As the men left the King’s office, both Marcella’s and Aurelius’s dark auras enveloped the atmosphere, suffusing the room with a palpable sense of foreboding. Their combined presence cast a shadow that seemed to stretch and loom over every corner, leaving an ominous impression lingering in the air.

Aurelius searched her face for anything, but as he expected, her face remained expressionless. Her walls remained high as the day she gave up on their marriage. Finally, Aurelius broke the silence, his voice icy yet composed. “Why did you come?”

Marcella met his frigid gaze with steely resolve, determined to maintain her composure. “You called,” she responded curtly. She couldn't remember the last time his eyes held anything but icy detachment. If he believed his cold stare could unnerve her, he was sorely mistaken.

“I asked for your support,” Aurelius corrected.

Marcella echoed his words with a chilling precision, her voice laced with determination. “With your support, their fate will be sealed sooner than late… Perhaps just this once, we could set aside our differences and put the past behind us, joining forces to ensure Eternia’s well-being and the justice she deserves.” As she spoke, she locked eyes with him, her fingers curling tightly around his shirt collar, pulling him closer. “This is my support, Aurelius,” she declared, her grip releasing abruptly as she turned away, leaving him to his thoughts as she claimed his cup once more, drowning her turmoil in another round of hard liquor. “As for my methods, don’t get in my way. I’m certain that you of all people would understand this from my perspective.” An exasperated sigh escaped her lips upon recalling a painful memory. “After all, you’re one of the few people who knew what my own mother has put me through.”

Aurelius shook his head, a gesture of resignation. “Do what you want,” he conceded, his tone firming as he continued, “Just as long as you don’t harm our daughter.”

“Where is our daughter?” Marcella inquired, her thoughts drifting to the miracle child they had almost lost. Our miracle child… You almost died using your magic to save our daughter… If only I was strong enough then.

“She’s in the gardens with Alexander, the heir of Solaris,” Aurelius replied, his tone neutral. “I assume you can still find your way around in the palace.”

“Of course,” Marcella responded briskly, turning to leave his study.

“Don’t strain your powers.” Aurelius couldn’t help but add, a trace of concern evident in his voice. He remembered all too well the near-fatal toll her magic had taken on her when she tried to revive their already deceased son. It was a sacrifice that had nearly cost her life, all for the slim chance that their child's heart would beat again.

Marcella found herself wandering in the halls of the palace she once called her second home. Not much had changed since the last time she visited. Most portraits and decor still hung and sat at the same place. A small smile curved her lips as she stopped by a portrait from her childhood. It was from the first official visit she had. She looked so young and innocent as she sat next to Aurelius and their friends, Maximilian, Theodore, Magnus, and Jessica. “It seems like a lifetime ago,” she muttered, walking past her distant memory. Strangely, none of her portraits were taken down. Her portrait as the Crown Princess of Sapphiria remained untouched when it should’ve been replaced by the current queen’s portrait. Another portrait that caught her eye was that of their official engagement. Such happy smiles painted on their faces… If we were that happy, how did we get here? Her thoughts were startled by the sound of water splashing onto the floor.

“Y-your Majesty!” a maid stammered, bowing to her feet. Her cold gaze made the poor girl frozen in her spot, afraid to move a single muscle.

Realization struck her as she recognized her features. She reassembled one of her maids from her time in the palace. But given that she looks rather young, she must be her maid’s daughter, Christina. “You’re Christina, am I wrong?” she asked, helping the trembling girl stand. Her warm smile appears to have calmed the girl down. She glanced at her arms, purple bruises covered both of them.

“Y-you know m-my name?” the maid stuttered, trying to catch her breath.

Concern swept over Marcella’s face as her eyes trailed down to the blood dripping from the girl’s leg. She lifted the fabric of her dress, horrified to see the giant cut on the poor girl’s flesh. Instantly, she knew who was behind such cruelty. “Don’t be afraid, Christina,” she says, placing her hand over the fresh cut. Blue energy glowed from her hand as she healed her leg with magic. She stood, gently placing her hands over the girl’s shoulders. “Alexa did this to you?”

The maid nodded, fear evident in her eyes. “S-she was a-angry,” the poor girl tried to explain, “b-because the p-princess w-was excused from h-her l-lessons.”

