A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
***
"Relax, hun. You're too tensed," the Young Lord soothe. He cupped Moon's face and kissed the tip of her nose. Moon smiled between his palms.
"You're a kiss monster. I've counted how many kisses you have given me since this morning."
"How many?" He kissed her cheeks again. Moon chuckled.
"Twenty-six, plus the two you just gave me. So, twenty-eight."
The Young Lord squeezed her cheeks, "Very good. That's correct. I can see that you'll be a good mathematician soon,"
Prince Maxigaufeas and Lord Thirdy covered each other's eyes to not see their public display of affection.
"Please no PDA. There are children watching," the Lord said, and the couple laughed.
"You're just envious because you're not allowed to kiss Miss President yet."
"What---!" The Lord put Prince Maxigaufeas's hand down, "You're very boastful now! Just wait and see. I'll go to that stage soon!"
"As if," his friends teased, annoying the Lord.
Celestial Avenger excused himself to finally get the printed results of the tests. Prince Izaac and King Liorei went with him. That's when a thrilling silence befell on them. Moon could feel her chest throbbing from the loud beating of her heart.
"If Sun is truly our blood, prepare yourself, Watts Xirquit. Mother, show no mercy. Such slander is unforgivable," Prince Fiery sneered.
"Then, I'll be the one to punish the liar to be fair."
They furrowed their eyebrows at the Deity who's waiting for her slave to come back.
"I suggest you not," Prince Ascel, "This matter is ours to handle. You may be a Deity, but I believe that this internal conflict is not within your reach."
"I-I agree!" Prince Fiery.
Skadi Eira blew air from her mouth, blowing her hair aside.
"Kid, shut the fuck up. You don't know anything. You said it yourself: I'm a Deity. If I destroy the world right now, then what that impostor did will be for nothing. Unless you'll go back to your Earth. At least, that's where you lowlifes belong."
Princess Lorreign pouted, "Mother, I'm AN Earthling! You can't say that!"
"You're not an exception."
"Ihhh! I'll tell Dad to not give you any more pies!"
"---Because you're very special."
Princess Lorreign giggled and pressed their cheeks together, "Aww, Mother! You should've said that sooner!"
Archduke Karrygyl faked a cough so he could get their attention, "I think it will be a good if the Deity were to impose the punishment to the offenders. We must never forget that she's the Matriarch's closest acquaintance. Everyone, it will be wise to not get on her bad side. I know you're getting where I'm going and what I mean."
Skadi Eira nodded lazily, "You're smarter than I thought. Don't worry. I won't be bias. I have no favorites."
Moon gulped and looked at the Young Lord. Then again, he gave her a reassuring smile and kissed her forehead.
"Your blood won't lie. You are my Princess," he said like he's swearing an oath.
When the men who left earlier has finally arrived, their eyes were fixated on the folder he's holding. King Liorei drifted to stand beside Moon, while the Prince and Lord walked down the aisle. The Prince gave the center stage to the Lord for his announcement.
"We will begin with Sun's results. I declare to the heavens that no fabrication took place in this test. Only the truth and nothing but the truth."
Moon's hands became sweaty.
Celestial Avenger opened the folder and read the data written on the paper first before stating what it is.
"Probability of paternity: 82 percent matched."
Sun pulled her breath then smiles at her father. However, the King didn't even looked at her. He made no reaction at all. The King is acting odd. He is not being himself.
The Lord flipped the paper to the next page.
"Next, probability of maternity..."
Sun placed her hand over her mother's. The Empress flinched and turned to her. She gave her mother an anxious smile and saw Moon in her peripheral vision, biting her nails and sweating buckets.
Watts Xirquit hold her hand tighter.
"91 percent."
Sun shivered. Her throat cracked an accidental laugh.
"W-What about Moon's?" Her shaking voice asked.
She covered her mouth to hide the grin that's tearing her lips apart.
"I'm sorry,"
Their hearts stopped from his phrase.
But the words he said after made their world stop from turning, until victorious screams came from the Princes.
"Zero. Moon is neither the Empress's nor the King's blood---"
"BULLSHIT!" King Liorei roared and marched to get the papers from him.
Moon fell to her knees, chasing after her breath as her vision blur. Her view of the world...is turning around, and the loud voices playing in her ears slowly become a static noise.
