46 Realization

Arnacia looked around the room while Naomi was away. The stone walls were especially notable just because they contrasted with the green hallway walls. She moved her finger on the cold stone and inspected it. A thin layer of dirt was now layered on her fingertip.

'This is…' It smelled cold and dusty. She immediately moved to the hallway to confirm her speculation. The green walls were not painted, instead they were polished stones!

She thought of the brown slab of stone in the kitchen that worked like an electric stove. The tap water in the dining room of Sleeping Quarters? And how the maids could enjoy a hot water bath. Everything in this world closely mimicked Earth.

But in this medieval time, how could such things be achieved? The answer couldn't be simpler. For Arnacia, it wasn't a discovery but a realization.

***

Lorein Kingdom's capital, Lanceworth, was ignited in great joy. Decorations overflowed both in and out of the huge Castle gates. These walls protected an entire city inside, a city of rich and wealthy. But the tradition of paper origami was just the same.

Big and beautiful decorations with lamps inside hung on high towers. But there were indeed some dark and dreary places deep within the Castle. Queen Afeefa was present in one such dimly lit room.

The only source of light in this room was a transparent Trilliant with many irregular black dots. The size of the huge crystal was bigger than the head of the person sitting behind it.

"Going to search for the King is your biggest mistake." An old woman's voice echoed inside the room.

Queen Afeefa looked at the slender figure covered in purple robes embroidered with triangular shapes. She stared in anticipation of what to say next. But suddenly, two dots of light shined through the woman's hood. Thus, she immediately lowered her head.

"Luckily, you didn't find him." The old woman expressed relief, but her voice turned harsh as she continued. "The rest I can ignore because you don't have any ulterior motives. BUT. You don't even know what is happening in the kingdom and unknowingly took the biggest piece of treasure. Do you even know what you dragged yourself into?"

"Please guide me, teacher." Queen Afeefa bent down on her knees and touched the ground with her left fist and rested her right forearm on her bare leg.

"Your view is too narrow, Afeefa." The woman sighed. "It would be better if you give the girl to another Queen. Madeline would have been the ideal choice, but no one except her closest maid had seen her for the last few months.

"There are too many things happening in the dark. I wouldn't be surprised if she was dead." The woman casually said.

"No, that can't be. She is- she-"

"Afeefa. I am not sure if you are ready to hear this. Only a few people in the kingdom know the Snowmoons have been secretly researching what they call 'magic' for generations. If the girl you have can really heal, then they must have found a way for humans to use nature's energy.

"There are many things I do not know, but what's clear is that there will be massive strife over that girl. Alucards are already involved in this. King Nicolas is missing, Midiane broke out of prison-"

"Dark Queen Midiane?" Queen Afeefa couldn't be more shocked to hear about this development. Midiane wasn't a myth? She was captured? And now she was out of the prison?

"Afeefa!" the old woman scolded, her eyes shined purple again. She wanted to pressure Afeefa more. "You are not ready for this. You are riding at the front of this enormous wave by sheer luck. It's only a matter of time before you get swept away."

"I know I am not qualified to be a Queen. I cannot see the bigger picture. There is little I know of politics." Afeefa's head was lowered. She looked at the hands she never used for fighting. "This kingdom isn't the paradise I dreamed of, there's little I can change with my title. Unlike the King, I am weak and powerless, but give me this chance, teacher. I won't let magic end up in the wrong hands. I will save this kingdom." She looked at the purple eyes with an unwavering determination.

Unaware, Afeefa finally spoke out her true intentions. She wanted power, so what? Her heart was clean, and that was enough. She might be a better candidate than Madeline, the old woman mused.

"The times are turning. There is no foretelling what might happen. Seeing you here now, as you are, I am sure you will play an important part in this ordeal. The future of this kingdom is in your hand, you have my support." The old woman finally approved of Afeefa. "Protect that girl and remember a new era is by the horizon and whatever happens, she will be the center of it."

***

Queen Afeefa was in her bedroom along with her close Knights. She usually didn't let people inside, but right now there was a second bed in the room. Lulu was sitting on top of it beside a girl in deep sleep.

"What are you thinking about?" A cold feminine voice broke the silence. The owner of it could not be seen in the dimly lit room. But everyone present knew it was the Queen's oldest Knight.

"If there's a way to keep her healthy while sleeping, then-"

"Queen Afeefa," the cold voice interrupted. "It would be in our best interest if she can control her magic and protect herself."

"Let's wake her up then!" Lulu's voice broke the gloomy mood. She threw a red pill in the air and opened the sleeping maiden's mouth.

Plop! The pill went inside the open mouth and quickly disappeared. Silver Knight Rose watched the scene without blinking. While the Queen was away, she saw Lulu try various ways to wake Isabelle, but none of them worked. The red pill tossed now had Arnacia's blood in it.

Isabelle's eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. Last night, she got to talk to the Queen's Knights and learned a lot about the Kingdom's affairs. More importantly, everyone had been kind to her and didn't mind her missing memories at all. It was beautiful to see all these people were here when she woke up.

"Wakey wakey little princess." Lulu said.

"Isabelle, there's something I want you to tell you. This is something everyone should know." Queen Afeefa said.

"Aren't you taking things too fast?" The cold voice interrupted.

"Hahaha!" Oak suddenly laughed. Her bright teeth radiated the mood. "There is nothing to worry about. There's no danger that can faze us. Isn't that right, Isabelle?"

"Yes." Isabelle nodded. She looked at Queen Afeefa.

"Isabelle, you can utilize magic for healing and that's really special. You have to learn how to control your power. If you can do it, if you can use magic." Queen Afeefa slowly said. Even she, herself, did not realize the weight of what these words meant.

"There's magic all around us."