Queen Of Adis

The Kings and their respective aides went to attend the morning court while Haru stayed in the greenhouse and assembled her team of farmers and mages. She gave them detailed instructions on what crops to grow, and how much of light, water, and air was needed.

For now, she decided to fill the greenhouse with leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and cabbage. Root crops like potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and beets were also included.

Though it took too much of her time, she patiently taught them how to correct the soils of Umbra. As part of her experiment, she put the soils on big benches and planted grains that could grow even in poor soil conditions such as millet, rye, and buckwheat.

While she was busy with her preparations, her ladies-in-waiting were adding vibrant energy in the atmosphere with their laughter while playing and chatting with Vladimir, Mr. Bear, and Fenrir.

When Haru was done with everything, it was almost sunset. The farmers and magician had gone home and the sweet laughter of Vladimir and the girls were replaced by the silent presence of her devil.

Adis was reading a book while waiting for his beloved to be done with her work. He immediately looked at her when he heard her perky voice.

"Adis!" Haru called out and walked towards him with a cheerful smile on her face. She placed a small garden pot filled with soil on top of the table.

He softly chuckled upon seeing her face and white dress filled with dirt, like a kid who played outside all day.

"Adis, can you teach me how to make Vesta's gift reappear?" She eagerly asked as she knelt on the ground and propped her arms on the table. "I've been racking my brain on how to do it, but nothing happened. I've also tried to copy you when you cast your magic spell but I just can't. Why?" Her eyes watered and she looked aggrieved.

"So adorable," he chortled and pinched her nose. Then he pulled out his handkerchief from his c.h.e.s.t pocket and wiped off the dirt on her face. "Do you still remember the image of the gift?" When Haru nodded her head, he continued, "Then, imagine that the gift is on your palm and slowly open your hand."

Haru gasped when the glowing seed really materialized and was now floating on top of her palm. "It worked! How come it appeared so easily when you're around?" She looked up at him and pouted her lips in envy. "Adis, why are you so capable and perfect? I want to be like you."

Adis tenderly kissed her forehead. "Haru, why are you so smart and perfect? I want to be WITH you. We complete each other, remember?"

She giggled as he really knew the right words to say to chase her insecurities away. She stood up when he pulled her to sit on his l.a.p, unaffected of the dirt on her dress. Then, she started digging into the soil and buried the glowing seed in it while Adis just watched her intently.

"So... that's your winning price?" He asked out of curiosity but a certain kitty cat suddenly snapped around and bared her fangs at him.

"Don't you dare laugh at my puny price, too," she snarled at him, surprising him with her sudden outburst. "Okay, calm down. Adis was just asking. You must be tired. I think it's time to call it a day, don't you think?"

"Mn," she nodded and casually left the garden pot on top of the table.

As soon as the couple left the greenhouse, a small shoot slowly sprouted from the soil and let out a faint glow.

The next day, Haru woke up early and opened the greenhouse even before the farmers came. She would like to check if the glass structure they created was still able to maintain the kind of warmth she wanted. She smiled in satisfaction when she felt that although the temperature inside decreased a little, the place was still able to achieve its main purpose; to protect the plants from the freezing, cold weather outside.

She sprinted towards the benches and scanned each bed of soil. She was writing her observation on a piece of paper so she could discuss it with the farmers later. When she was done with her morning round, she turned around to leave. However, her body stiffened as she inadvertently looked at the top of the garden table. Then, she dashed toward it with her eyes bulging from its sockets.

Her hands were trembling when she picked up the garden pot and was utterly shocked to see that the seed she planted yesterday already sprouted a shoot.

A green and healthy shoot had already budded from the seed that she just planted yesterday?! Is that even possible?

Her hand slowly reached out to touch the two tiny leaves to check if it's real or fake but the shoot suddenly tilted downward, as though it became shy.

She almost dropped the pot, if not for her quick reflexes. As she hugged it to her body, she looked left and right to make sure that no one was watching. Then, she put it back on the table to observe it for a brief moment. The shoot was back to its steady position as though nothing had happened.

Uncertain whether what she saw was just a product of her imagination, she hovered her hand on its body and her eyes widened when she saw that the tiny leaves fluttered. When she swayed her fingers to the right, the shoot's body bent to the right. And when she waved to the left, it also followed.

A squeak came out from her mouth which she immediately stopped with her hands. "Oh, my gods! Did I just perform magic? That is so cool! Kyaa!"

Her eyes lit up and she instantly stood up straight when an idea entered her mind. She carried the garden pot and ran out of the greenhouse.

"Gentlemen, we will be discussing some issues that needed to be resolved now." Fang started as he opened the scroll for today's issue. "There had been an increase in kidnapping recently and the victims are all beautiful maidens--"

"Adis!"

Fang fumbled and dropped the golden scroll on his hand upon hearing the familiar sing-song voice that unceremoniously barged in the royal court. The guards behind her were in distress but didn't have the courage to touch even a strand of her hair as they knew the dreadful consequence of that.

The court officials, nobles and elders in the royal court scowled at the impertinent maiden who interrupted the discussion. They all made a loud buzzing sound like a true pests that they were.

To everyone's utter shock, the indifferent and ruthless King of Umbra immediately stood up, went down from the golden throne and meet her halfway without any care of their surroundings.

Zen and Aquarius just helplessly shook their heads.

"What's wrong, Haru? Did something bad happen?" Adis worriedly asked when she saw that she was panting and her face flushed. In her arms was a garden pot with a single shoot inside.

Haru held his hand and dragged him out of the royal court without any word.

Silence overwhelmed the entire hall as the two souls suddenly left. Fang staggered and almost fainted at the demeanor his King had shown today.

When Zen and Aquarius recovered from the shock, they stood up as well and followed their big brother. Their respective aides tumbled as they tried to stopped them, too.

"Gentlemen, let us adjourn the court discussion for today. It shall resume tomorrow. Good day!" Zen hurriedly announced once he reached the door of the royal court and winked at the officials before running away.

The hall almost shook from the loud complaints and questions of the men inside. They harassed the royal aides with their endless nonsense and the three poor souls couldn't do anything but to handle the trouble their Kings left.

Unbeknownst to the crowd, a certain chief elder had also magically disappeared to follow his three naughty grandchildren.

Zen and Aquarius found Haru and their big brother in the middle of the enormous garden maze. They saw the couple digging up the snow and dirt on the ground.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, what are you two doing? Do you need help?" Aquarius gently asked as he craned his neck to see what they're doing.

Zen, on the other hand, praised Haru of her brazen stunt. "I have to give it to you, sister-in-law, you have given all those geezers shock after shock with your unorthodox approach. Hahaha, only the great future Queen of Umbra can make the Demon King leave his throne and his subjects without any word. I bet you two will hit the headlines of the newspaper tomorrow."

Aquarius whacked his head with his fan to cut his ramblings. "Tsk, can I use that big mouth of yours as shovel so you'll be useful just for once?"

"Haru, nothing is happening."

They paid attention to the couple when they heard Adis finally spoke as he stood up and dusted off the dirt on his hands and clothes. "Maybe it shouldn't be planted like this."

Zen blinked and tilted his head. "Eh? Why are you planting it here and not in the greenhouse?"

"My wife wants it, so I shall comply without any second thoughts," Adis casually responded.

Haru ignored the noise at the back and gazed at the ground. Was her gut feeling wrong this time? Was she really not to plant it directly to the land?

'Tell me, what do you want me to do?' Haru thought to herself as she c.a.r.e.s.sed the soil around the shoot.

The shoot let out a faint glow which caused the land to shook softly. Then, the tremble became stronger and before they could prepare for it, an earthquake had occurred.