“Where is my daughter?” Marcella inquired, tone firm yet gentle.

The maid led Marcella to the balcony which overlooked the gardens of the Princess’ Palace. She pointed her finger at the young couple strolling in the garden. “She’s with t-the heir of S-solaris,” she says, still trembling.

“Go home,” Marcella commanded, handing the girl a small pouch with silver coins. “That should be enough to cover your leave of absence while you recover. I will tell His Majesty about the incident.”

“I-i c-cannot accept t-this,” the girl refused humbly.

Marcella insisted, holding her hands in reassurance. “It is a command, sweet girl,” she says, embracing her as though they’ve known each other for years. “Please, go home and rest. Also, tell your mother that I send my regards.”

“I shall never forget your kindness, Your Majesty!” the girl bowed, thanking her in tears. Obediently, she followed her orders and left.

Marcella leaned against the balcony, observing her daughter with Max's son. It stirred memories of her own youth, of being betrothed at a tender age. “I think I’ve seen this tale before, and I didn’t like the ending,” she murmured to herself, a hint of sadness tingeing her words.

“Won’t you approach her, Marcella?” Maximilian’s words startled her thoughts. He came closer, watching the children by her side. He couldn’t fathom what Marcella must be feeling right now… To abruptly return like this… To watch her daughter walking the same path she had.

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Marcella shook her head in response, her eyes fixated on the daughter she had neglected for years. “I believe it’s best if I keep my distance from her,” she said, her voice trained by emotion.

“Why did you come here?” Maximilian asked, hoping to receive her honest response.

“I was reading his message when a crackling of lightning began, the blue vortex swallowing me whole," Marcella explained, her voice tinged with disbelief. "The next thing I knew, the portal threw me out, and here I am." She shook her head, still trying to make sense of the sudden and unexpected journey that had brought her to Aurelius's side. I didn’t know how to respond to his letter. Fate, somehow, decided for me.

“This wasn’t your choice then… You handled it well, though,” Maximilian remarked with a supportive smile. "For once, you and Aurelius managed to find common ground without resorting to violence." His hand rested gently on her shoulder, offering comfort and reassurance. "Don't fret too much, Marcella. Once this is resolved, you can return to Crystalia." Despite her intimidating exterior, Maximilian had always known her to possess a kind heart. Yet, being thrust into this situation had clearly taken its toll on her; not that anyone would notice.

Marcella met his gaze with steely determination. "No," she replied firmly. "There are matters I must attend to here...”Her voice carried a weight of purpose as she straightened her posture, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. With a graceful leap, she descended from the balcony, landing effortlessly on her feet. The sudden appearance of the former queen sparked murmurs among the palace staff, their whispers spreading like wildfire in the corridors.

Meanwhile, Alexander and Eternia walked in silence as they made their way to the pavilion. Eternia’s threat lingered in Alexander’s mind, casting a shadow over their otherwise peaceful surroundings. With each step, he found himself questioning everything, grappling with the weight of Eternia's words and the implications they held. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her story, that beneath her icy facade lay a tumult of pain and vulnerability.

“Why, might I ask, are you so silent, Young Master Alexander?” Eternia inquired, her voice laced with a hint of poison that sent a chill down Alexander's spine.

“You just threatened to make my life a living nightmare, Princess Eternia,” he retorted coldly. “You’re unrecognizable. Honestly, I think you’re the devil.”

“You were the one who sought to court me for marriage," Eternia retorted, her tone edged with sarcasm. "This, Young Master, is the reality of who I am. Or rather, who I must be. If I am to ascend to the throne, I must embody strength and resolve, even if it means sacrificing my humanity. A true leader places the welfare of the kingdom above personal sentiment and is willing to make difficult choices to safeguard the honor of our lineage.”

She talks like an adult, he thought, captivated by the wisdom in her gaze. Her words echoed in his mind, each syllable weighted with a maturity beyond her years. “I understand what you mean,” Alexander said. “Sometimes, I forget how young you are. Anyway, you don’t have to put a mask in front of me, Princess. I won’t tell anyone about what I saw. So, please, don’t act like that…”

“Like what?” Eternia questioned, raising her brows.

