A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1****
"Y-Your Highness---!"
Prince Izaac put the papers he's reviewing down and gave the anxious knight an annoyed glare.
He's been overnights, been in the Palace to handle Imperial matters, keeping an eye on his sister and mother, and keeping the Empire together at once for the past few days. Dark circles under his eyes and wrinkles on his forehead, it obvious how stressed and exhausted he is. Though he's taking potions for stamina, it's just not enough. The potions could only make his exhaustion disappear, but not the weight he's carrying deep inside.
The knight gulped.
"I-I'm sorry... Y-Your Highness... But there are mages wreaking havoc o-outside. They are destroying roads and establishments!"
"What?"
The papers in his hands crumpled.
Just then, Prince Ascel and Prince Eddrien arrived. They are just as weary and drained as their eldest brother.
They approached his table. Prince Ascel slammed a file of notice on it.
"Watts Xirquit's order. The mages are demolishing his contributions and he's asking for compensation. He wants his business agreements with us be revoked and canceled. He's being so ridiculously petty!"
Prince Izaac slammed his hands on the table and laid back angrily against his chair. He massaged his temples, inhaling deeply to control himself.
When he calmed down, he see the documents in the file himself and skimmed them.
"Fuck. Things are getting out of hand. This is all because of---!" They all looked at Prince Eddrien. He rolled his eyes and kicked the chair beside him in frustration.
"Is he here? If not, let me talk to his representatives. Bring me to them."
~~~
Even when they've seen the royals coming, the mages did not stop and continued what they were ordered to. With magic, they're demolishing the establishments under the name of their master while keeping the neighboring establishments around it untouched. They turn the soil upside down remove the roads and burned what can be burned---owned by their master.
"Stop! His Highness Prince Izaac is before you!"
The knight shouted. The people were gathered around, gossiping.
The mages looked at each other. When a higher up gave them a nod, they stopped and presented themselves before the royals. They did not even pay them respects.
"Your Highness, do we have a problem?"
Prince Eddrien exploded internally and almost unleashed his magic to punish them when Prince Izaac walked his horse forward.
"I command you to postpone what you are ordered to at once. This is an Imperial Order."
"I'm afraid we cannot do that."
The eldest Prince's jaw tightened.
"Are you challenging the Imperial Family? I said postpone it. We don't have to hurt each other."
The higher mage smiled.
"You dare smile!?" Prince Eddrien erupted. Prince Ascel gave him a glare, telling him to let their brother handle the matter.
"Your Highness, forgive me, but you must let us be if you wish to reconcile with the Young Lord. His words said, "These are to honor the Third Lady of Heart. Now that she's gone, these have no one to honor of anymore, so I must put it down for this land does not deserve any memories of her. Reflect." Therefore, if you want to appease him, then please, let us carry out our duties."
Prince Izaac's eyes widened for a second. His grip on the reins tightened. Though he's on his high horse, the high mage dare to meet his gaze proudly with a smile. No, he's not testing the Prince. Rather, he's telling them to 'back off' or else, Watts Xirquit wouldn't like their meddling.
Just then, Skadi Eira entered the scene. She's sitting on her mythical unicorn, roaming around the city with Celia walking and following behind her with her foods.
The Princes felt chill run down their spine when they met Celia's cold and piercing gaze. Her eyes are screaming how much she despise them, that they would not forgive them for taking her daughter's life even if the heavens were to fall, and that Moon will be avenged.
She is not her mother, but she holds a mother's wrath and grief.
On the other hand, the people were fascinated about her. They do not believe that she is a Deity yet, for no evidences or proofs has been laid out before them. Like the Earthlings, they believe in the saying, "To see is to believe." Therefore, unless she prove that she is one of their creators, then she's nothing but a beauty to them.
"What's happening here? Drama? Spill," the Deity smirked.
The mages immediately went to their knees and bowed with their foreheads on the back of their hands.
"Your Divine Almighty, we heard about you. Though we know less about you, we ask for your mercy and grace. We are grateful to exist before you."
Skadi Eira shift her gaze to them and felt their prowess. They are not just 'mages', she could tell. They're in their own leagues, each can take down the weakest royalty if they were to challenge that 'weakest' royalty.
