>> 15 Winter Solstice pass...

Townsfolk from the town in the Kingdom remain at their daily lives. All of happenings from the time of Summer Solstice slowly change.

Tophet Kingdom is still, with the busiest vassals and confidants to their works inside the castle. Chambermaids, as well as servants kept their busybodies attending the Queen.

However, at the last Winter Solstice King Mephistopheles together with Demon King Army went to the war against humans. Deciding the stabilization of this realm is the duty of each royalty in the lineage of throne.

A succession of battle to remain the harmony of this realm against humans is the King’s duty, and in line of that, he sacrificed his own life to defeat the heroes.

In the lineage of demons, once every 200 years of reigning to the throne, a hero was born to bring catastrophe on their realm. Believing that defeating the demons, together with its army will bring peace upon.

Yet, on the chronicles of the lineage upon demons... humans have never win war against their species. Going to a war without winning; a ridiculous idea that they keep haunting onto the minds of valor humans.

In the process, King Mephistopheles uses all of his powers to maintain the harmony. But that exchange his life on the line because of depleting the power out of his body.

Leaving the widowed Queen and sole princess, Mephistopheles knew perfectly that this must be done or their race will face perish for good.

Queen Juno knows that, and asking him to stay isn’t an option to do. A Queen should remain stern, despite of anguish she will feel for her king.

For the sake of the sole princess leaving behind, Juno did stay strong and firm for Astarte.

Time flies by; and not knowing that the beloved baby who was born in the night of Summer Solstice finally becomes the young princess.

“Milady, Milady!” in the wide and empty hallway, a voice of a maiden loudly calls out. The sun shines at the zenith, reflecting on the windows of the hallway.

Candles placed on the candelabra hanged on the wall to distinguish some light upon. Dust prickles floating on the morning sunbeam luring on the window.

A maiden in her early 20’s, wearing a gray dress sleeve and apron on the waist; a hair tied in a bun dyed in chestnut hue; pair of small horns on its forehead shown and a piece of cloth topped on its head.

“Where are you? Ugh! I just left for a minute and now you’re gone again!”

Her exasperated voice echoed around. Stomp of her feet heard clearly on the marble-like surface of the castle as she keeps walking. The maiden keeps wandering, checking each room to find someone.

“Abigor!” at the far distant of the hallway, a familiar voice clearly called her name. The maiden named Abigor turns to look from where the voice came from.

Over the distant of the hallway is the person she’s looking for: a beautiful, young woman in her 15’s. Wearing a dark blue Tudor dress, the curve of her body is impeccably seen.

Golden hair shining brightly in the morning sun appears before her. The pair of round eyes with emerald color fixed at the maiden’s place, filled with life and glimmer in the morning.

Like a gemstone, it shines gallantly.

On her lips show mischievous smile, the girl waves at her. “Milady!” Abigor shouted out. “Catch me if you can!”

Ah, it’s another tiring day for this maiden. The person she’s looking for, the next queen of the kingdom and heir to the throne, Astarte, dashes away from her sight.

“Milady! Wait for me!” Abigor starts to chase her from the wide hallway. This day hasn’t change since then. Since the time she begins to work as a personal chambermaid of the princess, Abigor didn’t expect that this person exhausted her.

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“Milady, it’s time for your studies! Please have enough playing!”

Abigor whined out as she keeps chasing Astarte who runs further away. “I don’t want to study; come on! Keep chasing me!”

The young princess’s giggle echoed in the hallway while running. The once quiet hallway began to fill with laughter and giggle.

Imperial Guards who has been the witness of the princess growing up are the ones could say.

From the time she was born, everyone says that Astarte resembles of the queen. As she grows up, the appearance of the Queen resembles her completely.

A complete other half of the queen in her prime, running lively and vigorously laughing.

“Princess Astarte...” Abigor wheezes out as she keeps running, but her legs starts to wobble. She can’t catch up to the princess anymore. “Aw, you’re such a bummer, Abigor... I thought you can catch me.”

“You’re quite fast, milady... Hah... Hah... let me catch my breath...”

Abigor sits on the floor with her tongue out due to exhaustion. “It’s because you don’t run often. And that’s why I always escape when you’re not around. I want you to run as fast as you could.”

Her lips form a smile while stating it out. Abigor sighs exasperatedly right after that. “Come; let’s go back to our study...”

At the time when Abigor gets tired, Astarte leniently asked her to go back to studies. This is their routine every day since then.

Despite of being mischievous, Astarte is a witty student and resilient person like her mom. She’s advanced in using magic taught by Botis and in learning ancient language of their species.

Astarte is also cheerful and free-spirited person. And because of her advancement in the studies, she find the session very bland. From time to time, she sneaks out of the room and go somewhere to slack off.

That made Queen Juno feels concern towards her daughter’s attitude. She wanted Astarte to be mature enough and be responsible. From time to time, she often tells Astarte to act like a proper woman.

