A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1****
Azarese opened the envelope with a knife and read the letter inside. At first, the ridiculous content made her throw it away to be burned. But the name of who wrote it got her attention.
The Ki'zaar and the Prinsiaze jumped in shock after she stabbed the table with the same knife.
"Maxism Ford Lee is awake? Watts dare go against my orders?"
"Mi'zaar, you startled us. What's the matter?" The Ki'zaar gently asked and tried to hold her hand when she pulled it away to throw the letter away.
"Where is Watts?"
Celia bowed her head, "I heard he's in his office, Your Imperial Majesty."
"And Ohms?"
"With High Imperial Highness the Prince, Your Imperial Majesty."
The Ki'zaar wondered how she knew about the youngest Prince already. He wanted to speak about it to her himself, but the chance slipped away. The Mi'zaar is cold to him. Why? He fulfilled her first and second wishes. He destroyed the Wall and was the one who made her merging with her first self possible. He only failed to find Prince Maximilien---he's still searching for him, so why is she cold? What happened?
Azarese is not one to bend her words. He just need to be patient with her. They will be fine.
Now she wonder where did Emperor Maxism found the face to shamelessly summon her and the Ki'zaar. He even asked if it's possible to meet Prince Maximilien. The letter is not authoritative, but rather, when read, sound so submissive and too courteous. So much that it irks her.
"Where is Feryzen?" she asked and looked at Prince Valerian. Then sighs to caress his face, "Eat."
Prince Valerian nodded and touched the utensils. He should be happy that his mother interacted with him finally, but it's momentary. And just a word? He's awkward.
"He hasn't returned. What did you made him do, Mi'zaar?"
Azarese rolled her eyes and stand up, "None of your business, Valtyremius." And left like she's irritated.
The two could only watch her back as she leave. The Prince burst into tears.
"Daddy, is Mommy mad at us? What did I do? I don't want Mommy to be mad at me,"
"My sweet little dragon..." The Ki'zaar transfers to his side to comfort him.
"Don't worry. Mommy is just going through some...challenges, because she absorbed her first self. Let's understand her and be patient with her, alright? Everything's gonna be alright." He kissed his tears away and the Prince nodded.
"Let's dine. Here, eat more. When your Uncle was little..."
When the sun set and Azarese preferred to be alone in her room, Feryzen had returned with the child in his arms. He's pale and sweating, his eyes were dazed and uneasy. But who cares about Feryzen and his dilemma? Azarese got what she wanted now.
"Heh. A girl," she said when she saw the gender of the child when Feryzen put it on the bed. The child is fully developed and healthy. She can't tell who the child resembles more, but it will definitely be her once Prince Maximilien possessed her. Once the body adapts to the shape of his soul, it will look like her.
"Begin the ritual, Feryzen."
Lord Feryzen couldn't move.
If... If he sees Prince Maxigaufeas or any of them, he don't think he will be able to keep his cool. Prince Maxigaufeas is a good student to him. He may not look like it, but he's actually a smart lad, too. Very curious even about the silliest things sometimes. His guilt... His guilt is killing him. He couldn't believe he would do such thing to Prince Maxigaufeas and his family who's been good to him.
"DO.IT." Azarese pushed him, and he was left with no choice but to.
When the deed is done, the body instantly took the shape of Prince Maximilien and grew into a kid.
"Now, leave. We're done here," she said as she sat beside Prince Maximilien. He's asleep.
While Lord Feryzen is on his way out, Azarese followed him with her gaze. Without him knowing, she altered his memories with black magic. The Ki'zaar might look into his mind. Now, the truth only exists in her.
"My beautiful boy," she smiled sweetly, watching her son to sleep and caressing his face.
Soon, Prince Maximilien opened his eyes. And they widened when he found her, but they squinted right after to cry.
"Mommy, is that r-really you?" He stuttered. His mother picked him up and placed him on her.
She gently tap his back as she say the words, "Yes. Yes, my love. It's Mommy. I'm Mommy. Mommy is here now."
***
Prince Valerian was speechless and bet he was horrified when his mother walked down the stairs the next morning with Prince Maximilien holding her hand. Even the Ki'zaar couldn't believe it. Rather than be excited that Prince Maximilien is now with them, Prince Valerian is lost.
Why?
All of a sudden?
"Mommy, who's that? Who are those things?" Prince Maximilien asked his mother with a haughty expression. He's looking at the Ki'zaar and the Prince with an arched eyebrows, scanning both from their heads down to their toes.
Prince Valerian subconsciously seek for the hand of the Ki'zaar. He's trembling. Prince Maximilien...is here. And he didn't recognize him. Should he be happy about it? Why is he feeling restless?
They stopped before them.
"Maximilien, it's your brother. That's Valerian, with his father."
The Ki'zaar studied the bully of his son. If only Prince Maximilien is a normal kid, he would've been cowering and crying in fear by now. But he's not a normal kid. He's a vicious, evil kid.
