The moment Esther stepped out of that ancient temple, she mumbled something with her eyes closed, and the next moment, she appeared back inside the current Temple of the Divine at the outskirts of the capital.

She found herself inside the worship hall of the temple where the High Priest was already present as if he was expecting her arrival. She bowed to greet him.

The High Priest also bowed in response. “I hope Your Majesty gained an answer from your visit to my master.”

She nodded but disappointment was eminent in her eyes. Neither she nor Theron wanted to give into the Devil’s demand, and she also couldn’t let her husband bear the curse on his body. There was no way to transfer the curse from the summoner to another. Then…

She let out a shaky breath as she made a decision.

“I want to summon the Devil.”

The High Priest could understand why she had said it. It was clear that she didn’t wish to lift the curse using the alternative path. No wonder, as no one in history had ever gone that way. The moment they saw the consequences, they gave up and decided to pay the original prince that the Devil demanded.

However, he had to disappoint the Queen. “Your Majesty, You cannot summon the Devil.”

Esther frowned, her tone cold. “Why can’t I?  If I do not summon him, how can I convey  that I accept his demand and I am willing to carry his child?”

“I am not making things hard for you, Queen Esther. I am sure you have read the book about the performance of the ritual.” The High Priest explained, “Only those of royal blood, not by name but by birth, can summon the Devil and make a deal with him.”

‘Royal blood?’ Esther wanted to let out a groan as she realized the priest wasn’t mistaken. ‘But Theron will never agree to it, and instead he will choose to sacrifice himself. What should I do now?’ Just as she thought her last hope had disappeared, she thought of something and looked at the High Priest, “Royal blood, you say?”

The High Priest nodded.

“So… it is not necessarily Theron, but anyone with royal blood,” she concluded, looking hopeful towards the High Priest.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. Anyone who carries the Ivanov bloodline, anyone who shares the same blood as King Theron, can take part in the summoning,” the High Priest replied.

Her eyes glimmered with strong hope as she ordered, “Prepare for the ritual. I will bring the previous king, King Esteban. I am sure Father will help me.”

The High Priest could only agree to it and nod. Without another word, Esther closed her eyes and vanished into thin air.

On the other hand, ignorant that Esther had already gone from the ancient temple and back, King Theron was riding at the speed of wind towards the rocky mountain north of the capital, his dark eyes burning with determination to protect his kingdom and his wife.

—–

Out of nowhere, a blond woman in pure white robes appeared in the middle of a lawn within the Royal Palace of Megaris. It was precisely Esther, still garbed in ceremonial white for the temple visit, who walked straight towards a certain side palace by using her powers. The side palace was the temporary  residence where the parents of the current king were residing due to the spread of the pandemic.

Due to the terrible situation of the plague, the number of servants working were less than a fourth of their original number, yet there were still many people walking about at that time of the day, and all of them witnessed the Queen walking all by herself towards the door of the palace.

“Isn’t that Her Majesty the Queen?”

“Wait, didn’t she leave for the temple with the King?”

“Yes! I saw their carriages leave earlier!”

All were shocked to see her as there would always be prior notice before her or her husband’s arrival, given they’re the two most important people in the kingdom. They hurried to pay her their respects, but Esther walked ahead as if she saw no one. Seeing her expression, none dared to even think of stopping her.

Just as she entered through the main doors, one of the previous queen’s lady-in-waiting who was rather on friendly terms with Esther ran to greet her. “Your Majesty, why are—”

“I need to see Mother and Father. Inform them immediately,” she instructed, cutting her off. Though Esther was the Queen of Megaris, she still had basic decency and would not dare enter the old couple’s chamber without their permission.

“Your Majesty, they—”

“Didn’t you hear me?” Esther gave the lady a cold glare.

“Y-Yes, I will speak to Queen Theodora immediately!”

The middle-aged lady left to inform her master who had just finished her midday meal and was returning towards the quarantine chamber of her bedridden husband.

“My lady, the Queen is here asking to see both you and King Esteban!”

“Esther? Why is she here? Shouldn’t she be in the temple at this hour with Theron?”

Queen Theodora entered the bedchamber and told the former king that Esther had come, wishing to speak to the two of them. Worry took over the faces of the King’s parents.

“Something must have happened to Theron,” her husband said. Queen Theodora nodded.

“Allow her to enter,” the worried mother instructed one of her servants.

Soon after, Esther came, her expression abnormally calm as she dismissed the servants and the physicians inside the customized quarantine chamber..

Only then did she greet them. “Mother, Father, I apologize for coming abruptly.”

Her mother-in-law, who was nervously sitting in a chair near the door, could not help but ask, “What happened, Esther? Why are you here instead of the temple? Where is Theron?”

Instead of answering, the young queen turned towards her father-in-law, who was also staring at her, waiting for her to answer.

“I am here to get help from Father,” she replied, her tone still abnormally calm.

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