Chapter 347 - Attention

At ten o'clock Oziyat knocked on Chris's door. Chris was examining the sword at that moment and hearing the knock she hastily put it in her bag before opening the door.

"Good eveni --" Oziyat stopped short as Chris stepped out.

"Good evening," Chris replied as she locked the door behind her. She didn't notice Oziyat's gaze on her and as she looked back at him, Oziyat cleared his throat.

"You look very elegant Christina," Oziyat smiled.

"Thanks. You are looking great too."

Oziyat was wearing long red and golden robes which matched his golden blond hair perfectly.

"Today you are officially invited to the Royal wing," Oziyat informed as he led Chris through the guard filled hallways.

Chris was about to say something when she noticed as they walked further the guards who fell under her gaze stopped and bowed at her. Chris automatically gave a small bow back.

"They are --? Why are they bowing?" Chris asked as they turned to a less crowded hallway.

"Well, now, you are the great protector, aren't you?" Oziyat's amused look was back.

"I would have an answer for that if I knew what this protector business is," Chris said feeling annoyed. She knew according to the legend of Hogwarts, she was the protector of Hogwarts but she didn't understand what these vampires were going on about.

"Have patience. All will be revealed at the feast. You will understand everything then," Oziyat said giving a mysterious smile.

"Are you not allowed to talk or you just like to be extra dramatic?"

"Well, I do like a little bit of drama, who doesn't?" Oziyat gave a bright smile and Chris rolled her eyes smiling a little bit.

"Probably. Reminds me of Dumbledore. He used to be like this. He loved dramatic stuff. He used to casually throw big news in between his speeches and watched the student's reactions. He --" Chris abruptly stopped. The smile vanished from her face.

"You okay, Christina?" Oziyat frowned.

Chris met his concerned eyes and shook her head.

"I am fine."

For the next few minutes, they walked in silence. Chris realized something had shifted in Oziyat's attitude towards her. Something was different now.

"Dumbledore was Hogwarts headmaster, right?" Oziyat said after a moment.

"Yeah," Chris replied shortly.

"I met him once. He was a really powerful wizard, wasn't he? I think Sister Rosaline knew him."

"Really?" Chris asked surprised.

"Yes, but it was a long time ago," Oziyat said and Chris gave a small nod.

Another few minutes of silence.

After a while, as they enter the Royal wing Oziyat cleared his throat and glanced at Chris sideways.

"Christina, there is something I need to talk to you about," Oziyat muttered and Chris looked at him curiously. He looked uneasy all of a sudden and glanced around to make sure no one was listening. His eyes stopped at the far corner and he frowned.

"Oziyat, what --?"

But before Chris could finish Oziyat shook his head. "You know what we will talk, later."

Chris wanted to ask more but kept her mouth shut as the number of the guards increased around the hallways. She understood Oziyat didn't want to talk in front of others.

After walking a little more they stopped in front of a double door and two guards held it open for them to pass. Oziyat gestured her go first and Chris stepped inside.

It was a fully decorated huge ballroom. Purple and blue silk was dr.a.p.ed around the room, a beautiful glass chandelier gleamed above, and just below it a long table full of food and drinks. Almost every seat at the table was occupied by extravagantly dressed vampires. Oziyat lead Chris towards the head of the table where the Queen sat. On her immediate right was Rosaline and beside her was Volker.

"Good evening, Lady Christina," the Queen smiled as Chris approached her. Chris had never seen Queen Vasilisa wearing such a jewel-encrusted gown. She was wearing a white dress with pearls and diamonds encrusted on it, which shinned brighter in the light. "And congratulations on winning. Please have a seat." Vasilisa waved towards the two seats on her immediate left, which were empty. Oziyat pulled the first chair for Chris and Chris looked at him surprised. Oziyat smiled and indicated her to sit down.

"Thank you, Queen Vasilisa," Chris sat down feeling the gaze of everyone at the table.

Oziyat sat down the chair beside Chris and Rosaline suddenly stood up.

"Lady Christina," Rosaline gave a respectful nod towards Chris. It was very weird for Chris to see, the woman she was terrified of just a few nights ago, standing up to show her respect. Rosaline still looked gorgeous and dangerous in an elegant high collar black flowy silky gown and stones crusted cape, but Chris felt there wasn't any spite in her voice as she said Chris's name. Also, she called her "Lady Christina" not "Witch".

"Good evening, Princess," Chris nodded back feeling a lot comfortable under her gaze.

As Rosaline sat back, Volker snorted loudly and Chris noticed his face was red with anger. Vasilisa threw a sharp look towards Volker before turning back to Chris.

"Before we began the feast, let me introduce you to the rest of my family, Lady Christina," Vasilisa smiled and gestured towards the other seated members at the table. She listed everyone name by name, that was quite a big family with Vasilisa's kids and brothers and sisters. Prince Kyros, Prince Dedric, Prince Orion, Princess Sylvia, Princess Serena, Bianca, Mia, Joyel, Prince Atlas, Kale, Xander, and some more. Almost every one of them looked at Chris with respect and smiled. Chris smiled and nodded back.

After introducing them Vasilisa proposed a toast.

"This feast is to celebrate our new guest and the one who had bested our best warrior and won our trust, Lady Christina."

Vasilisa held her wine-filled goblet high with a smile and everyone raised their goblets to join her except Volker. Volker glared at Chris and drowned his wine at once, then ordered a servant to fill his goblet. Vasilisa glanced at her elder son with disappointment and the others ignored him. Chris decided to ignore him too and focused on the Queen as she announced to start the feast.

Servants started serving food and wine and Chris was just about to talk to Vasilisa when a vampire beside Oziyat pipped up.

"Wow, you look amazing, Lady Christina," she gave a huge smile. "Beautiful and Powerful. I am sure you must be the best in the wizarding world, blessed with all."

"Er . . . thank you," Chris replied startled. "But there are lots of powerful wizards and witches in the wizarding world."

The vampire looked young, probably the same age as Oziyat. Her pale face was curtained with shoulder-length metallic red curls. She wore a sparkling glittery pink gown with a long cape on the back along with a big necklace and earrings. She was the most extravagantly dressed woman there. Chris remembered the Queen introduced her as Princess Sylvia and also she was in the arena yesterday with the Queen.

"Oh, you are humble too?" Princess Sylvia giggled. "You don't need to be. The fight was legendary. If I was the one fighting, I would have bragged about my victory for all my life."

"And that is why you should not be allowed to fight," Oziyat said teasingly. "Also because - you know - it needs skills to win."

Sylvia rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly. "Don't get all c.o.c.ky just because you got to know our interesting guest before me." Sylvia turned to Chris. "You know I was really curious to meet you but things got in the way. But no more. You have to spend time with me and I want to know everything about you. Oh, and please tell you how you summoned the Protector sword in the fight? Is there a summoning spell or something?"

"Er -- what?"

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To be continued. . .