The King's Visit To The Magical Woods

The wind breezed through the open ceiling-to-floor window, slipping a few strands off Adrasteia's stylishly packed braided bun. She tucked it uncomfortably under the gaze that never once left her, following every movement of hers.

The well-decorated drawing room perfectly embodied one's taste, stylishly showcasing its beauty with its extravagance, giving the feeling that one could spend hours chatting the day and night away, perching on the plush chairs and sofa of its living space.

Sitting in one of the most beautiful parts of the castle on a plush cushion, facing the prettiest woman that caught his eye, was Jonas, gazing at the princess charmingly.

"May I know the reason for your grace's sudden presence?" She finally broke the silence in the awkward sitting room. They had been chatting for quite a while, but suddenly they didn't know what to say.

"Uhh... There is a soiree arranged at our mansion next week on Saturday. I thought of inviting you firsthand, milady," he said with a wide and charming smile as he came forward, knelt, and took her nude-colored gloved hands in his. He placed an off-white envelope that had the seal of the Sulkins symbol in it on her open palm and turned her hand, leaving a feather-light kiss on her knuckles.

A warm blush tinted the princess's cheeks, and soon she took her hands away from the Lord's clutches. A slight smirk pulled up his lips as he saw the effect on her. But what he didn't know was that the effect was anything but positive. He took it as a good sign when, in truth, it wasn't.

"I'm not sure about that. But I'll let you know if I am." She pulled up a fake smile.

Lord Jonas stood up and smiled at her charmingly as he scratched his nape.

"I once again apologize for not informing you beforehand, milady," he bowed apologetically and bid his farewell.

Adrasteia was more than happy that the clingy man had finally let her be; otherwise, she couldn't imagine what would have happened to her.

"The nerve to look at me like that," she muttered as she held the small envelope in her hand and stood up from the couch. Her handmaid came in and bowed before she took hold of the envelope.

"Let Father know of his arrival and the soiree. But before that, try to busy my schedule on that day." She waved at the envelope and walked out of the room, sighing relaxedly.

Being courted willingly was nice, but if it wasn't, you'll be ok until the person turns out to be too clingy to the content where you'd feel like puking, thought the princess. She padded her feet and wondered if her brother had gotten to track down where her father had left earlier with the general. Wherever it was, he didn't sound like he wanted others to know. Something seems fishy.

The handmaid who happened to be behind her kept trailing behind the princess, maintaining a decent amount of distance between them. She slipped her hand in her pocket and slowly, making sure the princess didn't spot her, took out the black device and started to tap on it, making no noise. Her eyes would follow her from her phone to the princess time and time again.

_____

Walking on the oath of stone, rising ahead in rugged perfection, the light playing over the gray as if it were the fingers of a pianist upon delicate keys, between the branches and the strong, rising roots in the dappled sunlight, the King and his general, guarded by the knights in shining armor, headed into the deeper side of the woods.

No word was communicated among them as they reached the heart of the woods. As they kept walking nonstop, they came to an abrupt stop in the sudden darkness of the forest. The knights readied their weapons, and they assured them that they were ready. With a slight nod, the general slid the curtain of green creepers and flowers hiding the passage. And then came the view of a magical place in front of them that could take one's breath away.

A beautiful bamboo bridge like those in the fairy tale books lead a pathway toward a beautiful greenery house above the river, in its generous curves, shining blue amid the leafy green, whispering sweet notes in the cascading water strings, blessing the forest with its otherworldly beauty.

The King and his men walked above the soft grass and crossed the bridge as the magical butterflies whispered right next to their ears as if welcoming their presence. And as soon as they passed the bridge and stepped on the other side of the woods nearby the house, the loud cracking sound of the woods erupted behind them, startling everyone to their very soul. The knights slashed their swords forward and dashed around the king, ready to risk their lives to protect their king.

As soon as they did so, a loud cackle of laughter echoed throughout the forest. The men, including the King, darted their eyes everywhere, and soon they witnessed the beautiful bamboo bridge break and start to fly everywhere, nearly hurting everyone. The knights shielded the king with all their might. A large wooden stake whistled in their ears and came stabbing right into one of the knight's arms. The knight grunted loudly as he fell to the floor, writhing in pain.

"Evanora!" Exclaimed the King furiously.

"Whatever the games that you've been playing, I ask you to put them to an end," he shouted, dilating his eyes cautiously, but not a bit of fear was visible in his face or his body language. Instead, there was pure rage building in him.

Another round of ugly cackles echoed around them, irking the general and the king. He gritted his teeth.

Suddenly, a loud bolt of thunder cracked up in the sky, and the whole forest turned dark. The water in the stream dried up, and all the tiny little insects that once flew freely burned to ashes.

The once-light of the day that reflected above the roof of the witch's home to a million warm hues of brown with the greenery looks of it now looked nothing like it.

Every ounce of light in the forest was nowhere to be seen. Not soon after, they heard the creaking sound of an old door behind them, snapping their attention. The once beautiful stone pathway and the house looked too scary to stare at for too long, but they could not avert their gaze away from them as if they were hypnotized by them in fear.

"Tch! Tch! Tch! Look how trembling your knights are, Your Majesty?" An ugly, high-pitched voice came with mockery. "Are these the people you chose to seek protection against me?" The question was followed by dirty cackles that hurt the ears of all, especially the vampire king, who had a sharp hearing sense.

"Evanora, this is no time to have biscuits and cookies with gossip."

"Oh, I didn't know Your Majesty was craving it. Allow make it up to you." And the next minute, with a whiff of motion, the king was nowhere to be seen.

The knights and the general looked at each other with widened eyes, trying to process what just happened to their king.