Chapter 6: Fate Has a Way
From the information that Lady Moon explained, I have compiled two questionable issues about Prince Adonis' motives. First is the connection of the anti-magic to the black gem that controlled Miri. Did the Human Kingdom lend their technology to the Witch? Or did the Witch steal it from them and now the Human Kingdom wants an alliance? My second issue is how to find proof if Prince Adonis is innocent or not? I cannot just send someone from the castle to spy for me in the Human Kingdom.
Soft fingers brushing on my cheeks breaks my thinking. Lady Moon is pulling something out of my hair and gazing at my face. The gesture makes me flush my face and my heart beats fast like it wants to run away from my chest. The woman's effect on me flickers when we get close. I remember the woman on the bus with whom I have the same reaction or is it because they look alike that I feel this way for Lady Moon.
Are they the same person?
"Are you talking to your dragon with your mind?" Lady Moon asks, gazing at me with her blue eyes like the sky hanging low from the heavens to let me reach it effortlessly with my hand.
"N-No. I-I'm thinking about you," I answer, hesitating to deliver my honest words to the woman standing in front of me.
Lady Moon's face reddens at my answer. She turns away from my gaze and starts walking towards a group of small fish in the shallow part of the lake.
"We are like these fishes, swimming freely in an encompassed environment. We think this is real independence but it's all an illusion." Lady Moon whispers into the wind yet her words are crystal clear.
"No one is ever born free." I retort looking at the woman's back.
The breeze delicately blows Lady Moon's long hazelnut hair and turns around to glance in my direction. Then she lowers her head to look down while strutting her bare feet in my direction.
"When are you going to announce your decision from the proposal, your majesty?" Lady Moon asks as our bodies get close with a hairsbreadth apart from each other.
"When Crown-Prince Adonis comes back, Lady Moon," I answer, gazing at the woman without blinking my eyes.
Lady Moon clasps her hands together on her back and lowers her head to set on my shoulder. The words she confesses are not what I expect to hear from the woman.
"Fate does have a way to take you away from me." Lady Moon says and I feel my shoulder getting wet.
I stayed standing still, confused about what to say to Lady Moon. I want to learn if she was the woman from the bus without explaining I'm not the Taeyang she remembers. We stand together on the ankle-deep water of the lakeside. Do I tell Lady Moon the truth or not? I have doubts every time I think of the woman from the bus.
I let the time pass until the sun is gone from the horizon. The stars begin to shine on us when we both head back to the castle. I have decided what to do that day. I don't need a week to contemplate but I will wait for the prince to come to hear what I will say.
π - π - π
After a week, as promised, the Crown-Prince Adonis of the Human Kingdom comes back to know my answer. My contemplation for the marriage is over. General Min Joon has sent me all the information he has gathered about the Crown-Prince and his Kingdom of Humans. There is nothing more to look at except their hidden agenda. If the humans are helping the Witch, there is only one person who can uncover their plan, and it's me.
"Queen Taeyang of the Elf Kingdom, I come here to collect your response. Am I going to be disappointed or delighted by your announcement?" Prince Adonis asks while he walks beside me on the lawn. His striking dresses make him stand out even more than myself and I'm wearing gold and jewel ornaments like the queen that I am.
"Crown-Prince Adonis of the Human Kingdom, my answer will be short. After a week of deliberation, I consider your offer. I accept your marriage proposal." I answer without stammering. There is no hesitation in my plan to be with the prince.
Prince Adonis curves his lips into a grin and I let myself do the same. We understand we are not getting married for love and we both have an agenda to talk about.
"Why don't we talk about the details of our wedding in my kingdom? I remember you enjoyed staying there before with Queen Ha Eun." Prince Adonis suggests as we head back inside the castle.
The man is in a hurry to leave the Elf Kingdom as he did last time. It makes me curious to find the reason for the prince's odd behavior.
"How's Queen Ha Eun? Is she recovering well?" The prince asks as we reach the carriage that takes him back to his kingdom.
"The queen is still asleep and won't wake up. I have asked soldiers to guard her and an aide to be by her side all day and night." I answer with the sad news. The queen's healer relays the tragic truth that we don't know if the Queen will wake up again or not.
"She lost her king and the prince. I sense she lost all hope to live and chose to continue to live in her dreams." Prince retorts with a low tone, expressing his deep pain to know Queen Ha Eun's condition.
"I hope for her to wake up. There are still people here who need her." I reply with my deepest regret to have not stopped Miri early before the Queen was injured.
Prince Adonis looks at me with wonder and lets out a quick smile on his face. He left after saying his regards to the queen and advised me to visit the Human Kingdom as soon as I can.
