aura of divine energy surrounding her. She shone like the brightest star had descended on the mortal realm.
The ignorant people in the crowd wondered what she was going to do, and they didn't need to wait long to get their answers.
The dry, cracked ground started to change in color, a trail of green followed wherever she put her feet on, and this spectacle continued to move along with her steps. Seren paused in her steps and after closing her eyes, a miracle happened.
The barren farm turned into a sea of green. Deep, rich green blades of grass spread outwards, with the veiled woman as its center.The trees that were dying on the nearby orchard began to show vitality, and the seeds that didn't sprout, the saplings that didn't grow, they emerged and multiplied in a frenzy.
Those who were confused or doubted the King's words began to sincerely feel awe at the marvelous feat of the 'ominous witch' .
How many humans could proudly say they witnessed magic in broad daylight? This was a phenomenon that would be recorded down in history and passed onto future generations!
Time passed by, and by the time Seren opened her eyes, as far as her eyesight could reach was a beautiful thriving paradise. The crowd cheered, and some of the farmers bawled their eyes out in happiness . Drayce, who had been using his powers to protect her from hellfire erupting, hurried towards her. He knew using her powers to this extent would take a great toll on her body.
He supported her swaying body. "Are you alright?"
She leaned against him. "Just… a little tired."
Drayce carried her in his arms back to the carriage and told their escorts he wished to leave. If not for the crowd, he would have just disappeared with her in the middle of the field. When he closed the door of the carriage, he thought of teleporting once more, but sensing her weakened body, he decided it would be better to go back via carriage.
Cian came to them.
"I will take her back," was what Drayce said.
"Father ordered me to escort you," Cian said and left on horseback along with the carriage.
After King Armen burned the incense offering to the altar, he ended the worship ceremony by thanking the blessing of the Deity of Earth. The crowd then began to spread the miracle they witnessed.
"So the Third Princess is not a witch, but a priestess serving the Deity of Earth?"
"She is someone sent by the heavens for the prosperity of our kingdom?"
"All these years we were thinking wrong of her."
"Was she the reason our farms had experienced abundance all year-round?"
"...and we just sent her to another kingdom?"
"How could the royal family allow this to happen?"
"Does that mean Megaris will get to enjoy the deity's blessing from hereon?"
"What will happen to Abetha now?"
Murmurs of criticism and sighs of regret could be heard from the crowd.
When Seren returned to the royal palace, Drayce immediately put her to bed and forced to rest. Even though she claimed to be fine, he could not help but feel worried. Yorian and Cian asked permission to see Seren, and they were allowed into her bedchamber after Seren refused to sleep.
"Mister Yorian, Brother Cian," she greeted.
The elf bowed to her and said, "Queen Seren, I am here to give you something and also check on you. Please allow me."
She was sitting on bed, resting her back on the pillows piled against the headboard. Drayce was on the bed as well with one arm wrapped around her shoulder.
Yorian smiled after checking her pulse. "I say, this is good news. Your body has adapted to you using your powers, Your Majesty. I worried for nothing."
"Is everything alright?" Drayce asked.
"Yes. She shouldn't overexert herself like she did earlier, but as of now, there shouldn't be a problem with minor daily usage. Of course, her vitality would be reduced every time she uses large-scale magic. This potion Evanthe prepared for her would do the trick."
Drayce helped her drink the potion.
"Thank you," she said, already feeling her exhaustion being washed away.
Yorian then clapped his hand. "Another good news. Seems like you have successfully changed the views of the people of this kingdom about you, Queen Seren," Yorian said with a smile.
Contrary to their expectations, there was no change in Seren. "I did it for the sake of that pitiful land. What the people thought of me is none of my concern."
She looked cold and hard, not a hint of gentleness in those purple eyes. She was not forgiving by nature. Suffering all these years, it wouldn't be erased by any apology. Neither forgiven nor forgotten.
After all, she was a human by heart. An eighteen-year-old girl, no matter how mature, could always choose to be petty.
She looked at Cian. "I am sorry, brother. I didn't mean it about you."
"I understand, Seren," Cian replied, his tone apologetic. "After all you experienced, even after suffering from prejudice, you still chose to help the kingdom. Your choice, whether it is for the people or the land, the Kingdom of Abetha will always be indebted to you."
"You should rest," Drayce suggested, to which Seren agreed.
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A/N- In the month of June, there might not be any chapters.
Reasons-
1) I need to bring the plot of third novel in the same time line with first two books of the series and then I can write all three of them together. No one will get spoiler from one book for another and they can be finished together.
2) It would be easy for me to write and match all the incidents happening simultaneous in all novels.
3) I do not wish to keep you waiting for updates and I am sure you all are not happy with once week updates.
4) I promise to give mass release on the 1st July and then continue all three novels together. It will be interesting to read things being related in all three novels.
5) Those who are reading 3rd book, they can keep meeting Drayce and Seren in it and see them interacting with Arlan's naughty runaway betrothed.
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