"Punish them! Mother, it's time! The results are brighter than the sun and clearer than water! Sun is our family and Moon is the IMPOSTER!" Prince Zephyrus accused. King Liorei slapped his hand away.
Skadi Eira gently placed her glass on the table.
"NO! I don't believe this! Let's do it again! There must be a mistake! Avenger, do it again! MOON IS THE PRINCESS! SUN IS THE IMPOSTER!" King Liorei raged and his horns are beginning to protrude on his head. His daughter dropped her plated to the table and ran to her father.
She squeezed his waist in a hug.
"Dad! Get a hold of yourself! Please, calm down! You're very cool when a Veil, but you're very scary, too! I don't want to be scared of you!"
The Young Lord dropped Moon's hand and see the papers himself. He doesn't want to believe it either.
"What did you do?" The paper in his hand crumpled when his fist clenched, "This can't be true. This can't be true! SUN!"
Prince Fiery blocked his path with his blazing fists to stop him from going to his sister.
"Stop right there! Celestial Avenger is the trustworthy confidant of Kuya Izaac! Are you saying that he modified those results!? Mother, the order! I will handle this bastard myself!"
Like a shadow, Grand Duchess Xerene snaked her arm around the Prince's neck and pointed the tip of her dagger against it.
"Or, I will handle you first. Fiery, you're just a brat trying hard to look cool. Stop. You're not."
"Xerene! Let go of my son!" The Empress thundered, but the Grand Duchess glared at her.
King LIFE only watched them as he remain still in his place. Something whispered in his head that he turn his attention to Moon. She's slumped on the floor, gazing into the nothingness. Right there, he saw how the glimmers in her dark eyes faded into dull.
"Dearil, I've been with you during your highest and lowest. Even when you're in the wrong, I stood by your side and chose to understand you. You were hurt, your pain made you mean. I was there when you were trying to be better until you are who you are now. This time, let me leave your side so I can be with my son. I believe my son, Dearil! If he says Moon is the Princess, then his words are mine!"
Empress Siofra's eyes widened. To her, her friend---her sister, just cut the strings that bind them together like blood.
Her teeth gritted and yelled, "Your son...is bewitched by Moon! Xerene, I too would believe him, but I am not stupid! The blood flowing in my veins aligned with Sun! I raised her myself and watched her grow! I treated Watts like my own, because we're sisters by bond, but I won't accept his slanders against my daughter! Are you really going to let an outsider ruin us!?"
The Empress chased her breath after releasing her fury. The Grand Duchess was astounded. Her words made her falter. But when she saw the pathetic state of her son, she was more than ready to throw everything away.
She was about to slice Prince Fiery's neck open when they heard Moon said lifelessly,
"In the end, my destiny is the same."
If her voice were a thing, it would be a falling, fragile glass.
She lifted her head and dug holes in the ceiling with her empty stares. She's crying but no tears were falling from her eyes. She's hurting yet she couldn't feel anything at all. Her mind is being loud but her ears couldn't hear any voice.
But at least, her heart is finally calm. It never felt so peaceful, no matter how much it hurt from the crippling wrath that's suffocating it.
"E-Elyzena,"
The Young Lord traced his footsteps back to her, when he bumped into something that cannot be seen.
Skadi Eira yawned.
"So, it's clear that Sun is really one of their piglets. What punishment is befitting for Watts Xirquit and Gerson Liorei Dragunovv? Should we hang them?"
Princess Lorreign shook her head, "M-Mother, please, let us talk this through! My father---My Daddy will never lie! Daddy, you have your reasons, right? Tell her! DAD, SAY SOMETHING!"
King Liorei couldn't care less about what happens to him. They will still execute him either way. While they are still stalling time, he will slaughter---
"I'll shoulder it."
Moon pushed herself up. As though her life was sucked out of her, she fell again. Then, she tried and tried. No matter how many times she fell, she endured the humiliation of how pathetic she might have been in their perspectives.
The Young Lord trembled.
"Execute me."
"PRINCESS! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!" King Liorei thundered and removed his daughter's leash on him. He punched the transparent wall that seem to cage him.
Moon looked at him with the saddest eyes.
