Orion stared at the lamia in front of him. He knew her, but not that well to thoughtlessly interact with her.


    So, a stare contest happened while Amelia giggled on the side. Until the lamia couldn''t take it anymore and forcefully began the conversation.


    "I-I heard it was your birthday, s-so, happy birthday."


    Taken by surprise, he stopped his raging thoughts, and talked to her. He bowed a little after his right hand to his chest.


    "Thank you very much, Queen Deveralna. I was not expecting your visit in the least."


    The mood changed at his words. Speaking with a tone of respect, everyone felt awkward, as they weren''t expecting him to act this way toward her.


    ''I thought he was on better terms with her? Don''t tell me we''ve messed up?''


    Karteira spoke in a low voice to Amelia.


    ''I don''t think so. If it was the case, she wouldn''t have come.''


    Deveralna immediately took control over the situation, as she didn''t liked how she was seen right now.


    So she looked at Orion with a warm smile on her face, and a gentle tone.


    "Please, I did not come here to be treated as royalty right now. This is an opportunity for me to learn more about you and the ones around you. Could you please not push me away so blatantly?"


    "..."


    Orion straightened and looked at her, before nodding.


    "Alright. I will respect your wishes. Welcome to Horizon."


    He extended his hand toward her, to which she answered by grabbing it with both hands.


    "Thank you. I am glad to be present for such an event. If not for your friends over there, I would have remained ignorant."


    They shook hands vigorously, before Orion turned to the girls.


    "How did you manage to get her here? You''ve pulled a sneaky one on me."


    Karteira smiled, and began to explain.


    "Well, it wasn''t easy."


    -


    Karteira walked through the portal leading to Lahro. She already knew the place as she came once before, when Orion had his first meeting with Deveralna.


    ''The castle''s entrance is other here isn''t it?''


    She followed her memories until she arrived in front of a grand staircase leading to two doors bigger than necessary.


    After walking up the stairs, she tried to walk forward.


    "Halt! Who are you and what are you doing here?"


    Two lamias, the guards at the entrance, slithered in front of her, their swords pointed at her.


    "Could you lower your weapons first? I don''t really like to engage in conversation while being threatened."


    Speaking with a tone that didn''t accept refusal, she prepared her first.


    Both guards looked at each other, wondering what they should be doing. Their job was to guard the palace, not to make a ruckus at the front.


    "Sure, we can do that."


    The guard on the left dropped her weapon, but still kept it in her hand. The same happened shortly after for the one on the right.


    Erasing her animosity, Karteira straightened, and nodded.


    "Great."


    The two guards remembered how the ones personally guarding the queen were shouted at for acting out of place, so they also began to watch their actions.


    Words traveled fast inside the palace.


    "My name is Karteira, I am a friend of Orion, who came here a few days ago to discuss a few things about your faction."


    They both shuddered after hearing his name.


    "T-The man the Queen can''t keep out of mouth?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "The o-one she defended during the audience?"


    Feeling a little lost, they also looked doubtful of her.


    "We cannot let you enter though. You would need to first ask for an appointment with her Majesty, or her mother, and have one of them accept."


    "But if you can prove that you are that man''s friend, then we can at least relay a message for you."


    Karteira placed a hand on her hip and the other on her chin.


    ''A proof...''


    It took her less than minute to find a good idea.


    ''Oh. Of course.''


    Closing her only visible eye, she removed the invisibility on her tail.


    The guards looked at this scene with interest, and awe. The moment she opened her eye, her mouth also opened.


    "I am a fairy. I wouldn''t be here without the help of Orion himself. Is it good enough of a proof?"


    The whispers of the guards entered her ears, whatnots about her tail, Orion, and the Queen.


    "Yes, we will believe your words. So, what message can we relay for you?"


    The lamia on the right slid right in front of Karteira.


    "Could you give this to your Queen?"


    Taking out an envelop out of the back pocket of her jeans, she handed it over to the guard.


    "Without opening it, of course. It won''t be good to know secret informations, right?"


    She blinked and turned away.


    "I''m expecting to see her tomorrow, if what Orion said about her is true."


    Waving, she walked down the stairs, one hand in her pocket.


    "Doesn''t she look cool? I''ve never seen someone with an eyepatch before."


    "Me neither. She also very stylish."


    After the two guards watched Karteira walking away, one of them entered the palace, to hand over the message she delivered to them.


    ~


    The next day, outside of the palace.


    A lamia was being escorted out of the palace, accompanied a blue haired woman.


    Now that the city was safe, the citizens were able to move freely again without fear of losing their life.


