Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Chapter 359: Waiting For Her

After visiting her son, Queen Theodora returned to her residence. Inside the

royal carriage that was heading back towards the Queen's residence, two

women were seemingly lost in their own thoughts. After a while, the Queen

looked at Lady Tyra. "The improvement in my son's condition, does Esther

have to do something with it?"

Lady Tyra could not deny this claim of the Queen. "Yes, Your Majesty. It was her

who saved the Crown Prince."

"Hmm, that young girl, how much will my family owe her? She has saved both

my and my son's lives. It feels like no matter how much I try to repay her, it will

never be enough," the Queen commented with a smile. "I wonder how we can

reward her..."

Lady Tyra said nothing as she wished to refrain from talking more about

Esther.

--------

When the Queen reached her residence, she immediately called for Esther.

"Your Majesty, I believe she is cleaning your chamber at the moment. Shall I

call her down?" one of the ladies-in-waiting asked.

"Never mind. I'm going back to my room."

For saving her son, the Queen earnestly wished to thank Esther. When she came

into her chamber, Esther and the other servants stopped what they were doing

to greet her. She gestured for everyone but Esther to leave. Sitting in her chair,

Queen Theodora looked at her young servant with a sincere smile.

"I wish to show you my gratitude, but it feels like no matter what I do, it will

never be enough. Rather than a friend of the Ivanovs, you are like the guardian

of my family," the Queen teased. "Tell me. Do you desire anything, Esther?"

Esther realized that the Queen knew what she had done. She politely refused.

"You don't need to thank me, Your Majesty. Anyone in my place would have

done the same to save the Crown Prince of this kingdom."

Queen Theodora shook her head. "Do not be so eager to refuse my oer. I don't

know how to repay you this time. If you have any wishes, let me know. I will

full whatever it is."

"Thank you for the kindness, Your Majesty, but I don't have any such wish,"

Esther replied.

The Queen nodded. "I was expecting this from you. If not now, in future, if you

ever need something, you can come to me and I will grant it without any

question."

It would be burdensome for Esther to continue refusing, so she accepted it this

time. "I will, Your Majesty."

------

In a span of one week, the Crown Prince was able to completely recover, to the

point that he was able to walk on his own and resume his duties in the palace.

Even the injuries in his shoulder and waist disappeared and only healed scars

that looked like years old were left to prove their existence.

To the royal physicians, it was nothing short of a miraculous recovery. It was

magical, and rumours about how Prince Theron inherited the blessings of the

founding dragon worshipped by the Kingdom of Megaris became very popular

not only within the palace but the entire capital city of Blackhelm as well. No

one knew the real reason why the Crown Prince was able to escape death when

the physicians predicted he wouldn't wake up the next morning, and how in a

span of one week, it was as if he was never injured. The small piece of Esther's

soul that she shared with him was the reason for it.

During that week of recovery, Prince Theron stayed within his residence, as his

parents strictly told him to not move around until the royal physicians nished

observing his condition and gave him their approval. Most of the time, he spent

it either in his study or in the drawing-room to receive guests. Many aristocrats

and other members of the royal family came to bid him well wishes and

brought gifts to cheer him up, but the one he truly wished to see never visited

him. Every time his mother came to check on him, Esther never accompanied

her.

"How are you feeling today, son?" Queen Theodora asked, looking at the young

man who looked better than ever before. He was donned in formal tailored

clothes that seemed to imply he was heading out. It was the rst time he was

allowed to leave his residence as only today did the royal physicians agree that

he was healthy enough to resume his ocial duties as the Crown Prince.

"Strong enough to even join the knights in their morning training, Mother," he

replied. The mother and son pair were inside the drawing-room. After

gesturing for his servants to serve tea to his mother, his eyes instinctively

searched for a certain blond lady among her companions.

'She was the one to save me. How can she not come even once during this week

to see me?' he frowned inside.

Seeing him in a daze, Queen Theodora asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, Mother," he replied quickly, dodging his mother's curious gaze,

before asking with a frown, "Are mother's servants too lazy to accompany you?

I see only your ladies-in-waiting doing their work."

With a small chuckle, Queen Theodora asked with a meaningful smile, "Is there

anyone you are talking about in particular?"

"No one," he denied. "I just noticed you have fewer companions than usual,

Mother."

"Is that so? Next time, I will make sure to have a couple of my favourite

servants with me then," the Queen assured as the meaningful smile on her lips

widened. "Oh, which reminds me, I will be throwing a banquet next week to

celebrate your recovery. The invitations had already been sent out. Be sure to

stay for the entire duration this time."

Prince Theron chose to ignore the last part. "Is it necessary?"

"Hmm," the Queen nodded. "The entire kingdom was worried about their

Crown Prince so it's time for you to ocially let everyone know that you are

safe and sound. Not only will it alleviate the concerns of our citizens, it will also

be a warning to whoever plotted against you that such attacks can't hurt us

Ivanovs."