A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
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Watts's Xirquit's POV
"I don't... I don't have magic... I'm useless. I don't want to live anymore. I don't want to live anymore!"
I never thought it would be possible. I never thought there would be a miracle as blissful as this. I never thought I would be heard, and I never thought time will rewind to this moment. I only asked for a minute. Just for a minute...
My muse.
I pulled her to my chest. I feel bad, but I couldn't help but wet her shoulders with my grateful tears. If only I could lock her in my arms for the rest of our lives... The presence of death is still lingering at the corners of this Hall.
"E-Excuse me? W-Who...?"
Could this only be a dream? A fantasy I made up in my mind had I did this and not that? It felt surreal. I'm afraid to let go. I'm scared to let go.
"I'm sorry for making you wait this long, Princess. I'm so proud of you for making it to this time."
Would you believe me if I were to tell you that you occupied most of my thoughts throughout that year?
"A-Again?"
I searched for her hands and brought them to my mask. My tears burst when I smiled on her.
"I promised you, didn't I? That when I return, you'll see me for what I am. That when I return, I'd be a better man for you. That when I return, we will run away from here." Her eyes widened.
"We have a place to runaway to now, Elyzena. I built us a home." I added.
My words returned the stars in her now-lifeless eyes. I dropped her hand, bringing my cheap disguise off.
I smiled.
"A-Ahh... M-My... Lord? Lord... Watts?"
I snake my arms around her thin waist when the shock made her lose the strength of her knees. I kissed the tears that trail down her cheeks. They were warm unlike before. I have revived her back to life.
"Yes. Yes, I am. I am Lord Watts."
I couldn't explain the emotions her eyes unveiled before mine. She bawled her eyes out while her trembling hands are holding my mask. I chuckled and took my handkerchief out to wipe her tears.
"Here, blow. You're such a precious baby." I placed the handkerchief on her nose and she obediently blew the sticky waters stuck in her red nose.
I was astounded when she jumped to hug me after.
"I---I missed you! Very much!" she cried out, face buried against my chest. I think she's embarrassed to say it while into my eyes.
That's why I can't help but smile as soft and sincere as I can while caressing her head.
"I know. I missed you as much as you missed me too, Princess." You have no idea how much I waited for this moment. I'm so happy.
"No! I missed you more than you missed me! No!"
Oh my god, she's so cute.
I didn't want to let go from our embrace but we have to part. She covered her face with her hands the moment I let her go, but there were gaps between her fingers. She scanned me from my head down to my toes, then to my head again. I was puzzled when she suddenly ran to King Liorei and hid behind him.
Did she...not like my change? It's not enough?
"Princess, does my change not suit your taste?"
Did I miss any of her preferences? Perhaps I overdid it. I wanted to look as handsome and as cool as King Liorei, that's why I intend to popularize metal vests and make it one of my signature wardrobe look. Maybe my fashion sense is mid. Does she prefer men in Princes outfit?
My shoulders dropped a bit.
I heard her mumble something to King Liorei's ears.
"She said you look good. She feels shy to stand beside you because you look very handsome."
W-What!
My head suddenly felt hot. Not just my face, but my head. I could even imagine it steaming because of the praise I got from her, though relied to me by King Liorei. Ah, my face must be so red right now! That's not very cool!
"T-Thank... Thank you! Y-You too. You're very p-pretty!" I looked away, unexplainably flustered. I feel like throwing up. My stomach is being so... It's very weird. I like the feeling, though. But it's making me so uncomfortable!
"Omo, you two are so cute! You're making this big sister envious for being single~" Princess Lorreign chimed in with her hands on her face.
She hops to my side to check me out.
"Hmm, how did you do it? And who's that? We have two Wattsy!?" she gasped, "Is that one an imposter!?"
I composed myself and shook my head.
"I'd say he's my vessel. Only King Liorei knew my secret. I'll tell the same thing to Moon later. But since you're very beautiful today, you can ask King Liorei about it later, Princess."
