Chapter 21:
Lucina
The New Year's celebration in the Salona Empire is nothing short of spectacular.
As the moon rises high in the sky, the city of Lumine comes alive with shimmering crystals and lanterns floating gracefully into the air, each bearing symbols of the moon.
A mesmerizing sight—the night fills with ethereal light and magic.
At the grand podium in front of the majestic cathedral, the Emperor stands tall, delivering his customary New Year's speech.
Recording crystals broadcast his words across all cities in the empire. Every citizen hears his message of hope and prosperity for the coming year.
He concludes his speech. A symphony of fireworks erupts across the city, painting the sky with dazzling colors and patterns. Music fills the air. The joyful laughter of revelers echoes through the streets.
As a royal princess, I am unfortunately obligated to attend the festivities.
I find it all quite exhausting.
After the Emperor's speech, he descends from the podium to join the crowd at the cathedral. The Pope greets him—a figure of immense power and influence in the empire.
"Luke, I remember when you were just a teen. Look at you now. Ho ho ho." The Pope's eyes twinkle jovially as he claps the Emperor on the back.
"A pleasure to see you as always, Your Holiness." The Emperor responds with a respectful nod.
Only the Pope can treat the Emperor with such familiarity. His status as the only eight-star swordsman in the entire empire commands it. The Emperor is only seven-star.
"Always so formal." The Pope chuckles and shakes his head in mock disappointment.
Despite his age, the Pope exudes energy and vitality—a testament to his enduring power and influence. He rose to power when the current Emperor was just a child of seven. His true age remains a mystery.
The Empress and my half-siblings bow respectfully to the Pope.
I follow suit, offering a respectful nod.
The Pope's gaze lingers on me. A hint of mischief lights his eyes.
"Don't mind me. I'm here to steal some time with the third princess. We have a prior engagement."
He grins mischievously.
I bow once more to the Emperor and Empress, then follow the Pope away from the bustling crowd.
*
"You're such a bully, you know."
I walk in step with the Pope as we navigate through the bustling streets of the New Year's celebration.
"Give this old man some slack. I have few things that interest me at my age." A twinkle lights his eye.
I roll my eyes at his antics.
"You're the only one who gets to treat me like this. You're the weird one here. Where's the fear? The reverence?" He feigns exasperation.
"Oh.No. It's the Pope. I'm so overwhelmed."
I say it dramatically.
He pinches my ear.
"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Grandpa. Forgive me."
The 'grandpa' card always works with him. He releases my ear with a satisfied grin.
"Little birds here and there tell me you're raising certain... somethings." His voice turns mischievous.
I sigh.
There are no secrets in this city, it seems.
"Seems like the little birdies told you everything. Why bother asking me?"
"How amusing." The Pope chuckles from nearby.
I eye him suspiciously.
"The deity I worship is a woman. I have no prejudices. I was laughing at my own thoughts." He quickly defends himself.
"As fun as it is to spend time with you, we'll be together for the next two years. So have fun."
He claps his hands.
Suddenly, I find myself in an alleyway.
I step out of the alley.
The boys stand nearby, next to a priest. They seem reserved and unapproachable. Valendor's cold demeanor could freeze a desert. A group of women nearby giggle and glance their way, clearly taken by their attractiveness.
"Hello."
No one responds.
The priest discreetly slips away.
The boys remain silent. Finally, Nikolai speaks.
"Good evening, my lady. We have prior arrangements. Forgive my two companions."
His tone is polite. It effectively ends any chance of conversation.
"Arrangements?" I mimic the tone of noble ladies.
"I won't take much of your time."
I lean in, attempting to touch Haroun. He swiftly dodges my hand.
I hide a chuckle at his quick reflexes.
"Unfortunately, we cannot alter our plans."
Nikolai positions himself in front of Haroun and Valendor, subtly moving them out of my line of sight.
One of the most attractive displays of protectiveness I've ever seen.
"Forgive us." His tone is final.
I reach my hand out to touch his chest.
My hand stops in midair.
A spell?
Something prevents me from making contact. I raise an eyebrow.
"I don't know if I should be offended at the lack of recognition." Mock sadness colors my voice. I feign hurt.
"Listen here, lady—" Haroun starts.
I interrupt him by releasing a slight surge of divine power.
The glamour fades. They can now see my true form.
"Your Highness—" Nikolai starts.
I place a finger on his lips to silence him.
"I'm just Lucina now. Don't go exposing my identity." My tone is light but firm.
Their expressions shift from confusion to realization. Valendor's eyes widen. Haroun's jaw drops slightly. Nikolai's lips part in surprise.
"Yes, the one and only." A playful glint lights my eyes. "Now that we're on equal footing, care to explain why you three were avoiding me like the plague?"
Nikolai clears his throat, recovering quickly.
"We weren't avoiding you, my lady. We just... didn't recognize you in the glamour." A sheepish grin forms on his face.
Haroun nods in agreement.
"Yeah, it's not every day we see you with a different face." He scratches the back of his head.
I chuckle at their reactions. "Fair enough. Now that we've cleared that up, let's enjoy the festivities together."
I gesture toward the bustling celebration around us.
The boys nod eagerly. The earlier tension dissipates as we join the revelry. We spend the rest of the evening laughing, dancing, and enjoying each other's company under the bright lights and colorful decorations of the New Year's celebration.
The sun begins to rise, casting a golden hue over the still-lively festivities.
I know it's time to say goodbye.
Maverick arrives at the small park where we've gathered. As he approaches, the mood shifts to somber. The boys must see the sadness in my eyes—mirrored in theirs.
"Haroun, come here."
He rushes into my arms, embracing me tightly as if trying to hold onto the moment forever. I return the hug with equal intensity, cherishing this last embrace.
After what feels like both a fleeting moment and an eternity, he finally releases me.
I press a kiss to his cheek.
Valendor steps forward with a mixture of reluctance and acceptance.
I pull him into a hug, feeling the weight of impending separation. His arms wrap around me. I whisper words of farewell and gratitude.
When we part, I kiss his cheek as well. A silent promise to remember these moments.
Lastly, Nikolai's turn.
He approaches with a calm demeanor, but I see the emotion in his eyes. He draws me into a hug. I feel his heart beating against mine.
An unspoken understanding passes between us. A shared sense of loss and hope for the future.
When we pull apart, he surprises me by pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
"Take care of them."
My voice is barely audible over the sounds of the waking city.
He nods slightly. His expression is serious yet filled with unspoken reassurance.
With a heavy heart, I watch as they board the Gilcha lizard. Their figures become smaller and smaller in the distance.
As they disappear from view, a wave of melancholy washes over me.
*
"Well, that was dramatic. One would think you're going to war."
Kai's presence suddenly appears beside me as if out of thin air.
"Where did you pop up from?" I turn to face the strikingly handsome man.
"Here and there." Kai shrugs casually. "Until I saw some heartfelt goodbyes. I almost thought you lied to me and are going to die."
A playful smirk tugs at the corners of his lips as he fans himself dramatically.
I roll my eyes at his theatrics. "Please. I'll be back in two years. Hardly the end of the world."
Kai chuckles softly, his eyes holding a glimmer of mischief.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to find some other entertainment in the meantime. The horror." His tone is teasing.
A few minutes later, I meet up with a priest who also seemingly popped out of midair.
"Thank you, Kai." I turn to him sincerely. "For everything."
He smiles warmly, his gaze softening. "Anytime, Selene. You know where to find me if you need anything."
His words carry genuine warmth.
With a final nod, I bid farewell to Kai and make my way.