A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1***1"And whose fault is that?"
'That sass must be from our wife,' Emperor Ohms chuckled to himself after hearing what the Ki'zaar told to the spirits.
"But I am your lord, Zin Draji Teivel descent! I am Stellandriavia!"
"Yes, I know. But you, of all people, should know who to and who to not provoke. Our Patron Deity may have created us with hierarchy, but that doesn't mean that you can use that to overpower the others. I will not just stand as you pointlessly disrespect my mate and son. You even tried to harm my second. Do you realize how grave of a sin that is?"
Stellandriavia's knees shake as the Wrathful Void bare its image before her naked eyes.
"I understand..."
It's a shot to her pride, but this is her utter defeat. And it was on her. She got way too caught up with the excitement of meeting their Patron Deity's child that she wanted to show off.
She presented herself to them in a graceful manner once more with a bow, "Allow me to redeem myself. I acknowledge my fault. In exchange of your forgiveness, I will answer one of your questions. As long as it's not about the future, I will answer it."
Each of them felt the spike in their hearts the moment they heard it. Now, they're looking at each other: who must ask the spirit a question?
"M-May I?" Watts Xirquit hoped with his shaking hand up.
Stellandriavia lifted her head to see the person who will ask her a question. Seeing that it was him, she was surprised. But her surprise was different for them, because she was smirking.
"What does the first and wise Emperor of Heart want to know? Anything related about the future is not possible. About your past then, perhaps? Or about the truth of your son's identity?"
What he wanted to know was none of the things she mentioned, yet the last one caught not just his attention but Azarese's, too.
"What do you mean about his identity?"
Emperor Ohms adjusted his position on the throne, "I wonder. The Prince is a pureblood Warlock and Xirquit. How could there be an anomaly in the Prince's identity?"
Stellandriavia smiled at the Emperor meaningfully, "Indeed. His blood from his fathers' side is so pure that none would mistake him as a bastard. Should I tell you a prophecy about the first Prince then?"
Watts Xirquit didn't know but he threw suspicious glances against his eldest brother. Emperor Ohms fearlessly meet it halfway. He must not waver. He must not give his brother a hint that will inspire his curiosity even more. His brother, if possible, must never know about it.
"Tell me the prophecy," urged Watts as he slowly divert his attention from his eldest brother.
"Zodiac Astrophel Nikolai is a being that must have never been created. The heavens rejoiced upon his death. However, his soul remained. They tried to destroy it but then happened the Conquest. Zodiac Astrophel Nikolai...must be destroyed."
Watts Xirquit felt like his world and heart stopped from turning and beating respectively. His vitals went down to the drain and only the same words played in his head over and over again.
"W-Why?" Emperor Ohms was breathless.
Azarese winced when she felt pain in her stomach again. But the pain in her heart was greater. Her boy... Her beautiful boy---she will lose him forever? Why? What was the reason?
What did her son do? What did she do?
"My mistake. That prophecy doesn't apply only to him but to all the Princes that almost were. Each families lasted mainly through inbreeding. They value reproducing within themselves rather than sharing the purity of their blood and power with others. They are greedy; though they wanted to try the idea, they feared that it will result to something that would someday grow into someone beyond their control. But you, the Third Lady of Heart, carried them and thus, they almost were. Each were Princes of their own empires. Creation Bloodline mixed with other Bloodlines. Does that not terrify you? They are near. In fact, they are right within this wall,"
Azarese grabbed on the armrest tight. Her blue eyes burned violently.
"The people who will kill your children are breathing the same air as you as I speak."
In that moment, Azarese used her heart for once after all this time to think.
At some point in her life before she fell apart, she hoped, that if she will be given another chance, she will save all of her sons. She had used any means necessary before to revive them, but her failures every time pushes her more into despair.
However, it's different now. Valerian, Maximilien, and now Vars, even the souls of Ivailo and Ambren in heaven---it's possible.
Because they have souls.
She have lost them once and she won't lose them again the second time around. It never occurred to her because it didn't matter at all; so what if the blood coursing through their veins were mixed? She have no need for power. She have no need for the Crowns and thrones.
