Half a year had passed since the war ended.
The remnants of Tartagalian soldiers were rounded up, held captive for months, and later condemned to execution. Yet some managed to escape—vanishing into the shadows—among them, the right hand of the late Emperor Valerian.
Princess Stella never regained her sight. Her body remained fragile, her soul worn thin by the price of her power. During one of her treatments, she stirred only once, her lips trembling as she whispered weakly:
"Do not tarnish Emperor Valerian's body… at least bury him…"
King Stewart of Nexus opposed the request. To him, Valerian was nothing but a tyrant, a murderer who stained the world with cruelty. But it was the rare, solemn plea of his daughter, and so he relented. Valerian's body was carried away in secret and buried atop the highest mountain of Nexus—a place hidden from the eyes of the people, where no one would stumble upon the grave of a man hated by nations.
While Stella lay bedridden, Zuleika threw herself into duty. She labored tirelessly in the wrecked towns, helping rebuild homes, comforting those left behind, and overseeing the fragile bridges of diplomacy across kingdoms. For months, she carried the weight of a Princess—and now, with Stella weakened, the inevitability of succession loomed over her. Soon, the crown of Nexus would no longer be optional.
Yet in the midst of all this, one burden pressed upon her heart more quietly: she had not yet found the time to properly introduce Aquila as her beloved to their family. Aquila lived in the palace, close to her, close enough to ease the nights of exhaustion. But in public, they remained undefined—unspoken, a love shielded by circumstance.
And so, as the kingdom slowly healed, scars remained—not only in stone and soil, but in the hearts of its people, its princesses, and in the shadow of a man buried where no one could see.
"Okay." Zuleika mumbled quietly.
"I'll tell them at dinner later."
Later that day, the family gathered at the dining table. Stella was not present, still needing rest. Seated were King Stewart, Queen Elisha, Eloisa, the twins—and beside Zuleika, Aquila.
"Father, I have something to say." Zuleika's tone was serious enough that everyone turned to her.
Stewart straightened, his tone matching hers. "What is it? If it's about the throne—no, you can't avoid it. There's nothing we can do. You can't achieve your dream of being a fisherwom—"
"Father! NOT THAT!" Zuleika's face flushed hot, mortification spilling over, especially when she heard Aquila chuckle softly beside her.
Zuleika groaned in annoyance.
"So? What is it then?" Stewart asked once more.
"W-well, uhm—" Zuleika coughed into her hand, trying to steady herself.
"A-Aquila and I are…"
Aquila turned, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly at her.
"L-l-l-lovers..!" Zuleika's lips trembled as the words tumbled out, her face glowing crimson.
Silence.
"I know," Stewart said simply, tilting his head.
Zuleika's eyes flew wide open. Her jaw dropped.
"HUH!? WHAT—WHO TOLD YOU!?"
"Your mother told me," Stewart answered innocently.
Zuleika whipped her head toward her mother, only to find Elisha giggling sweetly.
"Aquila formally asked me and told me about it," Elisha explained between her soft chuckles.
"WHAT!?"
Zuleika's head snapped back to Aquila, who was calmly drinking her tea.
"Did I never tell you?" Aquila asked, confused, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.
Zuleika's face burned even brighter. "NO, YOU DIDN'T!"
The twins burst into laughter, Eloisa tried to stifle her grin, and Queen Elisha just shook her head fondly.
Meanwhile, Aquila only shrugged. "Well… I thought I did."
"I remember Stewart fainting after he first heard of it," Elisha teased, her eyes sparkling.
Stewart coughed into his fist, trying—and failing—to hide his embarrassment.
"I knew it. Father would faint," Eloisa chimed in slyly, earning another round of laughter at the table.
"Grrr, I was nervous for nothing!" Zuleika pouted, crossing her arms with a huff.
"So…" Queen Elisha leaned forward, her tone soft but mischievous. "When are the two of you planning to get married?"
Aquila immediately choked on her tea, coughing as Zuleika's face brightened like a child given candy.
"Good question, Mother!" Zuleika beamed.
"W-Wait, wait. Isn't it a bit early? The Nexus is still recovering from the wa—" Aquila stammered, dabbing at the tea she spilled with a napkin.
"What about this week?" King Stewart cut in, serious as ever.
"Yes, yes, that's also good, Father," Zuleika quickly nodded, grinning ear to ear.
Aquila froze, staring blankly at the family as if they'd all lost their minds.
"Wai—"
But Queen Elisha didn't let her finish. "Let's hold it at the northern shore of Nexus, shall we?"
"A beach wedding!? I would loveeee to see it!" one of the twins, Steven, burst out excitedly.
"Right, right! Let's do that!" Zuleika clapped her hands, already picturing it.
Aquila muttered under her breath, exasperated, "Don't I get to say something in this..?"
Eloisa chuckled softly beside her, patting her shoulder. "Welcome to our family."
"Don't worry, Sister Aquila," Steven added cheekily, "we'll make sure the wedding night is ve—"
"STEVEN!" Zuleika slammed her hand on the table, her face bursting red.
The entire family burst into laughter, while Aquila just sighed and covered her face with her palm.
Night came, and inside the quiet chamber, the flickering candlelight painted the room in a warm glow.
"Your family is really open with everything," Aquila said softly, her gaze fixed on the balcony as the silk robe draped loosely over her shoulders.
"Hm? Well, yeah. There's nothing they can do anyway," Zuleika chuckled from behind.
With sudden warmth, Zuleika's arms wrapped around Aquila's waist. She pressed a gentle kiss against her shoulder, lingering as if she didn't want to let go.
"Are you going to accept the throne?" Aquila asked quietly.
"Hm… there's nothing I can do." Zuleika buried her face against her neck, her voice muffled. "I'll just wish for Father to stay healthy so I can have more free time, hehe."
"I'll make you my Queen—" Zuleika started, but Aquila cut her off.
"Don't." Aquila sighed.
Zuleika tilted her head up, eyes searching hers.
"I don't want to be the Queen of Nexus, Zuleika. Just being by your side is enough." Aquila turned, facing her fully now, her smile warm and certain. "I'll support you with whatever you do."
Zuleika only stared at her for a long moment, before her lips curved happily.
"Mhm. But you'll still end up being a Queen, Aki."
The way Zuleika spoke her nickname—so soft, so tender—was like a word crafted just for her.
"If I take the throne… you'll be my wife, Aquila," she murmured.
Aquila felt heat crawl up her ear, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"How can you say things like that with such a serious face?" she muttered, though her words only made Zuleika laugh.
"Fine…" Aquila exhaled, defeated.
"Don't worry, I won't tire you, my queen…" Zuleika whispered playfully before pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of Aquila's nose.
"Really? Then where is your hand touching, huh?" Aquila pushed her face away lightly when Zuleika's hand began to sneak toward her chest.
"Hehe…"
Then Aquila realized it.
Her brows furrowed in quiet suspicion.
"How did you know my nickname?" she asked.
Zuleika, her hand still mischievously sneaking against Aquila's chest, blinked innocently.
"Hm? Isn't that what your mother called you… when you visited the palace while I was blindfolded?"
Silence.
The room stilled, the air heavy with the weight of realization.
Zuleika's lips parted as regret flickered across her face.
"Ah…"
"So you knew." Aquila's lips and brows twitched, caught between irritation and disbelief.
"Wait, I uhm—"
Before Zuleika could stammer another word, Aquila gently pushed her face away and crossed her arms firmly in front of her chest.
"Sleep on the couch."
"Uwahh, but Aki…" Zuleika whined, pouting as if the whole world had betrayed her.