The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 200: Shock!

Chapter 200: Shock!

"Please let me pass. I have a message for Princess Reneira."

The girls turned to see a butler approaching, but Arkilla and Rail immediately stepped forward, blocking his path.

"What do you want?" Ren asked. After everything that had happened lately, she no longer had the courage to approach anyone lightly. They were probably angry that she had let Ara die. Minister Karon would seize any chance for retribution.

The butler raised a scroll and spoke calmly, "Lord Edis Qowen has requested an audience with you and Princess Gloria in the garden."

Ren exchanged a wary glance with Rail. He took the scroll from the butler and handed it to her.

She read it quickly, recognizing the handwriting and the wax seal stamped with House Qowen’s emblem, a dagger crossed over a shield.

"Are you going to meet him?" Rail asked, nervousness flickering in his voice.

"Yes. House Qowen likely has many questions, and we need their elite warriors to support Gloria. He is Gloria’s grandfather," she replied.

Rail nodded, his gaze shifting to Gloria. "I’ll check the path ahead."

Later, accompanied by a few more shifter guards, they made their way to the garden and spotted the old man seated inside the gazebo.

Lord Edis Qowen rose to his feet as a light breeze tugged at his long, white-braided hair. Though clearly aged, he still looked strong, his frame broad and masculine, like a man forged by labor.

"He’s a blacksmith," Ren whispered to Gloria. So that explained why he looked sturdy.

"Thank you for coming," the man said, extending a hand to Gloria.

She couldn’t refuse, it would be rude. He helped her up the steps, and in doing so, noticed her hands. They weren’t the hands of a pampered princess. These hands had labored, scarred like Reneira’s, marked with gashes, calluses, and faint bruises. And yet, they were still delicate.

After a brief, awkward silence, Ren finally broke it.

"You were always an amazing grandfather to me, Lord Qowen."

The old lord smiled. His expression was usually stern, surly, weathered by years of responsibility, but ever since he had laid eyes on Gloria, something in him had shifted.

"And you were an excellent granddaughter, Your Majesty. I’m still stunned that the King had secretly orchestrated everything, but it was, all for your protection." Lord Qowen said.

Gloria lowered her head respectfully. "But after seeing everything in full, I’m not stunned, just grateful. I have a wonderful foster family. Not everyone is so lucky. Two nights ago, what happened at the banquet broke my heart. Josa was a maiden, just like me... just fell into the wrong house."

Ren reached out and took Gloria’s hand. "You’re not a maiden. You’re my sister. I felt that closeness the very first time I met you."

The Lord smiled, a flicker of quiet satisfaction softening his weathered face. It was rare to see royal ladies speak so sincerely to one another. They were mostly sweet venom. Nothing about them was true or sincere. They feigned smiles to insult each other.

He slipped his hands into his coat pockets and pulled out two small boxes, then gently pushed them across the table toward the girls.

"When I left for Jaigara, I didn’t know I had two daughters. I brought these hairpins, they were forged as a birthday gift for Reneira, made with Marianne’s favorite design. But now, they belong to both of you. Please, open them."

The girls exchanged a look, and Gloria pursed her lips thoughtfully. "When is our actual birthday?"

She was so excited to know about it.

"Tonight," Ren replied.

"Wow... I used to celebrate my birthday in winter. So we turned twenty tonight," Gloria said, her voice soft with wonder.

Ren nodded, and together they opened the boxes, inside each lay a gleaming golden hairpin, sharp and elegant.

"There’s a hidden blade inside," Lord Qowen explained. "For both of you to protect yourselves. After what happened to Princess Araben, I can’t say my daughters will be safe."

The way he still loved Ren and called her his granddaughter touched something deep in both girls. His loyalty was quiet, but unshakable.

"We appreciate it so much," Gloria said sincerely.

Lord Edis’s expression brightened as he looked at them. "Two queens. A rare moment."

Just as he spoke, a sudden gust of wind swept through the garden. Rail’s voice broke the peace with a shout.

"Lutherieth! This butler is Lutherieth! Guards in line."

Ren froze. Her spine went rigid. Luther was here, finally, but not as a royal. He had come in disguise... as Lord Qowen’s butler.

’Kai! He’s here!’ she cried out through their mental link, but her mind was blocked.

Instead, her gaze locked onto those eyes. Those unmistakable green eyes. The eyes of the black serpent she had seen in the market of Thegara.

The butler reformed into a tall pale man with black hair. Luther was handsome but as if carved from the shades of a cold winter night. His aura gave out a chilling air.

"It is Nice to meet you, Princess Reneira," His eyes moved to Gloria, "Princess Gloria."

The shifter guards made a circle around him and Lord Qowen unsheathed his sword, shielding the girls but in the blink of an eye, a wolf seized him and threw him away. The old man relied on his sword, and frowned, "A shifter?"

Arkilla immediately recognized Zaira, "What the hell are you doing here?" She charged toward her, her daggers swaying in her hands.

But as she was close, a vampire lord with a half burned face appeared in her way.

The peaceful garden turned into a battle of mystery and terror. Ren grabbed Gloria’s hand and ran out of the gazebo.

"You are not welcome here. Seeing you is like a curse." Ren told Luther, letting out a string of black magic to catch Zaira and make her submit, but she simply dodged.

"I’m not here for you, give me that little whore next to you. I’m not working with that demon."

She launched and as her claws were an inch away, another female wolf bounced into the middle, kicking Zaira out.

Zaira spat blood, looking at her torn chest, "You bitch, why are you doing this?"

Elaika stood before her, "I will never betray Thegara again. I never let anybody bring war to my realm. Phoria works for Luther, you cannot lie to me anymore." She stepped closer, her claws getting larger, "You don’t deserve to meet Kamin in the heavens." And with that, she slit Zaira’s throat, her blood gushing out, spraying on Ren and Gloria.

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