---She believed that life will be bearable as long as her sons are with her.
And so, she decided with her heart as well.
She rose from her throne and gathered her son.
"Come, Maximilien," she called with a gentle smile. And though the Prince had doubts, he still went to his mother.
She kissed each of them with a smile so peaceful, as if she had attained serenity.
In her arms were her boys the Princes, and she carried them all.
"Do you love Mommy?"
Prince Valerian, drowsy, rested his head on her shoulder, "Mommy, I love you very much."
"Wabwab, Mama!"
Prince Maximilien hesitated, but he said it anyway because he mean it, "Me too, Mommy. I love you."
Azarese smiled and buried their faces 9n her chest.
"I do, too. Maximilien, for you, and for each of you, I will climb the skies and kill those Deities to have you back just like what I did for your Kuya Zoddy. Because I l-l...love you. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
Prince Maximilien's face twitched with sorrow as he close his eyes.
"Now, my boys. Close your eyes. Forget what she said. I will protect you."
She sing a lullaby for the Prince as she carefully walk down the throne. On her first step, her shadow expanded, swallowing every feet they come across to pin them down. Hands spread around, circling every neck and shutting every mouth so they would not make a noise.
Yes. Everyone is the throne room.
Since she doesn't know which of them will is deceiving her, she doesn't know the person or people who will bring harm to her boys... Might as well kill them all to reduce the Princes' death chances to zero.
"Mommy will expel the darkness...away~" She sang the last line, the same time she crossed the open doors to the throne room.
She turned her head to the side to see what they had become: dolls of her black magic, getting swallowed and eaten by her black magic.
She smiled and went on.
Prince Vars opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of what had happened in the room as the twin doors closes.
Yes. This is for the best.
***
Prince Valerian's eyes fluttered. The sun rays that were poking him on his face woke him up.
"Daddy?" Was the first person he called for when he get up.
He found himself in an unfamiliar room. The only things familiar to him were his brothers, fast asleep on the same bed. Prince Vars is sucking his thumb while Prince Maximilien looked angry, as if having a bad dream.
"My, you're awake," Azarese said when she got into the room.
"Mommy, where are we?" The Prince asked as soon as he sees her. His mother is dressed modestly in a simple white gown with ruffles. She must've dressed simply and lightly to feel cool and light since she's pregnant.
"To a better place. Why do you ask? You will like it here once I showed you around. Are you hungry?"
"Where is Daddy?" He asked one more time. It did not change the expression on his mother's face, though. It's strange to see her smiling and looking so gentle and kind. Or maybe he got used in seeing her haughty and mean.
"Do you want to play?"
"Play?"
Prince Maximilien woke up from the magic word he heard. He's brushing his eyes with his hands and his hair is so messy.
Azarese sat on the bed to greet them with a forehead kiss. Soon, Prince Vars was awakened. He stretched first. He woke up just to sleep again.
"Wha~? He's sleeping again!?" Prince Maximilien. He gently poke his brother's cheek.
Azarese chuckled, "Let him be. Come, I will show you around our new home."
Azarese placed pillows around Prince Vars and left Sieben and Acht to watch him sleep. The boys were holding each of her hands.
She showed her around their humble house first. It's unlike a mansion but it's not very small either. It fits to their number and have rooms with toys for playtime, a nursery for Prince Vars, walk in closet, and storage room with lots of foods. When they made it outside, there was nothing but just an endless fields of greens. Everywhere they look, it's just green and the clear skies.
"Mommy, where are we? Where's Daddy and Uncle Valor? Mommy!" Prince Valerian panicked to which his mother only laughed at.
"Don't be scared. We are safe here. It's just us. You, me, and your brothers. Do you not like it? I'm everything you will ever need. We will be here forever."
The Princes' eyes widened with dread.
'Forever?'
Then that would mean not seeing them anymore. For Prince Valerian, it would mean not seeing his father again, his uncle, his grandpa, Solana, and even the nice Earthlings. And for Prince Maximilien, it's Emperor Maxism. He's yet to complete his tower with chips. He wants to get the prize on the top of it. He wants more playtime with his grandfather...and bully his father.
