SPELLBOUND

"I think I'm going to cry too, your Highness." Zolan said when Gavriel reached him, smirking playfully.

"Go ahead. I'd like to see your poker face cry." Gavriel commented, smirking back.

"Well, I changed my mind. I'll cry if you cry first, Your Highness." Zolan quipped.

"You still think you can fool me? Zolan?" Gavriel raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well, I'm just trying to check if your memories truly have returned now."

When Gavriel reached Samuel, the big man's stoic face remained unfazed as he looked steadily at his prince and lord.

"You did well, leading these bunch of troublemakers." He told the big man and Samuel's expression cracked a little, showing a small smile as he was touched at the prince's praise.

"They've been such a bunch of good and well behave men, Your Highness, so I didn't actually need to do anything."

"I guess, they behaved because you're the one leading them."

"Er… I don't think so, Your Highness. I believe it's because of our master, the princess. Being with the princess didn't give them much time to fool around."

Gavriel looked at Evie who was quietly standing there, giving the men space.

A smile curved on his lips. "It seems my wife can control you guys better than I do." Gavriel teased his men.

"Well, we can't afford to disappoint you, so we did our best… to behave and focus." Luc said and Gavriel nodded, smiling.

"Certainly. All of you have truly made me proud." Gavriel told them and the men looked revitalized.

After a while, they then remembered Levy and they all headed to the place where he was.

The dark crystal that had trapped him was shining with a cool glimmer under the sun.

Evie did not waste a single moment longer and stood before the crystal while Gavriel and his men stayed back, watching on and waiting for what she would do.

Amber lights began to gather in Evie's palm and her body started to glow.

Watching her, the look in Gavriel's eyes were intense. There were surges of emotions in them as he observed her every move, every wave of magic that she was summoning, and the measure of power that she now command.

Then she suddenly glowed with an extra brilliant amber blaze that rivalled even the sun's magnificence, right where she stood. In the very next second, there was a loud cracking sound from the crystal before it exploded into a shower of dark glitters. Gavriel was still a little bit unused seeing Evie being so powerful, extremely capable, and… exceptionally confident. All of them were a little surprised how the dark glitters from the crystal had not flown everywhere but had only remained within a two-feet radius from where Levy was. It was as though the princess had formed a barrier around to prevent the dark crystal's fragments from flying off as shards that might harm others around.

The way she stood there with her hands stretched forward, in Gavriel's eyes, he saw a queen. A powerful, and formidable queen. And a faint smile curved on his lips. He was proud of her. So proud of her that he could not explain in words on how he felt. She had grown up so much since they had gotten separated. Her growth was so great that she even looked like she had become someone who is unreachable.

Gavriel was genuinely happy for her. She is truly a queen now. He could imagine her sitting there on her throne while he was still down below, looking up at her in awe. The throne next to her was still empty and he was going to sit there beside her very soon. He was going to be king. He will be her only king and she, his queen.

It was amazing how she had arrived there first before him. He remembered he once decided to become king to make her queen. But this amazing woman actually arrived at their destination first.

As he kept his eyes riveted on her, there was only one thing in Gavriel's mind. He needed to reach the pinnacle as well and sit on that throne which was right next to hers.

'Wait for me my queen, I'll get there very soon.' He declared within himself as his eyes gleamed with so much intensity. He would live up to that expectation and not disappoint her.

…

The moment Levy was finally freed, he teared up upon hearing that their prince finally remembers them. The drama king even ran over and hugged Gavriel, evoking a round of laughter among the men. Their very own comic relief was back, hearty and hale.

After that, he went on over to offer a thank you to Evie for saving him.

"Thank you for saving me, princess!" he exclaimed sincerely, and Evie fondly patted his head while he bent over and held Evie's hand.

While Levy was being dramatic again, Luc, who was standing right next to the quiet Leon creased his brows. Then he gently bumped his elbow on Leon to catch his attention.

"You do realise that Zanya keeps glancing over at you, right? She looks kind of concerned. I know you can feel her gaze, so don't tell me you can't." Luc said. He had been bothered for quite a while now because Leon was acting as though he did not notice Zanya's gaze at all.

He even noticed that Leon was trying to avoid looking at Zanya at all. It was as if it would kill him the moment that he looked over at her. And that was not all. It was obvious that Leon was not fine in the least. He was stiff and sweating all this while and looked as though he was suffering.

When Leon still remained silent and unmoving, Luc sighed out in exasperation.. "This is not like you at all, Leon. Did you really end up falling in love with her after drinking her blood? Is that why you're like this now?"