A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
***
Empress Siofra massaged her temples. She's exhausted. So much have happened in a single day. It was supposed to be one of the most memorable day in their lives. Well, it was, in an unexpected way.
"Shall we begin with the Deity?" Archduke Karrygyl.
"She is said to be the unnamed Deity who lived among Ancients. The only one Her Great Imperial Majesty, the Matriarch, bent her knee to. The Matriarch's companion and ally; created first before the creation of time and world. The first...strongest Ice Magic wielder..." he repeated, based on the words written in the records he have read before.
"The late King burned and destroyed anything related to the Matriarch. Except for the ones in the Diamond Palace, but I I doubt if there will be any leads inside," Archduke Devonacci.
"Well, we haven't truly explored the Diamond Palace yet. It would have been easy have the blueprints been preserved. It's frustrating to talk about the Matriarch and her history when we don't have much basis to begin with. The Church will not cooperate with us, that's for sure. Bet they're probably doing their research about the Deity by now. And they probably have records about their history," Prince Ascel.
They fell into a moment of silence.
"There are doors in the Diamond Palace that lead to dimensions created by the Matriarch. Also, have you heard about her 'children'?" Prince Karrygyl said again, stirring their interest about something they haven't heard before.
"Wasn't she unwed? Her blood ended when she returned to the heavens. That's why her brothers coveted the throne below her and became Kings. Or there's another story we don't know about?" Empress Siofra stared at her biological father deeply.
Archduke Karrygyl nodded, agreeing to what the most know.
"Yes, she was. But have you forgotten what our Bloodline is?"
Their eyes widened.
"I read that they were her disciples at first. Each of them were created with purposes. And since she created them, her disciples began to call her 'Mother', and that's how they became her children. But their names were not written in the family tree. Therefore, their relationship is only between themselves and does not overlap with the Matriarch's lineage."
They nodded.
"And who are these 'children' of hers?" they curiously asked.
"They were five. Their names were not mentioned. Their purposes were simply told as 'the Empire's overseers, rulers of their own, the ears on the walls, the eyes in the skies'."
They suddenly looked at the walls surrounding them.
"Is that supposed to be a riddle or something?" Chancellor Titania huffed.
"Or maybe in their literal sense. Nothing is impossible to an entity such as her," the Archduke replied.
"Where are they now, then? Gone?" Crown Prince Claxiord asked.
The Archduke sighed, "That we don't know. If it happened that they are still alive, then maybe, they'd be merciful enough to tell us our history. Kings rewrote our history to glorify themselves. I am among some who had lived the longest, but most of my time was spent in the dungeons after sending my daughter away to Earth,"
Archduchess Ultrona, his wife and the Empress's biological mother, hugged his arm to comfort him.
"We should ask Dad," King Liorei stated. Princess Lorreign left her seat to transfer on his lap.
"Dad, baby me. I'm sleepy," she said. The King smiled on his daughter and carried her like a baby in his arms.
"We don't even know where he went," they sighed.
Right after his participation during the Armageddon War, Daro left for a journey. Until now, he's combing the lands. They can't tell whether he traveled to the Other Side or already dead.
"Why did he leave in the first place? What's his reason?" Emperor Maxism grumbled while getting touchy with his wife. The Empress smacked his face away.
They looked at King Liorei. He's his son and they expect that he may know something.
"He received a letter from a spirit. The sender wasn't made known. When he read it, probably in their language... I couldn't explain the look on his face. He looked vulnerable and sentimental. He said that there's someone he must find."
Princess Lorreign gasped when her wild imagine concluded something, "What if it's my future stepmommy!? If she's friends with the Matriarch, and the Matriarch used to romance with Grandpa---omg, he must be looking for my future stepmommy!"
King Liorei chuckled and pinched her cheeks, "Maybe. Your imagination is so wild. Go to sleep."
The Princess chuckled and rest her head on his shoulder.
Silence reigned between them once again.
"Enough with the matters of the dead. I want to talk about Sun and Moon." Lord Ohms asserted, feeling impatient.
To begin with, the Matriarch's business is not his to deal with so he won't put effort on it. On the other hand, since his brother got tangled and trapped in the mysteries linking Sun and Moon, he will do anything in his power to help his brother and bring him back in their home.
"I want to hear first what Gerson Liorei know about Watts," Grand Duke Voltage preceeded, firm.
King Liorei shrugged, "Ask your son. It's a family matter and I respect his privacy. He entrusted his secret to me, so I will protect it. If you want to know, ask him."
The Grand Duke glared at him.
"Fine. Then what about Moon? Your little, gothic daughter." Lord Ohms went on.
"Why? Would you believe me, perhaps consider it this time, if I were to tell you she's Holy Azarese Elyzena?"
The Empress deepened her chilling gaze at him.