"Did you not like it?"
The change in their mother's tone and expression made them tremble. They looked at each other.
"M-Mommy..." Prince Maximilien gulped. He wants to say it but he's scared.
"I like it," Prince Valerian preceed, "But I like it better if there will be trees, animals, and lakes or rivers. Or other playmates. A village with fake people, a waterfall... Right, Mommy?" He said with a sad smile as his tears well in his eyes.
He won't see his Daddy anymore.
But he doesn't want to disappoint and hurt his mother.
Azarese's face light up and nodded, "Hmm! That's a good idea! I will do that sometime. For now, come and play with Mommy!"
Azarese pulled them outside the field.
For the very first time, she let herself loose. In the Princes' eyes, it was the very first time they've seen their mother so free.
She feel so free.
They played until noon came. When they head back, Prince Vars was still asleep while drooling, that's why they had enough time for a quick bath altogether. They played rubber ducks and scrubbed each other's backs. After that, the Princes looked out for their youngest brother as their mother head to the kitchen to cook their dinner.
~
"Mommy, Vars won't stop crying," Prince Valerian worried as he gently push his brother's rocking cradle. Prince Maximilien was on the other side, trying to feed his brother, distracting him with toys, but none of it worked.
"Okay, Mommy's here. This naughty boy just want to drink milk straight from my chest!" Azarese chuckled and wrapped her hands around the now-chubby Prince. He's very cute and healthy: day and night, all he ever did was suck her nipples for milk. If not, he will throw tantrums. Fearsome tantrums.
"Yada! Dada! Dada! Waaah! Dada!" The Prince cried while pulling his head away from her chest.
"O-Oh... He missed...his Daddy, too." Prince Valerian murmured when he realized. She didn't like what she heard.
"He's just being naughty. Here, Vars. Are you hungry? Maybe you're constipated. Let's check your pants if you pooped," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
How long has it been, the Princes wonder?
It's fun to be with their mother. They're seeing a new side of her. But sometimes, they can't help but think about their Daddies. Surely, they are worried. They must be searching for them. They are starting to feel empty, or that something is missing in their life. Their mother is funny and sweet as long as they won't mention their fathers. She matches their weird and energy. Their mother is very fun to be with.
That's not all. Her belly is growing each day. Thus, her movements had become limited. She gets tired very easily and they understand.
"She swallowed a big watermelon," Prince Maximilien once said.
They were faring well in their paradise, until Prince Vars began searching for his father and grandfather.
At first, they could fool him with toys. The Prince is smart and now, they can't use the same tricks anymore.
"SHUT IT! WHAT DO YOU WANT!? STOP CRYING! YOU'RE SO ANNOYING, VARS!" Azarese snapped and shook her son.
"M-MOMMY!"
Prince Valerian instantly took his brother from his mother. They were all shocked. Most importantly, Prince Vars was hurt other than that. She grabbed onto him a bit hard and squeezed him.
"I-I... I didn't mean to---"
Prince Vars's loudest cry broke out from his throat and wriggled around, making his brother struggle from containing him in his clutch.
"Vars, calm down! H-Hush, it's okay! Here, toys! W-Wow~ It's a firetruck!"
Prince Vars screamed and smacked the toy away. Prince Valerian gently placed his brother back to his crib and looked at his mother.
"M-Mommy, what to do? Mommy!"
Azarese bent over while covering her ears.
"Make him shut up. Shut him up! Dammit, Vars! Just---Why can't you fucking play along!?"
"MOMMY! NO!" Prince Maximilien stopped his mother's hands when she grabbed onto the crib, as if she wants to throw it away.
"Please, stop! Mommy, you're scaring us! Please, Valerian, make him stop!"
"I'm trying! V-Vars, shhh... Please, stop crying. Please, just play with your toys."
They started crying as well when they don't know what to do anymore. And the louder they cry, the more it irritated Azarese.
She couldn't handle them all.