"That's sweet. Get up. Celia, give them candies. Not my favorite candies. Give them the sour ones. Not the sweet ones," Skadi Eira grinned sheepishly. She liked their praise.
"Your Divine Almighty, we are not worthy, but thank you! Please, allow us to shamelessly accept your generosity!"
Skadi giggled.
Celia moved and opened the basket on her arm. She gave each mage a candy. The mages accepted it with their trembling hands.
"So, what's happening?" she went back and looked at the Princes.
"This is none of your business," Prince Izaac replied instead.
Skadi Eira clicked her tongue. Her simple happiness was washed away by his attitude.
"It is. You're standing on my land. If you don't want me to kick you out, then answer me."
The unicorn raised its eyebrow at Prince Izaac's white horse, looking at it from its head down to its toe, then gracefully neighed. The white horse felt so offended and neighed, kicking its feet in the air.
Prince Izaac was surprised.
"The Young Lord wants his properties to be demolished. He's revoking and canceling the agreements he made with them. I wouldn't blame him. He built these for Princess. He made himself better for the Princess. This much is so simple so it's not enough. It seems that these royals are stupid for thinking that House Xirquit are tamed. The Young Lord is endlessly kind and have the biggest heart, but losing the person he hold so dearly will undoubtedly change him. They're lucky that he tolerated how they treated the Princess before when she was still alive. This is not enough."
Celia spit every word to their faces sternly. Every word is filled with hatred, and when the Princes received it, they've never felt so attacked and offended.
"How could a mere maid talk that way to the Princes!?" The knights gasped and drew their swords.
"Touch me, I dare you. I served House Xirquit. I am under House Xirquit. The Young Lord is the one who assigned me to be the Princess's servant. I trust that you are not STUPID like your masters."
"CELIA!" Prince Eddrien finally lost it and jumped off his horse.
"Eddrien, stop!"
But he did not listen to his brothers and slapped Celia. She remained standing, but her head turned aside.
The mages were shocked, but they couldn't step in. They rather not get on Celia's way.
Skadi Eira watched it happen beneath her and saw how near Celia is to her limit. So, she sent her a knife and pushed it inside her fist.
"Now or never, Celia. Avenge your daughter. Do it," she pushed Celia through telepathy.
That's when Celia's concealed aura unveiled itself. Her eyes shrinked and spirals took over. When she looked at the Prince, it made him stand back.
Bloodlust.
Her aura is...red.
Wrath. Bloodlust. They are fighting which weighs heavier---only for Celia to make it balanced. She's filled with both. She wants to kill the Princes in front of her.
The mages stepped back and lowered their heads. They gulped, bits of sweat forming on their foreheads. They are terrified.
"YOU...TOOK MY PRINCESS'S LIFE...AWAY."
A trail of single tear rolled down her pale face.
But instead of jumping on the Prince and make the scenarios in her head happen, she let the knife in her hand go and breathe in. In a blink of an eye, she's back to herself. She's composed again. She's Celia...again.
But the bloodlust has been felt, and the Princes are not one to forget. They were disturbed. They really can't put things back the way they were before.
"Continue what the Young Lord told you to and ignore the royals. Your Divine Almighty, we must advance. It's Friday. Chancellor Titania will be at her restaurant to cook the dishes herself. We'll be lucky to arrive on time and secure a seat."
Skadi Eira found it very amusing. Celia is as mysterious as her master. She wants to dig in to know more about her. She could easily figure it out with magic, but she doesn't want to spoil the fun.
"Okay. If they stop you again, tell me and I'll destroy them myself. No way they can oppose a Deity, right? Especially the owner of this land."
"Y-Yes, Your Divine Almighty!"
Skadi Eira pet her unicorn and it began to stride. Celia followed and bumped into Prince Eddrien's shoulder intentionally. The Prince didn't expect it to be so strong that it caught him off guard and fell.
Celia stopped for a second by his side to look down on him.
"Trash."
The mages turned their backs and immediately returned to their posts to continue what was postponed. The Prince stood there, dumbfounded and embarrassed that a maid looked down on them. They could've gotten her tongue and head for that... But they can't. First, they don't want to make things worse by doing that. And second... Celia won't give up her tongue or neck without a fight.
