"Move!"
Emperor Maxism pushed the crowd aside and arrived beside his sister.
"Baby girl!"
Grand Duchess Aviana Lavender smiled at his brother.
They are at the Tower. Grand Duke Paris were waiting for their arrival at the Spawn Point. And once they were there, they immediately used another teleportation spell sheet to go to the Tower with Empress Clastigaufeas. Grand Duchess Xerene, together with her husband, done tests on the couple specially to the pregnant wife.
"Kuya..."
She burst into tears now that she's within her brother's arms. She sobbed hard on his chest and the Emperor embraced her as tightly as he could. Finally... Finally.
"They want my baby, Kuya. They want my baby. My baby... They want my baby."
"Hush, hush. You're safe now, baby girl. Were you hurt anywhere? Hmm?" She shook her head. The Emperor was relieved.
"She's all fine. Her baby, too. It's holding onto her strong, but I understand if you will be extra careful. This is your first pregnancy after consecutive...you know, miscarriages and trying. Let's name it Miracle once it's born!" Grand Duchess Xerene stated and smiled with both thumbs up.
"No. We will name it after me."
Grand Duke Voltage smacked the back of the Emperor's head.
"Idiot. Why would they name it after you? We don't want another dumbass here."
"Eggs-cuse you!?"
The Grand Duchess chuckled while using the Emperor's plain shirt to wipe her tears.
"Baby girl, I will handle this, okay? Just rest and if there's anything you like, tell them. If there's anything you want to tell Kuya, tell Kuya, hmm? My baby girl..."
Emperor Maxism cupped her face and kissed her forehead.
"How did you know, though? Is it true that the griffin went to tell you about the danger itself?" Duchess Lady Luisa, one of Grand Duchess Xerene's two girl friends. The other being Duchess Denise, wife to King LIFE's cousin, Duke Yohanne Minuet. To add, Duchess Lady Luisa is the wife of one of King LIFE's best friends, Duke Locke.
Duchess Lady Luisa and Duchess Denise were close to them. They, like them, are assassins, too.
"Yes."
Empress Clastigaufeas yawned. "I went to ask it myself, but it was not at its nest."
Grand Duke Voltage looked up to the ceiling, scratching his brain for a memory. "Yeah, I saw it outside the Diamond Palace. It's mad at Gerson Liorei. I saw him teasing the griffin with its egg in his hands."
They were surprised with arching brows.
"What? Did that bastard stole the griffin's egg?" Grand Duke Paris.
"Nah," Empress Clastigaufeas, "He's the one who sent the griffin to us."
"AIN'T NO WAY!"
They pushed themselves away from her with hands extending, shaking a 'no-no', refusing to believe the Empress's truth.
Emperor Maxism waved his hands in the air.
"Let's not talk about this yet. I will meet him myself later. For now, my baby girl, how about we go back? Or do you feel safer here?"
"Can I...whisper to you?"
Emperor Maxism smiled, "Baby girl, they will still hear."
All of them have crazy senses after all.
"Aight, we'll leave you then. We have work to do. Just call us if you're ready to discuss this with us. And don't name the baby yet. We didn't look into its sex yet, too. We're gonna bet on that." Duchess Denise.
"Don't tell anyone about this yet, especially about the baby being the target."
"Oks." They gave him thumbs up.
Duchess Lady Luisa stood first and stretched her arms up. "Ugh~ I want some action!"
"Go fuck your husband."
She smirked, "I just did this morning."
"EWW!"
They rolled their eyes on her with so much disgust, and only Crown Prince Claxiord have a solid, straight face.
One by one, their friends left until its just them, Lee-Vernignac. And Forester. Tsk.
"Kuya, it hurts to say this, but I think something weird is going on here," the Grand Duchess whispered to her brother despite being just them in the room.
Emperor Maxism whispered back, "What do you mean, baby girl?"
Empress Clastigaufeas watched them converse with a bored expression. Seriously, this brother and sister. Do they really have to whisper? Who else would hear them?
"I-I dunno. I just...don't trust this place anymore. And the people. Kuya, you're ought to feel that. Your instincts. My instincts tells me so. Lately, I've been very, very sensitive. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant---But Kuya, something strange is happening here. And... And at home, I think we have moles there."
The Emperor listened attentively to his sister. She was biting her thumb because of her rising anxiety, but the Emperor took her hands and squeezed them.
"We have few teleportation spells. Knowing you, you'd give us plenty. Ever since we arrived at Devereux Empire, that's when I started feeling eyes on us. Back then, we encountered Thorn and Sennoma with their friends. We were altogether during our stay there...and I think the reason why they didn't get the chance to move was because of them."
