The next day.


    Menedelia and Reba were eating breakfast on the table.


    ??


    "I''ll go to the town after lunch to buy some sugar and salt. Do you want anything? I can buy it for you," Menedelia offered.


    "Apples and oranges, Granny! And please don''t forget my milk!" Reba said.


    Menedelia nods her head. "Okay, I''ll buy them for you."


    "It would have been better if you can bring me to the town once in a while. It''s getting boring here!" Reba whined with a pout.


    Menedelia sighed heavily. "Don''t worry, one of these days... I''ll take you out to see the world. I must remind you, don''t ever leave this ce because the enemy is lurking everywhere, trying to find us, waiting for the right time to strike. Don''t put your unborn babies in danger, okay?" she reminded her.


    "Got it, Granny!" Reba replied.


    Menedelia spoke again, "If somethinges up and our fortress is prated by powerful enemies, don''t hesitate to activate the spell that I taught youst week!"


    "Copy, Granny!" Reba responded and yawned. "Dang! I''m feeling sleepy again!" she said in dismay.


    Menedelia smiled. "Go outside, try walking around the house, and do some stretching. It''s not good to keep sleeping while you''re pregnant," she reprimanded her.


    "I know," Reba muttered to herself.


    A few minutester, the two women finished eating breakfast.


    Reba washed the dirty dishes in the sink while Menedelia exited the house to attend to her nts.


    After she finished her chores in the kitchen, Reba exited the house and strolled in the front yard, admiring the Dandelion flowers in full bloom.


    She strolled around the house and saw Granny harvesting leafy green vegetables from the garden.


    Menedelia looked at her. "Let''s have a chicken soup for lunch," she said and handed the green leafy vegetables to the pregnant woman.


    Reba epted the vegetable, went back to the house, and put Granny''s fresh harvest in the stic basin.


    A few minutester, she''s already back in the vegetable garden.


    Menedelia nced at her. "Don''t be tempted to remove the onyx ring from its box, or else this ce will be swarmed by vampires! You can watch it as long as you want, but don''t ever remove the ring from its box! Do you understand, child?"


    Reba released a deep sigh. "Granny, you keep repeating the same reminders every time you go out! My ear is already bleeding!" she protested.


    Menedelia breathed deeply. "I have to keep reminding you, ''coz I''m afraid that you might forget them," she said in a tired voice. She wanted to bring her charge with her to the capital, but the moment Rebaid eyes on Zero, she will attempt to kill him. Whatever business dealings she had with Zero, she must keep it a secret from Reba.


    Reba saw the weariness shing on Granny''s face. The old woman has been a good benefactor to her. The one who never gets tired of providing her food every day. She took a deep breath. "Don''t worry, Granny. I will follow your reminders," she assured her.


    "Good! Did you know that every time I leave this forest, my mind never stops thinking of you and your twins?" Menedelia said.


    "I know, Granny," Reba responded. Sometimes she thinks that she''s already bing a burden to the old woman. Maybe, she should leave and go back to Graven or go back to her husband?


    Which is which?


    But she can''t bear to leave Granny alone in this forest. Her conscience can''t allow her to execute her heartless decision. They only have each other, they should be responsible for each other''s well-being!


    She went to the old woman''s side. "Granny, if one day, you''re getting tired of feeding me. Let''s go to Graven, he will never say no to us if I will ask his help," she suggested.


    Menedelia shook her head, not liking where their conversation is heading. "Don''t worry, child. I''m more than capable of feeding you and the twins inside your tummy. If one day and things turned to worst, Graven will be ourst resort," she finally said.


    Reba nods her head. "Okay. I''ll go now to the kitchen and start preparing our lunch," she said and turned around, heading back to the house. The time is still early, she went to her room and took a short nap.


    Two hourster.


    Reba woke up to the delicious aroma of chicken soup filling the air. Dang! She had fallen asleep and Granny was the one cooking their food for lunch. She got up from the bed and went to the kitchen.


    Menedelia looked at her. "Take your seat. Eat while the soup is still hot."


    "Thanks, Granny. Why you didn''t wake me up? I should be the one preparing our dinner," Reba said with a sigh.


    "Just eat. I''ll go out soon!" Menedelia silenced her.


    Reba lowered herself on the chair and began eating her meal.


    A few minutester, Menedelia finished eating. She rose to her feet. "I''ll go now. Take care of yourself and don''t leave the forest!" she reminded her.


