The sound of flipping pages suddenly stopped, and so was everything around Evans, his focus solely on the image. He had found it, but now what?
Searching for it and knowing the truth behind that symbol was all he wanted, but now that he had found it, he was… hesitant. Afraid of what he would come to know.
If what he already knew was confirmed, then what?
His gaze shifted to the one he had drawn before returning to the one in the book. It was exactly the same. He felt his heart stop briefly before resuming its rhythmic beats.
After a long silence and contemplating, his eyes slowly moved to the writings beside and under it and paused again.
"The ancient tongue," he said, gliding his fingers through the lines but didn't read anything. Not that he couldn't read it, but he couldn't make himself read it.
Because it was written and a language that was long forgotten proved that it was indeed something big.
Evans sighed and closed the book.
"I may not be as curious as I thought after all," he said to himself, chuckling lightly. Looking at his own sketch, he picked up the paper and nearly folded it into even halves before shoving it inside the book.
"Let's keep this for another day. It might come in handy," he stood and put the other books on the shelves but took the particular book with him.
Evans headed straight for his study, getting there, the first thing he did was put the book inside a drawer and locked it before taking a seat.
"Things are becoming more complicated now. Not only has his majesty started changing in character, but he is also physically changing too. And trouble seems to come everywhere now," he leaned back with his head thrown backward. He closed his eyes. "I have a feeling this is only the beginning." Which means I have a lot to do in preparation for what's to come.
As he drowned in thoughts, he remembered that he had yet to give the report of his findings in Novara.
The thoughts of Novara left a bitter taste in his mouth but he also could not deny that what he saw was beyond what they had expected.
Novara was not as populated as any of the human regions but was not deserted either. It was a kingdom of its own, almost as if it were different world altogether. Seeing in such a terrible state was not what he wished for.
"She will be pissed if she were to know about this," he chuckled humorlessly. "I guess I ought to help them somehow. I do owe them a little favor after all," he clicked his guess in displeasure.
But he knew even without his personal reasons, Davion might make him help Edith out if she were to ask. That was how much Davion had changed in a matter of a few days, and it was frightening.
"Maybe I should wait for the instructions," he thought, but the eyes Edith glaring furiously at him flashed in his head, and he quickly shook off the thought. "I'll just have to be discreet."
***
Outside in the garden, Davion looked at Edith, shaking his head while she looked rather frustrated. Seeing the way he looked at her, she glared at him, but that only earned a chuckle and she stilled.
She had seen him smile, but most of it never reached his eyes despite how beautiful it was. He had even teased her, but none affected her the way that little laugh did. She felt for the first time that he was letting his emotions show. His smile finally reached his eyes, and that beautiful deep voice sounded so… charming?
"We've spent all day, and you still can't do it on your own?" Davion asked. He looked rather amused than of angry.
Edith snapped out of her tranced state and pursed her lips and then looked away. "You can not blame me. It's not smetime that I have ever done before." Davion raised a brow, and an amused smile tugged on his lips.
"Then what are you best at? Fighting?" Edith beamed and nodded her head without a second's hesitation.
"Of course. And I can prove it," she said while he shook his head again 9bviously more amused. "I was trained to protect and lead not to deceive. I admit that I do have my shortconings, but I am proud of what I can do as well. If I am to lead my people one day, I should be strong enough to protect them all."
"Greta," he called, and he frowned.
"Why do you keep calling me that, Your Majesty? I have a name, and it's not Greta. I have already told you that many times already," she said, her eyes narrowing at him the longer he took to answer.
"I believe it suits you," he replied, his voice surpringly low. Almost a whisper.
Edith arched a brow.
"Meredith is a lovely, but I still prefer Greta. But if you do not like it, I will stop and call you by your given name," he said in resignation.
Edith felt a little tug in her chest, causing a frown on her face. But she couldn't tell what caused it. "It's fine. Greta doesn't sound so bad."
Davion smiled, and she smiled as well, finding his smile contagious.
"So, what did you want to say, your Majesty?"
"It's nothing important, but I just wanted you to know that there is more to being a ruler than being a protector and one with the strongest fist. Sometimes, it takes a little deceit to protect a kingdom," Edith frowned.
"Your mother, who had always been against such spells, cast the same spell on you to keep you hidden and safe. Protected."
Edith looked down, processing his words, and couldn't help but agree with him. She had wondered why she was made to look different and had come up with the same conclusion. It was to protect her.
"Leading a race, a kingdom, a tribe or anyone at all does not always mean you must have to be the strongest. What's most important is the trust of the people you lead unless you want to rule with an iron fist. To rule with fear. So, while you want to be strong enough to protect them, know that not all battles are won by charging head first. Or completely overwhelming your enemies," Davion continued, but that only made her raise a brow.
Not because she thought he was wrong but simply because it came out of his mouth.
"You seem to rule with fear, and it's working just fine for you, your Majesty," she said, but immediately wishe she hadn't. But it was too late to take back the word.