581 Surprise For Drayce
Drayce had so many questions in mind but for now, he focussed on that familiar melody which he loved to hear when he was a kid. Memories from the past surfaced in front of his eyes when just like this he used to sit on the other side of the zither, opposite his mother while she played this same melody for him.
With so many emotions creeping into his heart, he continued to look at his wife whose delicate fingers were moving elegantly on those strings. He didn’t know what to say or do and kept quiet. She had been preparing this for him in secret…he had no words.
Suddenly in the middle of the melody, Seren missed the right track and stopped. She looked at him with an apologetic gaze as she was yet to finish it.
Drayce smiled and stood up only to sit on her side of the zither, next to his wife. Seren shifted a little to give him more space so he could sit comfortably in front of the zither.
The next moment she saw her husband playing the same melody exactly from where she had stopped. His fingers moved swiftly and effortlessly on those strings as she heard that beautiful melody. She could not help but fall in awe of her husband. He was best with his sword and he was even skilled with the zither. How many things about him she still didn’t know and how many sides of him she had yet to witness.
‘So handsome, so elegant.’
He looked handsome whether he played that sword which brings violence or whether he played this zither which makes others feel at peace.
‘My husband is best with whatever he does.’
After a while, finally, Drayce finished the melody and looked at his wife whose gaze was stuck at him all the time as if it was glued to him. He could not help but smile at her.
“My Queen, are you going to only stare at me?”
It brought her back to her senses and she awkwardly cleared her throat, “I…I was just mesmerized by the beautiful melody…”
“Or by how handsome and good your husband is?” Drayce interrupted her only to make her feel like a thief caught off guard.
“Umm.. That.. I was saying you play the zither really well.”
“Thank you, my Queen, for the praise and also for giving me an opportunity to play it for you.”
“I just missed it in the middle…”
“Intentionally!” Drayce commented as if he could see through his wife’s little lie who was really bad at lying.
Seren lowered her gaze as she pouted under her veil. ‘He caught me!’
Drayce gently tapped her tiny nose tip with his index finger, “But I liked that you missed it. That way I could play it for you.”
Hearing it, her expression changed from sad to happy ones, “I really wanted to see you play. Thank you for fulfilling my wish.”
Drayce simply smiled in response and then asked, “May I ask who taught you this melody? It was created by my mother for me. Other than her only I know it. Tyra is there but I know she can’t play the zither.”
Seren knew he would ask this question but when the time came she felt a little hesitant, “Will you believe me if I tell you something which is not normal?”
“I will always believe you despite whatever you say,” he assured.
Seren explained to him how she saw the memories of him and his mother on the first day of her introduction to this study and whenever she touched anything that belonged to the previous Queen.
“I don’t know why and how it happened but I believed that it was you and your mother. I could not see both of your faces. It was just a woman’s hands playing the zither and a kid’s back who was happy to hear the melody and praising his mother. Also, there was that flower mark on her wrist, the same as on my forehead.”
Drayce heard it and he believed her, “That is indeed me and my mother.” Drayce could still remember those days from the past and it was how Seren described them.
Seren continued, “Later I tried to focus on those past memories by touching this zither so I could learn what your mother used to play. Surprisingly, whenever I focused, I saw what I wanted to. I learned from how your mother’s fingers moved on the string and continued to practice it. I am still not that good but….”
“You played it really well. It reminded me of my mother,” he patted her head gently, “My Queen is so smart to learn it like this.”
“There is something else as well,” Seren said with a little hesitation.
“What is it?”
“It’s your birthday gift,” she said and waited for his reaction.
Drayce felt surprised once again as he had not expected this. Since it was the day his mother left him and it was the most hurtful day of his life, he never remembered his birthday and refused to celebrate it. Unlike other kingdoms, Megaris never celebrated their king’s birthday since the day Drayce sat on the throne.
“I know you never celebrate your birthday and you don’t even allow others as well but…I…thought it would be fine…I didn’t even know your birthday…but when grandmother told me the story…I…got to know it…” The more she talked, the more she started to feel awkward as if to think if she had upset her husband. ‘Did I upset you?’ Her voice was low as if only she could hear it.
“You did well. I liked the gift,” Drayce said with a smile which assured her that it was fine. “Really? Are you not upset?”
“I am not. How can I be upset when I get the chance to see my beautiful wife playing the zither? I should be thankful instead.”
Seren finally felt relieved, “Though it’s late, I still want to wish you,” and smiled under her veil, “Happy birthday, Dray.”
“Thank you, My Queen.”