But that seemed to the young princess as a play. Like a kid, her attitude still resembles in being a young one. Indulging in reading simple books and basking under the sun, as well, letting Abigor chases her every day... that’s how her life runs.

The maturity Queen Juno wanted to see to her daughter has seemed to be far distant.

Yet, from time to time, the queen always thought how Mephistopheles would; her king reacts if he’s here. Since the war against the heroes, Astarte was quite young to remember him.

♦ ♦ ♦

Though, quite busy with her duties as the queen, Juno still makes a time to talk about her daughter. She’s the one who always look after the princess, but always in the eyes of the servants.

“Astarte,” one night of their dinner, Juno called out to her daughter. “What is it, mom?” Astarte asked as she takes a spoon of soup on her mouth.

“I want to know how your study is going.”

“I’m doing well. My teachers are saying I’m excelling in science and math, as well in magic and language arts.”

Astarte replied with nonchalance on her voice. Juno nods as her eyes fixed at Astarte. Now, her once infant become a full-fledged young woman now.

“She’s already at the marrying age. I at least want to pass the throne to her. She must learn how to be responsible ruler for the future.”

That certain thought hangs on her mind. Astarte is 15 years old in the demon time. At such age, a woman should find someone she must have for the eternity.

Right now, Astarte must be fully aware of vague feelings of a maiden. Feelings of a woman who finds something to answer of; the thought of looking for a man that will make her fall of.

However, as she observes the young lady, that feeling never occurs. Astarte remains her mischievous deeds, like a young child. Despite of her body getting matured, but her mind remains as it is.

Clearing her throat, Juno called out of her daughter.

“Astarte, have you ever thought of getting married? You’re quite old enough to get married.”

Astarte got shunned from the question she heard.

“Huh?” in a sudden question, that’s the word she response out. Getting the grail with wine, Juno took a sip.

“I’m getting worried about you. At least, get some suitors in the Marquis and Barons, or Earls.”

Astarte’s expression gone sulk after the comment of the queen. She seemed displease on this. “I don’t know what’s with that sudden question, but there’s nothing coming out of my mind right now.”

Her reply made Juno’s eyebrows fuzzed. “What’s the matter? I even filled the candidates for you to choose from.”

“I don’t need candidates to choose. There’s something in me that says none of the Barons or Earls suited to be with me. I mean, they’re good looking, but...”

Her sentence cut out. Juno waited, but Astarte didn’t give any other thoughts after.

“Why does she seem paying no attention to the opposite sex?” On her mind plays that thought. At her constitution, Astarte should start admiring someone, or even start to look for a man at least.

“Could it be...?” uttering inwardly, Juno clenched her hands tightly. Not paying heed to men is a little concerning for a maiden.

In her age as Astarte before, Juno starts having admiration to her suitors. Every Barons, Earls and Marquis are trying to capture her heart and be the king of the kingdom.

But her daughter acts as if it was just nothing. Barons and Earls gave their gifts to the princess whenever the come to the castle. Paying visit to see the queen doing, and ask for some matters to maintain the stability of the kingdom are their agendas.

Though, most of it is just an excuse to see the princess.

“You are the future queen, Astarte. A queen should find a king right after ascending to the throne. Marquis and Barons are quite fond of you.”

“I see that you’re getting concern to me... however, none of them sways me. I do admit they’re good looking; they’re manly enough...”

Astarte shows exasperation on her voice right after. Juno wanted to know the adamant mood of her daughter. What makes her think that way?

“I guess there’s no other choice here, then?”

Once again, Juno took a sip of wine from the grail and fixes her eyes on the princess.

“Then, that might be... you like girls more than boys?”

In an abrupt moment, Juno asked as Astarte sips water. She spilled it out of her mouth, causing her mother to look bewildered from the sudden reaction.

“Huh? What the—-No way! There’s no way I will like girls!”

Astarte got bewildered as well while wiping her mouth with the napkin at the question heeded out. “What makes you think I do like girls over boys? That’s hilarious!”

Juno now realized her thinking was wrong at the beginning. She doesn’t need to doubt over the answer the princess gives.

“I’m sorry for doubting you. I thought that—-“

“—-Mom, the reason I never pay attention to anyone, is that... it feels like, I want to see someone.”

Astarte’s complexion becomes somewhat wondrous as she said those thoughts. It glows under the lit of candle on the table. That made Juno got hanged over the expression her princess does.

“Hmmm...” she utters out. She becomes quiet right after while remaining focusing on the princess.

“There’s something in me who says I need to see someone.”

“Then, tell me the name of the person who you wanted to see. If I know that person, then it should be good enough for you to be your husband?”

Astarte chuckles out as she heard the reply of Juno. “Mom, it happens that person I wanted to see isn’t clear in my mind. I don’t know exactly who or where he is.”

“Hmmm...”

Once more, Juno pondered out from what Astarte has said. Now that she knows her daughter doesn’t act like what she was expecting to, the remaining thought hanged on her mind.

“Who exactly that person is?” uttering quietly, they finished the dinner that night.