"Someone is playing with us and Sun is nothing but a decoy to cause conflicts between ourselves. While we're busy arguing like this, who knows what that someone is doing outside? Is that someone working with the Pure Nobility? Does the Church has something to do with this? Sun just got lucky that Watts got involved in this. Honestly, this may work in their favor knowing what power the Xirquits possess. We know Watts. He's a sweet boy, always obedient and honest. If this situation changed him, then you should be wary of him, because you will never know when he will draw the first blood."
Grand Duchess Xerene comb her dishelved hair back using her fingers with a very annoyed look on her face.
"Let's just kill Sun and all of this will be over."
Empress Siofra shook her aching head, "Please, don't be so hasty. Liorei, if it's proven that Sun is truly my daughter, you and Watts will be punished with death. That how grave this offense is---"
Grand Duchess Xerene punched the table and abruptly stand up, "You will kill my son!?"
The Empress glared at her, "Your son is out there, ready to wage war for his precious, horned woman. I don't care if he's your son. I will make no exceptions for people who questions my daughter's legitimacy---"
"And what if Moon is the real one?"
Empress Siofra's stares landed on the Lord who's very chill on his chair, with his feet resting on the table.
"Would you give up your life for being an irresponsible parent? For not being able to recognize your child? I don't really give a fuck about your lives, honestly. However, I am not blind nor deaf. Sure, Moon's identity is unknown. Who she is, what she is, we don't know. So, King Liorei, why don't you tell us how you found Moon again?"
Their attention shifted to the King who's tapping her sleeping daughter's back. Then, the memories returned on the back of his mind as if they just happened yesterday.
"There was a party to celebrate the Third Lady's birth. While everyone was busy, I sneak in her room to see her for the first time. You know Van, he hate it when others are touching and playing with his newborn. He just hate it. So, I went to get take her out for a moment. We walked around the greenhouse, showing her the flowers and the butterflies, when suddenly, a mysterious light swallowed the darkness of the lively night. It was warm and the light is beautiful. Then I noticed that it's not just some light because it's a growing magic circle. It grew and grew until it's as vast as the skies. In that moment, I thought it's just for a show. We stayed to see what will happen next until the magic circle faded after a few seconds. I rushed to return her to her chambers, only to hear everyone in the Hall singing praises already. When I got into the Hall, I found Siofra carrying a dull, golden baby, and they are calling her Holy Azarese."
[A/N: Van = King LIFE.]
Lord Ohms nodded, even clapped his hands for that brief summary.
"Therefore, I conclude that we've been brainwashed. Our enemy brainwashed everyone in this Empire. We're against someone... Hmm, very powerful. I'm kinda disappointed not only to myself but on Prince Izaac as well. I mean, wow, the one of the most powerful and strongest being in the world fell victim to a brainwashing technique. Isn't that funny? The enemy did not even try."
His parents gave him a reprimanding look and he raised his hands to his sides with a shrug.
Prince Izaac only swallowed that hard pill and didn't let it get under his sleeves.
"Or what if it's only Gerson Liorei who got brainwashed?" Finally, the man who speak possible possibilities have spoken. It was Marquess Locke, a good friend of King LIFE and husband to Marchioness Lady Luisa a.k.a Minerva.
"What do you mean?"
He crossed his arms on his chest, "Well, maybe he's been successfully brainwashed into thinking that Moon is the real Third Lady, and his story is part of that technique. And maybe, that someone looked into our history and found that Liorei got history. He was once our enemy, a villain in our lives. With that image of his, he would be a strong and effective decoy. That said, our enemy will enjoy watching our downfall since Liorei is capable of destroying us alone. We're against someone with the brains and not just power."
King Liorei scoffed in disbelief. Though what Marquess Locke said made sense, it hurts his pride that even after being honest, people still have something to say to paint him a liar.
"Didn't you see earlier how she look exactly like her mother? She's literally Dearil---Siofra, with those contact lenses from Watts. Did you not feel any affinity towards her when you saw her, Siofra? Did your blood not call for blood?" The aggravated King argued, making them recall the image of Moon who looked a lot like the Empress with her eyes if normal.
The Empress breathe in deeply and ignored the King.
"We will consider that possibility, Marquess Locke. To bring peace in your chests, I order Celestial Avenger of House Slaynov-Lervoux to process our DNA and blood tests. If it's proven that Sun is ours, Watts Xirquit and Gerson Liorei will receive proper and equal punishments. Otherwise... Otherwise..."
Empress Siofra fell into silence.
'Otherwise, what?' Her inner voice asked.
"Let's wait and see the results first. Only then we can conclude anything," Duke LIFE IX, King LIFE X's father, settled calmly.
The others remained tight-lipped.
"But what if they are just twins? Moon was thrown and abandoned since she's ugly and they only kept the beautiful one?" Duke Paris assumed and he received annoyed look from everyone.
"This is not a soap-opera. That only happens in dramas," the haughty Viscountess Givenchy Quine sassed.
