The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 324: Winter Solstice Festival (Part One)

Chapter 324: Winter Solstice Festival (Part One)

(A/N: The Kingdom of Dragon Shifters, previously called Sky Castle, will be known as Sky Kingdom from now on. )

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It had been barely two days since Marley announced the happy news about the Winter Solstice Festival and it was already the last day of the week.

The enchanting celebration was on the horizon, casting a spell of anticipation across both realms and the three kingdoms. The atmosphere crackled with excitement and joy, as everyone eagerly awaited the commencement of the three-day-long celebration.

And while the entire world was invited to partake in the festivities within the Sky Kingdom, only a privileged few had secured invitations to the illustrious Winter Midnight Ball. Obviously, these selected people were either royals or nobles from around the world, which meant Annalise and her husbands would also be attending the ball.

Since it was her first celebration or ball with her husbands, Annalise was feeling both excited and slightly nervous. She wanted her first-ever Winter Solstice Festival to be a memorable one.

Amidst this palpable excitement, Annalise, and her husbands, along with their friends, embarked on their journey toward the Sky Kingdom. It wasn’t a long journey considering they used a portal created by Valerius, but instead of appearing straight at the Sky Palace, they arrived at the main gates of the Capital City.

Their plan was to enjoy the scenery of the Sky Kingdom on their way to the Sky Palace. The Capital was bustling as everyone was busy with the preparations. People were decorating the streets and the outside of the buildings that were lining the streets.

The weather was warm compared to the other realms/kingdoms and there was an abundance of energy of fire elements in the air.

"Do all dragon shifters have fire as their element?" Annalise asked curiously but one look in others’ direction and she knew that she had asked something really stupid.

Still, Valerius answered her question with a straight face as if he didn’t judge her for the question like the others. "Actually, most of the dragon shifters do have fire as their magical element but there’s also a minority that possesses other elemental magic. The only element that’s rarely seen in a dragon shifter is the element of shadow. Also, rarely any dragon shifters possess more than one elemental magic."

Annalise processed all that she had just learned and wondered if she had ever heard of anyone possessing more than one elemental magic other than her husbands. The answer was - No!

As they neared the palace of the revered Dragon King, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The grand banquet, designed to welcome the esteemed guests, was moments away from its commencement.

With hearts brimming with excitement, the group was ushered into the splendid palace. The Dragon King’s warm welcome resonated in the grand hall, setting the tone for the evening.

Culinary delights from the local regions as well as exotic dishes from across the world adorned the banquet tables, a testament to the festivities’ grandeur. A mesmerizing dance performance and enchanting musical renditions further added to the allure of the evening.

The banquet hall quieted down when the Dragon King stood up to deliver his welcome speech. "It’s an honor of mine and the Sky Kingdom to host the Winter Solstice Festival this year. I can never show enough gratitude toward all the rulers and members of the high council, for giving my Kingdom the chance of reviving a great Festival that got lost a century ago because of the lost connection between the realms and kingdoms."

"Even though we are currently facing a threat, there is no denying that this very threat has brought our world together all over again. It has joined us as one, and now, we all will work together to make sure our enemy will never win. Let this night be a toast to our reunion... the reunion of our world and our people."

Everyone stood up with their glasses filled with wine as they all cheered together and toasted - "To our reunion!"

Annalise emptied the content of her glass in one single take, scaring her husbands who were staring at her with their eyes wide open.

"It’s okay. I can handle it." She said with a soft chuckle when she noticed the terror on her husbands’ faces.

Though none of them said anything or even tried to stop her when she got her glass refilled, she could tell that they were worried for her.

Letting out a small sigh and only after giving a really sad look to her wine-filled glass, she placed it on the table and announced - "Fine. I won’t drink... much."

The Midnight Princes instantly relaxed as the three of them settled down on their seats around her. Once again, the performances started and everyone got indulged in the beauty of the banquet.

Amidst the jubilation, Annalise and the Princes made their way to greet the Midnight Queen. The men bowed in courtesy and Annalise followed them before they were asked to let go of the formalities and join the Midnight Queen at her table.

"Annalise, come here and sit with me." The Midnight Queen said right before Annlise could have settled down in the empty seat between Valerius and Damien.

Putting on a small smile that sure did little to hide her nervousness, Annalise moved to sit next to the Midnight Queen who immediately poured a glass of refreshing warm tea for her, scaring the life out of Annalise.

"Your Majesty, please! You don’t have to... "

"Child."

One word from the Midnight Queen and Annalise became dead silent despite her anxiety. She looked at the older woman with her doe-like eyes and waited for the latter to continue whatever she wanted to say.

"I will love it if you will treat me as the mother of your husbands and not as the queen of the Midnight Realm."

Annalise immediately felt embarrassed and turned her gaze on her lap as she whispered out an apology - "Please forgive me, Your... Mother." She hurriedly corrected herself and felt a warm hand coming to rest on her shoulder which made her look up to find a warm smile on the Queen’s lips as the woman spoke - "No need for any apology, my dear. I don’t want you to walk on eggshells around me. Just treat me like your own mother. Okay?"

Annalise couldn’t hold back the smile that made its way to her lips as she happily nodded her head in agreement. "I will try my best. Just... give me a little time to adjust."

"Of course. You can take your time. Actually, it’s neither of our fault that we haven’t gotten enough time to know each other better, as my sons and your husbands, have been keeping you away from me." The last sentence was directed toward the three Princes who seemed ready to defend themselves but never got the chance as they got ignored completely.

As the banquet progressed, laughter and stories flowed freely, creating an atmosphere of genuine connection.

Little by little, Annalise also started loosening up and by the time the banquet came to an end, she and... her mother-in-law, had become quite closer as they talked a lot and shared a lot of stories.

As the grand banquet concluded and the guests started leaving, the Dragon King extended an invitation for Annalise and the Midnight Princes to reside within the palace during their stay in the Sky Kingdom. However, Ezra’s prior arrangement at an inn in the bustling center of the Capital held its own appeal. The decision was made in favor of experiencing the festival’s vibrant heart.

Taking their leave from the royal hosts, Annalise and her companions made their way toward their chosen inn, anticipation and excitement bubbling within them. The night was alive with stars, mirroring the enthusiasm that radiated from every corner of the city.

* * * * *

As the dawn broke, the city transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors. Streets and buildings were adorned with intricate decorations, a symphony of red, yellow, orange, and white. Enchanted spells added an ethereal touch, amplifying the festive ambiance. A sumptuous breakfast was savored, setting the stage for a day of exploration and wonder.

With their spirits soaring, Annalise and the others embarked on their journey through the Sky Kingdom. They reveled in the enchanting sights, sounds, and experiences that the festival offered. Laughter intertwined with awe as they absorbed the beauty of the world around them. The festivities had truly begun.

Annalise: "Can you feel the excitement in the air? It’s like a tangible magic!" Her eyes were nearly sparkling as she took in the surroundings that were making her soul dance in joy.

Damien tightened his hold on her hand as he responded, "Indeed, Princess. This festival promises to be even more enchanting than we imagined. If you are this excited now, you will fall in love with this festival once you get to see the night view."

His words made Annalise curious about what could be more enchanting than the current beauty of the festival. However, she needed to wait until dusk to find out the answer.