The ball was in full swing, and many has given their birthday greetings to me. One by one, the nobles that were invited came to me and wished me a happy coming of age bearing their gifts. I on the other hand made causal talk with them, especially my vasal that came to greet me.I had my first dance with Darius and so far, I have not danced much because of the flood of people wanting to wish me a happy birthday and presenting their gifts. I on the other hand have my eyes wandering around the ball room, hoping to see a glimpse of Bob anywhere. But unfortunately, I cannot find him anywhere. "Happy coming of age grand duchess." Ragnar said. He greeted me with Isabella and their twins. "Happy birthday Elsa." Isabella replied. "These two here are Karl and Amanda. Greet your Aunt Sasa, it is her birthday today." The twins are standing hand in hand in between Ragnar and Isabella. "Happy birthday Aunt Sasa." The twins spoke on unison. "Thank you so much for the greetings." I replied
When the five countries were united and the empire was established, Darius was given the north to govern making him a grand duke. He was pardoned by the imperial couple over the crimes he had committed, but many Spartans had lost trust in him after what happened with his mother Fiona.The first few years he had worked hard with Kyler to cultivate the lands of Sparta. With the help of Killian the black turtle and Merlin the dragon, they were able to bring back the once fertile land of Sparta.Within those years, Darius was busy working to gain back the trust that he once lost. And because of guilt, he was not able to show himself to his family members especially Elsa his sister and Isabella his cousin.When it was time the Spartans can come back to their home land bit by bit, some were reluctant to live at the north part where Darius is governing because of the distrust that was built because of his mother's treachery.At one of the caravans that was heading out to Sparta, the group wa
The time of the first caravan's arrival had come. Darius was just done wearing his clothes and looking at himself in front of a full body sized mirror. "How do I look Lucas?" Darius asked. "Do I look okay? I do not look intimidating or anything? Do I give off a domineering aura?"Darius was wearing a slick gray suit that is not too flashy. It is in the borderline of being sophisticated and elegant at the same time. "You look find my lord." Lucas sighed. "Do not worry too much. I am sure everything will work out well." "You think so?" Darius looked a little nervous. "What time will I be meeting them?" "Actually the caravan had just arrived." Lucas opened up a document he was holding. "You will meet them an hour from now and you will give them the speech you have made."Days prior to the caravan's arrival, Darius has been busy constructing the speech he will give after meeting the first Spartans caravan that will be arriving in the north. Lucas had seen him work so hard, crumpling p
Darius was momentarily dazed after Ivy’s greeting that he was not able to greet back. "Grand duke?" Ivy looked at him with confusion. "Oh... I am sorry for the discourtesy." Darius replied with an embarrassed expression. "I was expecting to see a girl in her teens, but I see a fully grown beautiful woman in front of me that I became speechless." "I never thought that the grand duke is flowery with his word." Ivy giggled. "But thank you for the compliment." Darius’ heart felt like it was hit by an arrow when he heard the melodious giggle of Ivy. "I-I am just stating a fact my lady." Darius replied at once. "I am sorry if my words hit you in an unpleasant way." "Oh, no need to apologize grand duke. I am happy to be told I am beautiful, even though many have already told me such words. Coming from the mouth of the grand duke makes it more credible." Ivy smiled softly. "And I cannot blame you for being surprised. The last time you saw me, I was in my teens. I am more older than what
Darius was walking at the sea’s shore with the full moon hanging brightly above the night sky. The waves were gently splashing on the shore. He was sighing every moment, deep in thought why he got mad when Lucas said something bad about Ivy. "Hah..." Darius sighed once more. "Why am I feeling this way? Is what Lucas said true? Did Ivy cast a spell on me to make me agree to her terms?" Darius was looking at the night sky deep in thought. "But I don’t believe she did such a thing." Darius said. "I mean, there are no set backs in agreeing with the sirens terms. Having them as citizens in my territory gives me great benefits. Sirens are good healers and medical practitioners. Both sides will benefit from the agreement."Darius was thinking of the benefits his territory will have by agreeing with having sirens live here as well. That was when he remembered Ivy’s beautiful face when he walked into his office. He can remember how mesmerized he was when he saw her standing in the middle of
Six months have passed in North Sparta. Winter season has started, and snow had just started to fall. In the six months that have passed, Darius and Ivy had become much closer to each other. Darius was helping Ivy on top of his duties as the ruling monarch of North Sparta.Some Spartans are happy to see Darius working hard as a good leader, but some still has animosity because of what his mother, the late Queen Fiona had done to them. "I am all done here, Lucas." Darius said while signing the last documents on top of his desk. "Is the carriage ready?"The day is still early, and Darius had a scheduled visit to a site at a shore near the border with South Sparta. He is going to view one of the possible sites for a siren community. In the last six months, they have started some siren communities and are still building some more. Darius and Ivy had been working hard with one another to make this a success. "Yes, the carriage is on standby. Are you going to proceed in your site viewin
The waves under the cliff is crashing ferociously on the rocks. A loud splash was heard and all went dark. Ivy’s body quickly turned into a siren’s upon contact with sea water. She opened her eyes the moment she felt her body touch the sea. "Darius!" Ivy quickly realized that the body that shielded hers were separated upon impact with the water. "Where are you? Darius?!"Ivy frantically called for his name under the water. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt it will explode inside her chest. She swam at the vicinity where they fell and looked around. Without a minute passed by and she saw Darius floating under the water unconscious. "Darius !" Ivy swam at a fast speed and got to where Darius was. She quickly lifted him up from under the water.Once up, huge waves were hitting them hard. Ivy was having a hard time keeping Darius afloat. She then thought to swim at a much safer place. "Hold on Darius." Ivy said. "I will get you to safety."Ivy swam with difficulty while ca
Ivy woke up feeling something hot enveloping her. When she opened she eyes, she saw Darius having a hard time breathing. "Darius?!" Ivy immediately took his temperature putting her hand on his forehead. "You are burning up!" Ivy was alarmed with Darius’ temperature. He was running a high fever due to the poison. She looked at the wound on his leg and the surrounding skin was in fact dark in color. "I was not able to suck all the poison out." Ivy said. "For sure some lingered inside his body."Ivy tore her dress’ skirt and quickly dampen it. She put the dampened cloth on top of Darius’ forehead. "Please do not leave me." Ivy whispered it like a prayer. "Please make it out of this."All Ivy could do was to make sure that Darius fever will not worsen. "If only I have my medicine bag with me." Ivy said. Ivy’s medicine bag was left inside the carriage when the attack was going on. She was looking at the tide outside and it has only be some few hours so the tide is still up and the cu