Her tears streamed again.
"Kuya, this is my first healthy baby. Of all people in this world, why my baby? Why me? Please help me, Kuya. I don't want to lose my baby. It's my baby. This is mine. Mine, mine, mine. My baby."
Emperor Maxism kissed her cheeks and soothe her. She continued crying while hugging her belly, and the Emperor worried her emotional distress will affect her baby. Thanks to that, she realized its negativity and calmed down. The Emperor told her to rest but she was too afraid to sleep. In the end, she only slept when he laid beside her and lulled her to sleep with a song.
"Claxiord---"
"No. You're not scolding him. I'm the one who told him to follow you. And I'm with Paris. We went here as soon as they returned."
"I'm not saying anything yet."
Empress Clastigaufeas only raised her brow at him. Deep inside, the Emperor was giggling and biting his lower lip. His wife is so sexy when she's haughty. The problem is, she's always haughty to him that's why she's always sexy to him, too. Hating him is as natural as breathing for the Empress. The Emperor is just so annoying sometimes.
But the Emperor knows how to play.
"No, Clastigaufeas."
He screamed internally when he called her by her name. More when the Empress's brow arched higher.
He got up carefully and sat on the bed, facing his wife and son who's behind his mother.
"He still disobeyed my orders. Should I give him another as his Emperor and not as his father just so he won't break it? I promised you a safe and secured home, but rats still had their way inside. Our baby girl is right. Something strange is happening and it started when their daughter was born."
He meant the birth of the Third Lady of Heart, Holy Azarese Elyzena.
"If Claxiord can't take a simple order as that, who will shoulder the loss if the Paris who went there was a fake? Because I get it. He doesn't have any proper battle mentality yet, but did I fell short in teaching him and so?"
"Maxism Ford Lee." The Empress tone was laced with warning. Their son was frozen still behind her and she knew he's feeling guilty and devastated inside. Bet he's regretting ever being excited to follow his father and watch him fight.
"Its Lee-Vernignac for you, baby," the Emperor corrected. Ugh, does he always have to, every time? Why can't people just call his name correctly?
"I said I'm the one who told him to. And do you think of me so weak? I'm not a damsel bitch in distress. I can blow that head of yours the same---"
Suddenly, the Emperor's face turned red and he became shy.
"O-Oh, you! Blow my head? Which one?"
The Empress's eyes widened and immediately threw the pillow she grabbed from her side to his face. The Emperor burst out laughing.
"B-Bastard!"
Argh! She can't believe him! His mind is so green! And she's never done that---yet! This fucker of an Emperor won't let her to. He said he would never disrespect her that way, but he does the same between her legs! Why is it when it's him, it's worship, but if it's her, it's disrespectful? Ugh, she don't understand his reasoning at all sometimes.
"Anyways, I don't care. May this serve as a lesson to you, Claxiord. Family comes first, then the Empire. If the empire is burning, you gotta save your family first before your people. I don't care if people die as long as our won't. Hihi!"
If their people hear him say that, they'd be throwing rocks at him. Not just pebbles but boulders.
"Yes, Dad. I'm sorry."
Emperor Maxism smiled. That smiled turn into laughter when he remembered how he got startled earlier. And he told it to his wife. Their son was red with embarrassment and the Empress chuckled. Emperor Maxism was mesmerized. She immediately stopped when she noticed his stares. She already knew what's running in his mind---
"Please let me have sex with you---"
She threw another pillow right to his face.
~
Emperor Maxism tread silently on the hallways of the Heart Palace. It will be sunset soon, and his sister is awake and dining with her friends. Chancellor Titania came with her squad, and so the Emperor entrusted his sister to them at the Tower. Now, he's on his way to find King Liorei. To have a conversation with him.
But would you look at that. His path crossed with Sun who was about to return to her chambers with books in her arms with no servants.
"Uncle Max!" She called cheerfully and beamed a bright smile at him.
Emperor Maxism masked his suspecting and distasteful expression with the same personality.
"Hello, Princess!"
Sun ran to him and almost slipped. "Oh!"
"Princess, careful! You're so clumsy, huh."
Sun laughed it off and thanked him for catching her.
"Where are you going with these books?"
"I want to study in advance for the next semester, Uncle. And... I heard about Auntie Aviana. Is she alright?"
Emperor Maxism flashed a weak smile and nodded. He carried all her books and insisted on walking her to her room.
