Chapter 323 - Hard Pill to Swallow (1/2)
KALEL was almost at Auro's palace when a red flaming feather suddenly appeared right in front of his face. He recognized it right away as one of Soleil's feathers. She would sometimes use that method to send him a message.
Thankfully, it appeared when he was on the premise of Auro's residence. Since it was the king's palace, there weren't guards patrolling the area. Not even servants because for some reason, his brothers didn't like many people entering his place.
Anyway…
”Soleil, how are you?” Kalel talked to the red flaming feather as if it was his wife. He hid behind a tree while hiding his presence as well. Since he and Soleil decided to keep her pregnancy a secret, he didn't want anyone else to hear his conversation with his wife. Not even Auro. ”Have you arrived at Solarium?”
”Black Serpent.”
He got agitated as soon as he heard the unfamiliar voice of a male. ”Who are you?” he snarled. ”Where's my wife?”
”Lady Rosenberg was attacked by the Blue Dragon,” the stranger informed him in a blunt and cold voice. ”I brought her to Solarium. She's being treated by the people here.”
He felt gutted when he heard what happened to Soleil.
That damned Elis Ripperton attacked my wife?!
He was confused. After all, he thought that the Blue Dragon ascended back to the heavens with the Golden Tiger. And as a fellow Beast God, he should have felt it when that blasted man returned to earth.
Does it mean Elis Ripperton hid his descent from us?
To be honest, he had no reason to easily believe a man he didn't know. But he had Soleil's feather. And he would risk anything if it was for his wife.
Thus, the identity of the man talking to him right now wasn't that important.
His top priority was to hurry back to Soleil.
”I'll be there,” Kalel said in a hurried voice. ”You better be there and explain everything to me, whoever you are.”
WHEN Soleil woke up, she was relieved to be greeted by a familiar face.
Solenn…
Now she was confused.
The last thing she remembered was being attacked by the cursed Blue Dragon. Then, a strange fellow who kept calling her ”master” appeared. That was the last thing she could remember.
”My baby,” Soleil said in a croaked voice. She tried to get up but her whole body hurt like hell. She couldn't even lift her hand to put it over her belly. ”Is my baby safe, Solenn?”
Solenn nodded, worry written all over her face. ”Thankfully, your baby is safe since its Mana served as its shield. If your baby is an ordinary human, it wouldn't have survived the Blue Dragon's attack.”
She was relieved to hear that.
To be honest, when she was on her way to Solarium, she was thinking about apologizing to Solenn for getting pregnant right away. But after she almost lost her baby, she realized that she had nothing to be sorry about.
Despite the risks, she knew in her heart that she would never regret carrying her child in her w.o.m.b.
”How did I get here?” she asked in a weak voice. ”I just got out of our territory when I was attacked by Elis Ripperton.”
”A man called Wong brought you here,” the Sun Priestess explained to her. ”He has almost the same flame as Lord Winchell. He even used the same teleportation spell that our lord uses.”
The teleportation spell that her brother uses was renowned in the continent.
After all, the Red Phoenix could bring himself to any part of the continent that he had already stepped foot on. The downside was the spell consumed a large portion of his Mana.
She also got the same ability.
If she wasn't attacked by Elis Ripperton, she would have used her teleportation spell to return to her country. Kalel knew about her ability. Thus, he allowed her to travel alone despite her being pregnant. After all, she couldn't bring more people with her if she was going to use her teleportation spell.
”How's Wong?” she asked. ”Using the same teleportation spell as my brother must have drained his energy. Especially since he brought me along.”
Solenn nodded in agreement. ”Wong fell unconscious as soon as he was assured that we will treat you. He's sleeping in the next room. Are you really acquainted with him?”
”To be honest, this is the first time that we met,” she said. ”But apparently, he's the Keeper that my brother created for me. I wouldn't be surprised if my brother shared his memories with Wong. That guy seems to know me very well.”
”He also calls you master, Lady Soleil.”
”Yeah, I remember him calling me 'master,'” she said. ”He must really be my brother's creation.”
”Let's set that matter aside first,” the Sun Priestess said. ”Lady Soleil, the child in your w.o.m.b is the Moon Serpent. But I'm afraid that his heartbeat is too faint.”
She bit her lower lip before she nodded. ”The doctor who checked on me the other day said the same thing. My baby is in danger, isn't he?”
Solenn nodded thoughtfully. ”I don't want to say this but it seems like the Moon Serpent's life force is getting weaker every minute. We have to be careful for your pregnancy to be successful, my lady.”
”I know that,” she said seriously. ”The enemies already know that I'm pregnant. Elis Ripperton attacked me to kill my child.”
The Sun Priestess looked even more worried now. ”My lady, should you just stay here at Solarium for the duration of your pregnancy? We can protect you better if you're here.” Her eyes suddenly glowed menacingly. ”Our country has been quiet all this time but it doesn't mean that we can't fight the Kale Kingdom. If Auro Moonc.h.e.s.ter sends assassins after you, we will take it as a declaration of war.”
”It seems like going on a war against Auro Moonc.h.e.s.ter is inevitable.”
”I didn't expect that you'd agree with me, my lady.”
”I hate wars,” she admitted. ”Wars only create pain and sins. Moreover, the poor at the end of the ”hierarchy” suffer the most.” She clenched her hands when she felt her strength coming back. ”But I have a feeling that if I let Auro Moonc.h.e.s.ter loose, more people would suffer. He might even destroy the whole continent. I can't let that happen. I saved him in the past so it's only natural that I take responsibility by stopping him from his greediness.”
Solenn fell silent for a few seconds before she spoke again. ”The Moon God is supporting Auro Moonc.h.e.s.ter in the dark, Lady Soleil,” she reminded her gently. ”And the Moon God is Lord Kalel's father.”
”I know that very well,” Soleil said softly, then she closed her eyes tight. ”Thus, I decided to reveal everything to my husband.”
And ultimately, make Kalel choose between her and Auro Moonc.h.e.s.ter.
***