“Why do you, a king’s daughter, want to know about Hollymere grapes?” asked Deril.“I needed to... to wake up my father’s life.”Deril looked at Queenie with a sharp and questioning look.“Don’t make it up, Princess. Just a few days ago, I saw King Darian healthy and happy. He gave out multiplied coins because of your happiness. Your engagement to Prince Fabian seems to be a big dream for King Darian.”Queenie’s heart was saddened to hear Deril’s answer. Why did this guy switch the conversation? He still needed to answer Queenie’s question.“Everything has changed, Deril. Prince Fabian was dead. And my father, hit by the ‘eternal sleep’ weapon.”Deril’s face grew more severe after hearing Queenie’s statement. He stood on the royal stage only a few days ago. Where the Lake festival was held. But Queenie said everything as if the Bright River kingdom had just gone to war.Deril lived in the deep forest and sometimes heard about the kingdom. But not yet gotten any information about the k
Deril stared at Queenie and thought the girl before him might have lost her mind. The Red Orchid cliff was a hard place to go. Most likely, they would lose their lives.But, seeing Queenie’s face that was so firm, Deril felt that she was taking her words seriously. Anything that he had been hearing from people about Queenie all this time was just nonsense.This girl before him didn’t look like a spoiled and trouble-making girl. She was like an authoritative, decisive, and responsible Queen candidate.“Tell Queenie, did you say to me as a request or an order? I am just a commoner living under the auspices of King Darian of the Bright River Kingdom.”Queenie turned her eyes to Deril’s magical vineyard. Deep in her heart, Queenie suspected Deril was not a commoner. Queenie’s cold, stern gaze stopped at Deril’s figure.“I ask for your help as a friend,” she said calmly, sincerely, and convincingly.A light smile appeared on Deril’s face. He was convinced Queenie would become the wise quee
“Stop!” Deril shouted at Queenie.The girl stopped her movement. Queenie was also smart enough to lunge into the thorn forest before them. She’s just checking. But Deril was already so worried.“Don’t be stupid, Princess. You are the Princess of our Kingdom. You are the successor to the throne of King Darian. I wouldn’t be able to show my face to the heaven afterlife if you were to die now. You can die, but not in front of me. Ok!”Deril then pulled out a machete from behind the back of his clothes. Queenie frowned with a cold face. She did not see the machete behind Deril all their way. Or maybe it was because she always walked in front of or next to Deril.The man then wore gloves made of leather. Queenie was astonished. Deril already knew a lot about the journey they were about to take. Including knowing what thorns they have to cross. That was why Deril provided a lot of capable equipment.“Walk after me. Only after I open the way for you, then you allow going through it. Do you u
Queenie was a little hesitant. The man was calm. Queenie was sure all he said was true. All the white hair and wrinkles on his face showed that the man had entered his old age.“The King is on a mission to strengthen the royal army. By asking me to make a potion that can heal wounds quickly. Since the Bright River Kingdom is great, many people are eyeing our kingdom as its target. The potion would make a soldier’s wounds heal immediately. As soon as he is ready to go back to war.”Queenie’s cold face looked at the healer, full of intimidation. She was aware of the probability Tha man was a liar. But the healer seemed to be telling the truth.“What does that have to do with the Red Orchid?”“The potion I am preparing has been ninety percent successful. With the addition of the Red Orchid as the content formula, the herb is perfect.”“What is the proof that everything you say is true?” Queenie continued to investigate.The healer looked around. His eyes stopped on Deril’s hand full of w
Deril and Fergodo climbed onto Fewa's back, and the Little Dragon prepared to fly. Fergodo involuntarily closed his eyes and held onto Deril's shoulder. As a palace healer, Fergodo had knowledge of medicine in excellent grades. But he never in challenging situations and adventures. During this time, he lived more in the palace.Feeling his shoulders gripped by Fergodo, Deril rolled his eyeballs."Oh my god, we both look romantic," he said with a shudder.Queenie, sitting in front of Deril, remained calm as Deril complained."Hey! Queenie, Fergodo is afraid of flying and heights. Looks like I'm the same. Can I hug your waist?" Deril asked in a mischievous tone, teasing Queenie.It wasn't Queenie who gave Deril the answer; it was Fewa. The Dragon roared and flew away, showing his anger because of Deril's words, which he considered lacking."Woooo! Woooo! Woooooo!!!!" Deril shouted at Fewa's back because of the Dragon's sudden movement. "Fewa! Fly carefully and think of our safety on you
While waiting for Fewa and Fergodo to recover, Queenie looked around. The place was far away at ground level. She didn’t understand why it felt so dark. So much thick cold air fog came. Even sunlight was challenging to penetrate the fog.Visibility there was less than two meters. The slightest bit they let their guard down, they didn’t know what to face.“Do not scatter. Stay together. We are in a strange place and don’t know the dangers in front of us.”Hearing what Queenie said, Fewa slowly approached Fergodo. Fewa and Fergodo sat on the ground. At the same time, Deril and Queenie kept Fewa and Fergodo with their backs to each other. A sword was drawn in Queenie’s hand.When they were in silence, Queenie seemed to hear a slow hiss. An echoing hiss. Her eyes narrowed, and her sword stood in hand. Deril glanced at Queenie.“Can you use that sword?” he asked.“You better be quiet, Deril. Focus your attention around. Did you hear that hissing sound too?”“Hiss? What hiss? I didn’t hear