"Thankfully. I arrived just in time. Her baby is well."
"That's such a relief. I was curious when the Aunties and Uncles arrived here in a hurry earlier. I wanted to ask but I fought the urge, since it seemed like an emergency." Sun sighed with a hand on her chest, then looks up to him.
"But why are they after her baby, Uncle?"
"Hmm?"
They stopped. Sun opened the door to her room and got in, continuing her upset talk, "I mean, who in their right minds would target Maxism Ford Lee's sister! They must be asking for death. How about you bring the cloaked guys you capture here, Uncle? Interrogate them here. I'm sure my dependable brothers will help you!"
Emperor Maxism walked in to her girly, sweet-scented room. As soon as he stepped in, he felt another presence hiding somewhere.
He smirks, then scoffs, because---what the fuck, how did she know?
"Right? That's what I told them!" He chuckled. "And please, it's Lee-Vernignac."
Sun giggled and told him to put the books on her bed. Emperor Maxism did and did some light stretching. As he do, he was surveying the entire room quickly with his hawk eyes. He caught a figure behind the tall, thick curtains.
Dumb as fuck. Of all the places it could hide to, and it chose the most obvious place. Maybe it panicked because of their sudden arrival.
"But thank you, Sun. I will surely drag their asses here. I'm sure Izaac will be able to extract intel for us. I truly hope those bastards will speak. Ah, sorry for the profanities."
Sun smiled sweetly and waved her hands, "It's alright! I know you're mad, Uncle. Thank you so much for helping. I know you have matters to attend to but I wasted your time..."
"Not at all, Princess! I'm a gentleman, alright?"
"Oh, Uncle! Yes, you are!"
Sun sent him off with a good bye. Emperor Maxism waved his hand to him as he go. He corrected his posture and looked at the path ahead of him and that's when his kind-and-nice face dropped into seriousness and proved suspicion.
Either his friends ran their mouths or Sun knew about this unfortunate event herself.
His fists clenched unconsciously, but he consciously hid them in his pockets.
Guess it's time to believe Gerson Fucking Liorei.
Moon woke up with something pressing against her. When she opened her eyes, she found the egg beside her. It was the griffin's egg. The egg is intricately carved with swirling silver, foliage-like patterns that stand out against the translucent, light-emitting blue core. It's cold to touch and so the air around it, too.
"Why are you still here?" Moon yawned as she get up from bed.
Before she took a nap, she was entertained by King Liorei and the griffin with their petty fight. After the griffin left, King Liorei went and stole its only egg from its nest. When the griffin came back and found the egg gone, it stormed to the Diamond Palace. However, it can't enter because King Liorei told the Palace to forbid the bird from entering. That what the griffin gets for shitting on him.
Moon carried the egg and went to the bathroom. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. She was nice enough to clean the egg with a damp towel. After that, she carried it again and searched for King Liorei.
Meanwhile, the King welcome Emperor Maxism with hospitality.
"You know why I'm here for, Liorei."
King Liorei stirred his coffee. His legs were crossed, sat comfortably against the back rest. They were across each other. There were snacks on the table. It was for Moon and Princess Lorreign honestly, but Moon is still asleep and his daughter was with her twin sister. Don't know where they went. King Liorei humbly asked the Diamond Palace to grant his daughter access at least once a day. The Palace was generous enough to grant it.
"And I hoped you were never here, yet here you are." King Liorei sipped his teacup with grace while looking at the Emperor dead in the eyes.
Emperor Maxism rolled his eyes and made himself comfortable.
"It hurts to say this to you, but thank you for that heads up. My sister is well and her baby is holding on strong."
King Liorei smiled a little with a nod. "That's a relief. Who knows what will happen if you were a second late?"
Right? Just the idea of it alone is scary.
"It was the Princess to told me by the way."
"What?"
King Liorei placed his teacup on the saucer at the table.
"You heard me. She's the one who told me. Had we not known, Aviana will be forgotten. Every trace of her will be erased. Forever. Imagine the horror of it happening. We will go on with our lives and we will never know that one of us was missing. And of all people, it's Aviana. No, rather, her baby."
Emperor Maxism's atmosphere darkerened with a storm. He held his head in his hands, spirals circling wildly in his eyes.
"Did she tell you why?"
"No. While talking to her, I felt that she loathes you. The Princess harbors some unspeakable grudge against you. All of you. Vernignac. I've been watching her since, you know. I assume that she's a 'traveler'."
"T-Traveler?"
