-Morning in Helia Palace, Outside Roxana's Room-
Before I could process the whirlwind of emotions, a loud commotion erupted outside her room. I rushed out, only to find maids scurrying in every direction; their faces paled with fear. Grabbing one by the arm, I demanded, "What's going on?"
"His Majesty! He has a severe seizure with a high fever!" The maid cried, her voice trembling as she tore away from my grip.
My eyes widened in disbelief, my mind racing. The reality of the situation crashed over her like a wave.
I glanced around the hallway, and in the hustle and bustle of the maids, I noticed the absence of the guards who had stood watch just moments ago. My heart raced at the thought of escape, the tantalizing freedom just a breath away. But no...I didn't want to be the center of attention anymore.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I turned to Myla and Mylo, their anxious faces peering from behind the bed, eyes wide with uncertainty. "The game will finally begin," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Get back to Lobis Mansion immediately, and prepare the wine." With that, I stepped into the corridor, the weight of my decision settling over me like a shroud as I made my way to my father's room.
-Morning in Helia Palace; King's Room-
Standing outside the King's room, I saw father lay on the bed, struggling with hyperventilation. The Queen covered her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks. "FATHER!!!! Pleasee pleasee pleasee open your eyes, please," Isabella sobbed as she pleaded, holding her father's right hand.
The doors of the room were left open, as maids and servants kept moving in and out of the room, assisting at their best efforts, while the High Priest, sitting on a chair beside father, facing the door, holding his brow furrowed in concentration, held father's left hand, trying in vain to calm the seizures that wracked his body with his Holy Power. But there seems to be no improvement whatsoever.
The Pope and....The Holy Knight, Lord Heron....were there too. The Pope, his robes swishing as he paced, shouted anxiously at the High Priest to do more. Lord Heron, his expression unreadable, observed the scene with narrow eyes.
As I stepped in and stood beside the Queen looking down at father....I could see him moving his lips....perhaps trying to say something? Hmm...I too looked at him with narrowed eyes, my mind racing.
"LUXANA?" The Queen shrieked in a shrill voice as she grabbed my arms upon noticing my presence.
"Please let go, Your Majesty." I requested with a serious expression.
"How could I? It's because of you that His Majesty is suffering! If only-"
"DO YOU REALLY THINK IT'S THE TIME FOR THIS?!" I yelled. And as always, everyone's attention was on me. "Mother, please come with me for a second." I said, dragging her out of the room, holding her left arm with my right hand. Isabella too followed upon noticing, her tears still falling, while the others remained inside.
We stood outside the King's room beside the door in the hallway. Isabella and the Queen's faces were filled with uncertainty and unease. I still hadn't let go of her arm, but she didn't seem to care.
"Moth- I mean Your Majesty, FATHER WOULD NEVER RAISE A HAND ON A WOMAN. Have you ever seen him slap anyone? No, have you ever even seen him raise his hand before? HAVE YOU? NO right? Do you really think that-" Ah....their expressions....seem to tell me...that my words.....were a key to something...
"Sister.....the servants of Father's quarters....reported that.....he never left the room today. But father had forbid them from delivering the news to us about his sickness.....so we wouldn't worry....." Isabella said with her eyes wide, pericing into my eyes.
"And so...the person" the Queen treamblingly with her face paled. "who we met earlier....was...someone else.....in His Majesty's...."
Their realization dawned on their faces, their eyes widening.
"You...must be...kidding me..." I uttered stammering, my eyes widening. Of course I was acting just so they don't suspect me of knowing who that guy was.
"Wait.....sister!" Isabella's face lit up. "Your powers! Can't they be used to heal people?" She pressed, her eyes pleading.
Can it, Veles? I thought. "Hmm.....not like it can't but....your not stupid enough to help these devils, are you? Isn't it better for us, just to let them die on their own?"
"Of course." I said aloud. I stepped back into the room, striding towards Father.
Upon seeing me come closer to Father, the Pope said, "Princess, I know it hurts to see His Majesty like this, but you-"
Veles too said, "Hey! Lumi! What do you think you're doing?! Are you really just gonna-"
*SHINE*
Placing my hand on father's forehead, I let the power of the Dragon Flames erupt from my fingertips, as the glorious flames entered father's body and a blinding light filled the room, it was a scene to behold. The High Priest retreated his hand, giving me way to heal Father instead.