Hearing Deril’s words, Fewa roared. Deril was surprised!“Oh, Ok, Fewa! Ok, Queenie! Dont answer me. I don’t want to die at your hands.”After a long fight against the snakes, Queenie and Deril feel exhausted. Seeing his friends would be the snakes’ meal, Fewa deftly lowered his body. He asked Queenie, Deril, and Fergodo to climb onto his back.In such a thick fog, Fewa could not fly high. The Little Dragon was not strong enough to break through the fog. But his friends would be safer if they were on Fewa’s back.Fewa just swooped down, and suddenly, a snake wagged its tail in Fewa’s body. The Dragon was momentarily dazed and fell to the ground. The atmosphere was getting tense and chaotic. Fewa, the most powerful among them, had now been defeated.Queenie saw Fewa. She was worried about him. Although the little Dragon was still moving, he looked fragile.“Fewa! Call Argo! Hurry, Fewa!” cried Queenie.“Argo?! Who is he? How to call someone here? Are you preparing dessert for these sna
After Argo and Fergodo had gone, Queenie, Deril, and Fewa entered the big hole that looked like a cave. The only light available was from Fewa’s flaming eyes. The Little Dragon’s eyes were fiery red. That was enough to help them see the way in front.“Fewa! Can’t you make a fire burn in your mouth? Like torches, will we get easier walking?” asked Deril.“Shut your mouth, Deril! Not the time to joke. Make sure you step because the Rocks below us are so slippery.” Queenie rebuked Deril.Instantly, the man fell silent. Queenie’s right; the rocks below them were so slippery. Some even looked pointed and sharp. Deril imagined if he slipped and fell sitting, the first thing that would happen was a pointed stone would directly pierce his ass.He shuddered with all his imagination. They all walking more than three hours. There were no sounds or animals in the cave. There was only the sound of gurgling water falling from the cave walls. Everything felt damp, looked dark, mossy, and suffocating
“You are a very smart girl. You just need to think about yourself sometimes,” Deril whispered in Queenie’s ear.“I’ve done that before. More selfish than you can think.”“I’ve heard that from the rumors of the people of the Bright River Kingdom. Luckily, I met you when everything had changed.”“I regret that time. Long years wasted.”“Humans have to learn from mistakes. Sometimes the lessons don’t come once, but many times.”“One death and two lives is enough for me.”Queenie closed her eyes. Deril’s hug felt so comfortable for her. Her back that met Deril’s chest seemed to merge. Queenie could feel Deril’s heart beating for her. Deril’s scent had told Queenie that the man hugging her was not a grape grower. Deril’s warmth was the warmth that sank Queenie’s soul. His perfect blend had made her surrender easily in the man’s arms.They first met in Deril’s vineyards. Queenie knew him as The Farmer. Queenie has forgotten all that now. Deril was definitely no ordinary grape grower. Deril’
“Fergodo!” Argo exclaimed.Queenie remained sitting quietly in her place. She looked at Fergodo with wide eyes and waited for someone to explain. Fergodo drew closer to Queenie. A few steps later, they saw another three people behind Fergodo. One woman at Fergodo’s age and two young women. They were Fergodo’s wife and children.Arriving before Queenie, Fergodo crossed his right hand to his left chest. Then he bowed to Queenie. Behaviour followed by his wife and two children. Fergodo did not dare to look at Queenie’s face. His gaze fell on the floor. So did the three women who were with him.Deril smiled happily because Queenie didn’t react to the surprise he gave. The girl didn’t even ask.“Once you are determined to find Fergodo, I head first into this forest and try to find them. It turned out that they were trapped in this place. This forest has two layers of plains. The upper plains are where the gigantic beasts and all the chaos are. While the lower plains are where we are right
“Stop calling me Prince, or I will kill you,” Deril said with a cruel look.Argo really understood what Deril meant. The reflex call he utters could get him into big trouble. He knew precisely what kind of person was before him. Argo remembered Deril’s cruelty thousands of years ago. Memories that made him shiver and freeze. After the tragedy, only one thing could make Deril satisfied. It was dying of someone.He nodded slowly in understanding. His eyes looked into the room of the house behind Deril. The room looked bright and luxurious. The dominant colour decorations were gold and blue in almost all the house parts. Without a flame to illuminate it, the house seemed to glow. Like there was a unique sun placed in that house.The house in the middle of the forest looked like an abandoned hut. No one would have thought that the inside of that lousy house was more luxurious than a palace. Argo could feel the thick scent of magic enveloping the house. The outside and inside of the house
