Chapter 40 - Information

Kyle guided Serefina towards the Royal couple's room.

"Um, Kyle?" Serefina asked, "Are you sure the King won't be in his room?"

"Nah," Kyle said. "He is probably in his office or hanging out with the officials somewhere in the castle. The only time he goes to his room is to sleep. And that too very late at night. So don't worry."

They stopped in front of a posh wooden door with jwels covering every part of it.

Kyle knocked.

"Who is it?" The Queen asked.

"It's me, mother."

"Ahh. Kyle come in."

Kyle turned the door knob and entered inside gesturing Serefina to step in.

"Oh, Serefina, you're here too." The Queen was sitting on her dressing table, a comb in her hand. Serefina could now see the beautiful dark locks the queen had. They were the same as Bryan's hair.

"I hope we didn't disturb you, " Serefina said.

"No, it's alright."

"Actually I wanted to ask something. Do you maybe know someone named Emira? She is staying here in Timezium. Maybe near the Time Lake."

"Emira you say. Yes. She has been staying in Timezium for quite a while now. She was here examine the clock inside the Time Lake. She is a strong mage. I hired her personally. Why?"

"I checked my grandma's drawers today and found a letter which was sent by Emira. She claimed my grandma to be her aunt."

"I could arrange a meeting with her if you'd like."

"You would that?"

"Of course. You're Bryan's Princess in the pre-coronatoon ball after all."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I really appreciate the help."

"But there's just one problem. I can arrange the meeting after the coronation. I rarely even have time to sleep. The decorations are on me." She chuckled.

Serefina felt a lump in her throat. A week was about to pass away and there was no sign of Grandma Hannah. After the ball would mean three more days. That seemed like eternity. But there was no other option. "Fine with me." Serefina gave her best smile.

•••

Bryan teleported Serefina back to her house in the evening. Two hours she had spent in Timezium but the time was half an hour ahead.

"You wanted to talk?" Bryan asked.

"Ah, yes. I did," Serefina explained everything to Bryan from the letter to Queen Zefina arranging a meeting with Emira.

"Hmm. Emira, huh? Why does that name sound so...familier?" he said to himself.

"Do you know her?"

"I probably have heard about her. Trying to fix my mom's clock. She must be quite a wonderful mage."

"Your mom, is she also a mage?"

"Yeah, a very powerful one. Though her magic is somewhat losing its extravagance."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know. Maybe after what happened to Big Brother, she is in too much grief," Bryan sighed.

"You really admired you Big Brother, didn't you?"

He smiled. "He was the perfect son. A perfect brother and...he would have been the perfect Crowned Prince the Kingdom needs."

"Bryan, don't doubt yourself. You have it in you. You just don't know yet."

He looked at her, his eyes gleaming. "You always make me feel better. It's always been like this."

"No, it's really true! You're such a wonderful person. Also when I first saw you, I was like, 'Is he a Prince straight out of a fairytale or something?'"

Serefina didn't know when his smile turned into a smirk. He inched closer, "So, Miss Serefina thinks I am handsome?"

Serefina gulped. "O-ofcourse everyone thinks you're handsome. I-I agree with them."

He moved away, chuckling. "You're so cute, Sef, you know that right?"

Serefina blushed. Thinking of something to change the subject. "So, you wanted to talk about something too. What is it?"

Bryan cleared his throat as his smile vanished changing into something like not being able to talk. "Grypsin's funeral, its tomorrow."

There it was. The reason Bryan looked so depressed. "Oh," was the only thing she could say.

"If you don't mind, can you tag along?" He was silent after that. "You know what, it's fine. You didn't even know him. You don't have to."

"I know you. And you know him. And as you've said about him, he seems like a good person. Why wouldn't I want to tag along. And as I have said before, I would always be there for you even when you don't need me to."

He looked at her again. "What if Iead you to dangers?"

"Doesn't matter. We are in this together."

He smiled again. "Yes, we are."