“Like a demon from hell,” Alexander replied, “It’s… disturbing to see you that way. Truth be told, it’s scary. I happen to like how we were.”

“We’re not friends,” Eternia declared rather harshly. “And I’m sure that you had no intentions of becoming my friend. As you said, before you saw… the ugly parts of me… You only came here to get to know me under your father’s instruction. So, Solaris, how are we? What are we?”

“Your scars don’t make you ugly,” Alexander stated earnestly, his tone devoid of any trace of pity. "Don't give me that look, Princess. I'm not saying that out of pity. You've always been beautiful; I'm sure you've always known that. And as for what you said just now, you're right. Before seeing the real you, I had no intentions of forming genuine bonds. I wanted to fulfill my duty; that's it. But I was wrong. You're a person whose strength and beauty are unmatched, and you're wise beyond your years, incredibly intelligent. You're a person worth knowing.”

Eternia would be lying to herself if she claimed that his words had no affect on her. They did. They tugged on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. But after hearing those words from him… Before seeing the real you… She wants nothing to do with him. “I don’t want to be your friend anymore, Solaris,” Eternia declared, her voice stern and unwavering. “To tell you the truth, I so badly wanted it—your friendship. Every moment I had with you was fun even though you appeared to dislike me… I could never tell whether you liked me or not. But now I know that all those efforts were for your House. It’s clear to me now.”

“Princess,” Alexander struggled to find the right words, but he failed.

“I’m not finished, Solaris,” Eternia glared, her icy gaze bore through him. “The dance, finding me that day, your compliments, your letter… and now your coming here. All of them. You did it all because the Duke asked you to. I won’t hold it against you. I’m a princess, after all. I know all the burdens you may have. Just know this: even if my father ends up selecting you, you and I will never have—” her words were disrupted by the sound of a twig snapping.

“Stay behind me,” Alexander commanded, unsheathing his sword. He could sense a powerful aura surrounding them.

Stubbornly, Eternia refused, stating, “I can protect myself, Solaris!”

“This isn’t up for debate, Princess,” Alexander said, grabbing her wrist to keep her close. “You aren’t armed. You won’t be able to slay any monsters even if you wanted to.”

“There’s no need for that, Young Master Solaris,” said a familiar voice. A figure cloaked in white and gold emerged from the distance, long locks of brown hair peeking through her hood as she walked elegantly towards them.

Alexander kept his guard up, refusing to put down his sword. The figure oddly seemed familiar, but how could she know him? It didn’t matter. His mind was set on protecting the princess. The immense power he sensed undoubtedly came from the stranger approaching them. That concluded, he deemed her as a threat. Who is this woman?

That scent… That voice… Eternia’s eyes widened, her gaze darted on the woman approaching them. Her heart pounded in her chest as though it would leap out at any given moment. It can’t be, can it? She can’t possibly be here right now.

The woman stopped before them, gracefully pulling down her hood, unveiling her identity. A beautiful woman with long locks of brown hair cascading around her, her eyes like crystal, her skin porcelain. She was dressed in a lavish white and gold royal gown, and atop her head sat the crown of Crystalia. Her gloved hands reached for the boy's shoulders, a warm smile gracing her lips. “Thank you, Alexander Solaris, for being protective of my daughter. I expected no less from Maximilian’s son,” Marcella stated, planting a gentle kiss on the boy’s forehead. Her gaze shifted to the little girl whose face was as pale as a corpse.

Daughter?! Alexander recoiled in shock and disbelief. His eyes swept over the woman's regal form, searching for any hint of familiarity. There were no obvious similarities in their features, yet there was an unmistakable resemblance between them, something in the way they held themselves or perhaps a shared aura of reality. Turning his gaze back to the princess, he searched for answers in her expression but found only a reflection of his own confusion. So this is the King’s former wife, the former Queen Consort of Sapphiria, and the mother of Princess Eternia, Queen Marcella Cyrene Crystalia, and the reigning queen of the Crystalian Empire…

Eternia quickly regained her composure, acknowledging the fact that this was no dream. With grace befitting a princess, she performed a low curtsy, bowing her head in respect to her mother, the Queen. “Your Majesty, Queen Marcella,” she greeted, her gaze fixed on the ground beneath her feet.

“Princess,” Marcella greeted.