The Queen and Isabella too entered upon seeing the light shining out of the room, and so did the servants and maids around there. Everyone stood frozen in amusement.
*3 minutes later*
I let out a sigh as I moved away from father. My body strained and exhausted. The Queen and Isabella came and stood beside me. Just then....
As the light faded, the High Priest rose from his seat, his face alight with joy. "His Majesty! He just moved his finger!"
And father had opened his eyes.
"Your Majesty!" Everyone exclaimed in relief, except...Lord Heron, who stared at me with narrowed eyes.
I turned to the Pope, the High Priest, and Lord Heron, my voice commanding. "You may take your leave, Your Holiness the Pope, High Priest, and you might as well, Lord Heron." I said, pericing through Lord Heron's eyes, "You will be paid a hefty sum of money for your hard work." I asserted, looking down with my eyes shut.
The Pope lighting up in joy, "AH! Thank you so much, Your Royal Highness, we will be-"
"You may please take your leave now." I demanded raising my voice, cutting him off. I really don't have time to deal with such money suckers.
"Of-of course," the Pope remarked, making a pissed face as he hurriedly passed by me, leaving the room along with the High Preist. But...Lord Heron paused beside me, whispering, "As expected," before leaving the room.
*DOOR SHUTS*
Isabella and the Queen kept weeping to the King, who had risen up but had said nothing. The Queen and Isabella continued to wail about how worried and tense they were for him. Perhaps.....if I was also treated like a family.....I think I would've also cried like them. But that doesn't matter anymore; there are more important things to be done than just waste time thinking about things I can't get nor really desire anymore.
"Your Majesty, the Queen and Isabella, I believe it would be prudent to allow His Majesty to rest. The pain he endured must have caused fatigue." I voiced.
Isabella pursing her lips, letting out a sigh, "Mother, I think she's right." The Queen reluctantly agreed.
I smiled in relief at their agreement. It was clear that the King needed to rest and recover from his pain.
"For once, at least." Isabella added, looking back at me with a sly smile.
Hah.....nothing's changed, I guess. I thought, turning my head away.
"Why aren't you coming?" asked the Queen upon reaching the door.
"I'll be there in just a minute." I said with a smile.
The Queen, letting out a sigh, left the room behind Isabella.
*DOOR SHUTS*
Turning my head back to father, who sat upright and composed, finally said his first words after all that pain. "I'm not interested in what you have to say, so get out." He demanded, letting out a weary sigh and leaning back to the pillow behind him.
"Instead of thanking me, who just saved you, you're kicking me out? Hah! What a PATHETIC EXISTENCE YOU ARE!" I asserted with a superior voice, my voice dripping with disdain.
Father's face contorted with rage. "HOW-"
"YOUR MAJESTY!" I cut him off, my face raised high, my eyes glaring down at him with superiority.
The King made a puzzled expression filled with rage.
"Do you really think, I'm unaware of your use of black magic?" I questioned, squinting my eyes.
Father's face paled, and a shiver ran down his spine. I walked towards the window, which was covered with curtains, preventing any light from coming in.
*Opens curtains*
*Light fills half of the room*
"Your room is your heart, and this light is my power." I exclaimed, looking at the light coming in. Turning around "The seizures weren't caused by your brain's electrical activity; it was because your heart is blackening; it's detrioting because of how much you've used black magic."
Father's eyes widened in shock as I continued.
"You see," I said, sitting on the windowsill. "This room isn't completely lit up, but only partially; that's just how your heart is," I said, raising my hand. "I've only suppressed the seizure to the extent of this light; just look at how big your room is; there's no guarantee it won't occur again." I explained, looking at Father. "The stability of your heart is.....pretty much shattered." I stated, looking up at the ceiling with my finger on my chin, "I can't completely cure you because my powers are for healing, not purifying." I said, shurgging my shoulders, my voice nonchalant. "So you'll die pretty soon, not to mention you won't get to see the New Year. Which means...you'll die within this year!" I proclaimed as I smiled brightly, watching as father's face contorted with fear and shock. He stared at his hands, his jaw slack.
"But rest assured!" I said, raising my index finger, grabbing his attention. "Your life is now in my hands." I conveyed with a sly smile. "Which means..." I jumped off the windowsill, walking towards father and sitting on his bed, taking his hand in mine. "We'll finally get to play, Daddy and Daughter!" I declared with another smile with my eyes shut. Father's eyes widened even further, and he trembled with terror, unable to speak. He couldn't utter a single letter or even flinch anymore.
