The Trapped Princess
Meeting Old Friends

"Oh finally! Welcome to Ria."

Elea stared at the figure of the pale white woman, her black dress falling freely touching the ground, her head adorned with a black diamond crown. The woman ran towards Ariadna and directly hugged her tightly. A moment later, he took off his arms and looked at Ariadna, "nearly thirty years have you not come to see me, what have you done to forget me?"

"Acasha, not only are you busy taking care of your son, I'm also busy watching over my grandson!" ariadna replied with a fluffy smile looking at her old friend. "This is my grandson Lea."

Acasha's eyes turned to look at Eleanor who was standing beside Ariadna. His right hand stretched out to gently touch Eleanor's face, "I can hardly believe that you are Ariadna's granddaughter! Oh my goodness, you're so beautiful, son, as beautiful as your heart."

Acasha brought her face closer and kissed Eleanor's head, "welcome to the kingdom of darkness Leah."

A smile rose on Acasha's lips, her black eyes staring at Ara's pair of eyes full of tenderness. "You can call me grandma, like you called your grandma! Ria's granddaughter is also my granddaughter" added Acasha who now caresses Eleanor's short hair.

Ariadna stared at Eleanor's short hair, remembering Eleanor's decision to trim her hair and bury her with a few drops of her blood in the garden of the wisteria. The only way to fake her death, Ariadna's heart suddenly felt hard to remember, Ariadna secretly promised to always ensure Eleanor's happiness.

"What's his name, son? She looks so adorable! Can I carry it?" ask Acasha who can't wait to touch Blevine.

"Certainly can be granny, her name is Blevine. Actually he is a contracted animal belonging to Al," Eleanor said, handing Blevine into Acasha's arms.

Acasha held Blevine in her arms with a fluffy smile, "who is Al?"

"Oh I forgot! This is Al, my student." Ariadna helped Alardo stand up, "sorry Acasha, it seems that he is a little unwell due to the influence of traveling through the portal."

"Geez, didn't I tell you that the portal wasn't a good idea to come here! You can go through another path that I've prepared for you Ria!"

"I don't like the slide you're making, you think I'm a kid!" sahut Ariadna with a frown. "After all, he'll recover soon! Al is not as weak as you think," said Ariadna as she channeled her energy into Al.

"Your grandmother was so stubborn, I couldn't figure out how I'd be friends with her for hundreds of years!" acasha whispered to Eleanor.

"Ah, then grandma should be prepared to face two people with the same stubbornness," Eleanor replied with a smile. "Blood can't lie, can it?"

Acasha replied to Eleanor's smile, "i really like you son, the dark royal door will always be open for you!" Acasha's speech was accompanied by a strong tremor, as if the entire dark kingdom received an edict from her.

"Don't try to captivate my grandson, do you think I don't know your cunning intentions!"

Ariadna glanced sharply at Acasha, "don't try to lock my granddaughter in your dark kingdom."

Acasha shook her head softly, "long time no see makes you even more annoying! Don't be so prejudiced against me, what do you think will not happen Ria!"

"Time can change everything" Ariadna replied spontaneously.

"My son is married and has children, so you don't have to worry." Acasha lowered Blevine and let him walk as he pleased. "Will you see my handsome grandson?"

"You said Tayron already had a child? Who wants to marry her?" ask Ariadna straightforwardly.

"I'm used to your grandmother Lea, don't worry." Acasha took Eleanor's hand, "let me show you the handsome boy!"

Acasha runs hand in hand with Eleanor, while Ariadna follows behind them with Blevine and Alardo now looking to recover.

Eleanor entered a long dark hallway, but every time Acasha stepped on her feet, the lights on the wall started to light up in her footsteps, like magic. Various paintings displayed sequentially on the wall, but unique all in the form of face paintings.

"They were the kings and queens of the ancients" said Acasha, straining Elea's hand. "There was one time I asked my late mother, why didn't they put up a family photo? And my mother replied that most couples die after the heir is born, so it's impossible to paint a whole family."

Eleanor continued walking beside Acasha, listening silently, staring at the face of Ariadna's old friend.

"So did I, my husband died even before Tayron was born. But I forced myself to paint this whole family" said Acasha, stopping in front of a painting.

Elea follows Acasha's gaze, a painting showing Acasha sitting with elegance, a crown that looks more magnificent than she is wearing now, looking beautiful with her head. To the right Acasha stood a very handsome young man in Elea's eyes, his hair and eyes pitch-black with pale white skin.

"This painting was taken when I became a queen, now that my son has ascended the throne, then I am only a mother, oh and a grandmother of course!" acasha said with a fluffy smile.

"Don't say much, you're wasting Cha's time too much!" Ariadna looked impatient. "Hurry and show your granddaughter before I fall asleep exhausted!"

"All right! Alright!" Acasha pushed through her family's painting plan, as soon as a large door slid through the wall. "Welcome to Carel's room!"

Unlike the dark hallway that seems cold, Carel's room is warm with dark brown paint and some cute baby toys. Elea uses her magic to clean her body as well as Ariadna and Alardo, she understands that cleanliness is one of the unwritten conditions when visiting a baby.

"Oh my Carel, you woke up without crying! Smart kid, look who's coming!" Acasha spoke next to the crib with a glowing face.

Ariadna rushed forward and stared beside Acasha, "did Tayron marry a human?"

Acasha nodded slowly, the change in expression on her face was obvious, "that's why my son has not returned, he still has to keep his promise."

"What did you say? What happened there to what I'm thinking now, Cha?" Ariadna looked a little upset. "Why did you let him? There's another option you can make, why would you let Tayron do the same to you?"

"Ria, however, I need to respect Tayron's decision." Acasha seemed lazy to argue, "and again I got a priceless grandson, so shouldn't I be grateful?"

"Ah I'm really tired! I'll talk to you tomorrow! I hope Tayron's back tomorrow" Ariadna walked to the door. "Elea, Alardo, Blevine, let's go get some rest!"

"Good Master," Alardo followed Ariadna without much questioning.

Elea saw Blevine chasing Al and Ariadna with her small body, while she was still unmoved from where she stood, still confused by the direction of Ariadna and Acasha's conversation, but there was one other thing that kept him from moving.

"Grandmother Acasha, may I see Carel?"