The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 327: Winter Solstice Festival (Part Four)

Chapter 327: Winter Solstice Festival (Part Four)

It had been nearly hours since the Winter Midnight Ball started and nearly two hours past midnight but the ball was still going on with full energy. It seemed like people were barely feeling any tiredness as they just wanted to enjoy the night that made them forget about all the worries that were looming over their lives.

The festival had given their and people a chance to forget about their fear of the future which seemed too unclear at the moment.

Feeling slightly tired and overwhelmed from all the buzz, Annalise decided to get some fresh air. Despite not drinking any alcohol, her head was spinning and making her feel slightly nauseous.

"Mother, I want to go out and get some fresh air. I will be back in no time." She informed the Midnight Queen whom she had finally started addressing as ’mother’ during the past couple of days.

"Are you alright, child?" The Midnight Queen asked as worry took over her beautiful face. Her experienced eyes immediately searched Annalise’s face for any sign of discomfort.

"I am completely fine, mother. It’s just the atmosphere here is slightly overwhelming. So, I just want to get some fresh air." Annalise tried to make her mother-in-law worry less for her.

"Alright. If that will make you feel better then you can take a little walk outside in the side garden. Do you want me to accompany you?" The Midnight Queen offered as she agreed to Annalise’s request but before the latter could speak, a very familiar person spoke from beside her - "It’s alright, mother. We will be with her. So, you don’t have to worry about your precious daughter-in-law’s safety and well-being."

"Now, I can be at peace."

Annalise recently realized that her mother-in-law could be as dramatic as her husbands sometimes. She bowed politely as the Queen left them when someone nearby called for her.

Left behind with her husbands, Annalise turned to face the three Midnight Princes who had been the focus of almost all the royal and noble ladies that were present in the ballroom.

"You don’t need to follow me everywhere. I will be back in just a couple of moments after getting some fresh air. You all need to be here to..." Before she could have finished speaking or her husbands would have gotten a chance to contradict her, a servant came to inform the Princes that the Mortal King was looking for them.

"See? You all have more important matters than accompanying me everywhere every moment." She pointed out once the servant left.

"One of us can still come with you..." Damien tried but was stopped by the finger that Annalise pressed against his soft lips.

"It’s alright. Go and attend the Mortal King. Maybe he wants to talk about something important. I will be back soon."

-

A few moments later, Annalise stepped out into the cool night, leaving behind the lively ballroom where the Midnight Solstice Festival was in full swing. Her husbands had reluctantly allowed her to have a moment of solitude, their eyes following her as they made their way to find the Mortal King and Elijah.

She could tell that they were worried about her but she wanted them to focus on more important matters instead of her safety. Besides, the Sky Kingdom, and especially the Sky Palace was heavily guarded by the collective guard forces of the Midnight Realm, Mortal Realm, Seelie Empire, Mer Clan, and the Sky Kingdom, what could be the possibility of anything going wrong in such a situation?

She made her way toward the side garden located next to the ballroom but even there a lot of people were present which made her walk further to find a secluded corner to escape the overwhelming buzz of the festivities.

The night sky above was studded with countless stars, an enchanting sight even without the presence of the moon. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was the result of a spell or just a quirk of nature, as there had been surprisingly little snowfall during the festival.

With a shiver, Annalise acknowledged the chill in the air, though it paled in comparison to the frigid weather she was accustomed to in the Seelie Empire. Lost in her thoughts and the mesmerizing night scenery, she ventured farther from the ballroom than she intended.

She couldn’t deny that she had enjoyed the past three days in the Sky Kingdom to her heart’s content. This was the most relaxed and free she had felt in a long while. And a part of her was sad at the thought of this beautiful time coming to an end the very next morning.

They had plans of finally meeting Marley’s family the next morning as the man had invited them for a meal at his house. And after that, they all would be returning to the Cursed Castle to continue with their preparations.

Just as she decided to turn back, her gaze fell upon a statue standing on the opposite side of the path where she was currently present. What truly captured her attention, however, was the brilliantly glowing red dragon flower nestled at the statue’s base.

Annalise’s heart quickened as she recalled reading about this rare and seemingly extinct magical flower. It was said to possess the power to brew an elixir capable of rapidly increasing one’s internal energy without any side effects.

The temptation to see such a treasure from up close tugged at Annalise, and before she knew it, her legs were carrying her toward the statue. The closer she got, the stronger the magnetic pull she felt toward the flower. In a matter of moments, she stood before the statue, her eyes locked onto the radiant red dragon flower.

Unable to resist any longer, she reached out to touch the flower’s delicate petals. Her fingers brushed against them, and she felt a jolt of energy surge through her. But before she could fully comprehend what was happening, the flower disintegrated into thin air, leaving her startled and bewildered.

Annalise spun around, searching for answers, but the garden remained still and quiet, except for the distant sounds of the festival. She knew, in that instant, that something was deeply amiss, and the mystery of the glowing red dragon flower had only just begun.

Just as her mind raced with questions, a soft, melodic voice broke the silence. A figure emerged from the shadows, a figure cloaked in a dark robe with a hood obscuring their face.

"Curiosity can lead one down unexpected paths, can it not?" the mysterious figure spoke, their voice carrying an otherworldly quality.

Startled, Annalise could only manage a faint nod. "Who are you, and what just happened?"

The hooded figure approached her, their movements graceful and deliberate. "I am known as Elarion, a guardian of forgotten magic," they replied cryptically. "What you sought was a piece of forgotten magic, used to bring back something that could never be brought back without consequences. I’m present at all those places where someone sought help from long-forgotten magic."

Annalise was at a complete loss as she could hardly wrap her mind around the hooded man’s words. "What are you talking about?" She asked with confusion clear in her tone and expression.

But instead of answering her question, the man spoke words that were entirely different from what she was expecting to hear.

"Beware, Annalise, for not all magic is what it seems. This world has become way too dark. You don’t have much time, so here’s my advice to you - you all don’t have an upper hand against your enemy... except for you. They believe you to be a mere Princess of the Seelie Empire, a mortal with minimum ability of magic use. Keeping your true ability hidden from them will be able to put your side at a greater advantage... but only if you can master the ability to control all the elements before it’s too late."

Annalise opened her mouth to speak but didn’t get the chance as the man disappeared into the shadows of the night just as quickly as he appeared, leaving her with one suggestion but dozens of questions that were currently swarming her brain.

He said that someone used forgotten magic to create a fake red dragon flower to lure her out here, which meant that he had unknowingly walked straight into a trap!

Worst, she could now no longer use her powers out in the open.