The Royal Mark-Chapter 208: Dust in My Eyes
Qiryn Kingdom
The fall that Elsa was expecting did not happen at all when someone pushed her to the ground. She was able to push herself up by releasing a strong blast of air that surprised everyone except her mother.
Even she was surprised herself, instantly forgetting the person who pushed her.
"I did it! I did it! Mom! I did it!" Elsa shouted excitedly and happily, raising her arms and jumping in joy.
She ran back to her mother who was still with Queen Ydril under the tree. "Did you see it? It was so fast but I was able to push myself with my air magic before I hit the ground."
[Yeah, yeah, everyone saw it but it was not enough. I’m still here...] Ciel uttered, rolling her eyes to Elsa.
"Oh, Ciel... You’re still here."
[That’s what I said...]
"That’s ok, honey. It’s just the beginning. The important thing is you were able to learn how to release your power. Air is the easiest among the four elements since air is everywhere. You just have to master how to manipulate it," Hera mentioned.
"Well, it was not easy if I didn’t fa– Hey! Someone pushed me from the top!" Elsa said.
"Now, don’t be angry. It was effective," Elandir who was behind her approaching their group blurted.
"You are insane! That was dangerous. What if I was not able to release my magic when you pushed me?"
"If that happened then many of us here will save you, but we don’t need to since we know that you will be able to do it. Didn’t you notice your pattern? You always get to release your magic at your most dire moment. So I suggested to Hera to push you. Aren’t I amazing?" Elandir said with a smug face, causing Elsa to squint her eyes in annoyance.
But she admits to herself that he was right. They are already lacking time and if he didn’t push her, it may still take some time before she can grasp how to release her air magic.
"By the way what are you doing here? Who is with my son?" Elsa asked, remembering Rocco.
"He is with Marina and was sleeping soundly when I left them... Oh! Another reason why I am here is because the castle received a letter from your grandparents. They are on their way here. They might arrive in An’owyn castle by dinnertime. They came instead of your uncles to pick you up," Elandir mentioned.
Elsa looked at her mom who was staring at Elandir with no emotions. No excitement, sadness, happiness, nothing at all.
"Mom... Will you be ok at the cabin? Me and Rocco will stay in the castle until the day I leave. I will ask Marina to accompany you for the–"
Hera cut off Elsa and said, "I will go with you."
"Mom? Does it mean..."
"It’s time for them to know that I am alive. It’s a great time for a family reunion. Besides, they will not agree if you tell them that you are leaving Rocco here when you go to Arcanis. They would want him to be with family while his mother is fighting in the war," Hera explained.
Elsa smiled, it was like a dream come true. When she was young Hera used to tell her about her parents, King Allister and Mistress Valeria. But after Hera passed away she forgot everything and when she ended up in Zemaria she never thought that this day would happen.
With Queen Irina gone, this is just the family that she wanted Rocco to grow up to. The only thing that’s missing in her perfect life is her husband. It is time to get him back...
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Hera made Elsa wear the best dress that she had sewed for her and for the same goes for Rocco. She’d be lying if she would say she’s not nervous at all. She had never imagined that she would be able to see her family again but here she was, anxious about what their reaction be once they saw her.
Queen Ydril, Elsa, Rocco, and Hera ride in the carriage on their way back to the castle, while Elandir and Marina ride as they stay behind the carriage.
"Will you be gone for long?" Marina couldn’t help but ask Elandir. As much as she wanted to join him, she couldn’t. Mermaids cannot go beyond the territory of Qiryn, so all she can do is wait.
"I don’t know for sure. I am hoping it will not be that long. I don’t like wars. I prefer peace but Yvonne is asking for her end. Perhaps she’s bored with her life and badly wanted it to end. Will you miss me?"
"Of course, I will miss you. I miss you already," Marina, who was riding behind Elandir hugged him, making Elandir smile.
"Then perhaps we should savor the night later so we will not miss each other that badly," Elandir uttered causing Marina to giggle.
"I’ll look forward to it. Can I just stay in your room and not in your cabin tonight?" she asked.
"Are you sure you want my room instead of the cabin? I mean my room is more luxurious but the people passing by especially the servants might hear you scream late at night," Elandir said casually.
"Hmm... Now that you mentioned it, I think the cabin is much better. But you will be busy tonight with the King of Zemaria, you might forget me," Marina pouted her lips behind Elandir but he figured what kind of face she was making by the sound of her voice.
"How could I forget, if there’s a beautiful and amazing woman waiting for me in my cabin? I promise I will go to you as soon as I can. I like that cabin better than my room, the peacefulness it gives me is unmeasurable. It also reminds me of you," Elandir reassured her.
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When everyone arrived at An’owyn castle, they were informed by the castle guards that King Allister of Zemaria and Mistress Valeria had arrived and were currently in the drawing room with King Tyrion.
Elsa immediately headed towards the drawing room while carrying Rocco in her arms, leaving everyone in the castle’s vestibule.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Elsa swiftly greeted as soon as she entered the drawing room.
King Allister and Mistress Valeria briskly turned around upon hearing their granddaughter’s voice.
Mistress Valeria gasped and covered her mouth upon seeing Rocco looking at them.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I want you to meet Rocco. My little rascal," Elsa smiled as she handed Rocco to her grandmother.
"Oh, my sweet boy! Nice to meet you, sweetheart. I am your great-grandma. Look at you, you got your mother’s hair and your father’s eyes. Such a handsome child," Mistress Valeria said.
"And this is your great-grandpa–"
Mistress Valeria paused. She was about to hand over Rocco to King Allister but found him in tears instead.
King Allister immediately wiped his tears and uttered, "There’s dust in my eyes, goodness."
Everyone laughed at the king’s excuse, knowing the real reason for his tears.
"Oh, come on. We all know that you’re crying because of happiness and not because of some dust. Don’t lie in front of our great-grandson, you old man!"
Mistress Valeria’s playful banter made everyone laugh again.
"The future King of Arcanis is my great-grandson. I can’t wait to play hide and seek with you. great-grandpa will teach you many things and I will give you lots of toys," King Allister said to Rocco you stared at him completely amused.
"Great-grandma will take care of you while your mother fights all the evil people in Arcanis, and when she comes back, you will meet your father, he is handsome like you," Mistress Valeria said to Rocco while King Allister carried the boy.
"Uhm, I want to talk to you about that. Rocco is too young to travel and I have decided that he will stay here in Qiryn until we rescue Chris and free Arcanis from the witch queen," Elsa said.
As expected, both King Allister and Mistress Valeria frowned, visibly not liking Elsa’s decision.
"Dear, I think it would be better if he stays with family and we don’t want to burden the King and Queen of Qiryn," King Allister stated.
"But he will be staying with family here too. So I am not worried about leaving him and joining in the war," Elsa reasoned to the king.
Mistress Valeria got confused with what she said and asked, "Family here in Qiryn? Who?"
"Me, Mother... Father... Rocco will stay with me, his grandmother," Hera replied when she entered the drawing room after hearing the conversation from the hallway.
Elsa quickly took Rocco from King Allister in fear of dropping him after seeing the stunned faces of her grandparents. The two stared at Hera with dropped jaws, as if they had frozen in time. Silence filled the room, and everyone inside gazed alternately between Hera and her parents, waiting for who would be the first one to react.