"You mean, throw the one with Veil-roots and kept the one looking like a Warlock most? To be honest, we shouldn't be fighting about their legitimacy when it's so obvious where Moon got her Veil-roots from. Isn't that right, Grandpa?" Marchioness Sennoma provoked mockingly, but she didn't receive the reaction she wanted from King LIFE anyway. His head lay low, staring at the floor. He's been awfully silent and that's new.
"He must be very sad because his favorite toy was destroyed. Serves him right." The Grand Duchess hissed, insensitive to what the King may be feeling.
Empress Siofra seek for her husband's hand. She squeezed it tightly, assuring him that she will be there whenever he will need her.
"Beshiewaps, don't be like that," the King's mother frowned. Her friend only rolled her eyes.
"Why are you so sure that Moon is the Third Lady, when she can't even use magic? Even with the Pope and the Deity's blessing, her magic did not manifest. Meanwhile, our sister acquired new abilities," Prince Ascel reasoned.
King Liorei backfired with, "She haven't manifested the Creation Bloodline yet, has she?"
Prince Ascel's face darkened.
"What are you trying to say?"
King Liorei properly laid his daughter in his arms for a more comfortable sleep.
"I'm saying that it's fishy. We wouldn't be questioning her legitimacy like this had she proved herself to be the new carrier of the Matriarch's Bloodline. That is, if she's truly a Warlock."
"Ha! And you're saying Moon, who is powerless, is the real one? She don't even have magic! Our sister might be having a hard time unleashing her Bloodline at once, so it's a good thing if her powers are coming out one after another! That's better than having nothing at all!" Prince Fiery finally speak up, and he received a haughty look from Ohms Xirquit.
King Liorei laughed in disappointment. He expect nothing more from the Prince. He's an idiot.
"Then, we'll see about that. Did you really think Watts wanted her in the Academia solely for academic purposes? He made her his scholar. He will awaken Moon. Believe me. It scares me to imagine how far he would go for her. Think about it: what if Moon awakened the Bloodline in her? We don't even know what she truly is yet. Fine, let's say she's a Veil. But the real question is, what kind? Is she a Veil Lord like me, like Van? Use your fucking brains. Think about it thoroughly. You're pushing her to the edge and when we don't have any idea about what she's capable of. She's not powerless. Essence is flowing in her. Moon is a fucking ticking bomb."
Emperor Maxism pressed his palm on each side of his head and groaned in frustration.
"Ugh, this is making my head hurt! Are we that stubborn to not learn anything from our past? It feels like I'm in an anime series where the MC is yet to achieve her full potential. Cliché, but that would be hella cold. Sorry guys, but I think I'm switching sides."
Empress Clastigaufeas snorted.
Blane Steele stretched his arms, "Ah~ I'm so excited for the Technological Age that I'm not paying attention to what we're discussing about. I want to make a game with us as the characters and see who would win against who. C'mon, my boy Watts! Give me the contract!"
The matriarch of House Mirren triumphantly laughed. She opened her space storage and give them the sneak-peek of the contract she signed with the Young Lord.
"No way! Is that for real!?"
They tried to snatch the papers to see them clearly but she immediately pushed it back in her space storage.
"Sorry, it's confidential. I signed a billion dollar slavery contract with him for a year. Every month, I must come up with brand new collections for Moon. He's so freaking rich that it hurts. Moon is so lucky to have a sugar daddy like that. The boy will really do anything to make her happy. What genuine love."
It surprised everyone.
"Damn! He did? Holy shit, this is why I wanted a daughter! Argh, Moon poached the most promised bachelor in the world! It hurts so much! I lost! He even produced a car for her!" Emperor Maxism punched the air in regret and faked a cry on his wife's chest.
Now that he mentioned 'cars', their eyes instantly shifted to his godmother.
Chancellor Titania gave them a 'rockstar' sign with a grin.
"Don't even ask. You'd be jealous and envious even more."
Emperor Maxism sobbed between his wife's breasts that he's fondling.
Empress Clastigaufeas choked him.
"Ack!"
Ohms Xirquit put his feet down and stand up. Their eyes followed his move.
"Let's call it a day. You're just fangirling and fanboying over him. Wattroid, summon your master here tomorrow with Moon for the testing. We'll see it with our own eyes."
Without even sending his farewells to his parents, he left. That's the only time everyone left out their suppressed breaths.
"Wooh. He's such a boss. Who's the father between you two, Volt? Your son is so extra," Duke Paris winced.
"He's so scaryyyy~" Prince Maxigaufeas shivered.
The Grand Duchess left her seat and glared upon the Empress.
"Let's call it quits. I'd rather cut our relationship with you than lose my son. I know you will understand me. You're a mother, too."
She kicked her chair away and heavily marched her feet towards the only exit, leaving everyone dumbfounded.