A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1
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"Princess, are you tired?" Watts Xirquit asked, panting and sweating from playing with the children. Golden Azarese is standing by the glass wall, looking at the Other Side. Then, her eyes panned to the skies.
"I am."
He took a step forward to stand beside her, and another to the side to get closer to her. Golden Azarese rest her head on his shoulder. He took her hand and intertwined their fingers. He kissed the back of her hand.
"I love you. You are the strongest woman I've ever seen. The most amazing. Thank you. You are very strong. And I'm sorry. You didn't deserve any of that. I'm sorry. I'm so, so...sorry, Elyzena."
Golden Azarese smiled a little and held on his arm. She didn't say anything. He gave her a hug. An embrace of safety, security, and protection. And she never felt so better. A bed may give her comfort, but it will never be Watts Nikola Xirquit.
"You're so fluffy," she chuckled and looked up to him. She did not notice how close their faces were because she got lost in his eyes. His eyes are whispering languages to hers. One she can understand and another she can't.
They closed their eyes and felt each other's breathing on one another. Watts kissed her forehead while cupping her face. It made her smile genuinely.
"I love you."
She smiled and nodded, "I know."
Prince Maxigaufeas scoffed at the sight of them and shook his head. Princess Eowyne watched how their love unfolds before her eyes. For no reason, she feel guilty. So guilty that it makes her sick. Is loving Prince Maxigaufeas a mistake?
She used to not like the crown. Now, she's starting to hate it.
The crown and the throne did that to her, to Golden Azarese. Her name put her through that hell, because she's the Third Lady of Heart.
"Let's save Uncle Max now," said Golden Azarese as soon as she's full. Of life and love. Watts Xirquit is a great charger.
When they returned to the circle, she stated what must be done next. But there was a problem.
"Auntie, please. For Uncle, let's trust her."
Watts convinced the Empress Dowager Clastigaufeas who refused the idea of bringing Golden Azarese to their home.
"Trust? You will bring a threat to my home!? Foolish, you are. She will not save my husband. She will KILL my husband!"
"Mother!" Emperor Claxiord stand up and pushed his mother gently back to sitting. He calmed her down.
Golden Azarese sighed, then she smiled, "I understand you're wary of me, but you should understand too that I have every right not to. Instead of doing that, here I am, offering you my help."
Hands folded so she could sat on them.
"You stalled too much time. Did you not know that the farther her son is, the stronger his curse becomes? That's why Uncle Max isn't dead truly yet. Because her son is killing him slowly by distance alone."1"All because of YOU." The Empress Dowager spit so poisonously. 1That seem to drain Golden Azarese's patience. The slight fade of her smile told them so. Watts tried to get between them but Hands lifted him up to put him aside.
"Let me make things clearer to you,"1She levitated down before the Empress Dowager and lift her chin up to look up to her with a finger. Her sons dared to part them but Eins and Zwei wrapped themselves around them to keep them away. 1"Your stories were only told and written so there will be stories to tell before mine."
The Empress Dowager's eyes reflected the golden and bluish glow of her eyes. The pressure it brought to her depths was so great that it made even her Core Essence tremble. Much more than that and she might explode.1A supernova.1And what's worst is only she can feel it.1"I am unlike the rest. Before Good and Bad Azarese are and was, I am. I am her values. Therefore, I am kind; I am generous; I am merciful. Unlike you, Uncle Max is an important piece. And people like you were the reason she became what she have become."
She walked a few steps back, distancing herself from the Empress Dowager. Her resting, cold eyes gazed through her.
"You're going to the Other Side for Aviana Lavender Lee, aren't you? A week or two from now."
They were stunned and dumbfounded.
'How did she know?' Is the question that's running in their heads and they have a bad feeling about it.
"Not happening anymore, I say," Skadi Eira butt in as she throw the ball into the ring. It's a three point shot.butt in, scaring them.butt in, scaring them.
"Yey! You're amazing, Mommy!" Solana cheered, sitting on a cloud beside her mother to watch her play.
"What do you mean? We are going." The Empress Dowager stated.
"You dare bend MY word?" The ball she's holding bursts, startling Solana. She turned her head to where the Empress Dowager is. That's when the Emperor stand up to make things right.
He went down to his knees.
"Claxiord!? What are you doing!?"
The Emperor remained on the ground and lowered his head before the great figures before him.
"Allow me to ask for forgiveness. My mother is in the wrong, so please. Don't take us the right to go to the Other Side. I am sorry if we offended you, Princess... Your Imperial Majesty. Your generosity reached me."
Empress Dowager Clastigaufeas was speechless.
"That's what I thought," Golden Azarese said, "I'm your last hope's wife and mother of his children. Who do you think he will side more? You may be his family, but he will choose me. Am I wrong, my love?"
When they all turned to Watts Xirquit, they saw how problematic his face already is because of the conflict the Empress Dowager caused. When he heard what she said, he was stuck in between. Because if he said yes, he will seem like a traitor who betrayed his family for a woman. But she is not just some 'woman'. She's the love of his life, his wife, and the mother of his children.
They're all waiting for his word and they're running impatient.
He breathe in and slowly let it go.
"Anywhere we look at it, the Empress Dowager is in the wrong for refusing the help she extended. Chances such as this is rare. It may not come at all, but she willingly offered it. Despite everything we've done to her before, I don't think we have the right to resist her. Going against her would only destroy us, so it'd be wise to not provoke her. Please, do not stress her out. I will not forgive anyone who will offend her in any way, even if you're my family. Are we getting the same thing? Are you getting my point?"
Prince Maxigaufeas shook his head and looked away. Watts Xirquit walked to the Emperor and helped him get up.
But Azarese said, "No."
Their heads turned to her and found her smiling emptily.
"You're nothing but disappointments to me."
She turned her back on them and went upstairs. Hands picked up the trash lying on the bed and threw it outside, who happen to be Ohms Xirquit and his mother. However, Franchetti Xerene was quick. The moment she felt her dangerous presence, she was awakened. She secured her son in her arms but the impact woke him, too.
Skadi Eira clicked her tongue.
"It's not fun anymore. You're annoying, you know that?"
The Empress Dowager refused to meet her gaze. His Equal cast her hand in the air, giving form and life to a bird. Then she shoot a hole on the glass wall to give her bird a way out. It flew and flew and reached the room where Emperor Maxism is. Through the bird's eyes, Skadi Eira looked into his soul. She destroyed half of what's left in him in spite. When the deed was done, the bird melted.
"Mommy, I want to play more," the sleepy Solana yawned while brushing her eyes with her hands.
"No. Sleep."
"Oki."
Skadi Eira widened the cloud she's sitting on. Solana threw herself back knowing that her mother's cloud will catch her.
"Mommy, milk."
His Equal rolled her eyes and summoned her bag where her snacks and milk are. The bottle of milk is cold, so she warmed it up a little before giving it to her daughter.
"Thank you, Mommy. I love you."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She went to play more with the machines, ignoring the unimportant Earthlings around her.