    "Yes, Granny! Take care of yourself," she replied. She continues eating the delicious chicken soup mixed with green leafy vegetables and a good amount of ginger.


    Menedelia went back to her room to get something. After getting what she wants, she disappeared from the room.


    A momentter, she appeared at the top of the hill overlooking the calm ocean. The panoramic ce was located a few kilometers away from the forest.


    Zero was already there, staring quietly at the ocean.


    She received his signal a while ago. She went to his side. "Everyone in the capital is okay?" she asked.


    Zero looked at her. "Yep. Everyone is okay. I''m not sure how long?" he said in a worried voice.


    "Alright, take me to the capital now. Lead the way because I have no idea where is Nini''s family residing in the capital," Menedelia spoke.


    "Okay, let''s go!" Zero replied and waved his hand in the air.


    They disappeared from the hill.


    A momentter, they appeared inside the living room of Nini''s residence.


    "We''re here!" Zero announced their arrival inside the manor.


    Menedelia roamed her eyes around the area. "Oh my, this house is huge!" she gushes.


    "Granny, have a seat..." Zero pointed to thefortable couch.


    Menedelia walked towards the sofa and made herselffortable.


    "Please, stay here for a moment. I''ll inform Nini''s father of our arrival," Zero said. He climbed the staircase and disappeared on the second floor.


    Menedelia inspected the furniture and antiques scattered around the living room. They''re valuable and worth a lot. The whole n is loaded! Nice! She found herself a cash cow. As long they can provide her money to exchange for her services, she will make herself useful to them!


    Menedelia didn''t wait longer... she saw Niniing down the stairs, bouncing like a ray of sunshine. The girl wore a bright smile on her face, rushing to her side. "Granny! How are you? Nice seeing you again!" she said in a merry voice.


    Menedelia smiled. Nini is a free-spirited girl, she''s enjoying her freedom after being imprisoned for a long time! Such a pure heart. A delight to watch. "I''m fine, dear. How''s your condition here? Are they treating you right?" she asked.


    "Yes! My family doted on me. I have a good time bonding with my mother and sister the most!" Nini squealed in happiness.


    Menedelia smiled. "I''m happy for you, dear. You deserved the happiness that you are enjoying with your family right now."


    "Thank you, Granny. How''s life back there in the forest?" Nini asked.


    "Everything is fine. Reba and I are living a peaceful life there," Menedelia answered.


    "Nice to know that! You will meet my parents soon! You will like them for sure. They''re good people!" Nini said, feeling proud of her family.


    Menedelia smiled. "I would love to meet your parents!" she replied.


    "Ah, wait here... I''ll go to the kitchen to inform the maid to prepare you a delicious snack!" Nini said and rose to her feet. She walked towards the location of the kitchen.


    That was also the time Nini''s parentse down the stairs together with Zero.


    Menedelia stared at the woman. She looks familiar! She recognized her right away.


    Oh my! She never aged at all! She''s beautiful as always!


    Menedelia shakes her head. She''s in the present times now. She should act her age!


    The trio took their seats on the sofa facing the visitor.


    Zero introduced them to each other. "Granny, I''m proud to present to you Nini''s Parents! This is Lord Tony and his wife, Lady Evelyn."


    Menedelia bowed her head at the couple. "It''s my pleasure meeting you... My Lord, My Lady!" she said in a pleasant voice.


    The two women looked at each other for a few seconds.


    Lady Evelyn''s face registered nothing. She didn''t recognize the old woman in front of her.


    Menedelia sighed inwardly. ''Ah, she doesn''t recognize me anymore!'' Her face is not what it used to be, she was beautiful before, but a powerful enemy cursed her and turned her into this ugly and wrinkled old woman. She was used to seeing her old image in the mirror every day that she started to feel and act like an old woman for a long time. She had already forgotten her beautiful face! And what her life used to be before the unfortunate things happened.


    She blocked the past from messing up with her mind. She must focus on the present times. Today is not the right time to go back to memoryne.


    Tony cleared his throat. "Hmm, Granny... we are thankful that youe to visit us here today."


    Menedelia blinked her eyes and came in contact with Tony''s handsome face. She smiled a bit. "It''s my honor to serve the Lord and the Lady of the house! How can I be of service to you, My Lord?" she said and bowed her head again out of respect.


    "We invited you here because of the tragic vision that you have seen in our daughter''s future. Can you please enlighten us on what exactly the scene you see in her future?" Tony went straight to the point.