A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
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The Young Lord run his fingers through his hair that are falling like dominoes on his face and heard the people 'ooohh' from doing so. He gave them a smirk before focusing on Moon again. She was thinking deeply about which number to choose, as if her life choices depends on it.
"You can choose any number. Everything in it is still yours anyway. I just want to thrill you, Princess."
Moon hugged the bouquet and pointed the number she chose. "T-Then... I'd choose number nineteen, the last number."
He flashed a smile at her, "Good choice." Then, he flicked his finger, summoning a vanity table filled with makeups and skin care products.
"Girly things for my girly woman. How is it? You said back then that you liked makeups. It's all yours."
Viscountess Givenchy clicked her tongue now that she know who hoard her new makeup and skin care sets. Even the ones to be released for next year were bought in advance. She was paid handsomely by the customer, who is no other than the man himself, Watts Xirquit.
"T-They're for me!? For real!?"
Moon flounced her way to the vanity table and fed her eyes with the sight of all beauty products in front of her. There are so many shades to choose from, and she can't calm her giddy, girly heart.
"From Red Lane! Wow! My Lord, they're---Thank you!"
He gave her an approving nod and followed her.
"Do you know how to apply makeup?"
Moon giggled, "Celia taught me. Thank you so much! There's so many, but I promise to use everything! Oh my, you even included skin care products! This is the legendary face cream, My Lord!" and she talked and talked.
He listened to her attentively, paying attention to every word she says. He's listening, memorizing things that interests her so he can make them happen in the future.
"---And this shade is my favorite since it look natural. But I'm not using it right now because my overall makeup will not be balanced. Look!" She twist the lid of the lipstick open to show her the color to him.
It's cotton candy pink.
"Indeed. But red looks good on you, too."
"Right!? But it will depend on the occasion. Every day, new look! I'd practice a lot."
"Oh, I'd like to see the Princess in different makeup looks. There's nothing for you to worry, though. Everything is hypoallergenic, so they won't irritate your sensitive skin. You can use them however you like. You can wear them even when you're sleeping."
Moon's eyes twinkled in delight.
"Alright, let's move on to the next. What will be the next number, Moon?"
"Oh, number two!"
The drone flew to them and dropped a key on the Young Lord's hand. Then, it entered a portal with number nineteen.
"Oh my, is that a key to a safe!? You will give me money, My Lord!?"
His eyes widened. Next thing he knew, he was laughing.
"P-Princess, no. Pfft! This key is the key to your penthouse in the Academia. You'd be our new neighbor. That is, if you will pass the entrance exams. But I know you would. Here."
He transferred the key to her shaking hands.
"The Academia..." he trembling lips formed a grateful smile.
"I won't fail you. I will do my best, W-Watts. I will become an Academian, too!"
"That's the spirit," he pat her head.
Next, Moon chose the tenth drone, which is a bouquet of flowers. Not just flowers, but Pastel Glass Lotus that bloom every century and never wither. It bloom only in the fields within Axeore Empire and is one of the rarest and and is named the most expensive flower in the world, where a single piece already costs about a hundred million. And seeing that the bouquet have a dozen...
"Damn! He's fucking rich! That bouquet alone is worth a billion! Oh, I want to be his sugar boyfriend. My sugar daddy Wattsycakes!" Emperor Maxism talked in a high pitch, doing his best to sound like a girl.
"Uwu, Daddy Wattsycakes," Duke Paris entranced while aligning his fingertips.
"Stop. It's gay and cringey, Dad," their sons hissed with their noses scrunched.
"I should've made him my Diavon's godfather," Prince Davorin regretted while carrying his Princess.
"Just how rich is Watts now?" They all share the same thought.
"The Pastel Glass Lotus?" Moon carried the same bouquet in her other arm. Now, she have two bouquets. One that lasts forever and one she will immortalize in her memories.
Everything is too much. She's having thoughts of not deserving what she's getting. Yet every time she will see his face, she falls to the belief that maybe, he's right that these are not enough. That she deserve more, that she have every right to be greedy. Before the same things are within her reach. This time, they seem to be so out of her reach. She felt like a beggar extending her hand to get a gold coin on the highest shelf in tiptoes.
She tried smelling them, and she squirmed when she inhaled its sweet scent that is new to her senses. It's called 'glass' for its petals are transparent. They're soft and flexible, very healthy and full of life.
The twelfth drone gave her a luxury, limited edition purse. For the fourth drone, she received a complete set of jewelry. The nineth drone were fingernail guards since her claws were proven poisonous. A tiny scratch will worsen and could cause an Ancient's death. For the thrud drone, she got a music box with her dancing figurine. A Platinum Membership Card of L'empire Mall for the eleventh, body accessories for the fourteenth and seventeenth, a bottle of wine for the eighteenth, scented oils for the eighth, art materials for the thirteenth, and then a perfume set for the fifteenth.