    And right now, something they weren''t expecting was happening. It made them understand that the situation did really improve.


    After the previous Queen, Palarvina gave her seat to the next in line, who was unknown to everyone until now, unrest could be seen in their behavior.


    But seeing their new Queen finally walk out of the palace gave them comfort that the days of fear and oppression finally stopped.


    As Deveralna went through a few districts, and followed her in an alley where she vanished from sight.


    -


    "That''s how I got her to come. When I got the idea, I first went for the portal, but I knew my words wouldn''t be enough, so I returned and wrote a letter. Anyone could deform my words without it."


    Deveralna nodded.


    "Yes, you have no idea how happy I was to receive such a letter. First, I got invited, but then, when I arrived, I had the opportunity to discuss with your friends, and I was incredibly shocked to learn that they had both the status of lover."


    "They also remained polite and never belittled my own feelings. For that, I am grateful. I know my status as a Queen can be imposing, but I would like to be treated normally when I''m not in the throne room."


    Amelia and Karteira both surrounded her, and looked at Orion.


    "If she came all the way, why don''t just enjoy her company?"


    Orion simply stood there, impressed by how pushy these two women became concerning a few  things.


    "Do whatever you want. You went out of your way to do that, I am not heartless enough to just throw her away."


    The lamia''s smile could almost blind anyone, as her happiness went through the roof.


    "Thank you!"


    They all sat on various couches of the room. Amelia and Deveralna sat with Orion in-between on the first couch, and Karteira, Dramia, and Drania sat on the one next to them.


    "How was the situation in Albriar? I haven''t heard anything from Lord Florian since both of you left in a hurry. Mother and I were incredibly worried."


    Placing his hands on his lap, Orion explained.


    "You know that there was an army going toward Albriar, right?"


    Deveralna nodded.


    "The Apostle Julian attacked while Florian was in Lahro. We don''t know if he had prepared an army a few days prior, or if he had a special way to make them move faster than a normal army, but they arrived in less than two days."


    Orion explained everything that happened, without holding anything.


    For Deveralna, it was like hearing a fairy tale. She looked at Amelia and Karteira with admiration each time they talked about their own achievement, and cried when she heard about Orion and Karteira tragic event that could have ended in despair.


    The moment they were done, Deveralna said those words.


    "I have never left the confine of the palace before. For me, even this place is amazing to me. But hearing you telling all of this, I get reminded that I really do not know anything about this continent."


    "And I don''t know anything about the lamias. We can find common ground on this point, right?"


    But she looked down at that moment.


    "I am scared that the moment you hear everything I have to say about us, you would avoid me and push me away."


    Orion looked at her without saying anything. He was a little lost about what to say, because refuting was only words in the end.


    "I would not do that. Orion is not that kind of person. In fact, if he could, he''d place everyone he know in this space forever, and close the portals to Triazils."


    Amelia spoke with determination.


    "Yes, in his eyes, your value is not only what you know. He doesn''t see any value in people like that. If you were a bad person, he wouldn''t have told us anything about you."


    Adding a little more, Karteira agreed with Amelia.


    "Can you not embarrass me in a day like this?"


    Orion looked at the ceiling, slightly red.


    "Alright, let me grab the cake right know. I do know it is early, but we can at least enjoy some sugar while we talk."


    A smile on her face, Amelia stood up, and walked in the next room to pick up the cake that was waiting in the kitchen.


    Until something unexpected happened.


    "WOOF!"


    A big dog went by the window, and caught everyone by surprise.


    Orion, the first one to realize what had happened, stood up.


    "Did we... ever got a dog?"


    He slowly turned toward Karteira, with a terrifying expression on his face.


    "Ha-Haha... I might have forgotten to close the portal in Lahro..."


    She looked away, sweating buckets.


    "I might be a stray, we don''t have any dogs as lamias."


    Deveralna said, a little afraid.


    "Great. I''ll go take a look."


    Walking toward the front door, he went for the door handle, and opened it.


    "WRAF!"


    But before he could even prepare to step outside, a huge shadow jumped on him, and made him fall on the ground as it pushed the door.


    *BUMP*


    Orion''s back fell to the ground, as he felt something lick his face repeatedly.


    "Stop! Stop that!"


    He placed his hand under the head of the beast, and pushed up, stopping the furious licking.


    "What in the world are you doing here!"


    Everyone looked from the doors, a dirty white dog shaking its tail.


    "Umm... Orion. Happy birthday?"


    Amelia said with a sarcastic smile.