That's what they call to people who can cross the space of time. Doesn't matter if it's from the future or the past. Their only known traveler so far was Prince Astaroth himself, the God of Time.
"Can I ask you something?"
Emperor Maxism stared at him. He nodded.
"Have you ever had nightmares that felt so real?"
King Liorei kept his hands on his lap. The air around them seemed to be still, and it's heavy. The seriousness of their conversation spoils the foods on the table.
"I have. Countless times. The same nightmares, but there were flashes of something new. I often dreamt of myself marching away with a cavalry, to a guillotine that's waiting for us ahead. However, it was not fear that succumbs me but extreme guilt and grief. Every time I jolt awake, tears were streaming down my face. It was so strong that I couldn't name it. It felt like I walked away from someone. And when I piece these things together, with my theory that she's a traveler and these recurring dreams, I think it was her I was walking away from. Strange things to say, but yes."
Emperor Maxism nodded. He understand. It's rare for the both of them to have this kind of conversation. They were not friends. They are still each other's nemesis. For the Emperor, the King is still someone not to trust ever. That's how much the King had scarred them when he was once still an enemy. But the Emperor understands.
"Honestly, I do, too. The same thing. Of myself with my knights, walking towards a guillotine."
The King was surprised.
"And then there was one time that it was different. I was seeing things in third person that time. I found myself leading all our knights to war. And where we're going to...was here. I found my family's heads on spikes. That was the worst nightmare I ever had. It haunts me during the day. When I woke up from that dream, my wife and my sons were all around me. And I was crying like a baby. Uncontrollably. Fuck. Like, fuck. What the fuck was that about?"
"Then, the Princess might not be a traveler at all. She may have been reborn. Our nightmares might be related to her first life. This was her second life."
Emperor Maxism brought his shaking hands together. He intertwined them. They were freezing cold. He blew his breath between to warm them, but it was not enough.
"Sun talked to me earlier. She knew about the attack. She even named the baby as the target and even knew the pursuers were wearing cloaks. I caught two. Right now, I am on your side. But I will pretend to still be under her trick. It might be weak since we only come here once in a while. Her tricks were stronger on them, Dragunovvs. Fuck. That imposter bitch. But she managed to get in here, right? That means she's still a Warlock, right?"
That---the King couldn't explain yet.
But he's glad that someone...someone managed to break free from Sun's web. But would she know? What if this Maxism is just a bait? What if it's the trap she laid?
He won't fully trust it yet, but he's truly glad that someone can finally see through the haze.
King Liorei went back to their topic about the Grand Duchess.
"Her baby must be special that's why they want it. Do you have any leads about who's behind this, other than Sun?"
"The Faith." Emperor Maxism raised his finger, pointing to the top or to the sky. "They were wearing masks, but their get up and magic screams fanaticism. It's them, I'm sure."
"You can't decide by those alone."
"Yeah. That's why I will go up there with Aviana."
"What!?"
King Liorei slammed his crossed foot to the ground.
"Are you insane!?"
He knew Maxism Ford Lee is insane, but not to this extent. He will go to the enemy's territory with the trophy they wanted? Fucking lunatic!
But he remembered, he's a snake.
He calmed down in an instant.
"What are you planning?"
The Emperor smirked.
"What else? The fish ought to bite the bait. And their kind is not so smart yet. Discriminating us Earthlings yet their race is far much inferior than ours. You'll see. I won't let this slide. They put my sister into danger. I'll give them danger."
King Liorei watched the Emperor laughed evilly. He sighed and reached out for his cup of coffee to take a sip---when they both froze upon feeling a threatening aura beside them.
There stood Moon at the arch entrance while carrying the egg, teeth gritting and glaring at the Emperor as if she would shoot him lasers any time.
Emperor Maxism stood and brushed his sweating hands to his clothes.
"Princess---"
"Why is that bastard here, Daddy Liorei!?"
'B-Bastard!?'
Did she just cussed!?
"Princess, how about we calm down first? Listen, he's here to---"
"I DON'T GIVE THE SLIGHTEST FUCK."
She really did cuss!
Emperor Maxism held a step back. God, he couldn't explain it. The pressure is pressuring him too much. Her fury snatches his breath away.
What did he do that made her loathe him like this?
"Princess, I don't know why you're mad at me, but I want you to know that I am grateful for your help. My sister, Aviana, is safe now. Her baby, too. They made it home together, thanks to your warning."
Moon's eyes widened. For a slip in the moment, she softened.
Great.
"I didn't do it for you."
Emperor Maxism smiled kindly at her. He dropped all his defenses and bare himself transparent to her, so she won't be wary as much about him any more.
