Chapter 7: Ch 7. Two Arrogant Kings
They immediately turned to look at the person who had just spoken. Stevan and Dorven looked startled, but it was Vylen who seemed most incredulous.
Even his personal bodyguard, Coxy, stared wide-eyed.
"Why are you all staring at me like that? Is there something wrong with what I said?" Selena glared at them in annoyance.
Just that gesture was enough to make Vylen, Stevan and Dorven shake their heads quickly.
"It’s not that, we’re just surprised," said Stevan softly, almost as if he were whispering.
"Surprised? Is that so strange?"
"Very strange," replied Dorven, nodding slowly with a slightly fearful expression as Selena looked at him. "You used to be so afraid of us; you’d even go out of your way to avoid us. That’s because you were actually raised under a great deal of pressure and it wasn’t easy after being destined to become the Healer of Extinction for the world of Eldoria. You used to be most afraid of the Fox King’s father; you’d always be terrified and trembling whenever you faced him. Now, you actually want to accompany the Fox King to meet him—that’s why we’re surprised."
Selena fell silent, gazing at Vylen’s face, who immediately nodded in agreement. However, his gaze seemed to drift away slightly as Selena tried to look at him.
"It’s my fault," he said, causing Selena to raise an eyebrow. "After marrying you, I didn’t protect you properly either. That led many of the fox clans who were my followers to treat you harshly. Forgive me..." he said, his expression stiff yet serious.
Selena was silent for a moment, delving once more into the memories of this body’s former owner, and sure enough, the Selena of the past had indeed been very timid. She was weak, often crying helplessly and simply resigning herself to her fate when they all treated her unfairly.
"Selena, are you angry?" Dorven, who was also afraid, asked cautiously, causing Selena to sigh.
"No, I’m not there yet," Selena replied flatly, causing the three of them to exchange glances.
"Why are you just keeping quiet? If there’s something wrong, tell us; we might be able to do something for you," Stevan said hesitantly.
"It’s fine, but I’m hungry." Selena looked at him, and his eyes widened immediately. "Didn’t you say you’d make me some top-quality grilled meat?"
"Ah, you’re right! I’ll do it straight away!" Stevan darted off quickly, then suddenly his voice sounded as if from a distance. "I’ll bring it to you straight away!"
Selena watched him disappear from view, even though he’d merely gone into the palace standing right in front of them. It seemed the power of her beast husbands was still quite strong, though they were each facing their own threats of extinction.
"Let’s go to your palace," said Selena to Vylen, who immediately looked at her.
Realising that Selena had changed since her power as the Healer of Extinction had awakened, Vylen finally swallowed hard and nodded.
"This way, please," said Vylen, politely holding out his hand.
Selena walked calmly, not a trace of fear on her face, causing Vylen to glance at Dorven, who was already shaking his head, urging him not to ask too many questions. The two of them quickly followed, letting Selena lead the way this time.
Whenever they passed a palace guard or servant, they would immediately bow respectfully. Selena also noticed that their gazes were filled with amazement and astonishment, as if they were seeing a different Selena.
"My demeanour has changed drastically—even the way I walk," Selena thought to herself, recalling how the original owner of this body had walked with her head bowed and in fear throughout her life as the wife of five beast kings. "Tsk, what a coincidence that I once aspired to be a queen. Now the universe has granted it. Let me see first whether I can be a good queen or, on the contrary, an evil queen here."
Selena smiled meaningfully, whilst continuing to walk towards a building within the walls. She recalled that the body’s original owner had led her there without needing to ask, so she already knew where the fox king’s palace was.
Meanwhile, behind her, Jhon Nix and Stoner Grey also arrived almost at the same time, having overheard their entire conversation. Both realised that Selena had indeed changed; she was truly like two different people.
"Wolf King, I remember how that woman used to always seek refuge with you when she was treated unfairly by the servants. Now that she possesses the power of the Healer of Extinction, she doesn’t even seek you out," said John Nix, his face appearing indifferent but his fists clenched tightly beneath the surface.
"She’s changed drastically," replied Stoner, still gazing in the direction Selena had gone. "She really isn’t the same as she used to be. She’s risen to become a goddess, and I wasn’t all that kind to her back then either. It was only on a few occasions, by chance, that I saved her when she ran towards me."
John looked at Stoner’s face, which was clearly beginning to show concern; Selena paid them absolutely no attention. In fact, she had even acknowledged the three beast kings because they had immediately shown remorse and gone out of their way to please her.
Meanwhile, the two of them continued to act haughtily, even though they needed her too.
"What’s your plan, King Phoenix? We can’t just let this slide, can we?"
Jhon sighed, closing his eyes as he tried to keep a calm expression.
"Let’s just wait and see if she manages to get past that mad Old Fox King. Wasn’t it Selena who said that Vylen Roxy was poisoned by his father when she was a child? That means tonight she’ll be facing a cold-blooded killer. If she manages to get past him, I’ll think of a way to make amends for my mistake and apologise to her," said Jhon, then snapped his hand away in frustration as he walked off.
All this time, as the leader of the Phoenix group, Jhon had been accustomed since childhood to the respect everyone showed him. Stoner had experienced something similar; that was what had made them come across as arrogant and conceited.
But who would have thought that today the universe would play a trick on them? It was as if it wanted to exact revenge for their behaviour and force them, whether they liked it or not, to submit and chase after a woman they had long looked down upon.
"Bloody hell, bloody hell... Why has everything suddenly changed so drastically?!" Stoner cursed, but then a sharp pain shot through his head, causing him to stagger.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?" His personal bodyguard, who had just stepped out to fetch him, immediately rushed over.
Stoner leaned against his bodyguard, holding his head near his eyes where he felt a throbbing pain.
"You suffer from headaches like this so often; shouldn’t we see a doctor for a check-up, Your Majesty?" asked his bodyguard, concerned.
After a few moments of that sharp pain surging through his head, Stoner looked around at his surroundings, which seemed slightly unfamiliar even though they were inside the palace.
The Moon Goddess’s curse was truly powerful and meant he had to prepare himself to forget everything he had ever remembered.
"Your Majesty? Please say something; don’t make me worry." His bodyguard, Derk, looked at him anxiously.
"No doctor will be able to cure me; this is a curse from the Moon Goddess that has been afflicting me for the past few months." Stoner finally spoke of it to his personal bodyguard for the first time.
"What?! You’ve had this curse for the past few months but you’re only telling me now?" Derk looked shocked, whilst Stoner simply nodded, still trying to recall, bit by bit, his mother’s face, which was indeed fading from his mind. "So what now? Is it too late to treat it now? Tell me, what should we do?"