"Bwahahaha! That muddy Valerian, that!? Bwahahaha! He's uglier! He's got long hair. Maybe he's gay! Pfft!"
Prince Valerian hid behind his father, tearful.
"I-I'm not...ugly..."
Prince Maximilien laughed louder to piss him off, "Whatever! You're so small. And weak! Mommy, let's go. I'm hungry!"
"Oh, no. That's not good. Then, let's go. Mommy will cook for you."
"Yey! Let's not bring that one. I want to spend time with you!"
Azarese smiled at his sweetness and carried him. She turned her back on them and took the path to the kitchen.
Prince Maximilien smirked at the father and son. He stick his tongue out, gently pulling his cheek down to taunt them. The Ki'zaar just stood there, staring at him coldly.
"D-Daddy... He stole Mommy from me..." Prince Valerian sniffles while hugging his leg.
The Ki'zaar couldn't give him the right words of comfort. Prince Maximilien... He's a challenge they must overcome.
Day and night, Prince Maximilien was with his mother. They played indoors and outdoors games while Prince Valerian stood on watch with envy and jealousy behind the windows. The Ki'zaar, for his son, asked if the Prince could join them, but Prince Maximilien refused.
"This is my first time playing with my Mommy. Why would you take this away from me? Mommy, that stupid Valerian don't want you to play with me! He's being so mean!"
"No, that's not---" The Ki'zaar was cut off by Azarese who's glaring at him.
"Valerian stayed with me the longest for now. Leave us alone, Valtyremius. Maximilien needs me more. Valerian have you, doesn't he?"
Prince Maximilien giggled mischievously at the Ki'zaar.
"Mommy, don't be mad at him! Since... Since I don't have a Dad... Can we play with him instead?" Prince Maximilien faked his tears and sentiments and Azarese fell for it.
"Sure, my boy. As you wish."
In the end, Prince Valerian was left by himself, watching his father play with his mother and with Prince Maximilien who should've been him.
"That sly thing," his brother hissed beside him. He's annoyed. He want to teach Maximilien a lesson.
"K-Kuya... What did I do for him to hate me like this? He stole my Daddy. Why? What did I ever do to Maximilien?" The pitiful Prince cried as he hug his legs.
Prince Zodiac felt bad for him. And he closed his hands into a fist. He looked outside and watched Prince Maximilien play happily with their mother and with the Ki'zaar who's not enjoying it. Not even one bit of it is fun.
"Don't be sad, Valerian. That little shit will change soon."
Emperor Maxism stood before the resting bed of his sister. The husband and wife were lying in a bed of roses, holding each other's hands. For others, it is the funeral. But for Maxism, it will be for a ritual.
"Baby girl," he muttered and caressed his sister's face. He bends over to kiss her forehead.
"I will accept your anger. Punish me, I will endure it. I can't lose you yet. I don't want to lose you yet. So please, come back. I will take you back."
Duke Paris stopped beside him. The words he whispered to him awakened the Emperor and his desires.
"They're here. They are waiting in the throne room, Max. Azarese and Maximilien...they are here."
They came unannounced and undetected. When everyone relevant made it in the throne room, they found Azarese sitting on the Empress's throne and Prince Maximilien on the Emperor's. He's swinging his feet while licking ice scream happily, but his eyes were bored and cold.
He don't know where they are. His mother didn't tell him. She just took her with him after saying him,
"I know a place where we can have more fun, Maximilien. Bloody fun."
The Ki'zaar who's supposed to be sitting beside her was standing on her left with Prince Valerian in his arms.
"Mommy, where's the fun you promised? I'm just sitting here. I'm losing my patience. I'm bored!" he hissed and threw a nasty glance at his mother.
"Which is why you will have more fun. You will see, my heart. You will see."
The Grand doors opened up. Finally, the Imperial Family of Vernignac Empire showed themselves before them, except for the Empress.
"Now entering, Emperor Maxism Ford Lee-Vernignac with Crown Prince Claxiord Vernignac and Prince Maxigaufeas Vernignac."
Prince Maximilien was stunned. The next thing he knew, he's crushing the ice cream in his hand.
"Mommy, what's the meaning of this!?"
He threw the ice cream to the floor. His furious eyes glared at Azarese as he snarled,
"Why is that pig walking and awake!? Who dared lift my curse on that bitch!?"
Azarese smiled and touched his head, but Prince Maximilien pulled away and smacked her hand away.
She didn't like that.
She smiled wider and even sweeter and Prince Maximilien realized his mistake.
"Maximilien, the next time you disrespect me like this, I will abandon you. Hmm?"
He looked down and bit his lower lip. And since his enemies are in front of him, he directed his frustration at them.
Emperor Maxism stood before them with confidence and stern demeanor. He placed his hands each on his son's head, and brought them down as well when he knelt before them. He's looking at Azarese who's looking at him, too, with a smile so meaningful and demeaning.
They finally met.
The mother of his grandchild, their newfound fear and nightmare, Empress Holy Azarese Elyzena Dragunovv-Warlock.