Tan looked around the Magic Tower, wondering if the festive mood was because the Queen, the Master of the Magic Tower, is coming to visit along with the young prince.

Some of them were preparing baby toys enchanted with magic, in hopes to see the young prince smile and favor them.

His knights only looked at the mages with incredulous looks, now knowing where the materials they had hunted down for them were used for and now they’re  looking for ways to get their own gifts for the little prince, even asking the second prince for ideas only to be betrayed by him; as the uncle, Tan already has a gift ready for the little one.

Apart from teasing his knights, Tan has other things in mind regarding the visit and the number of magicians inside the Tower.

Over the recent years, the number of magicians that entered the Tower was around twenty, with the age range between thirteen to twenty-three. Some were exceptional, the others became apprentices for senior mages. 

What troubles Tan is that Siane doesn’t seem to be actively looking for black mages this time, when in his prophetic dream she was their benefactor.  He couldn’t bring himself to ask about them, afraid that he’d be viewed as a heretic.

Though he hasn’t heard any kind of persecution going on, that doesn’t mean that it’s not happening.

He snapped back to reality when the mages soon cooed loudly and he turned his head to look at Siane’s arrival with the young prince.

He shook his head in amusement as he went over casually to give his gift first, earning him boos from everyone else.

“Tan, just because you’re the Uncle doesn’t mean you can cut in line.” Siane said, amused. Tan handed over the rabbit doll for his nephew to hug.

“It has a protection charm.” Tan winked playfully. “From bad dreams and…other things.”

“How about stop winking at my wife?” Calisto said as he came up to them.

Everyone quieted down, murmuring “Your Majesty the King” in a respectful manner. Tan only rolled his eyes, raising his left hand.

“I’m not hitting on my sister-in-law. I’m taken by her brother.”

“You still haven’t gone through the engagement.”

“Doesn’t matter, it’ll only be in a matter of time.”

Siane only gave him one thoughtful look, before turning her head towards her husband. “Why don’t you help them get engaged, Calisto?”

“I’d be called a tyrant, my dear. I’ve already done a lot of forceful things to go my way.”

“Even if you did, the results are positive so they can’t say anything about it. I’m asking this of you to help my brother and father have peaceful days.”

Calisto bit the inside of his mouth, shooting his brother a glare. “You planned all this, didn’t you? Giving a protective charm to our child…you know Sisi’s weakness.”

Tan held up his hands, smiling innocently. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, kuya. All I did was give my adorable nephew a general protection charm.”

Well, technically it has a general protection charm from bad dreams and illness, but Tan didn’t mention the second protection charm he had secretly stashed inside the doll.

He’s not going to let the mistake in his dream in the past come to pass. He had memorized the important parts by reminding himself everyday of what had transpired in his dream since he was young.

He won’t let his nephew fall victim to any kind of assassination attempts. While he knew his brother and sister-in-law had stricter protection for him, he still wanted to help in any way he could.

As long as the Ferrers were still in power and not convicted of anything, he couldn’t let his guard down.

•×•×•

Eufemia Ferrer always had a grand dream of becoming a princess since her younger days. She especially loves the stories where a prince sweeps their princess off their feet with their romance.

Her father always used to say that she’s going to be the key to balance out the power in Court, and she had believed him from the beginning that she was special. However when the crown prince announced that he’s taking Duke Canael’s daughter as his betrothed, her disillusioned world shattered around her, making her face reality. 

She had tried to approach the spare prince, with her father giving her a perfume infused with a strong pheromone of an Omega, but that did not end well for her, putting her father on a tight spot as he gets investigated.

Not giving up on her dream to become a princess, she did everything she could to get strong influential people to her father’s side, especially when the crown princess was revealed to be a useless Alpha who cannot give birth. Petitions were made to remove Siane but the crown prince instead forcefully seized the power of the King and had become the representative of the King in meetings, making it hard for Eufemia’s side to voice out their concerns.

It didn’t help further that the pregnancy announcement cemented Siane’s position as crown princess and future Queen. And now that she gave birth to a prince, her coronation and marriage was sped up.

Eufemia is not one to back down, as there are still others in the direct line of succession that she can use, especially now that she heard that Prince Tanashiri’s engagement got postponed.

She’s determined to be the key of balance in the Court, just as her father wished.

“My lady, the mages are here.” Her maid said and she looked up to see three black hooded mages bowing before her.

A small, sinister smile appeared on her lips.

If the Queen is the Master of the Magic Tower, then Eufemia just has to match her and become the Master of the Black Mages.