A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
***
A laugh escaped from Azarese's lips. The Young Lord did not understand. The fear of rejection lingered at every inch of his system. He's preparing himself for that possibility, but he doesn't know how he'll handle it if it came from her later.
"Princess?"
Azarese kept on laughing.
She turn to read the question on her side with a cheeky smile.
"Do you mean it?"
The Young Lord blinked, then nodded.
She hopped a step closer to him and smiled wider.
"Then, you'd be my boyfriend?"
His forehead wrinkled. The vibe she's giving off suddenly became off.
"N-Not yet. I will pursue you first through courtship. I will prove myself to you. I will show the world that I am worthy and deserving to be your man---"
He was caught of guard when she pulled him by his necktie.
"No courtship needed. My answer is yes. I want to be your girlfriend, Watts Nikola Xirquit," she said like a declaration.
And right there, she claimed his lips like they are only made for hers to taste.
"They kissed!" Golden Azarese happily giggled while pointing at the screen in their domain.
Good Azarese gasped deeply and covered her eyes and Golden Azarese's eyes.
"That's bad, Golden Azarese! You can't watch that! We can't!"
"Ah, it's her," said Skadi Eira when she felt Azarese's presence.
Azarese moved her lips. His stiffness can be compared to Skadi Eira's boulders of ice. His eyes are so wide that they would pop out of their sockets. When she got no response, she parted herself from him and switched Moon back.
"A-Ah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! My Lord! It's not me!" she cried in shame while covering her face and waving her hands to deny what she did.
Watts Xirquit touched his lips. Then, he fainted.
"My Lord!"
Moon rushed in panic to his side, taking him on her arm. He then covered his face with his palms, trying to hide the blood rush on it. If only his lips were a paper, it would've ripped apart for smiling so widely.
"I-I know this not so manly but---I just... It was my f-first kiss and..."
Moon's lips were left open and speechless.
"M-My Lord!"
King Liorei let out a boisterous laugh while clapping his hands.
"My, my! They're so cute, aren't they? That's so fucking romantic. Nobody can do it like Watts Nikola Xirquit. That's my son!" He proudly broadcasted. And during his climactic happiness, he cried tears of joy for his children.
"He's my son," Grand Duke Voltage hissed while rolling his eyes on the King.
The Young Lord went back on his feet with his lady. He heaved deep breaths, calming his crazily giddy heart. They shyly smiled at each other before sharing a precious chuckle.
He asked for her hand and when she placed it on his, he kissed it so tenderly, pouring his affection and affection in it.
"I'd like to give you a promise ring," he said.
"Promise...ring?"
He nodded and cupped her face. "Look up and say, 'Show yourself,'"
Moon was puzzled, but she did so.
She lift her chin up and said, "Show yourself!"
A streak of light broke through the brilliance of the moonlight, and a majestic pair of purest white wings unfurled by their plain sight. They wide like the skies, bearing the heavenly luminosity of pure essence, and refracted them into a mesmerizing display of iridescent light . Then, it flapped its wings to fly, going in circles and leaving a trail of sparkling stardust on its tail. These wings bore intricate patterns reminiscent of delicate lace, their edges adorned with a glistening frost-like fringe that gave the impression of frost-kissed elegance.
As the phoenix arched its neck, the feathers along its regal crest seemed to cascade like a waterfall of pure, silken strands. A crown of silver and ivory adorned its head, with eyes that gleamed like twin orbs of precious moonstone, reflecting the wisdom and ancient magic dwelling within. The bird's talons, though strong, were coated in an otherworldly sheen, resembling polished gold with a hint of opalescent glow.
"T-That's---!"
Moon covered her gaping mouth and turn to him with the widest eyes, filled with astonishment and delight.
"The White Phoenix. Yes."
The creature graced them with its mythical presence when it landed on his waiting forearm. Moon stared right in its eyes.
"M-My I touch it?"
The Young Lord smiled, "Of course. It's harmless to harmless people."
Moon beamed the brightest smile and reached her hand out to the majestic creature. It rubbed it's head on her palm, like a child feeling its mother's touch.
"Ori... Orith...yia..."
Her smile weakened and gave the Young Lord a puzzled stare. But the Young Lord was as stunned as the rest of the audience. The name it called...
"The Matriarch's---name?" they breathlessly mumbled.
The White Phoenix opened its beak and dropped the ring on the Young Lord's palm. Then, it flew to the statue in the middle of the fountain, sitting on the crown of the Matriarch.
"Princess," he began and seek her hand.
