3 chapters


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    After Cian and Drayce came out of King Armen''s study, Drayce asked the prince, "Where exactly in the outskirts of the capital does my wife''s nanny live?"


    "Would King Drayce like to see Martha''s ce before we take Seren there?" Cian asked, immediately understanding why Drayce asked that question.


    "It would be better. I don''t want her to experience another carriage ride when she is yet topletely recover from the fatigue after our long journeying here."


    Though Cian had never visited the woman, he had heard of the particrs from his father. "I will guide you then, King Drayce. Ask me whatever is needed to ease your use of abilities."


    Drayce lightly nodded at the quick thinking of the Crown Prince of Abetha. "Just say the direction andndmarks near her ce."


    Cian brought him to a particr hallway of the pce overlooking some small hills with gentle slopes extending a long way into the distance. Cian pointed at the forest surrounding one of the hills. "It is in the middle of that forest around the second hill from the left."


    Drayce''s sharp gaze observed the faraway hill as he said, "Prince Cian, brace yourself."


    The young king had gripped Cian at the shoulder. Even before Cian could react to what he said, their two figures disappeared from the hallway, only to appear at the top of the second hill.


    Given that his body had been trained since young, Cian easily regained his bnce despite the sudden shift of the ground under him. He stood firmly in ce, and only the widening of his eyes showed how shocked he was to personally experienceDrayce''s teleportation magic.


    "I believe Prince Cian is not so weak to feel exhausted with only this much," he heard Drayce speak in a rather easy manner.


    Cian didn''t reply to him, his eyes wandering at their surroundings. He realized they were no longer inside the pce, and he was somewhat tempted to pinch himself to make sure it was real. ''So he can really do this.''


    "Your sister can bear with it so I guess you can," he heard Drayce continue.


    Cian schooled his expression to appear tranquil, wishing to maintain the dignity of a prince. "I am alright, Your Majesty."


    "Good to know. Now you can direct me where they are," Drayce said, and soon, with the help of Cian, they reached the ce where Seren''s nanny and the mysterious old physician with a temper, Erich Winfield, lived.


    In the middle of the woods, there was a small clearing where a quaint thatched house surrounded by a fence stood.


    The two royals stood at a distance.


    "This is where Martha resides," Cian spoke. "She lives here with Physician Winfield."


    Drayce observed the quiet house, the reared animals in the yard and the logs neatly arranged on one side. If Cian didn''t say anything, he would have thought the ce was a house of a woodcutter or hunter.


    "How is her nanny doing?" Drayce asked. From what he predicted thest time he saw her, she would not make it past three months.


    "Terrible. Her health is failing and she''s almost unable to leave bed, but Physician Winfield keeps on trying, searching high and low for rare medicinal herbs and preparing new medicine for her."


    Seeing Drayce raise a puzzled brow, Cian answered his silent question.


    "Martha asked my father not to meddle with their lives so we are not spying on them. This is what I got to know from the apprentices that work with him. Most of the high-grade and rare herbs he used were purchased with the help of the pce and the royal physicians."


    "Wait here," was all Cian heard in response and the ce next to him suddenly became empty. ''Where did he go?''<novelnext></novelnext>


    Cian looked ahead towards the thatched house, but he could not see even the shadow of the young king. His gut feeling told him Drayce must have gone inside and Cian decided to wait.


    After some time, Drayce reappeared just behind him like a ghost. Cian sensed him and turned around as his reflexes were sharper than most knights.


    "We need to bring my wife here as soon as possible. Her nanny''s situation is so dire, I would not be surprised even if she stops breathing at this very moment," Drayce said with a dark look on his face. He understood Seren well enough to know how much the old woman was like family to her. She would be devastated if Martha dies.


    "I wonder if Physician Winfield will allow her to meet her nanny," Cian expressed his concern.


    "He will, and even if not, I will see how he won''t," Drayce said, and the next moment, Cian felt the strong grip on his shoulder once more. The two men disappeared from the forest, only to reappear in the same hallway of the pce overlooking the rolling hills.


    Cian once more had to make sure his expression would not show his struggle to regain his bnce.


    "King Drayce, I would appreciate you informing me before pulling these stunts," he said after he steadied himself.


    "Oh, so here you are. I was wondering where the two of you had gone. I am a little upset you did not invite me to your outing," An said as he came to them.


    He had overheard Cianining earlier, so he patted the man on the shoulder as a gesture of feignedfort.


    "Prince Cian, you might be unaware, but the closer you are to this guy, the less aftereffect you will feel. He holds your sister as close as he can to protect her when he teleports but that doesn''t seem like the case with you."


    "I am fine with just this much closeness, Prince An," Cian countered, while Drayce followed up with a, "You can do that for Prince Cian, An. I only have space for his sister."


    This caused An tough. "You''ll never know if the brother feels asfortable to hug as his sister unless you try it."


    "I am giving you the privilege to try that with my wife''s brother."


    Cian had an incredulous expression as he stared at the two with growing annoyance. He could understand An--he was long used to the prince''s easygoing antics--but to think even Drayce was acting this way. These two were tossing him at each other as if he was not standing in front of them.


    "I am notfortable with either of you," Cian frowned and left without turning back.


    An let out an amused chuckle when Drayce spoke, "You could have sent him away without annoying him."


    "There is no fun in that. Cian is quite a levelheaded guy and it is amusing to see him pissed from time to time."


    That made Drayce recall something that made him smile. "His sister is no less amusing, I guess. Today, she left everyone speechless with her temper."


    "Good to know." An then changed the subject. "Where have you been?"


    Though Drayce was not afraid of using his powers in front of others, he seldom used magic involving people not close to him. Yet he used teleportation on Cian this time. If An was not concerned that an unexpected problem has urred, he wouldn''t have sought out Drayce and Cian as soon as they returned.


    Drayce exined what happened to him.


    "Hmm, you should take your wife to see her nanny then."


    Drayce had the same thought, and after a brief chat, the two men went their separate ways.