A bloodlust like that... She will kill them and she can---if they provoked her more than she already is.
Prince Izaac finally called it a day and went home to his wife. Princess Aurora, just like the days that already passed, is standing by the doorway, waiting for her husband's return. The first thing she gave him is a warm smile, then an embrace to welcome him back home. Prince Izaac snuggled her and inhaled her scent that he missed.
"Welcome back home, honey. You did a great job."
He instantly felt a little better.
She broke the hug first and led him to their room. She served him like a dutiful wife that she is. She joined him for a bath, changed his clothes, and left him for a moment to cook him his favorite dish.
He sat on their bed. The silence helped him reflect on everything that has happened. He palmed his face and fell to their bed.
They're falling apart. Their relationship has been damaged.
Until now, his sister is still suffering from the child's 'curse'. His parents were astray to each other, distancing themselves from everyone and everything since Moon's execution. The Empress requested for a leave that's why he's the one attending the imperial matters. They don't know what to do. The adults don't know what to do either that's why they couldn't guide them. They couldn't make a decision. They don't know how to handle the mess because they're so lost, estranged.
"Darling, I'm back. I'm sorry, I took my time---"
Princess Aurora shut her mouth as soon as she found her husband sound asleep. She pushed the trolley beside their bed and carefully sat beside him. She touched his face. Prince Izaac caught her hand and opened his eyes.
"I-I'm sorry! Did I wake you?"
"Aurora..."
The Princess gasped when he pulled him close. She landed on his chest.
"What should I do, my love? There are so many thing I can do... But I'm afraid it would only make things worse. Watts... I love that boy so much. Aunt Xerene and Uncle Volt were my second parents already. Where did we go wrong?"
The Princess listened to her husband's heartbeat while caressing his chest gently.
"I'm not one to give advices in times like this, but I think it's best to give them time and prepare for what's to come. Let's try to understand his pain. We were wrong. We hurt him in the worst way. Asking for his forgiveness will only stir his fury. We'll find a way. I believe in you."
Prince Izaac closed his eyes and turn to his side, bringing his wife beside him.
They did not talk. Princess Aurora hum a sweet melody to help her husband fall asleep. And it worked like magic. He's now sleeping like a baby, her baby. She worried that the food will go cold and that he's sleeping with an empty stomach, but he needed to rest first so she let him.
She placed his hand carefully on her belly.
"Why does it feel so wrong if I were to announce I'm with child? I can't bring myself to tell everyone. I want to surprise you. I want to make you happy, but why does it feel like I'll be a heavier liability to you more than ever?"
It scares her. She's been warned in her dream. She will be yet another liability. The child in her womb will be the target of the evil coming their way, and it scares her. When will it come? Her husband is powerful. He can protect them, but not everyone. She's stuck in between, with fear and despair beneath her, waiting for her fall.
Prince Izylidas is yet again in the Heart Palace, wandering while whistling a tune. He's nowhere to go, he just want to piss everyone off. Yet his feet brought him to where Sun is. From the halls, he could already hear her dying gasps and huffs, screaming and crying.
He stopped by the doorway and lean against the door. He crossed his arms and stayed to watch Sun's suffering. Archmages and Imperial Physicians were all gathered in her room. Their hands are stretched out, giving their life just to lift the curse. She's become thin, skin and bones. The luster of her hair faded into dull, and so the shine in her eyes.
It's horrifying, but he's so amused. Her suffering brings him joy.
"When is she going to die?" He asked, getting their attention. Distracted, the archmages stopped for only a second but it already turn Sun's suffering into an agony.
"Want my help?"
Sun's bloodshot eyes glared at him.
Prince Izylidas chuckled, "I think I can do something. Just say the magic word. I'm not as lacking as them. And where are your brothers? Left you? Saddening, really."
The Prince corrected his posture and gave an order, "Leave us. Don't let anyone in unless I'm about to leave."
"But Your Highness! The Princess will---"
He gave them a dead stare. The archmages, though hesitating, was left with no choice but to obey if they value their lives. They closed the doors and stood outside, making sure their conversation would not be heard nor let anyone enter.
Prince Izylidas approached her bed with a mischievous smirk.
"We should make an agreement first before I help you. Nothing is free. Is that alright with you, Auntie?"