"With this ring, I devote the commitment of my heart and soul to you. I will protect your honor, be your shield and sword. Shall the right time comes, when you're ready to spend the rest of your eternal life with the limited mine, I'll get down on one knee and ask your hand for a lifetime happiness with me. No matter how long it will take you, I will wait for you. I will stand behind you until you pull me to walk by your side. The tapestry of stars over us and moons aligning with my heart, stand witnesses to this promise. I, Watts Nikola Xirquit, pledge my fidelity and loyalty to the Third Lady of Heart."
There, he put the ring on her right hand and kissed her hand to seal his promise.
Princess Lorreign was the first one to clap her hands for them. Moon covered her face with her other hand to not give him the sight of her ugly crying. The Young Lord laughed and wrapped her in a secure embrace while kissing her head. The orchestra played a lively piece, with the fireworks bursting on the skies once again.
They danced and the Ancients joined them. They pulled their partners in the middle as the fireworks lit up the night sky. Princess Lorreign pulled her father and future stepmother and danced with them in circles.
"Thank you, Watts," Moon whispered on his ear. He kissed her cheek.
"Thank you for being born on this day, Elyzena."
The White Phoenix watched the people below her. Its kind are the only females in the family species of phoenixes.
She spread her pair of majestic wings. Her deal with the Young Lord is fulfilled, and it's time for her to leave. But when her eyes caught the image of the person she's long been looking for, it's decided to fly to her.
King Liorei noticed the bird coming their way. Instinctively, he pulled her daughter to protect her, leaving the Deity in the open with a frown. Her eyes widened in surprise when the bird landed on her chest, with its wings wrapping around her as if it was hugging her.
"Mo... Moth...er... Mo---ther..."
Its crystal tears rolled down from its eyes. Now, they've become the center of attention. Everyone stopped to look at the new spectacle that's about to unfold before their starving eyes.
"Y-You gave birth to a bird!?" Princess Lorreign gasped.
"Are you insane? Why would I bed a bird!?"
Princess Lorreign pouted, "But it called you mother! You're my mother!"
The White Phoenix looked back at her with a glare. The Princess jumped to hide behind her father and use him as a shield.
Skadi Eira lift her forearm and the White Phoenix landed on it while shedding precious tears. The mythical bird is truly in sorrow. Its unfathomable sadness is resonating with her. She wiped its tears and her skin absorbed it. A memory flashed right in her eyes.
A golden woman with a blurry face sat in front of her and placed a porcelain figurine in the form of the White Phoenix on the table. She have an unusual olive brown complexion, unlike the Deity who's very pale. It was refreshing to see, for most of the people in the world are fair.
"It's done! Now, share your breath with it. That's how you give something life. That's how I do it!"
"You mold and make children like that?"
The golden woman chuckled, "Hmm, quite like that. Go on, give it try. I named it White Phoenix. It'll be our child!"
Skadi Eira forced a smile.
"Our child...huh."
The White Phoenix rubbed its head on her cheek. She kissed its head.
"Have you been waiting for me?"
The bird nodded.
"Would you help me remember? The fragments of my memories are lost. I don't know myself anymore."
The White Phoenix looked at her. She kissed it again, hoping that her affection will lessen the longingness her creation is feeling.
"Help, Mother. Orithyia, gone. Help, Mother," it said as it recover its composure.
"I will wait for you." She placed her hand on it to bless it with protection and safety.
"Let it be known that if a lowlife hurt my creation, the wrath of the heavens will befall on them."
The bird peck her cheek like a kiss.
"Fly safely, White Phoenix," she farewell before sending her creation away with a mission: help her recovere the fragments of her memories. Maybe, it will go get things that will help her remember her past. For example, her rings.
But the White Phoenix flew back and stopped over Princess Lorreign's head, then expelled its waste on her.
The Princess's jaw dropped to the ground, then screamed.
"Kyaaah! You damned bird! How dare you!? Dad, it pooped on me!? IT POOPED ON ME!?"
The smug-looking bird chirped proudly.
"Phoenix, favorite child. Mother, favorite Phoenix."
King Liorei was stuck between comforting his daughter or laughing at what happened. In the end, he comforted her while laughing.
"Dad! This is not funny! I will poach that bird and roast it! Kyaaah! It pooped on my head! I hate it! I don't like it anymore!"
Skadi Eira covered her mouth and sneak a good, silent laugh.
The White Phoenix flew away just to return again.
"What is it this time?" Skadi Eira asked while suppressing her laugh.
