"how are you princess nia?" faes asked patting nia's back while smiling at her mother's reaction. 'cant hide from a mother' faes sighed internally clearly knowing that her mother recognized her despite the mask.
"now that you are here I'm feeling better" nia replied smiling tightening her hold on faes. nia felt that if she let go of faes the girl would disappear.
"I'm not going anywhere you can let go of me princess nia" faes chocked at nia's tight hold. only after nia released faes did faes gasped "you have more strength despite being a mage, sister nia" sky commented amused watching faes taking deep breaths.
"i do, you know even my big brother usually gets beaten up after pissing me off despite him being a higher cultivation than me" nia replied proudly
"you have a big brother?" sky asked curiously. she knew nia was faes sister and there was indeed a big brother but she wanted to tease nia "do you prank him like how i do to my sister?" sky asked her eyes sparkling
"i dont prank him" nia pouted "he is not someone you can easily prank and get away with easily, and even then we both are too busy with our own work to play pranks"
"why dont you allow mani to prank them?" sky asked excitedly. while faes was a princess in this kingdom she didnt have much to do. and faes wasn't able to play with her as often after her work increased even their companions in mystic fog castle were boring. sky wanted a new prey for her games!
"you want to prank brother alex?" nia was surprised but when she thought about it the plan seemed exciting somehow. "why not? if he wants to hurt you i would just beat him up"
following this nia took sky to the nearby tea table discussing their plans to prank prince alexander forgetting about faes and queen alicia completely.
"lets talk somewhere else?" faes suggested to her mother noticing how her eyes were moist.
alicia nodded unable to speak and led faes to a tea room nearby.
"you saved nia?" alicia asked unsure about how to react. faes was unable to cultivate but king aiden had told them that she had powers. further which faes became the princess of kingdom reptiliance and according to king augustus she even recently became commander shiva's heir. if she was unable to cultivate then how could she have all those accomplishments?
also, was the girl in front of her the same daughter she gave birth to?
"yes royal mother" faes spoke smiling completely understanding her mother's doubts but the problem was neither knowing how to react anymore. following which both mother and daughter sat there awkwardly until faes sighed
"royal mother just ask the questions you want to, i would do my best to answer"
"do you really have powers? can cultivate?" alicia asked softly to which faes finally relaxed leaning back on the sofa she was sitting on.
"yes, royal father knows about a few of them" it was true, her father knew about her ability to teleport and about her sword skills and blood magic if she was correct.
"this- what is your cultivation currently?" alicia was still surprised even after knowing that her daughter had powers, faes accepting it herself was a proof on its own.
"its better if you don't know about that yet." faes could have told her mother about her cultivation but then who would believe her that she was vital strengthening stage cultivator? and that too when she wasn't even able to cultivate few years ago!
"are you alright?" alicia asked finally taking faes hand
"why did you run away? did we not love you enough for you to tell us about your problems and feelings?"
hearing her mother faes was speechless for a while. the one who ran away was actually her predecessor not her but she couldn't tell alicia that the real faes was dead could she?
"i apologize royal mother, i acted rashly and worried you but that only helped me and now everything is better isn't it?"
"don't leave like that again!" alicia finally began crying making faes hug her patting her back. when alicia calmed down faes wiped the remaining tears from alicia's face using a handkerchief "i promise not to run away like that again" faes promised to her mother.
"also, nia said that commander shiva's disciples were aster and mani?" alicia was confused. did nia not recognize her own sister?
"that she didn't recognize me yet, hence i decided to stay as aster. princess nia's face would be worth looking at when she finds out the truth no?" faes grinned
"you-!" alicia was speechless but only shook her head not bothering about this anymore. "you have to come back home with us" alicia spoke seriously but faes merely shook her head
"i have some work to do here in city eduki after which i have a debut party as commander shiva's heir too in royal capital vietra. but i assure you royal mother that i would visit once i am free" faes cant go back yet. she knew alison was going to find her again and he couldn't know that she was princess faes of altai yet, also she still have to make few things for nature's blessing and the cult along with sky;
"if that is the case then take care of yourself and contact me once in a while. you don't know how worried i was for you. and if you need any help just tell me" alicia smiled knowing faes wasn't the same as she once was. the previous faes she knew was always smiling, naive and innocent but the current faes she met was mature understanding and mysterious
"sure royal mother!" faes nodded obediantly. after which they talked about a few things before joining nia and sky who were done planning to prank prince alexander. when faes was thinking about leaving a maid arrived
"his royal highness crown prince alison cullen from devil kingdom is here to meet you your highness" the maid informed making sky giggle at faes blank expression.
"what's wrong?" alicia asked faes finding her actions weird
"nothing" faes shook her head but she sighed internally. 'he is clearly here to meet her and not nia'
as alison arrived in the tea room they were waiting in he greeted queen alicia and princess nia before taking a seat.
"are you feeling well your highness princess nia?" alison asked without much of an emotion just because he didn't wanted faes to think he was a bad guy.
but his intention was only seen through faes while others were slightly surprised and shocked. nia who knew alison was cold and ruthless devil prince was not expecting him to be concerned about her. along with alison's indifferent yet handsome face nia couldn't help but blush.
"i am better thank you for your concern your highness prince alison" nia replied turning redder making faes bewildered.
"that's a relief to know, if you don't mind i only came here to pick someone up" alison turned to faes as he spoke smiling when he noticed that faes was not surprised.
"you know lady aster?" now nia was alerted stunned. she barely knew the girl but she seem to be acquainted with the devil prince and they seem to have a better relationship.
even alicia was surprised, but her surprise was more of a concerned one. she was not sure how faes came in contact of the devil prince but with how close the two seem; Alicia wont be surprised if alison killed faes once he got bored.