π - π - π
I decided to come to the Human Kingdom after three days of preparations. I asked Lady Moon to join me as part of my entourage, leaving General Min Joon behind to take care of the kingdom. The general protested my decision. He doesn't feel secure letting me stay in the Human Kingdom but I pacify his mind by reminding him that the dragon can protect me and my mind will be at ease with the general staying back to guard the nation for me.
Riding a dragon is a thrilling experience. Miri and I haven't flown away far and high since we met. I let Lady Moon ride with me to the Human Kingdom while my aide Hee Young and the others travel in a carriage. Miri glides its wings against the wind while my hand touches the moist clouds. My fingers grab tightly to the scales of the dragon when it dives straight down from high above the fogs. Lady Moon screams at my ears and holds my waist tightly with her arm as Miri rolls against the drag of wind going down. When we almost reach the bottom, the dragon pulls up quickly sweeping the ground. The excitement makes me howl from the new experience I never thought I could have.
The citizens of the Human Kingdom wave at us as we fly by. They let us land in front of a castle in the middle of their capital. The hosts welcome us with wide smiles on their faces and people flourish our necks with flower wreaths.
Prince Adonis kisses my hand as a greeting, he's wearing a blue robe with a red emblem of Phoenix on his right arm, the symbol of the Human Kingdom. The prince introduces me as the new Queen of the Elf Kingdom to his parents, King Hector and Queen Andromeda, who warmly shake my hand to greet me with familiarity as Lady Moon has said, I've been here several times with her and Queen Ha Eun before being a sovereign myself.
"My queen, Taeyang, I want you to meet my advisor, Apollo." Prince Adonis introduces the man with delight. The sparkle in the prince's eyes is noticeable with how he smiles.
The prince's advisor steps forward, he bows his head gallantly to pay his respect. He dresses in all white hue and dons a one-eyed spectacle on his right eye. A handsome man with long curly black hair and talks like a feminine with grace. When he lifts his head back up my stare catches the man's face. My shock becomes apparent with my eyes wide and mouth open.
"I-I'm glad to meet you, A-Apollo," I answer with my eyes not blinking from gazing at the man. I stammer as I examine him from head to feet. The advisor not only bears the same name as my brother but all the physical aspects I could compare between them.
"Are you alright, your majesty?" Lady Moon asks glaring at my face that suddenly becomes pale from the revelation that I encounter.
"Maybe Queen Taeyang felt tired from flying. I suggest we let her rest for a moment before we meet again for dinner." Prince Adonis says with his brows furrowing from the wonder of my odd behavior.
I nod to agree with the prince's proposal. I became speechless with the shock of seeing a man who looks like my brother. Fresh air is what I need to regain my composure after meeting the advisor a few minutes ago. The prince let an aide guide us to our room. Lady Moon stays behind to ask me questions.
"Was Apollo that handsome that you became exceedingly oblivious in front of Prince Adonis, your majesty?" Lady Moon inquires, setting one eyebrow elevated than usual.
"What??? No!!!" I exclaim with my pitch going high full of revolt from the woman's assumption.
"What is it then?" Lady Moon asks while standing still, crossing her hands in front of her chest to express her irritation at my behavior.
"He reminds me of a friend," I say without looking straight into the woman's eyes. The woman keeps a doubtful look at me while I turn to hide my real suspicions.
"Only a brother? Not unlike General Min Joon?" Lady Moon's eyes begin to look gloomy. Mentioning the general seems to generate sadness in the woman.
"What is the connection of General Min Joon here?" I ask looking for a reason that connects me with the general.
A knock on the door halts my thinking. A voice from a young girl can be heard, with a loud and high pitched voice I know exactly who is behind the door.
"Your majesty, Queen Taeyang!" The young woman yells with an alarming tone.
I open the door and greets my aide who looks tired from her travels using the carriage. "Hee Young, you don't have to shout."
"I'm not shouting, your majesty. This is my natural voice." Hee Young clarifies my assumptions and I chuckle at her reaction.
"Am I disturbing your time with Lady Moon, your majesty?" Hee Young takes a quick peek at Lady Moon's direction whose cheeks blush after my aids suspicious look.
"No. Have you been to this land before Hee Young?" I consult the young woman to change the subject of the conversation.
"No, your majesty. Should I ask the Prince to give us a tour of his Kingdom?" Hee Young inquires with her eyes wide waiting for my answer.
"Yes, please." I request Hee Young politely like a mother to a kid.
"One handsome crown-prince coming up, your highness!" Hee Young answers with enthusiasm and turns to lead the way to meet Prince Adonis.
Me and Lady Moon giggle while following my aid. Her charming ways can quickly lighten up our mood with her antics.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone