Martha, who was merely a servant, was hugged by the princess. Martha remembered the days when Seren was a baby and she had to take care of the little princess like her own daughter. As that baby grew up, Martha had to give up on her motherly side and started to distance herself, acting as a proper servant who knew the difference between their status. She would always bow to this princess and serve her like a maid, never allowing herself to step out of her role. She could no longer recall how many years had it been since this girl had hugged her.

With tear-filled eyes, Martha no longer resisted and hugged Seren back,patting her head gently. "It's not a dream, my lady."

​​

Seren finally let go of her and looked at the old lady with watery eyes. She was almost crying like a little girl who had gotten her lost mother back, "Where were you?"

Martha had no answer for this question and simply gazed lovingly into those teary purple eyes. "I apologize for not being able to return early. My Lady had to go through so many troubles because of me."

The old woman saw the tears that were about to fall down from Seren's face. "My Lady, please do not cry. My return is not worth shedding these precious tears."

Seren shook her head as she swallowed the sob about to escape her lips.

"Martha...Let's run away from here," Seren said as soon as she was able to control her emotions.

Her statement shocked her nanny. Martha didn't expect this from Seren at all.

"My Lady…"

"I want to run away from here. I don't want to marry anyone. Please take me away from here," Seren pleaded. "I tried to escape already, but I couldn't. Since you are here now, we can do it...You...you also know magic so it will be easy."

Seeing Martha stay quiet, Seren continued to plead, "I don't know where His Majesty is sending me. I don't want to go with a random scary man who will lock me up—"

"My Lady, calm down first." Martha patted her head like a mother would to her child. This crying voice full of pleading was hurting her even more.

"I am calm. I just want to go away from here and I will be fine. Please, Martha."

Martha patted her hand and said, "Come with me." Martha took her to the chair and made her sit. She went to fetch water for Seren from the jar kept on the table and brought it to her. "Have a drink first."

Seren accepted it and had a few sips of water. Afterwards, she passed the glass back to Martha and looked up at her with a gaze full of expectations. Though Martha looked calm as she gazed back, she herself didn't know how to convince Seren.

At this point, only the truth could help her.

"I believe my lady is now ready to hear some answers to your questions." Martha sat in the chair next to her and held Seren's hand. "Simply running away is not an option, my lady. I would have taken you away long ago if that could protect you. In the past, staying under the protection of the tower was enough, but now, I have grown old and weak and even the tower will no longer be able to protect you."

"I don't need to be protected. We can just live somewhere from here, and I will take care of you," Seren countered.

"The people I am protecting you from are those who know magic. They will not think twice to harm others. You and I stand no chance in front of them," Martha tried to explain to her in simple words, making it easier for her to understand.

"Who are they?" Seren asked.

Martha shook her head. "You don't need to know who they are for now. What you need to understand is that both your mother and your father had done their best to protect you so you must not fail their sacrifices. Even if it is difficult and not to your liking, You need to help us to protect yourself. We all wish for nothing but your wellbeing, my lady."

"But…"

"Please listen to me. We have no other choice." Martha turned from being soft-spoken to being a strict nanny. "You may not completely understand it now, but marrying the King of Megaris is for your own good and you must follow it."

Seren looked at Martha in disbelief and said, "Are you tired of taking care of me?"

"I am not, but my body might be tired and give up sooner or later," Martha told her the truth. "I am not strong anymore. It is hard for me to even protect myself, and it is even more impossible to protect you now."

When Martha talked like this, Seren knew this old lady would never listen to her and ask, "You are coming with me to Megaris, right?"

"It's not in my hand. We don't know if the Royal Family of Megaris will allow this servant to accompany my lady."

"You can ask His Majesty King Armen to include this in the conditions for the marriage with the King of Megaris. If you are with me, I can live anywhere." It was the last hope Seren left with her and she looked at Martha with hopeful eyes.

Martha didn't wish to turn down her request again and said, "I will."

This little assurance was enough to bring a smile on Seren's face and she said, "Thank you, Martha."

Seeing her mood lifting, Martha smiled despite knowing that this happiness of Seren wouldn't last long. Martha was afraid she wouldn't be able to accompany Seren to Megaris as she was not in a condition to do so. It would be better if King Armen would not allow her once Seren made such a request.

---------

Inside his bedchamber, Drayce heard the conversation between Seren and her servant.

"She would never give up on running away so easily," Drayce mumbled.

When he heard Seren asking Martha to accompany her to Megaris, he shook his head as he continued to talk while working, "I am sorry little kitten but your servant can't accompany you to Megaris. In the next two days, we will be married, and after that, I will take care of everything you need."