Moon asked for a break and a glass of water to absorb the things she got from him so far. All of them are valuable. Even though she tried, she still can't make an estimation of how much those things worth. The numbers are rising continuously.
"Go, Moon! You're down to the four, best gifts! Hooray to Master's love! Hooray!" Wattroid cheered adorably.
Moon roamed her eyes on the things she received so far. If these things are not on the level of 'best', then she doesn't know what else is. She's nervous about what the remaining drones beholds. At the same time, excited for what's behind them.
"May I see drone seven, then?"
And again, the Young Lord flashed that soft, smitten affection on his face.
He hand the gift to her himself. It was a book in hardcover with a glowing Moon and Sun engraved on its cover. Its thickness fits right into the span of what her hands could hold, and it was very light instead of heavy.
"I told my feelings for you through words. Poems, sonnets, songs, drawings, and stories. I hope that book will tell you the things I can't say on your face. I want you to know how I see you in my perspective. That you are more than just Moon to me, but a woman I want to marry."
Duke Paris and Emperor Maxism screamed like ladies while holding each other's hands. Their wives punched them in their stomachs for ruining the moment.
Moon opened the book. It was an empty page. On the next page was the illustration the same like the one in the cover. As she flip the pages, she reaches the page of her illustrated image, drawn by the Young Lord himself. It was not just her but her.
Not Moon, but the Sun's Daughter, golden Holy Azarese Elyzena Warlock.
Her shaky breath hitched. With her heart skipping beats, she closed the book and gaze into his lovesick eyes, but they also hinted his sadness and hatred.
"How... W-Why... H-How?"
She can't seem to form the right sentence for her question. The Young Lord left a kiss of security and assurance on her forehead first.
"I saw you. I see you. I can see you for who you are, Princess. I know who you truly are."
He pulled the gloves on his hand and passed them to Wattroid. He caressed her cheeks before filling his palms with them. And there, he saw it happen, the magic of her transformation as shimmering, sparkling light unveil her true and real appearance: the golden Princess of Heart.
Her 'Moon' appearance brought him down to his knees, but this one? It drove him to love madness and left him defenseless.
"Since when?" His sincerity provoked her tears to well.
"Since we caught each other hiding behind the bushes when you were six. Back then, I was hiding because Wattdroid's hand was malfunctioning. Back when I'm using him as a disguise. It was an outdoor birthday party for you Princesses. I removed his hand part to fix it and see what's wrong. Then, you found me. When you hold my bare hand to comfort me, thinking that I got hurt, that's when. That's when, Elyzena. That's when. "
The event flashed back in her mind. It was the first time she got so near to him. Though he greets her with a kind smile, nothing comes after that. She found it strange---they found it strange, when he suddenly became so friendly with her. He supported her, and the attention he's giving her is giving her power.
After all, he's Watts Xirquit. He's the precious youngest member of the Grand Ducal Household of House Xirquit. The spoiled Young Lord, always getting what he wanted, the prodigy, and their favorite. He's one of the center of attention, with his interests taking the world in a storm because everybody else copy him. They tried to be like him, so hard that being obese became a beauty standard for men. He's that man.
Now, look at how far he's come. Self-made no matter what they say. He made his name sound and known all over the world. He's not known just as a 'Xirquit' but Watts Nikola Xirquit. His name has become a brand, a trademark, a symbol.
He pulled her again for a forehead kiss with a loving embrace. They swayed, feeling the moment while whispering sweet talks only they can hear. And Wattroid. And those Ancients with superb hearing senses.
"Thank you so much. I don't know how I would repay you," she told him.
"As long as you're happy. That's enough."
She smiled and buried her face on his chest.
"Thank you for coming back. I missed you truly. Everything's alright now. I should call you Nikola. Everyone's calling you 'Watts'."
"Oh, only one person calls me by that name so far. Now, there's two," he shared, and it was not as fun as it seem when Moon heard it.
"He's a friend. Not a girl. I'll introduce you to him soon. He's a friend from school. Maxi and Thirdy are friends with him, too."
Moon was relieved.
"Okay."
Her reply was brief, and he didn't know if things are fine or she's just disguising her sulking.
He spin her around, "Don't sulk. I chose you. No other girl can seduce me from you."
"I-I'm not sulking! You're imagining things, My Lord!" she denied but her nose is getting red.
He boop her nose and chuckled, "Elyzena, the red-nose Princess. Let's open the sixteenth gift. I know you'll love it."
Moon cupped her burning cheeks and stole glances of his comely appearance. Her eyes roamed from his head down to his toe, and though he noticed that she's checking him out, he feigned ignorance so she won't feel awkward if caught.
The drone dropped a gift box. Moon instantly caught it.
"C-Can I open it?"
"Go on."
She excitedly opened the box and it was filled with confettis inside. She buried her hand inside, searching for the gift. When she felt something hard and cold to her fingertips, she immediately grabbed it and pulled it out. It was a---