Chapter 6: Ch 6.Old King Fox
Selena looked at Vylen’s face, which was beginning to show concern, but then she gave a cold smile. "You’ll find out later; if I told you now, you’d just say I’m a liar," she replied, leaving Vylen reeling from her words. "I’m going home with you lot today."
Vylen nodded; he looked at Selena, who had already removed her hand from his face, before asking hesitantly.
"Am I allowed to stand up now?"
Selena looked down at him again, whilst the Eldorian World Council was somewhat taken aback by the question. How could he ask about his right to stand? This Fox King really is truly remorseful, isn’t he? Even now, he still feels the need to show his remorse.
"Hmm, why are you still kneeling there when I’m going home?" Selena walked off as soon as she saw Vylen rise.
"Selena, come home with us. There’s a horse-drawn carriage out front," Stevan invited politely, causing Selena to stop in her tracks and look at him.
Instantly, the memories of her body came flooding back—memories of when she’d been paraded around Eldoria earlier before being brought here to be punished. She’d been paraded by a number of guards working in the execution area, walking several kilometres whilst these husbands of hers rode in their own luxurious horse-drawn carriages.
"A horse-drawn carriage?" asked Selena, then smiled cynically when she saw Stevan nod stiffly. "I remember walking without any transport earlier when you lot paraded me around Eldoria. Now, all of a sudden, I’ve got a horse-drawn carriage? Where did this come from? Haven’t I gone without a private carriage the whole time I’ve been your wife?"
Stevan was at a loss for words; he couldn’t speak because it was indeed true. All this time, they had indeed taken Selena for granted and reduced her life to that of a mere slave, needed only to make the curse of extinction and their problems vanish.
Now that the woman possessed her powers, she had turned out to be a completely different person.
"Forgive us; this time, it’s your turn to ride in the horse-drawn carriage, and we’ll walk," said Vylen, his voice trembling, but Stevan and Dorven nodded in agreement.
"That’s right; we’ll make amends for all the wrongs we’ve committed."
Selena remained silent, gazing towards Stoner and John, who showed no sign of approaching her. The two men were too proud, but Selena didn’t care. It wasn’t she who needed them; that was the crucial point they needed to remember now.
Several years ago, they had been struck by a curse of extinction; the problems afflicting them required her as the antidote and cure. Not to mention the personal issues they suffered from, aside from the curse of extinction. It was extremely serious and required immediate treatment.
But if those two didn’t feel they needed her, Selena didn’t care either. There were already three kings who were now willing to do anything to atone for all their sins against her; for the time being, Selena felt that was enough.
All that remains is to wait for them to come and ask for her help. For now, let those two pathetic men act all tough and fight amongst themselves with their egos.
"Well, Selena? Are you willing?" asked Dorven cautiously.
Selena looked at the three of them, then at Vylen’s face, which was looking increasingly pitiful, with an aura of impending danger growing ever stronger within him.
"Right, it’s starting to get dark. In that case, let’s head back now; we mustn’t let that danger arrive before I do," said Selena, then set off first.
Vylen swallowed hard, immediately setting off in pursuit, with Stevan and Dorven following behind. Meanwhile, Forhen, who had witnessed the whole scene, rubbed his chest with a sense of relief.
He hastily banged his gavel, announcing that Selena Grece was innocent; this declaration was also broadcast throughout Eldoria to clear Selena’s name, which had been tarnished by their own carelessness.
***
All along the way, Selena rode calmly in Vylen’s magnificent and luxurious horse-drawn carriage. By the roadside, people watched her; some of Eldoria’s inhabitants were delighted that she had returned safely and without punishment. Others quietly laughed at the three kings, who were now walking behind Selena’s carriage with foolish expressions on their faces.
Selena took in her surroundings, marvelling at the beauty of the place. It was a little unexpected; she had thought she would be living in an ancient beast world or in the middle of a forest. But it turned out this was a thriving civilisation; the houses looked beautiful and varied, distinguished by the group or type of beastkin they belonged to.
"It seems I’ll be comfortable living in this world; the universe must have something good in store for me, which is why I was brought here after my death," Selena thought to herself, trying to convince herself.
Although it still seemed a little far-fetched, it didn’t matter. She’d just treat it as paradise, where she was free to do as she pleased because she possessed powers that no one else had.
"Their Majesties the King and Queen have returned!" The announcement made her realise they had arrived.
Selena peered out of the window again, seeing several guards who had already bowed their heads. They came in various forms; it seemed they were a gathering of lions, dragons, wolves, foxes and phoenixes. The way they looked out for one another and didn’t quarrel with each other left Selena quite amazed by the peacefulness of it all.
The horse-drawn carriage came to a halt in front of the entrance to a building that looked like a jewel or a diamond; she alighted alongside Vylen, who had already extended his hand to greet her politely.
Selena simply accepted the outstretched hand; she looked around the palace with a look of admiration, though she did not show it openly.
"Let us show you to your room; you have a private quarters here," said Vylen politely, but Selena shook her head.
Seeing this, Vylen grew concerned. Their behaviour might have made Selena dislike the accommodation provided for her in this palace. This made him glance at Stevan and Dorven, who were also looking tense.
"Do you dislike your old quarters because we often treated you unfairly there?" asked Vylen timidly, deeply worried he might have offended her—and it was quite obvious.
Selena snorted lazily, then shook her head. "It’s not because of that."
"Then what?" Stevan stepped closer, looking at her with concern. "Tell us what we need to do. If you want to move to another room or area, we’ll arrange it straight away. As compensation, we’re willing to do anything."
"Oh, really?" Selena raised an eyebrow, looking at them; they immediately nodded. "Well then, I’ve suddenly got a craving for grilled meat."
Stevan’s face immediately lit up. "Leave that to me! I’ve got plenty of top-quality meat in stock here. I’ll whip up some delicious grilled meat for you straight away."
Selena looked at him seriously and nodded. "All right, then I’ll wait for the meal in the Fox King’s chamber," said Selena, looking at Vylen’s face, which immediately brightened.
"Are you staying the night at my place, Selena?" he asked enthusiastically, but Selena merely smiled with a smirk on her lips—it was hard to tell what it meant, and that was enough to make Vylen dare not ask any further.
"Your Majesty," someone called out, causing Vylen to turn and look at Coxy, his personal guard, who had approached and bowed respectfully.
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty, the Old King arrived a short while ago; I could not refuse him entry. He is in the reading room; you are requested to see him upon your return," said Coxy politely.
Vylen’s expression shifted slightly at the mention of the Old King—that man was her father, and as Selena had said earlier at the execution site, could it really be that man who had poisoned her?
To be honest, he was a little unsure; although he had kept the secret of who had poisoned him to himself, if that man was his father, Vylen felt somewhat devastated and hesitant to meet him.
"I’ll come with you to see him."