The White Phoenix opened its beak and pushed out a tiny piece of crystal fragment from its stomach to her palms.
"Mother, memory. Memory." Were its last words before leaving for real. It opened a portal and went inside, vanishing on their plain sight.
"Memory?"
Skadi Eira wiped the crystal fragment on King Liorei's shirt to remove the saliva on it.
"Wow. Just...wow." King Liorei scoffed in disbelief. Skadi Eira ignored him and watched her blurry memory play inside the fragment.
"Orithyia, what happened to us?" she asked before placing the fragment on her chest. She could only wonder. She can't even remember the woman's face. She can't remember her own name. She can't remember herself.
The unknown scares her.
"I'm hungry. Go get me something, Dragunovv," she ordered after a deep sigh. That's when the Princess clung onto her to throw tantrums.
"Mother, your bird popped on my head! Huhuhu!"
"And? Serves you right."
The Princess cried dry tears and squeezed her tighter while grinning evilly, taking advantage of the situation.
Moon chuckled.
"I read somewhere that it's a sign of good luck. Getting pooped on the head by a bird," she said with a hesitant smile.
"Really?"
Skadi Eira flicked her fingers on the Princess's forehead to free herself from her grip.
"The White Phoenix is Orithyia and I's creation. There's only one in the world, or it reproduced. Its waste turn things into stone. Seeing that you're not a stone right now means that it's only teasing you---"
"A-A STONE!? DAD, I don't want to be a stone! Daddd~ Poach that bird! Poach that bird, Dad! I don't want to be stone~~~"
Skadi Eira chuckled evilly and went to the fountain to rest by the ledge. Celia served her a tray of desserts.
"My love, she's just teasing you. Go, take a bath---"
"NO! What if I turned into stone while taking a bath!? You wouldn't know! Bath me!"
The strong Princess shook her father and clung onto him like a koala.
King Liorei sighed in defeat and walked upright, taking little steps because his daughter is clinging on him.
"Fine, fine. I'll talk to you while you're taking a bath. We'll be back, everyone. Haist, my Princess is so childish."
"I'm not childish! Hmmp. I'll poach that bird when I see it again. I'll always carry a bow and arrow with me from now on!"
The people laughed at her tantrums.
Wattroid arrived with a smile and bouquet of flowers. He gave them to Moon.
"Happy birthday, Princess. Wattroid picked the best flowers for Moon."
Moon felt awkward.
"T-Thank you..."
"Now," the Young Lord clapped his hands to proceed to the next event.
"Please say 'open sesame!' this time, Princess."
"O-Open sesame?"
The Young Lord nodded. Moon gulped and nodded as well.
"Open sesame!"
Two, four, six, eight, ten---a total of eighteen tiny portals opened. And in each portal, numbered drones flew out and lined up in different orders in front of them.
"M-My Lord... W-What's the meaning... You have given me so much already!"
"They do not suffice. I want the best for my woman. Princess, these simple efforts are not enough. I want you to be happy. Let them envy you. They should envy you because you are Princess Holy Azarese Elyzena Warlock. Heaven, send me a lightning strike if I am lying."
He instantly wiped her tears away when they fell.
"My Lord..."
"Elyzena, say my name. That's not my name. You're breaking my heart."
Moon sniffled, "W-Watts Nikola."
A cheeky smile bloomed on his lips.
"See? It bring us closer, doesn't it, Elyzena?"
He cupped her cheeks. Their foreheads touched, and from the distance they heard his best friend shout, "KISS! KISS!"
Empress Clastigaufeas nudged Prince Maxigaufeas on his waist.
"Damn. Nobody did it like Watts Nikola Xirquit. Damn! I wish I was Moon!" Emperor Maxism promptly regretted while clapping his hands strongly for them.
His wife rolled her eyes on him.
The Young Lord pulled away before he could commit a sin.
"Now, pick a number, Moon. Where do you want to begin? Everything behind those numbers are yours. You will love them."
"He's beautiful, he's rich, and he's Watts Nikola Xirquit. Damn!"
"Will you please shut the fuck up, Maxism Ford Lee!? Are you fucking gay?"
The Emperor pouted and crossed his arms.
"If I'm gay, I wouldn't give you two of the world's most handsome men. And if I'm gay, you wouldn't be screaming my name every---"
The Empress created a copy of a gun and pressed its cold mouth against his temple.
"Say it. I'll fuck you up, Lee. I'll fucking kill you right here, right now. Go on, say it."
Crown Prince Claxiord sighed helplessly and forget that his parents are with him.