She slapped my arm, "Aww, you! Stop! Moon might feel jealous!"
"Oh, I don't think she will. You're a big sister to me."
She slapped my arm again and squirmed while suppressing her squeals. I excused myself to proceed lightly to Moon who's still hiding beside King Liorei.
"Moon, your boyfriend is here," he teased.
"D-Daddy Liorei! That can't be... We're only friends!"
Instead of Cupid shooting my heart with his arrow, I feel like I've been shot by a bullet by a meanie Cupid embodied by Maxigaufeas himself. It was enough to bring me to my knee, clutching my pained heart.
"P-Princess... A-Are you rejecting me in advance before I could even court you?" I feel defeated.
"Pfft!"
Pfft? King Liorei, you find this funny!?
"What young love," he let out a sharp breath before stepping aside, revealing the cowering Moon.
"D-Daddy Liorei... Don't leave me..." Moon tearfully sniffed.
"You'll be alright, Moon. He's still our Watts, but the cool Watts. Okay? Fighting!" He cheered with a wink and thumbs up. Then, he escorted Princess Lorreign back to their table, leaving me with Moon, still on one knee.
"I-I'm so scared. Please g-get up, My Lord. Your knee will h-hurt!"
What makes her so scared? I should do something to make her feel comfortable with me again.
So, I lowered my head before her. Something I've never done before, something a Xirquit will never do to anyone. I placed my left hand on my right chest, while the other stretches to seek for her acceptance.
"Please honor me with a dance, Princess Holy Azarese Elyzena Dragunovv-Warlock," I asked, calling her by the name that is rightfully hers.
"Who are you calling by that name!?" Of course, there will always be someone to react.
But I have King Liorei behind me.
"Shut the fuck up. If any of you ruin their moment, I swear to my name, I'll do something that will haunt you and this world for eternity." T-That's too much...
Still, thank you, Your Majesty.
I lift my head to see her conflicted beautiful face.
"Your Imperial Highness?"
"Y-Yes? Oh, okay..." She accepted my hand. She's shaking. Why so? Am I coming on too strong?
I get up. The path to the aisle transformed into a spacious dance floor. The pianist played the piece I composed, accompanied by a violinist. We paid our respects to each other before coming together to dance. I placed her hand on my should, while I hold the other.
"Please forgive me for holding you, Princess," I said before placing my hand around her waist to pull her close to me.
The surprise made her pull her breath. However, as we sway along the sweet music, she kept her head low, avoiding eye contact.
"Princess, please look at me. Otherwise, I will feel bad for showing myself to you looking like this."
Her grip on my shoulder tightened.
"I-I'm sorry, but I can't. You're too... Way too..."
I lowered my head. She became stiff when the skin of our cheeks rubbed together. I was intoxicated by the scent of her flower ears, a part she's born with. They're not exactly flowers, but petals of flowers surrounding her real ears. The petals are attached to her head and are painful if pulled. She's a body of mystery I'd like to unravel if she will let me to.
"I'm way too what?" I asked lowly to her ear. She flinched and slightly pulled her head away.
"M-My Lord... You're too close..."
I smiled.
Fine, I won't tease her further. Her face is so red already like she's having a fever. But then, what should I do to make her feel comfortable with me? I should've taken a course about women. I will, this academic year.
"What do you think about going to school, Princess?" Is my bait, and I didn't expect it to be so effective.
"The Academia!?"
Finally, she met my gaze. She felt awkward, yet she didn't avoid eye contact.
"Yes, the Academia. It's a very wonderful place. It's also one of the reasons why I've been busy, since I'm a graduating student this upcoming academic year. And guess what?"
Her eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Yes, what!?"
I chuckled. Oh, I badly want to squeeze and snuggle those cheeks of hers.
We ended our dance first with respects. I called for Wattroid, my vessel or who used to be my 'outer layer', to bring it to me.
"Oh, it's Lord Watts," Moon gasped once Wattroid is in front of us.
