"Move," Drayce said coldly. His intimidating red eyes stared into another pair of anger-filled sapphire blue eyes.
Cian did not budge, already throwing away whatever royal etiquette and polite speech he should be showing towards Drayce. "Why did you return? This is not a place for the King of Megaris to wander around. This is my sister's—"
"If you are that worried about her, why don't you go inside instead of blocking my way?" Drayce countered.
The two men glowered at each other, and for the onlookers, the situation seemed to be spiraling out of control. It would be terrible for both kingdoms if the King of Megaris and the Crown Prince of Abetha found themselves in a swordfight.
"No one can go inside," Cian said.
"And why is that so?"
"There is no need for King Drayce to know about it. We would appreciate it if you leave."
Arlan and Lord Eudes also entered the garden and had reached the group in front of the tower entrance, with Arlan standing beside Drayce while the old advisor placed himself behind his king and crown prince.
Arlan sighed as he mumbled under his breath, "And here I thought we three can be good friends."
King Armen interrupted the staredown. "King Drayce, there is a magic spell protecting this tower, not letting anyone approach it, much less enter it."
Sir Berolt who held himself back from saying anything to the King of Megaris, added, "Your Majesty, It's the truth.
Drayce heard King Armen and Sir Berolt as he smirked at Cian. "If that is the case, then your presence is useless here."
Cian smirked back and replied, "Same goes for King Drayce."
"If you move, we can see if it's the same," Drayce countered.
King Armen and Lord Eudes were stunned by this sudden situation. However, it did not take long for the two smart men to realize what Drayce had implied.
Before, King Armen had been too engrossed about his worry for his daughter that he didn't even stop to think about why the King of Megaris appeared in front of the tower the moment the rescue party returned. He thought it was for him. It was not imperative for Drayce to personally meet King Armen upon return; the two rulers could have met later on a personal meeting, or once they set up the welcome banquet for the successful rescue of his son. Now, he realized that Drayce had once again come to help.
Remembering the rumors about the King of Megaris, hope flickered in the eyes of the King of Abetha. Sir Berolt looked at his King and somewhere understood what goes in King Armen's mind. As their sights met, Sir Berolt nodded lightly with an assuring gaze.
Sir Berolt was part of a royal troop. King Armen was sure he must have observed and understood about King of Megaris very well and he could trust the judgment of Sir Berolt. But before King Armen could say anything, someone else spoke.
"Let Drayce try," Arlan suggested.
Cian looked at Arlan but didn't seem like he would move.
"Trust me if you do not think you can trust him. I can vouch for him." Arlan added, "Don't you want to see your sister sooner?"
Those words made Cian hesitate, and Arlan spoke again, "In this situation, you should keep your brotherly ego on side and take help from whoever can offer it. Looking at your expression, I think she is in dire need of help. Instead of you two wasting your time here, let us go in and save the princess."
With a reluctant sigh, Cian finally moved aside by the thoughtful words from the prince, who didn't look that thoughtful most of the time. Cian didn't expect much from Drayce; he was waiting for him to realize he couldn't go past that magic spell, but somewhere in his heart, the caring brother in him wished for Drayce to be able to help them.
King Armen did not look like he was expecting much from Drayce as well, but compared to his son, he was more open to try anything as long as he could go inside the tower to check on his daughter. Moreover, he wished to trust Sir Berolt's approval.
Now that no one was blocking his way, Drayce moved towards the entrance of the tower.
To everyone's surprise, the King of Megaris encountered no hindrance as he opened the door of the tower and stepped past the door frame.
Drayce could enter the tower without any disturbance as if there was no magic spell at all. Drayce didn't even turn to look back as he hurried towards the staircase.
"How could this be?" Lord Eudes exclaimed as he rubbed his eyes.
Sir Berolt was surprised too but after witnessing Drayce's powers personally on the battlefield, he was somewhere expecting it.
King Armen and Cian, who had been pushed back by the invisible energy from the magic spell countless times, were shocked to their bones. With renewed vigor, Cian too stepped forward to enter the tower, but he was again pushed by that invisible energy, unable to proceed further.
He frowned, almost cursing at whatever was there that he couldn't see that was stopping him from entering the tower. He wanted to curse in frustration. "Why can he enter, but I can't?!"
Arlan saw him gritting his teeth and went to him to pat his shoulder in a friendly gesture. "You can trust him."
Cian exhaled loudly as he tried to calm himself. The truth was too unfair!
Arlan gave him a reassuring look. "While coming here, you have seen what he can do. Do I need to explain that he is no ordinary human?"
Cian didn't know what to say in response and merely kept his mouth shut. Although he could not contradict what Arlan said, he found it ridiculous that neither his father nor him were able to go to his sister when she needed them, but one stranger—a man to boost!—could enter her room. As an elder brother, he failed to protect his sister.
King Armen, who himself was speechless but overjoyed, came to his son. "This is for the best. We have no other option but to get help from the King of Megaris again. We already got his help to save my son, and now, my daughter, who is not less important than my son. Our kingdom is deeply indebted to him. I just hope Seren is doing well, and maybe we are being worried for nothing."
Cian could understand what his father meant, and he admitted he was right, but he still stubbornly kept his mouth shut.
Now, they could only wait for Drayce to return so they could finally see Seren.