"I’m sorry but I can’t do that Your Majesty," Lord Newton said after a while of silence. "Weren’t you the one who prohibited the use if this inner power claiming it’s dark magic?"

Griffin sighed for the nth time. "I’m sorry I did that without actually knowing I would need it one day. But I’m still the king, so... I lift the ban on you. It’s your inner power Newton, and I’m giving you the chance to exercise it."

"But why would I impersonate His Majesty? That will be courting death!" Newton couldn’t take the risk. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I have my reasons Lord Newton. And don’t worry about your safety, you have my protection."

"I want to know those reasons. Only then will I accept," Lord Newton said, firm in his decision. Impersonating a person was no easy task. It could even make you develop the other person’s mannerisms and character. And taking into account that Griffin was driven crazy by a woman, Lord Newton got even more scared. And what was he to get in return for doing all this?

"It’s simply because I don’t trust that woman. My gut feeling is telling me she’s up to something, and it means no good to me," Griffin said narrowing his eyes at the thought. She thought he’d fall easily for her tricks? He was the Almighty king Griffin, always a step ahead of everyone else.

"That woman again?" Lord Newton asked literally rolling his eyes at the king. He was so daring!

"Trust my instincts when i say she’s up to something Newton. Your hardworking will be rewarded handsomely." Newton just stared at him with that ’explain further’ look on his face.

Sigh. "I’ll make you a general of one of the leading battalions in the upcoming war and you’ll get a pay of a thousand gold coins, a triple increase from your current three hundred."

"That sounds like a good plan!" Newton exclaimed. He wanted to so badly join the upcoming war but his current position wouldn’t let him. Oh how he missed to chop off heads! No, not the money! He didn’t want the money but the title and honor of being a general. It had been his dream since he was a lad. Having a whole battalion under his command just made him want to do the job even more. But wait...

"And where will His Majesty be residing as I assume his form?" This was a matter he hadn’t taken into consideration.

"I’ll head to the royal army’s camp and organize the war there. You’ll see to it that all guests have left except that woman. Don’t worry, I won’t show my face. We’ll be communicating via the general of the Royal Army or some trusted messenger. Isadora will be joining me soon so you know what you have to do. To the palace residents, I’ll still be here." Lord Newton nodded.

"Sounds like a good plan. I’m also eager to meet this woman who makes His Majesty shy away from his palace," Lord Newton said, a playful smirk printed on his face.

"You better be cautious around her. You don’t know what she can do," Griffin said. Was that supposed to be a warning? Not to Lord Newton.

"You know better than anyone else that I’m immune to women, Your Majesty," he said as if to remind Griffin he was emotionless, callous and as cold as a stone.

"I count on you then," Griffin said placing his hand on Newton’s shoulder, something that he found odd. "I’ll leave at night. Be there before I do so." He added.

"Good luck Lord Newton," he added as if he was sending him to a death mission before he walked out of the garden. Raking his fingers through his hair as he walked through the hallways, Griffin couldn’t help but sigh. He knew he had made the right decision. It wasn’t just a coincidence? How could a woman, a stranger at that, affect him that much? There was more to her that could meet the eye and that was what he ought to find out.

He made his way to his room and threw the fur coat across that it landed effortlessly on the hanger, and with just a snap of his finger, the fire lighted low on the hearth. He let his body lie on the cozy mattress and just lay there for the next few minutes, staring blankly at the ceiling. Why couldn’t she just leave his mind?

"I’ll definitely catch your real identity witch! You’ll pay for this!" He said under clenched fists. He was not a fool to underestimate the strength of his enemy. And of course not blind or naive as to not notice she was not her real self. It was just an illusion she created for others to see, but behind that illusion was the real witch. What was it that she wanted from him?

Was she a spy, probably sent by Valoria to watch his every move? No, that couldn’t be! It would cost a fortune for Valoria to hire any Crescian, and Crescaians were loyal to their kingdom. But again, she was not Crescian! Did Tasians have super natural powers? Absolutely not! Not Crescian, a super natural Tasia, big lie! Not a Valorian spy! Hell what was she then? Wait.. A witch!

Could that be it, the answer he was looking for? Only the witches could do this. So the witches wanted to play games with him? Clever bastards! They knew that he’d eventually choose them as his main ally so they went a step further as to... How could he have failed to notice this?

But still, he didn’t have proof that she was a witch. Maybe he should let Newton investigate this as well. He would update him about it later, but for now, he needed to take a nap. Some sleep would do. Just when he had closed his eyes, the annoying knock came. Damn it! He cursed before calling whoever it was to come in.

A Knight marched in the room and bowed before Griffin who dismissed the formalities with a wave of his hand.

"Report!" He demanded instead.

"Zed is here to see Your Majesty."