"I am Lord Watts. This is Wattroid. It's a lame name, but that's his name. I'm Lord Watts." This is so silly. Why do I feel jealous over the bot I created? Anyway...
After taking what I entrusted to him, I gave him a nod to get the thing done outside. He bowed and left to do it.
"Where is he going?" Moon wondered. I blocked her sight of him.
"You will find out later, Princess." I took her hand and placed the deep purple envelope made of high-quality material on her palm. The Academia's logo is stamped on it as a seal, and another on its back but bigger.
Her wide eyes asked me if I'm playing pranks on her the moment she recognized the logo stamped on it. There's only one way for her to know if I am or not.
"Go on, open it. You may read it loud and clear if that will convince you. Or shall I do the honor?"
She was so speechless that I had no choice but to do it.
I carefully opened the envelope for I know that she will treasure it later on, and opened the paper I got inside that is folded into two. The words were written in golden ink with the Academia's seal in the top right and the Headmaster's in the top left.
"To Her Imperial Highness the Princess, Holy Azarese Elyzena Dragunovv-Warlock,
It is with great pleasure to inform you that you have been selected for admission to the world's first educational institute, the Academia, for the upcoming academic year...
---Moreover, I am thrilled to announce you that you've been chosen as one of His Lordship Watts Xirquit's scholarship beneficiaries, in recognition of your extraordinary curiosity and talent.
We are excited about the remarkable contributions you will make to our university community. Congratulations once again on your well-deserved achievements, and we eagerly anticipate your arrival at The Academia.
Signed by the Headmaster, Jeth Draven---"
I didn't get to finish saying the Headmaster's name when Moon surprised me with a big hug.
"This... This is the best gift ever! Thank you so much!"
After collecting myself, I returned the same hug to her.
"You're wrong, Princess. You are the bestest gift this undeserving world received. You're very welcome."
She let go from the hug. I gave her the letter and she danced around with her hand up in the air.
"I'm going to the Academia! My Lord, the Academia!"
As much as I am happy, I am also heartbroken about her excitement to see the Academia. She have every right to enter that place. She's a Princess. The Academia requires strict requirement for one to be admitted, but given her intelligence and strength, she would successfully get one. Yet upon unfair circumstances, the Imperial Family refused to offer her the luxury of feeding her curiosities about our world. It boils my blood every time, but I'm glad I secured her a slot. I had to pull strings to be able to do that, but it's all worth it. She's so happy.
"I'm going to school... Finally..."
She hugged her precious admission letter. I pulled her for a hug and give her gentle pats on the back, all while glaring at the Imperial Family who had lots to say about this but can't dare to open their mouths because King Liorei is there.
"Thank you, My Lord. Thank you so much. It's... It's a dream come true for me. Really... Thank you very much."
I kissed her head.
"Don't cry so much yet, there's more. Since it's your 19th birthday, I prepared 19 gifts for you. The admission letter is the first one, so there's 18 more."
"W-Wha---!? But the letter is---" I squeezed her tight to cut her off from what she's going to say.
"Starting today, I don't want to hear you think so small of yourself. You deserve everything in this world, so I'd do anything in my power to give them to you. Even the things that were stolen from you, if you'd wish to get them back, I will help you get them back. What's yours is yours. No plated gold can replace you," I told her while looking straight into Sun's eyes. I made it loud and clear, so she will know that I am pertaining to her. If I'm fortunate enough, then it might stir the minds of her puppets and intrigue them.
Until my eyes landed on the worst parents I've ever seen and met.
"But I hope you will throw them away in the end. What they did to you is unforgivable, after all. They're no family of yours."
Especially you, LIFE Dragunovv. What kind of father kills his own child? Oh, I remembered, it's not something new. He had a history of killing his daughter-in-law before, what's more his daughter? No wonder, Prince Astaroth never came back since he left with his valuable family. He chose them than these rotten people. They're not as perfect as they seem.
