Chapter 7
1317 Words
Castiel
“Georgie, what is the smell of that delicious scent?” Longing for the sweet aroma I had been smelling since last night, I sniffed through the palace on my way to the throne room.
While I had initially thought it was some mouth-drooling dinner the maids had prepared for me, I was brought to disappointment by the awfully bland soup they had served me yesterday.
“I don’t think I quite understand, Your Majesty.” Georgie pressed his small figure a bit too close to mine, imitating my actions. “I don’t smell anything.”
Squinting my eyes, I judged the man’s behavior—my look telling him to back off.
“Sorry, Your Majesty.”
Ready to announce my arrival, I cleared my throat with my head held high. Truly, it was of no importance as it was still early, and no one other than the maids was waiting for me in the throne room.
“His Majesty, King Castiel III of Acrasia!” Georgie announced, using his finger to guide the guards to open the door.
“Georgie?” I walked straight to my throne and sat in the big chair on the dais, which showed my authority.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He stood beside me.
“Where is Sir Landon?”
One night had passed since my old friend had arrived back from the woods, but he had yet to greet me. As one of my loyal subordinates, it was unlike him not to report back to me.
“Oh, well.” Georgie looked around, a slight damp creeping to his forehead. “That’s a very good question.”
He was nervous, but it served him right. “Georgie, I’ve been thinking.” My feet tapped the platform. “You’ve been so useless. Is there anything you can do?”
My valet swallowed his breath, fidgeting with the ring on his finger. “I-I-I…”
“Sir Landon, at your service, Your Majesty!”
Not caring for anything else Georgie had to say, I turned my head to look at the entrance where my commander and closest friend, Landon, stood in a perfect salute.
“Ah, yes—come!”
As a young boy anticipating his treat at the sweets stand, I smirked as he stepped forward and greeted me with a big bow. After all the power I had granted him, he was still a humble man.
That was one of my lacking qualities and one which eventually cost me the curse and the large scar across my face.
“I’m glad for your safe return.” The small net in his hand grabbed my attention. “I heard you went to the woods to fetch me some more herbs?”
Landon handed the net to Georgie. “Yes, Your M—“
Scoffing at his politeness, I raised my hand to stop him. “Please, speak comfortably!” He wasn’t just anyone. He was more like a brother.
If anyone had the right to call me by my first name, it was him.
“Yes, Castiel.” He relaxed his shoulders, smiling slightly.
“So what were you saying?”
Landon cleared his throat. “While searching for your herbs, I happened to stumble upon some lost lady—“
“I’ve heard enough.” I feared my friend had come to visit and hand over a new mistress, and as tempting as it sounded, I had given up all hope and was done searching for the one.
Hypothetically, the thoughts of someone I wanted falling in love with a scarred man, in more ways than one, seemed impossible.
“Just hear me out.” Landon pleaded. “I know you said no more—but this one…something tells me she’s the one.
“Landon, that’s enough. We’ve been through this before.”
To my surprise, he disobeyed my orders and continued speaking. “She’s been married before, but her husband passed away, and it appeared she had nowhere to go—“
“What’s her name?”
“Sophia!” A smile appeared. “Sophia Hixon.”
“Hixon?” That was one of the names belonging to one of the most powerful werewolf clans across the river. They were a massive clan with many resources and connections from several kingdoms.
“Her late husband passed away—“
“Take care of her until she gets back on her feet.” There was no need to hear any further. If she was of noble, the least I could do was give her shelter.
“Castiel.” The sigh from Landon’s lips made it evident that this conversation was far from over.
“Landon.” I dismissed him with my eyes. “I have bigger problems to worry about, such as the unbearable pain I have to live with and the queen threatening to bite off the head of any new mistress.”
My friend chuckled as he narrowed his eyes at me. “It’s not the queen.” He concluded, clicking his tongue. “You’re scared and afraid, and I get it.”
“I’m not—“
“Hear him out!” Georgie argued. I had never imagined such volume to leave the small man’s body. “Y-Your Majesty!” He let out nervous laughter, knowing his tone was nowhere near acceptable. Had it been anyone else, I would’ve had their head.
“The girl is getting ready for the union, and I will take her to your chambers in three days.” With even my valet backing him up, I had no choice but to listen to Landon. “The queen has left in the early hours to visit her father. You don’t need to worry about her.”
I was the king. I was supposed to make the rules—but at the same time, I had learned to accept that not everything was about me. All the individuals who had benefited from the flower petals would eventually vanish. That was on me.
Even though I had no more hope left, it couldn’t hurt to give some to Landon and Georgie.
“Landon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“After today, no more.” If he were to disobey my demands a second time, I wouldn’t let it slide.“Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.”
~
A stroll was needed, especially after the unexpected news Landon had brought me. With the arrival of every mistress, I became more and more anxious, wondering if I would finally find the one to put an end to my misery.
With a huff, I shook my head at the red flowers in the garden. I had forbidden any maids to plant that color again, and on any other day, I would’ve executed the one responsible—but something held me back.
It was that same sweet scent I had been smelling, driving me insane.
A small smile grew on my lips as I closed my eyes and sniffed my nose deeply, savoring the delicious aroma from earlier.
The scent was a combination of calmness, peace, and happiness. One would say genuinely beyond words and difficult to explain.
“What is that smell?” As a horse searching for its hay, I bent myself over and tried to get to the bottom of it.
Eventually, I reached the strongest point of the smell and knelt.
On the ground was a shiny item, a golden ring, a strange-looking ring I had never seen before. “This thing.” My head spun as I picked up the piece of jewelry and brought it closer to my nose.
Even though the scent was not as strong as in the palace, it was still enough to bring my mind to ease, but it wasn’t merely enough.
I needed more.
I had to find the owner of the ring.
- Writer
