The Prince’s Runaway Bride - Chapter 324

It had only been twenty minutes, but Odette felt like she was going through an agonizing event in her life. She tried to listen attentively to the First Concubine’s stories of Palace intrigues and deceptions. She had no idea why the First Concubine was telling her all of those. She was not interested to know in the slightest.

Before she had decided to form a sort of alliance with the First Concubine, she did a little background check on her. Odette learned that she belonged to one of the most powerful families in Prazia, but she lacked the needed intelligence and cunningness to keep the other concubines at bay. The other concubines may have eliminated her quickly if not for her powerful family.

The power struggle within the harem was as intense as waging war with other kingdoms. Odette knew it all and somehow admired Queen Mina for doing a great job in pacifying the other concubines from making devious plots.

“First Princess, come and taste this éclair. The famous patisserie in Prazia gifted this to me just this morning.”

Odette was having second thoughts because she had no idea whether the First Concubine had put something in it. On the other hand, the First Concubine did not seem to be someone who possessed a wicked mind to think that far.

She used her fork and cut the éclair in bite-size. She took a bite and was surprised at the richness of flavor that was not overpowering. She could tell that the one who made it was careful with the ingredients that he used. She could taste all the flavors of the ingredients, and they blended well.

The First Concubine noticed that Odette liked it very much. She was also aware that the other concubines sent their maids to spy on them. She did not know where the maids were stationed, but she knew very well that they were hiding somewhere in the garden.

“This is really good,” Odette uttered and gave the First Concubine a smile.

When the Dark Magic Lord set foot on the Palace grounds, he already felt the presence of someone that he never encountered before. However, it was not something that should make him draw out his secret weapon. In fact, the presence seemed somewhat pleasant.

He no longer paid it no mind and went to meet King Odhran, who was already waiting patiently in his study. The King of Prazia already told his Head Steward to clean his table and keep the doc.u.ments he was signing in a safe place.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” the Dark Magic Lord uttered immediately upon seeing King Odhran.

“You’re here, Marquis. You’re just in time. My daughter is here at the Palace right now. The First Concubine is accompanying her.”

King Odhran kept smiling at the Dark Magic Lord, who had goosebumps. He also confirmed his initial hunch that the reason he was called to the Palace had something to do with Odette.

He was a bit annoyed at the King for summoning him to the Palace for something so trivial, but he also knew he had to pay his respects. He would like to ask whether it was the First Princess’ idea to summon him there.

“King Odhran, why did you call for me?”

The King walked to where the Dark Magic Lord was standing and smiled even more.

“That’s what I like about you. I think you already know the answer, why do you still ask?”

The Dark Magic Lord wanted to walk out of the room and disappear on sight. But, King Odhran was still his greatest benefactor.

“I know that the First Princess is the reason why you summoned me. What did the First Princess ask you to do?”

King Odhran sighed, “She suspects that she might have magic within her, but I can’t help her unleash it. I don’t even know how to detect magic.”

King Odhran became sullen. The Dark Magic Lord and Master Monsat already knew for a fact that King Odhran could never manifest any magic power. They told the people of Prazia that he could already after so many years. But, the truth was he could not. Those ministers who knew that the King of Prazia could still not use magic were all eliminated by the Dark Magic Lord. As of the moment, he was the only one who knew the King’s deepest, darkest secret.

The Dark Magic Lord knew that King Odhran was wondering whether it was possible for Odette to obtain magic when her parents did not even have it.

“Your Majesty, let me check the First Princess first before I give you a proper explanation. It is still possible that she may have magic in her body and only need to be unleashed.”

King Odhran’s face brightened when he heard the Dark magic Lord’s reply.

He immediately gave an order, “Send for the First Princess here, now!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Dark Magic Lord was not surprised anymore. He had a hunch that the presence he felt earlier belonged to Odette. He sighed.

‘It’s either now or some other day. No matter what I choose, I’m sure that the King will just keep pestering me until he gets what he wants.’

Odette smiled secretly when King Odhran’s personal steward came to the garden and fetched her. The First Concubine could say nothing since it was the King’s order. The steward just told her that the Dark Magic Lord was the one who asked for the presence of the First Princess.

The First Concubine wanted to ask something more, but the steward gave her a warning look. Odette did not say anything anymore to the First Concubine and just got up and bowed her head slightly. She did not even mention when she would come to visit again.

The First Concubine gritted her teeth when Odette and the steward were no longer in sight. She wanted to add poison to Odette’s cake and drink, but she knew that she would just be inviting trouble upon herself. She knew that the King would not let her off. He could tolerate what she might do to the concubines that displeased her, but King Odhran would not let any of them play tricks on his daughter.

‘Soon, Odette you will perish from Prazia.’

“Head Steward, is the Dark Magic Lord really here now?”

The steward remained calm and composed. He was surprised that Odette asked him like that. To be honest, he did not like the First Princess at all. He had been in the Palace for so many years and was already used to the scheming tactics of the women in the harem. The First Princess was just the same as any woman in King Odhran’s harem – a vicious, conniving schemer.

“Yes, First Princess.”

Odette felt alienated by how the steward addressed her. There was nothing wrong with it, but she did not like the steward’s tone. She wondered if her father would dismiss the steward immediately when she complained.

There was only silence between Odette and the steward after that. Odette did not feel like asking anything again from the steward. She had decided to observe a little more before complaining to King Odhran about the steward’s rude behavior. She still had no idea whether the King of Prazia told the steward to treat her that way or not.

The mood of Dark Magic Lord was becoming heavier and heavier. He wanted to back out, but he was aware that he would come to face Odette another day. He was conflicted, and King Odhran already noticed it. They’ve known each other for years and could even be considered friends. However, it was the Dark Magic Lord who kept putting an invisible barrier between them.

The Marquis wanted to maintain the business-like atmosphere between them and drew the line from the start. He knew that maintaining a friendship with the King was bad for him. There were only two things that he wanted from King Odhran and those two things could help him a lot. He just wanted to borrow the military power of Prazia, and the influence of King Odhran. Prazia was still considered one of the most powerful and influential kingdoms in Maecaea.

Odette was quite annoyed with the steward because he stopped her from entering the room immediately. She used to go there directly why did he stop her now? The Steward, on the other hand, thought that the King and the Dark Magic Lord were discussing something that Odette should not hear. He could not trust Odette, and he still could not accept the fact that she might be the next ruler of Prazia.

The steward came in and bowed to King Odhran, “Your Majesty, the First Princess is here.”

“Send her in.”

Odette brushed past the steward as she walked in immediately when she heard the King. She saw a man standing next to King Odhran and knew that he was the Dark Magic Lord. She sneered secretly. She knew that the man was reluctant to impart something to her. But, he was the most qualified – no, the only qualified person – to help her awaken the magic within her.

The Dark Magic Lord was taken aback as Odette drew nearer. He could feel faint magic surrounding her. He could not believe that something similar to what his grandfather told him before could happen again.

When he was young, his grandfather told him that there was once a King of Prazia who did not possess magic. The people did not object his accession to the throne because he already showed great leadership, and he loved the people of Prazia. That King had a daughter who possessed great amount of magic within her body. The King cherished that daughter very much, but she became greedy for power. In the end, she killed her own father to ascend to the throne.

The Dak Magic Lord looked intently at Odette and wondered if the same event would happen again. It would be good if she had the same amount of magic within her – he would not hesitate to assist her.