"Celia," I called as I loosen my embrace on Moon---no, I mean Princess Azarese Elyzena.
"Please put the blindfold I gave you earlier on Princess Elyzena and carefully escort her outside for the show. I will follow you later," I instructed. Celia bowed and tied the blindfold around the Princess.
As I walk down the aisle, I grab the papers from my space storage with my right hand, while I hid my left in my pocket to check if the keys are still there.
I stopped once I'm close enough to LIFE Dragunovv and his wife. He's a step higher than me, but I won't look up to him. Our distance is enough to see him on my level.
This damned mental killed my woman right in front of me.
But I wouldn't let my anger get the better of me, unlike him who always let it win.
I threw the papers in his face, shocking their hearts out of their chests.
"Transfer Princess Elyzena's custody to King Liorei. Also, I have met the pre-requisites to buy a title and a dukedom above Swansea of West."
His veins popped because how I treated him.
He angrily stepped on the one of the documents.
"Just who are you ordering here? Watts Xirquit, not only your appearance changed but your attitude as well."
My head slightly tilted to my right.
"I'm merely treating you the way you deserved it, murderer. King Liorei will take custody over Princess Elyzena and I will be a Duke. Though I wouldn't care much if you won't sign the latter---"
He tried holding by the collar but I caught his wrist. I gripped on it hard that it snapped, his bones breaking and cracking and I'm not even exerting that much strength.
"Watts!"
"I'm taking her away from this hell. You're the monsters, not her. If you won't pass the custody over King Liorei, know that my aces can bring this Empire down to its knees. I've been kind to you but you abused me. You killed her right in front of me, and I will never forgive you for that. Those who only watched, those who only laughed, and those who turned a blind eye about her despair---I know each of you and there will be no exceptions. I am doing this for her and I will do more for her in the future. Don't try me nor challenge me to see what more I can do. If any of you disrespect my woman again..."
I tore his hand apart.
"I will kill you."
I returned his part to his wife.
I turn my back on them, but I heard some rat say something.
"You think you can run away from this!? How dare a Xirquit not know his place!?"
I pierced him through with my gaze.
"How dare a mere Dragunovv like you not know his place? I am Watts Xirquit, not just some Xirquit. I made my name this loud just to protect her. You're nothing but an ant compared to me, Fiery. Fire Magic? That's very cute. I'd like to see if it's hot enough to burn me."
His fire set him ablaze.
"You're turning against us for Moon!? That trash isn't worth it! Why would someone as high as you lower himself for that abomination!? Have you gone insane, Watts Xirquit!?"
Abomination? Insane?
I can't help but feel sorry for them.
"Time will tell the truth. By then, don't expect me to forgive you that easily for not believing me. SHE IS HOLY AZARESE ELYZENA WARLOCK, and I swear that to my name. Prove me wrong, then I will bend my knees to you and cut my own neck. But if it happened that I'm right all along,"
I opened my palm and my space storage dropped a dagger on it, which I threw past Sun.
"OH MY GOD!"
"You will surrender that pretentious imposter to me and King Liorei, together with her sketchy soldier. I can already go this far for her. Imagine what I can do more."
I won't waver for I know the truest of all the truths in my life. I saw it with my own eyes and felt my soul shaking from the sight. It felt like a sin, the image that I've seen is. For a mere human like me, a being made of dust, to see her in the holiest form I could only imagine, felt like a crime. My mind replays that image every time I will see Sun, as if that memory is reminding me to not be blinded by the sparkles of a faked treasure. She's nothing like her. A fake could never replace an original. Sun is merely a copy, but I'm impressed that at least she tried to look like her.
She's very golden. And when I say golden, GOLDEN.
I can't even put it into words. I could only express it by swearing my loyalty and honesty to her.
To Moon, who's the real Third Lady of Heart.
A taunting snicker slipped out of his mouth.
"You've been brainwashed by that thing, aren't you?"
Brainwashed? Me?
"A Xirquit...has the strongest mind."
My father used to tell us that. So, why...