"I've never hurtled anyone in this family. Yet, look at what I'm getting. I stayed and lurked in the shadows. I did not complain. I made no sound. I do as they said. I stayed out of their sight. Every night I wish they would grant me love. That even for a day, they would love me like there's no tomorrow. I guess, all my hopes were just wishful thinking," she dawdled before dropping her states to her hands.
"W-What are you saying?"
Her vision turn red. Pool of blood wet her feet. When she looked around, their bones are lying everywhere. She closed her eyes tight and shook her head. When she opened them again, they're back to normal.
"Two lifetimes, same people, different stories, but same destinies. In both lifetimes, I was loved by the same man. The same man stood up for me. He taught me love, he gave me love. But I, as an empty shell, saw how little it was and seek for more. Nikola, if I were to tell you what I did to you before, would you still love me the same?"
The Young Lord's eyes shrinked.
"You...traveled?"
Her lips stretched the smallest smile, "Of course, you would. You did."
Moon turn her back around and walked aimlessly down the aisle. There, she surrendered to the weakness of her knees and looked up to the Empress who can't choose which reaction to put on her face.
"It hurts so much that I can't feel a thing anymore. I never asked to be born, so why am I being haunted by the phantoms from your pasts? Oh, just plain thoughts about dying already brings me peace. Loving you is exhausting, Mother. The family I adored...is burning right in front of my eyes once more. So, please. It's an easy task. End me. I can't see myself living the same after this...betrayal."
Moon slowly closed her eyes and imagined how peaceful her afterlife might be. Unending sunrises and sunsets, a field of flowers that will never wither no matter how ugly the weather becomes, and a cabin in the middle of nowhere with a river nearby. Oh, she mustn't forget her farm. Pigs, chickens, lambs, horses, donkeys---she will breed more and take them with seeds, hays, and grasses. She wouldn't need anything else for the nature will provide.
"Y-You've got to be k-kidding me. You can't...do this to me. E-Elyzena..."
She opened her eyes again. The first thing she saw was her mother's beautiful face. Before, she could only see her in portraits and photo albums. Her mother truly is beautiful. Her face seem so kind, like she's a person who doesn't know how to get angry. She looked down, then tilt her head over her shoulders.
His tears began to race down his cheeks. He punched the transparent wall between them.
"I-I haven't told you all my secrets yet. I-I just begun! You can't leave me yet! No, I won't accept this! Don't listen to her! I'll take any punishment but death! Elyzena, take your words back. I don't want to lose you again!"
"Lose me...again?" It got to her like a riddle.
Skadi Eira stand up and float down the aisle.
"He must be talking about the time when your father killed you last night. Well, it's not like I reversed time for his sake. That wicked thing asked me to."
Their meaningful conversation stirred everyone's minds.
Watts Xirquit's breath hitched from the revelation.
"I-It was you? It wasn't... Prince Astaroth?"
Skadi Eira scrunched her nose and looked at the Young Lord from head to toe.
"The who?" she hissed, "Enough with the nonsensical chatters. Time is limited and precious. I told you, I'm not bias. Take her to the Plaza for her live execution. Everyone must witness...the death of the impostor, Moon."
It was frozen. A Deity has spoken and it cannot be changed anymore. Ohms Xirquit stepped forward.
"No. We will---"
Skadi Eira shut his mouth and glared at the Imperial Knights. The look made them move and marched to get Moon.
"NO! NO, STOP! Your Divine Almighty, I beg of you! Take me instead! I will accept any punishment but death! I will endure any method of torture, JUST DON'T TAKE HER AWAY! ELYZENA!"
Every punch is powerful, but Skadi Eira's cage is strong. His blood splattered on it and he did not stop as long as he can still move his fists. Moon went with the Imperial Knights with no problem. They stopped when she stopped to see the Lord one last time.
"Zodiac Astrophel Nikolai Xirquit-Warlock,"she said, contorting his face into confusion.
She smiled at him, sadly.
"She took your name 'Nikola' as an inspiration for his name, and first two was about how you loved the skies and beyond. If only this timeline was a bit better, she would definitely use the same name for your baby. The Prince that almost lived. It's pretty, isn't it? Zodiac is a very beautiful boy."
When she chuckled and her eyes smiled from her only memory of the boy, a trail of tear escaped from her eyes.
Then, she went on, leaving the Young Lord in the middle of his silent agony.