207: Reward From King of Megaris

Reward From King of Megaris

Even after they returned to the mansion, the invisible tension hanging between Arlan and Oriana remained unresolved.1

The prince's return prompted his administrative aide, Lucas Warren, and the ministers to begin a meeting inside the study to talk about the outcome of the second day of the conference. Oriana served them refreshments, then proceeded to stand outside the door with the knights, the epitome of a good servant waiting to be summoned.

Arlan never spoke a single word to her. 

Even when the meeting finished, he never called on her to serve him. Despite such obvious disregard of her existence, Oriana showed no reaction. When dusk came, she merely passed the torch to Neil and proceeded towards the servant quarters. 

Some time later, Neil came to Arlan. 

"Your Highness, the Queen of Megaris sent a message requesting Orian's services. He is summoned to their lodgings. What are your instructions?"

"Send him."

Arlan had no issues regarding Oriana going to the mansion next to them. His attendant bowed after receiving his permission.

Oriana, who just had her evening meal, was informed about it. Worrying that something important happened—maybe the Queen overexerted herself from walking for hours,  or perhaps there was a new shocking discovery related to her being a witch— Oriana hurried to the guest mansion of Megaris. 

"Greetings, Sir Sanders."

To her surprise, it was Slayer who was waiting for her at the entrance. Furthermore, she was directed to the King's study.

'Why am I taken to his study at this hour?' Oriana felt a little hesitant. 

If it was about Seren, she would be escorted to the Queen's bedchamber, and if it was about her powers, she would have been led to the room they often used on the top floor.

Slayer opened the door for her, gesturing for her to go ahead and enter, before closing the door as soon as she stepped inside.

'What the…'

She noticed the dignified red-eyed man sitting  behind the large desk. Under his silent gaze, she immediately got back to her senses and bowed to him. 

"This servant pays his respects to His Majesty the King of Megaris."

Drayce accepted her greeting with a nod. "Dispense formalities. Have a seat."

Her gaze was complicated as she straightened herself. Why would royalty allow a mere servant, a peasant at that, to be seated in front of him? Why was he treating her above her status? 

'Is it because he discovered she is a witch? Is it because she possesses  divine power?'

"I am honored, but doing so is disrespectful to you, Your Majesty." She preferred to stand. 

Drayce didn't insist and got to the point. "You must be wondering why I called you here."

She kept her head lowered. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have called you here to grant you a reward for protecting my wife when those wizards attacked her inside the Ancient Citadel of Nefer."

Realization dawned on her. "I need no reward for it, Your Majesty. I admire and respect Her Majesty. It was an honor to be able to protect her. Even if it happens again, I will do the same, without expecting any reward."

"Do not be so quick to refuse. If not for you, they would have succeeded in their scheme."

"I cannot take credit for what happened. Those wizards aimed to hurt all of us, and what happened next was an accident out of sheer desperation."

"That desperation is the key to unleash that power so credit definitely goes to you."

Oriana remained unyielding.

"Still, I will accept no reward." 

Drayce stared at her for a while, and a ghost of a smile lifted the corner of his lips. He had no real understanding of this young witch's personality, but it appeared that once she made up her mind, she was not someone to be swayed easily.

This kind of stubbornness, why did it remind him of a certain prince?

"Don't you think refusing my goodwill is more disrespectful than sitting down?" he asked. "Though you do not want anything now, if you ever feel you need something from me, say a word and it will be granted."

Oriana was about to open her mouth to reject again but Drayce beat her to it. 

"I am speaking to you not as the King of Megaris, but as the husband of the woman you saved. I owe you a debt of gratitude, and I do not like owing people. Take your time to think of your reward. If you reject it for the third time, I will think of it as if the debt has been repaid."

Oriana shut her mouth and didn't know what to say. 

"You may leave," he told her. 

"Have a pleasant evening, Your Majesty. This servant will take his leave." 

Oriana bowed and left. On her way back, she recalled the flow of their conversation. It sounded like the King of Megaris was adamant on rewarding her. As Drayce mentioned, it was a debt of gratitude, and it did seem that declining repeatedly might displease him. 

'A royal favor, who knows what the future holds? Maybe a need will truly arise.' 

When she returned to their guest mansion, Neil informed her, "His Highness plans to work throughout the night and doesn't want to be disturbed. You can retire for the night."

Oriana felt a little off, but she thanked him and went to her assigned room in the servant quarters. 

'Work?' she sneered. She was sure the prince was just avoiding her. Throughout the day, he had been treating her like air. Perhaps he had reached his limit.

'Never mind. I can at least sleep better in my bed. That brat can continue to be an ass.'

—-

The tension between the prince and his attendant continued to be the same the day after. Both of them treated each other like they didn't exist. Oriana didn't mind it, and instead, used the rare free time to think about her original purpose of coming to Othinia—getting her hands on black nightshade.

After Arlan left for the third day of the conference, Oriana returned to her room to plan her next move. 

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