"So, daddy," I leaned in, whispering in his ear. "Don't get in my way, and do just as I say. I'm the only one who can cure you anyway."
I rose from the bed with the fluidity of a serpent, my flowing blue dress rippling like a turbulent tide. My hair fanned out in an ethereal display of contrast between beauty and impending darkness. With my eyes shut and a dangerously alluring smile upon my lips, I spoke in a voice dripping with both sweetness and venom, "Daddy, I promise! I'll be the only one who leads you to the path of eternal pain and destruction. So play along while I'm still being kind."
"You know well, if my words were to be spilled even to the most trusted of your companions, you won't last a second longer, user of Black Magic." I added with a superior gaze. "Domions.....will no longer be ruling on the throne."
A chill crept along the King's spine, sending an unsettling sensation through his body.
"Be a good daddy, and don't do anything without my permit. If you do, then you'll pay for every little consequence."
With that, I turned and left the room, my heart filled with a twisted sense of satisfaction. The game had begun, and I would be the one to decide the fate of the Dominion throne.
-Helia Palace; Roxana's Room-
As the heavy door of mother's room clicked shut behind me, I leaned back against it, a sinister grin creeping across my face. The dim light filtering through the curtains danced across the room, casting playful shadows that mirrored my thoughts.
"Hmm... to think..." I mused aloud, gliding across the plush carpet towards my bed, my fingers trailing along the ornate furniture, feeling the coolness of the polished wood beneath my touch. Upon reaching the bed, I raised the chin of the man seated there with my index finger, my smile brightening as I met his gaze. "Lord Heron, would visit."
Lord Heron sat relaxed, arms crossed and one leg casually draped over the other, his chin tilting upwards in a display of confidence as my finger gently nudged him.
"Seems like the Princess's debut isn't so far away after all," he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Hehe, of course," I replied, twirling around in my flowing dress, the fabric swirling around me like a cascade of stars, radiating an air of glory and elegance.
"You're pretty," he declared, rising from the bed and taking my hand gently, his gloved fingers brushing against my skin. "But only on the outside," he added, his sly smile hinting at deeper meanings.
"Hehe, I like you, Lord Heron," I asserted, placing my other hand on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his presence as we began to dance.
The music from the hidden gramophone filled the room, a soft waltz that echoed the rhythm of our hearts. I felt the world around us fade away as we moved together, gliding across the floor. My dress flowed like liquid silk, swirling around us, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of color and movement.
"Wow... to think you were such a flirty person!" Veles interjected, his voice cutting through the moment. My thoughts screaming, Shut up. I'm only doing this for the sake of my life, get it?
"HMPH!" he remarked. I let out a sigh, momentarily distracted from the dance.
Just then, Heron made a daring move, pulling me closer. I stumbled back, his hand cradling my back, his face mere centimeters from mine. "The Princess seems to have something else in mind when I'm right in front of her," he teased, his breath warm against my skin.
My eyes widened in surprise. "Ah... I'm sorry," I stammered, and he swiftly helped me regain my balance, our bodies resuming the dance as if nothing had happened when I was just seconds ago from falling onto the ground.
"So, is the wine ready?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes searching mine for answers.
"Yeah, it's ready," I answered.
The discovery of cranberry wine in my palace's basement led to finding a covert warehouse behind a fake wall, revealing an impressive collection owned by a true aficionado. I instructed Myla and Mylo to remain undercover on the day I got an invitation to the Royal Family Dinner. Leading to communication with the wine merchant through midnight letters. The merchant revealed himself at the temple, prompting me to visit Leena's workplace. Fearing the wine would be stolen or reported after the banquet in my honor, I convinced Leena to store it at the Lobis Mansion instead of the Palace, which took three days of persuasion. I plan to use the wine to elevate Lord Heron's status and launch his fine wine enterprise, setting the stage for our High Society alliance.
"That's brilliant," Lord Heron replied, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
The dance continued, each movement more intimate than the last, until I felt a sudden shift in the air. My heart raced as I realized the stakes of our partnership. This was more than just a dance; it was a prelude to a dangerous game, one that could change the fate of our worlds.
To be Continued...