My fists clenched tightly that I feel my nails digging in my palm.
Sun flinched from the horrifying expression I must be making right now against her.
"I will destroy you." Spoken as serious as an oath, her father couldn't stand my bold impudence. As he is very easy to provoke, he launched the first attack with his bare fist while I stood pull my fist back to return him the same amount of frustration he's feeling.
"You guys keep forgetting that my parents are the deadliest assassins that ever walked in two different worlds," I said before giving him the taste of his own medicine.
His head exploded upon impact, leaving only a headless body inside its gold case.
"A life for a life."
---Is what would have happened, had my father not stand in front of me to stop his fist coming down to me like a comet.
I was in a state of shock.
"I have never, nor my wife, has landed our hands on our children unlike you, Dragunovv," he coldly uttered as he tighten his grip around LIFE Dragunovvs fist.
He may be standing in front of me, but even without seeing his face, I could already image his jaw tightening and eyes shooting glares.
I corrected my posture, and believe me when I said I got goosebumps when I see past his shoulders that he's only holding his hand, because it was separated from his arm after my mother cut it with a table spoon. She's now on the other side, wiping the blood-stained table spoon with a clean, white napkin.
He managed to regenerate his hand by turning it into his Veil form. Nobody dared to speak their minds nor let themselves jump into this mess.
"Talking shit to him is one thing I can forgive, but hurting my son? You're lucky I didn't slice your neck open using this," my mother casually stated with a smile. Her eyes says otherwise.
"I'd kill anyone who hurts my baby, even if it's a God or a Deity."
It left me with widening eyes. But then, how can I be so sure that who's speaking is her? That she's not being controlled or forced to? Just the mere thought of it makes my blood boil.
They're so cool. My parents are effortlessly the coolest of all.
"Don't act so friendly. I hate everyone right now," I told them without looking into their eyes. I'm afraid that once I do, I'd waver and be pulled into the spell that were put on them by some witch.
I turn around to leave when I saw my sibling blocking my way.
"Baby, what's the matter? You know I hate it when you're ignoring me," my sister baby talked before going to my side. She hugged me tight while pouting her lips, looking upset.
"Let me go," I told her while I still have an ounce of respect and niceties left in me for her.
Instead, she threw a tantrum and wrapped her whole body on me like a koala.
"No! No, I won't! I missed our baby Wattsy! Why are you mad at me? Tell me or I'll cry!"
What---!
"Ate!"
[A/N: Ate/Kuya - Filipino honorific terms for women (Ate) and men (Kuya) older than you.]
Her face reached my cheek, and that's when she started nibbling it as her usual way to show affection.
"Stop it!"
I picked her up and put her down. I wiped my cheek and when I looked at her, I was stunned to find her crying with widening eyes.
"Did I... Did I...do something...wrong, Wattsy?"
My fists tightened into a clench.
I sarcastically smiled at her. "Why not ask Sun about that? I'll continue ignoring you until you find out what she's done to everyone! I'm so sick of chasing your tails all this time to tell you the truth. Upsetting, isn't it? I felt worse when you continuously ignored me and called me crazy for trying."
"Watts," Kuya Ohms called, folding me. He walked to Ate Elektra's side to comfort her. I clicked my tongue and passed them by when Kuya Spike held me by the arm.
"Then let's talk. Give this last chance to us. There's no need to make her cry."
It only made me angry.
"But you can make me upset? So much that you pushed me to my lowest and distressing point in my life?" I grabbed his wrist tight until his grip on me loosened. I dropped his hand roughly.
I look back at Mom, giving her an intense one.
"We're not best-friends anymore."
I hate her. I hate Dad. I hate my siblings. I hate everyone.
"My Lord!"
Celia instantly stole my attention the moment I heard her shaking and panicking voice.
"The Princess---!"
I did not waste any more time and ran to where the Princess is, only to find her cowering in fear and pushing herself against the walls of the fountain while hugging herself.
What's going on?