"I am still grateful. My sister mean so much to me. She's my only family left. Ever since I reunited with her, I never imagined a life in this world without her. It was a very scary possibility, that I'd live my life not remembering her sweet existence. Thank you, Princess. I don't know how I will repay you for helping me."
Moon scrunched her nose and looked away.
"You can repay me by not showing your faces to me. Don't be friendly with me either. Killing you the same won't be new to me."
Her coldness left them speechless. She left them with noose around their necks, because the gravity of her words...speaks for the truth.
Emperor Maxism unconsciously touched his neck, gulping as he submit to the weakness of his knees. He sat down on the single sofa, refusing to believe that a little girl's threat got his heart racing and his nerves feeling chilly.
He's an assassin---but was folded by a ten year old little girl.
Moon left them with the egg. Maybe to return it to the griffin, who was circling the Diamond Palace outside, breathing energies to it, clawing its shield, screaming, crying---for its precious egg. Most of all, it's cursing King Liorei. Really, if it sees Princess Lorreign, it will drag her and teleport her to the other side of the world!
Empress Siofra slapped her forehead as she shake her head. She was watching the griffin from her office. She hasn't confronted King Liorei about why he took both from its nest yet. The griffin spends its day warming the egg. No one could tell how long it has been since it laid its egg. The griffin won't tell it to them either, but it was said to be older than the Empress herself. They've only seen the griffin in action twice during the Armageddon War. Day and night for thousands of years, it patiently incubated its egg, waiting for its time to hatch.
"S-Sir Griffin!" Moon called softly to get its attention when she stepped out of the Diamond Palace.
The griffin heard her and landed beyond the gates. Moon walked to meet it.
"Where is he!? I will bite his neck off! What did he do!?"
Moon smiled at the bird. Empress Siofra was watching them, listening too, from the Heart Palace.
"Sorry! It's because you pooped on him. Don't do it next time. And don't worry, your baby is safe!"
The griffin clawed the barrier between them, aggravated and screeching because of King Liorei.
"Please calm down. Here, I'm giving it back. Sorry."
Moon carefully dropped the egg past the barrier. The griffin watched her closely.
"Who are you?"
Moon looked up. She was bent over, balancing the egg upright.
She smiled. "I'm Golden Azarese!"
Empress Siofra was astounded.
"Golden?" The griffin scanned her being, "But you are so grey? Or have I gone color-blind?" It brushed its wing to its face. Moon chuckled preciously. She straightened her back.
"I've never seen you before." She meant about her first life.
"I'm always at my nest, incubating the egg."
The griffin raised its foot to grab the egg, but the egg suddenly tilted away.
"E-Eherm! You didn't put it right properly, Princess!"
Moon flinched. "S-Sorry!"
The griffin tried grabbing its egg again so it can go back to their nest, but the egg kept on tilting and even rolling away from it.
"WHY!?" Why won't the egg let its parent touch it!?
The egg rolled back inside the barrier and bumped itself to Moon.
"Oops."
The griffin's eyes sparked ablaze. Moon panicked and carried it to return the egg back to the griffin. Its claws wrapped around the egg, and when it tried to pull it, the egg fought its strength to stay with Moon.
"WHY!?"
"Uwaaah! I don't know! I'm sorry! I can't let it go!"
With their conversation coming to an end, King Liorei and Emperor Maxism walked each other outside. And outside they found Moon and the griffin playing a tug of war. In fact, they were not fighting over the egg. The egg is fighting to stay with Moon. It looked like they do because while the griffin pulls its egg, Moon is pulling herself away from it.
"What's happening here? Princess, careful! Hey, birdie! Don't drag her!"
The griffin opened its beak, forming an orb of concentrated energy, and sent it to King Liorei.
The King protected Moon from that attack.
"Are you out of your mind!? You could've hurted the Princess---"
The griffin sent another highly concentrated energy to him. King Liorei grabbed the egg and forcefully pulled it to him. To the griffin's greatest horror, King Liorei used the egg as shield against its own attack.
"YOU MONSTERRRR!!!"
"Daddy Liorei! No!"
Moon punched the King hard.
Emperor Maxism's eyes almost bawled out when the King vanishes from his sight. He didn't even blink. King Liorei suddenly got to the other side after Moon punched him. The egg is back in her embrace, and King Liorei lost consciousness and was coughing up blood. His---his side!
His side was blown open!
Emperor Maxism got his hands on his head as the disbelief take over his system.
"What in the---Saitama, is that you!?"