Argo surveyed the bottom of the cave. The bottom of the cave was covered in sand. Argo felt that sometimes the sand moved and sank a little. Maybe the sand made the cave air so hot and dry.“We are like trapped rats now. Outside, the gigantic beast is waiting for us. While there, the heat can kill us.” Fewa complained.“Shut your mouth, Fewa!” Leya rebuked.The little butterfly waved her hand. Hopefully, it could make her feel more comfortable. The hot air in the cave made their skin turn red. Queenie was busy observing the cave walls. It was as if she saw writing and drawings on the cave walls.The cave was black. Queenie’s eyes couldn’t be sure. Her hands kept groping and trying to read all the writing. It looked like it was strange writing. Not a language Queenie understood. The air in the cave was getting hotter.“It’s like being in a furnace, isn’t it?” Fewa asked. Who did he ask?Fewa ignored Leya’s warning. He kept on babbling about venting his frustration.“We are risking our
A light appeared from the red box in Queenie’s hand. It illuminated every side of the forest. Every time the light penetrated a side, then at that moment, an appearance appeared. The sighting with massive, horrifying beasts.Their size was even taller than the tree that was there. Their body size was enormous. They all stood in a row facing Queenie and her friends. Their shape wasn’t like ordinary animals.A tiger with long fangs barely touched feet. It was standing at the front. Looked like a Siberian tiger. It was bigger and scary. Behind the tiger stood another beast. All were in terrible shape and so large. Fewa, who was already at the threshold of the forest, slowly stepped back.“Oh, damn! They are real!. I almost became a meal,” Fewa hissed.Queenie, Leya, and Argo observed all the animals. They all looked silent and stood alert. They prepared to pounce on anyone who dared to enter their territory.“How can we enter this forest?” Queenie asked Argo.“Give me the box,” said Argo
When Queenie turned to look at the people who were cleaning up the corpses, Deril disappeared. Queenie snorted in annoyance. She didn’t understand how Deril always came and went as he pleased. Shouldn’t Deril know that Queenie… wanted Deril to always be around her?Fewa smiled wryly at the sight of Queenie’s gloomy face. He could see that Queenie had fallen in love with that bastard who owned the magical vineyard. Fewa walked towards Queenie. He came to Argo and started treating everyone that got a wound.Queenie stood and felt lost in her heart. She didn’t know since when feeling attached to Deril. She didn’t mind Deril’s closeness. Queenie enjoyed Deril’s touch. A touch that made her feel protected. With Deril, Queenie felt a different vibe.Something Queenie had never felt in her previous life. Queenie remembered all those times. The time before she died and came back to life. Queenie could still recognize that feeling. With Fabian, Queenie felt proud and happy. When everyone looke
A fireball fell right before King Eric. He stumbled and fell backward. He didn’t notice another fireball coming. The fireball fell right above his head. He was on fire and screamed like crazy.“Aaarrrgghhh!!! Help!!!!”He ran as he wanted. The people and the soldiers of the kingdom saw and screamed. They needed to stay hidden to protect themselves. The atmosphere at Nicundhra’s palace was very chaotic.Several sides of the palace burned. Many people were running towards the palace gate. They tried to get out of Nicundhra’s palace. Even the soldiers were now hiding. In normal conditions, they were brave soldiers. They couldn’t fight. The attacks were too sudden.The fireballs that Argo spewed out were more and more. Queenie and Deril watched the whole mess from Fewa’s back. The little dragon flew higher. Seeing King Eric tormented in pain, Queenie gave Argo instructions.“Now Argo!”The giant red dragon roared so loudly. He inhaled so deeply and exhaled to bursting of fire. The flames
The red orchid formula made Argo feel hot and burning. He ran out of king Eric’s room. The meter rolled on the grass in the courtyard of Nicundhra’s palace. The people and soldiers of Nicundhra watched Argo from the corners of the palace.Queenie, Deril, and Fewa ran after Argo. They passed the bodies of the Nicundhra soldiers lying on the floor of King Eric’s chambers. The soldiers’ bodies had separated from their heads. Blood pooled around the soldiers’ bodies. They had to step into the pool of blood to get out of King Eric’s room. Leya flew after them.Meanwhile, King Eric was still shocked by the scene before him. Dozens of Nicundhra’s royal guard troops who came with him to catch the red orchid formula thief died within minutes. They were slaughtered with lightning-fast and invisible movements. King Eric immediately followed them.The scenery in the palace courtyard made everyone wanna die. Their hearts stopped beating, and their minds were gone. Everyone lost their sanity while
Queenie, Deril, and Argo walked quickly into a hallway. The hallway directly connected the palace’s front to the King’s chambers. The secret hallway they found before the event. The hallway was created to save the King in an emergency.That was a small hallway, and no one was in the hallway. All the guards must be busy partying on the castle grounds. They didn’t think that Nicundhra was under threat. Their work had been hushed since the death of Prince Fabian.After they lost the controlling power of the Dragon, Nicundhra never attacked other kingdoms. Felt their Kingdom was safe and peaceful, all the guards went to the feast. Many hallways were left empty without guards.They arrived safely at the door of the King’s room. Argo opened the door to King Eric’s room. After Queenie and Deril entered, he immediately closed the door and locked it from the inside.Queenie looked straight at the wall above King Eric’s bed.“That should be the wall that King Eric said,” Queenie said.Deril and